February 23

Testimony Time:-Oftentimes, genuine Christians can be plagued with some sort of hindrances which can limit, kill and or obstruct their growth to stardom and or any position of influence. Those hindrances can be linked to hereditary, unfriendly friends and foes which can also be found in the House of God; they can be men and women of God seated on plum seats in every Church arenas. Many impediments also occur due to ugly perceptions, unhealthy rivalry, anger, impatience, hatred and some other vices which we may have grown accustomed to and are not mentioned here. Let us also remember that some of these hindrances can come purposely to text our faith through trials and temptation. James 1:2-3 states "consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. In looking at Job's story however, it was reported that God allowed Satan to text his faith-"The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. Although Job's destiny may have been impeded by Satan, his love affair with God was very consistent and God ensured he was adequately rewarded for all his misfortune-his latter wealth became greater than the former one. "The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys" (Job 42:12). From the above, we can infer that we cannot get to where we want to be without first of all going through a refinery process. The story of Prophet Isaiah also offers a compelling evidence. Before he can can get to the position of prominence King Uzziah had to die so that he can see the glory of God. The Book of Isaiah 6:1 confirms this assertion. "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple". As in the case of Joseph, he was marked out from the beginning as a very special child with a garment of many colours. His success story did not end there because for him to be linked with his great destiny the first thing that went was this garment of many colours (Genesis 37). David too had to run away from Saul, that means his apprenticeship was completed in the wilderness as a fugitive before he can rise to stardom (1 Samuel 21-23). Apostle John in the Book of James 1 teaches us that tests have a purpose so also are trials and tribulations. They were described as the process by which the genuineness of our faith are determined and that through these processes the quality of our steadfast character may also be developed! As a child of God, are you developing according to the taste of the Holy One? What have you done with those messages of hope, advice, instructions, prophesies and counselling? Are you repulsive and unwilling to let the past go? Many hindrances Satan have successfully planted into the path of genuine Christians, the ironies are that they may not know unless they are equally endowed with the Spirit of God. May every hindrance, impedance and impediment on our ways be taken away by the IRRESISTIBLE HAND OF GOD in Jesus Mighty Name. Amen Just Checking into His Presence...