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It was towards the end of the week and the Lord kept churning a scriptural verse in my heart. Several times I'd opened that verse of scripture and read and it'd bless me. The verse was "Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you" (Acts 13:41).

However, yesterday being Saturday the 16th of November '24, I woke up very early and that verse of scripture stood right in front of my face again. So I reached out my hands and grabbed my phone and typed those words on Google, and the search engine gave me three references to that text.

Isaiah 29:14
[14]Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

Habakkuk 1:5
[5]Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.

Acts 13:41
[41]Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you.


After I'd Studied those three references the Lord gave me understanding of what the prophets were prophesying about. Nevertheless, around 12 PM that same Saturday I stepped out to recharge electricity at a boot some 15/20 km from my place of residence. Usually when I get to the bus stop I will take a 10 minutes walk down to the boot, but on this day, I decided to take a ride to the boot. And the moment I arrived at the reception, I gave the attendant the card to recharge while I make the transfer: but only to discover my mobile phone network was down. So I sat down on a chair so I can wait for the network to come up for me to make the transfer. However, while I was still sitting, the attendant brought out a pamphlet of a certain church and started reading out a testimony to a middle aged man. And after she was done reading, she began laughing with the man mocking and making jest of the testimony and calling it a fake. And the man hinted that those church people have been brain-washed.

Upon hearing that, I was grieved in the spirit and that verse of scripture appeared in front of my face again; and right in my spirit I heard this voice, "This is the reason I have churned that scriptural verse in your heart."
Now this is the essence of the testimony which that attendant read to that man. 'The testifiers was attacked by robbers. And as they were about to cart away with his property, the testifier began calling on the name of the God of his Bishop, which I will not name here, saying, "Oh God of Bishop so and so show yourself!' And after he'd done that several times the robbers fled.

So I decided to join the conversation between that attendant and the man. First I asked both of them the question, "Are you a Christian?" The girl answered in the affirmative while the man said he's a Muslim. So I decided to school the attendant who claimed to be a Christian but have never read her Bible, the man being a Muslim I saved for later.

I then inquired of that attendant the question, "have you ever prayed in this manner "Oh God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob!"" She said she has never prayed like that in her life. I looked at her in the face and said you are a big lair. You see, she said so so she would not contradict her ignorance of the Bible.

I then said to her, "so you think that that testimony is a flat-out lie because the testifier shouted "Oh God of Bishop so and so show your self," and those robbers fled?" I said to her, have you not read in your Bible that it is written, "for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." I went a step further to ask both of them that, why is it that we make fun of the miraculous today, but when we see it in the Bible we accept it. Does it mean that God is no longer in the business of doing miracles these days?


You see, in the Bible God, speaking with Moses, referred to himself as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob

Exodus 3:15
[15]And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.


Now in that text did you notice the phrase, "The LORD God of your fathers... ?" You see, the word father here refers to the one from whom you draw your spiritual or physical source and whom have authority over you. In this context, the testifier is calling on the God of his Bishop because his Bishop, as a father, has spiritual oversight over him (Acts 20:28), and he has faith in the God whom the Bishop serves (Hebrews 6:12).
Also, Elisha when he asked Elijah for a double portion of the anointing, declared, "My father, my father! The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!"(2 Kings 2:12). Elisha called Elijah his spiritual father because Elijah has spiritual oversight over him. But we know Elisha was the son of Shaphat. Yet, when Elisha needed a miracle, he did not call on any other God but the God of his father Elijah

Kings 2:14
[14]And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

So if Elisha, when he needed a miracle, called on the God of his father Elijah, is it wrong for the testifier to call on the God of his Bishop?

Now the point I want to make clear here is that making jest of testimonies that defy logic should not be traced to a good Biblical Christian because God had already declared by the mouth of three witnesses that "I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you." Put somewhat differently, God will perform signs and wonders that when people hear of it, they will not believe it. I argued with that attendant saying, "If you have not read the Bible before and you were told that the shadow of a man walking by the street healed a sick man or woman, would you believe it?" Yet in the book of the Acts of the apostles such event was recorded.

Acts 5:15
[15]Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

After I'd expounded the word of God to both the attendant who claimed to be a Christian and the middle aged man who is a Muslim, both of them saw the light and retracted their words, and gave glory to God.


Jesus is Lord!

Do not hoard knowledge, propagate it!

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Yes

Righthussle:
Yes

Did you say yes because my article convinced you; or did you say yes because the word of God approves of it?

Closest thing I’ve seen to this in the New Testament is the seven sons of Scheva casting out demons in the name “Jesus whom Paul preaches” - Acts 19

It worked for a while until…well, you know how the rest of the story played out.

OkCornel:
Closest thing I’ve seen to this in the New Testament is the seven sons of Scheva casting out demons in the name “Jesus whom Paul preaches” - Acts 19

It worked for a while until…well, you know how the rest of the story played out.

It did not work for those folks because, first, they were not born again as such, do not have the right to call out a demon (John 1:12); second, they were not mentored by Paul, and as such, Paul have no spiritual oversight, as a father, over them (Acts 20:28).

But it worked for Elisha because Elijah was his spiritual father (2 Kings 2:14)
It worked for that testifier in that article because the Bishop has spiritual oversight, as a father, over him (Acts 20:28).

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What/Who do you think your pastor(s) worship, that you'd have to call on their GOD/god instead of the One True Living GOD you ought to have known?

Kayberg:
What/Who do you think your pastor(s) worship, that you'd have to call on their GOD/god instead of the One True Living GOD you ought to have known?

How did Elisha know the God Elijah worshipped?

And, you, how did you know the God your own father worshipped?

Furnish me those answers

The one to call upon is your own God!

ocnovakmichael:
How did Elisha know the God Elijah worshipped?

And, you, how did you know the God your own father worshipped?

Furnish me those answers

Elisha saw first hand mighty hand of GOD.
I have very deep personal experiences.
I won't call what was worshiped by anyone I don't know my God.

Kayberg:
Elisha saw first hand mighty hand of GOD.
I have very deep personal experiences.
I won't call what was worshiped by anyone I don't know my God.

You answer is void of logic. If Elisha saw first hand the mighty hand of God, after Elijah was taken up to heaven, when he got to the river why didn't he call on the name of God, rather he chose to cry " Where is the God of Elijah."

My question to you is: was Elisha wrong to cry "where is the God of E Elijah?" If he's not wrong, then that testifier is not wrong too. It's that simple!

MaxInDHouse:
The one to call upon is your own God!

Of course, the one to call is your own God. However, it's not wrong to call upon the God of your spiritual father because the Bible teaches we should be followers of them who through faith obtain the promise. So it's not wrong to call upon the God of your spiritual father because Elisha did.

Hebrews 6:12
[12]That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

ocnovakmichael:
Of course, the one to call is your own God. However, it's not wrong to call upon the God of your spiritual father because the Bible teaches we should be followers of them who through faith obtain the promise. So it's not wrong to call upon the God of your spiritual father because Elisha did.
Hebrews 6:12
[12]That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

NO!

The God Elisha was referring to isn't the God of Elijah per say the context matters!

Elijah and Elisha were both Samaritans this is the ten tribes that broke away from the nation of Israel after the death of King Solomon and from that time this ten tribes began worshiping Canaanite gods that's why the Jews believe the Samaritans are worshipers of unknown demons {John 4:22} when Elijah started speaking against the idolatry going on in Samaria his own people hated him because they feel he supposed to be on their side with the supernatural power he possessed but he keep telling them that whoever wants to worship the God of Jacob must go to Jerusalem and do the rightful in the temple.

So Elisha was telling his own people that the God Elijah served which is the one worshiped inside the temple in Jerusalem is the only true God that's why he was referring to the God of Elijah because all other Samaritans left the true God and those who refused to worship Baal were hiding!

ocnovakmichael:
You answer is void of logic. If Elisha saw first hand the mighty hand of God, after Elijah was taken up to heaven, when he got to the river why didn't he call on the name of God, rather he chose to cry " Where is the God of Elijah."

My question to you is: was Elisha wrong to cry "where is the God of E Elijah?" If he's not wrong, then that testifier is not wrong too. It's that simple!

This is the problem with people like you.
Elijah was a true prophet of GOD, with full manifestation of GOD'S hands and presence. Elisha saw these, and not just him alone but all the people of Israel, including the idolaters among them.
They all can testify to it.

But today, things have changed. Too many false prophets and men of men, and men of Satan claiming to be men of God.

Therefore, I will never blindly follow anyone who comes with the name tag, 'Man of God' because he calls himself so.
I have seen one too many men and prophets of Satan, to call on the god they worship.

I am not the type you can deceive that easily when it comes to such and such things.

You think all these modern day prophets are all of GOD?
I'm sorry for you.
That's how some of you invoke the Devils they serve into your life and home thinking you're calling on GOD.

Kayberg:
But today, things have changed. Too many false prophets and men of men, and men of Satan claiming to be men of God.

Jesus corrected that notion in the first century when he told his listeners not to call anyone their father in the Lord {Matthew 23:8-10} that is why you can't hear of Christians calling on the God of Peter or Paul in the New Testament Paul rebuked those doing so:

For some from the house of Chloʹe have informed me regarding you, my brothers, that there are dissensions among you. What I mean is this, that each one of you says: “I belong to Paul,” “But I to A·polʹlos,” “But I to Ceʹphas,” “But I to Christ.”  Is the Christ divided? Paul was not executed on the stake for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crisʹpus and Gaʹius. 1 Corinthians 12:11-14

Once you claim to be a Christian you're to be called a worshiper of the God of Jesus:

Jesus said to her: “Stop clinging to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God." John 20:17

The God Jesus worshiped is my own God!

MaxInDHouse:
Jesus corrected that notion in the first century when he told his listeners not to call anyone their father in the Lord {Matthew 23:8-10} that is why you can't hear of Christians calling on the God of Peter or Paul in the New Testament Paul rebuked those doing so:

For some from the house of Chloʹe have informed me regarding you, my brothers, that there are dissensions among you. What I mean is this, that each one of you says: “I belong to Paul,” “But I to A·polʹlos,” “But I to Ceʹphas,” “But I to Christ.”  Is the Christ divided? Paul was not executed on the stake for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crisʹpus and Gaʹius. 1 Corinthians 12:11-14

Once you claim to be a Christian you're to be called a worshiper of the God of Jesus:

Jesus said to her: “Stop clinging to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God." John 20:17

The God Jesus worshiped is my own God!

This is not about calling one father. This is following the faith of your spiritual father who is strong in faith unto God.

ocnovakmichael:
This is not about calling one father. This is following the faith of your spiritual father who is strong in faith unto God.

It's the same thing when Jesus said that we are not to call anyone "father" on earth he wasn't talking about our biological father nah it's the spiritual father that he was condemning!

MaxInDHouse:
Jesus corrected that notion in the first century when he told his listeners not to call anyone their father in the Lord {Matthew 23:8-10} that is why you can't hear of Christians calling on the God of Peter or Paul in the New Testament Paul rebuked those doing so:

For some from the house of Chloʹe have informed me regarding you, my brothers, that there are dissensions among you. What I mean is this, that each one of you says: “I belong to Paul,” “But I to A·polʹlos,” “But I to Ceʹphas,” “But I to Christ.”  Is the Christ divided? Paul was not executed on the stake for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crisʹpus and Gaʹius. 1 Corinthians 12:11-14

Once you claim to be a Christian you're to be called a worshiper of the God of Jesus:

Jesus said to her: “Stop clinging to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God." John 20:17

The God Jesus worshiped is my own God!

Do you even understand my comment before quoting me?
Even the god that Charles Taze Russell worships is not the GOD of heaven.

Kayberg:
Do you even understand my comment before quoting me?
Even the god that Charles Taze Russell worships is not the GOD of heaven.

I'm talking about those who serve the Almighty God, whose faith follow.

Kayberg:
Do you even understand my comment before quoting me? Even the god that Charles Taze Russell worships is not the GOD of heaven.

So who told you i'm worshiping the God of Taze Russell?

MaxInDHouse:
So who told you i'm worshiping the God of Taze Russell?

The same Taze Russell who Jesus bought watchtower from?

MaxInDHouse:
It's the same thing when Jesus said that we are not to call anyone "father" on earth he wasn't talking about our biological father nah it's the spiritual father that he was condemning!

The lies and manipulations of people on Nairaland won't stop. Even your publications are testament to your lies and manipulations

a beloved child: Paul and Timothy had developed an especially warm and close bond. In fact, Paul had become a spiritual father to Timothy. (1Co 4:17; Php 2:22) In his first letter to Timothy, Paul addressed him as “a genuine child” and “my child.” (1Ti 1:2, 18) When Paul wrote his second letter to Timothy, the two had served together for at least 14 years. Now Paul sensed that his death was imminent, so he may have regarded this letter as his final written message to Timothy. (2Ti 4:6- Warmly reassuring the young man of his affection, Paul calls Timothy “a beloved child.”​—See study notes on 1Ti 1:2, 18.

MaxInDHouse:
NO!

The God Elisha was referring to isn't the God of Elijah per say the context matters!

Elijah and Elisha were both Samaritans this is the ten tribes that broke away from the nation of Israel after the death of King Solomon and from that time this ten tribes began worshiping Canaanite gods that's why the Jews believe the Samaritans are worshipers of unknown demons {John 4:22} when Elijah started speaking against the idolatry going on in Samaria his own people hated him because they feel he supposed to be on their side with the supernatural power he possessed but he keep telling them that whoever wants to worship the God of Jacob must go to Jerusalem and do the rightful in the temple.

So Elisha was telling his own people that the God Elijah served which is the one worshiped inside the temple in Jerusalem is the only true God that's why he was referring to the God of Elijah because all other Samaritans left the true God and those who refused to worship Baal were hiding!

What a load contradictions to counter a point he knows is valid. Lies and manipulations won't end

The God Elisha was referring to isn't the God of Elijah per say the context matters

Show the context and stop going round in circles to prove your dead point.

Friend, the Bible both teaches and encourages having a spiritual father (Hebrews 6:12). And in the day of trouble, it won't be an injustice to call on the name of the God of your spiritual father as Elisha did when he cried, "where is the God of Elijah". Even the sorcerers knew this, in casting out demons, when they say, "We adjure you in the name of Jesus whom Paul serve." The only problem they had was that Paul was not their spiritual father and they were not born again children of God, and as such have not the right/power to cast out that demon (John 1:12)

ocnovakmichael:
Friend, the Bible both teaches and encourages having a spiritual father (Hebrews 6:12). And in the day of trouble, it won't be an injustice to call on the name of the God of your spiritual father as Elisha did when he cried, "where is the God of Elijah". Even the sorcerers knew this, in casting out demons, when they say, "We adjure you in the name of Jesus whom Paul serve." The only problem they had was that Paul was not their spiritual father and they were not born again children of God, and as such have not the right/power to cast out that demon (John 1:12)

Jesus has spoken:

But you, do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your Teacher, and all of you are brothers. Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One. Neither be called leaders, for your Leader is one, the Christ. Matthew 23:8-10

Of course we do have people who taught us the way of holiness just as God commanded Israelite parents to teach their children {Deuteronomy 6:6-7} and we surely need to see such ones as our parents but then calling on the same God they serve differs from calling God as if He belongs to them, we are all worshipers of the same God provided we strive to live by the rules of the same God {1Corinthians 1:10} that's what causes confusion today as someone will say "the God of Kumuyi" another will say "the God of Adeboye" yet another will say "the God of Oyedepo" whereas these people aren't teaching the same thing which makes those following them to continue contradicting themselves.
Well i only call on the God of Jesus because that is the one and only perfect worshiper of my God who never for once committed any blunder so with him i feel like a conqueror all the time!

MaxInDHouse:
So who told you i'm worshiping the God of Taze Russell?

He already made you believe his self-established religion.
So, you worship his god.

MaxInDHouse:
Jesus has spoken:

But you, do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your Teacher, and all of you are brothers. Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One. Neither be called leaders, for your Leader is one, the Christ. Matthew 23:8-10

Of course we do have people who taught us the way of holiness just as God commanded Israelite parents to teach their children {Deuteronomy 6:6-7} and we surely need to see such ones as our parents but then calling on the same God they serve differs from calling God as if He belongs to them, we are all worshipers of the same God provided we strive to live by the rules of the same God {1Corinthians 1:10} that's what causes confusion today as someone will say "the God of Kumuyi" another will say "the God of Adeboye" yet another will say "the God of Oyedepo" whereas these people aren't teaching the same thing which makes those following them to continue contradicting themselves.
Well i only call on the God of Jesus because that is the one and only perfect worshiper of my God who never for once committed any blunder so with him i feel like a conqueror all the time!

You're not far from the truth brother. However, the brother in that article is not wrong for saying, "God of Bishop... show yourself."

Often we have prayed and sung "God of Elijah send down fire," haven't we?

Kayberg:
He already made you believe his self-established religion. So, you worship his god.

Charles Taze Russell establish which religion?

ocnovakmichael:
You're not far from the truth brother. However, the brother in that article is not wrong for saying, "God of Bishop... show yourself."
Often we have prayed and sung "God of Elijah send down fire," haven't we?

Churches of Christendom use to sing that a lot of times not Christians!

MaxInDHouse:
Churches of Christendom use to sing that a lot of times not Christians!

Hmmm. I think I underestimated your logic. So Christendom is different from the collection of Christians?