By Funmi Komolafe

Brethren, it is a season of the manifestation of the power of God in many living churches.  While some like the Redeemed Christian Church of God and The Apostolic Church had their annual conventions, Love of Christ Chapel International Ministries just concluded its Apostolic 40 days prayer retreat special programme.   Other churches held similar programmes.

All of these events were quite edifying. Which one were you able to attend?

During these programmes, several people testified to the awesome power of God.  The testimonies simply confirmed that only God  can resolve all challenges.

What is the point being made here?   It is simply asking,  do you ever have time to join others to pray fervently?

Those who do not have time to pray, definitely have time for other things.  They either have time to solicit the support of friends or visit herbalists or fake prophets.

In times of trouble, you must depend on something or someone for help.

An elderly woman told the story of how her husband had some issues at work that led to his accounts being frozen.  So, it became so difficult for the family to meet its needs including feeding.  The couple began to pray but at a time when the answer seems  not to be forthcoming,  the wife decided to call a prophetess she knew before she became a born-again Christian.  The prophetess invited her to visit with a promise   that she would give her some soap that she would give her husband to bathe with.

According to this prophetess, once the man bathes with the soap, his challenges would be over. Madam told her husband what the prophetess asked her to do.  Instantly, the man dismissed the suggestion,  asking his wife, why her faith should be shaken.

To shorten the story, they intensified their  prayers.  God intervened and the case was decided in the man’s favour and his account was unfrozen.

Brethren, I have told this story for us to learn some lessons. Again the question is who do you trust to help you?

Are you more comfortable turning to man for help rather than God because you desire quick answers?

Let’s refer to the famine in Samaria where the Bible records that it was so bad that mothers began to consume their own children as food.

In the midst of this calamity that befell the nation, the Bible recorded a particular story in 2nd Kings 6 vs. 26& 27: “ And as the King of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king.

And   he said, If the LORD do not help thee, whence shall I help thee? out of the barn floor, or out of the winepress?”

I don’t know what you are going through but bear in mind that it is only God that can help you. Do not allow any friend to lead you to any prophet, prophetess or herbalist. The truth is that all these people cannot do anything on their own.  They depend on  other forces.    In most cases, forces contrary to the Spirit of God.

To them, your challenge is   their source of livelihood.  They are so smart that whatever they give to you could give you a temporary relief but at the end, you end up compounding the challenge.

Brethren, the only help you need to overcome that challenge is the help of God. Even if it is a health challenge, you still need God.  Doctors cannot treat the dead, but God can give life and you get healed.  You have to be alive to be healed.

As a single lady who desires to get married, dating any man in trousers cannot help you. It was God that delivered Daniel from the Lion’s den.  I may not know in whose cage you find yourself as a result of the action of others or by your own action. Whichever it is, be confident that only God Almighty can help you.

God has given you this assurance; why not hold on to it? Isaiah 41 vs. 10 is our authority “ Fear not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness”.

If indeed you believe that you are a creation of God, why do you then think that he has forgotten you?   God is not a man that forgets.  Whatever he has promised, he will bring to fulfillment.

A general problem with human being is that we want to see magic instead of miracles.  Anyone looking unto God for a miracle must bear in mind that only God determines the time and manner of a miracle. Miracles are not films for people to watch.  God does miracles that his name may be glorified.  A miracle is meant to also reinforce the faith and belief of other people in God.

Pastor P.O. Olowoporoku , the general overseer of  Love of Christ Chapel  International Ministries told the congregation of the story of a woman  who challenged God during a programme.

The church chose  to her vicinity to hold a programme. Evangelists went there to prepare the community for the programme.  This woman came out of her house and said “ which Jesus are you people talking about?  You liars.   I have been trusting God for children all these years and God never gave me one.  I spent all my money on the search for a child but never had one.  You liars, get away from this community.

The evangelists reported what this woman said to the general overseer of the church. When the revival programme was to begin, Pastor Olowoporoku visited the woman and prayed with her.   The church held its programme and left.

It was on a radio programme that he heard that the woman who had waited on the Lord for children had a baby.   He knew because the name of the community was mentioned.  The Pastor had forgotten.  He visited again and the woman and the whole community came to give glory to God.

The same women who earlier doubted Jesus began to shout, JESUS  is real!

Many   people in her community including  the monarch, gave their lives to Christ on that day.

Did you note that the Pastor had forgotten he prayed for the woman?  Miracles are not to glorify Pastors or Deaconesses  or any human being.  God alone does miracles that his name might be glorified.

Brethren, the programmes I mentioned earlier were filled with awesome testimonies.  As you put your total trust in the Almighty God, be assured that your testimony is on the way.

During the last Convention of the RCCG, many testified to the miracles of God.

A woman who had been married since 1988 presented her first baby to God  during the programme.    Precisely, 30 years after she got married.  Brethren, do you think, this woman was just sleeping and waking up comfortably for thirty years?  Definitely  not.   I can imagine what she must have gone through.  Her story is simply a case of only God can do what no man can do.

With her testimony, several women in her condition will have their faith renewed.

How long have you been coping with that challenge?  Hold on to God, and you are assured that your days of tears of joy are around the corner.

Refuse to seek help from the forces of darkness.   If the man mentioned earlier had not dismissed his wife’s suggestion, most likely he would be in jail by now.