As you get older, you will need to review many things in your life. I see many young people active in churches and denominations, and I’m encouraged by that. But for those of us who have seen transitions in life, there are key lessons I must emphasize. First, live by faith. The Bible says “the just shall live by his faith.” Not collective faith. Not borrowed faith. Your own faith. But faith does not cancel reality. You must face reality and create your future by your daily actions, decisions, and choices. In that sense, you become a prophet to your own life. Second, live to stay healthy. What you eat, what you drink, your exercise, your sleep, and your rest matter. Live healthy instead of expecting divine healing later. I have seen many Christians—general overseers, pastors, sincere believers—ruin their health through ignorance and were not healed in old age. Prevention is better than cure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fajWvKlBp0s
Third, plan your life. Planning is not a lack of faith. You are not being faithless when you plan; you are behaving like God. You were created in His image and likeness. God plans. You should plan too. Fourth, pray for yourself. Yes, seek counsel. Listen to mentors. But whatever you hear, internalize it, personalize it, analyze it, and work on it to actualize it. Don’t run after prophets and men of God. That is immaturity, a weak personal relationship with the Holy Spirit, and a poor understanding of God’s Word.
I see many people today criticizing the rubbish that happened in the body of Christ. But many of them once ran after those same things—messages, men, denominations—without personal analysis. Better to have common sense now than regrets later.
Don’t run after miracles. The miraculous is not sustainable; it is probabilistic. Jesus didn’t heal everyone. That He multiplied bread once doesn’t mean you should expect bread to multiply every day. The miraculous is an intermittent intervention of divinity when humanity is helpless. When you are expected to use your brain, God will not suspend it for you. Learn to make bread instead of expecting multiplication. Establish a fish pond or earn money to buy fish instead of waiting for fish to multiply. Many prayers in Africa could be avoided with a little common sense. The church you attend does not prevent calamity. Christianity does not confer immunity. Even great men of God have lost children, spouses, members, and faced serious problems. Only God’s mercy sustains us.
Running after handkerchiefs, oil, water, keys, and mantles does not replace responsibility. Most of these things are produced by unbelievers. If you visit the families of many so-called men of God—including mine—you will see sickness, poverty, and challenges like anywhere else. Blessed is the one who trusts in God, not in man.
I got born again at 26—that was 40 years ago. Many of my pastors are gone. Others are alive but have health issues like anyone else. If your faith was in them, you would be confused. Thank God they pointed us to Jesus Christ—the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Yes, I have seen miracles. I have experienced healings. But I learned early to trust Jesus Christ, His Word, and the leading of the Holy Spirit, not personalities. I don’t run after prophecy or men. My mother warned me early: avoid places where reckless prophecy is practiced. Many things we tolerate in Africa would land people in court elsewhere.
We tolerate too much rubbish because thinking is hard work. Many people outsource their brains to men of God. I am an ordained clergyman, but if you don’t know the lies holding you bound, the truth cannot set you free.
