THE WAY OUT FOR THE STRANDED PERSON

In the last few years, I have developed a habit of not bothering about taking my faulty electronics/electrical appliances to technicians to fix because I believe I won't get it fixed properly or they may just end up causing more damage and I will spend money with no value received.

I therefore prefer to buy a new one as a replacement.

My spouse on the other hand believes we should try to fix these items with a technician when it develops a fault.

We both have a point. However, the truth is, if the cost of fixing a faulty appliance is almost the same as buying a new one, it is a wise decision to buy a new one.

By the special grace of God, I have a developed a love for His Word in the Holy Bible as well as an understanding of the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ stated in Mark 11:22-23 "Have faith in God [constantly].

23 Truly I tell you, whoever says to this mountain, Be lifted up and thrown into the sea! and does not doubt at all in his heart but believes that what he says will take place, it will be done for him."

This Bible verse is what everyone who is stranded needs, to get out of the most difficult and seemingly impossible situation.

God has given us an authority that we must constantly exercise to achieve whatever we desire.

For the Christian however, it is also pertinent to understand God's Word stated in 1 John 5:14-15 "And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him (God): [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to and hears us.

15 And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him."

Now, over time, by God's special grace I have made up my mind to believe all of God's Word and especially this truth of His Word in 1 John 5:14-15.

Armed with this confidence, I will briefly share a testimony. I have a 40 inch Sony LCD Television I bought in September 2011 that worked fine until as recent as last month October 2015 when it started showing excessive coloured pictures.

I took the TV remote control and severally tried to adjust it to its former state of great picture quality all to no avail. After a while, I let go trying.

Then last week, something happened. The LCD TV pictures started flickering, stopped showing pictures but still gave out only sounds.

I was surprised that a 4 year old TV could develop such fault when the last Box TV we replaced still worked fine even when I bought it in 2000.

After reading on the internet about similar faults TVs develop, I opened the back of the LCD TV and cleaned out the dust on it and tried to ensure every connection was tightened.

After coupling back the LCD TV, I put it on and it came on but still without showing pictures. The next morning, I put it on and it came on and started showing pictures briefly.

After a while, the pictures disappeared and it went back to sound without pictures again. I then left the TV and did not bother again.

My spouse then started asking me to take the TV to fix at the technician's place. I wanted to see the receipt to ascertain if the 3 year warranty was still running so I could take it for a replacement.

Behold, the warranty expired last year September 2014!

I was still not convinced I should take it for repairs more so the person I knew was always claiming to be too busy at the office to help fix things.

What I did next was to take the Word of God in the Bible to the passage where our Lord Jesus Christ cursed the fig tree and it withered and our Lord Jesus Christ encouraged His Apostles to have faith in God, declare what we want and believe and it shall come to pass - Mark 11:13-14, 20-23.

I then stood in front of the LCD TV, read these verses and declared IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST over the TV that it shall work again and come back to life.

I then prayed to God, thanking Him and reminding Him about my using the LCD TV to watch Gospel programmes and even to show it to other members of my Church when they come for home prayer meetings on Sunday evenings.

I then put on the TV after the declaration and prayer but it came on still without pictures.

I left it with the belief that God would answer by sending His angels overnight to fix the TV.

The next morning with my faith still in place I put on the TV and it still came on without pictures.

I left it and went to my work. My wife still kept asking me to take the TV for repairs and I then spoke to the person who said he was always busy and after a while, he reluctantly agreed that I should bring the TV.

The next day, I took it but the fellow disappointed me and went home without taking the TV.

I recalled my prayer and declaration IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, thanked God and believed the TV would still work and I took it back home and left it in the carton.

The next day, I took it out of the carton and placed it back in its position on the wall bracket.

After 2 days, I again spoke to another person who agreed that I should bring the TV to fix. When I got home, I decided to put it on again to check and if it came on without pictures, I would take it to the new technician.

Dear friend, as I put on the TV, behold, the picture came on and has done so for 2 straight days now!!

I spoke to the technician and gave him the testimony and he was glad for me.

Dear friend, this is another confirmation that EVERYTHING AND EVERY SITUATION responds to God's Word.

Recall our Lord Jesus Christ also spoke to the winds and waves during a storm and they obeyed Him and calmed down instantly - Matthew 8:23-27.

God answered my prayer because I prayed IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST according to His will - it is God's will that we should constantly expose ourselves to His Word (Matthew 4:4) for our own good and success (Joshua 1:8) and since I do that using the LCD TV, God had to respond to make the TV work again so I can continue to expose myself to His Word through Gospel programs on TV.

That is the beauty of asking in prayer according to God's will IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. He would always respond because He loves us so much and He will always watch out to ensure He keeps His Word that is spoken over any and every situation in life.

God said to the Prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 1:12 "Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it."

It is the same God (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8) and so He continues to watch over His Word to perform it.

This is why no one who says he or she is a Christian should ever be stranded. You should daily saturate your spirit, soul and body with God's Word in the Holy Bible and use it to deal with any and every situation in your life.

I have made up my mind to do so by God's grace and it is working for me not because I am holy or righteous ( I try to live according to God's Word by His grace) but because God cannot fail to perform His Word to prove Himself as a faithful and loving Father that He is.

Dear friend, as you read this, I therefore encourage you to come close and give your life to Jesus Christ and put your trust ABSOLUTELY in His Word in the Holy Bible and use it to overcome any situation that proves challenging in your life.

I know my God and I know He will respond for you to know that with Him as your Lord and Master, you have no worries whatsoever.

Jesus says His Words are spirit and they are life – John 6:63. His Words are active (full of power) and alive and sharper than any two edged sword (Hebrews 4:12).

Today and now is the day of decision, for tomorrow or later may be too late.

May the good Lord bless you as you heed His Holy Word today, act on it and share with others in the Mighty Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

Gabriel Ama.