How long should one wait for God?

Man is known for being impatient. This has led even Christians to depart from God’s presence to seek help from lesser gods. This is a deviation from God’s command in Exodus 20:3, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” It is further commanded in Exodus 23:24 that, “Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works: but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.”

Instead of blocking our ears land running away from the presence of God’s which guarantees “fullness of joy” (Psalms 16:11), we should try to be humble by confessing and forsaking our evils ways. Abandoning God for idols and spirit mediums only show how arrogant we are to our Creator. Psalms 27:14 says, “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” To wait on the Lord means relying only on God in matters that require divine guidance or assistance. As Christians, there are situations we do not need God’s guidance or assistance. For instance, we do not need God’s guidance about whether to help a widow or orphan in need. We do not also need God’s guidance whether to commit fornication or not. These are already settled matters. However, we should work hard and wait solely on God for our material and financial blessings. We can also wait for God in matters involving making unpredictable choices.  

In Proverbs 8:34, God says, “Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” So many Christians have waited for God and still suffered loss. This is because they missed a crucial fact. Let us consider the account of Psalms 130:5. “I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.” Waiting require total surrender. While waiting for God, some also consult witch doctors and other devilish agents. Many others wait for God without hope in His word. There is power in the word of God. The word of God is light unto our feet. It gives direction. It is recorded in Hebrew 4:12 that, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." It means that when we need something very urgently, the word of God is quick enough to deliver them on time. When we are faced with tough opposition, the word of God is strong enough to defend us. The word of God is sharp enough to cut any chain holding us in captivity. 

As Christians, we are under obligation to wait on God in the tradition of “watch and pray” (Matthew 26:41). No one waits on God diligently and suffer loss. We must purify our bodies so that His word in Matthew 7:7 would come to pass in our lives. We must always remember Psalm 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” In Mark 11:25-16, Jesus instructed that, “And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Our salvation is tied to our sinless nature through divine grace or our own personal efforts. See Philippians 2:12. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

How to triumph over our enemies

There is no doubt about the fact that every person on earth has one or more enemies. It is also the desire of everybody to find ways to triumph over their enemies. As Christians, how do we go about engaging our enemies? Let us first consider the account in 1 Corinthians 6:19. “Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” When the spirit of God dwells in us, we will profess His nature and therefore be unable to commit sin, behave abnormally, or hurt our fellow humans. This is because; it is the spirit that controls the physical. See Matthew 4:1.

The first step anyone should to take towards triumphing over his or her enemies is to correctly identify them. Unfortunately, more than 2,000 years after the ascension of Jesus Christ to Heaven, most Christians still do not know who their real enemies are. This is the reason for God’s lamentation in Hosea 4:6. It accounts for why many Christians have lost their battles against their common enemy- Satan and its numerous agents. According to Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Our real enemies are not human beings but principalities and powers. Whenever we defile our bodies, the spirit of God leaves us. It is at this point that principalities and powers take over the control of our minds. Let us reflect on Matthew 12:43-45.

Man was created in the image and likeness of God. All cases of sin, sickness, poverty, disappointment, and anti-social behaviours such as quarrelling, fighting, stealing, drunkenness, anger, hate, jealousy, and lying are all influenced by diverse evil spirits residing inside of the persons concerned. We have had several opportunities to witness the manifestations of spiritual wives and husbands in people. Let us also consider the following scriptures to get a deeper understanding of the workings of principalities and powers in the lives of humans. Luke 13:11-13, John 3:8-10, Mark 1:23-26, Mark 1:32, Acts 16:16, Matthew 16:8, Matthew 8:31-32, Matthew 12:22, Matthew 12:43, Matthew 15:22, and Matthew 17:18. 

It is also important to understand that spiritual battles are not fought with hands, guns, or bombs. See 1 Samuel 17:47 and Zechariah 4:6. Even the physical battles we fight are programmed in the spirit realm. In all our battles, we should rely on the assurances of God as recorded in 2 Chronicle 20:15, Nehemiah 4:20, Deuteronomy 3:22, Deuteronomy 20:1-4, Psalms 60:12, and Psalms 118:6-7. God was very direct in Exodus 14:13-14: “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” Owing to either lack of faith and feeling of guilt, most Christians have refused to hold their peace in the presence of their enemies. They panic at the slightest attack and call their Pastors.

In relying on God for our defense, He has given some conditions. We should consider the record of Job 2:3. “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?  And still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.”  It is recorded in 2 Chronicles 16:9, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” It is clear that God does not fight for those who are outside His canopy. Ephesians 6:11 has a guide on how one can come under the canopy of God. “Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Verses 13-18 of Ephesians 6 states that, “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

Finally, we do not need to fear our enemies- spiritual or physical. Since God has no respect for Satan and its agents, He ignores them to bless us even in their presence, as was the case of King David, which is recorded in Psalms 23:5-6. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Remember, the Psalmist promised to dwell in the house of God (to be under His canopy) not for one month or twenty years. He said “Forever.”

Are we supposed to be our brothers/sisters’ keepers?

Are we supposed to be our brothers/sisters’ keepers?

One major characteristic of the early Christian community was their deep and sincere concern for each other’s welfare. This was so because, as demonstrated by Jesus Christ Himself, Christianity is all about seeking the good of mankind. We must remember that a mind that has no love cannot do any good to a relation, friend, neighbor, or colleague. In practical terms, love is the foundation for unity, peace, prosperity, and joy. If our political leaders have love in their hearts, the masses will taste the dividends of democracy. No wonder, the Bible says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” (Proverbs 29:2). It also means that when Christians live righteous lives, the people around them will all be happy. Is this what is happening today? The answer is definitely NO! So many people are suffering on the face of the earth because too many Christians have refused to be their brothers and sisters’ keepers.

In most developed countries, there is what they call Social Security Benefit. This is a program to take care of the basic needs of the unemployed among them. This is a good example of “being our brothers/sisters’ keepers.” Let this be a genuine challenge to all Christians to make it a lifestyle to identify with the needs of the poor, widows, and orphans around them.

We are living in a generation where instead of responding positively to God’s desire concerning showing love and kindness to our brothers, sisters, and neighbors in need; we chose to join spirit with Cain who never saw any reason why he should be responsible for his brother’s good. That was the simple reason why Cain could boldly ask God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” As Christians, we are all expected to be our brothers and sisters’ keepers. By doing so, we are sowing joy and happiness in the lives of the people around us. Since He God is not a liar, He will definitely water our lives and cause us to reap a hundred fold of whatever we have sown in other people’s lives. It is not late. Let us be wise and win God’s heart and get our prayers answered today.  

We cannot claim to love God and yet allow the people He created in His own image and likeness to suffer poverty and neglect. Let us consider what is recorded in 1 John 4:20. “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

There is also a message for those who are afraid of doing good mainly because of some nasty experiences they suffered because of their benevolence in the past. This is what the Bible says in 1 Peter 3: 13-17.  “And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.”

A Deeper Understanding of Prayers

A Deeper Understanding of Prayers

The Bible says God cannot lie because He is not a man. (Numbers 23:19). If so, why has God’s promises of “Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you…”as recorded in Matthew 7:7 not expectedly fulfilled in our lives? This is one critical issue that bothers Christians daily. It has no doubt contributed greatly to the weakening of the faith of many believers. Because of this, some even doubt the fact that God answers prayers.

The Bible has clearly pointed out to us that God is blameless. It means that He does not have the nature to do evil or hurt His people. Could it then mean that we are responsible for why our prayers are not answered? Before we make the mistake of blaming God for our many unanswered prayers, let us do well to examine the following facts:

1.      The Bible has warned us in Galatians 6:7 that, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Prayer is like fertilizer. It only helps our seeds and crops to grow faster and bigger. The question that readily comes to mind is: What crop or seed have we sowed in our lives? Based on this gospel fact, can we then sow poverty and expect God to answer our prayers for financial blessings? Is it possible for us to hate people and turn around to expect our husbands, wives, children, neighbors, or superiors in our places of work to love us? As Christians, we must endeavor to sow the very things we want to reap in our lives. The Bible has recorded in Matthew 7:12 that, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you do ye even so to them for this is the law and the prophets.” It means that we must show mercy to people if we want to obtain mercy from God. We must be kind to people if want God to answer our prayers for kindness. We must show people favour if want God to answer our prayers for favour. It is very likely that majority or even all of us have been praying for God’s blessing in order to build our own houses. The question is: How many of us have faithfully contributed towards the building of God’s house or helped a relation, friend, or neighbor facing accommodation challenges? When we bless people with our money, clothing, or food; we propel God to answer our prayers for financial and material breakthroughs. Let this message free us from the bondage of ignorance and open our eyes to the Truth so that we can benefit from the gift of God’s abundant blessings.

2.      The Bible says, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33). What then is the “Kingdom of God and its righteousness”? The answer can be found in 1 Peter 3:10-12. “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

3.      Let us above all consider Mark 11:25 and Psalms 66:18.

The foundation of the spirit to do good is captured in Mark 12:32-34. “And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.”

Without love for God and our neighbors, we cannot do things good enough to please God. It is natural that we cannot have our prayers answered if we do not please God. Nevertheless, it must be clearly understood that our prayers are sometimes not answered for reasons other than sin. For instance, if our desires are not in line with God’s master plan (James 4:3). Sometimes, God delay answering our prayers in order to force us back on the right track. In some other cases, God may simply want to see the level of our faith in Him. This was the case when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. There are also instances where God uses our faith in Him to send strong messages to Satan and its agents, as was the case with Job. We should therefore be strong and keep our faith even in the midst of difficulties and disappointments if we are truly in right standing with God. Let us be wise.