Mighty Help In The Name of the Lord

Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth ~ Psalms 124:8.

Introduction:

Truth be told, times do come in life when we don’t know what to do. Dark and ominous times when evil reports are rampant, when deadly darts are flying and the sparrows are falling, and yet human helpers are sleepy. Something must be done, and urgently too, but we don’t know what to do.The present situation in Nigeria is a classic example of the kind of time described above. Many things are grossly wrong, and  something needs be done, but the poignant question is, “what”?Such sordid experiences of life occasionally perch upon individuals, on families and even on organizations and, when they do, those who should bring help appear incapacitated and the dark frightening silence seems to last forever. Men and brethren, that is the midnight experience of life!Meanwhile, there is nothing new under the sun. From the history of God’s way, both ancient and modern, the last joker in such situations is staying hooked to the Lord, recognizing Him as the Most High God and praising Him in the light of that truth. Then, the wrath of man shall truly praise God (Psalm 76:10).Midnight experiences are undesirable interludes in the music of life. Even then, with the Most High God in the factors, any believer can still tell a beautiful testimony in the name of the Lord. In fact, lest we forget: midnight is not only the middle of the night, it is also the beginning of a new day! No adverse wind, present or future, will require more than the revelation of the Most High God to attract God’s help at moments of dire need.Whenever the Most High God is revealed, recognized and adored, an incredible power is made available to positively alter the storyline. At the rendition of the Name, “Most High God”, help becomes accessible, the enemies drop their charges and long-term stationed demons bow.No doubt, God’s power surpasses all other powers, and nothing compares with Him. That is why He is called the Most High God and, for the same reason, He cannot be questioned or resisted by the vicissitudes of life. Truly, absolute power belongs to the Most High God (Psalm 62:11).

The Most High God, (Hebrew, El-Elyon), is the God over all gods (Exodus 18:11). He is the Founder and Possessor of heaven and earth, the Maker of all things. He alone has both power and right to dispose anything in heaven and on earth in our favour at will. He is the True and Living God who is greater than any need, and bigger than any oppressor. Our enemies tremble when they know He’s the One on whom we depend. However, you must recognize Him for Who He is — the One that reigns and rules in the kingdoms of men — before He overrules situations in your favour (Daniel 4:17, 25, 32; 5:21).Abraham was like a common struggler before he had an encounter with the Most High God. God called him and made him some terrific, life-changing covenant promises, and he began to take some steps to access them, yet he remained a wanderer for some time (Genesis 12:2-3).However, the promises were validated when he caught the revelation of the Name, Most High God, owned it and was blessed by the authority of the same through Melchizedek, the King of Salem (Genesis 14:14-20).Paul and Silas also, at a point in their line of duty, ran into trouble with the then authority and were put in prison, but instead of grumbling or bemoaning their fate, they chose to praise God (Acts 16:25)They didn’t sing in order to psyche themselves into an emotional high, or to just enjoy the thrills of the song. No, not at all. Rather, they used the songs to recognize the almightiness of God, and He in turn propelled to them mighty help of a seismic dimension.Please carefully note here that the praises and the exploits that resulted from there were established on the premise of the Name, the Most High God (Acts 16:17). In their midnight experiences, Paul and Silas sang praises to the Supreme King in God, and that was what moved Him to act dramatically in their situation. Faith pleases God, but praise moves Him to act in our favour.

In Luke 8:26-36, we read the story of the Gadarenes madman and his incredible encounter with Jesus Christ. The affliction of chronic madness lingered for a long time because of the oppressive legion of demons and nothing, including physical chains, had worked to bring any reprieve. However, at the appearance of Jesus Christ, the madman and the demons that had bowed to nothing before ran towards Him, fell and bowed at His feet. Never doubt it, at the appearance of the Most High God, demons beg and bow.It is pertinent, at this juncture, to ask “what did these demons see for which they bowed to Jesus Christ”? Without equivocation, what they saw in Jesus Christ was the express image of the Most High God (Luke 8:28). Jesus Christ is the Incarnate Most High God, and whenever we see Him for who He is, clear testimonies of positive changes occur in our lives (Hebrews 1:1-4). He is Yehoshua, Jehovah-Our-Deliverer! There’s mighty help available whenever we pray in the Name of Jesus Christ!!

Demons always attack as a team or a legion, and this is how they sustain their grounds to build their bulwarks against destinies of men. Legions of demons continue to exercise a rule over those who dwell in their region, but the believers’ secure location is in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.In the story referenced above, we can see clearly that the legions were comfortable for as long as the madman was in torment. Tormentors are always happy at the unhappiness of the tormented. We must therefore race in passionate prayers against destiny tormentors, and readily pay the entire price necessary to secure the help of God.The condition of David at a time was very traumatic, but he opted to call upon the Lord and he enjoyed a dramatic testimony eventually (Psalm 18:7-48). Desperate situations always call for desperate solutions; to prevail, you must be desperate in your calls for divine assistance.It is worthy of note also to read that the legion ‘prayed’ to Jesus to order them in a particular manner. So, demons do pray? It must be very obscene and embarrassing that some believers don’t.Friends, as you cry for divine help, I pray God will overrule Himself, if need be, to ensure that the wishes of demons against your life remain ineffective, in Jesus Name (2 Kings 20:1-6). Amen. 

Happy Sunday!

Bishop Taiwo Akinola is the Presiding Bishop of Rhema Christian Church & Towers, Sango Ota, Ogun State.