(Psalm 138:2)
How I wish I could say a prayer right now and change your life and solve all your problems. It would have been my delight to do so if it was possible. I realized that even God does not work that way when doing things of value. He took his time through seven different time periods to create the heavens and the earth. If someone tells you he can offer a prayer, give you something or help you meet someone who can wave his hands and change your life, you are being deceived. The question is, can we change our lives and circumstances? The answer is yes, but it would be an illusion to think it can happen by a quick fix. We need to learn and understand the principles of God's word and then apply them in season and out of season while progressively reaping the harvest they produce.
This is the responsibility many are wishing shouldn't be there, but it isn't going away. If this rule were to change, then even the universe would collapse because it is sustained not by a giant miracle, but by the principles of God's word. Heb 1:3
God made life so simple and predictable, but we have mystified so many things, which are considerably simple and practical. If we understand the principles God put in place to determine cause and effects, input and output, income and outcome, etc., we can achieve the changes we need progressively. The reason most people don't talk about principles is that it demands responsibility and most people want privileges without responsibility, welfare without being in the workforce, success without work, gain without pains, etc. Our generation's blind quest for the mysterious is the result of the mischevious atrocities we see today both in church and the world.
I believe in miracles, and I love miracles, and I experience miracles, but for several years, I had to struggle with what to tell those who didn't have their needs met through miracles. I saw the frustrations of many as they walked away from crusade grounds and miracle meetings feeling that their faith wasn't active enough or somehow it wasn't their day. It has taken great dealings for me to get to where I am today in my understanding of life by the word.
It isn't just a fact, but a truism that we can't solve the world's problems by miracles., but most people would rather hide the truth from people. Even during the days of Christ earthly ministry, there were people whose conditions didn't change because Christ passed through their city. So, why is God not solving all human needs by miracles? Why do some miracle workers still have to struggle with personal challenges and problems without miraculous answers? Nigeria is notable as a destination for miracles in Africa, but why has Nigeria not experienced a miraculous transformation?
The continent of Africa is full of miracle believing and confessing Pentecostal and charismatic churches, but why hasn't the poverty quagmire in African and the numerous diseases and woes solved by miracles? We have billboards everywhere in most of our cities announcing the coming of Mega preachers with promises for great miracles, but why do thousands of people who attend these events still walk home to face their wahala? Well, some would say, let's not talk about that, let's focus on those who testified. Really! Then we may be selfishly using the predicaments of people to gain fame and other things and not focusing on providing real answers.
It takes courage for a minister to tell the truth to people and to let them know that not every need of life can be met through miracles. And, it isn't God's plan for anyone to pack his or her life waiting for a miracle when God has put in place principles we can work on to create our world.
Now listen, you can quote me anywhere. I believe in miracles, but we have taken it too far in our Pentecostal and charismatic circles. It seems we are still ignorant of God's master plan and his design for life. Miracles will always be part of the experience of God's people, but miracles are not absolute. God, the miracle worker, didn't ordain life's result to be an absolute function of miracles, but principles. When we understand the principles of God's word and apply them, we can experience results in all areas of our lives. The problem is our "now, now, now or never mentality," We don't want to work on anything and arrive at real solutions. To some Christians, 20 years is too much, but most of the things we are enjoying in different fields took several years to arrive at what we see today.
We celebrate stars in different works of life. I saw a photo of a church celebrating the victory of Chelsea and others celebrating my team's victory, Real Madrid, but the question is, why are we not raising the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo in diverse fields of life in our churches? You don't have to look far for answers, just listen to our pulpit rhetorics, and you will know why. In most quarters of Christendom, those who believe in hard work are considered as individuals toiling without God's grace. It is like, all you need to succeed in life is to sow a financial seed. Really! Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't wake up every morning, confessing and believing to score goals, he has to work on his skills.
Beloved, I'll always be proud of my Christian heritage, but I firmly believe that the Pentecostal and charismatic movement is in a deep crisis that requires courageous leadership to address it. Multitudes under our different denominational roofs are so ignorant of God's ways of doing things, and the effects are what we are reaping. A populace that is not creative, imaginative, productive and representing their maker, Almighty God. Some look like refugees in crusade grounds, beaten by the storms of life, with no insight on how to ride above their storms. They have bought all the oil, water, candle, bracelets, and others we told them to buy, yet, they look worse than they came. It is time to point people to the Word and to teach them.
The cry of the Ethiopian Enoch is the cry of this generation. "“How can I, he said, “unless someone guides me?” Acts 8:31. May you be that "someone" to provide the leadership and guidance this generation desperately needs. If we teach the word of God, unraveling the principles of life hidden in the scriptures, we can birth a new era of civilization known as the kingdom of God on earth. Be inspired to aspire to acquire what is required to respond to the desires of the multitudes in the valley of decision. Cheers! DrBenard Etta
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