Are today’s Christians the seed of Isaac or the seed of Ishmael? It all depends. Don’t be too quick to generalise and say it is Isaac. The promise was Isaac but many have ended up with Ishmael and are reconciled to Ishmael: “It is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called.’” (Galatians 9:6-7).

How many times have you heard these kinds of testimonies? “Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! God has blessed me with a brand new car.” “My wife just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl.” “Glory be to God, I have just been promoted at work.”

When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.” (John 19:30).

Have you just bought a new cell-phone and are wondering how to operate it? It is written. Simply check the manual. Have you just set up a new business and want to know how to get it registered? It is written. Are you a new creation in Christ but don’t know what being a new creation means? It is written. Where is it written? It is written in the scriptures.

Jide Akintunde told me a story about an exemplary Christian in his former church who was unemployed. Everyone in the church was impressed with his piety and devotion to God. Therefore, the prayer squad took it upon themselves to fast and pray for him to get a job.

If you cook a prophet his favourite meal and he prays for you, what kind of prayer is he likely to pray? He might pray that God should give you the desires of your heart. He might pray that God should prosper your business. He might pray that God should heal you of your infirmities. He might pray that God should give you your own husband; your own wife; or your own children.

Marriage is not man-made; neither is it subject to human design. God is the author of marriage, meaning marriage was made in heaven. The greatest marriage of all is that between God the Father and Jesus the Son. Theirs is the supreme love story; one that is eternal and everlasting. God loved Jesus before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24).

When I was a new believer, the Lord told me a parable. He said a father came home from work one day to discover that his little daughter ran away and hid from him instead of running towards him and embracing him as she used to do. What was the matter with the girl? Someone had convinced her that her Father was a murderer. As a result, she was afraid for her life. Maybe her Father might want to kill her too.

The university experience is rich and rewarding. There are so many things a university offers. You can play sports. You can go to parties and have a good time. You can join debating societies and clubs. You can also study and get a degree.

If God promises to give you a car, can you receive it? Don’t be quick to answer. In the first place, what should you receive if God promises to give you a car? If you receive a car at the promise of God, you might miss real the car of promise. God does not give what man gives. Neither does he give like man gives. Jesus says: “I do not give to you as the world gives.” (John 14:27).

Have you ever had a prayer-meeting where, instead of praying, you groaned? Paul counsels that we should: “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers.” (Ephesians 6:18). Groaning is a kind of prayer. When we are pained and we groan, it is transmitted as a wordless prayer to God. David understood this. He said: “Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee.” (Psalm 38:9).

“While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples and asked them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ They answered, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’” (Acts 19:1-2).

One day, at three o’clock in the morning, the Lord woke me up to spend some time with him. In the middle of the fellowship, he gave me a strange instruction. He asked me to move the settees from my den upstairs into the main living-room downstairs, and to move the ones downstairs upstairs.

Is it good to go to school; get a good job; build your own house and have lots of money? Not according to Jesus. These things are highly valued by men. But Jesus teaches that: “What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.” (Luke 16:15).

ONCE, the police arrested my business manager on trumped up charges. I had to go to the station to see what I could do. Before I left, I said a short prayer asking God for help. I asked him for the favour of God and the favour of man. When I got to the police station, I spoke to the arresting officer. The man listened to me intently for a few minutes and then decided to release my manager. Then he gave me his reasons.