Somto Ufondu

I was around 5 when, I am strongly convinced, I first heard the distinct voice of God. But, not until I was 11 (2002) did I have a personal encounter with Him. I was in my room that night, about to pray before bed, when I saw a revelation of how filthy my heart was. I didn't argue with God that I was too young to have such amount of filth ('cause I believed I was a 'good boy,' by human standards, at least). I simply cried uncontrollably in brokenness of heart - "The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God" (Psalm 51:17) - and He didn't.

Still crying uncontrollably, I left my room and went to the living room, where my parents were watching the nightly news on TV. After I managed to tell them about the revelation I saw, my sweet mum took me to her room and led me to Christ. I got saved that night. And 6 years later, I discovered my purpose and assignment on earth, which is raising up men and women to be godly, and teaching them the simplicity of Christianity. More than a decade later, I am still fulfilling that purpose to His glory. Hallelujah!

The Fasting And Prayer That Move Mountains

Reading Time: 4 minutes

silhouette photo of man on cliff during sunset — Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash

Jesus promised that if we spoke to a mountain (anything that poses as a problem or challenge in our lives), even with a mustard-seed-sized faith, without doubting in our hearts, it would obey us and do whatever we asked it to do, including removing from its place and throwing itself into the sea (figuratively speaking) – Mark 11:23-24 (NIV); Matthew 17:20. In fact, in the first Scripture, He further promised that whatever we asked God for, in prayer, will be done for us. And in the second one, He ended with, “and nothing will be impossible for you.” What, then, are the benefits of fasting and prayer as Christians, you might ask, if we can only speak to a problem and get it solved? 🤔

The Question

The important question we find ourselves asking, however, is why is it that when we pray over a sickness or need, which is a mountain in its own right, we don’t always get answers? Come on, let’s face it. Sometimes (if not most times), we pray with so much faith (way bigger than a mustard seed; in our own eyes, at least) and no doubt soever in our hearts?

30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – #7

Reading Time: 6 minutes

God Is Never Early or Late (Always Right on Time) – God’s Modus Operandi (MO)

Action item: Please read the story in each section (or, at least, be familiar with it), before you read the discussion under it.

First of all, no one can claim to have a complete understanding of God’s mode of operation (MO). Having said that, this miracle lesson will only seek to provide some insight into God’s MO. And, hopefully, after you’re done reading, you will begin to understand why some of your prayers seem like they have not been answered.

30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – #6

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#6. Sometimes, Jesus can visit an entire city just to meet one person. (Mark 5:1-20)

According to Elizabeth Fletcher, ‘On the Sea of Galilee, there are frequent storms.’ And I suppose that everyone at that time knew that. So, why did Jesus and His disciples embark on such a dangerous journey at night which nearly cost them their lives (Mark 4:35-41)? It was just so that Jesus could have a personal encounter with one man. You see, this man had been deranged and tormented by demons for a long time (Luke 8:27). He had no hope of being saved. He was a “walking dead.” Nobody wanted him. Even his family members must have given up on Him. Then Jesus shows up, knowing fully well that if he healed the man, it would mean that He could not further His cause in the city, yet, He healed him anyway, because that was His sole purpose of embarking on that dangerous journey that night. He came just for the one man whom no one else wanted.

Continue reading “30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – #6”

30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – #5

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#5. Demons tremble in the presence of Jesus. (Mark 1:21-28; 5:1-20)

“One with God is a majority.” You’ve heard that phrase many times, but have you really ever stopped to ponder what it really means? Here, we see thousands of demons trembling in the presence of Jesus. According to the commentary from the New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, ‘At full strength, a Roman legion numbered 6,000 men. The name had come to signify a well-organized group possessing great power.’ The demons, of course, may not have been exactly 6,000 in number, but they were probably uncountable. They were surely more in number than the physical number of Jesus and His disciples put together. But, you see, it wasn’t just Christ and His disciples who were there at the time. The power and supernatural presence that accompany Christ or His followers are like the stars in the sky – they are too many to count.

Elisha said to his assistant, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” – 2 Kings 6:16-17.

Jesus knew and understood that then, we should know and understand that now too. We are Christ’s followers, and we carry the Spirit of Christ everywhere we go. We can exercise that authority Christ has given us, over sicknesses, diseases, difficult situations, and even over principalities, powers, demons, and the dark forces of this world. (See Luke 10:18-21; Matthew 10:8; Ephesians 6:10-18.) Continue reading “30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – #5”

30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – #4

Reading Time: 4 minutes

#4. God expects us to grow in faith. (Mark 4:35-41)

As long as we’re in Christ, God expects us to grow in faith. The disciples of Jesus had, before the passage in consideration (Mark 4:35-41), witnessed countless miracles that Jesus performed (including those that were not recorded in Scripture – see John 20:30-31; 21:25), yet their faith remained small (or weak). Seriously, Jesus raised the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17), Jairus’ daughter (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56), and Lazarus (John 11:1-44). Isn’t it surprising that someone would still be afraid of dying, even though he is a friend to the One who has power over death? Yet, we catch ourselves in the same situation many times – when the car starts to skid off the road, when the plane is hit by turbulence and begins to shake, when you feel so sick that it seems as though your spirit is gradually leaving your body. We have all, at one time or another, feared that we might die.

The longer we are in a relationship with God, the more we should commit to trusting Him completely. When two people are in a relationship, they will expect to trust each other more as their relationship progresses. This is God’s expectation too, and I will give you a hypothetical scenario.

Continue reading “30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – #4”

30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – #3

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#3. Our desire to serve Christ can bring quick relief from illness. (Matthew 8:14-15)

Our desire to serve Christ can bring quick relief from illness. This is not always the case, but sometimes, God, who sees in secret and judges the intents of the heart, can stretch forth His hand to heal us, when He sees our selfless desire to serve others (even while we’re in sickbed). Such was the case with Peter’s mother-in-law as recorded in Matthew 8:14-15. Immediately Jesus healed her, she got up and began to serve. This reveals the desire of her heart while she was bedridden with fever. But Jesus knew her heart and willingness to serve, and so she didn’t need to ask before He healed her.

Continue reading “30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – #3”

30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – #2

Reading Time: 4 minutes

#2. God often meets us at the point of our faith, not at the point of our need. (Matthew 8:5-13; 9:2; Mark 5:25-34; Matthew 14:34-36; 15:21-28; 9:27-31; John 4:46-53; Mark 7:31-37)

The Roman Soldier and The Paralytic Man

Anytime a challenge faces you, you can choose to trust God completely, like the people in the passages above. In reality, this is not a very easy task, however, it is a very possible one. In Matt. 8:5-13, Jesus seemed to indicate that He was searching for such kind of totally dependent faith in the world. He revealed this through His amazement at the faith of the Roman Centurion, ‘I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.’ The Roman soldier, being a gentile (a sinner), and not even a jew, had such a great faith that was not found elsewhere, even amongst the Jews who had been anticipating and praying for the arrival of the Messiah. The paralytic man was healed because of the faith of his friends (Luke 5:18-20). This teaches us that we can stand ‘in the gap’, in prayer before God, on behalf of our friends and loved ones, believing Him for their healing, deliverance, salvation or any other good thing. God can come through for them, because of our faith. Continue reading “30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – #2”

Prayer Update from Earth Shakers Prayer Team

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🙏 The Power of Prayer – Mark 6:7

When you google the definition of power, it defines power as “the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events.”

Jesus gave His disciples the power over unclean spirits. These included (and still include) both evil spirits that possess and the ones that oppress. Jesus gave this power to His disciples, including Judas Iscariot and many others beyond the Twelve – Luke 10:1-23. Evil (or unclean) spirits cannot possess the church as an individual Christian, or the church as a collective organism, but they can oppress either or both of them.

The oppression of evil spirits manifests when your flesh begins to have its way above the Spirit of God in you. This can also be termed manipulations of darkness. And, they include the 4 spiritual hierarchy of darkness as listed in Ephesians 6:12.

Continue reading “Prayer Update from Earth Shakers Prayer Team”

30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – #1

Reading Time: 4 minutes

#1. God is always willing to heal you (Matthew 8:2-3, 5-7; 15:29-31; 21:14; Luke 7:11-17; 13:10-13; John 5:2-9; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 14:1-6).

Healing, in this sense, includes deliverance from all ailments of body and soul. You see, Jesus is very easy-going and completely approachable, even now. He does not like to see you or anyone else suffer. These records of healings also show us how much God desires to heal us, and the manner in which we are to approach Him – in humility and reverent awe – a leper came and worshiped Him (Matthew 8:2). God is always willing to heal. Matthew Henry, in his concise commentary, has this to say on Matthew 8:2-3:“In these verses, we have an account of Christ’s cleansing a leper, who came and worshipped him, as one clothed with Divine power. This cleansing directs us, not only to apply to Christ, who has power over bodily diseases, for the cure of them, but it also teaches us in what manner to apply to him. When we cannot be sure of God’s will, we can be sure of his wisdom and mercy. No guilt is so great, but there is that in Christ’s blood which atones for it; no corruption so strong, but there is that in his grace which can subdue it.”To be made clean we must commend ourselves to his pity; we cannot demand it as a debt, but we must humbly request it as a favour. Those who by faith apply to Christ for mercy and grace may be sure that he is freely willing to give them the mercy and grace they thus seek. And those afflictions are blessed that bring us to know Christ and cause us to seek help and salvation from him. Let those who are cleansed from their spiritual leprosy, go to Christ’s ministers and open their case, that they may advise, comfort, and pray for them.” Continue reading “30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – #1”

30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – Intro

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INTRODUCTION

There are several lessons contained in the miracles of Jesus which are recorded in the Holy Bible. From the Bible, it is undeniable that Christianity is a religion of power. Apologies to those who may argue that Christianity is not a religion but a lifestyle. I totally get your point and couldn’t agree more. Whether you feel that Christianity is a religion, or you believe that Christianity is more of a lifestyle than a religion, yet, you would agree with me concerning the apostles, that “[their] message and [their] preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.” 1 Corinthians 2:4-5.

What then is a miracle?

A miracle, in the biblical context, is a desirable supernatural occurrence, unique and inexplicable, that meets an end or achieves a purpose designed by God. Someone once said, “If you can explain it, then it is not a miracle.”

Continue reading “30 Lessons Drawn from the Miracles of Jesus – Intro”