Start at 23/ August 2015

God indeed moves in mysterious ways. I have met people and made friends on
Facebook. Some of these Facebook initiated friendships stand out. Mine with Brother
Bob is like that. I see an Elisha followership spirit in him. He has followed me from
Gilgal. To Bethel, we have been together. And it is obvious, he wants to go the whole
hog. I wish Bob well. He is a young man fantastically athirst for more of everything
that is good and godly. My prayer is that his entire desire along this line will be
fulfilled. More grace. More anointing. More of Jesus. All I pray in Jesus name.

THEY NEED NOT DEPART (13/10/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
Thank God, it is another wonderful day, the good LORD has graciously made. Do hope you are
enjoying your relationship with Jesus? Such a wonderful relationship. Jesus is truly a lover. Hear
his gripping love talk Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in
heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light
(Matt.11:29-30) Who is a God like Him? Ask people that worship Mammy Water, whether their
god is meek and lowly in heart. Ask those who used to go to bow before Alusi Okija before
desperate politicians made us know that there are 419 gods, if Ogwugwu is meek and lowly of
heart. Ask those that worship and serve Sango if Sango is meek and lowly. Only our God is the
meek and lowly of heart God. Possible reason why some foolishly take Him for granted and do
all kinds of things in the name of religion. But whoever understands the mystery ways of love
will never take God for granted. His yoke is indeed easy. His burden light. Wonder why all the
complain by some. You know what? Obedience is sweet in love. Submission comes flowing
freely without friction and stress where there is love. Christs love makes obedience and
submission so simple and sweet. Do you know why some leaders are terribly resisted and
opposed by their followers? Theirs is not a love driven leadership. They just love to be in control
and in charge, issuing orders. Gods leadership is a love driven one. Because love is irresistible,
you cannot resist a loving leader. Ask loving husbands if they need to shout till the roof of the
house come crashing before they get their wives submission. Submission cannot resist love. Like
a magnet, love attracts submission. It flows and follows naturally. I love my Jesus because He
started it all He loved me first. What about you.
Oh, that four year old Indian girl gang raped by men from hell. The news came throbbing
through my entire psyche yesterday when I heard it. Several questions ran through my mind.
What is this? Is it really about sex? What is the sexual appeal in a four year old girl? You know
when these rapists complain, it is the way a woman dressed that made them rape her. Now even
if a four year old girl walks the street totally naked, what is there to really arose the tiger of rape?
Haba! Did we not see kids doing rain dance in the village in those days in their natural
elements? Who cared? There must be something demonically abnormal and strange about men
who rape women, mostly these underage girls. Soon, somebody will tell us that rapists were born

rapists, so they should be allowed. In an age where sin is easily legalized, will they not legalize
rape? I am praying for the little girl as she recuperates in a Delhi hospital after the brutal attack.
May God have mercy to save these innocent young women from men having this hellish sexual
orientation. I dont think it is about sex. Something more sinister is behind this.
I introduce the topic, I will be trusting God to run with in the weeks and possibly months ahead.
The topic VICTORY FOR THE YOUNG Possibly you have read or heard of Battle for the
Young before now. Hell has been up marshalling all kinds of strategies to win young people to
its side. All kinds of forces battling for the soul of young people. A battle whose ante has been
terribly raised since the beginning of the new millennium with the rambling and rambunctious
globalization trending. All over the world, you see young people protesting and resisting. More
than restive before, they view all values and ethos before them with much incredulity and doubt
yet with naivety and gullibility go for all things thrown at them that are not of much value.
Loitering along the path of life, they wander like sheep without a shepherd. And last Sunday,
having them much in my mind, I submitted in a forerunning article that it is TOO RISKY TO
LIVE WITHOUT BIBLICAL GUIDE
For more than two decades now after graduating from the University, I have been out there in our
schools and tertiary institutions of learning reaching out to students well informed young
people the most endangered in the horrific plot of hell to use information technology (a
wonderful too for progress and advancement if well used) to steal, and to kill, and to destroy
(John 10:10). What else is the vision and mission statement of hell? The battle for the young as
far as hell is concerned is hinged and driven by this vision made known to us by Christ himself.
Wete isi, nye isi. Hell has no single free gift. It is Give one, Take two. And hells number one
target is young people mostly the educated. More than two decades of ministry among young
people. More than two decades of evangelism and discipleship. My desire is to share with you
my experience in a meditational way using scriptural and practical illustrations. Paul said I am
debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians; both to the wise and to the unwise (Rom.1:14).
I am debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians of young people, both to the wise and to the
unwise of this people group. Maybe you are as a debtor as I am. These meditations will be of
much help. And for you the young, who will be reading me as we go through this you will find
rest in this restless world. You will find the guidepost to bliss in the present and future life. You
will find the right direction to life. You must not get lost in this maze and mess. I sincerely
believe that the lily can grow out of a mess. Something good can come out of Nazareth. We must
not surrender to stereotypes built through the ages by men.
Before our ever compassionate Jesus fed the five thousand people with five loaves of bread and
two fishes, his disciples came to him urging him to send the multitude away having found
themselves in a desert place. But Jesus told them They need not depart: give ye them to eat
(Matt.14:16). History is at its eventide. The entire world is at a Desert Place. Many are thirsty
and hungry. The reason for all the noise you hear. The reason for all the rumbling. The reason for
all the protest. The reason for all the shooting. The reason for all the movements and migrations.
Anger because of hunger. And Jesus is saying, do not allow them depart to be destroyed, Give
ye them to eat. And do not say you do not have to give them. You have and this Jesus knows.
And why will I not be indebted to young people considering what it took God to save me His
only begotten son. Come to think about it, the religiously young is the easiest to allow to depart.

He/she does not protest. No noise. Easy going. Seemingly no threat. I grew up as a young person
not looking for anybodys trouble. I gave my parents no heat in my teen years. My teachers at all
levels from my Lagos Kindergarten days to my University days bear wonderful testimonies
about me. I could have been left alone to quietly and religiously walk to hell. But God who sees
everybody from the heart knew very well I needed help. At the College of Technology Owerri,
between 1984 and 1986 He sent a daughter of His to go after me. She was a HND 1 architecture
student when I was an ND 1 Chemical Engineering student. Her name is Sister Ihuoma Erondu.
Oh, dear, she never gave up on me. At the lecture hall she came asking after my welfare. Even at
my Engineering Workshop place, she came all the way from her school of environmental studies
looking for me. At my hostel room, she visited with a brother. Along the campus path, her feeble
frame will appear asking Harold, hope you will come to fellowship? And even if I have decided
not to go, for her love and effort I will. Even when on the night of Saturday, April 5 1986 when I
made the all important decisions, she was there to smile through it all, congratulating me after.
Her follow-up was wonderful as her following me after. We graduated together, her HND 2, I
ND 2. Same Christian Union (CU) sent us forth in July of 1986. I never saw her again till date.
But she did her job and I am eternally grateful. Why then will I not pursue after students if God
used her to pursue to get me. Wonder where I would have been today if Sister Ihuoma and others
did not obey God.
God forbid that I shall be disobedient to this heavenly vision. May the LORD bless us all through
the messages that will follow in the days ahead.
Shalom.
TOO RISKY LIVING WITHOUT BIBLICAL GUIDE
Two Sundays ago today, I arrived Benin from Sapele where I have gone to be used of God to
train some Delta state leaders of SCM. It was raining when I entered the ancient capital city of
the once thriving Bini kingdom. In fact I had to take cover under a certain decrepit gas station. I
was not alone as the rain forced all kinds of persons into the same place. We were too many
there. The ever ubiquitous miscreants and street urchins seen in several of our cities here in
Nigeria were there terribly fouling the air with the stench of their smoking spree. It was a terribly
disturbing place for me. Once the rain took a break, I took a brisk walk to catch a taxi going to
the University of Benin side where I was headed to. It was from inside the taxi that I looked and
saw like the writer of the book of Proverbs and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned
among the youths, young men and women void of understanding (Prov.7:7). It was the Sunday of
the last Sallah break. Some parties were still going on. I saw this group of young people
mingling around with all wears on them tearing and sagging off. Like Paul at Athens my spirit
was stirred in me when I saw these city boys and girls loitering about like sheep without a
Shepherd. Like Jesus, I was moved with compassion on sighting them. The first question that
swirled through me was How safe is these young people, most especially the girls at the place
where I found them. The second question Do their parents know where they were at that time?
Oh, I felt for them. They could have been at a better and safer place at that time doing better
things.

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death
(Prov.14:12). As far as those young people I saw at a Benin street corner were concerned, where
they were and what they were doing at that point in time was part of their own idea of being on
top of their world. Thinking they were enjoying life, they never knew they were like doing a
roulette on a precipice. The young man void of understanding which the wise narrator of the
book of Proverbs saw at the strange womans seductive corner was at a dire dangerous spot. He
was walking into the killer cobweb of the impervious seductress barring her fangs like a
dangerous cobra about to strike a victim. And if you follow that narration, we come to the point
where it is said of the young man He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter,
or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to
the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life (Prov.7:22-23). This is the state of anybody
living under the Sun without scriptural guidance. As a bird hastens to the snare and knows not
that it is for its life so is anybody walking the path of life without Gods word as a guide.
Nothing risky can be so risky.
Why is it that the bird hastens to the snare without knowing it is for its life? It cannot see beyond
the surface attraction of the snare. It is like the fish and the delicious bait dangling before it. Not
in the wildest imagination of the fish will it know that beyond the sweet salad of a bait is a killer
hook waiting to destroy. Life without godly guidance through Gods word is like that. For some
young people, it is not as if they want to live the way they are living. Just that it is what the
society presented to them. Some, if shown the way, the truth and life, they will follow to embrace
what is shown to them. Have you ever met a man at the very twilight of life lament that if he had
known what he came to know in old age when he was younger, he could not have made several
mistakes or committed several blunders. People who know Gods word and live in true
obedience do not commit the several mistakes that people make in life.
Check through the entire human population today. What do you observe? A terribly chaotic
situation among young people. Confusion everywhere. Young people being used by desperate
politicians and religious leaders who by their actions, utterances and lives are too distant from
the God they claim to represent. Used as fodders to further selfish interests.
And Moses wrote about a nation without counsel and void of understanding. The counsel and
understanding that comes only by Gods word. And he lamented O that they wise, that they
understood this, that they would consider their latter end (Deut.32:29). Hardly will the unwise
understand or consider the latter end of their actions. They move about like the ox. Dont live life
like that. There is a guide to life in God. There is a counsel about life in His word. Do not despise
Gods word in any way. Do not follow the multitude in their mad throng and movement. Ponder
the path of life. Life is a precious gift from God. He has the ways about life in His word. Do not
believe the lie of hell that His word is for the weak minded and silly. It is not true. Do not expose
yourself to be a pathetic victim of the snare of hell. You want to avoid the blunders of life, then
embrace the word of God.
Jesus told ever busy and boisterous Martha But one thing is needful (Luke 10:42). Sitting at
the feet of Jesus to learn from Him. That was the Marys choice that became the exemplary
number one choice. Even highly religious people have left this one thing that is needful to pursue
other things. Careful and troubled about many things. Incidentally, Martha took herself as a
hardworking religious person. Hard work! Where is the head of a hard work done outside this

one thing that heaven considers needful. What is the point of a hard work done outside what
pleases God? The one thing that is needful is about what your life needs most. It is about your
feeding from the word of God. It is about being in Gods presence. It is about your altar life. It is
about prayer and worship. It is about your closet life. It is more important to God than all the
meetings and methods. What is the point of sleepless nights of religious meetings outside this
one thing that is needful? Too sad that the 21st century has more Martha followers than people
who do what Mary did. We assume we have heard God enough. We assume we have worshipped
him enough. So, lets do other things like the people of the world do. We miss it to land in a
mess.
My dear stick to Gods word. Do not loiter about life like those young people I saw at Benin on
that rainy Sunday of September 2015. Like sheep without a Shepherd. There is a Shepherd. Jesus
is the Shepherd. Gods word is the Shepherd. Stay with the Shepherd to stay saved.
Shalom.

BRETHREN, TIME IS SHORT..LIVE WITHOUT DISTRACTIONS (10/10/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
Glad connecting to you this morning. I read something yesterday that blessed me in a wonderful
way. I had finished praying early yesterday morning and the moment I placed my hands on the
switch to put on the light to work, PHCN light went off. I smiled back to the place of prayer and
later with my handset sent out few messages one of them saying that IT PAYS TO PRAY. I
also wrote about King Solomons three stages of life and his writings at those stages his love
song in his younger days, his proverbs in his middle years and then Ecclesiastes in his twilight
years. In Ecclesiastes he wrote more out of experience. Same yesterday, right there as I smiled
back after PHCN failed, I wrote on Your passion and your job. You cannot deliver much if your
job is not located in your passion. Too frustrating a thing if a job slides into drudgery.
It was later I read through Rev.Dr. Selwyn Hughes in his Every Day With Jesus of what
Oswald Chambers wrote on, some years ago. He wrote The root of sin is the suspicion that God
is not good. And then Selwyn who got highly ministered to when he first caught this revelation
wrote No soul can experience deep inner peace unless it rests ultimately in the goodness of
God..If you go through life habouring doubts about the goodness of God then your inner
strength and surety will quickly be undermined. And no wonder Selwyns had this great inner
strength all through his life before in 2006 he went home to be with the LORD. Lost his wife
through cancer, witnessed the death of his two sons before he left after battling cancer himself.
Things that would have made him doubt the goodness of God. No wonder, he still lived up to 78
years despite cancer and the loss of wife and children. No medicine heals and keeps healthy like
inner peace. And the source of it is in the unwavering belief that God is more than 100% good
and that He cannot do you any wrong. My dear, never, never doubt the goodness of God. Never
allow life situations and circumstances lie to you about God.
Now, message 34 of Marriage: What saith the scriptures

But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as
though they had none. And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice as
though they rejoiced not, and they that buy, as though they possessed not. And they that use this
world, as not abusing it, for the fashion of this world passeth away (1Cor.7:29-31).
As I promised, I will now bring this part one of my marriage series to a conclusion. I trust God
you are blessed.
The book form of it is in the making. Pray along with me for wisdom in formatting and other
processes leading to its book birth.
I have written to state that it is natural in a born being to desire to birth a being in his own image.
So I never took that for granted. We must not consider as unserious spiritual people, Christians
earnestly desiring children in their marriage. It is a legitimate desire. It is the right of the married
to have children. But what do you think made Abraham go to tears in Genesis 15 over his
childless situation. God was speaking to Abraham and instead of paying attention, he showed
God a placard of protest with the inscription Lord, God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go
childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus (Gen.15:2). That placard had
at its other face another inscription Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and lo, one born in
my house is mine heir (Gen.15:3). It was what society made of Abraham that made him begin to
think that way. As far as the society is concerned, it was like he never ever lived if it was not to
be his own biological son that will be his heir. He kept mentioning Eliezer of Damascus. I do not
think that Gods thought about us as humans having children is same as our own thoughts (Isaiah
55:8-9). God thinks differently. As far as God is concerned there is nothing about Amaechina
(let my path and lineage not close) or Ahamefuna (let my name not get lost) on having
children. Each child he gives is for a purpose His purpose and pleasure not for the purpose and
pleasure of parents.
I have two biological children all females. Yes, I desired a mix as a man but got what God
purposed. I actually agreed with my wife during courtship that we are going to have three
children. And we asked for a mix. We got these two and some want me to carry a placard before
God or to begin to behave desperately. No, I do not do things the Holy Spirit does not allow me
to do. I have learned to always find peace and contentment in Gods will. I love my two
daughters a lot. Good enough they are exceptionally brilliant and godly daughters. The younger
is no doubt a prodigy. What she does at her age amazes all. And by Gods grace, I and my wife
have united in giving them the best in terms of discipleship and other training. But you know I
have this very concerned kinsman of mine who each time I am in the village, he comes around to
pray for me. He earnestly wants me to have a male child. Oh, I appreciate him so much. With joy
I welcome him and amen his prayers but you see as far as having children on earth is concerned
both male and female, God has helped me to think like Him in that wise. You see, part of what
effective discipleship does is to make you have Gods mind on all issues of life. Thinking as men
think on having children can really be a disturbing and distracting burden. We must free
ourselves from such burdens. It amazes me when some pity me because I have only female
children. Pity based on perception. And the thinking that the prophet is mad comes from a
perception that is terribly tilted towards the natural. And I encourage all, have a Christ-like
attitude towards every matter of life (Phil 2:5). It helps a lot. I think I have the madness of a
prophet.

Time is short. 70 years is short. Even Methuselahs 969 years is still short. It is nothing compared
to eternity where we are headed to and where Jim Reeves of blessed memory told us We never
grow old. Life being short, we must not waste a part of it in needless distractions. Paul advised
that both they that have wives be as though they had none. It is not something you give your
whole attention to, worrying about this or that. Nothing spoils if you remain as one not having a
wife because there are people who all their lives had none. Paul had none. You have children
good and fine but nothing to brag about. Often live as if you do not have because true there are
people who had none. Paul had none yet he lived to fulfill purpose and destiny.
Yes, not all can bear with some realities. You want to adopt a child. No problem, but do not do it
because that is what others in your kind of situation are doing. Be led to it by Gods Spirit. Pray
to know Gods will in it as you prayed for Gods will in marriage. Neglect not the legal aspect of
it. Do not buy a child, adopt. That word buy is a dishonor to the dignity of man. Dont go to
where they gather girls and ask some boys to be impregnating them. Nothing is as disgusting as
that. It looks abominable. Preferably adopt children who needed help because they lost their
parents through wars or sicknesses. Dont get yourself in a slavery racket to say you are adopting
a child. Slavery in all its forms is evil and ungodly. Also conduct all the necessary medical tests
on a child before signing the adoption papers. And if it is a sickness that you can trust God to be
treated, still adopt and let God use you to bring healing to the baby. Human life deserves respect
and this must not be taken for granted in all cases of adoption. Aim at discipling and bringing up
the adopted child in the way of the LORD.
Adopting children is not only for childless couples. Couples that have children can adopt more
children as a way of helping to raise children in godliness. Couples called to children ministry
can do this or even run Orphanages. We remember George Muller was good in the Orphanage
ministry. It is a great ministry. If childless couples are called to it, why not.
And let us do what men like Paul did Discipleship. Lets do what Pa Elton and his wife did at
Ilesha for years before they went home to be with the LORD. They were English missionaries to
Nigeria who adopted Nigeria as their own country. Several great ministers of God today in
Nigeria passed through their discipleship. You do not need biological children to have children in
school at your expense. Invest in lives. Get involved in training people. Often there is this fear by
childless couples about who will take care of them in old age. Sow in taking care of others today,
when you grow old, you will reap in being taking care of. True disciples do not forget those who
were instrumental to their discipleship. Even as a single, unmarried person, put your hands on the
plough of discipling people. It pays a lot so to do.
I wish you bliss in your marriage and home.
Shalom.

MY CANDID ADVICE TO THE UNMARRIED AND CHILDLESS (07/10/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,

Welcome to Wednesday, October 7, 2015, thanking God for the gift and sustenance of life. We
owe all to Him who ever cares.
My dear He loves and cares for you. Never allow your situation or circumstance lie to you about
God. He does not disappoint. He does not ignore. He does not despise. He does not forsake. He
knows you by your first name. He understands the painting of your heart. Keep your focus on
Him. It is well.
Message 33 of Marriage: What saith the Scriptures
Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear, break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst
not travail with child for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married
wife saith the Lord. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine
habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes. For thou shalt break forth on
the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities
to be inhabited. Fear not: for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded: for thou
shall forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any
more. For thy Maker is thine husband: the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy redeemer the
Holy One of Israel: The God of the whole earth shall he be called. For the LORD hath called
thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused,
saith thy God (Isaiah 54:1-6)
Have you ever wondered as I have, why a very lovely sister, beautiful and diligently serving the
LORD remains unmarried after many years? I have sat in a counseling desk to counsel and pray
with such sisters often with tears on my eyes and theirs as we converse together. For me wishing
I have the powers to fix up the matter with them. And then I pray also for such to find peace with
the will of God. Gods will can really be amazing. Not usually what you wish or think but
usually the best for us in all situations. It took me time to understand what the Holy Spirit led
Apostle Paul to write in Romans 8:28 thus And we know that all things work together for good
to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. It took God using
this Presbyterian church minister one Sunday morning service at my then All Saints Chapel of
Redemption, Abia State University to grasp it. And through the years I have seen it work out
practically in my walk with God.
God is extremely good. I mean 100% plus. He cannot do wickedness because there is no
wickedness in Him even to the least proportion. As I have wondered over the preeminently
qualified to marry yet not married, have I wondered over childless couples. Often the best in
commitment and consecration, yet no children. How it took me years after attending my first
Deeper Life Church in Mando, Kaduna to know that my ever loving pastor does not have a
biological child. Oh, dear and you will never know seeing his dedication and that of his wife
then. As it was with Zacharias and Elizabeth, so it is with some couples today. And they were
both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the LORD
blameless. And they had no child.. (Luke 1:6-7). There are couples like that today. Singles
like that righteous before God, blameless in all, yet not married.
And you know, it is natural for he or she that is born to desire to born as well. It comes naturally.
My first daughter loves playing a mother. Even at 13 in a few days time she still does. At SS 1,
Secondary school class 4 in my own days, she still does. She still has her doll babies with names,
often setting them up in a mock class to teach them. She gathers pieces of clothes around her

tummy to look pregnant, expecting another baby. I watch her do those things and I see the
craving for babies in a normal woman. So why blame a woman crying day and night to have her
own baby. Have you heard a woman tell you before Let it be said that I conceived once and the
thing miscarried? I have heard women who said so. Yet, there are some, any scratch with a man,
the thing enters. Yet, several babies are being wasted every minute through abortion. I wonder,
do women who abort for fun consider these distraught and weeping women looking for
children at all?
I sincerely appreciate the concerns and travails of the unmarried and childless. It is not easy as is
often said. And often the society does not help matters. Especially down here in Africa. The
unmarried woman is blamed as if she will marry herself or rubbish her honor as a woman to be
begging men to marry her. Even you see some mothers asking their daughters to do stupid things
so as to woo or seduce men to marry them. They call them all kinds of mockery names. The
woman without children is blamed even when medically it may be the husband that is sterile in a
way. And then you check names given to children, you will have an understanding of societys
perception over the matter of having children. When you hear names like Amaechina ( my path
or lineage will not end), names like Ahamuefuna (my name shall not get lost) you will clearly
read to know why some terribly mourn the matter of not having children. To the point of
desperation, leading to getting children anyhow.
My dear, never be desperate to get children anyhow. Children gotten anyhow live and behave
anyhow. I have known parents who have regretted ever having children as those children turned
life to hell for them. Actually some children behave as if they are custom made and sent from
hell. Children are the heritage of the LORD and the fruit of the womb his reward. Having
children honestly is beyond biology. God does it. And it is damn too dangerous setting God aside
in the matter of having children. Some have gotten children after rituals and strange baths here
and there. Haba! All for having children or getting married, you mortgage your destiny and
eternity? Dont do that. After all for how long are we staying here on earth? Do we cross over to
eternity with spouses and children? Everything ends here when we cross to the other side.
You must ask God for perfect peace to live in the reality of what is His will. There is no
desperation in destiny. Focus on purpose your God ordained purpose. For me, life is fulfilled in
fulfilling purpose. Why am I on this earth in the first place? Of course not primarily to marry and
bear children but to live and fulfill purpose. Other things naa jara as we say in Nigeria. Children
naa jara actually. Dont kill yourself over the jaras of life. Remember John Wesley. When he died
on March 2, 1791, he left behind not much in material things, not even one known single
biological child. He left a legacy that towers above millions of biological children or money
filling the whole earth. Two years ago, I spent a whole week dissecting through the entire life of
Wesley in my JOHN WESLEY OF ENGLAND: 222 YEARS AFTER. Now 224 years after,
the name of he who had no biological child still rings bell. The Methodist church, his only
begotten son is still very much alive. Where then do we situate Ahamuefuna? In living purpose
or living to bear children? Not too long ago, popular Times Magazine of England named Wesley
among the 100 English persons of all times that influenced their generation most. Ever be
remembered by what we have done.
What of Mary Mitchell Slessor? On the bright morning of January 13, 1915, at the remote village
of Use Ikot Oku, 66 year old Miss Presbyterian (as I choose to call her) left the world she came

to, saw and conquered. She was not married and had no biological child, yet the natives
(Calabar) described her as Eka Kpukpru owo meaning Everybodys mother. As far as man
lives, the world not even Calabar alone will never forget this woman.
Space will not allow me to write today on Mother Teresa. How many husbands did she marry?
Of course none as she was a Roman Catholic nun. How many children did she bear? None of
course, yet millions of street children of India know no other mother than that little but mighty
woman of God. She gave her life to sacrifice and selfless service to God and humanity. Where
are you this morning? Crying, sorrowing and mourning at a corner. Wipe away your tears. Sing,
my dear for your children shall be more than the children of the married. Commit your entire life
to serving the LORD. If you do, be rest assured that God WILL NEVER FORGET the labors of
your love (Heb.6:10). He is not unrighteous to forget. He is faithful. He is a rewarder. And they
shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts in that day when I make up my jewels, and I will spare
them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him (Mal.4:17) When the jewels of glory are
made, I shall be remembered. You shall be remembered. Peradventure you opt for child adoption.
No problem with that, if the legal papers are well done and child well tested medically to make
sure no threatening congenital sickness within. But I will trust the Holy Spirit to throw more
light on that by tomorrow. Wishing you a lovely day today.
Shalom.

CELIBACY: A CALL NOT A COMMAND (06/10/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
To God be all the glory who has in mercy given us another day. We appreciate Him.
Please do take note that the style of this messages coming to you as Love Letters from yours
truly is sincerely deliberate. From where I come from there is a saying that when you mention
uncle or auntie (Dedee in Igbo) the mind settles. It means that even if there is a heated argument
or even a quarrel once that is mentioned, peace like a river will attend to flush away wrath and
anger. In the cause of reading my mail, you may disagree based on your perceptions. You may
even assume that the writer is arrogant or uncaring. But the dearly beloved beginning has a way
of assuaging anger or removing any form of bitterness. And from the depths of my heart,
whoever you are reading me is dearly beloved to me. And you know as a writer, I get insulted at
times from readers, but it does not change my love for whoever is doing that. It makes no sense
to me insulting somebody you have not met physically but intellectually. I once wrote something
on the fallacy of what is known as the mother church attributable to the Roman Catholic church.
I wrote on what I have come to see as the Peterine dynasty with regard to the office of the pope.
I wrote that it is not right to categorize Peter as a pope and again he was a married Peter. Oh,
some Roman Catholic readers of my messages took me to the cleaners. One of them, a man I
have respected so much over the years, a former director general of Radio Nigeria who wrote
either from the U.K or U.S. He is from my Eastern Nigerian place, so I still addressed him as my
Dedee as we disagreed on. In fact it is like some decided to un-friend me on Facebook because
they can no longer take this. My dearly beloved they remain. With charity to all, and malice to

none remains. Friend, you remain beloved to me. Sincerely speaking, I love you. And that is why
it takes me a lot of denials and pains to reach you every morning.
My final thoughts on Marriage: What saith the Scriptures coming in as message 32. These final
thoughts will take few days - one, two or three. I have already by last night introduced a new
topic which I may run through with the rest of the year and into 2016. I will do this today, take
on adopting children and give a general counsel to couples who may be passing through fire in
their marriage relationships. Even divorce cases. Reconciliation is possible. The pieces can be
picked and gathered back. A day of dancing can follow a night of weeping. Impossibilities
becoming possibilities with and in God.
His disciples say unto him, if the case of the man be so with the wife, it is not good to marry.
But he said unto them, all men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given. For
there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mothers womb: and there are some
eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men, and there be eunuchs which have made themselves
eunuchs for the kingdom of heavens sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive
it(Matt.19:10-12).
Hearing Jesus speak directly on a matter is more than hearing from the horses mouth. He has the
final say on every matter. Arguing him makes no sense at all. The way the disciples of Jesus
responded to the No Divorce, No Dissolution message of Jesus, it was as if they were in love
with this Moses provision about possibly putting away of a wife. When Jesus took them to the
very beginning of marriage and told them that what was being practiced was not in Gods
marriage blueprint, they all said then It is not good to marry. To them, if assuming a marriage
becomes a migraine and you must have to live with it without an opening to get out, then it is not
worth it. If it is like a cul-de-sac thing, there is no point. If it is till death do part despite the fire
inside then it is good not to marry they reasoned. Human beings naturally want to go for stressless alternatives. But I humbly ask Is there any good success without stress? The disciples of
Jesus reasoned that a proviso of escape should be made in case a marriage runs into troubled
waters. A provision they did not get from Jesus.
But how can what is said to be Gods idea be thought as not being good. And there are some
young unmarried ones who due to the stories they hear about marriages have started reasoning
like these disciples of Jesus saying If it be so, I better remain single. No, marriage is extremely
and exceptionally good. Any man given to marry remains a half-man until he marries a true
help-meet to become complete. Same with a woman given to marry. She remains a halfwoman till her better half comes. The capacity of somebody, either a man or woman given to
marriage will remain incapacitated in a way until such marries.
It is obvious from the answer of Jesus to his disciples that celibacy is not something to be forced
on anybody, not even by religious coercion. It is dangerous. Paul wrote But if they cannot
contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn (1Cor.7:9). Hope you understand
burning here. And this burning can burn one into hell burning. This is that lusting in the heart
that Jesus spoke about in His Sermon on the Mount. That whosoever looketh on a woman to
lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart (Matt.5:28). What is the
point living with the lust for women and yet going about with the clerical cover-up of celibacy?
Is it not why a section of the church is today battling with all kinds of sex scandals? Burning
inside with all the bishopric appurtenances on the outside! Does that make sense?

You know the practice of masturbation is an ungodly practice of trying to get a temporary relief
from this burning known to normal and virile persons. You know in my days of Fine religious
boy, no pimples I sought for this relief that comes through masturbation. Yes, no girlfriend, yet I
burned inside. How else do you paint a portrait of hypocrisy? Only Jesus helped me when I got
saved and got sanctified and trusted the power of the Holy Spirit to stay clean within and
without.
An eunuch is a castrated male. An eunuch is a man whose ability to function sexually as a man
has been tampered with. It can be a congenital defect or man made so as to fit into some works
usually associated with ancient empires where queens needed to be protected by male guards
who must not have attraction towards them as to molest them sexually. Jesus mentioned these
two categories of eunuchs in his teaching but added a third people who for the sake of the
kingdom of heaven have voluntarily, trusting the power of the Holy Spirit to be so. To a man
naturally or man-made an eunuch the nakedness of the most beautiful woman on earth does not
move him a bit as it will make a normal man fly off curve.
Yes, marriage is not only about sex but a brother in church who for other reasons want to marry
but who is naturally an eunuch should be open about it. If a sister he wants to marry can take it,
no problem, but she should be told. She should not discover that bro cannot function by accident.
That kind of cover up should be avoided by Christians. Sister, if by any way you have lost your
womb before marriage and a brother is asking for your hand in marriage, he should be made to
know before marriage is consummated through wedding. He should not discover it by accident,
unless the sister does not know she is no longer carrying a womb. If in any way breasts have
been cut off through surgery or there is nothing there at all, maybe all the while the sister is using
all these specially designed brassier to make it look as if there are things there, let a responsible
marriage committee wisely find out and if the prospective couples want things the way they are
all in love and faith, let it be. But let there be a level of openness instead of honeymoon
embarrassments that may lead to broken hearts and break-ups.
Jesus, Daniel, Paul, Barnabas were wonderful examples of men who made themselves eunuchs
for the kingdom of heavens sake. For them it was like a call. It was a level of personal
consecration and commitment. That was why there were no sex scandals around these men.
Celibacy as far as bible is concerned is not a command. And if a church denomination has made
it a priestly culture, all who have volunteered to enter that order must lean on grace to keep
neatly to the tenets of that culture. I must confess that I have great regards for priests and church
workers who have sincerely chosen this kind of consecration. It has its advantage for the work of
God. But whoever that cannot bear it, can marry. Not marrying does not make anybody holier
than the person who marries. Holiness has nothing to do with marriage. As far as it is marriage as
it was in the beginning one biological man and one biological woman until death do part. My
sister check up, if it is a call for you, why trouble yourself about marrying or not marrying. Serve
the LORD and you will discover later that the children of the desolate are more than the children
of the married wife (Isaiah 54:1). Fear not for thou shall not be ashamed.. (Isaiah 54:4). If
thy Maker has chosen to be thine husband, which other husband are you talking about? Cheer up
dear. It is well. Soon we fly away to be with the master in an everlasting bliss, who shall
remember again marriage and all the children born. Ever be like Jesus.

Remain blessed.
Shalom.
BEING A WATCHDOG OVER YOUR SPOUSE (05/10/15)
Good morning dearly beloved,
Thank God it is yet another morning the good LORD has graciously made. Trust God it is well
with you. A very busy weekend it was for me to the point that it took me some time before I
heard of the twin bomb blasts at Kuje and Nyanya areas of Abuja. May the LORD comfort the
relatives of the victims and heal all that were wounded. Really a trying time for the entire world.
From dying while trying to shoot Satan in Mecca to college shooting in the U.S and then to the
boom-boom of terrorists in Nigeria and other places, it has been terrible. God lives and will
forever live. In Him, we live, move and have our being. In Him is our protection.
I appreciate friends who called or wrote text messages and through other means communicated
to ask Hope you people are safe. Yes, we are safe and will remain safe but the truth remains
that we that live individually die a little when one among us die. Tragedies such as it happened
here last Friday have been so globalized that often you forget to send such messages to ask after
your friend who live within the place where the latest happened. It was Anezi Okoro who in 1972
wrote the book One week, One trouble. Does it really take a whole week these days for
troubles to come round? They come flooding out but we thank God who remains our ever
present help in times of trouble. My wife was on Saturday morning driving her car to her
mechanic at the Kubwa end of Abuja when her car break failed along the ever busy expressway
from main town to Zuba. But thank God who came to her rescue and gave her the grace to
control the car without injuring herself or any other person. Really shocked, she caught a cold
along the line. And I was at the Wuse area of Abuja with meetings to arrange and organize.
Thank God for saving us. It is well.
Message 31, of Marriage: What saith the Scriptures
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And kept back part
of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles
feet..And Peter answered unto her, tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said,
Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the
Spirit of the LORD? Behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and
shall carry thee out (Acts 5:1-2,8,9)
Each time I read the story of this couple, I keep thinking. And we cannot by any means question
the Holy Spirit for acting the way He acted here. He is God, He can never do wrong. Just that
leaders like Peter can still like Moses intercede in prayer, peradventure the God of mercy can
show mercy to the sinning saint who repents and asks for forgiveness over a wrongful act. But
how Pastor Peter handled this case is a write up for another day.
We read of Zacharias and Elizabeth that as husband and wife respectively, they were both
righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless
(Luke 1:6). How did Daddy and Mummy John the Baptist achieve this both testimony in
righteousness and blamelessness? I did answer that when I wrote on their kind of marriage that
their both testimony became possible because they were always in the same boat Gods boat

all through their life journey. As Zacharias sat like Mary at the feet of the Master to hear Him, be
sure Elizabeth did not go the way of Martha, she sat with her husband over this one thing that is
needful (Luke 10:41-42). It is important Christian couples feed from same spiritual source. I do
not understand this idea of a husband being a Baptist and the wife being a Lutheran. Yes, the two
are Christian denominations, but the discipleship methodologies may differ. It is always better
that a husband and wife stay under one spiritual shepherd at the same time. Hearing same
Christian messages will help them achieve the both testimony in marriage like Zacharias and
Elizabeth.
Besides Aquila and Pricilla, another bible couple whose names come along as a compound name
is Ananias and Sapphira. Hardly will you read the names independently in the bible. But the
matter is that their agreement or doing things together was on the wrong side. Who knows who
among the two originated the idea of keeping part of the proceeds from the land sale and
agreeing to lie about it? Why did a dissenting voice not rise to say No, what we are doing is not
right? It is good for couples to agree to do good and also agree not to do evil. Agreement must
be perennially on the positive side. Always act right.
Couples must be bold and fearless like Paul who once confronted Peter who did what was not
right in the sight of the brethren by acting hypocritically. Paul, said But when Peter was come to
Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed (Gal.2:11). Paul and Peter
were very good friends and co-laborers in the vineyard of the LORD who also told truth to one
another. Zacharias and Elizabeth got the testimony of Blameless before God because they never
exonerated one another when either of them was to be blamed. Too often, people who are that
close like husband and wife do not tell each other the naked truth. They are careful with each
other. How can a woman be defending her husband saying he is not a wizard or an occultist
when he is? And the woman says she does not know. Few may not know indeed, but what of few
who know but dread their husbands or wives to the point of not telling or influencing them to do
what is right.
Yes, the race is an individual race, but help your spouse to make heaven at last. Think of it, a
couple who had nice times here on earth only to spend eternity on different sides. Yes, it is true
we no longer marry on the other side, but that is no reason for any one of the couple deciding to
move on saying frustratingly about the other If he/she wants to go to hell let him/her go, I am
going to heaven. Really? Going to heaven and your spouse to hell? What kind of thing is that? It
does not bother you where your wife or husband will spend eternity? Your beloved sweetie?
Haba! Your sweet baby going to hell? It does not bother you? What kind of husband or wife are
you? Love one another. Help one another. Help in prayer. Stop complaining of her/his
prayerlessness. Stop complaining of his/her spiritual shallowness. Deepen that together. That is
why the Couple Altar is very important in attaining the best in faith both in time and eternity.
Nothing can alter the marital union of a couple who takes the Couple Altar serious. Here
couples hear truth and share truth.
How can two be better than one? For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. (Ecc.4:10).
Ananias and Sapphira fell together because there was none between the two to lift up the other. A
marriage where there is no lifter between the two is on its way to destruction. That was the
problem with the Ananias and Sapphira marriage they were in the same low spiritual
wavelength.

Brother, it is too wicked of you not to be bothered by the spiritual state of your wife. Sister, it is
also too wicked of you to just be contented that you are alright spiritually when your husband is
already a wreck spiritually. And you say you are moving on. The moving on of Lot when his
wife had become a pillar of salt. What has your spouse become a pillar of? When Lot lost his
wife, what did his two Sodom brought up daughters do to him? They raped him silly leaving him
a progenitor of two evil nations (Gen. 19:35-38). Brother, has your wife started walking from
afar like Lots wife without you knowing? Maybe Lot even assumed that Madam was still
walking close not knowing that she stopped long time ago as a pillar of something. Costly
assumptions of marriage. Avoid assumptions please. Get raw, practical facts about the state of
your spouse.
You call your wife Mammy Water daughter drove her away and still singing amazing grace in
church. Which amazing grace are you singing about? Where are you going without your spouse?
Heaven? It may not be that easy. Do your part. Never relent or give up. Keep praying for your
spouse who is spiritually down. He/She will get up, I assure you. Joshua said .but as for me
and my house, we will serve the LORD (Jos.24:15). What is your own commitment concerning
your spouse and your house? Tell your spouse, you are no longer praying as you used to pray.
Tell him or her about his or her backsliding. Recently my wife told me that I no longer read
books as I used to read. Few years ago I told her that. She is telling me that now. And it is true.
Times are when tired because of the nature of my work which is always about God and His
service and I say I will not go to church on a Sunday and she will tell me that the children will be
getting the wrong signal on that wondering at a Pastor not going to church on a Sunday. I have
learned to go with them no matter how I labored through the week still on the missionary field.
And we must be humble enough to take and accept corrections and rebukes coming from our
spouses. The woman must not be made to be shut up here. Lets correct in love and humility and
lets reciprocate in accepting correction also in love and humility. God bless you.
Shalom.

AQUILA AND PRISCILLIA: A MODEL IN MARITAL TOGETHERNESS (01/10/15

Good morning dearly beloved,
Thank God for a new day and a new month. October is the first of the months with two numbers.
Do you know the song Everything naa double-double. My prayer and desire for you as we
enter this new season is that of double promotion, double blessings, doubling in every good thing
including double children (I mean twins). God is greatly faithful. I can say it a trillion times that
He never fails. He will not fail you. He will not fail me. Together, through His mercies and by
His grace, we progress in His purpose and program. Wishing you a happy New month.
Message 30 of Marriage: What saith the scriptures
Greet Pricilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus. Who have for my life laid down their own
necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles (Romans
16:3-4)

The introduction of this lovely couple as husband and wife was done by Dr. Luke as he wrote to
his friend Theophilus in a long letter spanning 28 chapters. Apostle Paul met them at Corinth
where they migrated to after being asked by Claudius (probably a governor) to leave Italy where
they had lived all their lives as Jews (Acts 18:1-2). Nothing is new under the Sun. Persecution is
not new. Political troubles not new. Migration not new also. This couple had a lot in common
with the great apostle. They were not only passionate about the work of the LORD, but they all
chose the humble vocation of tent making. These were men and people whose service for the
LORD determined the kind of jobs they did. I think that Paul chose tent making as a job for two
major reasons. He never wanted to be a burden to anybody. He made sure he coveted no mans
silver, or gold, or apparel. All knew how his own hands ministered to his necessities and even to
them that were with him (Acts 20:33-34). Paul was not only schooled, he was skilled. And
secondly, Paul chose tent making as a job to give him enough space to do the work of ministry.
Self-employment remains the best for whoever wants to combine ministry in Gods vineyard and
having a job. Other wonderful job opportunities may come but for the sake of Gods work, you
stick to a job that will give you space to serve Him. Like Paul, like this lovely couple they were
ministers of the LORD, yet tent makers. By Pauls testimony and account, the two laid their lives
for the work of their master.
Often when you read about bible characters, they come individually. Men who were on fire for
the LORD, but often you do not hear much about their wives. Moses, Eli, Samuel, David, Peter,
Philip and others. You keep asking where their wives were in all their exploits. Until today, we
are yet to find the exact name of Lots wife. All we read about is Lots wife. What of Mrs.
Samuel? What of Mrs. Eli? And then you turn to women in bible who were also on fire for God.
Who married Miriam, sister of Moses? I dont think she died a single woman. Husband remains
unknown. What of Deborah? I dont think Mr. Lapidoth was as spiritually serious as Deborah. I
dont think Mr. Elkannah, husband of Hannah was as prayerful as his first wife. He was just a
mere Shiloh going person as some are mere church going persons. He must have taken the easy
road alternative of polygamy because he could not prayerfully wait for the LORD. Mrs. Job was
something else. Spiritually speaking, she was too far from where Job was hence she advised Job
to curse God at a trying time. In this scenario of husband-wife spiritual disparities, we see Aquila
and Pricilla being exceptional.
Aquila and Pricilla present to us a near perfect model of true marriage. They were married in
vision. They were married in ministry. They were married in vocation. They were married in
thinking and perception. Temperaments married. They left nothing unmarried. Properties
married. The first ministry we read about them was one directed to highly eloquent and well
educated Apollos (Acts 18:24-28). They were never intimidated by the academic credentials of
Apollos who came from Alexandria a famous center of learning named after Alexander the
Great who himself was highly educated as well. Aquila and Pricillas success in ministry cannot
be unrelated to their kind of unity of purpose in everything. Two are better than one; because
they have a good reward for their labor(Ecc.4:9). This was more than a bible study for Aquila
and Pricilla, it was real and practical for them.
Aquila and Pricilla were always together to the point, that their first names became like a
compound name in bible. In fact as I was checking my bible s index of people names to prepare
this message, unlike all names there, Aquila and Pricilla were still found together. I think heaven

took note of their exemplary togetherness as husband and wife. And obviously, it seemed they
were childless till the end. But did you ever read in the bible that they ever cried over that. Love
swallowed up every challenge around them. Yes, the challenges were there but because they
always fought their battles together, you will not see that. I remember this wonderful couple in
the village where I grew up. They were good Anglican Church people Reuben and Lydia.
Mama Lydia and Papa Reuben we called them. I wrote for them most of their letters and read for
them as well. Their letters to their children living at Lagos and America at that time, mostly in
the late 1970s and early 1980s. I started writing and reading letters for village folks from my
primary school days. And I found a lot of pleasure doing it to those lovely old people mostly all
dead now. They showed one a lot of gratitude. Oh, hardly will you be of my village without
knowing Papa Reuben and Mama Lydia. They were like Aquila and Pricilla. They never spoke in
tongue yet you cannot mistake the fact that they were true Christians. I was close to them till the
very end as a biological son could be. And they kept the nuptial cord unbroken. Wonder why
with all our spiritual cum social advancement we keep breaking but in their so called
primitiveness they showed us examples of unbroken relationship.
In my local assembly, you can hardly get to know who is the husband to a sister or wife of a
brother. Everybody walks about the worship center place in such saintly and sanctimonious
way as if husbands and wives do not touch each other. Yet, we go for children dedications and
naming. How else are children born since we are not all Mary the mother of Jesus? Not that we
behave vulgar and indecently in church, but this idea of making my wife look a stranger to me
because we are in church does not go with me. Well, I break that jinx anytime I am in church. I
sit with my wife. Haba! Who else do you want me to sit with? And all my pastors from Kaduna
to Abuja know that I do not take that sitting apart from my wife in church.
Can I ask you brother, where is your wife? Sister, where is your husband? Some do not like
walking the street with their spouses. I wonder why? I lived on the street known as Makaranta
(meaning school in Hausa) street in Television village of Kaduna. Dont ask me why that place is
called Television village. I dont know. But how did all on that street got to know that I am
married. Not by any ring on my fingers. I have none. That time we had no car. I will first escort
my wife through the long street up to the main road as she goes to work before I come back to
get ready to start visiting schools by around 10am. Visiting schools to preach to students. And I
feel great walking along the street with my wife. I do a lot together with her except in the kitchen
where I have not been good at since from my single days. A terribly bad cook I am. But God is
helping me. Marry in all things. I still do a lot of laundry for myself and my wife. And ironing.
Raised by a tailor father, I can handle clothes well. Help out. Marry in all things. Bear one
anothers burden. That was how Aquila and Pricilla did it. You can do likewise. It pays a lot.
Wishing you bliss in your marriage.
Shalom.
MARRIED BUT LONELY (30/09/15)
Good morning dearly beloved,
It is morning again, the beautiful morning of Wednesday, September 30, 2015. Thanking God for
all His mercies through the month of September.

It is time to move on. Possibly, you had this terrible experience this September. Possibly an
experience similar to that of the 9/11 that all of us have come to know. 9/11 was like
Armageddon before Armageddon! Really a devastating experience it was that day on September
11, 2001. It was like hell came to New York, at the site of the then World Trade Center, where the
famous twin towers were. In a moment of hellish madness, hundreds of men and women
perished without the slightest opportunity to say good-bye to loved ones. Was this September a
sad one for you? Can you forget those things which are behind to move forward, reaching forth
unto those things which are before (Phil.3:13). You cannot mourn forever, move on. You cannot
continue to weep, wipe off those tears,to press on. Better is in your before. Your before will be
better than your behind. It is well my dear.
Message 29 of Marriage: What saith the scriptures
All the kings servants, and the people of the kings province, do know, that whosoever, whether
man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law
of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he
may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days (Esther 4: 11)
The Persians and their ways. As weird as ever! Even in modern times, much have not changed
about the Persians and their strict laws often lacking a human face. Christiana Amanpour of the
CNN as her manner is, used the ongoing UN 70th General Assembly to speak with some world
leaders. On Monday, I watched her program on CNN as she conversed with the current President
of Iran. Iran is believed to be the remnant of the Persia known to history and from where
Ahasuerus, the husband of Esther, the Jewess comes from. I did observe that Ms Amanpour wore
a unique dress that day that gave her a good covering especially her chest region. She is not a
woman given to careless dressing, but I know she deliberately wore that dress on purpose
knowing that she will be coming before the President of Iran a Moslem of one of the strictest
sects. What the CNN great journalist did was giving respect to the culture and belief of another.
And that is alright. You will be surprised to know that the President of an Islamic Republic of
Iran will not agree to sit before an improperly dressed woman. The extent to which you take
seriously your faith or culture to respect it is the extent to which others take seriously to respect
your faith or culture. And I seriously think that we Christians must not make others think that
anything goes with us. It is not true.
Poor Esther! Wonder what her marriage experience was. She must have had a story to tell about
life. Orphaned at a very early age, missing the love, care and companionship of her parents and
was raised up by an uncle who could as well go for Mr. Strict. I seriously think that Mr.
Mordecai was a very strict Jewish man. It must have boasted his CV to get the gateman job in a
kingdom known for strict rules and laws. A modern day version of that kind of strictness with the
law is what is obtainable in countries like Indonesia or Malaysia today where if you are caught
with drugs, you are gone death sentence without even an option for appeal. You will be
thinking that the love and companionship that Esther to a large extent lost as a child and a
teenage young woman she will get in her marriage to the greatest king in the world of her day. I
dont think she got that in her marriage. Lonely she came, lonely she remained.
The reason behind Vashti loss of her position as the queen will give you a picture of who or what
was expected of the wife of king Ahasuerus. She was to among other roles; serve as an object of
exhibition. She was to add up to the kings princely collections to be exhibited and shown to the

world to launder his image. Vashtis tolerance of that got to its very elastic limit and she revolted
against it. Her loss became Esthers gain. I want to believe that God allowed this marriage for a
purpose. All through the book of Esther, you will hardly see Gods name being mentioned, yet
one cannot deny that His invisible hands were at work in several things that happened within the
kingdom.
The scripture above revealed a lot about Esthers kind of marriage. She was married to a man too
distant from her. Distant in age. Distant in thinking and perception. Distant in culture and distant
in several other things. I thought that marriage to the king would have provided waivers for
Esther with regards to when to see the king and when not to see him. She got no waiver. She was
like every other subject of the king. She was included in the whosoever clause in the law
concerning seeing the king. That clause said whether man or woman. Persian laws do not have
exemptions. That was why Mordecai warned Esther when the law for the extermination of all
Jews within the kingdom was signed, that the fact that she was the queen will not exempt her
from being killed. Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the kings house, more than
all the Jews, Mordecai warned a reticent-to-the-Jewish cause Esther (Esther 4:13). There were
no escape route in Persian laws. It was a terribly closed up system. Even marriages were like
closed up systems. Iron Curtains everywhere including marriages? A woman will be fearing to
discuss matters over with her husband. Everything tight. Tight faces. Tight talks. Tight smiles.
Everything looks officious and formal. Haba! How can one be caught up in the red tape of
officialdom inside a marriage? That was the kind of relationship that Esther had with her stranger
husband who may have been Esthers fathers age-mate.
There should be friendliness in marriage. Your wife, your husband should be your best friend and
companion. Your number one confidant. Somebody you can play and crack good jokes with. I
and my own wife crack a lot of those jokes remembering our campus days and all the
Pentecostal Pranks of those days. She will remind me of my bushy hairs and my one suit of
those days and how she and her best friend then, a dear sister also called Doris used to wonder at
their fellowship president and his weird ways. And I never knew I was that weird. From her I had
a peep into all the sisters talks in campus. And we thought some of them were Angels-no-talk.
They talk in their corners. Then I will talk back, that I actually thought that she and same Doris
will end up as nuns. Wonder what jokes Esther cracked with her husband. Unless ones allowed
by the law. It is like even to smile was regulated. No, no, we must loosen up knots of needless
strictness in our marriage relationships. What? Going on seven days dry fasting because you
want to discuss a simple matter with your husband makes no sense to me.
Esther said for these thirty days she has not been called to come in unto the king. Thirty days?
That is for one month. What about sex? Maybe Esther used to pray and fast on that as well
before the king looks her way. Some marriages are like that. Denial of conjugal rights without
the consent of one another (1Cor.7:5). Fasting and prayer as an excuse to stay away from sex in
marriage must not be abused or used to cover up some other things.
Staying together as husband and wife strengthens your relationship a lot. Staying apart because
of your career, job or even ministry is too dangerous. You may think it does not matter at the
beginning, but it will become among matters arising in your relationship latter. All these
travelling abroad to leave your spouse far from you. Very dangerous. It will shock you to hear
wonderful relationships that have turned to messy cesspits today because of unwise ways of

pursuing after careers and jobs. And it is a choice you must make either to marry your spouse
or marry your career, job or even ministry. It is good to keep food on the table. It is good not to
become worse than an infidel for not caring enough for your family (1Tim.5:8), but we must find
a balance in doing what is right and proper so as not to suffer loss in any way. Please, stay close
to your spouse. Open up! Do away with marital legalism. Break the Iron-Curtain and enjoy a
wonderful relationship. And marry somebody close to your own age group. A grand-father-grand
daughter relationship is not the best in marriage. In the same way, a grand-mother-grand son
relationship. Besides followership, there should be fellowship in marriage. God helping me, we
check on the Aquila/Pricilla marriage by tomorrow. Until then stay blessed. Happy independence
anniversary in advance to all Nigerians.
Shalom.

KING AHAB: THE FIGURE HEAD HUSBAND OF JEZEBEL (29/09/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
Thank God for yet another beautiful day the LORD has made. As September 2015 enters the
departure lounge on its way to eternity, we begin to look back through the days gone by to see
and count the blessings of the Lord over our lives. Indeed, the LORD has been good to us and we
greatly rise to thank Him.
World leaders are at it again talking from the UN headquarters at New York as the 70th UN
General Assembly continues. Despite the obvious insincerity streak running through their peace
sermons, it is good that the major powers are talking rather than fighting. Their jaw-jaw is
better than the war-war for definitely the world may not survive another world war. A third
world war will end all wars as there will be no more warriors and weapons to remain after.
Talking peace and keeping Jesus, the Prince of Peace outside makes no sense at all. There is
peace, perfect peace that can be found in Him and Him alone. Do you have this peace?
Now to message 28 of Marriage: What saith the scriptures
And Ahab the son of Omiri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were kings before
him.
And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son
of Nebat, that he took to wife, Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians and went
and served Baal and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal,
which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove: and Ahab did more to provoke the
LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him (1Kings 16:3033)
But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For
Adam was first formed than Eve (1Tim. 2:12-13)
God is the God of orderliness and decency. The first government he set up in the earthly colony
of His heavenly kingdom is that which he set at the home in Eden. And who his delegated or
representative authority was at Eden was not in doubt. Adam was Gods representative or
delegated authority. And this was not about superiority or for the oppression of the woman but

simply to keep order. Where there is no authority or where authority is placed on wrong hands,
anarchy and disorder reigns. God hates anarchy and lawlessness. Jezebel is a disorder to
marriage.
Jeroboam was such an evil king in Israel that he became a proverb of evil. He became a
similitude of evil so that you can say As evil as Jeroboam. Ahab did not only walk in the sins of
Jeroboam, he went an extra-mile. And the extra-mile he went, beating every other king before
him in evil-doing is associated with his marriage to Jezebel. With Jezebel, the evil of Jeroboam
was made to be raised to power two in Israel. If strange women, those princesses from the
godless nations from where Solomon married made him to erect altars and temples to worship
their gods, Jezebel took it upon herself to enforce her will upon her husband and all the people of
Israel making the worship of Baal the state religion. Jezebel was not only a strange woman; she
was a model and a perfect example of a strange woman. Making Jezebel a case study in a thesis
on the strange woman will be a perfect choice. Seduction was her prime nature. Even the Jezebel
cited in the book of Revelation was very much associated with seduction (Rev.2:20-23). Even in
the case of this one married to Ahab, she tried using her greatest weapon seduction on Jehu on
the very day of her death, a scheme that failed woefully (2Kings 9:30-37). Imagine, an old
wrinkled Jezebel still trying out her ancient antics. Her hypnotic seductive power worked on
Ahab but not on Jehu as he went to execute the mandate of God.
Physically speaking, Jezebel according to history was a beautiful woman. A beauty she used
maximally for selfish ends. With it, she took Ahab a prisoner for life. For all what Jezebel did to
Ahab, the prophets of God and the entire house of Israel Ahab remained contented with her
beauty. He was like a man under a spell under the overwhelming influence of Jezebel. Jezebel
needs not use the usual bed-room power of women to get anything done by Ahab, she took
charge. Ahab was true-true, Jezebels baby. She needed not call Ahab baby as some do today, as
equally Jezebel was never ready for romantic hypocrisies, he was practically speaking a baby to
the woman in charge. A very strong character which could have been used nobly especially for
leadership purposes, but Jezebel abused everything in and around her. If Solomons horde of
strange women used the sweet gibberishes of lust (not even love) to make him sign important
documents, Jezebel took over the signet of power from Ahab to do all the signing including that
which had to do with the death of innocent Naboth.
Usurping authority is the highest level of rebellion. And rebellion as far as God is concerned is
like the sin of witchcraft (1Sam.15:23). Call Jezebel a witch; you cannot be making a mistake.
This is where to locate and situate Jezebels worst fault line. A Jezebel will never recognize the
authority of the man as her husband. She forcefully took over the authority of Ahab at home. She
was a coup plotter who took over power at home and made Ahab stay under house arrest all
through their marriage. Marriage was for Ahab a house arrest. Brother, is that your case? Of
course if you marry a Jezebel as wife, marriage will be for you like a jail sentence. Are you in a
Jezebelian jail?
Brother, are you still in-charge or under house-arrest? Ahab by this became a titular king and
head of state in Israel. He became a figure-head, a ceremonial and honorary husband. Mr.
husband, are you an honorary husband because SHE who must be obeyed is your wife.
Madam, are you a Jezebel wife? No regard, no respect for your husband. Where then is your
honor? Where then is your crown? Authority in the home is divinely given to the man. This is the

basic form of government. It is given so that the man can use it to put his house in order. Out of
his hand, disorder sets in at home. It is wrong for a woman to take over authority over the man at
home. It is a marriage-misnomer. Deborah can be the countrys head of state and commander-inchief. That is for the state, not at home. Mr. Lapidoth remains her commander-in-chief at the
home-family government. And Deborah did well at the state level because she submitted well at
home to her husband. Leadership goes with authority. At all levels, secular or spiritual, there is
an authority attached to leadership. And to go against such an authority is rebellion not
acceptable to God. True Christians, whether at home, state, society or church do not play with
authority? It is an exhibition of immaturity and babyishness not to submit to authority. Some
think it is bravery so to do. It is not. Bravery when often people who do that do so because of a
sense of insecurity. True bravery as seen in a lion is seen in a firm and sure sense of security.
People unsure of themselves do a lot of strange things.
The woman is the keeper at home (Titus 2:5). This is not the same as wielding authority over her
husband. She is not the head at home. The man is and where there is head, there is authority.
When the woman takes her place as the keeper and the man takes his as the head with authority
well used, the home becomes that of peace indeed. You want peace in your home? Follow the
biblical pattern and you will have it. I did not see true fellowship in the Esther-Ahasuerus
marriage. How come that Esther had to pray and fast before having an audience with her
husband? What kind of relationship is that? I will be trusting Gods grace to check on that when I
return to continue on this series by tomorrow. Practice Gods word at home and every other
place. It works like every other thing that works. God bless you.
Shalom.

WHERE WISE KING SOLOMON GOT IT ALL WRONG (26/09/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
Glad reaching out to you again this beautiful Saturday morning the LORD has graciously made.
Do believe God you are enjoying the weekend already.
I have found grace to write you again today. What can I do without Gods grace? With His grace
alone, we can do all things. I thank Him for His mighty working grace in me. This will be the
27th message in this marriage series. My desire is to share Gods word on marriage with you
hence the topic Marriage: What saith the Scripture while using my case and other cases which
I know to illustrate the messages. Gods word is always better preached and taught the way Jesus
did it He began to do and teach (Acts 1:1). That is the due order. Beginning to do before
teaching is a safe method of teaching. I am therefore careful on the topics I am sharing with you
on this series. I will soon break, waiting for another season to continue. I am not yet too qualified
to teach on bringing up children under a marriage situation as my first child will just be 13 by
this October 18. By Gods grace, I am succeeding in my children home discipleship, but the story
along that line will be better told when I succeed fully. I currently go to battles wearing armors I
can prove, not anybodys armor. Remember David and the Sauls armor he tried wearing to go
and face Goliath. It affected his movement as it was an over-sized armor. It is not too good for a

preacher to preach an over-sized or under-sized message. You look cute in your size wears. Same
as in the things we do.
But before the break, I will still be trusting same Gods grace to check on one, two or more
biblical marriages Aquila/Pricilla, Ahab/Jezebel and possibly Ananias/Sapphira. Then check on
celibacy the biblical angle to it. Must all marry? Are there not some naturally made to remain
single? We shall come to that. But this morning, in all humility, I check on King Solomons
marriage.
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women
of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians and Hittites. Of the nations concerning which
the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go into them, neither shall they come in
unto; for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines; and his wives
turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old that his wives turned away his
heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with the LORD, his God as was the heart of
David his father (1Kings 11:1-4)
What happened to wisdom was the title I gave to my autobiographical study and write up on
King Solomon about three years ago. Talk of knowing what God said about nations where the
people of Israel must not marry from or be given in marriage to, King Solomon knew all. As par
the serpentine ways of strange women, Solomon was the professor who taught on that and even
taught on tips on how to avoid such women. How come that in marriage he came to that ugly
pass of loving and marrying many strange women? Wisdom is the principal thing but not the
only thing. Did you ever read what the Holy Spirit told Peter to write about in 2Peter 1:6 And to
knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience and to patience godliness. Solomon had it
up to knowledge and thought at that level he had arrived. He actually stopped at 2Peter 1:5.
Having missed it from temperance, he missed all that followed from there. Having missed
temperance, he missed patience, godliness and others. He missed classes or jumped them along
the path of his spiritual growth. It was lack of temperance that made him over do things. He
over-married. As bad as polygamy can be, he took it to a ridiculous level. He must have been
using some of those marriages to forge and cement some political alliances, but that was too
profane a practice. The sacred institution of marriage should not be used for such alliances.
Humanly speaking and as promiscuous as the masculine nature can be, he had no need for 1000
women. I am sure there are ones among these women he could not remember their first names.
In other words he had no genuine relationship with most of them. And what is marriage all about
if there is no relationship.
Secondly, Solomon must have become over-confident with his much wisdom at a time. It is so
with success in most areas of life if people are not careful. He must have reasoned that he could
manage strange women without giving in to their gods. Possibly he tried but not up to when he
was old. The scripture above stated that it was at that stage in his life that these women turned
away his hearts after their gods. Dashing young women, younger than Solomon then, making
him sign cheques without reading between the lines. And strange women have strange ways of
getting whatever they want. Solomon tried resisting their antics when he was younger, not at old
age as senility like a wily serpent was crawling and creeping in.

You see there is no point trying to argue with God. The word of God stated clearly Ye shall not
go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you, for surely they will turn away your heart after
their gods I dont think that Solomon agreed with God here. He reasoned humanly here. And
that is the problem of several people today who are trying to reasonably change the word of
God to suit their unbridled lusts. How can a man be arguing what God said Surely it will be
so? And strange women can with their highly hypnotic seductive power make a man think that
Gods surely is not surely as stated.
My dear brother, a strange woman is not a marriable woman for you. And as there are strange
women, there are strange men. My sister, do not marry a strange man. Such strange persons are
strangers to the word of God. A Pastor slept with a young woman he was praying for. Pricked
and flogged by his conscience after the act, he started crying. While crying, the girl was laughing
wondering why he was crying. What have you done that you are crying? she gleefully asked the
crying fallen pastor. Strange people mock at sin. It is nothing to them. My friend, do not marry a
person who mocks at or makes light of sin. Very, very dangerous. For a strange person, sin is fun.
But actually sin is fire not fun. You are still courting a woman to marry and she deliberately
seduces you to sleep with her and while you are mourning the sin she is calling you a Bush
man. She is exposed and enlightened. Strange people and their darkened and stained
enlightenment. What is Bushman and Bright woman about sin?
Often you wonder how a firebrand Christian became as cold as the Siberian weather. Check that
persons relationships. If he or she is married, check who he or she married. Marriage should
bring you closer to your maker God not take you far from Him. Avoid that marriage that will
take you far away from God. Remain in His will. That is where you can find peace.
And note well that polygamy is never in Gods idea of marriage. Polygamy is a human
contraption of marriage. From the beginning, it has been one man, one woman till death does
part. And that men like David, Solomon and others were polygamists does not make polygamy
right. If as a man you became a polygamist before your conversion, let good church leaders lead
you to do a compassionate restitution. Dont just carelessly and over-zealously send a woman
who has been with you all this while, possibly with children away. Do it justly. You know there
was a time, Joseph wanted to send Mary away, not knowing what happened. He wanted to do it
justily and without noise. Let marriage restitution be done maturely and with much compassion.
Let the woman be properly settled. And let the woman accept it in good faith. She will be
surprised the way God will do it to take her to her true husband or to spend the rest of her life in
peaceful retirement. May the LORD help us through.
Keep enjoying the weekend.
Shalom

RAPED FOR FIVE MONTHS BY RELIGIOUS PEOPLE

I sat in my living room last night to hear her speak to Christina Amampour of CNN through an
interpreter. She is one of the Yazaidi girls being sold around to be raped around by the Isis
militants. Their sin? They refused to be Moslems. The girl who spoke on CNN last night has
been rescued and is currently in the U.S with her rescuer to tell her story. I hear she will be at the

U.S Congress to tell same story.

Just 20 years of age, she told a story that moved me to tears. She told Christina, 'They did
everything to me'. At a point, to protect a younger girl, she agreed to be raped on her behalf. The
man who bought her, kept her to be raped is the man Jihadi who according to the girl is a U.S
citizen who got converted to Islam four years ago to also join the Isis cause. The girl said that the
men who rape them say 'prayers' for 15-30 minutes before each rape session. As if rape is an
integral part of their style of worship. What is this you ask?
Honestly, this world needs Jesus, not religion. Mere religion has failed in all its seams. I have
never seen what has been used as an instrument of nasty politics and self aggrandizement by
human beings like religion..... Tufiakwa! Please if you truly have Jesus, hold tightly to Him. And
tell others about Him. If Nineveh repented at the one sentence preaching of a reluctant preacher
like Jonah, why will others not repent. Share the love of Jesus abroad. That is the love everybody
including religious rapists need.
On my way to Delta state this morning, where I will be trusting the mercies of God to be writing
you my love letter from tomorrow. I will spend my weekend there, training brethren for our SCM
work in Delta state. I know as usual you will be praying for me. Please do. I am praying for you
as well. Necessity, they say carries man far away. So long as there are needs, we must connect to
grace (God's grace) to continue to move. Young people like the girl who is currently telling her
story to the world are in need of help. Several young women like her being raped and abused.
You can imagine what she passed through when she said "They did everything to me". You
cannot remain quiet over this. Do something. At least pray for her and others like her.
I love you from the depths of my heart.
Stay blessed.
Shalom!

SHE KEPT HER CHASTE CONVERSATION DESPITE.. (24/09/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
Thank God it is morning again, the beautiful morning of Thursday, September 24, 2015. Do hope
it is well with you. Holiday for some today. In a few days time, another one to commemorate the
55th independence anniversary of Nigeria. Wish all holidaying friends reading me today a
wonderful one. Possibly, you do that quietly. With the increase in evil and the globalization of
terror, walking wisely has become of utmost importance. What do you do in perilous times such
as this when a 76 year old man will be picked up by kidnappers from his farm and be demanding
millions of naira as ransom? May the LORD keep and help us in a perverse and corrupt world in
which we all live while waiting for the coming of the LORD.
Now to message 26 of Marriage: What saith the scriptures
And there was a man Maon whose possession were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and
he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats; and he was sharing his sheep in Carmel. Now
the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail; and she was a woman of good

understanding, and of a beautiful countenance; but the man was churlish and evil in his doings;
and he was of the house of Caleb (1Sam.25:2-3)
Likewise ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, that, if any obey not the word be
won by the conversation of the wives. While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with
fear. Whose adorning, let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of
gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not
corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great
price (1Peter 3:1-4)
By Bible description, Abigail was what one can describe as a near perfect blend of beauty and
intelligence of a woman. Besides, she was a God fearing woman. On the other hand, she had a
husband whose name Nabal was not only a fool as translated but was also brutish and mean in
character. Who says that names do not matter? Wonder why this man was called Nabal. Nabal
was a rich man, who like the certain rich man of Luke 12:16-21, was not rich towards God.
God, not me called that man a foolish man. The true money-miss-road is the rich who is not
rich toward God. The wise holds whatever he or she has in this life in trust and that towards God.
Beauty towards God. Education towards God. Intelligence towards God. Fools are proud and
arrogant with worldly riches and possessions that do not last. For what is your life asked James
in his epistle. It is even a vapour, that appears for a little time and then vanishes away (James
4:14). Mr. Nabal never lived to learn this lesson. He died the death of a rich fool. You know he
died suddenly like the rich fool that Jesus told his story in the gospel of Luke (1Sam.25:36-38).
Nabal was also a drunkard. Really a selfish man who could throw wild and lavish parties for
himself, yet could not render a help that will not cost him much.
How come that a woman like Abigail married a Nabal? How did they live together, one mean,
the other merciful; one proud and arrogant, the other simple, loving and humble. By being
churlish, Nabal was a miser of no mean repute, yet Sister Abigail tolerated and submitted to him
as a husband until God on His own released her from a marriage turned into hell. She could have
sued for divorce. And in the context and reality of today, Nabal being a very wealthy man,
Abigail could have gotten a lot of dollars and properties as the Dividends of a Divorce which
actually is the driving force behind several modern day divorce cases. Do you know the report
was that the Lord smote Nabal (1Sam.25:38). It was after the death of Nabal that Abigail married
David (1Sam.25:39-42). Abigail became a truly married woman after her marriage with David.
Till death did them part, she remained the wife of Nabal.
If it is a marital mistake in marrying Nabal, Abigail had made it. But what was the way out? To
progress in error? No, Abigail trusted the LORD to hold fort. She kept to her godliness. She kept
her chaste conversation despite the temptation to join her husband to do evil things. She did not
begin to disrespect and despise her husband as a bloody unbeliever. She never took laws into
her hands. She was patient in tribulation trusting the LORD. And you know the LORD knoweth
how to deliver the godly out of temptations (2Peter 2:9). There hath no temptation taken you
but such as is common to man, but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above
that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to
bear it (1Cor.10:13). Oh, you need to hear Abigail tell you the story of her life with Nabal. As
nasty as they come because Nabal was a nasty man. God took charge and handled matters in his
own way. Yes, Nabal died not because Abigail prayed a Fall and Die prayer for him. No matter

how bad a spouse maybe, never, never pray that he or she die that you may be free to re-marry.
Do not become a murderer through prayer. A murderer is a murderer, whether it is done by carnal
or spiritual weapons.
True believers must learn to overcome evil with good. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome
evil with good (Romans 12:21). If Abigail had been wishing her husband dead, she would not
have gone to plead his case before a David who was about going to deal with Nabal and pay him
back in his own coin (1Sam.25:13,21, 22). But Abigail intervened. David had the kindest of
words for her action, seeing her as God sent (1Sam.25:32-35). And by saving her husband, Nabal
from the sword of David, she saved herself from same sword. David was out to finish everything
about Nabal. Of course, Abigail could not have been saved. Indeed, she was a godly woman who
never allowed her marriage to an evil man corrupt her. She remained firm and focused in her
chaste conversation. Like Samuel at Shiloh, who never became like the children of Eli, despite
being close to them, Abigail kept her consecration without contamination despite the surrounding
corruption.
My dear, it is possible to be the lily in a mired-marriage. You can take your stand despite the
stain and stress. You must refuse to cave in. Are you in a marital temptation or trial currently? It
looks to you, you cannot take it or bear with it any longer. No, you can take it by Gods grace.
You can bear it. Do not pack up. Keep trusting the LORD. Your Nabal can become a truly godly
person. The unbelieving spouse can become a believing one. Leave it in Gods hands. He may
kill the old man in your Nabal to bring forth a brand new man for you. Pray for the conversion of
your Nabal. He or she may not repent by the best messages preached to him or her but by the
message of your life. Let him be won by your conversation. Let others see Jesus in you. Let your
spouse see Jesus in you. Nabal can bow by seeing Jesus in you. Get back your marriage by your
life not by your lips. Live Jesus, that is the way out.
God bless you.
Shalom.

MARRIAGE MERCENARIES (23/09/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
I trust our ever good God that it is well with you. You see, never keep your burden or life
challenges with you. They will wear you down and out. Always tell Jesus all about your
problems. He cares. It is too real that God answers prayers. Tell Him about your health, home,
happiness, your going to heaven, habits, heaviness etc, he will give you the needed help. The
LORD is a helper. Ebenezer is a song to appreciate His help (1Sam.7:12). May the LORD help
us. Amen.
Why am I writing on marriage? Hell hates godly and true marriages with an unusual passion.
Wonder where the devil was prior to Eve being created to be the help meet for Adam. Hell was
literarily let loose after the wedding at Eden. And not too long after he struck. God deliberately
instituted marriage as a means of ordering and establishing His purposes on earth. I did inform

you in message one of this series that marriage is part of that Gods big idea. And His big idea is
the establishment of His kingdom on earth. A kind of heavens colony on earth. Equally, devil
was keen on establishing a kingdom. To counter the plan of God so that his kingdom will stand,
he launched a consistent battle on marriages and families. The marriage institution is very vital in
kingdom building any kind of kingdom whatsoever. So, I am in partnership with the Holy
Spirit to return marriage to what it was at the beginning. Young people intending to marry should
through reading these messages be properly guided and encouraged. And that those of us already
in it, should totally submit to Gods word to make our marriages work well and be used of God
to achieve His purpose. We all married people must pray that our marriages will not present
themselves before Jesus as that barren fig tree that disappointed him when he wanted to eat from
it (Mk.11:12-15). May your marriage not be like that fig tree that Jesus could not eat from.
This morning in message 25 of Marriage: What saith the Scriptures
And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was
Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see
wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him, that we may
bind him to afflict him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver
(Judges 16:4-5)
Who can know a man more than his wife? The lords of the Philistines knew that Samsons
pseudo-wife will know Samson better than anyone else. Delilah loved bucks, the way Samson
loved women. I am finding it too difficult to pronounce Samson and Delilah as husband and
wife. They were two of a kind in that they could not control their appetites for these two things
they were in love with. Samson can do anything including giving out the Password of his great
anointing to a woman he was not sure was a wife. Delilah can as well do anything for money
including betraying a lover and a friend. Two morally depraved persons meeting their match in a
marriage that was far from what true marriage is.
I keep wondering each time I read Samson, on how and why as a leader, a judge, president and
the Commander-in-chief of the armies of Israel he chose to be a Playboy. What a misnomer?
Well, when you read through notable sex scandals of history, your wondering will increase. How
powerful men of history became spineless pawns in the sexual chessboard of the Delilahs of
history. Too amazing to me, how great men of history became mere sex puppets in the hands of
women like Delilah. Who was that king among men that was as powerful as king
Nebuchadnezzar of ancient Babylon? As his name sounds, so the power and influence he
wielded. But he was such a sex puppet in the hands of one of his wives, who she married from
Egypt. It was the woman that insisted he built her a special garden leading to the building of that
famous hanging garden of Babylon which ultimately became one of the seven wonders of the
ancient world. Women who ruled their world from behind powerful thrones. Who can influence
history like a woman? An influence and power that Esther guided by Mordecai used in a godly
way.
Delilah had a lot going for her in terms of physical beauty. Even her name sounded romantic
enough as Samson could choose to call her Darling Del. Haba! What about that? Or in the spirit
of today Baby Del while she calls Samson, Baby Sam. I have made it clear before now, that I
am not part of this babying thing. It sounds too Hollywood to me. And this is personal. If you
choose to call your hubby baby, goodluck to you, I no follow at all. It sounds too babyish to me.

And I can hear Delilah when trying to seduce Samson, change the tone of her voice and ask him
Baby tell me naa. And you know, seduction has its peculiar voice. A seductress does not use her
official or street voice to seduce. There is a voice for every vice. Even armed robbery. Dont you
know that armed robbers use robbery voice to ask you Bring the money as if they asked you to
keep money for them.
Delilah was a mercenary wife, a gold digger who pretended to love Samson. Her chief
motivation in life was money making. Profit not purpose was her driver. My friend, beware of
persons, men or women whose chief aim in life is to make profit and not to achieve purpose.
Whether in ministry or marriage, they are after profit not purpose. Checking through the profile
of Delilah will make you know that indeed the love of money is the root of all evil (1Tim.6:10).
If the lords of the Philistines who wanted Samson dead or alive were six, Delilah made them
seven being the lady among the lords. They were together but like the Snake she was she came
into Samsons life in a subtle, serpentine way. I call her the Big Snake of Sorek a Python
actually. Sad that Playboy Samson played his way into her Snaky Sorek pit. And that was it. He
came out of it with empty sockets. What else is Sorek for? It is to finish your sight and leave you
with an empty socket. It is to finish your vision and leave you a visible wreck.
Can I ask somebody this morning in your planning to marry Beware of Snakes. Delilah was the
true Snake girl. Well not in the drama sense oo. I do not mean that she was turning to physical
snake. But she had the character of a snake. Beware! Ask people who choose snakes as pets what
they pass through. And you want to make a snake your wife or husband. Snakes are damn subtle.
They may look beautiful on the outside, yet their snake nature is there.
Delilah was a Cash and Carry wife. Madam Dollar. Divorce for Dollars. Do you know that
these days some men and women plan their divorce ahead before they marry? They just want to
make the bucks that will come out of the dissolution of their marriages. Once a particular
marriage packs up, they enter another. You think Samson was the first or last man that Delilah
married? I do not think so. Her Sorek place became the Waterloo of several playboy giants.
Merciless, pitiless and callous, she never bothered to know what became of Samson once she got
the alert that her account has been loaded full with the illicit silver of the lords of the Philistines.
While Samson was dying in prison, she was restratagizing to make other Playboy men play into
her Sorek trap. Brother, stop being a Playboy, you will play yourself into becoming a pitiable
prey. From one sister to the other, yet marry you will not marry. They buy you shirt you collect.
They cook food for you from their hard earned money you eat with relish, yet marry you will not
marry any of all the girls that cooked for you and bought you shirts. You pontificate; did you ask
anybody to buy you shirts? Single brother be careful, some of those sisters you are collecting
things from have no business with free lunch. And sister be careful. If you want to be a
hospitable and philanthropic single sister do it with sincerity and purity of purpose. Let us stop
all these plays that later leads to heartbreaks here and there. There is a payback to being a
Playboy. You may play yourself into the hands of a dollar loving Delilah that will show you that
snakes wear skirts also. Snakes bring out their true nature to strike and silence when it is too late.
Join me tomorrow as I check on how an astonishingly beautiful and intelligent woman like
Abigail got married to a man whose second name is a fool the Nabal-Abigail marriage. Until
that remain blessed.
Shalom.

SURELY A BLOODY HUSBAND THOU ART TO ME (22/09/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
Indeed, it is of the LORDS mercies that we are not consumed. Dont you agree with me on this?
You know I am not a bottled water freak. In Nigeria, where a greater percentage of the
population live below UN set standard for poverty, the fairly rich is like the one-eyed man in the
proverbial land of the blind. He is king. There is a lot of I-have-made-it show off by fairly rich
Nigerians. That is why such a person will buy a bottle of coke sold for N100.00 in a
neighborhood Mallam shop for N500.00 at the Transcorp Hilton hotel and announce it by every
opportunity that he or she did that. Same way some buy, drink and carry bottled water around.
They hardly drink common water. For health reasons, no wahala. Often when you hear the
analysis of the level of germ or virus content of untreated water, you begin to wonder how some
of us are still alive. Considering the level of corruption in the land, you still wonder if what is
called Pure Water is truly pure. If what is called treated water is truly treated. What of the low
level of hygiene in food preparation across the board in hotels, restaurants, Mama-Caro joints
and the rest. We eat all, we drink all and still live. This is the context upon which I look at that
Jeremiahs scriptural submission in Lam.3:22 that It is of the LORDS mercies that we are not
consumed, because his compassions fail not. Our survival and living in a terribly virus/germ
infested ecosystem is not by the merit of our decent and hygienic living but by the mercies of
God. It comes round to the truth that Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that
build it, except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain (Psalm 127:1). And
this is not to suggest that you will go and drink dirty water in the name of faith. That will be as
foolish as the man called Daniel that jumped into the Zoo attached to the University of Ibadan
sometime in the past to make a show of faith by confronting a lion there. The lion made a mince
meat of him. Always know that there is a limit man can go in the carefulness of staying alive but
the unlimited belongs to God. We consistently lean on Him in doing our limit to flow in his
unlimitedness. May God grant us understanding.
Now to message 24 of Marriage: What saith the Scriptures
And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. And
she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a
strange land (Exo.2:21-22)
And it came to pass by the way of the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. Then
Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said,
Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou
art, because of the circumcision (Exo.4:24-26)
Then Jethro, Moses father in law took Zipporah, Moses wife, after he had sent her back
And he said unto Moses, I thy father in law Jethro am come unto thee, and thy wife, and her two
sons with her (Exo.18:2,6)
Highly erudite Moses through whom God wrote the Pentateuch wrote in his autobiography into
those books he wrote. And laid his own life bare leaving nothing to imagination so to say. There

was no historical cover up in his narration. I do not know how late President Richard Nixon told
the story of Watergate in either his autobiography or official biography as I have not read any of
the two, but obviously not as sincere as Moses will tell of the brushes he had with his wife
Zipporah. That is the uniqueness of the Bible as the Book of books. In the world system, men
that have grown in status and leadership to become larger than life personalities like Moses
became, get a kind of immunity in the way reports around them are tailored and given. Bible
makes no provision for that. That was why the marital rift between Moses and Zipporah was not
historically hidden. And mind you as far as the people of Israel are concerned, there is no leader
to them as Moses was. To them he remains a constant example and reference of who a leader
should be. For us as Christians, Moses was indeed a great leader, but he cannot be compared to
Jesus Christ. Christ, not Moses remains our perfect example. Even in marriage, Moses is not.
And we must not begin to argue or question the manner and method with which Moses and even
Joseph married. The two were given wives by their beloved hosts. It was the tradition and culture
obtainable within the enclave they found themselves at those particular points in time. They
cannot be for us examples on how to marry, yet all that were written about these men were
written for our admonition (1Cor.10:11). A wife is not a booty or a prize given for some exploits
done. No, a prudent wife comes from the Lord, not as a gift given by men. Zipporah was given to
Moses as a wife by a benevolent boss of his. A lot of things were not taken into consideration.
Nobody minded if the two loved each other. What of religious and cultural compatibility? What
of intellectual compatibility? What of age? What of social status? Do they matter? To an extent,
they matter. They must not be carelessly brushed aside. Wonder how many PhDs that Moses
had? And Zipporah, a daughter of the priest of Midian was given to him as a gift. You see
brother, the name of your wife maybe Gift, no problem with that, but do not marry a woman as a
gift given to you by somebody. Marry the person who is Gods gift to you.
Moses was not just an Israelite. If as Paul will write there is something as a Hebrew of the
Hebrews (Phil.3:5), Moses was an Israelite of the Israelites. He was the leader of Israel, the
chief custodian of all that Israel represented at a time. It will be something unheard of that a son
born to Moses will be as uncircumcised as Midian men. Zipporah had a cultural cum religious
background that circumcision for the males was nothing. It mattered not. Not so with Moses. For
him, it was a must. And this matter he must have discussed with Zipporah over their children but
it was obvious for a long time she did not shift grounds. At the inn it became a matter of death
and life for Moses. The LORD sought to kill him for the disobedience of not circumcising his
son. And it was at the critical moment when God was about taking Moses to his ministerial next
level. It was while shivering the shivering of death that Madam reluctantly took a stone and did a
clumsy circumcision on Moses son. Thank God the baby did not die.
Brother, Sister be ready for this kind of spousal battles when you get into unequal yoking in
marriage. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness
(2Cor.6:14). This is not about discrimination or no discrimination; it is about your destiny. There
are destiny killers that come as wives or husbands. You must do well to avoid them.
A servant of God wrote a book that became a bit controversial among believers in Kaduna few
years ago. He wrote on what and what to do in case you miss rapture. Of course, some mere
church going people will miss rapture due to one negligence or the other. Just that people like to

make much ado around reality and truth. So in the light of If you miss the Rapture I write this
morning, in case your spouse is like Zipporah, find a way in Christ to carry him or her along. It
was like at a point, Moses sent Zipporah away, but his ever wise father in law who was indeed a
father to Moses brokered peace and worked out a reconciliation program. And it worked. In
Christ, marriage is for life. If you don enter, you don enter be that. Hold unto Gods grace to
work on the relationship. Do not rush to court to pack it up. There is nothing impossible in your
marriage if you allow God. Remember Moses, a man who was strong enough to kill an Egyptian
who tried nonsense on an Israelite and buried the man within an instance. Is it easy to kill and
bury within minutes? Moses, well trained in every way a potential Pharaoh should be trained,
including how to kill without stress, became a meek man to the point that this small girl who
became his wife could say all kinds of things to him and he kept quiet.
You think there is a perfect marriage custom made and thrown upon people? No, you work on
your marriage to work something out of it. Yes, women can talk, but Sister you should not go this
far that Sister Zipporah went. Calling your husband names because he wants to do Gods will?
Dont do that. Brother raising your hands to beat your wife because she wants to do Gods will.
Yet, you bear all that fellow men tell and call you. Is it not cowardly and callous to beat your
wife? If you can bear with men and women who call you all kinds of stupid names outside why
cant you bear with the love of your life? Love bears all things, including insults and abuses.
What did they not do to Jesus, yet he reviled not again (1Peter 2:23). Being like Jesus is the
only way to get out of all marital problems and challenges. Oh to be like Jesus. Wife, let that be
your prayer. Husband, let that be your prayer. All things work well in being like Jesus.
Shalom.

OH, YES, GOD HAS A PERFECT PLAN FOR YOU

Two days ago, I was about getting ready to go to bed when my phone started its now familiar
tune, ringing for a coming in call. Strange number, yet I picked the call. "Bro. Harold" the female
voice on the other end spoke introducing herself as "Mama Ojo". I quickly recalled, Mama Ojo
who with her two sons, Ojo and Irobe (or Iyobe) lived with us at Mando, Airport Rd. Kaduna
between 1996 and year 2000. She left after the Sharia riot of 2000 in Kaduna. The riot that really
made things fall apart for a once bubbling with life Kaduna. A lot of people who lived in preSharia-riot Kaduna left.
Really a call from a distant past. At Mando was the SCM missionary house. And in that
compound we lived as a family. God helped me to provide the needed spiritual leadership for a
compound of several people with all kinds of backgrounds. Mama Ojo was forced into single
parenthood as a very young woman by a husband that abandoned her with the children, two of
them all boys. Things were two difficult for all of us. With the corp members (traveling
secretaries) working under me we took the children as our kid brothers. Mama Ojo could not
afford a good school for the two boys, so they managed a nearby LEA public school (these
schools that their uniform is always green and white wherever you find them). Of course that

was the same kind of Primary school, I attended but in a better era. Among the corpers that
served with me, Brother Jude Ihejieto (now late) and Sister Lola Ayeni were most wonderful in
this social aspect of our missionary endeavor. Cooking together, we shared almost every meal
with the Mama Ojo boys. Including when we had only soaked garri and kwuli-kwuli for lunch.
All these flashed back to me within the few minutes I chatted with Mama Ojo who now lives in
Nasarawa state on phone that Thursday evening.
And then she told me the Goodnews that the two boys are now rounding up their under-graduate
studies at the Nasarawa state University. You wonder how it happened. The resilience and
indomitable spirit in a typical African mother to raise her children. And then I remembered the
song the younger of the two boys used to sing in those days. He learned it from a popular radio
Kaduna program that time through her mum's small transistor radio. That song says something I
paraphrase as 'when there is life, there is hope'. And Mama Ojo told me to tell Sister Lola that her
prophecy on those boys has come to fulfillment. I quickly communicated the message to Sister
Lola who know lives with her family in Lagos. Never lose any opportunity to show kindness to
the needy around you. Who knows tomorrow? And be sure of this, that once there is life, there is
hope.
Where are you this morning? And God says "I know the thoughts that I think toward you.......
thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end" (Jere. 29:11). It does not matter
what anybody thinks about you, what God thinks about you supersedes all others and those are
the thoughts that will stand. Ojo and his brother would have become street children who would
have matured into terrible criminals. But God used our little human efforts of those days to bring
His thoughts to come to realities for them.
More the LORD will do for them.
Dear, your case is not a closed one. God's plan for you is a perfect one. God has re-opened your
case. Nothing will disrupt it except if you do not respond well to God's dealings. He loves you.
Forget whatever negative thing anybody has uttered against you. Let all men be liars and God's
word concerning you remain true. It is well with you.
Time to go to the worship service for today.
Wishing you a lovely Sunday.
Shalom.
THE PENINNAH PERIL (19/09/15)
Thank God, it is yet another morning of another day the LORD has made. Lots of reasons to
thank God for. It may seem to you this morning, what is the point thanking God considering all
that you are passing through. Yet you are settled at a place you call your home. Think of those
homeless migrants from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other crisis-ridden places on their way to
Western Europe. For days, they trekked, some only to find a dead end at the boundaries of
Hungary. Several of them all that they have called money are finished. Frustrated, famished,
fainting, yet not knowing when they will find shelter and safety. Yet even in dire situations like
that, one can still find a whole lot of reasons to thank God for His goodness and mercy. You think
God has forgotten and forsaken those migrants. Not at all. He has His mercy for those migrants,
some of them innocent looking children. You can smile through your storms knowing that God

lives and because He lives, you can face tomorrow. My dear, no matter what, God is not dead.
He lives to care for you. Smile up and be blessed.
Message 23 of Marriage: What saith the Scriptures
Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was
Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite.
And he had two wives, the name of the one was Hannah,and the name of the other Peninnah: and
Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no childrenAnd her adversary also provoked her
sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb (1Sam.1:1-2, 6)
It was while writing on message 22, When it takes time for baby to come, that I had an
opening into the message of today. God is the God of purpose. He does nothing for the fun of
doing it. Do you know why it was so written that God shut up the womb of Hannah? It was
because, medically speaking, there was nothing wrong with Hannah as far as child bearing was
concerned. And it was not a witch or the so called family curse that caused her childlessness. It
was not because anybody sinned as some may assume. The LORD did it and that definitely for a
reason. And be sure of this, if there is a shutting, then expect an opening. When there is adversity,
know for sure that plenty and prosperity is at the corner. If you read the song of Hannah as
recorded in 1Sam.2:1-10, you will notice that this woman got all the lessons that God wanted her
to learn from her trial of childlessness. The trials of the righteous come like the school in
righteousness, only the patient comes out of it in flying colors. Hannah made a first class grade
in her school of trial. Marriage has its own peculiar trials all meant to make and perfect the saints
of God.
You may not understand what Peninnah did to Hannah by just reading 1Sam.1:6. And her
adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret. The And and the also in that
sentence points to the fact that besides the mere agony of childlessness, that Peninnah by her
taunts and jeers added pepper not even salt to the emotional injury of Hannah. Women I have
come to learn are as emotionally breakable like the beautiful breakable plates in the house. As
tough talking as British Margret Thatcher, as beautiful as American Marilyn Munroe or Princess
Diana of England she can be, a woman emotionally speaking can so easily break down. Maybe
you need to read the book Diana (talking of Princess Diana of England) by Sarah Bradford.
Diana as beautiful and charming as they come, had a turbulent relationship in her marriage. And
her wonderful public image may have presented a picture of a strong woman riding well by the
tide, not so in private. Behind the glamour was the grim reality of a woman emotionally
embarrassed by a man she loved so much. Mr. Husband, handle your wifes emotions like you
handle those precious breakables in the house which you will not like to break.
You know at the looking for whom to marry stage of this marriage series, I told a story of my
neighbor while living at another side of Abuja far from where I live now. My neighbor who had a
drunk for a wife and who can leave a less than one-month old baby to go out to a drinking joint
to get herself filled and come back to fight the husband. She was not only a drunk, she was a
Peninnah in our compound to her then closest neighbor. Our flats then where built as twin flats.
Each separate building had two flats. The couple living closest to them just had a child a girl
child. Mrs. Drunk was almost pregnant every year, bearing children like the proverbial rabbit.
Without normal neighbor to neighbor quarrel, she made the woman with an only child regret
ever packing into that compound. She even one day indirectly told the woman that she bought

her only female child. Often, she will deliberately be calling the names of her children all to
show the other that she has a lot. Foolishness can really amuse. Ignorance no be small disease
oo! By Hannahs song, life has turnarounds. The bows of the mighty can be broken and they that
once stumbled can be girthed with strength. They that were once full can later hire out
themselves for bread and they that were hungry can have more than enough bread. The barren
can bear seven and she that had many children waxed feeble. Who knows what happened to the
Peninnah children considering the content of Hannahs song?
My dear, has a Peninnah provoked you sore? What have you not heard from husband relatives
and your Peninnah-like mother-in-law? Dont worry, the LORD that remembered Hannah has
remembered you. That is why you are reading this message. Oh, what have you not heard
because of not having a baby yet? What is it you have not been called? A dry tree? A woman that
is a man? Good-Only-On-Bed as the Aba-made-Man-of-God called his beautiful wife who
could not bear a baby for him. And possibly Pastor has not gone to be tested so as to prove
medically that he is not the reason why Madam has not conceived. In Africa every man is potent
and virile, only women are said to be barren. Lie from the pit of hell. Men have their problem as
well as women. And it is good Christian couples go for medical tests to ascertain where the
problem is coming from instead of blindly blaming the woman. What African women Africanly
suffer in their marriages. Pray, I will have time to get there in this series. And there are simple
medical helps for couples looking for children. It is not a matter of small faith anything if you
seek for and get those helps. Faith is in levels. Be sincere to yourself and respect your faith level.
Do nothing because one man in America or somewhere else did so.
You know what, patience pays. The Yoruba people say Suru lere meaning there is a reward to
patience. The Igbo people say Ndidi-Amaka meaning that Patience is beautiful. Patience is
universally good. The good side of Peninnahs provocation is that it made Hannah pray for
Samuel. So you can see, God has always gotten ways of turning whatever the enemy is doing to
hurt or harm the righteous for his/her good. Samuel came therefore not only because Hannah
prayed but also because Peninnah persecuted and provoked Hannah. Yes, Hannahs husband was
superlatively good to her, but it was not the mans goodness that provoked prayer but Peninnahs
wickedness. All things including delayed child birth works for the good of the righteous. And we
discover that much fretting about having or not having children, male or female are all caused by
a Peninnah society that will not let you be. Celestine Ukwu was a legendary highlife singer of
yore. Singers of his age were greatly philosophical far from the rap-rap noise we hear
everywhere today. To me like a rape on music. Mr. Ukwu sang that Onye odirilaa nma tata,
onwelike odiriya njo echi meaning that he or she who things are working out fine today, maybe
at the receiving end tomorrow. It is a life of Today-And-Tomorrow. Things are never as they
were in the beginning. Change is a possibility. No condition is permanent. Whatever your
condition is today, know that there is a tomorrow. Change will come. Weeping may endure for a
night, but joy comes in the morning. Sure, your night of childlessness has a day following- that
day of rejoicing. Please invite me when Baby Miracle arrives. Surely he/she will arrive. Wishing
you well.
Happy weekend.
Shalom.

WHEN IT TAKES TIME FOR BABY TO ARRIVE (17/09/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
Thank God for another day beautifully given. Do hope you are fine. My earnest desire is for you
to be fine in the LORD. Always know this that all things in life may be as variable as they come,
but one constant you must not lose sight of is the love of God. God loves you. This I know too
well.
One day in my University class, I walked up to this my class mate, one of the raving campus
babes of that day, called her by her name and told her that Jesus loves her. She turned and looked
at me and asked Why her of all the girls in the class. She was amazed at the particular interest
on her. Well, she continued in her normal life. Very early in our 400 level she got born again. You
can imagine how happy I was. Though she went to NIFES, not my SCM then, I gladly joined in
following her up. Wonder when last you told somebody that Jesus loves him or her. And millions
go through life thinking that they are so bad that God will not have anything to do with them.
No, God is not like that. Constant is his love despite life challenges. Tell somebody of this love
of Christ today. Nothing touches like His love. Nothing impacts and influences like His love.
Nothing transforms like His love. A hurting world with millions of hurting people needs the
healing power of love. If you have this love, if you have been affected by this love, what are you
waiting for, share it, spread it. How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that
bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth
salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth (Isaiah 52:7). No business gladdens my heart
like this of publishing salvation. Join me, lets do it together. It pays to serve Jesus!
Message 22 of Marriage: What saith the Scriptures
After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not,
Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my
house is this Eliezer of Damascus. And Abram said, behold, to me thou hast given no seed; and
lo, one born in my house is mine heir.. (Gen.15:1-3)
And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister and said unto
Jacob, Give me children or else I die (Gen.30:1)
Six months after wedding, anxiety begins to mount when the woman is still the way she was on
her wedding day. Even brethren in church will start watching her tummy area whether it is
bulging out or still as flat as that of Miss Universe on the night of coronation. By Gods grace, I
am still dealing with marriage teething problems. Nothing poses a challenge to the newly
married as this matter of delayed conception most especially down here in Africa. Not wisely
handled it can seriously hurt and haunt the marriage relationship all through.
When into the first six months into our marriage and no sign of anything called getting pregnant
came, one of my wifes bosses in the office asked her, What are you people waiting for, when
will you start making babies?. I was not with her when her boss asked her but she deliberately
told me. I wondered making babies? I dont think we have the power to make babies I told her.
Yes, human beings can but do the playing of love but honestly the power of planting children
inside the womb of a woman is totally the prerogative of God. When a year passed, no show, my

father sensing that his fanatically religious first son does not know what to do with a woman
called me one early morning in the village to talk sense into me. The way he talked made me
know his fears that probably I do not know what to do with a woman. But that was not the issue.
Do you need a school for what comes and happens naturally?
Then my wife discovered something about me that shocked her most things that move people
to get hysterical and possibly get depressed do not move me a bit. And the fact that I was not
agitated as she was made us misunderstand ourselves at that stage in our relationship. Haba, will
I kill myself to have a baby? She got terribly worried and shaken. The idea of meeting the doctor
to run all the tests on two of us was totally hers. And to keep the peace, I went with her to all the
doctors. For me, I sincerely believed God that a child will come at Gods due time not
subtracting a second. And that was what happened in our case and thank God ours was but a one
year test. For Abraham and Sarah the test lasted for a whopping 25 years. After all the Hagar
alternative and hysterical of Sarah, it was still at Gods set time that Isaac, the joy and the
laughter of her life came (Gen.21:1-2). And as I write you this morning, Isaac remains the source
of joy for the world today while the Ishmael gotten by human alternative remains the very source
of sorrow for the world up till this morning. May be the migration crisis of today would have
been avoided if not for that anxiety driven mistake. Human alternatives to Divine mandate and
plan have ways of terribly altering the destinies of men. It is always good that a man should both
hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD (Lam.3:26)
I called my first child Faith and I know what I was saying when I named her so. The second we
named Onyinyechukwu meaning Gods Gift. Indeed, children are an heritage of the LORD: and
the fruit of the womb is his reward (Psalm 127:3). I came to know by experience that as the Igbo
says CHINENYENWA meaning God gives children. Yes you do your part as humans but is Him
that does it. And the moment married couples, parent-in-laws, all relatives and the society at
large realizes this, the better it will be for al.
And it can really be a trying moment for couples still expecting. We are talking of months and
few years, for Abraham and Sarah it was for 25 years. At a time in Genesis 15, as God was
talking to Abraham, he was busy being worried of who will inherit his properties and bear his
name. He was actually crying. And for Rachael it became a matter of life and death demanding a
baby from her husband as if her husband is the maker of babies. Please do not lose your faith
because of children. Trust the LORD. Yes it can be challenging but you must also bear it in mind
that naked we come to this world, naked we go. Tomorrow, I will by Gods grace write to
encourage couples still expecting, especially those contending with the Peninnah Perils in their
marriages. Oh, you have not heard of the Peninnah Perils. A woman called Hannah in Bible
went through it and it was not funny. When a married woman yet to have a child has a Peninnah
co-tenant, mother-in-law, sister-in-law or even as a co-wife in a polygamous set up, it is not
always a funny experience.
Keep the covenant of your union. Having or not having children must not break it. You know
some of the stories you hear in marriages concerning child bearing can be heart rending and
shattering. Shortly after completing my youth service in 1995 I was in Aba serving God,
assisting a pastor friend of mine in his church. One day this very beautiful sister came, looking
like the people we call half-caste here due to their oyiboish looks weeping because of the
treatment she was getting from her General Overseer husband because she was yet to have a

baby for him. This G.O insisted that Madam must go. The sister is related to my pastor friend.
We decided to go and plead with the G.O not to cast this woman away. I told my friend, lets pray
and fast because all these Aba-made-G.Os can do funny things at times. We prayed and fasted
on a day and went. Four of us, husband and wife, plus two unmarried men of God. We talked for
hours no show. The G.O. called his beautiful wife Only-Good-On-Bed woman and angrily
ordered us out of his house for daring to meddle into marriage issues when we were not yet
married. We left, with tails in between our legs. The following day he sent the woman packing.
We visited her in her brothers place to comfort and pray with her. The trials of women without
children. It can be touching. Reading me this morning, you may have passed through a lot, but
dont worry, God at His set time will turn up for you. You are neither forgotten nor forsaken. The
Lord will surely remember you. It is well.
Wishing all a blessed day.
Shalom!

JUST AS I AM (16/09/15)
Good morning dearly beloved,
It is yet another morning, the beautiful morning of Wednesday, September 16, 2015. Do hope the
word beautiful as written here still makes sense to you. Last week I was in Kaduna for a
Ministers retreat program. A day to our leaving the camp of meeting, I met this brother who each
time we cross ways, its all banters and jovial expressions. But that morning I saw a different
facial expression on him. The weather was really cold due to an early morning heavy downpour
and he was wearing a thick cardigan. I asked him, Bro, is like the cold is getting you much and
he replied even more than much. He did not tell me anything but not too long I got to know that
he lost five members of his discipleship class in an auto accident same morning at Gombe.
Incidentally the husband of one of the dead who also is in his discipleship class was with us in
the retreat. It took the leader of our team to call in the brother who lost his wife to inform him
that sister has gone ahead to glory. When the word beautiful may not make sense. Life can be as
knocking as that but that does not mean that God has forgotten or forsaken us. Does Jesus still
care as that brother wept like a baby when told that a wife that bid him goodbye few days before
is no more? O yes, Jesus still cares. When nothing makes sense, a focus on Him will bring
meaning to meaninglessness. He cares for you. He is still in control.
Message 21 of Marriage: What saith the Scriptures
Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they
shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife and were not ashamed
(Gen.3:24-25)
It is not normal for a woman to be naked before a man. Same way it is not normal for a man to
be naked before a woman. There is a feeling of shame in a normal human being going naked
before even somebody of same sex. A negative emotion of feeling dishonored, disgraced and
embarrassed follows that. Really a disgracing thing to strip one naked before onlookers. One of
the mystical powers of marriage is to remove this shame associated with being naked for the

husband and wife in a true marriage relationship. For such, nakedness of one to the other is like
ones own nakedness. It makes no difference. Your wife being naked before you is like yourself
being naked to yourself. In the scripture quoted above, the not being ashamed of Genesis 3:25
was only achieved by the becoming of one flesh of verse 24 of same chapter. One leads to the
other. The man and the woman can only be both naked before each other and not ashamed only if
they have been joined in marriage as one flesh. That is why it is a disgusting, disgraceful and
dishonorable thing to see the nakedness of somebody of the opposite sex who you are not
married to. There is no fun in that as some think.
Haba! Which honor, which respect remains for a woman who can without shame undress herself
before a man she is not married to? No shame? You know it sounds baffling that a man will
without shame go into a whore by the road side, unzip, remove everything and stand before such
a woman to do some shameful things. No shame? Young unmarried people! You go naked before
somebody you have not become one flesh with without shame and embarrassment? And after
doing it, you still walk about as a respectable fellow. You know why several relationships that
started with sex ended up in sorrow and sadness? Outside marriage, the woman or man you have
seen her nakedness at such a close range is like a nobody to you. Respect and honor lost. That
is why, some do not marry after years of sleeping with one another. You need to sit to hear how
men who sleep around discuss the women they sleep around with. Those women are idiots to
them. Keep your honor by keeping your nakedness only for your marriage. Stop undressing
yourself to every Dick and Harry that comes around. There is no honor in that. Your nakedness is
sacred to you and your God. You must not be profane to the point of flaunting about possibly in
the name of the latest fad or fashion.
What does nakedness imply in a marriage beyond its physical essence? It implies openness. No
hide and seek. No secrets secret lovers, secret children, secret properties here and there, secret
accounts, secret associations, etc. Naked is naked. You know some marry an occultist that will
tell them of a certain room where no other person can enter. Including your wife? Including your
husband. Secrecy will surely hurt and harm your relationship if you allow that. Husbands and
wives must not keep anything secret from one another. If you came into the marriage not having
a womb, you must open that up (in fact at the courtship conversations). Open up on every area of
your life. Nakedness is stating to the other, this is me Just as I am. This is me, there is no other
person.
Let me explain what being naked to one another without being ashamed means through the
letters in the word NAKED thus:
N is that in marriage, the husband and wife must be normal and natural to one another. When
you are naked, you are presenting yourself the way you are naturally, without putting on
anything. There is no dressing up in nakedness to deceive. There is no make-up. There is no
artificiality. There is no make-believe. There is no hidden agenda. There is no patching up or
plastic presentation. There is no pretence. There is no cover up. There is no faking it up. Being
who you are in your relationship counts. It is better so that if you need help in any way it will be
well obvious to be attended to.
A Your nakedness is loud in announcing who you are. It is as clear as noon day. You are not
another. You know one of the reasons why some who try to rationalize the ungodly practice of
taste before marriage give? They fear what they may see when nakedness follows after wedding

day. What of if the twin towers in front of the woman are not as towering as seen under clothing?
What of this? What of that? Leave those things. When a wife or husband comes from God, He
God takes care of all those things. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. He who makes all things
beautiful at his own time will work on your spouse to befit your desires. Learn to tell the LORD
all matters concerning your spouse. The legs that maybe looking wonky and wobbly before
others may come before you as the ones that celebrated models run after to get often through
surgery. Take what her/his nakedness announces. That is what you got. It belongs to you.
K There is a Knowing in nakedness. And as I did write earlier, this goes beyond physical
nakedness. Who can know me like my wife? Not even my mum. Not even my siblings including
the closest of them. You know if as a preacher, you look ugly in your nakedness to your spouse,
all your nice brother and nice preaching on the pulpit makes no sense to her. As you will be
thundering from the pulpit, she will be begging time to be up so that she might get back to the
house. You cannot fake up things to somebody who knows you by nakedness. Once a prominent
politician was being investigated on sexual assault on a woman. He kept denying. One day the
woman opened up to the investigators to help her ask the man if it is true that there is this black
natural spot on his private part. Not a tattoo. There are tattoos that come natural. The man has
one and this woman had seen it. The woman was never a medical doctor to know that. Even if
she was, by the ethics of that profession she could not have been saying that to investigators. She
said something which only the person that has seen the man naked can say. Please let the married
be sincerely naked to one another. It helps them to properly know each other. And knowledge
when it grows well helps the relationship a lot.
E Being naked to one another in marriage talks of evidence and expression. How else do you
prove a matter than by clear untainted evidence and expression? What love are you talking about
when you hide things from one another? Love is better expressed in open-mindedness. Which
Private Part are you talking about between you and your spouse? There is nothing left private
between two of you. Your private part is one. Private car? Private house? No, two of you now
share the same privacy. Mind you this does not come by mere fantasized love talks. You have to
work and live it out. Human beings are by nature too private, but a marriage takes you from the
cocoon of that privacy to the privacy of you and your spouse. Of course there are things between
two of you that cannot be shared with another. That does not mean that two of you will not
undress yourselves before whoever that has spiritual oversight on two of you when necessary. I
hope you understand the undressing I mean hear. I do not mean all these prophets come from
hell who go and undress women members of their congregation to bath them in the so called
spiritual baths. It is an abomination to see the nakedness of another who you are not married to.
Porn watching addicts must take note. Stop peeping to see. It wastes you spiritually.
D Being naked to one another in marriage means setting aside all deceits, diplomacies and
duplicities outside your marriage. You know there are lots of hypocrisies around diplomatic ties
among nations in the world. There is no German and Britain, America and Russia kind of ties in
marriages as ordained by God. When Putin and Obama hug publicly, is it truly a hug of love.
There are marriages like that. They laugh diplomatically. They hold hands diplomatically. Visit
Mr. Biggs diplomatically. All show up, no sincerity. There is nothing naked in the diplomatic
field. Languages are coded. Everything coded and covered. Why should my wife not pick my

handset and go through my text messages at will? Why must I delete something she must not
see? Please do not marry diplomatically. It is damn dangerous.
Sorry todays message came late. Battling with PHCN here. Trusting God you are being blessed.
We shall by his grace continue tomorrow. Remain blessed.
Shalom.
MIGRATION CRISIS AND ITS COMMUNICATIONS
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until
Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering
of the people be (Gen. 49:10)
Armageddon is not yet here but the journey to it had since started. As I got ready to write this, I
read in a TV news track of the Iranian supreme leader boasting that Israel will be no more in 25
years time. Then what is the good in the so called Iran Deal I asked myself as I thought on the
unfolding of events in a crisis ridden 21st century. When will the world stop managing crisis?
The thought brought me back to the only two choices left for man under the heavens CHRIST
OR CRISIS. And as you read this today choose you which to follow Christ or Crisis, as for me,
my choice is clear CHRIST.
As I sat in church last Sunday at a Worship Center in Kaduna, North West Nigeria, a dear brother
coordinating the affairs of the service urged us to pray for the current migration crisis in Europe,
that Gods will be done in it. I took that prayer seriously as the mention of the crisis sparked on a
burden in me. It inspired me to write as well. I am one who believes strongly that God knows
about everything happening in the world today before even the world which he made begun.
Nothing takes Him by surprise. If the entire world and all events happening in it from Adam till
now and till the end is to be a film, he saw it millions of years ago. And if He knew and had in
His infinite mercy given us clues and glimpses in His word, it only smacks of foolishness not to
take His word serious.
I remember the young Tunisian graduate of Computer Engineering, Mohammed Bouazizi who in
late 2010, set himself on fire to protest the maltreatment of a security agent who confiscated his
wares as he was hawking vegetables and fruits on the streets of Tunis. He could not survive the
burns that resulted from the fire he set himself on as he died on January 4, 2011. The riot his
death started sparked off the fire of the Arab Springs we came to know. In an article I wrote as
the conflagration begun to gather momentum which I titled BEFORE THE END COMES I did
write Have you ever heard of a young Tunisian man called Mohamed Bouazizi? Mr. Mohamed
was a 26 year old computer engineering graduate, but due to the unemployment problem in his
country as it is in our own Nigeria, he decided to be selling vegetables and fruits which he
hawked around with a wheel-barrow to eke out a living instead of remaining idle. But overzealous security agents of the same government that made him unemployed could not let him be.
A police woman harassed intimidated and went ahead confiscating his wares for selling without a
license. License to sell tomatoes and water-melon you may wish to ask? December 17, 2010, out
of frustration for that insensitive maltreatment, Mohamed set himself ablaze in a public square.
He suffered excruciating pains until he died on January 4, 2011. His death aggravated the month-

long anti-government demonstrations to protest the inability of President Zine al-Abidine Ben
Alis regime to initiate economic and political reforms that would improve the living standard of
Tunisians. I informed you of Ben Alis flight to Saudi Arabia when I wrote you last week. He has
been on the saddle for the past 23 years, but the heat ignited by the fire that Bouazizi set himself
ablaze with was too much for him. As I am writing you now, Egypt has caught the Bouazizi fire
as thousands of Egyptians have gone to the streets demanding political and economic reforms.
The man there, Mr. Hosni Mubarak at the age of 82 has ruled for 29 years. All African tyrants
and leaders who have run out of ideas on how to bring about good governance must read and get
the interpretation of the handwriting on their walls through the changing hurricane of Tunisia
The Bouazizi fire is still on. Yes the Syrian crisis had been on before the Bouazizi fire, but it
brought more fuel to it. The aggravation of it is todays migration crisis in the noon day of
globalization. No conflict or crisis remains regional again. All metastasize into global crisis.
Whether sickness, squalor or war, it is now becoming too difficult for people and nations to look
the other way, hence we keep reminding all like Mordecai reminded Esther Think not with
thyself that thou shalt escape in the kings house. (Esther 4:13). Europe is currently learning
this in a bit hard way as news headlines such as these keep trending all through last week:
Total Emergency Alert: Global meltdown begins.
Muslim Refugees chant Allahu Akbar., attack citizens, throw feces
The Migrant Crisis is about imposing multiculturalism on the West
TRUMP: We have to accept migrants here because they are living in hell
Muslim Refugee Arriving in Europe makes beheading gesture to TV camera
And a columnist in an international media stream wrote While Europe is being burdened by
potentially millions of people who dont share the same culture or religion as the host population,
Gulf Arab states refuse to pull their weight resolving only to throw money at the problem
Headlines communicating a lot to those who have ears to hear. Can you again check the
geography of world crisis today? What do you make of it considering nations and people who
have rejected Gods word as contained in the bible? Most Christians do not know enough what
they have in Christ this peace that passeth human understanding. Peace which you cannot get
in all the conflict resolution meetings of several tea breaks leading to more tear breaks and
costing millions of dollars at the same time. There cannot be peace for any person, group of
persons or nations that have rejected Christ. The migration is in search of peace, from crisis
ridden places to Europe that has a heritage of faith in Christ. Where else shall the people gather
to?
Unto Him shall the gathering of the people be A prophetic pronouncement upon Judah the
human tribe of Jesus. This speaks much about Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords. God is
making the difference crystal clear. Only he or she who has an ear to hear can hear this. This is
more than a crisis; there is a communication, what heaven is communicating. This is more than
migration; there is a message that ONLY IN CHRIST that true peace can be found. Check the
heritage of faith for Europe and that from where these migrants are coming from.
Day by day it becomes as clear as ever that we who have followed Jesus have not followed
cunningly devised fables. (2Peter 1:16). Not at all. Let your conviction get firmer. The
scriptures cannot be broken. They are being fulfilled every day before us. Not being ashamed,
knowing that He who we have believed is the LORD and Savior indeed. We shall hold fast that

which we have received in Christ Peace, perfect peace. That good thing which had been
committed unto us, we must keep by the Holy Ghost (2Tim.1:14). We must not lose sight of
Gods purpose. No crisis, no storm can change Gods plans and purposes. You must not sorrow in
this world like them living without hope. Let no man confuse you with bogus but base
philosophies trending about. Moses was a great servant of God but he was not Christ, cannot be
him and cannot be compared with him. Elijah made the whole realm of nature bow at his
command but he was not and cannot be Jesus. No man is like Jesus. He is the ROCK. There is no
sinking in Him. All other grounds are sinking ground. That is the reason for the present chaos.
That is the reason for all the movements and migrations. All other grounds are sinking and
shaking. All other kingdoms are shaking to scatter, only Christs kingdom remains the one and
only unshakable kingdom. The man who spoke from Iran concerning Israel is just the supreme
leader of his small Iran. He is not our Supreme Being God who only speaks and it stands and
comes to pass. Let all men be liars and God remain the truth. Wake up to read the handwriting on
the wall of all who have rejected Christ. The migration crisis is writing on the wall for a world
engrossed on issues that matter not enough. I do hope that many will understand the times.
Please be not ignorant of the times. Nothing happens for nothing. There is always the cause that
can be found in the bible. There is a cause to this crisis, that many through this crisis will know
Jesus as LORD and Savior. Make sure you have made your peace with God. Decide today where
you will spend eternity. Remain blessed.
Shalom.

MAKING AGREEMENT A MARITAL ATTITUDE (15/09/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
Thank God another day the LORD has made is here with us. Do hope you had a wonderful
Monday? I had, especially with the ever refreshing Monday Bible study session. Nothing is as
wonderful to me as sitting down to listen to and hear the word of God. And teaching about the
Thessalonians (the Christian brethren there at the time of Apostle Paul) last night at the bible
study, Pastor W.F Kumuyi did emphasis on the matter of repentance and turning away from the
old life of sin to a new life of righteousness through Gods grace made abundantly available.
These Thessalonians like all Greek people of their age were addicted to the acquisition of
intellectual power hence Paul wrote concerning them For the Jews require a sign, and the
Greeks seek after wisdom (1Cor.1:22). The way they cherished and adored earthly wisdom, you
may be thinking they will not have time or give heed to the word of God. But they did. And they
were not quasi or quack intellectuals. Writing about the conversion of the Thessalonians in Acts
17:1-4, 12, you will appreciate the fact that these men and women were A-class Greeks before
their conversion. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas and of the
devout Greeks a great multitude, and the chief women not a few (Acts 17:4). The devout here
does not refer to religious devotion but as Greeks they were devoted to earthly wisdom. Earthly
wisdom was like a god which every Greek person bowed to. But at conversion these ones at
Thessalonica turned from that god to the true God. And last night Pastor Kumuyi wondered if all

the millions that turn out at our Christian worship centers in Nigeria have truly turned from their
old lives to the new in Christ.
Have your truly turned? Have you turned from sin and wickedness? Have you turned from your
former devotions to the true devotion? Have you turned from lying and cheating to honesty and
truth? Have you turned from sexual sin of all kinds? Sadly, the message of turning is not the
popular message today. Current day Christians want to retain all they had and enjoyed in the
world. Because there is no turning away from the old life, you can hardly distinguish who is a
Christian and who is not. May you hold tight to grace to turn in Jesus name.
Message 20 of Marriage: What saith the Scriptures
Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)
And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of
the Lord blameless.And it came to pass, that on the eight day they came to circumcise the
child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father. And his mother answered and
said, Not so, but he shall be called JohnAnd he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying,
his name is John. And they marveled all (Luke 1:6, 59, 60, 63)
Prophet Amos asked rhetorically a very germane question in the verse quoted from his biblical
book as shown above. It is not possible for two to walk together except they be agreed.
Agreement advances the marrying process in a marriage. The idea of irreconcilable differences
is mere tinkling cymbal polemics not known to God ordained and controlled marriage. I once
heard a certain smooth talking Nigerian preacher talking of irreconcilable differences when his
second marriage failed. You know there is this saying that the way bitter cola sounds when one is
eating it does not suggest that it is a very sweet nut to crack. Mere speech can actually be subtly
sweet. The sound of the phrase irreconcilable differences can sound as sweet as a Cicero cant
but in reality it describes the hell that some pass through in their marriages. No matter the sweet
platitudes used in describing hell, hell is hell.
The Agreement that alloys well the union of two in a marriage is more than the I do, I do on
wedding day beautiful morning. A lot of nice dressing on the wedding day. For some the I do, I
do chant is actually part of wedding day dressing. A lot of dressing up. Even smiling. Do you
know some go for pre-wedding day smiling rehearsals? Who actually wants to look like those
un-laughing twosome soldiers that ruled Nigeria between 1983 and 1985 on his wedding day? So
you suit up to look like a wonderful suitor.
The Zacharias-Elizabeth marriage presents us with a good example of a case where agreement
became a marital attitude. Everything about them took a both dimension. They were both
righteous before God. They were ever in the same boat. And of course with God. Storms raged
of course. Which storm can be as fierce in a marriage relationship as that of childlessness? And
for this couple, it raged for years. But which storm can swallow the boat or ship where God is in,
the very master of the ocean and waves. The power of agreement kept them on. If two of you
shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my
Father which is in heaven (Matt.18:19). This power of agreement in answered prayers works
most in the covenant union between a husband and wife. And several couples have not known
the power reserved for their marriages in the provision of this verse. May you, a married person

reading this connect your marriage to the power in Matt. 18:19, you will witness a great revival
in your marriage.
Often you wonder who is the wife of such bible men of God like Eli, Samuel, Joshua and the
rest. Simply, they were not agreeing like Zacharias and Elizabeth. Zipporah, the wife of Moses
did not agree with him. They could not walk together though they were living together as
husband and wife, possibly as roommates. Walking together is more than living together. You
can live together as roommates, yet not walking together. There is no I put it to you in
agreement and walking together. Lawyers can put it to themselves in the courts not so in
marriages. Any marriage where there is I put it to you between the couples must surely court
much crisis. Avoid it.
And the beginning of Agreement in your relationship may not be that rosy. Part of the teething
problem in marriage. When you begin to marry your philosophies and ways of doing things. I
never had a single bank account before I married. Though a graduate banker I never took saving
part of my missionary stipend serious. My first bank account was actually forced on me by the
NYSC during my service year at Uyo in 1994. My wife was totally different on this. She is a
wonderful finance manager. You can see ironies. I was trained to be a finance manager, yet she
manages finances far better than I do. If my wife earns N2, N1 must be saved. No matter the
immediate need. In fact she saved enough for her Masters at the University of Ibadan from her
youth service allowance. Oh my God, my youth service allowance! I saved not a dime. So when
we married, and she kept insisting we must save from our meager earning, I did not find it funny
at all at the beginning. Of course, we had issues on that because I never understood this matter of
having money yet lacking money. It was until our first baby came that I understood my wife on
her savings crusade in our marriage. I remembered when baby came at the ABU Teaching
Hospital Kaduna in 2002, severally a nurse will come out of the labor room with a list of things
to go and buy asking Who is the husband of Charity?. And you do not know the news that will
follow that question. For me on that day, 18th of October 2002, it was of things to buy. We saved
enough and I will get to the bank, withdraw to stand the heat. Though I had no triplet or all those
multiple births, but I got an understanding why some men pick race on hearing that their wives
have delivered multiple babies. Often that picking race is as a result of not having the saving
mentality on earnings no matter how little. Savings like that can add security to your marital
relationship.
Are you having issues agreeing with your spouse? Why not make it a prayer point after reading
this. You must agree to advance the cause of your marriage. May the LORD help us all. Amen.
Shalom

THE DAVID-MICHAL MARRIAGE (10/09/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
Thanking God for another day graciously given for us to be glad and rejoice in it. This morning
in the kneeling place of prayer I remembered you as I thought on Psalm 92:12 The righteous
shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like the cedar in Lebanon. An inspiration and
encouragement to really have the righteousness that comes by faith in Christ.

I may not know much about the cedar and its exemplary growth since I am not from Lebanon.
But the Palm tree I know very well coming from Eastern Nigeria. If you are doing a film or
documentary with an Eastern background and the Palm is not shown in its majestic swing and
swirl, then the creativity of such a work will be in great doubt. The Palm tree is an epitome of
what being evergreen and flourishing is all about. Before the Olobiri discovery of the black gold,
the Palm has been the hub of Eastern prosperity and power. I learned that the Malaysians who are
today worlds number one in Palm produce came here to collect seed for the beginning of their
Palm plantations. What we got free from nature, they got by themselves. Amazing how they took
over. All things bright and beautiful in Nigeria, we abuse and misuse!
You know while war raged in the East, the Palm smiled on, still producing. That was why as a
Biafran kid I still had Palm kernels littered on the patchy ground ravaged by war in the nearby
bushes to pick, crack and eat. Wonderful mothers of the East, those ones who held on to the
sacredness of family life and motherhood not to follow after Awusa Soldiers (as the then
Federal Government of Nigeria soldiers were known), still produced the medicinal oil (ude aki)
from the Palm to keep the children tormented by the demons of hunger unleashed on them by an
uncaring world, from the myriad of diseases that came. Those mothers, including my own dear
mother, just 16 years of age by the time war broke out in 1967, we must celebrate the true
sweet mothers we must not forget.
Thinking of the Palm tree. Nothing from it is useless. I mean nothing. Wine, oil, nuts, brooms,
roofing planks and sheets, fiber, animal feed, manure from the decaying leaves, and then a lot
you use the oil for including soap making. Inside, outside, the Palm tree is a tree of great value.
May you indeed flourish like the Palm tree. May your value be like that of the Palm tree. And for
this to be, you must have the righteousness that comes by grace not by works. May you really be
blessed in Jesus name. Amen.
Message 19 of MARRIAGE: WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURE
Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet
David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today who uncovered himself today in the
eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth
himself! And David said unto Michal, it was before the LORD, which chose me before thy
father, and before all his house, to appoint me a ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel:
therefore will I play before the LORD. And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in
mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in
honor. Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death
(2Sam.6:20-23)
Princess Michal, remember her, truly Davids first love. Their love story started while they were
youths. And such love relationships last long. Wonder why it could not for David and Michal.
Princess Michal loved David, no doubt about that. (1Sam.18:20). When the ruddy youngest son
of Mr. Jesse won the heart of a young princess, it was the greatest love gist of the kingdom. A lot
was really going on well for the young David then who killed the popular Philistine champion,
Goliath of Gath. The women sang his praises. His popularity rating soared high above that of the
king. If there was an election then in Israel, David would have beaten Saul silly, with women
overwhelmingly voting for David. Champions are well loved, that, mostly by women. To say that
David stole the very heart of Michal will only sound an understatement. We remember, how

Michal risked her own life to save the life of David from her envious and brutal father
(1Sam.19:11-19)
You wonder what could have happened to the love between David and Michal that they had the
kind of altercation recorded in the scripture, I am writing on today. Possibly due to the trial that
their love had gone through before then. Recall that at a time King Saul in his anti-David politics
and policies took back his daughter and gave her to another man, Phaltiel, the son of Laish
(1Sam.25:44). Yes, Michal was brought back to cement up a new political deal and alliance
between Sauls chief of army staff, Abner and David (11Sam.3:12-21). I personally think that the
wonderful love that originally existed between David and Michal got tainted and tinctured by
that politically motivated separation and then reconciliation hence the explosive altercation after
the David dance before the Ark.
What Michal said to David at the very front of the living room could have been said inside the
bedroom after David had taken his bath and meal. But Michal was fuming up already because
she saw her husband dancing unkingly to the delight of some ladies. You know the problem of
Mrs. David was this assumption that those ladies have taken her Dave from her. Women and their
feeling of insecurity concerning the love of their husbands. Some of them suspect every move
the man makes including dancing steps as David danced. Before that time, David had been a
womans man as they say. Dance or no dance, some damsels like that will always noose about
dandy Dave. But maturity on the part of Michal would have saved her marriage for her. She lost
out.
But you know what Michal said to David could have come as an innocuous banter known to
couples in love. And they would have laughed over it. Better couched and coined, it could have
been a bed time advice, when a man listens to every word that comes out of the mouth of the
woman. There was a place and at a time that David could not have exploded the way he did at
the living room door. You know in the teething days of my own marriage, I never liked the idea
of my wife not allowing me to sit down first to explain why possibly I was coming in a bit late.
Oh, at the door of the living room confrontation can really raise tempers. I personally do not like
that at all, at all. The first thing to do Madam is to welcome your husband with a warm kiss, even
if you got a tip that a certain damsel had done some foolish things with him in the office. Haba!
There was this woman married to this terrible drunkard of a man. For pet name, the two used to
address each other as Dear. People in the compound where they lived in Ibadan then knew
how each night as the man staggers back with his smelly self often falling on the ground of the
compound, the woman will come out to help him up with her voice gentle with love urging him
Dear, lets go in. Some will not take that, but true love as manifested in that woman can take
any trash. For some that Dear will turn to Dirty stupid man once he comes back with the
smell of alcohol. Baby will turn to Bastard. You call the man you used to call your baby a
bastard or the woman you used to call your baby same bastard. You can love like that simple
woman at Ibadan who I came to know is from Calabar area while the man an Igbo man. Why not
keep the Dear of your marriage no matter the debate and argument.
Banters are part of the business of love. Lets us not mistake them for abuse and insults. And
always remember that some spousal squabbles are better settled in the bedroom. May God help
us on.
Remain blessed as we explore this marriage saving topic. Saving your marriage is saving your

destiny. Make no mistake about this.

Shalom.

WHEN MY SERIES ON MARRIAGE RESUMES!

A sister sent me a terse message with her comment yesterday on one of the sub-titles of my
"MARRIAGE: WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES" message 18. Message 18 had the title
"SPOUSAL 101". But under the sub-title "Bro Harold like Martin Luther has a wife" she wrote
"Ok Oh, Bro Harold has a wife. Late nights, love letters, Great"..... (The Pen title of my
epistolary work is known as Love Letter. That is the love letter she meant)... I got her message.
She is a married woman. So I really got her message. By God's grace, I attend to all my family
duties head to toe including my children school works. And now that school has just resumed,
with new textbooks all over the house, work plenty. And if you ask my wife, Bro Harold is truly
a married Bro. We often tease ourselves of the campus days 'gym-gym' when it looked as if I will
end up a celibate monk and she a nun, but we got married with all the fun around it.
But I take another break again this morning. A lot for me to attend to here including family
issues. The children just resumed school for the 2015/2016 session yesterday. Still on marriage
teething problems which I started yesterday, I will be checking on the "DAVID-MICHAL
MARRIAGE" when I return. You see, how the two of them destroyed that marriage with their
razor tongues on a matter that could have passed as the lovely banters of a loving couple. The
turned the banters of love into the boxing of words (2Sam.6:20-23). When you read that "Michal
the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death" do not think it is just because she
quarreled with her husband or maybe that the husband cursed her. I think the two became too
petty with their 'spousal squabbles' to the point it destroyed the sexual life of that union. How
children go come for her since she was Michal and not Mary, the mother of Jesus?
Please, never lose the goal of this work. Your welfare in both time and eternity remains the
driving passion. Becoming like Jesus in all things is the goal.
Loving you all the time.
Stay blessed
Shalom.

SPOUSAL 101 (07/09/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
Thanking God greatly for every remembrance of you as together (though most often not in the
physical sense) we journey through this pilgrim way to eternity. Few days ago, a dear friend of
mine on Facebook used all these short-hand writing format to write to ask me How far? And
like I usually answer same question by whoever asked me, I replied, Closer to my maker than I
was yesterday. The friend got back to me asking what do I mean. I explained to him that though
I understand what he was asking but that this is what I mean. And that is the truth and reality of

life that every tick, every tuck of the clock no matter how microscopic it seems to us brings us
closer and closer to the eternity where all of us are headed to. Think of September 2015 of
yesterday having covered 7 days already. And we look back to the distance past. For me that
yesterday of playing under the rain with other children in the village, of gathering palm leaves
and sticks to build our children little leafy mansions. And as the clock tick-tucked on, little by
little, day by day, week by week, month by month and year by year we are where we are today
still moving on same direction we started moving towards some years back Eternity. May the
measurable ways of time never make you lose a sense of eternity where we are headed to.
Wishing you a wonderful working week ahead.
Message 18 of MARRIAGE: WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge giving honor unto the wife, as
unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life that your prayers be not
hindered (1Peter 3:7)
The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in
them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of Gods grace, youre
equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers dont run aground (1Peter 3:7 The
Message)
You need to read this epistle from its chapter two to know why chapter three started with
Likewise. There is a continuum. Peter started in chapter two verse 17 with Honor all men.
Started verse 18 with urging servants to be good servants and then going further to ask them to
take a cue from Jesus. It was along this line of discussion that he came to verse 21 to state clearly
that Jesus left us an example. Done with servants, he went on with good wives in chapter 3,
verses 1-6. Done with good wives he continued with good husbands in verse 7 of same chapter 3.
Be it a servant, a wife or a husband, all are matters of relationship. And the summary of all what
Peter wrote is this In every relationship, relate like Jesus who left us with an example who
when he was reviled, reviled not again (1Peter 2:21-23). Retaliation was never found in Jesus.
Retaliation is a Relationship killer. A relationship works well when it is done Jesus way.
You know I discovered by practice not by theory that Angels dont marry. Yes, I can call my wife
My Angel (well as a pet name) but the truth is that she is not an Angel as the Angel Gabriel we
know. She is a woman the female kind of a human being having her strengths and weaknesses.
And me, I am a man. I grew up not knowing too much about who a woman is. My immediate
younger sibling is a sister. The much I knew her is that she talked more than I do. If two of us
had an issue and we were invited to my dads court for adjudication she will always win the case
because she can talk. While I will be trying to stammer out a word, she will be through with ten.
That my sister made me know that women can talk. And I used to tell her that the way she
parrot-talks, when she marries, her husband will be beating her silly. She married 22 years ago,
for all I know she and her husband have lived peacefully all through. She married a gentleman.
No beating. Not to my knowledge.
So, I had this very little knowledge of women before in year 2000 I became a married man. Even
before my 1986 conversion, I lived almost like a hermit in terms of relating with the opposite
sex. I mentioned marital teething problems in my last message Morning Yet on Wedding Day.
My marital teething issues found expression on this ignorance. There were things I waved off as
little issues that I must not give much thought to not knowing they were serious issues with my

wife. I started learning often in very difficult ways. And often the way my wife will draw my
attention to what she felt I should do that I have not done pissed me up a lot. Haba! Wetin? And
like that my sister, she can still say ten words while I try to stammer out one. What a matter?
Then I came to this scripture in the epistle of Peter to Dwell with them according to
knowledge. Knowledge is something you acquire. And for the marital one it is better acquired
practically. Textbooks can be helpful but not the best for this kind of knowledge. Prayerfully go
to school to study to know your spouse. That is why I titled the message Spousal 101.
101 courses come as small but mighty courses. I went to a University where they run a
cumulative assessment system where every test, every exam from year one to final year matters.
Most students who do not understand the ways of this system and who take for granted 100 level
courses regret it a lot at the end. And 100 level courses have this deceptive streak in them - they
look similar to your high school subjects making you think and ask, is it not the biology I did in
secondary school. If you sit down well to study well you will discover that it is not as easy as one
thinks. Basic things look ordinary but they are not because they are foundational. There is
therefore the tendency among newly married couples to take their lessons 101s for granted as
some undergraduates do when they arrive the University campus.
My dear, a lot to learn. Learn the mood swings in your spouse. Learn her/his likes and dislikes.
Learn his/her temperaments. Is like Martin Luther like yours sincerely took some of this for
granted. His wife, Catherine left becoming a nun to marry him who left the celibate life of a
Roman Catholic priest to marry. Martin was a consummate scholar married to his books before
he married Catherine. After marriage, he still saw nothing wrong staying with his books and
studies for hours in a day leaving his wife a lonely woman. One day as she could no longer bear
it, she decided to put on an all black clothes as if she was mourning as a widow. Martin saw her
and asked her why, and she answered because she lost her husband. He got the message and their
marriage turned a new leaf from that day. This story is contained in the book Martin Luther had
a wife. And there is a truth every married person must come to grips with the truth that you
are no longer a bachelor or spinster. I came away from just a Brother Harold to the place of
Brother Harold has a wife. A missionary since after graduating from the University, I have
moved around this country preaching. I remember days I will get up to Maiduguri and start
descending from there to Bauchi, to Jos before weeks later I will return to Kaduna. That was in
the days of Brother Harold the single. I tried it as Brother Harold has a wife it raised serious
dust at the home front at the beginning. It took sister some time to take those missionary trips
without welcoming me with a frowning face. We overcame that, but it was not easy at the
beginning.
The weaker vessel used in describing a woman here does not portray her as a sub-human
compared to the man. Not at all. Under grace there are no differences in terms of capacities. But
you see, a woman can talk tough, but she remains an easily to be broken person. Have you been
in a meeting as the Holy Spirit begins to move, the woman connects faster, often moving in such
a way that will make you the man wonder, why is she behaving in that way. Her mind is that
way. Easily broken. Talk tough in the open one moment, the next moment she is in the bedroom
weeping. Often the talk is to release herself. Bear with it. You know as tough as Mrs. Margret
Tatcher, that late former British Prime Minister also known as the Iron Lady used to talk, she
did on occasions break down to weep publicly. The softness about a woman is not only about her

physical body, it runs through her entire being. This a man must take note of in properly relating
with her.
I will continue this line of discussion by tomorrow. Wishing you all the best in your marriage.
Shalom!
THANK GOD, IT IS SUNDAY
My dear, be encouraged by the word of God as given and illustrated in the picture I am posting
this message with found in Joshua 1:9 "Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be
timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take"(Message)
So, what is it? My last activity last night was writing a bible study outline on this Syrophenician
woman that once met Jesus pleading with him to deliver her daughter who had been vexed silly
by the devil (Matt.15:21-28). I love her faith - stubborn, calm, cool-headed yet not giving up.
Like Jesus used to do, he used her case to teach faith illustratively. I feel strongly that his initial
objection to the woman's plea for mercy was to test her faith. It was when the woman replied him
in verse 27 of Matthew 15 that he gave her the 'A' score she got in that test. Jesus told her "O
woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt". Mind you she was a Canaanite
woman. In today's understanding she was not a church person. Even the inference in Christ's
statement that compared her to a dog in the house never made her feel insulted. She said "Truth,
Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fail from their masters' table"
As a child of God, yours is on the Master's table, not crumbs. The Joshua 1:9 quote above says
"God, your God...". He is our Father. Let that get permanently registered in your mind. Faith gets
whatsoever it asks for (Mark 11:22-24). Note that the initial silence of Jesus may be to test your
faith. Keep asking like that woman. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. God CANNOT deny you.
Sure He will answer you.
Come on, wipe off those tears. This gloom is for your glory. Darkness will for sure give way and
you will dance. Waiting to hear your testimony because this trial cannot go without a testimony.
Waiting to join you in the dance of victory.
I was glad when they say let us go to the house of the LORD. Let us go NOW!
Wishing you a happy Sunday!
Shalom!

MORNING YET ON WEDDING DAY (05/09/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
I trust the good mercies of God that it is well with you. I am fine here in Kaduna, where Mallam
El Rufia is the governor. My first visit to Kaduna since he became governor here. Thank God he
is not too sectional in this sectional season of politics in Nigeria. May Nigeria grow. May her
politics and politicians grow too. Enough of these babying and milking about. Time to crack
bones. Cold and rain dey here in Kaduna. But since it is a seasonal thing, I no complain. All
things bright and beautiful, the Lord God made them all. Summer, winter, uguru (harmattan in
my own language) and other seasons. Thank God for the mercies shown to me as His missionary

on earth. He has conditioned my body to take the seasons to enjoy all as they come. All glory to
Him.
Message 17 of MARRIAGE: WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES
And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahairoi; for he dwelt in the south country. And Isaac
went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and behold,
the camels were coming. And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she lighted off
the camel. For she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet
us? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a veil, and covered herself. And
the servant told Isaac all things that he had done.
And Isaac brought her into his mother Sarahs tent, and took Rebekah, and she became his wife;
and loved her: and Isaac was comforted after his mothers death (Gen.24:62-67)
What an epic! The epic of 67 verses I call it. At the beginning of this wonderful love narrative, I
did write that this is Isaac & Rebekah not Romeo & Juliet. We need more of Isaac &
Rebekah to learn from than from Romeo & Juliet being that the central topic of discussion is
Marriage: What saith the scriptures and not what men are or have been saying about marriage.
A lot to learn from the three main characters in the entire narrative Abrahams servant, a
faithful servant indeed. Talk of setting and achieving a goal, this man is a good example at that.
He delivered as directed. And Abraham trusted he will deliver, that was why we never heard him
again bossing up and down. Actually, good old Abbey by that time went to sleep (not the sleep of
death oo). There are servants you send on an errand, and you can go and sleep. No need for
bossy meddlesomeness in a given assignment. I love the capacity in Mr. Eliezer of Damascus to
deliver. He is a highly effective servant.
Rebekah was a true portrait of a woman full of grace. Her behavior blended with her beauty
made her a unique woman indeed. At no time was her being a woman of dignity and honor
placed in doubt. And to her, we can state on her wedding day thus Many daughters have done
virtuously, but thou excellest them all (Prov.31:29)
And then Isaac. What a man! His submissiveness to the will of God amazes one. Let us take
Abraham, his biological father as a type of God the father. We see him young, agile, stronger in
terms of physical strength submitting to be tied by Abraham and offered on the altar of sacrifice
without a single resistance (Gen.22:9-10). Self-will had no place in Isaac. Anything that had
Abrahams signature as far as Isaac was concerned cannot be questioned. He knew that Rebekah
coming with the servant and the camels returning had Abrahams signature to it. And so be it. A
cool headed man of meditations. It was as he went to meditate as his custom was that he lifted
up his eyes and saw, and, behold the camels were coming. You prospective husband reading this
today, may you from your place of prayer and meditation lift up your eyes to see. People who
come from meditation to the place of marriage hardly make marital mistakes as far as the choice
of who to marry is concerned. Get her through meditation; sure you will never regret it.
When Rebekah saw Isaac, like Isaac something moved in each of them. Thank God for men like
Isaac who will need that Rebekah light off the camel for them to see and thank God for the
sisters who will not remain in their high horses when the see a brother God has brought forth to
be their husbands. Rebekah came down, if not all that Isaac was seeing was a caravan of camels.
Beyond the pomp and pageantry, Rebekah came down. It was a mark of honor and respect. It

happened snappy yet bears a lot of lessons for us. It was not the carnival of camels that was the
matter, it was the Rebekah that came down. She was the substance that Isaac was looking for not
the camel show. It was when she came down that Isaac brought her into his mother Sarahs tent
and took her and she became his wife. My sister, are you still riding on your high horse? Can you
come down? Coming down leads to your being brought into. Abigail also came down from the
ass she was riding on the moment she sighted David (1Sam.25:23-24). You know later, David
married Abigail. An arrogant woman will not come down. And dearly beloved sister, this is your
path of honor and dignity. There is no Beijing Movement about this. There is no feminist protest
about this due order of coming down.
Today is Saturday. I know weddings are taking place today. I know for some this is the day of
camels returning the camel carnival. Morning yet on wedding day is that the true marriage
work begins. And she became his wife and Isaac was comforted. It is my prayer for you
brother, that you find comfort in your marriage and sister find rest. Sarahs tent is a place of rest
for Rebekah. What is that a woman needs that will not be found in Sarahs tent, wife of wealthy
Abraham. A woman needs to find rest in her marriage just as a brother needs comfort and not
commotion. Ruth found rest with the marriage to Boaz. Sister, are you enjoying rest in your
marriage. Brother are you comforted.
Work begins after wedding. Take nothing for granted. Two people becoming one takes a
marrying process. Marital teething challenges will come up to the point of asking questions. Is
this that gentle brother? Is this the Nightingale I saw singing in the choir? When you hear some
celebrity marriages packing up after six months it is about the immaturity of not properly
managing marriage teething problems. And I want to say that a teething problem mismanaged
can haunt the entire life time of a marriage. Work, work begins after wedding. Dont just go to
sleep thinking that things will fix themselves up. Nothing gets fixed up until you fix them.
When by Gods grace I return on Monday, we will move on to address matters that will help the
newly married. I will be sharing practical experiences. 15 years down the line, what are my own
experiences? Wait for it. Marriage lessons are better taught at a marriage laboratory where it is
happening live and real. While wishing you bliss in your marriage, permit me again to tell you
that I love you. And I know you love me too.
Shalom.
IF GOD BE FOR YOU (04/09/15)
Good morning dearly beloved,
Thank God, it is Friday, the 4th day of September 2015. Gods favor will surely locate you where
you are today. Keep trusting in Him. You know what? You honor God a lot when you trust Him
at all times. Times are, along this path of trust and faith, when it looks as if darkness is
prevailing. What happens at such times is that God is trying to strengthen you the more. It gives
Him an opportunity to boast about you and to say this is my beloved son/daughter in whom I
am well pleased. What a proud dad among men will put in this way That is my son/daughter.
Like what Kim Davis, the Kentucky County clerk woman in the U.S who was a day or two ago
put in jail for her insistence not to give license to gay couples is doing. She is a fighter. That is

what it means to fight for your faith. It is not that you are clubbing anybody to death. It is to
fearlessly take a stand for your faith. Heaven will not fall but will stand for you.
As I read about Kim this morning, I remember Rosa Parks, that little but mighty civil right
woman who one day after a laborious outing was sitting in a bus on her way home. Along the
line she was told to leave her seat for a white passenger based on the racist laws and conventions
of those days. She refused, sitting cool and calm. That single sit-tight protest sparked up a lot of
protests as she was hounded to be persecuted and prosecuted for her deviance. She is a heroine of
the civil right movement in America. You may not know it, but she sat that day that the likes of
President Obama can stand tall today as president and other well known people in the America of
today. As Obama was making his acceptance speech after winning the 2008 Presidential election
in the U.S, blacks like Rev.Jesse Jackson and Oprah Winfery wept. The weeping of joy. They
must have remembered the likes of Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and their civil
right fights. Rosa was a revolutionary, just like Kim. I am really stunned that what is happening
to this woman is happening to her in 21st century America with all the holier than thou
posturing about human rights and democracy. For me the beatification of hypocrisy. Does Kim
not have rights to practice her faith even in the place of work? The LORD will fight for her. And
for all who are suffering unjustly for their faith stand. In Nigeria, we say God is watching oo.
God is watching America!
Message 16 of MARRIAGE: WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, the thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot
speak unto thee bad or good (Gen.24:50)
A brother who I perceive have been reading through these messages on marriage yesterday asked
a question that I want to use message 16 to fully answer. He asked what if in seeking for your
parents consent they refused. For example assuming an Osu case. Some asked what is Osu.
It is a caste system in Igbo land. Indians have theirs the Untouchables. I think there is a caste
related case currently trending in India about a man (an untouchable) eloping with a woman (a
touchable I suppose). For that his two sisters were arrested and as a punishment for what the man
has done, were tried and sentenced to be gang raped. Serial rapists of India must be happy with
this kind of thing. We were told that some years ago in Igbo land, in the very primitive past that
some people were dedicated to local deities. The children of such people are today being
discriminated against as Osu. The free-borns so called do not marry them. And some of them so
called osus do not allow themselves to be married by the free borns so as not to vex the gods.
And over time parents and their children have been having cultural collusions on this. Such may
lead to parents not consenting to a marriage proposal. So that brother asked what can we do
when parents disagree.
First, keep your honor and respect for your parents intact. Talking to them disrespectfully in the
name that you are born again and speaking in tongue is not right. If you do that, it only means
that you were not soundly brought up as a Christian. Give honor to whom honor is due remains.
Wisely talk your parents into understanding your line of argument. Faith battles are not won by
carnal weapons. While fighting on your knees, talk wisely to your parents. Recently, I preached
at a wedding service that took place on a Sunday. In fact part of the reasons why we fixed that
wedding on a Sunday was because of several fix-and-re-fix we faced due to parental
opposition. The father of the brother vehemently refused. In fact he was always angry when the

sisters name was mentioned to him. Our brother at a time, almost lost his cool, but we prayed on
and kept conversing with the man respectfully. He latter accepted and that happily. As I preached
that Sunday, he sat in front smiling.
Laban by nature was not a gentleman. He can make trouble if you try him. This Laban that was
speechless in Gen.24:50 after hearing Abrahams servant tell the story of his leading for Isaac to
be the husband of Rebekah was a different Laban. By what we know Laban for reading through
his dealings with Jacob, it can be well concluded that he was a very difficult person. For Laban, a
great defender of the culture of his people to say we have nothing to say in this matter showed
what follows if God be for you in a matter. Difficult people will become very easy-going people
for you. Prayer can make men who talk to oppose you speechless.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared
not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all
things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that justifieth (Romans
8:31-33)
God is with you when you are doing His will in marriage. There is blessedness in Gods will.
The safest place to be is in the place of Gods will. Hurdles and oppositions may assail you, but
having done the will of God all you need is patience that you may receive the promise
(Heb.10:36). Often, in trying to be fast on God, some people go through short cuts, but in truth
short cuts do not make anything short. We noticed that at different points, we read the servant of
Abraham bowing down to worship God. He was truly a praying man. Praying people are
prevailing people.
A great woman of faith close to me told me of her parents opposition (especially her mom) to
her husband proposing to marry her. You know when somebody says sam-sam, that can never
happen. And we must not forget that often parents do what they do because they want the best
for their children. Though unknown to some, they have a wrong approach to do what is good and
right. Based on social class, the mommy of that woman refused. They come from a relatively
wealthy and well known family. But not so with the brothers family. But the woman told the
brother, we shall wait and keep praying. The waiting took time oo. When the parents saw they
were not bulging or giving in, they gave their consent. Today in terms of everything the man is
their best son in law looking after them now in their old age. And theirs remains a case study of a
successful marriage. I personally take practical marriage tutorials from them. God is faithful.
God will always defend you in his will. There is no point going hysterical.
Somebody will ask what if the parents insist for a time more than necessary. They cannot insist
beyond Gods due time and date for your wedding. Their insistence will not remove a second
from that date. Just that some of us have a kind of faith that is not stubborn. Some give up the
faith fight too quickly and start reasoning like all men reason. Faith should tower above reason. I
love a faith that is stubborn and persistent. My dear, if it is Gods will, the difficulty of parents,
combined with the zealotry of a marriage committee cannot make you surrender to a dangerous
alterative. Hold on. Keep praying. The vision may tarry. Wait for it, because it will surely come
to pass. Please, dont go for that alternative you are planning for; it can dangerously alter your
destiny. God bless you.
Shalom.

WILT THOU GO WITH THIS MAN? (03/09/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
I sincerely trust God that it is well with you. We thank Him for keeping us through His unfailing
mercies.
In all things keep trusting Him. It shall always be well. We lost October Rush due to the
instability in tertiary institutions calendar in Nigeria. But September Spending is still with us as
schools still resume in September here in Nigeria for the new session. I do not know why some
people are talking and writing to criticize those workers in Ekiti state, South West Nigeria caught
coming late to office by the governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose that they knelt and prostrated before him.
Why will they not? You know what it means for a civil servant in present day Nigeria to lose his
or her job in a wisp of a political circus show? What of children going back to school? I do not
join to blame their action of kneeling and prostrating which is not too a strange behavior in a
Yoruba culture where elders and people in authority are accorded their due respect. Late coming
must be condemned and at the same time be forgiven. I am a parent. I know where September
shoes pinches because I wear them. I pray the God of abundant supplies to supply to all our
parents and trust all our children to the good care of the LORD. May no harm happen to any of
them. May the ugly experience of the Chibok girls never be that of our students anywhere they
will be this season. The LORD will not forget them. In His hands He will hold them, in His arms
He will fold them. Amen. It is well.
Message 15 of MARRIAGE: WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES
Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, the thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot
speak unto thee bad or good. Behold, Rebekah is before thee, take her, and go, and let her be thy
masters sons wife, as the LORD has spoken. And it came to pass, that, when Abrahams servant
heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
And the servant brought forth jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment, and gave them to
Rebekah: he gave also to her brother and to her mother, precious thingsAnd they said, we
will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth. And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, wilt
thou go with this man? And she said, I will go (Gen.24:50-58)
Some things done in the marriage process are quite symbolic and significant. They may not be
mere shows and rituals as some think. In a typical pristine wedding ceremony done in an
Assemblies of God (AG) church, the brides walking in takes some time. The first time I
witnessed it, being one not given to much theatricals about life, I muttered where I was sitting to
watch what is this? But you see, there are subtle meanings behind some things done in the
marriage process. You hear some people say No hurry in life. I think that saying is more fitting
and apt for the marriage process No hurry in it. Hurry can bring much harm and hurts. So that
step forward, step backward bridal procession known in AG weddings speaks of marriage as a
graceful walk. Abrahams servant closed shop and for days was involved in the business of
getting a wife for his masters son.
Abrahams servant gave precious gifts to Rebekah and her parents. That represents the dowry. I
think dowry is a better word than what some call Bride Price. Dowry by definition is an amount
of money or property transferred by a man to his bride when they marry. In some societies it is

the brides family gift to the bridegroom. Primarily a gift. You know there was a time when high
bride price became a debatable issue here in Nigeria. I think I wrote essays on that. In Eastern
Nigeria where I come from, it was becoming an object of great concern. There were certain
communities then if people hear you say it that you are marrying from there, they pity you a lot.
Young people must not be scared about marriage through the practice of asking for high bride
price by parents. It can lead to elopements and the Abuja marriage kind of thing. Abuja
marriage is marrying without parental consent. For me, the dowry is for distinction. It
symbolizes the preciousness and the great value attached to the persons involved. They are not
things but human beings with all the dignity and honor. We dont sell people in marriage. It is
not human trafficking. Dowry is a symbol not a sell. Marriage brings and bonds two families
together. Gifts and assistances will keep flowing on beyond the dowry payment day. And things
may not be too smooth for the intending couples at the beginning talking about money and
materials. With time and things improving, they begin to take care and responsibilities on both
sides of the divide both the womans and mans families. To heap up everything into the dowry
paid in one day is not the best.
Rebekahs relatives were convinced that she marrying Isaac is the will of God. It was crystal
clear to all, yet that did not take away the very important matter of calling her and asking her
Wilt thou go with this man. The decision to marry one another is solely that of the man and
woman to take. They must not be forced into it. Christian parents must be Christians indeed on
this. This shakara that a man is poor, he cant marry your daughter who you trained in London is
not necessary. People do not remain the way they are on the day of wedding. Goodness and
mercy follow them that marry in the LORD. Things improve and get better. Actually, marriage
makes things better. Marriage has a great goodwill in it. Like all great things, marriage starts
small but grows big with time. So all this he cannot marry my daughter, we come from a royal
family is not necessary. Blue blood marrying blue blood! Whatever, they mean by that. Mommy,
Daddy ask your daughter, if she is willing to follow the man she feels strongly that the LORD
has ordained for her, release her, bless her and let her go.
And she said I will go. That is it. Same thing done in church on the wedding day. Those I do, I
do must not be a ritual recitation or something to be parroted like some of our children in the
nursery school do when they recite about States and their capitals in Nigeria. Abia
Umuahia..Adamawa Yola. Have you ever heard children singing that? They may sing that
down the 36 states of the federation but may fail to give you the correct state capital if they do
not do it in the familiar chorus way. Wedding day I do, I do must be taken very very serious by
the people that utter them. They are statements sealing a covenant relationship and must not be
joked with. When married people, wedded in a church with ordained ministers of the gospel in
the congregation of Gods people rush to registries to dissolve marriages due to what they call
irreconcilable differences you wonder what they are doing? Nobody should take God for granted.
If you ever said I will go and the people said Amen it is final. Divorce is not Divine. Dont
do it. I will do a full message on that when the appropriate time comes. Two cannot walk
together except they agree (Amos 3:3). Marriage is a covenant, trust Gods grace never to break
the covenant. It is an agreement; keep the agreement to keep your honor.
Your decision determines your destiny. Dont just say I will go like that. Think deep and well,
then take your decision. Can I say to somebody today, before you say I will go with him pray

again. May this message richly bless you. Amen.

Shalom.

ASSAYED WRITING, BUT THE SPIRIT SUFFERED ME TO PRAY

Dearly beloved,
It is 3.47am here in Abuja, Nigeria when I started writing this. On a normal day that I will write
you a love letter, it is already late starting now as I check through my bible a lot in the course of
writing.
Really wanted to write this morning as usual, but the Holy Spirit led me into praying more and to
urge you to pray along all through the remaining part of the year. I dont know, but for three
consecutive Sundays now in church, we have sang the hymn Peace Be StillThe first line of
that hymn says Master, the tempest is raging, the billows are tossing high.. How comforting
the words of the chorus are The winds and the waves shall obey My will, Peace be still. Last
Sunday, as we sang it again, we followed it up praying as we have never prayed before and
indeed peace came. I am happy that the winds and waves including political ones must obey the
will of my Master.
Thank God it is a new month. The assurance is that whatsoever you will ask God in prayer this
month that is according to His will He will answer you. It is a
SEPTEMBER FOR ANSWERED PRAYERS.
But prayer, you have to do that. It is simple, as God appeared to Solomon in a dream at Gibeon
saying to him Ask what I shall give thee (1Kings 3:5) same thing He is asking me and you on
this very first day of September, 2015. And Jesus assures and reassures us today Ask and it shall
be given you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you (Matt.7:7). My
prayer and good wish for you this month and the months coming after is this:
ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR ASKING in Jesus name.
You have complained enough, time to ASK.
You have murmured enough, time to ASK.
You have sighed enough, time to ASK.
You have talked enough, time to ASK.
You have mourned enough, time to ASK
May Jesus who promised answer and who never fails in His promises answer us in all. Amen.
Happy New month.

BREAKING CULTURAL BARRIERS THROUGH PRAYERS (02/09/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
Great connecting to you again this morning. Thank God for this new day, our good Lord has
made. September 2015 has entered its day two a short while ago. Before you know it again, it

will become another tale told. Always make the best use of your time. Too precious to waste.
Dont waste time. As I have always maintained, wasting time amounts to wasting life. Dont go
that way.
Message 14 of MARRIAGE: WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES
And the damsel ran, and told them of her mothers house these things. And Rebekah had a
brother, and his name was Laban and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well. And it came to
pass, when he saw the earring and bracelets upon his sisters hands, and when he heard the words
of Rebekah his sister, saying, thus spake the man unto me that he came unto the man; and
behold, he stood by the camels at the well. And he said, come in, thou blessed of the LORD,
wherefore standest thou without? For I have prepared the house, and room for the camels
(Gen.24:28-31)
Marriage is honorable in all. No doubt about this. Marriage must not engender wars or draw bad
blood among people. All stakeholders in marriage, parents of bride and bridegroom, the church,
community and government must be given their due honor and respect in the whole process.
That is why, traditional wedding, court and church weddings are necessary provided in all cases
as a Christian, bible principles are not compromised.
The family of Rebekah (the bride in this our bible case study on marriage) received the servant
of Abraham well. As I read through the scriptural passage above, the name Laban struck a certain
chord in me leading to todays topic. Every good bible student knows Mr. Laban who became the
father of Leah and Rachael the two sisters and warring wives of Jacob, one of the twin sons
born to this same Rebekah and Isaac. Jacob never planned to be a polygamist as he turned out to
become. The culture of the Mesopotamians forced that strange marriage on Jacob (Gen.29:2130). Laban told Jacob, .It must not be done in our country, to give the younger before the
firstborn. The problem here being that Laban tricked Jacob into marrying according to this
culture and tradition.
How does a Christian handle cultural practices that run contrary to his or her belief? What if like
among the Igbo people of South East Nigeria, the person the Spirit of the LORD has impressed
in your heart to marry is an osu (an outcast according to the authors of that tradition). Obi
Okonkwo, the main character in Prof. Chinua Achebes second novel No Longer at Ease ran
into that cultural labyrinth as he got into a relationship with a character called Clara in same
novel. The father of Obi, a Christian so called in that novel said this to his son when he heard
about the relationship Though Christians must give up part of their indigenous culture and
beliefs when they convert, this (talking of marrying an osu) is not one of these things it runs
too deep in Igbo culture. A trying relationship for Obi and Clara while it lasted. They could not
stand the battle as several prospective couples from this part of the world over the years hardly
stand it, so they broke the engagement even though Clara was already pregnant for Obi.
I met an uncle recently, a clergyman of the Anglican Church who is currently doing his second
doctorate degree in which his thesis is centered on this Osu caste system in Eastern Nigeria. And
this system has caused a lot of distresses and pains on the hearts of several intending to marry
couples. The ostracism suffered by the people so classed is too terrible. You see a man and
woman genuinely in love intending to marry and suddenly news comes up that one is an osu.
Courtship chapter closed, to your tents oh lovers. And often you see some local mischief makers
whose stock in trade is to be sniffing out who is an osu or not in the village. Often the work of

the envious to make sure that the children of another do not get married. And you know it baffles
me to see Christians so called who will tell you Dey no dey do church reach that area. With all
the speaking in tongue, you still see brethren cowing down as cultural and traditional sheriffs
harass them silly into succumbing to practices that are both anti-God and anti-human.
But what saith the scriptures? Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor
uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all and in all (Col.3:11). They
say an Osu is somebody whose ancestors were dedicated to a god. Which god? What of when the
person is now in Christ and has become a new creature with old things passing away (2Cor.5:17).
Which osu are they still talking about. Dehumanization is not of God. Discriminations based on
somebodys race, tribe or circumstance of birth which he/she had no influence over is not right at
all. Jesus asked the Scribes and Pharisees who accused his disciples of transgressing the tradition
of the elders because they ate with unwashed hands Why do you also transgress the
commandment of God by your tradition? (Matt.15:3). Does it make sense? What is the point
going against Gods commandment because you want to honor the tradition of the elders? Elders
and God, who is higher? Elders and God, who is wiser? Peter and John answered the Jewish
religious council people who commanded them to stop teaching in the name of Jesus Whether it
be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than God, judge ye (Acts 4:19)
Brother, if the sister the LORD is leading you to marry is classed as an osu by the society, go
ahead and do the will of God. No evil will happen to you or your children. True Christians in the
East have over the years prayerfully broken this tradition. Nothing happened that is evil. Gods
thought remains for every child of His that of peace to give such an expected end a future and a
hope. My friend, perish that fear. Osu for the genuine Christian is now history. If the LORD has
set a man/woman free he or she is free indeed. Which bondage are they still talking about?
You do not need to fight anybody who is trying to oppose you out of following the will of God in
marriage. Street march alone is not enough. Commit the matter to Gods hand in prayer. God will
rise to fight for you. It runs too deep in Igbo culture. That is the more reason why you should
pray. Some cultural practices you hear of today you want to be sure that this is still the 21st
century. In India few days ago we read of two girls, ages between 15 and 23 (biological sisters)
who have been sentenced to a session of gang raping they will be ganged raped. Why, they
belong to the class of the Untouchables and their brother eloped with a girl not of same social
class. They are being punished for a crime they knew nothing about. Brother, you must not elope
with any sister. Dont do that. Have the parents vowed they will not consent to your marriage
because you have proposed to somebody they have adjudged an Osu. Prayerfully wait, they will
consent. There is this saying that he who holds what belongs to a child by raising it up where the
childs hand cannot reach will bring it down when same hands begins to ache. Dont give up.
God is with whosoever that will obey his will. Trusting God to continue this tomorrow.
Remain greatly blessed.
Shalom.

BUT A FAITHFUL MAN WHO CAN FIND? (31/08/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,

Great connecting back to you this morning. How are you? Do hope you are fine? We thank God,
that today as the month of August 2015 streams on along times path to join its ancestors we are
alive to say good bye. And we thank God for His mercies in His grace. 31 days gone along the
line. 744 hours gone by 12 midnight tonight! What a gift from our ever gracious God. To Him we
return all praises.
Two things I did before I came up to write and post this message today. Woke up to pick my
handset to read a comment posted by a young brother living in South Africa on a short message I
sent out yesterday evening. The brother cited a case of what happened at our Anglican Church
Prayer Band group sometime in 1991. I replied him, recalling one or two other spectacular
events. We were young, with a child-like trust in God. We knew not much, not even scriptures,
but we knew to kneel to pray. No wonder, Gods power moved despite who we were then.
Recalling 1991 great events spurred me to pray again this morning. It was while praying that the
words of the Psalmist entered my praying tongue saying:
They that trust in the LORD shall be as
Mount Zion, which cannot be removed,
but abideth forever (Psalm 125:1)
Beautiful Mount Zion, beautifully situated in beautiful Jerusalem! Our brethren who have visited
Israel must have seen those great biblical mountains. They are still there. Through storms, winds,
hurricanes and all kind of wars, Mount Zion stands on in its towering splendor. No shaking!
Nothing! When Roman Gen. Titus marched his marauding soldiers into the Holy city in 70 A.D
to raise Jerusalem down, Mount Zion stood, smiling on as ever. Wars upon wars have been
fought around this mount, still no shaking. I learned that the Isis people are dreaming of a super
caliphate that will have its capital in Jerusalem. Mount Zion has heard and smiled. And I
challenged myself this morning, if what it will take me to stand tall, towering and indefatigable
at all times despite noise of winds and storms around is to trust in the LORD, why will I not trust
Him. Why will you not trust Him? As Mount Zion cannot be removed, so are those that trust in
the LORD. Which enemy will remove you, when your trust is in Him? Remove you from your
job? Remove you from your husbands house? Remove you through death from this life?
Remove you by witchcraft? Remove you by the kind of hateful and hurtful leadership we see all
over the places today? NEVER! You that trust in the LORD cannot be removed. I cannot be
removed. Just trust Him. Hell gonna do nothing! Wishing you blissful ember months in advance.
Message 13 of MARRIAGE: WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES
And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped God. And he said, Blessed be the LORD,
God of my master Abraham who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I
being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my masters brethrenAnd he said, I
am Abrahams servant (Gen.24:34)
This Abrahams servant is an interesting servant. We check on his life today in this marriage
narration. Rebekah became like an angel through whom God has greatly answered his prayer.
Her care, concern and conduct were quite unusual. This servant could do nothing else than to
bow in worship. May your life inspire people who encounter you to worship the LORD. Rebekah
was such a lovely woman. Her life inspired and fired up worship in Abrahams servant.

And as I study this servant of Abraham and the task of finding a wife for Isaac given to him by
his master, Abraham, I keep wondering, what was the name of this man? What of his personal
interests? We hardly got to know his name except the clue Abraham himself gave us on the day
he cried for a child like a baby in (Gen.15:1-2). We read Abraham mentioning Eliezer of
Damascus as his steward. If at a time he was thought of as he who will inherit whatever Abraham
will leave behind, then he must be the chief servant that Abraham sent on this important errand.
He must have been a faithful servant. A faithful man who can find? We find one in this servant
who never changed anything to foster his personal interest in the cause of his duty. I do not think
he was an eunuch. If he was I do not think Abraham would have thought of him inheriting him.
He was not bewitched by the beauty of Rebekah to sing a different tune. Beyond the romantic
rumbles, intrigues and infightings we watch in films, dont we see it in real life situations where
friends find ways of taking advantage of their friends to go ahead to convince the women their
friends confided in them they will marry, an go ahead and marry such women. Women also do it,
going behind to seduce the fianc of their friends. As there are wife snatchers, there are fiance
snatchers. As there are husband snatchers there are fianc snatchers. Are you a snatcher? Did you
marry by snatching? If you did, you have a pending restitution to make oo. You took advantage
and took over. All who snatch will suffer snatching. I am not judging you oo! I am stating a
natural law and principle. Never be desperate to the point of breaking natural and spiritual
principles in the things you do. Those who live by the sword, perish by the sword. It is more than
judgment, it is a law. Excuse me, did you marry by doing somebody One chance?. You chanced
your friend? What are you waiting for? Go and apologize to him/her. At times two biological
sisters, a man was coming for A, and B cat-walked behind to take over. Opportunists! Did you
marry through opportunism? And you think you are smart? You call stealing a fianc/fiance
being smart. Big Guy! Big Girl!
Abrahams servant was not an opportunist. He was not a snatcher. He could have snatched
Rebekah and returned to tell stories. Servants and stories they tell.
In verse 34, this man announced publicly an openly .I am Abrahams servant. He did not
even put chief to the servant. What some men say when they see women! My God! Some
would have announced to Rebekah that their dad was the President of Asia then even though
Asia is a continent, the biggest of them all and in no way can one be President of Asia. Is it not
honorable enough to tell your wife to be exactly who you are. And some women are too simple,
nave and gullible to believe all the lust induced lies that some men blow. You are a taxi driver
here in Abuja with even a smoky car and you are claiming to be the driver to the President.
From whence comes wars and fighting among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts
(James 4:1). Lust fights and fights dirty. This servant chose to live under the shadow of his
master Abraham. Even God, he announced as the God of Abraham. Seeking for prominence.
Seeking to be noticed. All kinds of self seeking. Clear evidences of not having been disciples
seen among many today. Abrahams servant was a disciple indeed. That was why he did not
misbehave along the path of duty. True disciples of Jesus are not desperadoes in anything they
do. This servant never strove to make a name for himself. How many times have a senior pastor
sent a subordinate one on an errand, only for such to go and start another church denomination
because he wants to answer a big name. Stop seeking things for self-glory. Find your part in the
body of Christ and do it with all your might. We all cannot become Presidents and Founders. A

faithful servant who can find? We found Abrahams servant. Can we find you? You keep looking
for a virtuous woman for a wife. What of you can a faithful man be found in you? What a bliss
when in marriage a faithful brother finds a virtuous sister. And they are findable. May you find
yours in Jesus name. Trusting God to continue tomorrow.
Wishing you a Super September in advance.
Shalom.

LIFE AFTER RESURRECTION (Mon/06/04/15)

ROMANS 6:4-5; EPHESIANS 2:6
Low in the grave He layed, but at the appointed time, up from the grave He arose. He arose, a
Victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever. Hallelujah! The tomb is empty. The Lord rose
from the dead. That is the basis of our faith. Now, let me share with you what the Lord opened
my eyes to see about the resurrection.
Do you know that when Christ rose from the grave, he was obviously not confined to natural
laws. He started appearing to people even in a locked room. He could travel miles in a twinkling
of an eye. Even when He ascended to heaven, He did not struggle to rise from the ground. Law
of gravity could not work against Him, He defied all natural laws and tendencies. That is the new
life.. Life after resurrection. The Scripture says in our text that '...we are buried with Him by
baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life'. That means we are no longer bound by natural
laws, because God has raised us up together with Christ (Eph 2:6). Friend, if you are born again,
you are no longer ordinary, u are expected to walk in the supernatural. Your life should defy sin;
you should be able to live above sin without struggling. If you have given your life to Christ, you
are no longer limited or bound by human tendencies. Why do you believe you are finished
because of some natural happenings around you? Who told you that sickness will kill you? Who
said your condition cannot improve? Who told you that you can't make it? Who said you can't
have children again? Who said what you seek is impossible? Who said it is over? Whose report
do you even believe? I'm here to announce to you this morning that Jesus rose from the grave
and He is alive. You are raised together with Him. And as He walked in the newness of life, so
you walk. As He defied natural laws, principles and tendencies, so u can even now. Remind
yourself who you are and declare things that need be in place and they shall be. You are no
longer the old 'you', you are different now. You are sitteth with Him far above all principality and
powers; you now operate in another realm of possibilities, you are not bound by human laws and
theories but by the omnipotence of God. The power that raised Jesus from the grave will lift you
from all your limitations in Jesus name. There is a life after resurrection- that is the supernatural
life. Walk in the consciousness of this life and you will never remain the same. God bless you.
Do have a great Monday.
Shalom!!!
MARRIAGE- MATTERS ARISING: BREAKING OFF TILL MONDAY

Beloved,
My love letter took up a series on marriage issues that is currently running. It has been quite
interesting. Knowing that marriage is neither my idea in the first place nor that of anybody, I
took it from the perspective "MARRIAGE: WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES". And that has
been the pattern of flow for more than a week now. Marriage was instituted by God as a means
of perfecting His plans and purposes for man. That is why if somebody misses it there, he misses
a lot in the equation of life. And because on this side of eternity, we are humans not spirits, I
have used illustrations and applications known to man in driving home the points that the Holy
Spirit is raising. And which illustrations fits in well than what comes as my own personal
experiences through the years. Marriage lessons are not too good with theories. Practical
illustrations serve better. That is why I tell my story as well.
Part of this break, is to attend to other pressing matters here on my desk and equally to answer
questions and clarify some issues. Quite an engaging task it has been as some have gotten to me
through the chat streams of Facebook to ask relevant questions. And too to make clarifications. I
made one of such clarifications last night as somebody, somehow got offended because I did
write on 'Message 12' yesterday that I once asked a brother who was asking for the hand of a
sister in marriage what he understands by being born again. By God's grace, this is a love letter I
am doing, but I do not render any apology to anybody when I state things the way they are stated
in scriptures. To do that is to cowardly sell out. And cowardice has no place in a man who has the
Holy Spirit in him. Not, not at all!
So if you have followed these messages, and you have questions to ask, clarifications to make or
I to make, lets chat it out. It is just a click. I will get the notice if not in my main system, I can get
that from my handset.Hope you are getting blessed. Please get blessed.
Always remember, that your welfare in both time and eternity remains my number one driving
passion for this labor.
I love you all the time.
Shalom.

WHOSE DAUGHTER ART THOU? TELL ME (27/08/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
Thank God for another beautiful day the Lord has graciously made. How are you? Trust God you
are becoming more and more like Jesus. That is the number one reason you are saved. But seek
ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you
(Matt.6:33). It is life first before the largesse that comes with it. It is righteousness first before
the riches that follow. I keep wondering, how many will remain in our churches today, if God for
a test withdraws the largesse. Mrs. Job remained a wonderful woman of God until a test came.
She dressed gorgeously to church singing amazing grace until it happened. She told her husband
Dost thou still retain thine integrity, curse God and die (Job 2:9). As far as this woman was
concerned, she was not ready for any integrity if the good things of life where removed. There is

something to seek first. This order of seeking cannot be changed. Rearranging it to seek other
things first to think that the kingdom of God and his righteousness will follow is to be
dangerously presumptuous. Follow God well, then His favor will flow to follow you. It is a
principle. You dont change principles. They must remain as ordained.
Message 12 of MARRIAGE: WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES
And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the man took a golden earring of half
a shekel weight, and two bracelets for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold. And said, whose
daughter art thou? Tell me, I pray thee is there room in thy fathers house for us to lodge in?
And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah, which she bare unto
Nahor. She said moreover unto him, we have both straw and provender enough, and room to
lodge in (Gen.24:22-25)
The golden earring worth half a shekel and the two bracelets for her hands worth ten shekels
weight of gold do not in any way depict or represent an engagement ring as some may
misinterpret. What this man did was a show of appreciation to a young woman who had shown
him and his entourage a lot of favor. It was in sync with the cultural norms and practices of those
days within that region to do so. And in this, we notice the generosity and liberality of this
Abrahams servant. He was not a tight-fisted person. He was not a miser at all. Yes, he has not
mentioned marriage to Rebekah, but she was taking notes as well. When later the proposal came,
she must have remembered this. I am not a woman, but I dont think there is any woman that will
desire that her husband be a miser. Misers make marriages miserable and messy. Wonder how
Abigail, that wonderful blend of beauty and humility endured her marriage with churlish Mr.
Nabal (1Sam.25:2-3). Nabal is a terrible husband material. Every miser is. Very unkind and
grumpy personality. And then this servant of Abraham sent the note of being an appreciative
person. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and praiseth her
(Prov.31:28). The virtuous woman deserves to be celebrated. Rebekah by the way she gave drink
to the servant of Abraham and his camels showed the sparks of a virtuous woman and that this
man appreciated that was an encouragement to remain virtuous. Generosity and appreciation are
qualities we shall be looking at when this series enter the section of building the marriage
relationship. We shall come to that.
The servant of Abraham asked Rebekah a very important question, Whose daughter art thou, tell
me. A courtship period was not arranged for Isaac and Rebekah as it is done today. But it is very
important to do that. Part of what is done during this period is for intending couples to sincerely
tell their stories to one another. It is a period of asking questions and getting sincere answers
without getting tetchy and touchy. Whose daughter are thou? A daughter of Zion or one of the
daughters of the land? Daughters of the land are terrible daughters, the kind who once set up
Dinah, the daughter of Jacob to be raped (Gen.34:1-2). The father of Samson asked him when he
announced that he had seen a woman to marry of the daughters of the Philistines ..is there
never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people that thou goest to
take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines (Judges 14:3). Whose daughter art thou? Whose son
art thou? There are sons of Belial like the sons of Eli. And that men were biologically born by a
bishop is not the reason why you should not ask a brother about his salvation experience.
What are you chatting about in Facebook, twitter and text messages without asking relevant and
necessary questions? And you are laughing and enjoying her sweet voice serenading you to a

sleep of sweet dreams. My friend, ask questions before it is too late. I once asked a brother who
came to marry a sister inside a marriage committee meeting, what do you understand by being
born again?. His answer was too worrisome to me as his testimony of salvation was. Actually,
he had no story on his salvation. He came back from abroad. We called the sister told her what
we found out and asked her, will you follow this man even with this uncertain story on his
salvation. Her yes came with a speed faster than that of lightening. Actually as I looked at her,
I discovered that she had made up her mind, born again or no born again, let no marriage
committee put sand in her garri. Marriage committee is a guidance and counseling body on
marriage matters. Good ones do not put any sand on anybodys garri. But you know when people
return from America or Europe or South (you know where they call South), to marry, people
hardly ask questions.
Brother, make sure sister is not an uncircumcised daughter of an uncircumcised Philistine. Sister,
make sure the man does not have another wife. If there were children born out of wedlock, open
up on that, not one day after marriage one boy that looks like a look-alike twin brother of your
husband appears asking for his daddy. Most children born like that bear striking resemblances of
their fathers.
Have you heard of the Doctrine of Balaam before? Balaam after failing to find a reason to curse
Israel as king Balak of Moab recruited him to do, left him with an option B. Infiltrate Israels
camp with Moabitish daughters. It was a secret plot that manifested in this way as was reported
in Numbers 25:1-4. It was this doctrine that led to the children of Israel committing whoredom
with the daughters of Moab. You call it marriage when you are married to a daughter of Moab? It
is not marriage, it is rightly called whoredom. It leads to idolatry. Marriage can turn round to be a
subtle pathway to idolatry to the undiscerning. You think the daughters of Moab were looking
Moabitish in the camp of Israel. No, they were not. They came to church dressing like church
girls. They entered choir. They became charming ushers. Others became prayer warriors shouting
and shrieking at all corners of the worship center . Excuse me, that somebody is singing down
heaven at the choir stand is not reason enough why you should not ask him or her questions
during courtship. Friend, daughters of the land are like covered pits that can suddenly sink a
man, away from divine plan and purpose. Do not be so much carried away by emotions like
Samson as not to know that the Philistines are as uncircumcised as uncircumcised people come.
Ask questions. Are you born again? How? When? What are your plans for the future? I told my
wife of my call to ministry and the implications during our courtship. And I made her know that
for me, it is for life. And then she told me what Ruth told Naomi (Ruth 1:16). I waxed poetical as
I penned it into my wedding card. A copy of the wedding card printed in year 2000 is still here in
my courtship file. Tell your story when it matters most. Some stories during courtship can really
be messy, but let love bear all things if genuine repentance and restoration have been achieved.
With God, all shall be well.
I love you a lot.
Shalom
LOOK AWAY FROM REALITIES, LAY HOLD ON THE TRUTH (Sat/28/03/15)
Matthew 14:28-32

As Christians, we are spirit beings living in a body. We are nor governed by natural things but by
the spiritual. The spiritual supercedes the natural. 'God is a spirit and they that worship Him must
worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).
So, when Peter confirmed that it was Jesus that bid him to come for a walk on the sea (an
impossible act), he walked on the water. As long as he held the Word of Christ in his heart, he did
the impossible. As long as Peter held unto the Truth, he walked supernaturally above his
obstacles, fears and challenges. As long as he looked unto Christ and not the waters, he prevailed
over natural occurences. In vs 30, 'But when he saw the wind boysterous, he was afraid; and
beginning to sink...' I guess Peter considered the reality on ground- this is sea and it is not normal
for one to walk on it. He forgot His word and pondered on the circumstance as it were. He forgot
Him who gave him the word of command and considered the ability of the circumstance. He
forgot the promise of the Lord and thought about the reality of the problem at hand from human
point of view. He forgot the Master of the ocean and remembered the powers of the winds on the
sea. Hey! Isn't that how we live? Living in the realities rather than in the light of the Truth; the
Word. How often we try to figure out how God is going to handle our situations from our
knowledge point of view rather than looking unto Him by whom all things consist. All things
were made by Him and without Him was nothing made that was made. Have they told you, you
can't make it and you look at the realities on ground and it seems so, yes it might look so, but
what is the truth? What did God say about that situation? Who saith it and it cometh to pass when
the Lord hath not commanded it? Why are u so scared of that sickness that seems to defy all
medical cure? Didn't u hear that by His stripes you were healed. What situation is before you that
is threatening the very life out of you right now? Is it your health, how to survive, prison, shelter,
food, raiment, poverty, hardship, school fees, job, drowning business, rent and bill issues,
barreness, emotional issues, marriage or money? Look away from all the realities on ground. Lay
hold on His word. He makes all things new. Say unto the righteous, it is well with him. Surely,
there is an end. Beloved, trust God, He will bring you out of it. You will have a testimony. Peter
started sinking when he looked away from Him that bid him come and looked at the waves.
Thank God he cried out to the Lord for help He stretched forth His hand and saved him. Peter
believed more in the problem than in His Saviour. Sometimes we believe in what the Devil is
capable of doing than we believe in what God can do.
Do you also know that when Jesus helped him, the wind was still at work? It was when they
walked together into the ship that the wind ceased. So, all you need is the Lord's presence and
His word in your heart even in the midst of the wind. Sometimes, the Lord calms the child to still
the wind and not to still the wind to calm the child. May you look away from the wind and lay
hold on God's word in the midst of your storms. May God come to your aid. I know He will
come.
Do have a serene saturday. God bless you.
Shalom!!!

LOVE IS PATIENT, LUST IS NOT. (26/08/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,

Thanking God again for this beautiful day he has made and trusting Him to keep it so for us in
Jesus name.
Message 11 of MARRIAGE: WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES
And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey
prosperous or not (Gen.24:21)
Message bible translation of same Gen.24:21 The man watched, silent. Was this Gods answer?
Had God made his trip a success or not
Abrahams servant is like a representative suitor. The idea here is not that a man should do the
business of finding a wife for another. Every man who wants to marry must get up and go for the
treasure search himself under the guidance of God and man. You must not walk alone, most
especially while looking for a wife. However, the lesson must not be lost here which God is
teaching. That He like Abraham, the father of Isaac is involved in the marriage of His true sons.
It is His business. The servant represents the Holy Spirit that leads, guides and provides. Isaac as
Jesus, the son while Rebekah represents the church the very bride of Christ.
This servant prayed and answer came promptly. Rebekah came out with a pitcher on her
shoulder. The autograph of Rebekah written in verse 15 of Genesis 24 is only known to those of
us readers of the bible. This man has not known this, he just saw a young woman, stunningly
beautiful, appearing. And Rebekah showed good manners, was exceptionally good, giving the
man drink and drawing water from the well to make all the camels with the man drink. Really
interesting and impressive. But the first response and the reaction of the man speaks volumes of
lessons. He held his peace, wondering. He did not lose his peace. There is peace, perfect peace in
Gods will. Gods love is gentle and peaceable. Same with His wisdom and every other thing that
issues from Him that is not earthly and sensual (James 3:17).
Abrahams servant held his peace. The man watched and was silent. Have you not heard that
you must watch thou in all things including on who you want to marry. The truth is that all
what Rebekah exhibited at the well side can turn out to be a mere show to impress. By nature,
human beings most especially the female human is a showy person. That is why a woman goes a
greater length to look attractive. You can really make her day with good complement or mar it by
one negative utterance that may even come as a joke. Calling her fatty Orobo can really cause
wahala. There should be a better way to put it. So, those good gestures of Rebekah may just be a
well-side wellness. See, the governor at that wedding feast at Cana in Galilee where Jesus
turned water to wine said something that is very true of all human beings. He said, Every man at
the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is
worse (John 2:10). Do you understand? Human beings do not present their ugly side or face
at the beginning. They bring out a show first, later when men are well drunk, they open up.
Several marriages entered into trouble at the point of opening up. That is why the watch that
Abrahams servant watched is very important.
Marriage is a marathon. It is a process. One day and one thing at a time. The first thing to do on
sighting a stunningly beautiful and well-mannered woman is not to propose. They do that Will
You Marry Me thing on the first day of meeting on Nollywood films. It is not a healthy thing to
do in real relationship. Watch first! Look before you leap. Love looks well before leaping. Only
lust leaps to grab without looking.

There is a Love-Lust test junction in the marriage process. That test proved that this man
representing Isaac the true suitor and lover has genuine love. Love will hold its peace. Lust will
not. Lust will rush. It is lust that will say if I do not propose now, another brother will go ahead.
From my background, at this point you meet your pastor and inform the marriage committee. But
if it is impatient lust that is pushing you, you find one scriptural verse to push aside your pastor
and elders of the church to propose and possibly begin to do other funny things. Lust will rush
into touching things you need not to touch at that stage. Lust is a terrible enemy of marriage.
Many marriages have been lost through lust.
Lust and its sweet gibberishes. Listen to some of the hip-hop things on the air, you hear clear
language of lust mistaken for love. Why will love kill you if it is real love? Kill you in what
sense? We read that Amnon became so vexed of his love for his half sister that he fell sick of it
(2Sam.13:1-2). Love, to make one sick? How? That is not love. It is rightly called lust. True love
does not vex you. It makes you healthy not sickly. If true love is sickly and makes one sick, then
the whole world will be in trouble. Lust is sickly and you make your marriage a sickly one when
you enter it through lust.
Brother, hold your peace. If God has revealed her to you, trust Him, nobody will take sister away
from you. Dont rush this thing. There is no quickie action in true love. I still remember a good
brother in campus. Oh, my God one of the finest preachers among our student Christian leaders
of those days. Handsome, sharp, dresses fine and was as witty as they come. But he was placed
on a protracted discipline at a time. He belonged to a campus fellowship not mine that time. I
inquired from the then president of his fellowship who was a good friend of mine. What
happened to bro? He proposed to the five most beautiful sisters of the fellowship at a time. In
fact, should there be a beauty contest for fellowships in the campus that time, that fellowship will
not hesitate to present those five sisters in a row. I knew them that time. Five at a time. And it
may not be that the brother is immoral. Investigation proved he did nothing immoral with any of
them. But possibly, the fear not to lose out in the contest for the most beautiful ones. But you see,
love does not struggle or contest for what belongs to it. Hold your peace, for it is the LORDS
good pleasure to give you the best. We continue tomorrow. Stay blessed. Remember, we are still
waiting for Jesus. He may come this afternoon. Always be ready.
Shalom.

WITH HER PITCHER UPON HER SHOULDER (25/08/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
Thank God for another beautiful day the LORD has made, trusting Him to make all things
beautiful for us all through today in Jesus name.
Do you observe the peace that follows when you daily live by the word of God? Indeed, there is
something unique about Gods word. True living fits into the dynamics and working of Gods
word, the way a sensor designed for a system works on that system. What I mean is that the best
living that fits life on this side of eternity is the living as recommended and stipulated in Gods
word. Any other thing is an abuse. And living by and obeying the word of God is not grievous at
all to whosoever has a will to obey. As the servant of God, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi was rounding up

a bible study topic on Indispensible Evidence of Salvation in Christ yesterday night; he made a
comparison between the Corinthian church and that of Thessalonians in the days of Paul on the
receptivity and response to Gods word. In the days of his missionary assignments, Paul spent 18
uninterrupted months with the Corinthians teaching them the word of God (Acts 18:8-11). For
the Thessalonians he spent only three Sabbath days, an equivalent of todays three weeks, which
is less than one month. But check the Corinthians and all their problems - contentions,
babyishness, puffing up, sexual sins, litigations, abuse of liberty, going back to their shrines and
all other un-Christian practices seen among them. Not so with the Thessalonians who had very
kind words from the revered apostle (1Thes.1:2-7). The Thessalonians became examples to them
that believed in Macedonia and Achaia. And the question comes, which kind of Christian are
you? Like the Corinthians or the Thessalonians? I prayerfully made my choice after the study.
What about you?
Message 10 of MARRIAGE: WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES
And it came to pass, before he had done speaking, that behold, Rebekah came out, who was
born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abrahams brother, with her pitcher upon her
shoulder. And the damsel was very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her:
and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. And the servant ran to meet
her, and said, let me, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. And she said, Drink, my lord:
and she hasted, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. And when she had
done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done
drinking. And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to
draw water, and drew for all his camels. And the man wondering at her held his peace.
(Gen.24:15-20)
Brother, you that have been praying and trusting God for the will of God in marriage, your
Rebekah will come out as this bible Rebekah did after prayers by the servant of Abraham. Watch
out, she will come out. Amen.
You wonder why immediately Rebekah came out, the first thing bible reported on was on her
genealogy. Her birth who gave birth to her who were her parents? When you go to your
parents as a man to announce to your parents that you have found who to marry (Rebekah has
come out), what is the first question they throw at you? From where? Who are her parents? And
those questions come naturally. And they have their reasons for these questions. For us as
believers, the spiritual dimension to those kinds of questions is very important. She who came
out, is she born again? And who are her spiritual parents? Who are the Christians who have
influenced and affected her thinking and worldview? From which well is she drinking from. Her
birth first, not her beauty! Her birth matters a lot because her birth determines her being. Is the
sister genuinely born again? Is the brother genuinely born again? As a Christian, dont ever
compromise on this, if you do, you will definitely regret it.
Following the mention of her parents name was the fact that she came out with her pitcher upon
her shoulder. That still came before we read in verse 16 that she was very fair to look upon.
The Message bible described her looks this way The girl was stunningly beautiful. Stunningly
beautiful, yet with her pitcher on her shoulder! Stunningly beautiful, yet not snobbish to
strangers who were also males! Stunningly beautiful, yet following other daughters of the men of
the city to come to the well to draw water! Rebekah drew water from the well to give to the

camels. Her beauty was not such that got to her head. Instead of the swagger known to peacocks,
she was carrying a pitcher on her shoulders. The servant of Abraham did not see a cat-walking
Rebekah, he saw a woman in her natural self, not faking anything with her pitcher on her
shoulder. Not too long ago, I had a meeting at Awka in Anambra state. I was inside a vehicle
from Onitsha to Awka when the driver entered to buy fuel. Inside the station was this stunningly
beautiful young woman selling the oil they keep in bottles. My mind told me her dad maybe the
owner of the gas station, possibly she an undergraduate somewhere helping out in the family
business. Such women that know that women also work should be commended.
Who else is a virtuous woman than one with her pitcher on her shoulders? Who can find a
virtuous woman? (Prov.31:10). As rare and scarce as such women can be, the truth is that they
can be found by whosoever wants to find them. God has such women as she had those 7000 who
have not bowed to Baal in the days of Elijah. You know there are men who have this stereotyped
view that all women are the same. Same with some women thinking that all men are the same.
Who told you that? House and riches are the inheritance of fathers; and a prudent wife is from
the LORD (Prov.19:14). Seek the virtuous and prudent wife in the Lord, you will find her.
Often, the scarcity of a treasure is in the difficulty in finding it. Not that there are no treasures.
They are there for all who diligently seek them.
Rebekah by the pitcher on her shoulder showed us a woman that can shoulder responsibilities.
Like the virtuous woman of Prov.31, she showed us by that pitcher that she was a hard working
woman. She can draw water for camels, not only for her fathers but also for strangers. She like
Abigail can stoop down to do what most beautiful women do not do. She was humble enough to
do such menial jobs. Rebekah was not on a mask to impress, she was just being what she had
been through proper parenting and good home upbringing. Sister, put on your pitcher and keep
serving the Lord. I know sisters who have cried before me, sobbingly asking what they have
done that no brother is looking their ways. And I tell them, keep serving the Lord. Dont throw
away the pitcher for that pitcher will definitely attract a proposal. And you are a single sister
reading me this morning, I encourage you, never do things women do in the world to attract men
to themselves, keep your pitcher, keep your purity for in these two your purpose will be
established.
And dear sister dont live a snob. I came into Kaduna in 1996 a single young man a missionary
of course. Honestly, I knew that I will not marry from the local church where I was attending that
time. Not that there were not good and God fearing young sisters there. We had them, not a few. I
knew Gods plan for my life and was by no means careless about whom to marry. But I observed
that most single sisters in church were boning up and down. I wondered, do they smile at all.
Haba! You will finish a service with a sister in same church and then at the bus stop on your way
home same sister will be boning as if she has not known you from Adam. In fact one day in
church after Sunday morning Sunday School, known as the Search the Scriptures during a
question and answer session, I did ask the pastor if not putting up a smile is part of holiness. Of
course the pastor gave a good answer and those sisters in church who have been treating me as a
stranger in church thinking that I am in church just to look for who to marry knew where I was
going to. Your mien and manners speak a lot about you. Dont fake holiness. Holiness is more
than a mournful mien. Rebekah kept her dignity in her humility. Courtesy and politeness is good
for you as a sister trusting God for His will in marriage. Dont become a problem for yourself.

Trusting God to continue by tomorrow. Be courteous to all. It pays a lot to be.

Stay blessed.
Shalom.

THE DEVIL'S REBRANDED STRATEGY

1 John 2:16
From the beginning, the Devil has a mission-'To steal, kill and destroy, and would not give up
until he has achieved his goal. His mission has remained the same throught the years but what he
does is to rebrand his system from time to time to deceive vulnerable people who give in to his
agelong antics.
Bible says, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the
pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (1John 2:16). The are the three core
strategies of the Devil at all times but they come in well devised guile. His tempting tools remain
1. Lust of the EYES, 2. Lust of the FLESH and 3. PRIDE of life.
In the beginning, when he came to Eve, after reasonning with the Devil, the Bible reports in
Gen.3:6 "And the woman SAW(that is lust of the eye) that the tree was GOOD FOR FOOD (that
is lust of the flesh), and ye SHALL BE gODS (that is pride of life)..." When he met Jesus in the
wilderness, he employed the same tools in Matt. 4:3 "...If thou be the Son of God, command that
these stones be made BREAD." That is the lust of the flesh. In verse 5 & 6 of Matt. 4, he again
took him up to the Holy City, on the pinnacle of the temple and asked Him to cast Himself down,
and that as the Son of God, angels will catch Him. That will make Jesus a super man. Hmmm!
That is pride of life.
In verse 8 & 9, he took Him to a very high mountain and SHOWED Him all the kingdoms of the
world, and the glory of them. If only that Jesus will fall down and worship him, all that will be
His. That is the lust of the eyes.
You can see the Devil hasn't changed at all, he only rebrands his strategies. Unfortunately, the
people he hunts are people of purpose, who carry divine mandate. He doesn't waste his time on
hopeless and purposeless people. Don't be ignorant of the antics of the enemy. He has not
changed. He is still lurking around, looking for an opportunity to cunningly strike. Morealso, he
comes in from our desires and needs (James 1:14). He knows our heart desires and would want
to give us a counterfeit of what we really need. It is now dependent on the love of God we have
in our hearts, how much of God, His Purpose, plan and His Word we know and how sensitive we
are to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, that will make us overcome. If the enemy had already
succeded in planting some deadly seeds of untamed desires in our hearts, then there is trouble.
May God deliver you from it in Jesus name.
Dearly beloved, the old serpent is lurking around us. Love not the world and the things thereof.
The church is buying into this craft of the enemy, the brethren are seriously subscribing to it. The
enemy has come to the church. That is why those things that once mattered no longer matter
now; watch it, he is already gaining grounds. He has taken over all areas; we now have politics in
the church, the church now have wordly events inside the church. Messages are no longer
pricking but appealing to the flesh, no wonder sinners are now very comfortable inside the

church. How about you? Are you sure you have not given in to the Devil's pranks and
deceptions. Selah.
May God help us all.
Shalom!

PRAYER IS OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE (24/08/15)

Good morning dearly beloved,
Thank God it is yet another day the good LORD has graciously made and given to us. Thanking
Him for the blessings of the weekend and trusting Him for His guidance, protection and
provision through another wonderful week, this very last week of August, 2015.
Message 9 of MARRIAGE: WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES
And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of
his master were in his hands; and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia into the city of Nahor. And
he made his camels to kneel down without the city by a well of water at the time of the evening,
even the time that women go out to draw water. And he said, O LORD God of my master
Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master
Abraham. Behold, I stand here by the well of water, and the daughters of the men of the city
come out to draw water. And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, let down
thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink, and she shall say, drink, and I will give thy camels drink
also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know
that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master (Gen.24:10-24)
Marriage is a very serious business. Several cultures all over the world recognize this. To try to
trivialize it in any way is a show of profanity. Abrahams servant took ten camels of the camels
of his master as he began his journey to Mesopotamia. Dont think he went alone. There was an
entourage. If you read verses 53 and 54 of this same Genesis chapter 24, you will have an
understanding why Abrahams servant needed ten camels for his journey to Nahor in
Mesopotamia. The camel was the car of their day as it served as the major means of
transportation. Mind you, there were other men with this servant. And he had all the jewels and
other precious things for the dowry as they went. There is no stealing of women in Bible based
marriage. Stealing is mostly a secret business. We dont secret marry. You may not want a big
crowd in a wedding ceremony, but that is quite different from marrying secretly. Most secret
marriages end like a 100m dash race. And marriage is not a short distance matter, it is a
marathon. I live in Abuja and I have heard of Abuja marriage. Abuja marriage is more of an
elopement. You just see a man and woman renting a flat or even a room, sleeping together,
giving birth to children without any consent or notice to the parents of both man and woman.
That is a trivialization of the sacred institution of marriage. You dont do that.
Abrahams servant prayed. And he prayed well in verse 12. It is the content and wordings of his
prayer in verses 13 and 14 we need to be careful with in todays praying to know Gods will in
marriage. But it is this servants level of spiritual maturity that made him pray the way he prayed.
You do not use the Rule of the Thumb to know Gods will in marriage. A brother was seeking a

sisters hand in marriage. One day the sister wore a black skirt to fellowship and the brother wore
a black trouser. After fellowship, the brother came close to her again and whispered Dont you
see that what I am asking you is of God, you are wearing black just as I am. Match-making
through matching colors. Haba! That is a bit careless and casual. Spiritual maturity is important
for people seeking to know Gods will in marriage to the extent of knowing the exact way that
God speaks to you. He can use situations and circumstances but not this black skirt, black
trouser kind of thing.
Prayer is of supreme importance in the business of marriage before entering and when you
have entered, pray without ceasing. Prayer connects to purpose in marriage. A purpose driven life
will lead to a purpose driven marriage. Prayer drives the purpose that drives the life. Prayer less
people fall prey to several life predators including the ones that wreck and ruin marriages. There
is nothing like being conservative in the matter of prayer. There is nothing like overspiritualizing things in the matter of prayer. You know, some dismiss praying to know Gods will
in marriage as conservative and over-spiritualizing. Prayer is a necessity you must not play with.
It is arrogance not to pray. Not praying is like telling God, I dont need you, I can do all things on
my own.
And you need this revelation that comes through prayer in your marriage. How do you think that
Adam came to know that the person God made and brought to him was bone of his bone, flesh of
his flesh and should be called a woman (Gen.2:23). This was same Adam, God caused a deep
sleep to fall upon before taking out one of his ribs to make the woman (Gen.2:21). How did
Adam come to know what God did revelation. It has to be of the LORDS doing for it to be
marvelous in our eyes. Brother, God has done it for you in terms of whom to marry, revelation
will make her known to you. And it must not thunder out to be a revelation. You must not
dream for it to be a revelation. If you are sincere in prayer, like the servant of Abraham was, if
you see Rebecca you will know, it shall be clear as noon light. The impression will be deep and
peaceful. And then love as powerful as the Niagara fall will surge in to flow out to follow her. Do
you understand?
Never underestimate the power and effect of prayer. Prayer recognizes Gods place in your
marriage. Prayer is not first and foremost about content but about connection. We need the
Divine connection which is the supreme determinant factor in marriage. Prayer honors God, that
is why God himself honors people who pray.
Prayer deals with the confusion we face in our days of being single. We are human and we come
to a point when every fine looking sister, every fine looking brother, every well-behaved sister,
every well behaved brother looks like the person. Prayer clears the fog and confirms the real
person. Please pray and ask others to pray along with you. Prayer indeed works. Let me stop here
for today to continue this tomorrow.
Do have a blessed week ahead.
Shalom.

MARRIAGE- MATTERS ARISING: BREAKING OFF TILL MONDAY

Beloved,
My love letter took up a series on marriage issues that is currently running. It has been quite
interesting. Knowing that marriage is neither my idea in the first place nor that of anybody, I
took it from the perspective "MARRIAGE: WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES". And that has
been the pattern of flow for more than a week now. Marriage was instituted by God as a means
of perfecting His plans and purposes for man. That is why if somebody misses it there, he misses
a lot in the equation of life. And because on this side of eternity, we are humans not spirits, I
have used illustrations and applications known to man in driving home the points that the Holy
Spirit is raising. And which illustrations fits in well than what comes as my own personal
experiences through the years. Marriage lessons are not too good with theories. Practical
illustrations serve better. That is why I tell my story as well.
Part of this break, is to attend to other pressing matters here on my desk and equally to answer
questions and clarify some issues. Quite an engaging task it has been as some have gotten to me
through the chat streams of Facebook to ask relevant questions. And too to make clarifications. I
made one of such clarifications last night as somebody, somehow got offended because I did
write on 'Message 12' yesterday that I once asked a brother who was asking for the hand of a
sister in marriage what he understands by being born again. By God's grace, this is a love letter I
am doing, but I do not render any apology to anybody when I state things the way they are stated
in scriptures. To do that is to cowardly sell out. And cowardice has no place in a man who has the
Holy Spirit in him. Not, not at all!
So if you have followed these messages, and you have questions to ask, clarifications to make or
I to make, lets chat it out. It is just a click. I will get the notice if not in my main system, I can get
that from my handset.Hope you are getting blessed. Please get blessed.
Always remember, that your welfare in both time and eternity remains my number one driving
passion for this labor.
I love you all the time.
Shalom.

Taking Sin Seriously

Sin is largely ignored in our day. We do not like to use the term. We water-down the
very notion of sin. Instead we say that we have faults, short-comings, hang-ups,
problems, mistakes, or that we are dysfunctional or sick. We do not want to be
called a sinner. Why?

There are probably many reasons. One that springs to my mind is that sin has
religious overtones. Normally, when we think of sin, we also think of God. After all,
isn't sin breaking the law of God? And if we break the law of God, do we not have to
answer to God for breaking His law? Many people do not like to think of that
possibility. It is simply easier to talk about a failure than a sin. Another reason is that
our culture sees truth as relative. The contemporary view of truth is that truth
depends upon the situation. What is true today may not have been true yesterday
and may not be true tomorrow. You see, if you do away with God, truth becomes a
cultural thing. Morality becomes what the culture currently says it is, since there is
no absolute standard by which things should be judged. Therefore, to call a thing a
sin is taking matters a little too far.
There is one problem with this kind of thinking. It is wrong. There is a God and He
takes sin quite seriously. The Bible is clear when it calls sin a violation of God's law.
It is also clear when it declares that we have all committed sin.
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not commit adultery. But
I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed
adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and
cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish,
than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to
sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your
members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell."
(Matthew 5:27 - 30)
In this text, Jesus gives us a powerful and radical evaluation of sin. From even a
casual reading of this passage, there can be no doubt that Jesus took sin seriously.
There should be no doubt in your mind that He still takes sin seriously. Jesus, here in
the Sermon on the Mount, had been pointing out that not only is the sinful deed
wrong but also the sinful desire. So it should be clear that we have all failed to meet
the standard. For Him to advocate the tearing out of eyes and the cutting off of
hands should not only get our attention but should also cause us to be alarmed at
how casually we take sin. Do you take sin seriously? Jesus' message should be clear.
We must deal seriously with sin because sin is serious business.
How you deal with sin should be extremely important to you because it can destroy
you. In fact, you may be being destroyed right now. So, how do you view sin? How
do you deal with sin in your life?
If you would take sin seriously, you must know the Biblical definition of sin. Sin is a
violation of the law of God. "Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and
sin is lawlessness." (1 John 3:4) The word translated lawlessness refers to
behavior which completely disregards the law. This was not referring to Roman law
or to the law of the scribes and pharisees. When John refers to lawlessness, he
has primarily in mind the moral law of God. Paul underscores this in Romans 8:7
when he writes, The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the

law of God. Thus, sin is a violation of Gods law.

Whats the practical relevance of this definition of sin? First, it reminds us that
human sin is primarily a theological concept and not merely a social concept. In
other words, we cannot properly define sinful behavior without presupposing a
personal and sovereign God who has revealed a proper standard of right and wrong.
We cant define sin properly without God in the picture. This is why modern
attempts to define sin primarily on a horizontal level are doomed to failure. Modern
society says, You can live as you please, provided that you dont harm your
neighbor. As a result, a person may engage in premarital sex or adultery, provided
that the other party consents.
How different is the perspective of Scripture! When Potiphars wife tried to seduce
Joseph, he responded, How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against
God? (Gen 39:9). He didnt view such sin primarily as an offense against societal
norms. He viewed it primarily as a violation of Gods law. Was this not also Davids
perspective in Psalm 51? Directing his penitent prayer to God, David confessed,
Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight (Psalm
51:4). We must define sin theologically. We must see sin as a violation of Gods law.
To Know Sin We Must Know the Law
If sin is a violation of Gods law, then its vitally important for men to know Gods
law. Paul tells us in Romans 3:20 that through the law comes knowledge of sin.
The law exposes our sin. Paul further underscores this point in Romans 7:7, when he
writes, If it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have
known what it is to covet if the law had not said, You shall not covet. Indeed,
theres no sinful behavior that falls outside the scope of at least one of the Ten
Commandments. If this is the case, then we shouldnt fall for the notion that the Ten
Commandments have no continuing relevance for today.
We Commit Sin Because We are Sinful by Nature
God created man to be His image. But man fell into sin (Genesis 3:1-13). And
though man continues to be the image of God in his fallen state he now is an
inaccurate image of God. This is Pauls point in Romans 3:23, when Paul says, All
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Thats the way we should feel about
our sin before God. Every time we sin, we bring disgrace to our heavenly Fathers
name.
Jesus Speaks of Sinful People as Slaves to Sin
"Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin." (John 8:34)
We are either slaves to sin, which is our natural state, or we are slaves to Christ.
Jesus used the analogy of a slave and his master to make the point that a slave
obeys his master because he belongs to him. Slaves have no will of their own. They

are literally in bondage to their masters. When sin is our master, we are unable to
resist it. But by the power of Christ to overcome the power of sin, You have been
set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. (Romans 6:18). Once
we come to Christ in repentance and receive forgiveness for sin, we are empowered
by the Holy Spirit who comes to live within us. It is by His power that we are able to
resist sinning and become slaves of righteousness.
Only in Christ can sin slaves be transformed!
Only Christ can free people of that slavery. But even after being freed, we all still
have the capacity to sin. We can still willfully violate the law of God. Christian
believers arent to continue in habitual sin because they died to sin. Romans 6:4
says that since believers have been buried and resurrected with Christ, they are
now able to walk in that newness of life, unlike the unbeliever who is still a slave to
sin. Romans 6:6 goes on to say that since we know that our old self was crucified
with Him so that our body of sin might be done away with, we should no longer be
slaves to sin. And Romans 6:11 says that we are to consider ourselves dead to sin
and alive to God in Christ Jesus. We are commanded by God to not let sin reign in
our bodies, obeying its lusts, but instead we are to present ourselves to Him as
instruments of righteousness. (Romans 6:12-14)
This is important for all Christians to know. While believers are now set free from the
penalty of sin, they still live in the presence of sin while living on this earth. And the
only way believers can be free from the power of sin is by the power of the Holy
Spirit who is given to believers at the moment they come in faith to Christ.
(Ephesians 1:13-14) And 1 John 1:9 reassures them that when they do sin as
Christians, if they confess their sins to the Lord, He is faithful and righteous and will
cleanse them from it in order that they might continue to live in a right relationship
with Him.
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
(Romans 12:1 - 2)
When we commit ourselves as followers of Christ to grow and mature in our faith by
reading and studying Gods Word each day and spending time in prayer with Him,
we will find ourselves more and more able to stand in the power of the Holy Spirit
and resist sin. The daily victories over sin that we have in Christ will encourage and
strengthen us and demonstrate in a powerful way that we are no longer slaves to
sin, but are instead servants of God.
Whether as an unbeliever or a believer we violate the law of God, sin is still sin and
it is taken very seriously by God. Do you take sin seriously, or do you seriously sin?
It is an important matter to be considered.

ALMOST SAVED by Ezekiel Azonwu

one of the most dangerous terms in English diction
if it could be translated into audio it would sound like
pbb-bb-bb-bb from the saxophone of Lisa Simpson
two words designed and strategically combined
to form the biggest oxymoron in the history of mankind
ALL-MOST
But see, as far as the world's concerned, you could live your life vile
and could almost get away with murder if you had a nice smile
you could almost meet folks just to almost sleep around
and stop at your local clinic while you almost had a child.
see, 'almost' is no stranger to Satan. Here's proof:
he only tells lies when they're almost the truth
and it's amazing in our incompleteness we find complacence
but if almost is one of Lucifer's many traits
then we are inadvertently good Satan impersonations
But on the contrary, Christ did his job fully
and he proved he was God when he died on the cross like it was his duty
and to pardon my iniquities that I commited rudely
he resurrected from the grave just to tell death to excuse me

but excuse me, this is your life and that's something I can't impose on
but your body is God's home which was alone about to get forclosed on
See, an almost Christian looks right but lives wrong
Can't stand the conviction in Romans so they sit down to be comforted in Psalms
Never understood worship but loved to sing songs like I surrender all. . .MOST
Cuz it's far to expensive to spend your life on something that doesn't appeal to your
five senses
see, nowadays, Christianity is like a Louis rag-no function or use but we just rock it cuz it's stylish
not righteous, but right-ish
So now all God sees is a pile of ISHmael's when he intended for Isaac's
And we're moved by how we feel so we're saved when we feel like it
so technically we've never really been saved we merely tried it.
So no wonder why we're never sold out when we return it after we buy it
Let me break it down because you need to beware
that your life could lack the very standards that need to be there
Cuz on that final day of judgment while God's receiving his heir
will he say, Son, well done or [spits] medium rare!
Cuz even by earthly standards it would be highly insane
to start spending all of your money days before you almost get paid
like parents, you wouldn't send your kids to a school that's almost safe
and ladies, would you really date a man who claims he's almost straight?
and this is the very thing about God that we all try to get around
but his standards are like between two mountains--no middle ground
so a halfway life is unprofitable to you
cuz after all the Sunday service, Bible studies, and prayer meetings
and everything that goes between, God will say I never knew you
But that's not even the worst part of living your life as neutral
it's that you were once arctic but it is your lukewarmness that is causing him to
spew you
and this is the very thing that had me
I was bound and held down by the unforgiving gravity of my spiritual reality
I was a Christian, or at least I portrayed the fantasy
With a filthy personal life but a "God bless you brother, how you doin' sister?"
personality
I was a male enveloped by guilt because I was stamped a sinner
My message couldn't be received because I didn't represent the sender yet I was
almost delivered
Till that one day when I totally, absolutely and completely surrendered
I took heed to a modern prophet who proclaimed it was time for change
now I'm no longer bound to sin point-blank off the chain
You can ask Umar Abdul Mutallab, he'll tell you the same-you don't almost go to jail when you almost blow up a plane
like you don't almost go to hell when you almost get saved
despised the cross that he was slain and thus the cause for which he came
but don't worry i'm almost done, but before i leave this stage

we have all worked in sin and death was minimum wage

but if it wasn't for Christ we would have almost got paid