Would you want to be made whole? Do you want to be set free from Satan’s bondage? Do you desire to return back to God? Whatever be the response of these questions, if positive, then there is a way to it. There are steps we cannot overlook or boycott if we genuinely desire to be completely liberated from the enemy’s bondage and then return back to God.
Apostle Arome testified of a barren woman who came to him for prayers in order to be conceived of a child. But as they had started to pray, the Spirit of God opened the eyes of men to a balloon pierced with broomsticks; and then the Lord said; Abortion! Abortion!
An evangelist who messaged us on a certain Sunday testified of a man who invited her for prayers. As she was preparing to meet the man, God stopped her from praying for Him. God revealed that the man had been engaged in idolatry, seeking help from traditional altars. Therefore God forbade the Evangelist.
Someone approached me a certain time desiring to be set free from unknown spiritual occurrences. This fellow does not desire the ways of God, but only desire the providence that was promised the Children of the kingdom. I prayed but God did not answer a word.
I was also approached by a certain woman for prayers concerning an issue. I did pray, but God did not answer. In her own case, I knew why God did not answer. Disobedience is as the sin of witchcraft says the Prophet, Samuel. Shall we ignore God’s dire needs and then bring ours to Him for solution? Brethren it does not work this way. For He said to the Jews, “I spoke to you again and again, but you did not listen; I called you, but you did not answer.“
Therefore, I have learnt that God keeps to His word of giving honour to those who honour Him. I have found out that there are principles and pre-requisite for help to come from above. I Ogba Victor, have seen that spirituality is governed by legalities placed by God. And although grace is a master to legalities, yet it is God who has set this legalities and has proven time after time that if we truly desire his deliverance and power we must produce certain fruits.
God is not weak to deliver, and there is no bondage too strong for Him. His hands are not too short to save, and there is no depth of darkness for which His light cannot shine through and quench it; but our sins have separated us from His power says the Lord.
But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59:2
I do not buy the sentiment of many when they say God will answer prayers. My bible says that the prayers or sacrifices of the wicked is an abomination to God (Proverbs 15:8).
What God needs from the sinner and wicked is repentance and to serve God in fear and sincerity of heart; and then the light of His countenance shall shine on us. And then we shall ask of Him that our joy may be full.
If He shall honour us in our dishonour of him, we will pride in our evil ways. Men will believe he has approved the wickedness of our hearts.
We must not look light of the scripture that shows how God allowed his people to be defeated in battle. How He refused them his help and how He stopped Prophets from praying, saying to them: “I will not answer, I will not hear thee. For this people have done evil in my sight“. We cannot overlook that we serve the same God of Israel who is Holy and righteous.
If you return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines. 1 Samuel 7:3
In the Bible passage above, Israel was in same scenario of a people needing deliverance from their enemies but who needed to do the needful for salvation to come.
The Philistines had come up against Israel as they are used to. This time the Israelites where without the ark of covenant because it had been captured. Then they approached Samuel to solicit to God for help. Samuel was a Spiritual man. He knew that deliverance from God had a prerequisite. He was spiritually matured, probably more matured that many of us who would delve into prayers despite the spiritual condition of our flock.
Preachers must learn from Samuel. I’ve seen those who care little about the spiritual condition of the sheep of God. They would try to force God’s hands on the wicked. Nonetheless, the scripture says that the wicked shall not know peace. We must ensure that people have not placed themselves far away from God’s reach. And if we are fully aware of this, we must follow the pre-requisite for deliverance and finding help from God.
Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee. Jeremiah 7:16
It is deceit when the wicked and sinner tries to pray to God for deliverance and help but himself does not care to serve and honour God. Hoping that somehow God would answer and then he shall go back to wickedness. Many at times, those prayers don’t come with answer.
And men of God who try to deliver someone who is not ready and willing to quit wickedness most likely will be hitting a stone against a wall.
I remember praying someone out of a dark place. That same day I had a vision of this very person, she was afraid to come out. Hence it is not my prayer alone that will work. There needs to be a full cooperation of the other party for the prayer to be effective.
Prophet Samuel knew that it was futile trying to get God to help those who are not willing to come under his Power. He then told them plainly- if you want deliverance, if you want help against your adversaries, if you want to overcome, you must:
1. Return back to your God with all your heart.
One must to come to a place of repentance for what has led him away from God, and he must be sorry and show penitence. He has to re-consecrate back to God. The Heart must be involved here because God searches the heart. A broken heart and contrite spirit God will not overlook (Psalm 51:17).
One must not think to himself to deceive the Pastor and Church with lip confession while harboring great evil in his heart. For if I regard iniquity in my heart God will not answer – Psalm 66:18
2. Put away all foreign God’s which we possess
This instruction calls for self-cleansing. Surely we know why we have been separated from God. We must not assume to ourselves that somehow, God can bend his law to us.
I have seen a transgender who claimed to have surrendered to Christ, but never wanted to quite ‘transgending‘.
I’ve also read about a lesbian who repented and wanted to continue in her sin, desiring that God would bend to her. But it didn’t take long for her to figure out that the change was not coming forth, and that God was not yet in her ship. Then she started to seek God, asking for deliverance from the spirit of lesbianism.
It was through this prayer of cleansing that God delivered her. She had dreamt one night that a man pulled her out of a hole. Christ liberated her because she was willing to let go the stuff which had separated she and her heavenly Father. She prayed earnestly with brokenness for about a month until Help came from above.
There can never be full restoration and deliverance until we let go the hatred in our hearts. We must set free those we have held captive. We must forgive others and made peace with those we have wronged. We must confess our sins and do our best to return what we have taken in wickedness. We must purge ourselves of all that offends.
3. Prepare the Heart and Serve God only
After getting rid of all that offends in character, works, possession, and passion, the next step is to decide for sincere service and never to turn back.
It is not always a rosy path to follow God whether as a returnee or newly birth to Christ Jesus. The past may come hunting, the devil may try to give us one last run to see if we truly have divorced him. Times of opposition may come, men will throw punches.
Preparing the heart with the view that nothing will take us back is the third step. The assurance of God is not that the righteous will not pass through tribulations, His assurance is that we will overcome if we exercise patience and trust. Therefore the man that prepares his heart must decide to serve at all cost, and to serve Him alone.
Papering the heart involves prayers and studying God’s word. God’s word is like a mirror to our past, our present and our future. Consulting spiritual mentors and interacting with faithful Christians can help one cross this line.
In conclusion, ‘serving God only’ implies a continuous exercise. There are certain breakthroughs that may not happen immediately. There are certain bridges that does not close instantly. Example include depression and some other troubles of the spirit man.
As soon as we have come to God, He begins the formation stage. It takes fellowshipping with God, studying of God’s word, praying earnestly, listening to God’s preachers and not drawing back from God to fully accomplish them. We must be steadfast, the healing is in His hands. He will be faithful to them whose hearts are perfect towards Him.
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
May God grant us wisdom and light in Jesus’ name; Amen!