STIRRED WATERS (Ep. 3 – UNCAGED)

“We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare; the snare has been broken, and we have escaped. Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 124:7-8

“On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.” Luke 5:17

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“Ade, wake up. What happened? This is unlike you.”

For a few seconds Ade was not sure of where he was.

“I think you need some time off. You have been off colour for the past few days. Are you fine?”

Ade realized that he was in the office, and the voice was his manager.

Ade: Oga, I am very sorry. I have not been feeling well.

Manager: No problems at all. Today is Thursday, so just take tomorrow off as well, and don’t worry about the outstanding reports. I will coordinate with the rest of the team. We will sort it out.

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The price was too much for Pastor Ebenezer. These people will not chase me back to the village o. Ahan. How can they be charging ₦10,000 for a 30-minute ride. It’s better I take public transport.

He was brought back to present reality by the touch of his sweaty seat mate in the bus. The guy was dozing.

What kind of thing is this nau? This man should not stain my shirt nau.

As Ebenezer tapped the man, he froze. It was “feather” man!!!

Ebenezer could not believe it.

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Ade felt a strong tap on his shoulder. He startled and wondered if he had missed his bus stop. Looking around, he noticed that he was still a fair distance from home. He was thankful for the man seating beside him who had woken him up, but he wondered why the man was staring at him.

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Pastor Ebenezer said a prayer, asking for God’s help. He was grateful for the second chance, but he was also unprepared. Inside a commercial vehicle was the last place he would have thought he would meet “feather” man.

Pastor Ebenezer: Good afternoon chairman. How you dey?

Ade: Good afternoon boss. I dey alright o. How every?

Pastor Ebenezer: Fine o…thank God.

Ebenezer wondered what he should say next. Should he mention the feather issue and confirm whether what he saw was true? Or should he just ask for the man’s number and follow up later?

Pray with him. Tell him that God told you to pray with Sangofunmi.

Ebenezer froze. What was God up to? The name Sangofunmi was very strange. Ebenezer sighed. Initially, he felt he would not say anything but then he remembered the first opportunity he misused. He remembered the way he felt, and he did not want to feel that way again.

He said a prayer again, took a deep breath, and spoke.

Ebenezer: Chairman. Please o, don’t be angry o. I want to ask you for a favour.

Ade: No wahala.

Ebenezer: Can we pray together?

Ade: Sure, no wahala.

Ebenezer decided to take this route. He would pray with the man, but he won’t mention the name. At least he was obeying the instruction.

Partial obedience is disobedience, Ebenezer.

Ebenezer sighed. He knew what he had to do.

Ade: Chairman, what happened?

Ebenezer: Please don’t be angry o. God asked me to pray with Sangofunmi. I don’t know what it means, but that was what God said.

Ade: How did you know that name!?

Ade broke down in tears, with other passengers wondering what was wrong.

…

For the first time ever, in Ebenezer’s house, Ade opened his shirt and showed the feathers on his body to someone. Ebenezer almost fainted when he saw the feathers. He could not believe what he was seeing.

…

Ebenezer was grateful he obeyed the Holy Spirit’s instruction. After he mentioned the name, Sangofunmi, the young man broke down in tears, and told Ebenezer about his struggle. Ebenezer called to cancel the meeting he was going for. He returned home with the stranger. The mystery “feather” man.

And although he was not sure of what to do, he decided to pray.

Ebenezer: Heavenly Father, we are grateful for your mercies. Thank you for the power in your name. Thank you for this divinely ordained connection. Accept our thanksgiving in Jesus name. Lord Jesus, we ask that you heal your son, Adeoluwa, and restore him to perfect health. We know that with you, nothing is impossible, please intervene in this situation. We believe we will return with testimonies. For we pray in Jesus mighty name. Amen!

As they opened their eyes, Ebenezer and Adeoluwa checked, but the feathers were still there. However, their mood was different. Their chance meeting was God-ordained, so they believed that somehow God would intervene.

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Ade got home tired, the traffic was crazy, but he was happy. He felt seen. He remembered one of God’s name, El-Roi: The God who sees me. He smiled as he slept off.

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Pastor Ebenezer shared the news with his wife when she got back from work. She was overjoyed. Her only regret was that she did not meet the mystery man.

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Ade woke up, he felt like urinating. He checked his phone. It was 3:00am. As he returned from the toilet, he felt an itch on his chest. He was tired of these mosquitoes and their wahala. Taking off his shirt, he scratched the spot where he felt the pain, but something felt unusual. And so, Ade looked down at his chest, and as he saw his bare chest, he screamed!

“It is gone! I am healed!! Thank you, Jesus.”

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In that same moment, Pastor Ebenezer had a dream. He saw a bird escaping from a cage. He was not sure, but for some reason, he believed that the dream had to do with Adeoluwa. He would call to confirm when the day breaks.

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Episode 3 ends.

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Iremide: In the book of 1 Kings 5, we read about Namaan, the leprous commander of the army of the king of Aram. After Prophet Elisha told him to wash in the Jordan seven times, the commander rejected, saying “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.”

Namaan had a mental picture of how he expected God’s intervention to go. He had a preference.

Sometimes we have preconceived notions about how God would intervene in our lives. Someone with financial difficulties might expect a contract or gift from his/her wealthy friend. Someone with health challenges might expect to receive a divine word for healing during a church program. The list goes on.

However, God is not limited. His methods are dynamic. For Adeoluwa, God began working the solution to his challenges in a commercial vehicle on a random Thursday. God is not limited. Don’t be limited. The answer to your prayers can come at any time, and in any place.

You have prayed. You are praying. You are trusting God for divine intervention. I announce to you that your time of divine visitation has come. The Bible says in Exodus chapter 2 verse 25, “So God looked down on the people of Israel and knew it was time to act.” Also, Psalm 102:13 reads, “You will arise and have mercy on Zion; For the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come.”

In the name of Jesus, your set time has come. You are released from the captivity of the enemy. Isaiah 49:24-25 says, “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, Or the captives of the righteous be delivered? But thus says the LORD: “Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, And the prey of the terrible be delivered; For I will contend with him who contends with you, And I will save your children.”

Your time for deliverance is here. The Lord has set you free. No more cage. No more chains. No more captivity. You are free! You are uncaged! You are delivered, in Jesus name. Amen!

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See you next Friday!