GOD ALMIGHTY EXISTS FOREVER

GOD ALMIGHTY EXISTS FOREVER
Some people ignorantly think in their hearts that there is no God. He is very much in existence, and in control of the whole universe. His creation and creatures declare His existence. The orderliness of the universe speaks volume about the LORD. All species of creatures, even ants, know there is God. He doesn’t want to frighten people, or cause them to live in acute fear of Him, by manifesting Himself in spectacular ways frequently. He is slow to anger, but mighty in power.

“ARTIFICIAL BRIDGE” FROM GOD
God Almighty provided emergency bridge for a village, when the existing one was destroyed by heavy downpour and issuing flood.
All along, the LORD has been manifesting Himself more in the lives of many of the villagers, since the white missionaries established a station there. Of course, God moves wherever His word is being preached and taught.

As tahey embraced the gospel, God has been delivering them from many mishaps and disasters. Epidemic diseases were virtually gone. The nefarious activities of juju priests, and native doctors, diabolism in the land, were scaling down. Almighty was giving them a lease of life.

There was one particular family in that community: a godly family. The head of the household was made a catechist in the missionary church. He, together with his wife and children, were worshipping the true Almighty God. They used to pray regularly together. And the LORD made a hedge over the household. The wife was very caring to the family and others. Jehovah wrought the miracle of emergency bridge through her.

On that faithful market day, she prepared her wares to go and trade in a neighbouring community. Little did she know it would rain heavily later in the day. She first went to her garden and gathered vegetables, and a bunch of plantain. She as well prepared a gallon of palm oil, among other items, to sell in the market. It was a market day in the neighbouring village. Before leaving, she instructed her first son to take of his other brethren, while she was away. He obliged.

Then, the woman set off for the historic journey to the market; a distance of about twelve kilometers. She trekked the distance as usual, with her wares positioned on her head. She successfully crossed the bridge linking the two communities. She arrived in the market; later sold off her goods, and bought food items like foo foo, tubers of yams, and garri. Then, she started to trek back home. The woman was carrying heavy load in the basket.

Evangelist Joseph U. Afurobi

Soon, it began to rain. It rained cat and dog that day. There was flood everywhere. Unfortunately, the local wooden bridge collapsed. It couldn’t withstand the devastation of the torrential flood. It was jointly constructed by inhabitants of the two affected villages. Of course, the debris of the wooden bridge was carried away by the menacing flood.

Meanwhile, the first son and others were waiting patiently for the mother to return home with goodies. She didn’t. Her delay in coming back was unusual; obviously due to the downpour. The young man became very much worried about her mother’s whereabouts. And it was getting dark. He resolved to go and search for her. He defied the rain and ventured out.

After over one hour of trekking and ‘torment’ from the rain, he came very close to the bridge. And behold it was destroyed and cleared away by flood! He stood by and began to wonder if her lovely mother would ever come across. He couldn’t image the scenario, where her mum would come to the other side, and won’t be able to come to him due to the uprooted bridge.

Nevertheless, he was having a sense of victory over the issue. He knew there is a Supreme Being, who is able to do all things. As he was pondering over the issue in his heart; behold the mother was coming from the other side, soaked in the rain, carrying load. He was excited to see his mother, despite the predicament. She came close to the bank of the river and stood. The two were separated by the deep, flooded river.

They exchanged greetings and pleasantries. She asked him about his other brethren and father? He told her they were all well. “Only that they are all concerned about your safe return home,” he said. She boldly told the son not to border about her. She strongly believed the great God they served would make a way for her to come home.

As she was speaking, the rain subsided and great wind began to blow. It was a strong wind. Then, something spectacular happened. The power of God through the wind, fell down one of the palm trees beside the river bank. It fell across to the other side, and served as a bridge.

Mother and son were astonished and delighted about what God did. He went across and carried the mother’s load. Then, he helped her to pass through the fallen palm tree. The young man carried the basket load, while the mother followed him home. When they reached home, it was celebration galore!

GOD OF ALL CREATURES
All species of creatures are aware that God is a Supreme Being; creator of the whole world. Human beings, animals, reptiles, birds, ant, name them, are all aware of God’s existence. They look unto Him for their daily sustenance. Lions for instance, cry unto Him for food.

He communicates with them, passes instructions to them. Remember, He instructed the ravens (birds), to feed Prophet Elijah with fruits during famine in the land of Israel. “And it shall be, that you shall drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook”—1Kings 17:4 & 6.

As well, He commanded the Lions not to devour Daniel, when he was thrown into their den. He commanded the big fish to vomit out Jonah it swallowed three days earlier. “Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. And the LORD spoke unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land”—Jonah 1:17 & 2:10. Even ants know there is God.

Why then should a normal human being disregard the reality of God, or say outrightly in his heart, there is no God? Anybody who believes there is no God is a fool. Even animals that   know there is God, are more sensible that him.

He is ignorant of his main purpose of being brought into this world. It is not just to eat, drink, have fun, and make money. His limited years on earth is meant for him to mend his ways, and reconcile with his creator; for all have sinned and come short of the glory. For God once said, “my spirit will not always strive with man. I will give him 120 years to mend his ways.” This will enable him to inherit everlasting life, which God has guaranteed all those who repent and come to Him.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge……. If he can have a sober reflection of his life from childhood, he will discover certain incidence which occurred. God delivered him from them. He may attribute them to mere luck, but they are God’s interventions in his life. Even a sudden turn around of events in his favour is divine. The LORD visits every human being in one way or the other, from infancy, whether he knows him or not. God knows His goodness and tolerance would eventually lead many to repentance.

Jehovah also uses prayers and supplications of others, including parents, to show mercy and safeguard individuals. The latter would wrongly think they are fortunate or smart. The LORD has power and control over circumstances in your life.

You need to delve into history to be aware of great things He did, which no man could do. He used flood to wipe out inhabitants of the earth; with exception of Noah and his family members. Jehovah caused heavy rain to fall for forty days and forty nights continuously. He also rained hails of fire on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, and killed the people there. God destroyed them for their iniquities and disregard for Him.

There are basically two categories of persons before God. They are vessels unto honour, and vessels unto dishonour. If somebody honours and obeys God in his life, he is a vessel unto honour worthy of eternal life. On the other hand, if he decides to live without God in the world, do whatever he likes, he is a vessel unto dishonour. God can deal with him in a way that can serve as a deterrent to other ungodly persons.

He said, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let
him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

GOD’S CREATION SPEAKS VOLUME OF HIM
God creation speaks a lot about Him. Scientists, historians, and other intellectuals, attest to the existence of a Almighty God, who created the whole universe. The orderliness of the universe is a marvel to generality of inhabitants of the earth.

We have hundreds of billions of galaxies in the entire universe, apart from the relatively tiny solar system. Solar system comprises of the: sun, moon, stars, and planets. The rest of the universe is billions of time bigger than the solar system. With over 500 million stars in the sky; each is at least thirteen times bigger than the earth, we are told. Then one will begin to wonder how great Almighty God is.

You cannot imagine Jehovah as a mere physical being confined to a place. He is a spirit. If He were to be seen physically, His size would have been very frightening and unimaginable; probably extending to many of the galaxies. Obviously, the earth wouldn’t contain Him. God doesn’t want to be terrifying people at such. He is a self-existing God; having no beginning or ending. It is a mystery beyond human comprehension.

STRANGE! END AT HAND.

Despite His omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence, He doesn’t want to force or compel people to worship and reverence Him. Moreover, he doesn’t want people to live in acute fear of Him. He is slow to anger, but mighty in power, and won’t allow the guilty to go unpunished.

Therefore, He has given all creatures the free will to live: to choose between good and evil. However, they have to be mindful of the consequences and repercussions of doing evil. Being a compassionate God, He hardly strikes people as soon as they commit atrocities. The LORD usually deal with people on accumulated iniquities, if they refuse to change, for He is a consuming fire.

Many people think that if at all God exists; He hardly interferes on human affairs. It is not true. He is very much involved and in control of activities in the world. He shows Himself strong to those whose hearts are perfect toward Him. His secrets are with those who fear and reverence Him. Draw nearer to God, and He will draw nearer to you. His non-physical appearance, makes little or no difference to those who worship Him in spirit and truth. He manifests Himself to the righteous.

Sometime ago, a well known Arch-Bishop of a church said, he personal doubts the existence of God at times. The truth is that the man never had personal encounter with the LORD. He took up the job of clergyman as a profession, rather than as a calling from God. Jehovah communicates directly with his faithful, just as in the time past. He is the same, and doesn’t change. The knowledge of every true believer about God, is not based only on what he hears and reads about the Him. But, also have encounter with Him, whether by direct communication, or by circumstances in his life.

Even the devils know there is God, and they tremble. Devils and Satan their leader were once angels of LORD Almighty. They rebelled (about one third of the angels), and were cast out of the presence of God. They are now devils who seek false worship from human beings, claiming ownership of territories, rivers, forests, land, etc. they are highly limited and restricted by the power of God, For instance, they cannot go beyond the solar system. They operate in the earth; and can project to some planets like Mars and Jupiter, where they hold witchcraft meetings with human victims. They don’t have capacity to visit other galaxies. Satan and his devils are highly restricted and limited.

God has given we believers authority over them, to cast them out. The LORD has lifted us up above principalities powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places…….. The Holy Spirit of God living inside the believer, is greater than the devils in the world.

They know their time of facing everlasting punishment from God is fast approaching. Like a drowning man, they are desperate to lure as many human beings as possible, into worshipping them and living in iniquities; so that they will suffer eternal damnation with them.

“Thus said the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glory glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD which
exercise loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, said the LORD”—Jeremiah 9: 23-24.

GOD’S PROVIDENCE FOR HUMANS
The LORD has ways of showing Himself to every human being, born into this world. It may be by of delivering the person from calamity, making provisions for him, or allowing him to rise from obscurity to limelight. Many people ignorantly attribute such God’s interventions in their lives to being just fortunate. But, later in their lives, when they come to worship and know God, they would realize his hand upon their lives from childhood.

The LORD assigns an angel to every newly born child. Children have guiding angels. God is in firm control of this world. He takes care of people, even when they have not known Him yet, with hope that one day, they will come to the knowledge of the truth about Him.

Once upon a time, a child was born unto a family. God had predestined him to be a vessel unto honour to the LORD. However, when the child was growing up, he allowed himself to be influenced and deceived by bad companions. Eventually, God saved and made use of him.

He was born into a godly family. The parents loved God. The child grew up and entered primary school. This child became wayward despite parental care and upbringing. He joined bad company. However, God had a purpose in his live, notwithstanding his criminal and other ungodly activities.

Later in life, he joined armed robbery gang and participated in a number of successful robbery operations; as well as other evil acts. At a stage, some of his gang members were arrested. The Police surrendered him and shot him several times at close range. The bullets couldn’t kill him. His colleagues thought he was using charms. They didn’t know God was saving his life for a divine purpose. Himself thought he was just lucky. Of course, he was not godly person then. He was in robbery for many years before God almighty finally arrested him.

There was a time he was caught along with other criminals, while in operation, by vigilante men. They were tied and their clothes pulled off. The security men brought tyres, and just when they were about to burn the thieves, anti-robbery Police Squad came and rescued them. They were first taken to Police Station.

At about 2.30 early in the morning, an angel of God suddenly appeared to him in the cell. Everywhere was locked. He told him to stand up. He led him through the passage to the counter, then to the gate. The Police men were there; even the ones that just returned from operations were outside the station, carrying their guns. They didn’t say anything. The angel led him out just like Peter in the Acts of the Apostles, to the gate where a cyclist appeared from nowhere, and gave him a ride.

After few minutes, the robber came to his senses. It dawned on him that God had miraculously saved him again. Later Police came to take them, and realized he had escaped. They instructed the Policemen on duty, to produce him because he couldn’t escape without their knowledge. The rest robbers were taken to prison custody, where they spent about five years before being released; when the relatives had spent a lot on their behalf.

One day, a lady gave me a tract to read. The following day, she invited me to their church. When I went there on Sunday, I listened to the sermon. God really touched me that day. I repented and cancelled all my planned robberies.

I am now an instrument in the hands of Almighty God, to bring souls to Him: to turn them from darkness into the marvelous light. The LORD has led me to build rehabilitation and skill acquisition center for people, including miscreants and drug addicts. I now realize god’s purpose for saving me from instant deaths over the years. I didn’t know Him then. But he knew me, and planned it that I should come out of the mess to serve Him and humanity.

GOD’S MANIFESTATIONS AND POWER
God Almighty has been manifesting His power and presence in the world down through the ages. A lot of events attest to that. The great flood in the time of Noah, and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah by five, were confirmed by history.

Nowadays, series of supernatural occurrences, are meant for us to know there is more beyond our physical world. The creator of the whole universe has allowed us a number of years to live in this temporary world. It is for us to seek and worship Him, so that we will inherit eternal life. He hasn’t abandoned the earth as some may think. Rather, he wants to know those who will willingly serve Him.

A lot of events abound which underscores the supernatural nature of God. For instance, a double rainbow was over the top of the ruined twin towers of the World Trade Center, on the eve of the 14th anniversary of the bombing. It appeared on the 10th of September, 2015. It was a glorious sight. Rainbow is a sign of God’s presence anywhere it occurs. Scientists and other intellectuals are yet to unravel the mystery of rainbow. No human being can cause it to show in any place except the Almighty.

The LORD uses the rainbow as a physical token of the covenant He made with man, not to destroy the earth again with flood. The manifestation of rainbow is a reminder that God exists.

On September 28th 2015, the name “Jesus,” was mysteriously written in the sky by an unseen hand in Florida, USA. The name JESUS was ‘floating’ in the sky for a long time. We are here on this temporary earth for a mission. Prepare, for the end of this world is at hand. The incidence of ‘flying angels’ were as well recorded on 7th of January, 2015. They were seen in camera flying in the sky over Brazil. All these strange events are to remind us, that there is something outside the natural.  We have also heard and seen at one time or the other, cloud formations of picture of Jesus. God can do anything. All these are meant to remind us that something much more spectacular is about to happen. The period of tribulation will witness unprecedented spectacular events.

Earthquakes, thunder and lightening will become common features. The greatest of them all is the sign of the coming of the messenger of God in the sky. Thunder is one of the ways God displays His power and wrath. He has used thunder and lightening, to judge some individuals for their atrocities; to strike them down or kill them outrightly.

Recently, a marijuana (Indian hemp) smoker, used to make mockery of people of God, and the holy scriptures- the bible. One day, he tore out some leaves of the bible, and used them to wrap his marijuana. People were watching him. As he was smoking it, thunder came suddenly and blasted the left side of his face. It tore away that side of his mouth, nose, eye and ear. That is to say one side of his face was ‘butchered’ or scrapped by thunder!

Of course, it disfigured his face, and made him look very awful and frightening; a big eye saw. Many hemp smokers, who saw his butchered face, stopped smoking. They went and got copies of the bible to read. The incidence led many people to repentance. God judged him. Till today, that side of the face remained wide open. Awful sight!

The LORD Almighty has discovered that people get very scared when he manifest Himself or power to people in a spectacular way. That is mainly why he limits such occurrences. When God spoke to people of Israel openly from mount Sinai, they trembled greatly. He spoke from the thick cloud, and there were thunders and lightening.

“And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke
thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly”—Exodus 19:18. Later the people urged Moses their leader to be speaking to them directly. Let him hear from God and talk to them so that they would not die. They were terrified hearing directly from the LORD  with all the manifestations. God granted their request. That is why such manifestations are rare, but, time is fast approaching, when he will displayed His awesome power and wrath in this world to those who have hardened their hearts.

” And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

“And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and
from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”—Revelation 6:14-17.