In his book “The prayer factor” Sammy Tippit gave an account of how God visited a local church that was gradually turning lifeless. He was invited by the local pastor–Pastor Morris–to attend a prayer session with the youth. Only a few attended the first meeting. Sammy Tippit told the local pastor “I believe we ought to cancel the evangelistic meeting, there is no interest. We will be wasting my time, your time and the church’s time”. Pastor Morris smiled and said, “ I’ve been praying. It will be o.k.”
Something dramatic happened afterwards. The spirit of confession and repentance fell on some elders of the church and the spirit of awakening swept through the church and its environs. The small group grew to a large congregation to the extent that the place of meeting has to be changed on several occasions. Certainly, Pastor Morris knew where to find a lasting victory for the church. To him, victory and success of a programme (religious of course) does not come from our magnificent schemes, expert publicity or financial holdings, but victory comes from the Lord!
Those generation of achievers for Christ must have stumbled over some wonderful biblical pronouncements from faithful apostles like Brother Paul. In his encouragement to Brother Timothy as a revealed in 2 Timothy 1:12 saying “Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day”. No wonder the place of sorrow and worry like in the prison was turned to a valley of praise, trusting in Christ the Lord to deliver him.
He was indeed convinced that victory in ministry, journey, sorrow and pain only comes from the Lord. People who know their God as the Victor do not equate victory with the worldly standard of success. They see victory as obedience-total submission-to the will of God. In the valleys of the shadow of death, in sickness, in sorrow, in joy and in happiness, they inquire of the Lord in everything that comes their way and in prayer and praise, they make their request known unto God. Has God ceased to be victor in all what concerns the union, the church and individual today?
The Lord said unto Jeremiah “I the Lord do not change”. Truly, the Lord does not change. As He was with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the furnace, so is He with us in the seemingly insurmountable situation that we find ourselves.
If victory is indeed from the Lord and we are deeply convinced about it, let us trust God always and reply as the trio replied the king “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter, if we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the GOD we serve is able to save us from it and He will rescue us from your hand, O King”. Daniel 3:16-17 (NIV).
Is there lack of interest in our meetings? Are the gatherings characterised by poor attendance and giving is becoming a burden? The remedy lies not in publicity but in earnest prayer in total obedience and submission to God’s way and plan of reversing the situation. The world can only be amazed about our success and victory, it is born of God. May science and technology not erode our absolute trust in God now and in the years to come (AMEN).

BY: STEPHEN LARTEY TEKPETEY
UNITY HALL, KNUST.