Teaching & Counseling
Brethren and Sisters, it is also indeed a great pleasure to have this auspicious opportunity to pen down this epistle or testimony especially in these trying times or moments in a world full of chaos, mayhem and unique levels of insecurity especially on matters related to health, sanitation, housing, global hunger, education or literacy levels, economy amongsts others.
The good news however, is that there is hope, and great hope indeed for every individual or child of God who so desires in his or her own heart to not only attract, but to also maintain great and long-lasting security against these negative forces that have long laddened mankind with huge weights as to consistently threaten or even undermine their very own dignity both in private and public.

Brethren and Sisters, when we talk about hope, it is uniquely expedient to ponder and feast in what The Holy Bible teaches or aplifies even the most, that is relevant to our situations or needs at the time this word is invoked.
Unto the Romans, the Apostle Paul wrote: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope; And HOPE maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:1 – 5. KJV).
It is a fact that almost all if not all who have efforted to even hear or read this testimony, are brought here with at least a hope to achieve something or acquire something. I want to focus on the chronological events that lead towards the fruition of hope as is written in the verses that we have just read in the book of Romans.
The Apostle Paul teaches that Hope is preceeded by experience, and experience is preceeded by patience, which entails that one has to endure some pain or distress of some sort; and patience is preceeded by tribulation which also entails that one has to deal with some crisis or calamity or even tragedies in their life.
Therefore if one says that they have hope or expect to increase their hope in something or someone, they must have first gone through some tribulation of some sort, at least once in the line of the hope that they are talking or thinking about.
Brethren and Sisters, don’t we therefore see the value of tribulations in our lives even though they may be hard to stomach or not as palatable as any other condition in life? Don’t we therefore see at least one reason why we should give thanks to God in everything as is chronicled in 1 Thessalonians 5:18?
It is due to tribulation that all hope is given birth to, and a single hope has the capacity to inspire greater levels of hope even unto overcoming crisis or tribulations not only for oneself, but also for others in our societies and even abroad.
It is also due to tribulation, that opportuities for character building or moulding of one’s character present themselves. It is true that if one would take a sincere look or consideration of the reason or reasons as to why they are in a dire situation today, they cannot help to point out, that at least an aspect of character had led to the development or condonding of a bad habit or set of bad habits that needed to be changed.
The bad habit that needs to be changed could be as simple as procrastination which is famed to be one of the greatest thief of time, and often blamed for missed opportunities especially to they who are talented or even uniquely gifted in the society.
In one of his famous books on personal improvement or self-motivation, Napoleon Hill made it clear that, “Behind every fall, there is always an equal or greater opportunity to rise.”
It is my testimony that an equal opportunity to rise behind every fall exists even without the consideration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in one’s life; However, a greater opportunity to rise exists and is very much possible when Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the central focus of one’s life and remains their King, their Redeemer, their all.
In the same book, Napoleon Hill also wrote that, “Patience, Persistence and Perspiration, form an unbeatable combination.” It is my testimony that although one can be patient enough, be persistent in their efforts and even perspire a lot in order to gain or achieve something or a condition, it in itself, is not a guarantee of success at all times unless one is always on the side of Jesus Christ of Nazareth in his or her mission.
Is it not written that, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”? (Mathew 11:12) KJV. Therefore if one would be patient, persistent and perspire in the wrong kingdom, then they may be uniquely frustrated and suffer massive losses, shame and embarrasment as Goliath and the Phillistines did when they mocked The Almighty God during the days of King David.
“Goliaths” actually fall down and die in the lives of true Christians. It is true that characters actually change or get moulded over time, and characters actually develop more when people learnt from past mistakes. People become better members of the society and adopt new ways of life that are worth emulating.
Many Christians if not all, change or become better Christians when they emulate the examples set by those who actually changed themselves and have evidence of it.
As they develop themselves or mature up in Christianity, they come to realize and accept the fact that: True Christianity is a way of life, a tradition, a lifestyle and trully, a culture in the making; whose norms are centered around the ten commandments of God Almighty expressed by sincere and selfless love for God Himself as well as our fellow men, human beings or neighbors.
This is the true essense of Christianity and if one lives in this style and endures to the end, then they have a promise of attaining eternal life in an abode or home in heaven where pain and suffering does not exist anymore or at all; And, only happiness, peace and joy are the order of the day and effectively eternal experience.
King David of the bible, the father of King Solomon, also testifies in the book of Psalms, that The Lord actually chastisizes his children when they transgress as he did in many occasions in his life. What is important to note even more here, especially if one is struggling to reconcile with God in the justification of some of their suffering, is that chastisization is for the ultimate benefit of whoever is being chastisized or corrected.
In Psalms 94:12 – 14 (KJV), we read, “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teaches him out of thy law; That thou may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.”
I have no doublt at all that you are definately going to find pragmatic or practical solutions to your trials and tribulations in as much as you stay true to your faith in Jesus Christ of Nazareth as you go through this testimony of mine.
In his own trials and tribulaions in life, King David found it wise to record many of his experiences in which we find in the Bible; And, in the same Book of Psalms, he testifies of God Almighty and writes, “For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favor is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalms 30:5).
It is also important to mention that if The Holy Spirit has not that much meaning or purpose in one’s life, then they will find it hard to grapple with the truths contained in here because these truths and experiences are not only acquired by the tutelage, strength and power of The Holy Spirit, but by also the inspiration given by Him who Jesus Christ of Nazareth gave us as the most trusted teacher in our lifetime.
Jesus Christ of Nazareth Himself, told His disciples that, “Howbeit when He, The Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: For He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall he speak: and He will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13). KJV.
On the same Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ of Nazareth also taught that, “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:17). KJV.