In John 1:1-5 the Bible talks about the power of the Word and its centrality to creation, about its being the Source of light and salvation to humankind. Knowledge of this was uppermost on congregants’ minds as they worshipped in The SCOAN on Sunday, January 21, 2024, determined to comprehend the light. The choristers began by praising the Alpha And Omega to whom they gave all the glory for thus far He had been with the people. They also expressed their confidence in Jehovah and called for the anointing to fall on all through the Holy Spirit. The lyrics of one of the songs composed by Prophet TB Joshua rang out: “My Heart, Hear The Voice Of God/My Heart, Hear The Voice Of The Holy Spirit!”
Evangelist James gave the sermon, treating the topic “What Does God Want From You?” He read from Mark 12:29-31 for a message focused on love – the most important thing that God wants from us. This love is meant to be shown to God first, then to fellow humans, that is, our neighbours. According to the evangelist, Christians have a mandate to love, so showing love is not a matter of choice for them, just as is the case with faith. Accordingly, he quoted Prophet TB Joshua: “What makes us human is not our ability to think but our ability to love. This means love is life, and if we miss love, we miss life.”
Evangelist James also noted the link between love and obedience. He said that while some people may obey God without necessarily loving Him, true Christians find it a lot easier to obey God because they love Him. Moreover, Christian love manifests in the quantum of goodness that we make available to others, not in what we put on, the size of our Bible or the name we bear. By that token, our claims to love will fail if we are unable to show love to fellow humans, whom we can see, compared to God, whom we cannot see physically.
“If we make all forms of sacrifices but have no real, burning love for God and our fellow man,” Evangelist James stated, “we have nothing”, for “love for our fellow man breaks down all barriers, melts all hindrances.” In figurative language, he noted that “love has ears to hear the heart” and “eyes to see the pain of others.” He therefore urged Christians to think lovingly of God and read His Word always. Summing up the message, he noted that showing unrelenting love to neighbours is one way to win souls effectively. In his words: “If you want to change people’s lives for good, if you want to be an effective soul winner, then you must love your neighbour as yourself, that is, love them unconditionally.”
And They Surrendered Their Challenges To Jesus Christ!
“Shall we give Jesus Christ a beautiful round of applause,” Pastor Evelyn Joshua requested of the people as she joined them for the Prayer Line ministration.
Before starting to lay hands on the people, the woman of God raised her face towards Heaven: “Almighty God, we praise You. We thank You for giving us Your Son, Jesus Christ; we thank You that He trusted in You to the Cross to be our Saviour. Father, we thank You that the name Jesus Christ is not just a name in the Bible, that our Living Saviour is not a dead hero but a Friend to us all. We can trust in Him to share in our pains, burdens, challenges. Father, we thank You that Jesus Christ is with us when we most need Him and even when we least expect Him to be with us.
Almighty God, we thank You for everything You have done for us. Thank You for forgiving our sins. Thank You for giving us a new life, a new beginning. Thank You for being a mouthpiece for us – it can only be You, O Lord! We have come with our challenges before You; we surrender all at Your feet. Father, let Your power flow today to meet us at the point of our needs, in the name of Jesus Christ! Thank You, Lord! Thank You, Jesus!”
True to God’s Word in Isaiah 53:5, which talks about Jesus Christ being “wounded for our transgressions” and “bruised for our iniquities”, as well as our being healed by His stripes, the people presented their cases before the Miracle Worker. Among the cases were difficulty in walking, chronic back pain, asthma, hernia, goitre, abdominal wound, skin disease, swollen legs/body, leg ulcers, eye discomfort, prostate enlargement, epilepsy, mental disorder, as well as evil attacks and other issues that do not embarrass Jesus Christ.
Also set free from the clutches of the dark world were pregnant women seeking safe delivery of their babies and other women suffering from hormonal imbalance. As the Bible says in Philippians 2:10-11, every tongue confessed the superiority of God’s power, with one of the recipients of prayer vomiting a stone-like object during the ministration of prayers of healing and deliverance.
The Power That Pulled Down The Walls Of Jericho!
To start the Mass Prayer session, Evangelist Chisom asked congregants to declare: “Today is my day – my day of healing, deliverance, breakthrough!” He urged them to pray: “Whatever satan might have stolen from my business, health, career – be restored, in the name of Jesus! You demon, unclean spirit – the cause of my troubles, setback, sickness – anywhere you are: Out!”
Evangelist James told congregants to declare: “You unclean spirit troubling my life – I command you out!” He also prayed: “Every unclean spirit holding you down in bondage – Holy Ghost Fire: Out!”
Evangelist Ope told the church to decree: “Every garment of affliction placed upon me, knowingly or unknowingly – Holy Ghost Fire: Out!”
Evangelist Joseph prayed for the people: “Every garment of poverty, shame, sickness, failure, disgrace, every garment placed by satan upon your life — in the name of Jesus, out!” He also asked them to pray: “You demon standing against my breakthrough, success, career, family – I command you in the name of Jesus: Out!”
Pastor Evelyn Joshua told the people: “Speak what you believe – that Jesus is your Healer, Deliverer, Provider.” She prayed: “We command the foundation of your prison to be broken today, in the name of Jesus Christ! Be loosed in the name of Jesus, by the Blood of Jesus! We command whatever foundation of your prison to be loosed today, in the name of Jesus! Prison of sickness, affliction, disease, isolation, anger, bitterness, envy, pride, arrogance – be loosed, in the name of Jesus Christ! Whatever word that comes out from your mouth today – receive anointing, in the name of Jesus Christ – anointing to break every yoke, every gate of violent spirits! Anointing to break every gate of oppressors in your life, family, marriage, job.”
The woman of God prayed on: “By the power that pulled down the Walls of Jericho, let the foundation of your problems crumble today, in the name of Jesus! By the power of the spoken Word that healed the cripple at the Beautiful Gate – be healed from that affliction, disease, infirmity! Be it diabetes, hypertension, barrenness, kidney failure, heart disease – Out, in the name of Jesus! Be healed in your soul, body, spirit, in the name of Jesus Christ!”
Turning to viewers all over the world, Pastor Evelyn Joshua said: “Begin to break those chains.” She prayed: “Every veil that is not of God – be removed from you right now, in the name of Jesus Christ. Whatever chain your children may be in right now – begin to loose them, in the name of Jesus Christ! Be delivered from every yoke, from every sin!” She then told the people to declare: “My head – reject failure, disappointment, disease.”
In a Mass Prayer video Prophet TB Joshua declared: “Power of God – come down, in the name of Jesus!” He told the people: “Every infirmity, wherever it is located – right now, I command that infirmity in your blood, tendons, bones – begin to command them out.” The man of God continued: “That spirit, demon, familiar spirit – begin to rebuke it! You demon, out with all your trouble, failure, disease, setback, limitation! Anywhere sickness, disease is located in your life, blood, tendons, kidneys, liver, in your fluids, on your skin – let the power of God come on you!”
Prophet TB Joshua continued: “I speak to your finances, business, career – let the story change! You are freed! Let your story change – the story of your business, finances, career, marriage! I speak to your career, business, finances, in the name of Jesus! Let the power of God come on them! History about your life, begin to change! Someone is busy changing your history – from failure to ex-failure, sickness to good health, in the name of Jesus!”
Testimonies
“You Are A Lucky Man!” Doctor Tells Man Who Avoided Hand Amputation Through The Anointing
Fidelis was in The SCOAN for prayer over a hand ulcer that resulted after a strange incident. “In October 2023, I went somewhere to pick up an item when I felt a strange sensation,” he said on January 21, 2024, during his testimony. “It is something minor; don’t worry,” his friend had assured him. But the affected hand began to hurt badly and Fidelis soon made his way to the hospital. “After examining me, the doctor suggested likely amputation, so he fixed a date for my return to the hospital,” he went on. Shortly before returning to the hospital, however, Fidelis heeded a friend’s advice to visit The SCOAN for prayer. On Sunday, November 26, 2023, he received prayer in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. “I went home and my recovery continued,” he told the church. After a series of interesting developments with the hand, Fidelis finally saw a boil develop and burst on its own. “I returned to the doctor and tests proved that my blood sugar and blood pressure levels had gone down,” he continued. Surprised at the development, the doctor said, “You are a lucky man.” Fidelis affirmed, “God is in this place one hundred per cent!” His wife Juliet thanked God for the healing, delighted to see the family’s breadwinner in top health again.
“It Was The God Of Prophet TB Joshua Who Gave Me A Second Chance,” Says Woman Healed 18 Years Ago
Elizabeth was 40 years old in the year 2006 when she had a fracture of the patella, that is, a fracture of the kneecap. A schoolteacher who also engaged in petty trading after school hours, Elizabeth had become helpless because of the injury. She could not bathe herself, not to talk of doing her household chores. On the day she received prayer in The SCOAN, Elizabeth was brought to church by her believing husband. Seated in the front of a Mercedes Benz 200, she besought God Almighty for help. “That accident occurred on August 21, 2006,” Elizabeth told congregants on January 21, 2024 – a full 18 years after her healing through God’s power in Prophet TB Joshua. Although her condition appeared precarious and required surgery, Elizabeth requested to be taken to God’s house for divine surgery. “My right leg was virtually dead, as I could not feel any sensation in it until Prophet TB Joshua ministered prayer to me,” she said. “It was the God of Prophet TB Joshua who gave me a second chance,” she asserted. Since that very day, Elizabeth has grown from strength to strength as a youthful 58-year-old! “Hold on to your God,” she encouraged the world. Her husband, Michael, recalled the chilling phone call that informed him about the accident. “It was God who gave my wife a new patella that day,” he said. He advised the world to believe and connect with God’s Spirit.
Deportee Released For Breakthrough After Prayer Of Deliverance
“Jesus has set you free,” Evangelist Chisom assured Vincent on January 14, 2024 after ministering the prayer of deliverance upon him. A week after, Vincent returned to The SCOAN to testify. He told of how he used to participate in the sacrifice of animals to the idols of his father’s house. “When the custodian of the shrine died, no one took up the task of appeasing the idols,” Vincent recalled. He told of how his father, as well as his uncle and his wife, died mysteriously. “We were not making progress in the family, and even when I travelled to Austria in 2010, I made no progress in my 10 years there, until my deportation on November 12, 2020,” Vincent said soberly. He then told of how his fiancée advised him to visit The SCOAN for prayer. Since receiving prayer, Vincent has parted ways with the demon that used to make him aggressive. “A bus conductor provoked me but God’s Spirit took control as I returned home from church,” he said. “With God, nothing is impossible,” Vincent reminded the world.
And Victor Gets A New Name After His Deliverance!
On January 14, 2021, during the deliverance session that set Victor free from an inherited curse, the demon in him made many confessions. The following Sunday, he began his testimony by recalling how the spirit of lust crept into his life through dreams. “I kept running after married women and most of them fell for me,” he confessed. The same spirit made Victor a lover of alcohol and someone who got angry easily. “The spirit made me dislike my mother and her ministry and I used to sleep with the women in her church,” he confessed. Victor also used to steal from his mother. Because of his stubbornness, he used to receive curses from his father. He further told the church how his mother had informed him about a woman who laid curses on his father and his children. “My mother told me I could only get my deliverance in The SCOAN, so I came here last week,” he told the church. “I saw divine fire as the evangelist ministered to me,” he said. Since then, Victor has had confirmatory dreams about his deliverance from dark forces and his urge for alcohol has vanished. “Indeed, God has given me a new name, and I urge others to run to Jesus Christ,” he advised the world.
Twenty-two Years After, Abayomi’s Healing Continues To Prove God’s Power In The Arena Of Liberty!
It was a pitiable, grievous sight as 12-year-old Abayomi lay prostate on a bench in The SCOAN during the ministration of the prayer of healing by Prophet TB Joshua. The day was January 20, 2002. He had suffered hot-water burns that ripped off the flesh on his buttocks. “I had to do everything while lying on my stomach and the doctors advised my parents to seek a ‘traditional’ solution since they could no longer help me,” Abayomi said as he came to re-testify on January 21, 2024. “God’s healing is permanent in my life,” he reaffirmed, smiling beside his wife, who was carrying their baby. Abayomi advised people to stick with Jesus Christ.
Deliverance Restores Affection To Chioma’s Life!
On December 10, 2023, Chioma, a Nigerian residing in South Africa, was among those who received prayer in The Arena Of Liberty. “I thank God for bringing me to this place,” she said at the start of her testimony on January 21, 2024. She recounted how she used to receive nightly dream visits from a male figure. “It caused serious problems for me, including multiple heartbreaks and inability to succeed in any business,” she said. Even when she finally got married, Chioma continued to be tormented by the evil spirit – a spirit husband. “I had no affection for my husband,” she admitted. After heeding her husband’s advice to come for prayer, however, Chioma witnessed the power of the Almighty as she started to feel free immediately. Now, she no longer has those strange dreams and her heart is full of peace. “Trust in God and everything will work out for your good,” she advised others.
“I Am A Living Testimony Of God’s Work Through Prophet TB Joshua,” Says Policeman Who Benefited From Overseas Surgery
Gift, then a sergeant in the Nigerian Police Force in 2014, had received the Anointing Sticker from his father. “My father later asked me to come for the Anointing Water, which I kept in my pocket,” he had told the church during his first testimony. Gift had been at work in a bank on May 25, 2014 when armed robbers fired at him. “I managed to kill one of them even though my intestine was hanging out from my stomach,” he added. Despite feeling excruciating pain, he ministered the Anointing Water on himself, calling on the God of Prophet TB Joshua to spare his life. Unsettled by the death of one of them, the robbers fled the bank without taking anything, Gift was then taken to the hospital, where he had a catheter inserted in him. “I could not urinate on my own and the catheter remained in me,” he recalled on January 21, 2024 – ten years after Prophet TB Joshua’s intervention in the policeman’s treatment after the first testimony. The man of God had volunteered to sponsor the overseas surgery, which cost no less than USD25,000. “Because of prayers by Prophet TB Joshua, Gift had undergone only one surgery instead of the three that the Indian doctors had envisaged. “Life has been fine with me and my family since then,” Gift had said when he returned from India and testified in The SCOAN the second time. And ten years later, in 2024, Gift’s transformation remains! He advised people to continue to trust in God.
Eleven Years Ago, This Miracle Shocked The World!
On October 10, 2013, 27-year-old Rosemary, a pregnant woman, sat for prayer over a ruptured nasal artery, which meant that she bled constantly from her nostrils and mouth. Her appearance on that day was not a sight not for the fainthearted. However, God’s servant Prophet TB Joshua prayed for her in love, assuring her that God Almighty would heal her. Minutes later, the man of God pronounced healing upon Rosemary and, right from that minute, Rosemary’s nose-mouth bleeding stopped. Eleven years after, on January 21, 2024, she and her husband Imma and two children returned to church to re-testify. “The man of God gave us a huge amount of money to sustain us and for my wife to register for antenatal service; he also paid my hotel bills and gave us money for clothes,” Imma said in tears as he recalled what transpired after his wife received prayer. He also told of how Rosemary had her baby within 20 minutes of labour. “It was the God of Prophet TB Joshua who did it,” Imma insisted. He recalled how grueling the journey from Bayelsa to Lagos had been, given Rosemary’s condition. “During the journey, her blood filled a bowl at least seven times,” he told the church. He advised people to turn God, who never fails. “The God of Prophet TB Joshua still remains the Almighty God, who heals, saves and delivers,” Ima stated. Rosemary told the church that she had insisted on being taken to The SCOAN for prayer. “After the prayer, the bleeding stopped and my baby resumed kicking,” she said, while confirming the smoothness of subsequent deliveries. She advised people, “Don’t give up; run to God.
