“Are you a friend of Jesus?” That was the question title of Evangelist James’ message on Sunday, December 15, 2024 – a week after The SCOAN Thanksgiving Service. In line with Ephesians 5:19-20, where the Bible enjoins us to engage in perpetual thanksgiving, the people made melody to the Lord for His enduring kindness and mercy. Accepting that mere church attendance does not qualify them as friends of Jesus, congregants asked for the forgiveness of their sins and pledged to stay on the Lord’s side. Alongside the choristers they declared: “Ever My Song Will Be/Jesus You’re Beautiful To Me!” As they launched into other songs of worship, the Host of Heaven descended into their midst to prepare the ground for miracles of healing, deliverance and breakthrough.
The Real Qualification For Friendship With Jesus
Taking his proof text from John 15:14-15, Evangelist James gave a sermon on what it takes to qualify as a friend of Jesus. Entitled “Are You A Friend Of Jesus?”, the message began by identifying the things that do not necessarily signal true friendship with Jesus Christ. Among such things are regular church attendance, paying one’s tithe, abstaining from doing evil, and being a worker in God’s house. “Many people work for God,” he noted, “but very few are willing to be His friend.”
Evangelist James explained that true Christianity is marked not by “the work we do” but by “the relationship we maintain and the atmosphere produced by that relationship.” He therefore charged congregants to prove their friendship with Jesus Christ by obeying the Word of God with the help of the Holy Spirit. “When you are a friend of Jesus,” he went on, “you will get His ideas, know His opinion of yourself and others, work with His projects, see life as He sees it, and see yourself the way God sees you.”
In an interesting observation, the preacher stated that while God’s Word is for everyone, God’s Spirit cannot be for everyone but only “for those who obey God’s Word.” He therefore urged believers to aim to be like Jesus Christ, seeking to change the world by their actions more than by their professions.
And God’s Spirit Came Down…
Joining the people at the Prayer Line, Evangelist Ope asked them to declare: “My healing will happen today; my deliverance will take place today.”
As Evangelist Ope prayed, the power of the living God manifested itself expressly over numerous cases of difficulty in walking and asthma.
God’s awesome power also prevailed over the concerns of the pregnant women present at the Prayer Line.
As The SCOAN Evangelists moved among the people, cases of skin disease, epilepsy, bleeding, mental disorder, difficulty in urinating, hernia, ulcers, and swollen belly also heard the voice of the Lord.
In line with God’s promise in Matthew 10:8, the evangelists stood on the believer’s authority to expel every untoward thing in the people’s lives as they prayed in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
During the One-On-One session, every stubborn spirit gave up its resistance – to the shame of the devil and to the delight of Heaven.
The Day Their Stories Changed!
Starting the Mass Prayer session, Evangelist Joseph urged congregants: “Open your heart for the Holy Spirit. Free your heart from all hindrances that stand against your prayer.”
Evangelist Joseph told the people: “Those afflictions, demons, monitoring spirits, unclean spirits, manipulating spirits and familiar spirits blocking your progress – by the fire of the Holy Ghost, summon them and command them out in the name of Jesus!
Next, Evangelist Chisom asked congregants to pray: “You spirit that is not of God operating in my family – I command you in the name of Jesus to get out!”
On his part, Evangelist James charged the people to decree: “You spirit of affliction tormenting my life and family – Out, by Holy Ghost Fire! You sickness, disease, in my blood, bones – whatever name they call you – I command you in the name of Jesus: Out!”
Evangelist Ope prayed: “That spirit blocking your breakthrough, progress, finances, business – Out, in the name of Jesus! Anywhere they are hiding – in the West, North, East, South – Out, by Holy Ghost Fire!”
In a Mass Prayer video, Prophet TB Joshua declared upon the people: “I command you to come out of darkness, in the name of Jesus! That cage, that nightmare, that affliction is darkness. Whatever you are going through that is giving you nightmares – Out! Let the power of God come down upon your flesh, spirit, business, marriage and finances. Power upon your future, business, career, marriage, country, continent! Life anywhere in your body system – Power!”
Prophet TB Joshua prophesied on congregants: “Begin the good life, in the name of Jesus – from sickness to good health, from loser to ex-loser! Let your story change, in the name of Jesus! Change in your marriage, business, future!”
Testimonies
After Six Years Of Torture, Deborah Gets Spectacular Healing From Ulcers!
During the Special Healing And Deliverance Service that took place on December 6, 2024, Deborah received a spectacular healing. Six years ago, she had had a dream in which some people fed her. She had then woken up with pain in her stomach. From then on, the fashion designer and hair stylist began to go in and out of the hospital. Doctors told her it was ulcers. “Things got so bad that I had to shut down my shop and send my apprentices away,” Deborah told the church on December 15, 2024. Having tried all that she could medically, she had had no other option but to approach Jesus Christ, the Master Surgeon.
Upon receiving a divinely sanctioned touch, Deborah had vomited all the poisonous substances in her system. With the first tray filled with bloody substances, Deborah required another tray for more bloody substances. Later that night, God’s healing work continued in Deborah’s body. “An image of Prophet TB Joshua appeared to me,” she said, “and touched my tummy, leading me to defecate…” Since then, she has been sleeping peacefully and witnessing breakthrough in her business. “Trust God always,” she advised others. Her sister, Anna, confirmed the healing and glorified God for it.
Lucy Gets Her Healing And Breakthrough
Lucy from Kenya, a 59-year-old, received prayer on December 6, 2024. “My legs used to swell anytime I walked for a few minutes,” she began on December 15, 2024. Later the legs went numb. Eventually doctors diagnosed Lucy with arthritis and told her the situation could only be managed, not cured. “The situation soon worsened and I frequently fell inside the home,” she continued. As an ardent viewer of Emmanuel TV, Lucy decided she had to come for prayer at The SCOAN. “Several times I failed to make the trip to Lagos,” she disclosed. To the glory of God, however, Lucy had managed to make it to The SCOAN and the power of God had located her. The moment she received her healing, Lucy couldn’t hide her excitement as she exercised her limbs vigorously. Today she continues to move around vibrantly.
Lucy also testified about her deliverance from addiction to alcohol. “For the last 10 years, I have been freed from alcohol addiction after praying along with Prophet TB Joshua on Emmanuel TV,” she told the church. With her deliverance also came material breakthrough. “I owe it all to the God of Prophet TB Joshua,” she asserted. Her four children have also been delivered from alcohol addiction and smoking. Even more, Lucy shared the testimony of how her missing niece returned home safe and sound. “I had brought her picture to The SCOAN for prayer,” she explained. She advised others, “Look for a living church and read your Bible attentively.”
For Hakeem, It’s Freedom At Last From The Marine World!
The demon speaking through Hakeem had claimed to love him while also admitting that it had made his life miserable. While testifying on December 15, 2024, Hakeem narrated how he had been imprisoned abroad for a crime he did not commit. “When I got out of jail,” he confessed, “I joined the company of smokers and became addicted to smoking.” He continued to live aimlessly. On two different occasions, he was told by random persons that he had ties with the marine world.
Hakeem then made efforts to appease the marine world; his life failed to improve, however. The truck driver’s life was marred by uncontrollable anger and constant disappointment. A concerned person then advised him to visit The SCOAN. After initial skepticism, Hakeem decided to attend the special healing and deliverance service of December 6. “My body had started shaking before the evangelists got to me,” he recalled. Since his deliverance, Hakeem has been leading a life of ease. “I no longer have dreams about life in the sea,” he confirmed. He advised people against succumbing to negative peer pressure.
Healed Of Persistent Stomach Trouble!
When she was about turning 35 years old, Charlotte had a dream in which some people had argued about whether or not to spare her life. “As I was about to set out for work that morning, I found blood gushing out of my mouth and nostrils,” she told the church on December 15, 2024. When doctors managed to stop the blood, they advised Charlotte to stop eating anything containing cassava. Believing that she had no other nutritional option, however, the Cameroonian living in Nigeria dared to eat fufu, a cassava-based meal.
“I had another medical emergency because of my disobedience,” Charlotte admitted. And so continued the trouble in her body – until she made her way to the service of December 6, 2024. During the Mass Prayer session, God’s power had located her and caused her to vomit the poison in her system. “Although I hadn’t eaten anything that day, I felt the urge to vomit and I have been fine since then,” she confirmed. She advised others to wait patiently for their own healing and deliverance.
Delivered From 11 Years Of Satanic Bondage!
Marvellous, a 28-year-old, used to dream about the marine world since she was a teenager. She told the church on December 15, 2024: “I used to see people I didn’t know in real life and a man used to make love to me.” That was the pattern in the young girl’s life until she moved abroad. “My mother’s friend tricked me into prostitution abroad,” Marvellous cried. She couldn’t tell her mother about her ordeal, even as she faced starvation and beatings from her mean minder overseas. “She always took the money I made from sleeping with at least 20 men daily,” the young woman added. For 11 years, Marvellous faced this torture alone, fearing to tell her mother about it. Even when she managed to raise some money and set up a shop, she had little or no patronage.
While planning to move to another country, Marvellous got arrested by immigration police. “They put me in prison for five months and deported me afterwards,” she told the church. On returning to Lagos, the young woman sought out her in-law, who brought her to The SCOAN for prayer on December 6. Since receiving a touch backed by Heaven, Marvellous has parted ways with the demons responsible for the issues in her life. “Now I don’t steal anymore or dream about people in the water,” she said with relief.
With tearful eyes, Marvellous advised parents to protect their children by all means. “Never let money be your motivation when handing your children over to others,” she said. Telling of how he had made efforts to bring Marvellous home before the deportation, her uncle confirmed her transformation after deliverance. He also advised parents against sending their children abroad without being sure of what they would be doing there.
Revived And Healed By The Anointing!
Fifty-one-year-old Diana, a Ghanaian residing in Lagos, had been seriously injured in an accident sometime in November 2024. “I found myself on the hospital bed, with my son ministering the Anointing Water on me,” she began her testimony on December 15, 2024. With her body burdened by pain, making it hard for her to sleep at night, Diana had agreed to come to The SCOAN on December 6, 2024. “Instantly I got full relief from all of the pain,” she smiled, “and became light again.” While displaying all that she could now do, Diana thanked God for sparing her life. “Someone was taken to the mortuary that day,” she remembered. “Keep close to God as you meditate on His Word,” she advised others. Her son, Godwin, narrated how he had had to suspend work to tend to his mother. “I jumped up for joy when I saw her receive her healing,” said the elated first son. He advised others to open their eyes of faith and silence their doubt.
A Believer Police Officer Witnesses God’s Healing Power!
When on Sunday, August 25, 2024 police officer Kehinde received prayer at The SCOAN as Pastor Evelyn Joshua ministered, he was relying upon the power in the Blood of Jesus Christ for speedy healing. Three days earlier, he had been involved in a motoring accident while on his way to Ibadan to see his family. “Our vehicle somersaulted three times after being hit by a truck from behind,” he recalled, adding that their driver had engaged in reckless overtaking. With several people lying dead around him, Kehinde managed to put a call to his twin, also a police officer. Before his brother arrived at the scene, however, police officers had got there and taken Kehinde and three other injured passengers to a hospital in Ibadan.
Two days later Kehinde was moved to another hospital, in Lagos. “My twin suggested coming to The SCOAN for prayer,” he continued. “Immediately Pastor Evelyn Joshua prayed for me, I felt a cold sensation all over my body,” he said. He then returned home and went on praying and ministering the Anointing Water. Within a month, Kehinde’s scars vanished. “Only Jesus Christ can save you,” he reminded others. His twin, Taiwo, explained how they had called The SCOAN Prayer Line and how he had urged his brother to forgive anyone who might have offended him. “His chest pain vanished after the prayer call,” Taiwo recalled, “and we later came to the church for prayer ministration.” Taiwo advised, “Practise the virtue of forgiveness and God will hear your prayers.”