Do Not Lose Hope- Fr Ejike Mbaka Reveals

There are people who are passing through some painful and ugly situations that have thrown them into a deep sense of despair and made them felt like giving up. There are some people who have been forsaken, abandoned and rejected. Some lack resources of any kind to pursue their goals and aspirations in life. Worse still, there are those who have physical impairment and often find themselves unable to cope with life’s’ challenges. There are also people who have been diagnosed with life threatening diseases who are over whelmed with the thought of dying. Some are jobless, financially handicapped, barren, oppressed, defeated, and some others are passing through indescribable traumatic experiences.’ In spite of all these, there is still hope’, Fr. Mbaka declared.

In this period of Easter which commemorates Jesus resurrection, Fr. Mbaka enjoins the adorers not to lose hope and confidence in God no matter what they are passing through, that even though Jesus was taken away and crucified on the cross, He is still alive to restore back every lost hope.

No matter what you are passing through, don’t lose hope. I said, no matter what you are passing through, don’t give up. No matter what you are passing through, keep on worshiping the Lord. Don’t allow any condition to stop you from worshiping God.  The condition will change, only if you don’t lose hope.

The bible says in Ezra 10: 1-2, ‘’while Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites-men, women and children gathered around him. They too wept bitterly”. This is the kind of action that touches God and changes ugly conditions -approaching Him in humility and in tears, not complaining, grumbling nor trying to give up in the face of crisis in your life. Then in verse 2, Shecaniah son of Jehiel, said to Ezra, “we have been unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women from the people around us. But in spite of this, there is still hope for Israel”.

Our disobedience to the commandment of God could be responsible for what we are passing through sometimes. In that case, I stand in the gap to ask God for His mercy and favour upon everybody here. The bible says in Romans 3:23,”all have sin and falling short of the Glory of God”. In any way we have sin against God, we pray for His mercy and pardon. Zechariah 3:9 says, “I will remove the sins of this land in a single day”. I am console by the word of God in Hebrew 8:12, “Your sins I will forgive your iniquities I will remember no more”. In Luke 23:34, Jesus cried on the cross, “Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing’’.

I therefore join Ezra to pray for  God’s mercy and pardon upon all that are listening to this message, so that God in His infinite mercy will change our ugly conditions that are in the verge of making you lose hope in Him.

Ugly conditions can make us to lose hope in God.  People can begin to mess up once they have lost hope. Hope is like a pillar in a building, such that when it is no longer there, the whole house can collapse.

 A State of hopelessness

There are many people who are losing hope because of the constant record of deaths in their families; many are losing hope because of incurable disease, chronic barrenness, wretchedness and joblessness; there are many who cannot afford one square meal a day in this country and they are losing hope; A man who promise to marry you have suddenly stop calling you and would not even pick your call. You are experiencing a lot of promise and fail in your life; in your business, instead of moving forward, your  are retrogressing. Your colleagues are doing far better than you; as a student, you have been writing exams and failing; many are mesmerized and betrayed by friends and they are as well losing hope; you have been praying for a particular intention for a long time and the answers are not forth coming. In spite of your prayers and devotion to God, things are not working out fine, and you have started losing hope. Also you might have tried all possible solutions but things are still the way they are.  In utter desperation and hopelessness, you muttered; ‘what else do I do’? All am asking you to do is, ‘don’t lose hope’. I join Ezra in Ezra10:26 to say,” in spite of all these, there is still hope”. All of your prayers are not in vain. In the spiritual, there is what we call prayer bank where prayers are being stored. Keep praying; before you know it, God will surprise you.

Put your trust in God

When man fails to help you, don’t lose hope, because God can help you.  Even if you have failed, you can rise up. Somebody who is considered a failure in life is he who fails and refuses to rise. Even if you are down, declare Job 22:29, that there is a lifting up for you. With your faith and hope in God, there will be a lifting up. And even if your friends can’t lift you up, God can do that for you. Remember what happen in Mathew 4, when Peter was drowning. In verse 30, he cried out to Jesus,’’ Lord, save me’’.  He believed that Jesus can save him. Jesus lifted his hands, and brought out Peter. Wherever you have falling; financially, spiritually, emotionally, vocationally, be lifted up. Even if your joy, hope, faith, wisdom, love has falling, there is a lifting up for you. Let the sick, barren women, young men and women in their difficult situation be lifted up. Remember that sorrow endure for the night but joy cometh in the morning. No condition is permanent. Believe that your ugly condition is for the glory of God. There will be light at the end of the tunnel. Just put your trust in God.

Put on a joyful attitude to attract your miracles

Even in your ugly situations, try to remain joyful. The Holy Spirit dwells in a joyful atmosphere. You can easily attract your miracles from God if you remain joyful.  Isaiah 12:13 says,’’ with joy we shall draw water from the well of salvation. Don’t lose hope; rather let’s go to draw water with our altitude of joy: water of miracles, water of righteousness, water of faith, child bearing and healing. God can do all things. He can turn what is black to white. Even if it’s impossible with man, it’s not impossible with God. No wonder in Luke 1:37, Angel Gabriel said, with God nothing is impossible. No wonder Jesus also said in Mathew. 7:20, for them that believe, nothing is impossible.

As in Exodus 2, the princess of Egypt is coming to take you to the palace like Moses. You can’t continue to be in that basket along the river. Any moment from now your helper will come. The fourth man in the book of Daniel 3, is coming to save you from the furnace of fire like Meshach, Shedrach and Abednego, Where bad situations have thrown you into. So you don’t lose hope.

Over your life in Mattew16:19, the gates of Hades will never prevail against you. You are like the Noah in the ark, no matter the flood in the city, your safety is assured, only if you don’t lose hope. Your life is in the hands of God.

Your safety is guaranteed only if you don’t lose hope

Are you like the Daniel in the den of lions in Dan 6:22? Don’t lose hope. The Angel of God is coming to shut down the lions that have come to destroy your life.  Since Daniel did not die in the den of lion, you too will not die; rather you are coming out unharmed.  God is at work in your life.

Are you also like the Joseph hated by his brothers?  Whether it is in the pit that they threw you, sold you into slavery, or you are already in the prison, don’t lose hope. God will liberate you; you will be what God says you will be. It is a matter of time, your destiny will shine.

You might also be like Jonah swallowed by the whale in Jonah 2:9-10, you don’t have to lose hope. God will command the whale to vomit you out. Your families, destinies, blessings, miracles and testimonies that are in the belly of the whale will soon be vomited out

Are you like Esther in Esther 6, who used to be a slave girl? Any moment from now, you will be crowned the queen. It is possible with God. By the power of divine favour, you will be promoted, and never be disappointed.

You can also be like the Mordecai that has been forgotten by the king after laboring and suffering for so many years. But at the appointed time, he was remembered and rewarded. The Lord who rewarded and promoted Mordecai, and  also exalted Esther will do the same miracle for you, only if  you don’t lose hope.

What about  Jabez in 1Chonicle 4 who was in  pain throughout his life before God came to his rescue. He prayed unto God who changed his ugly condition, and made him more honorable than his brothers. So there is hope for you. God will make you more honorable than your brothers. He will bless you, expand your coast, his hand will be in what you are doing, and He will deliver you from the hands of evil one.

What about the story of Job. He had faith in God despite all that he went through. In Job 42 :10, God restored the condition of Job, and his later days was far better than the former. If job did not lose hope, you should not lose hope in spite of what you are passing through. In Psalm 30:5 it says, ‘’even though sorrow endure for a night, joy cometh in the morning’’. A morning of joy is coming .This ugly night will not continue.  In Job 23:13, He is the almighty God, and He changeth not. He will not change in your case in Jesus name. Amen.

Are you like the Israel who wanted to go back to Egypt on getting to the red sea because of the obstacle before them? They lost hope, but Moses commanded them in 13:14, “stand you ground, fear not, for the Egyptians you see today, you shall see no more. God will fight for you.  Don’t surrender your battle; it is God’s own battle.

In the book of Judges 6:23, Gideon was afraid he would die. But God called him,’’ Gideon, you will not die.  God is saying that you will not die in this condition. Psalm. 118:17 say, “I shall not die, I shall live and recount the miracles of God in the land of the living’’. And Jesus says because I live, you also shall live. In Job 10:12, God will give you life and favour. In Psalm 133:3, he will give you blessing and life in Jesus name Amen. Don’t lose hope and don’t be afraid. The word of God is resuscitating you. In Hebrew 7: 16, He gives you the power of life that can’t be destroyed. Receive now the power of life, because in Psalm. 91:16, He will satisfy you with long life. And in John 10:10 it says,’’ even though the thief cometh to steal, kill and destroy , Jesus comet that you shall have life in abundance.

In Revelation 12, the woman was pursued by the dragon to a destructive point; the dragon almost ate the woman and the child. The woman was at the verge of given up when the Arch  Angel Michael came to save them.  Your guardian angel will  come to your rescue, don’t give up. The accuser of the brethren was thrown down, and victory was declared- that we have conquered by the blood of the lamb, and by the words of our testimony. You are going to conquer. There is still hope for your victory. No matter how gigantic and tall Goliath is going to appear, I assure you that the battle is of the Lord, and I tell you any moment from now, Goliath is going to be on the ground.  Are you the David that is going to be attacked by Goliath? There is hope for you only if you believe.

You have served your master very well, and it is now time for settlement, just like Nehemiah, but because  your settlement is not yet forth coming, is not enough to make you lose hope.  God himself can settle you.

Have you been trying to build a house, or finding it difficult to complete your house?  Don’t lose hope, because since you have laid the foundation, God will help you to finish it. In Zech 4:9, you will lay your hand on the foundation, and you will finish it.

The God of fertility is still alive

Are you barren like Abraham and Sarah and you felt that time is no longer by your side? Have faith in God. Have you also lost hope like Elizabeth and Zechariah, Isaac and Rebecca, Elkanah and Hannah? Don’t give up. Since God answered them, He will also answer you. God will give you your own children, only if you believe. Sarah almost lost hope, because in Genesis 17:18, Sarah laughed when the Angel told  her that she would give birth, and the angel asked her, ‘is there anything impossible with God’? Even if you have lost hope on yourself, don’t lose hope on God, because with God as in Matthew 19:20, nothing is impossible.  In Jeremiah 32:17, God can do all things. In 1 Samuel 1 and 2, you are going to have multiple children. I said go, may the God of Israel answer your prayers in Jesus name, Amen. God of fertility is still alive; He who blessed even Rehab with children will bless you. Was Rehab not the mother of Boaz? The same God of Rehab will bless you and your womb. Even Ruth almost lost hope when the first husband died, and was without a child, but the God of Israel blessed her with Obed and a good husband, Boaz. The same God is alive. He will bless you and wipe away your tears.

By His wounds we are healed.

We attack the spirit of sickness in your life that has threatened your hope in God. Jesus healed a woman with the spirit of infirmities in luke13. In mark 5, He healed a woman with hemorrhage, and so many uncountable healings that were recorded in the bible. He has not changed. In Hebrew 13:8, Christ Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever. He will heal you. There is still hope for your recovering. The powerful healing hand of God of Isaiah 11:11, Isaiah 14: 27, Psalm 98:1, Isaiah 16:14, Psalm 118:16, Act 4:30, is coming upon you, for your healing. Even if your own sickness has lasted for years, you can still be healed.  . Don’t give up, get frustrated, disenchanted or get mesmerized by your bad health condition. The man of 38years paralysis in John 5, was he not healed? Why are you giving up? Even the Lazarus who died after four days and was even smelling in John 11; 39, was he not lifted up; and called back to life?  He, who raised back the dead son of the woman of Nain in Luke 7, can still do it again.

The apostles of Jesus almost lost their hope when Jesus died. They never knew the third day was coming. At the earlier hour of the third day, there was a resurrection experience. Jesus rose from the dead. He is very much alive to restore our lost hope.

In the house of Jarius in Mark 5, Jesus met the family in a state of hopelessness because of the death of their daughter.  Jesus told the synagogue ruler,’ don’t be afraid, just believe’’. Even when He told them that the child is sleeping and not dead, they refused to believe him. But in their hopelessness, Jesus still brought back the girl to life. Hope was restored when Jesus came in and shouted “Talitha  cumi’. The dead girl came back to life. In your business, family,   prayer life, vocation, marriage, I say, ‘talitha cumi.’

When John was crying in Rev.5, that none was found worthy to open the scroll and unseal it. It was a sign of lost of hope. He lost confidence. But the Angel of God told him, ‘’John, weep no more, the lion of the tribe of Judah is able to open the scroll and unseal it. Jesus is able

.Are you sick, and have received a very bad medical report from the medical doctor which have made you so worried and downcast? Don’t lose hope. God can handle your situation. I claim the power of the wounds of Jesus of Isaiah 53:4, 1Peter2:24, and Mathew 8:17 for your healing.

In Exodus 16, when the Israelites came to the Desert of sin, they started grumbling against Moses and Aaron because they were hungry.   They almost lost faith in God and Moses. But God did something. God sent down manner from heaven to them, and they ate to their satisfaction.  Children of God, God can still perform wonders in our time. There is nothing impossible for Him.  In Exodus 17, they became thirsty. They lost hope in God again who had provided them food, and started complaining. Moses cried to God, and He instructed him to strike the rock. When he did, the rock yielded water.  The rock can still yield water for you, and the manner can fall down in your case. It’s possible.

In Mathew 14, Jesus performed the miracle of Multiplication. Five loaves and two fishes were able to feed more than five thousand people. All ate to their satisfaction.  The disciples almost gave up on feeding the congregation, when they told Him to send the people away, so that they could go to the nearest village to find something to eat.  So don’t lose hope probably because you think you don’t have enough resources to live on. Jesus is still there to multiply your little resources.

In mark 4: 37, a mighty wave broke on the sea, and the boat where Jesus was sleeping was about to capsize. The disciples were terrified and almost lost hope of survival.  They woke Him up and He commanded the wind to be still. Jesus is in that boat of your family, business, academic endeavor, vocation, and life. All you need to do is to wake Him up just as the disciples did through prayers and fasting, and not complaining and trying to give up.  He will come to your rescue when you call upon Him.

Even if you are like Peter in Luke 5 who had already given up, and was about going home because he could not catch any fish even after laboring for all night, don’t lose hope. Jesus came when all hope is lost and told Simon Peter to let down his net for a catch. In utter hopelessness, Simon Peter responded,’ Master, we have worked all night and have not caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets”. Peter put back his net and caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. Many of you here have labored for so long, and caught nothing. I am introducing you to the power of He who can enable you to have a mighty catch. Even though you have labored for so long with nothing to show for it, don’t give up. Jesus is coming to show you the direction for a mighty catch. You too are going to catch more than enough in your last minutes, when you think all hope is lost, if only you don’t give up.  But it will not be by your power nor might, as stated in Zachariah 4:6, but by the spirit of the Most High God.

The bible said in 2chronicles 20:20, ” believe God, you will be established, believe His prophet, you shall prosper. If only you believe, Jesus told Mary and Martha in John 11:40, ” If you believe, you will see the glory of God made manifest”. Lazarus was dead for four days, and was already decaying before Jesus arrived at Bethany, Mary and Martha had lost hope.  But Jesus restored Lazarus back to life to the amazement of every body.  There is nothing God can not do. So, no matter what is happening, don’t lose hope.

Even if you are like the paralyzed man of Mark 2, don’t loose hope. Instead of complaining and grumbling, approach Jesus in faith. When He sees your faith, He will change your ugly conditions.  Some men came to Jesus, bringing to Him a paralytic man. But since they could not get to Him because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, He commanded the paralytic man to get up and walk. There is nothing that is laid before the feet of Jesus that will not receive a miraculous transformation. This is because the bible said in 2Corinthians 3:18,” all of us who gazed unto Him without covering our faces with veil were constantly transformed from one glory to another glory until we become like Him who we behold”.

Even if everything in your life has come to an end tragically, don’t lose hope.  Something might have finished in your life. It might be joy, love, hope, faith, trust etc. You might have received a lot of attacks and disappointments; and messed up by the people whom you have trusted. This condition will not continue in Jesus Name, Amen. In John 2, Wine finished at the middle of the wedding in Cana. If you analyze the situation critically, you will realize that it was not only wine that finished. Water also finished, if not Jesus would not have asked them to go and fetch water. The bridegroom must have been disenchanted and discouraged, hearing that there was no more wine. Mary reported the situation to Jesus, and new wine was provided miraculously. When the people tested the new wine, they confirmed that it is sweeter than the former. The blessings of God that are coming will be greater than the former one. If you have reached a point in your life where both the water and wine has finished, don’t lose hope. Just report your case to Jesus.  He will provide an answer for you. I stand in the book of Amos 9:13 to pray that it shall be plenty in both your farm and barn, and in Psalm 23, to declare that since the lord is your shepherd, you shall not lack.

Financial breakthrough is assured if you believe

Do not lose hope because of your financial status.  God can change your status. Your money can locate you miraculously.  It is God that gives one the power to be wealthy, as stated in Deuteronomy 8:18.  If you have labored for so long, and you have not yet being rich, don’t lose hope. In a short while, wealth will locate you. In Mathew 17: 27, Jesus ordered Peter to go to the lake and threw his net to catch a fish, and inside the fish, there would be four coin there to use and pay their tax. How the money entered the mouth of the fish, nobody knows. So you should not worry how God will provide your own money for you. Just have faith, and stop losing hope.

Even if you have fallen, don’t give up. Try again, because the downfall of a man is not the end of his life.  In Philemon 10, God blessed Onesmus and made him great. You too can become great, only if you don’t give up.

Hopelessness can cause high blood pressure, hypertension and frustration.  God has plans for you. In Jeremiah 29:11, He has plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  In Zephaniah 3:30, God is going to reverse your captivity, and in Psalm 35: 27, He promised to take interest in your prosperity.  So, refuse to bow down to this ugly situation, refuse to give up. God is still alive. I assure you, what you are crying over, is going to cry over you. Even if you are losing hope, because there are no jobs, they can be new jobs tomorrow. If you don’t lose hope, God will open double doors for you and go before you to level every mountain as in Isaiah 45: 1-2.

In 2Kings 4, there was a widow who had lost hope because of her condition.  She never knew Elisha was coming. The woman cried out to Elisha, “My husband is dead and his creditor is coming to take my two sons as his slaves”. Elisha asked her, “What do you have”? The woman answered that she had nothing but a little quantity of oil that is left in the jar. Elisha told her to go and borrow jars.  They started dropping a little quantity of oil on those jars till all got filled up. He asked her to go and sell all to be able to pay her debt. God will also intervene in your case, when you think all hope is lost.

Remember also what happen in 1Kings 17, when Elijah ran into the cave because  there was a famine in the land after his declaration that there  would be no rain for few years, and there were looking for him to kill him. Many of you are living in the cave now because of a bad condition. Some have even gone back to their villages because their business has collapsed. But it is not enough to give up. If Elijah the prophet could live in the cave for the main time, you too can also live in the cave of your life for sometimes, but am sure you will not remain there forever. The cave is not your permanent abode. God will bring you out of that cave after a little while, only if you don’t lose up.

I hereby recharge your hope with this word of God, so that from today henceforth, you will begin to make a positive confession, as in   Romans 10:10. Change your confession and utterances, and begin to speak faith. Numbers 14: 28 says,”Whatever I hear you say to my hearing, I will do it for you. If you always speak lack, poverty, sickness, barrenness, they might come to you.  Remember the bible enjoin us in Joel3:10,”let the weak say, I am strong”.  That is positive confession. You are speaking it not because you have it, but because God can provide it. Look at the case of Abraham in Genesis22. Abraham did not lose hope and faith in God even when all hope seems lost. Look at his statement in verse 5,” I am going to sacrifice with my son and we are coming back’’. He did not mention that Isaac was going to die. He intensified his faith in verse 8, when Isaac spoke up and said to him,” fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the sacrifice? Abraham answered, “The lord will provide”. Indeed the lord provided the lamb for the sacrifice. Isaac was no longer killed. So you don’t have to give up, because God will provide for you, in a time when you least expected it.

 

Try again; don’t give up

You might have been trying to succeed but success is not forth coming. Don’t give up. It may just be one more step to reach to your destination of success. If you happen to give up at that point, all your previous effort will now be in vain. If your first, second, and even third attempt did not work out, try again. I give you an example of the people of Israel in Joshua 6, when they got to Jericho on their way to the land of Canaan. They matched around the city for six days and on the seventh day, the wall did not collapse. They did not lose hope.  The man of God, Joshua commanded them to match around the wall seven times on the seventh day, on the sound of the trumpet, the wall of Jericho fell down. What pull the wall down was the amalgamation of their efforts right from the first day they started matching, and not just the last one. If it were you, you would have concluded that it would not fall down again, you would have given up. God loves a persevering attitude. Who is going to try again after falling? Don’t say because your business did not flourish last year; because your farm did not do well; because you were disappointed; because you miscarried, you will not try again.

Some Christians are lazy. They only exercise faith but don’t match it with a corresponding work. Only faith cannot prosper you. It must be faith and good work. Start something no matter how small it is. God will bless your hand works, and before you know what is happening, you will grow and become a boss. . The bible said in job 8: 7, though your beginning is little, your later days will be greater. Also Zechariah 4:10 says, ‘’forgets you not the days of your little beginning. So even in your small beginning, don’t lose hope, God can lift you up. Always think well, plan well, get focused, work harder, and then with prayer, God can shock you.

I take your mind back to the story of Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram, who was suffering from leprosy, in 2 Kings 5. When prophet Elisha asked him to go to the River Jordan and dip himself seven times in order to be healed, he was discouraged. He was not even humble enough to take instructions from the man of God. If not for his servant girl who encouraged him to heed to the instructions of the man of God, he would have lost an opportunity to get his healing. Some of you are not humble enough to receive advice from your superior on how to make it in life. All you do is complaining and blaming people for your bad situations. The   bible enjoins us to be humble in 1Peter 5:6, “humble yourself and in due time, God will exalt you’’.

If the dried bones in Ezekiel 37, can come back to life, your case can be reversed no matter what has happened.  After all your crying and weeping, a time of joy is coming. As stated in Ezekiel47, water from the sanctuary will flow to your family, so that everything that is dead in your life will come back to life; there will be restoration; the cursed shall begin to be blessed; God will begin to provide your needs abundantly according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.  After you have suffered for a little while, as stated in 1Peter 5:4, God will himself restore you, establish and settle you. So you don’t have to give up, it is for a while.

Even if there is an obstacle on your way, holding back your blessings, don’t lose hope. Emulate Daniel in Daniel 10. Even though the prince of Persia held his blessings, he kept praying and fasting till his blessings were released. Many of you have given up and stopped praying because you think God will not answer your prayers. The habit of fasting and praying should be rekindled once again. Bad Conditions can only be changed in the presence of God.

Even if you have gone to the hospital and was given a medical report that seems the end has come, don’t lose hope. God can heal you, no matter the name of the sickness. It is at this period of Easter that He took our sicknesses and heals our diseases. By His wounds, we are healed. Even if your organ has been destroyed by a particular sickness, don’t lose hope, because a new organ can be planted. Romans 4:17 says that He calls into existence what does not exist, for He raises even the dead. Act 17:25 said that He gives life, air and everything. He can provide you with all that you need to live a fulfilled life, only if you don’t give you.

O lord, we stand in your words and pray that you save your people from their state of hopelessness. Remove every ugly situations that have made them want to lose hope and faith in you. Sustain their hope with your grace in Jesus name, Amen.