Day 4: Session 4 – Bishop FEB Idahosa

Jan 25, 2016

Bishop Faith Emmanuel Benson Idahosa or Bishop Feb as he’s fondly called brought a strong message of faith in keeping with this year’s theme of GRACE FOR ACCELERATION. It was a two part message, with the first one simply titled FAITH TO ACCELERATE THROUGH STORMS.

What is faith? He asked.

We can all of course quote Hebrews 11:1 but it must go from just being words to being realities in our lives. This kind of faith we speak of is only activated when we GO THROUGH STORMS. Faith is not theory. He gave an example of the Nigerian university graduate who only studies theory for 4 years and in reality does not know anything about what he studied. That should not be our faith.

There are two very powerful quotes by his late father, Archbishop Benson Idahosa that has guided him in his practice and teaching of faith.

Quote 1:

“We are given power to do something about something that is not moving the way we want it to be.” Therefore faith is the power to speak and change our lives’ circumstances to align with the Word of GOD. We must understand that faith must become real in our lives. It must translate into real life experiences. That is the life that God has called us to. He reminded us that the winds will come on top to check who is covering us; on the sides to check who is surrounding us and on the ground to check our foundation.

Mark 4: 35-40

And often times we wonder where Jesus is in these storms. We ask questions like, “carest thou not that we die”? In these true life tests of faith, God’s Word must be believed to accelerate us through them.

Quote 2:

“You either believe and live OR doubt and die.” Two extremes, one God! Therefore we must choose to believe and speak and trust God to take us through any storm.

There are questions that are pertinent with these faith storms. These include;

  1. Why would God allow us go through these fiery faith storms? We ask our whys…after all Jesus, Elijah, Jonah all asked why in scriptures. It is worthy to note that God will never answer our whys with answers from our past, He will always answer with the future and point us there. Forgetting the past and forging ahead into the future. God takes tragic things as a tool to bring Him glory through us as we speak and stand firm on what He has said.
  2. Is this God really good? If He is, why did this storm come? God is so good and His mercies are new every morning. Claim God’s mercies afresh every morning!
  3. When storms come, people will ask, “are you sure an enemy didn’t plan and execute this”? Romans 8:31 answers that for us. Nothing can separate us from God’s love eternally.
  4. We also ask or have others ask us what sin we committed to bring these storms. Romans 2:4 show us that it is God’s goodness that brings us to repentance and not his wrath or our fear of Him.

 

God will not share His glory with any man. He brings us out of these storms by His mighty outstretched arm, ONLY. This is so that we can only boast in the Lord our salvation. Storms are hard, believe that, but the good news is that God is right there resting and if you trust Him, lay down in rest too. He knows where we are going.

Believe and live!