Like People Like Priest

So Mr and Mrs Emmanuel have had ill lucks in recent times and have done all they could to salvage their dwindling economy, things were not just picking up. They’ve also been trying to conceive after they’ve had their first child 5 years ago but it’s not yet working out, they were both getting frustrated until a friend promised to help them out; there is this new pastor in town who does deliverance for people and they get delivered, they have to be at his church and schedule for their deliverance service. After series of ‘prayers’, their source of calamity was identified; it’s Felicia, their 5 year old daughter. She would be subjected to cleansing and deliverance. Cleansing includes being bathed at night by the prayer warriors or the senior pastor himself and deliverance involves 3 days off food and water, beating the evil spirit out of her with new brooms her mother would buy.

(Just thinking, if I were that poor girl, how would it be relating with my parents afterward? Children hardly forget stuffs)

And there is this man I know too, he runs a spiritual home in my dad’s neighbourhood (yes, it’s a spiritual home, and he RUNS it, I can’t call him a pastor, sorry). I call him Baba woli, Baba Woli has 3 wives that we know, I’m sure there are some older or at least one woman who would have married him in his prime and left. These women came for spiritual consultation and help, and gradually Baba ‘helped’ them to become his wives, I’m sure their lives have not remained the same because of the ‘help’ they received. This man has big customers, we only see their SUV’s we never saw their faces, you would only know their identity if you knew they are the car owners.

Still thinking, if one of those women was my sister or brother’s wife, how would I have handled it? You really don’t want to know o

Just some days ago, my sis and I were talking about the supernatural powers of God; God’s power is real and men are still conveyors and it is God’s desire that men show forth His power to deliver many that are oppressed. Remember ‘How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with Him’ and how Jesus himself said ‘ …the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father’.  We will do greater works if we have faith in him.

I understand the craving for the supernatural, our craving for miracles; even men did in the days of Jesus. But since the days of Moses, there have been magicians and sorcerers and there will always be. Most times the greedy get scammed; promises of very high jaw-dropping returns on low investments should make a business man think twice, so also it applies to the supernatural. There is a place of knowing your God for yourself first, then dwelling in His shadow and enjoying his bountiful supplies and protection.

Like people, like priests… I saw this phrase in Hosea and it got me thinking… if you know what God can do for you and will do for you, you won’t have to subject yourself to another man bathing you, or promises of cash if you bring your friend to church or having to subject your innocent kid to abuse. Deliverances don’t happen because of harms inflicted on your body, or how many times you slept at the church or with the ‘pastor’, deliverance comes when you know the truth; you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.

Like people, like priests….His sheep hear his voice and the voice of another they will not hear, God’s people hear His voice and don’t get carried away. Even a dog knows his Master. Only ignorant people consult ignorant priests. God’s desire is that we have shepherds after his own heart who will lead with knowledge and understanding. 

Know anyone who is pressed for miracles? Share God’s word with the person and encourage him to read the bible for himself before consulting another spiritual home. ‘It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, the honour of kings to search it out’. There is no short cut even with God. Selah!