The Cock Still Crows

It was a warm afternoon in the City of Port Harcourt; the hospital was busy with medical personnel attending to patients in various wards. On this particular day, I was excited in my spirit singing a song while pushing a wheel chair. It was not a moment for me to sing but this spirit-lifting song by Eben was put on my lips.

At the center of it all
It’s you that I see
It’s you that I see

At the center of it all
It’s you that I see
It’s you that I see

There is power in your name
Miracles happen in your name
As we lift our voice in praise
It’s you that I see
It’s you that I see

Along the path to the female ward on the 3^rd floor of the building, she joined me to sing. Indeed I saw Jesus at the center of her health challenge. We were filled with hope that God will restore her health. It has been over one year we started battling with lupus after two years of marriage. According to medical science, lupus is an inflammatory disease caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues. It can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs. Symptoms vary but can include fatigue, joint pain, rash and fever. I curse and rebuke the spirit of lupus in the body of anyone afflicted right now in the name of Jesus Christ.

Her health challenge started after undergoing a cesarean section and losing the baby to death and was managed through frequent visits to the hospital. At this point she could only move around on wheel chair. In all of these, I stood by her and encouraged her to trust God for her recovery.

I remembered what God told me through His servant on a Sunday service in my then local church. He said, “My son, give more attention to my word.” God knew I was going to go through this trying moment of my life and what will keep me going is His word. I heeded to His instruction and I am still paying heed to what He told me.

I was speechless but wept profusely within me as I used a spade to lay her remains to rest. Nevertheless, I was comforted by what the Bible says concerning her in Psalms 116:15.

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.”

I knew it was time for Anna to go and rest with the Lord. Someone reading this message may be going through or may have gone through similar experience in life. God is still ‘I Am’. He is not dead. He says that in everything, we should give Him thanks. One may be tempted to think that he or she has committed the worst sin. Even if the worst sin was committed, God does not punish His children with sickness because every good gift comes from Him.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17

The thoughts God has for us are that of peace and not of evil to give us a better tomorrow. Remember, Job, in Bible times, was a righteous man but satan afflicted him. You may have lost someone or something precious as I lost my late wife and daughter, do not give up on God. The trying time is not a moment to deny God; it is not a moment to be discouraged; it is not a moment to seek solution from ungodly places; it is not a moment to doubt God.

It is a moment you need to prayerfully hold on to what God has said and written concerning that ugly situation. God’s word is life and illuminates one’s life thereby shattering darkness. The word of God is God’s Spirit that powerfully penetrates the body, soul and spirit.

“My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.” Proverbs 4:20-22

“And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” John 1:5

When Peter’s Master, Jesus, was arrested to be crucified, there was a vacuum in his life. It was a trying moment for him and he forget Jesus’ word to him. He denied Jesus thrice and failed to hold on to his faith and confession. Will that unwanted issue in your life cause you to deny your faith and succumb to satan and his cohorts?

When the cock crew, Peter remembered Jesus’ word spoken to him before the denial.

“Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.” Matthew 26:74-75

This cock still crows today. The Holy Spirit’s ministry is like that of the cock that causes one to remember God’s word, as well as faith and confession. He does that to ensure we do not get distracted and fall into temptation. Further, He does that to ensure we are comforted. He is indeed the Helper of God’s children so every child of God needs to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26

The cock crows to let people know that it is time to wake up. Trying moments are often characterized by weakness, physically and spiritually. Peter wept for a while after realizing his fall, but he didn’t remain on the floor, he went back to his faith and began to do exploit. Before his fall, he taught he was strong spiritually and physically. He failed to pray for himself. He realized his human limitation and began to be on fire for God. A moment of trial is a time one needs to seek the face of God; fervent in prayer. Not just any kind of prayer, it requires desperate prayers with faith.

Despite my experience so far in life, I stand firmly by God’s sufficient grace that nothing shall separate me from the love of God. I have decided to serve God and no turning back because He has made me to be more than conqueror.

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39

The cock also crows to signal the beginning of a new day; a new dawn and a glorious restoration. Weeping may endure for the night but the joy of the Lord comes in the morning. In the case of Job, he lost everything but the Bibles says his end was better than the beginning.

“So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.” Job 42:12

The same way God restored my glory, He shall restore everything you have lost in life a million fold in the name of Jesus Christ. You are reading this message now and may have been distracted, denied Jesus or backslidden; remember that Jesus still loves you. He gave Peter a second chance. You can rededicate your life to Christ now. God bless you!

Sunday Omori

Excerpt from ‘The Cock Still Crows’ dedicated to late Anna Omori and all those suffering from lupus around the world.