Our Sufferings Are Our Testimonies
Posted on June 3, 2016 1 Comment
Sometimes, we go through certain situations and struggles and we wonder, “oh God, why me? Can this suffering not pass me by?” If you are a believer, you will know that the sufferings are meant for our good; they are meant to give us a testimony for the glory of God. Let’s look at this passage from Acts 9, concerning our brother, Paul.
Acts 9:11-16 (NKJV):
“So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.””
The Lord had chosen Paul to do His work. He was going to be used by God to do great things amongst the Jews and the Gentiles, and among powerful and prominent people (Kings). But the Lord had not forgotten what Paul did to the believers. So when the Lord told Ananias to go and pray for Paul, Ananias had reservations because he knew Paul and he knew what Paul had done to other believers and what Paul could do to him.
But the Lord told Ananias that Paul was going to suffer for the name of the Lord.
It is therefore not surprising that Paul went through all that suffering in his ministry. His suffering was part of the ministry that God had given him.
Think about it, who else could God use as a vessel to do His work than someone who was well schooled in the scriptures and vehemently opposed the teachings of Jesus Christ?
Paul’s testimony alone was powerful enough to draw people to God. And indeed, it did.
Throughout the New Testament, we see how Paul suffered for the name of the Lord and how through his suffering many, both Jews and Gentiles believed in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So next time, we are going through some struggle or suffering, let’s call upon the name of the Lord and ask Him to give us a testimony for His glory.
Written by Kow Essuman, Esq.
The author is a barrister; qualified to practise law in England and Wales, New York and Ghana; a Global Shaper (Accra Hub) of the World Economic Forum and a firm believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Waiting For God’s Answer
Posted on May 26, 2016 1 Comment
I am sure everyone can relate to this: “when we pray and don’t get what we have prayed for instantly, we wonder whether God heard our prayers or our cry.” Even when we have followed all the fundamentals of praying or the fundamentals of going to our Father in Heaven, we still wonder whether He is going to answer us. That period of wait can be filled with anxiety and worry but it should not be so.
ASKING
Of course, our Father requires us to come to Him and ask Him for everything we need. That is the import of Philippians 4:6-7 (in everything by prayer and supplication). You may say “but He knows what I already need so why should I ask Him.” Simple, because before we get anything, we must ask. James 4:2 states that “yet you do not have because you do not ask.”
Asking is therefore an important part of receiving what you want from God. I call it, “the trigger.” Without asking, you cannot have.
Mind you, it is not everything that you ask God for that you will receive. If what you are asking for is not in accordance with His will, then forget it, you are not going to receive it, no matter how much you pray. James 4:3 tells us that “And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong, you want only what will give you pleasure.” God will not even mind you. He will also not mind you if your heart is not right. That is, you have wickedness and sin in your heart. In other words, if you come to God to ask Him for things based on your own worthiness and not the worthiness of the blood of Jesus Christ, then forget about receiving what you are asking for. (See Proverbs 15:8, 29; Psalm 4:3.)
God hears the prayers and cries of the righteous man, and is moved by them. 1 Peter 3:12 states that “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their prayers. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” In James 5:16, it is written, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
We know that God hears us when we pray because His Word says so. It does not matter the time or day that we pray, He always hears us. (See Psalm 55:17 and Psalm 130:1-2.) Our cries go out to the Lord and He hears our voice. In the words of the Psalmist, “Let Your ear be attentive to the voice of my supplications.”
WAITING
After we have asked and we are sure that the Lord has heard our cry, what do we do if the answer is not instant? Give up? No! We wait. For how long? For as long as God gives you an answer. Because our time is not God’s time. He makes all things beautiful in His time. (See Ecclesiastes 3:11.) God has told us what to do during the wait.
The Psalmist says at Psalm 130:5-6, “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits and in His word, I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning – Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.” Thus, we are to wait like we are watching for the morning or even more. This is because no matter how long you wait for the morning to come, you surely know that the morning will come. That is how God works.
God’s answer to your prayer or request shall surely come. You just have to wait like you are watching for the morning. The waiting period tests our faith and builds it up.
HOPE
The Psalmist also makes another critical point that we must do during the waiting period. He says, “In His Word I do hope.” We must have hope in God’s Word because it is faithful and has been the same since the beginning of the world. It never changes. And because God has said He will do it, He will do it. Unless what you are asking for is not something that He has said He will do.
We must have hope in the Word of God and rejoice in the hope we have. We must be patient during the waiting period and we must pray steadfastly.
Romans 12:12 says, “Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.”
He is also good to the soul that seeks Him. (See 2 Chronicles 7:14.) We can seek God through His Word, rejoicing in hope and praying steadfastly, while knowing that He will be good to us in the end.
FAITH
Lastly, if we want answers from God, then we must ask Him for what we want in faith. If we have any doubt whatsoever in our heart or mind then we should not expect to receive anything from God no matter how much we pray. Faith is very important in the asking and receiving process. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (See Hebrews 11:1.) Relate it to the Psalmist’s example of watching for the morning. You know that the morning will come after the wait, you just haven’t seen it yet. That is faith. James 1:6-7 tells us that a person who does not ask in faith will not receive anything. Furthermore, if you ask in faith and then later, during the waiting period, you have doubts in your heart and mind about what you have asked for, then don’t expect to receive anything.
Believe that you have what you have already asked for and rejoice in hope during the waiting period for the beautiful answer that God is going to give you.
In conclusion, I would suggest that when we ask God for things, we should ask him for those things that will glorify Him and not for things that will give us pleasure. We should ask in faith and without any doubt in our heart or mind, so that we will receive what we have asked for. If God does not answer us instantly, let us wait, rejoicing in hope and praying steadfastly, knowing that He is a faithful God and wants the best for us at the right time. God bless you!
Written by Kow Essuman, Esq.
The author is a barrister; qualified to practise law in England and Wales, New York and Ghana; a Global Shaper (Accra Hub) of the World Economic Forum and a firm believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Prayer Is Fundamental
Posted on May 20, 2016 1 Comment
Prayer is a fundamental part of our relationship with God. We must treat it as an honest communication from our hearts to God’s heart. The real power in prayer is our connection with the all-powerful creator of the heavens and the earth – our Heavenly Father. Therefore, we must not be anxious when we pray and we must pray about everything.
In Philippians 4:6, the Bible says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
When we pray, we must lay aside every anxiety or worry we have. We must trust God completely – that He has got us. Anxiety should never dictate our communication with God.
We must openly discuss everything (not some things) with God. Anything short of that is disobedience. This is because He is our Father, and of course He knows everything, but He wants us to tell Him everything, openly.
We must accompany our prayers with thanksgiving. We must be thankful for all the little mercies He showers in us and His grace that abounds towards us everyday.
We must ask Him for specific things. But remember that the things you ask God for, must be in accordance with His will. If you ask for anything outside His will, please don’t expect to get it. You will know what God’s will is, through His Word.
PRAYER:
Lord, help me to lay aside all anxiety when I come to you. Take away all my worries and burdens so that I can concentrate on praying to You alone. Give me the wisdom to discuss every area of my life with You. I acknowledge that you are an all-knowing God but help me through, Your Spirit, to share everything with you. Place in me, a thankful heart so that I can thank you for all you have done for me and all that you are about to do in my life. Help me to bring my requests to You in humility. Grant me wisdom to know what to ask from You and let my desires be in accordance with Your will. I trust that You will guard my heart and mind, with Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Prepare me for the answer that You will give me. Let me rejoice in hope and have faith that, that which I have asked has been done unto me. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name I have prayed, Amen.
Written by Kow Essuman, Esq.
The author is a barrister; qualified to practise law in England and Wales, New York and Ghana; a Global Shaper (Accra Hub) of the World Economic Forum and a firm believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
A Conscious Effort Drives Sin Away
Posted on May 18, 2016 Leave a Comment
Before my quiet time this morning, I got this word, which spoke to my spirit, and I received further understanding of it and decided to share. You know when you wake up in the morning, you have this daily Bible verse show up on your Bible App and then you go “yes, that is really deep” and then it ends there. I got that same feeling this morning and even more that I postponed my quiet time by a few minutes in order to write this. I hope it touches someone who reads it today, or whenever.
The daily verse I received this morning can be found at James 1:21. I read it from the New Living Translation and it states as follows:
“So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.” – James 1:21 NLT
Getting rid of sin in our lives requires a conscious effort on our part. It requires us to take very active steps to overcome sin and get rid of it from our lives. When we are saved by grace and become righteous, it does not mean that we are immune to sin. It actually opens us up to be tempted to sin so that the enemy can continue to lord sin over our lives. But thank God for His Word because He tells us what to do with filth and evil, which are sin. He teaches us how to get rid of them. It is a call to action to rid ourselves of sin. We cannot sit there as Christians and expect sin to disappear because we are children of God. We have to get rid of it. How do we get rid of sin? We confess it and ask God for forgiveness because He is faithful and just to forgive us for our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we do not get rid of sin, the Lord goes far away from us because we are filthy and evil in His eyes and He does not hear our cry and will not answer our prayers. Remember when Jesus carried all the sins of the world on the cross, He had to cry out to His Father because He (Jesus) could not feel God’s presence. That is what sin does: it makes it impossible for God to come near you.
The verse also encourages us to accept the Word of God that has been planted in our hearts by reason of being a Christian because the Word of God has the power to save our souls. If in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God, and if when we are saved, the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) comes and lives in us, and if the Holy Spirit is the same as God, then we can confidently say that the Word is in us. What I gather from this is that we are expected to demonstrate humility when dealing with God. Even in accepting His Word, which He has planted in us, we must be humble. We cannot be arrogant or pompous about the receiving the Word of God. We must allow the Holy Spirit who lives in us to teach us the scriptures and reveal the mysteries behind the scriptures to us. We must be humble to receive the wisdom and understanding of the Word to enjoy its power.
Then we come to the last leg of this verse, which is just so profound. It talks about the power of the Word of God. This verse tells us that the Word of God has the power to save our souls. As Christians, our soul is in a constant battle because our spirit may be willing to follow God and our flesh will want to continue satisfying itself to the detriment of the spirit. We are then torn between which of the two (spirit or flesh) should we satisfy. Of course, we must satisfy the spirit and not the flesh. Satisfying the spirit can only be achieved through getting rid of the filth and evil and then humbly accepting the Word of God. And then we will receive the power that will save our souls. That is the only way a Christian soul can be saved.
So let us save our souls today. Let’s take steps and get rid of all the filth and evil in our lives so that God can give us His Word and so that we can receive it. And in receiving the Word that God has planted in us, let us demonstrate absolute humility. Let us also believe that the Word of God has the power to save our souls and allow it to direct our path.
Written by Kow Essuman, Esq.
The author is a barrister; qualified to practise law in England and Wales, New York and Ghana; a Global Shaper (Accra Hub) of the World Economic Forum and a firm believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Use Your “Brain” To Follow God’s Instructions
Posted on May 7, 2016 Leave a Comment
We often rely on our own wisdom or knowledge in doing things or taking decisions. This may be because of an experience we have been through or because of the knowledge we have acquired from education. Our wisdom or knowledge may however prevent us from listening to God and following His instructions. Some may argue that God gave us a “brain” and He expects us to use it and not just turn to Him in everything. Yes, it is true that God has given everyone a “brain” and yes, it is true that He expects us to use it. However, He expects us to use our “brain” in following His instructions and not doing what we want.
I have to explain the difference between knowledge and wisdom at this stage because it will become relevant in the story of Noah below. Wisdom is knowing how and when to use the knowledge you have. In Derek Prince’s book, God’s Word Heals, he sets out the difference between knowledge and wisdom. At page 126-127, he states:
The difference between knowledge and wisdom is important. Knowledge is informative; wisdom is directive. Ecclesiastes 10:10 says, ‘Wisdom is profitable to direct’ (KJV). Knowledge gives you information; wisdom tells you what to do with it.
In the story of Noah below, you will notice that Noah had information, through the wisdom of sending the dove out, that the water had receded, that the ground was dry and that he could leave the ark, but he did not act on that knowledge and wisdom but waited for God’s instructions.
We get wisdom from God when we ask Him for it. In James 1:5 (NKJV), the Bible tells us to ask God for wisdom if we lack it and He will give it to us freely. It states
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
This shows that God is ever ready and ever willing to give wisdom to those who ask for it. But even after we have received the wisdom we ask God for, He expects us to follow His instructions.
Wisdom is very important to God’s children, to be able to apply the knowledge He has given to us. But it is also important for us to get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV) states
Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
So we are admonished to get wisdom and in all that, we should get understanding. Does that mean when we get understanding, we are free to act on our own? No, we still have to follow God’s instructions even with our understanding.
In Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV), the Bible states
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
These verses confirm that God has given us our “own understanding” but He expects us not to lean on it but to acknowledge Him so that He can direct our paths. When God directs your path, there is no failure.
These verses and the reason why we are expected to follow God’s instructions even though He has given us wisdom and understanding, come to life in the story of Noah below. It is important that I set out Genesis 8:1-19 (NKJV) in its entirety for you to appreciate the lesson to be learned.
Genesis 8:1-19 (NKJV):
Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters subsided. The fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were also stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained. And the waters receded continually from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters decreased. Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat. And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month. In the tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen. So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters had dried up from the earth. He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground. But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself. And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove out from the ark. Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth. So he waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove, which did not return again to him anymore. And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and indeed the surface of the ground was dry. And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dried. Then God spoke to Noah, saying, “Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you. Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you: birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth.” So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives with him. Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark.
This story shows the extent of Noah’s knowledge, wisdom and understanding of the instructions God had given him. Even with all the wisdom and understanding he had, he waited until the Lord instructed him to leave the ark before he left the ark.
Let’s examine Noah’s wisdom.
Firstly, after 40 days, he opened the window of the ark and sent out a raven, which flew to and fro until the waters dried up. We are not told that the raven returned to the ark. Noah also sent a dove to see if the waters had receded from the face of the ground. Unlike the raven, we are told that the dove came back because she did not find a resting place for her feet. This informed Noah that it was not ready to get out of the ark. So he continued to wait.
Secondly, after 7 days, he sent the dove out of the ark again and this time, she returned in the evening with a freshly plucked olive leaf in her mouth. The Bible tells us that by this act, “Noah knew that the waters had receded from the earth.” But he still did not leave the ark; he continued to wait. In other words, Noah had knowledge that there was no water on the earth but he applied his wisdom and remained in the ark for God to instruct him that it was alright to leave.
Thirdly, he waited for another 7 days and sent the dove out of the ark again. This time, the dove did not return. By this time, it was obvious that Noah and his family and all the animals could leave the ark but they did not. They continued to wait.
Fourthly, the Bible tells us that in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from the earth and that Noah removed the covering of the ark and looked, and indeed the surface of the ground was dry. Noah and his family and all the animals could leave the ark to the dry ground but they remained in the ark. They continued to wait even though it was obvious that it was time to leave the ark.
Fifthly, in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dried. Noah still remained in the ark. It is important to note that all throughout this period, there was no rebellion from Noah’s family about leaving the ark since the earth was dried up. They were all waiting for Noah’s move just as Noah was waiting for God’s instruction. Without Noah’s move, they did not move and without God’s instruction, Noah would not move.
And then we are told that God spoke to Noah and instructed him to take everyone and everything out of the ark. It was only after God’s instruction to Noah that he went out of the ark with his family and all the animals that were in the ark.
As Christians therefore, it is important that we get wisdom to be able to apply the knowledge that we have. We must also get understanding but must not lean on it. Instead, we must acknowledge that even with wisdom and understanding, God is Lord and what He says is what we ought to do. Our wisdom and understanding should never be an excuse to think that we do not need God to direct our paths. Our only guarantee of success in all we do, is listening to God and following His way using the wisdom and understanding that He has given to us.
Glory be to God in the Highest! God bless you!
Written by Kow Essuman, Esq.
The author is a barrister; qualified to practise law in England and Wales, New York and Ghana; a Global Shaper (Accra Hub) of the World Economic Forum and a firm believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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