Death Discouragement

The Word of the Lord declares that Christ came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Last year December I had this vision where I saw a huge hand with a gardener’s glove and it was transferring a plant from one pot to another. The new pot was of a darker, richer soil and seemed to have had more fertilizer. I saw a white looking object in the pot that I could not identify. When I drew closer to look, it was a tombstone. I saw the hand remove it, and I heard the Lord say clearly, “I have cancelled untimely death over your life.” I was pondering what He said and kept repeating it until I broke out into expressions of gratitude for the opportunity to live!

From that time until now, I have seen literally where God has intercepted death regarding me, and I am grateful. It seems as though there was an agenda for me not to live to see the age of fifty, but today is my fiftieth birthday, and to God be the Glory, I am alive and well.

There are two ways made known to me this year that should have caused untimely death, but God was gracious to me. The first one would have occurred because of my own negligence in taking care of my temple by getting the requisite rest, vitamins and exercise needed. The Lord had Prophet Dr. Richard Rowe sternly warn me and then brought news to me of a lady who was in the same age range as me, who was neglecting her body and fell ill and died. This shook me and I started to pay attention, and I literally felt like I was fighting to live. There were a few nights where there was this overwhelming feeling that death was near. I had to keep declaring in faith Psalm 118:17, “I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.” When I did this, I felt a surge of life flood my body, a comfort in my soul and a peace in my spirit. God came through for me. The second time was recently when I was going somewhere to minister, and days before I heard, 4 4-vehicle collision. I prayed to find out what was happening, but did not get anything at the time. I prayed and was reassured of victory regarding the upcoming assignment, but the accident was still pending. The day before the ministry, there was prayer for me regarding the mission, and two people saw an accident. One person advised me not to travel after I preached, and the other interceded and got to the root of the matter and had it cancelled. It seemed someone was angry at me for something that they felt offended by and released some words in the atmosphere that some spirits that were seeking an occasion against me took up and made it their agenda to have me swiftly and craftily removed. But God. I was grateful for God’s intervention through His servant. It is a blessing to have people around you who can discern and intercede and also have the authority to see to the cancellation of the plans of the enemy. I have personally dealt with death on other people’s behalf, and I am just thankful that God appointed people to do the same for me.

Recently, I heard a testimony from Andrew Wommack about one of his sons who was an hour away from him had been in an accident and died. When he got the call from his other son, he said he was shocked, and he and his wife started the journey to the location. In those days, he said he did not have a cell phone to keep communicating while on their way there. He said he decided to worship because he didn’t like how he felt. Suddenly, he remembered some prophecies that God gave him about his son publicly, and he started to repeat those prophecies and broke agreement with death and declared that this was going to be their greatest miracle testimony yet. He declared that his son must live, as there is prophecy over him. When he got there, he found his son, who was supposed to be dead, his son that was in the refrigerator for four hours, alive and well. His other son said that sometime after he called, his brother just sat up and started talking. God came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. I choose to live out my days. As believers, let’s stop agreeing with death. To do this, we must take good care of our temples. We must pay attention to our bodies, dreams, visions, prophesies and address anything presented that is anti-life. May God help us not to be so careless or casual about this life we have been afforded.

David said in Psalms 90:12, “¹² So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” To live on purpose takes wisdom. Proverbs 8:36 AMP says of wisdom, “But he who fails to find me or sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love and court death.” Let’s petition God for wisdom that we may access that abundant life promised and really live and not just merely exist.

We do not have to die a fool’s death like Abner.  2 Samuel 3 gives an account of a man of military might named Abner who was living in Hebron, a City of refuge. God had given to His people cities where people who did not maliciously cause someone to die could find protection from the avenger of blood until they had gotten a fair trial. Abner had killed Joab’s brother, and Joab decided that he had to vindicate his brother by murdering Abner. Joab lured Abner to the gate of Hebron and killed him there. Abner is said to have died a fool’s death, as all he had to do was to stay within the boundaries of Hebron, and his life would have been spared. Let’s not die like fools because we lack wisdom.

Ahab, a very wicked and idolatrous king received a judgment from God through the powerful prophet Elijah that he would die. Ahab humbled himself in fasting and had this verdict reversed (1 Kings 21). The young prophet in 1 Kings 13 disobeyed the instruction of God, and his life was cut short. There is protection from untimely death through a life that is hid in Christ, through the application of wisdom, obedience to God’s written and spoken Word, and through surrounding yourself with people who are sensitive to the Spirit of the Living God. Hope is only found among the living. Things can turn for the better as there is a God who can make all things new. Do not consent to death, do not entertain thoughts of death, to not be passively suicidal. Live in Jesus’ name! Discourage death!