THE IMPACT OF PRAYER (STANDING IN THE GAP). VOL. 1.

Faith Derby and Kenneth the newly wedded couple in town, Mr. and Mrs. Dennison. They were devoted Christians in their church and they served in different spheres of ministries, the wife was a Bible study coordinator while the husband was a Sunday school teacher for the children, a very prominent assignment. Before they got married they both loved the Lord so much and his service. The wife teaches the teenage students, she teaches with great proficiency giving her full interest to the primary assignment the Lord has laid into her hands. Though in her tight schedule at home she still create time to teach the students the Word of God (undiluted), she was indeed a great passionate vibrant sister and a blessing to her generation as she was seen as a person who has given out herself for the kingdom business. The man too that later became her husband was a great asset to God's kingdom though later lost it. He based his priority on children's upbringing. He never neglect this scripture which says,'Train up a child in the way he should go: and while he's old he will not depart from it.(Prov.22:6;). I know people would attack me saying that training of a child is left for the parents, the answer is 'NO' but in some way, 'YES' ~ I'll explain. Parents has an upper hand in the training of their children cos this is their main primary assignment but there's a vital role the church, its teachers and leaders especially pastors play in the life of that child. I love children so much. In the place where am based, the children as young as they were so dull. I always coach them in reading the Bible bit by bit, word for word till they grasps it and it enters them and because this is my gift and calling I never joke with it at all. To my greatest surprise within a couple of months those dull ones became bright and sharp, most importantly I never forgets this,' Praying for them to get saved, this isn't a mere work but divinely that even requires destiny matters. My co-mates came one day and was castigating me saying, 'Oga, these aren't your children just teach them anything and get out of that place. My reply to them was, NO!, if eventually their destiny gets truncated, the Lord would hold me responsible and accountable. Hmm!after a while his commitment to the Lord began to go down the drain. Kenneth's passionate desire to see that all these children grow and are being brought up in the ways of the Lord lasted for 18 years. In the church where he attends God revealed to him a character filled sister, so pretty and gorgeous, her name is CHIDINMA ~ the same Bible study coordinator. He decided to embark on a 21-days fasting and prayer to be sure it's God leading him, he quickly remembered that Bible verse that says, 'Test all spirit to know and be sure which is from God and one can achieve this through the spirit of discernment.( 1Jn.4:1;),'Yes even the devil can speak to a man and he/she will think it's God- you need a higher level of intimacy with the Holy spirit to discern between these two voice ~ the voice of God and that of the devil. About this strenuous exercise, I got series of confirmation from God about the issue on ground, so I decided to approach the lady. Kenneth told the lady everything and later proposed to her but she didn't gave out her answer to him immediately. She said, I'm not yet giving you a 'YES' on this matter, as you know I need go confirm from the Lord first so as not to make any rash decision that will mar my destiny for life, you know, 'Marriage is for a lifetime it's till death do us part and am not encouraging or supporting DIVORCE in my marriage. Sir, it's not that am not praying for whom to marry but I want a confirmation, pls just give me some more time I'll get back to you. Ok ma, I leave you to go pray about it and when you're done don't hesitate to give me your answers. I'll, the lady said. After about a couple of three months she came up with a yes answer to the man, but during her prayer time, God revealed to her that this her husband - to - be would at soonest develop serious issues with her but in all and through these, I(the Lord) will help you overcome. I gave him to you for a purpose. No matter how enormously the challenges you'll be faced with are always have this in mind that am an ever - present help in times of need, you need not to be discouraged but stand in the gap for him in prayer. The lady cried out her heart to God but He kept consoling her until she came up with this conclusion, 'LORD SINCE YOU'VE PROPOSED THIS JUICY PACKAGE FOR ME WHO ARE MY TO REJECT IT, I ACCEPT IT WITH GREAT JOY AND GLADNESS. The Lord then said, 'My daughter, go and be rest assured that I'll help you. During their courtship period, they passed through it with a life of PURITY. They understood this verse which says, 'Marriage is honourable and the bed kept undefiled.(Heb.13:4a;). They never engaged their mind with s*x and other gibberish but on PRAYER. Few months later, their marriage finally became a reality. On the day of the wedding, the man invited a lot of people both his old friends with bad lifestyles and character in his school days, they were all present to witness this blissful moment, i.e to cheer his day. The families of the bride and the groom were also present. The wedding went out successful and as the best in town. Kenneth's parents are Christians, born again but his relatives don't know God. After one year of marriage, the couples were still devoted to the Lord's work but the wife has not yet gotten her first conception yet they were still happy and joyful. This new couple never took prayer for granted as they perceived it was the source of their strength. His relatives became very jealous of the man's success in marriage, they visit him a lot and whenever they come they notice this kind of peace in their heart, unexplainable, they just can't explain it's intensity ~ unspeakable joy around. They hated them for no just cause and thought of ways to destroy this blissful marriage. They went to their shrine and mixed some concoction, began chanting incantations on it. They said, since we've tried and couldn't get to the source of their powers and victory pursuit, this is what we shall do, 'As we stir this cup now that's how strife and hatred would be stirred up in this family and due to this the heart of the wife would turn away from her husband and she would seek divorce and as well this would also turn their heart away from their god totally; after speaking on the concoction, they poured inside a fire close by the shrine and it was leaked up. They uttered in agreement saying, 'As this fire has leaked up this concoction, let their marriage begin to crumble, go down gradually until it dies completely. The relatives of this man are ardent idol worshippers, very wicked and heartless people. To prove how wicked they are, a pregnant woman heavy and in hard labour, her child died of miscarriage the following day, no complications just like that why because she don't know God, hmmm!!! ~ ALTAR. The effects of this evil meeting didn't took place until the second year of their marriage, but in all these, God took upper hand cos He proposed the two of them as one. To be continued...