Joel Kwesi Baidoo

“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.” (Joel 3:10) The Prophet Joel made this prophetic declaration after the southern kingdom of Israel (Judah) had suffered a locust plague as well as several incursions from foreign nations around them. It was also a time that the people of Israel had deeply fallen into spiritual decay, idolatry and all sorts of vices against the law of God. The people of God had therefore been weakened spiritually, economically, and politically. The Prophet was calling upon them to repent lest a great calamity looms. To those who return to their God, there is hope for restoration.  Prophet Joel, thus, emphasizes God’s ability to turn weakness into strength. The weak and feeble are encouraged to declare their strength, not based on physical ability, but on God's power. Saying “I am strong” is an act of faith, trusting God’s promise to restore and empower. It does not matter what makes you feel weak tod...

“...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16) Prayer works in mysterious ways. Even the prayers we think are not answered are answered in ways we do not recognize. Heather Nicholson, a 20-year-old college student, was in a devastating car accident in 2002. She suffered severe head injuries, including a traumatic brain injury, and was left in a coma. The Doctors' verdict was that Heather's chances of recovery were slim, and she might remain in a vegetative state. Heather's family, friends, and community rallied together to pray for her recovery, including her church. Against medical expectations, Heather awakened from her coma after 3 weeks. She underwent extensive rehabilitation and made a remarkable recovery. Heather gave this testimony: "I know that prayer played a huge role in my recovery... I felt the presence of God and the prayers of others lifting me up." Dr. R. Armour Forse, Heather's neurosurgeon, stated: "Heather...

Mary Slessor (1848-1915) was a Scottish missionary who dedicated her life to spreading Christianity in Africa. She braved the dangers of the African terrain to share the Gospel. She learned local languages and cultural customs to connect with the people; and established missions, schools, and hospitals. She once said, "The sole objective of my life is to serve God and do His will." Mary Slessor's selfless work brought Christianity to thousands in Calabar, Nigeria; improved education, healthcare, and living conditions; and inspired generations of missionaries and Africans. Mary Slessor's unwavering commitment to doing the work of the Lord challenges us to surrender to God's will and brave challenges for the Gospel. May you be inspired by the lyrics of the following hymn written by Eunice Addison, a notable historical figure and songstress of the Church of Pentecost, to also do your best for the Lord whilst you're still alive. Doing the work of the Lord, Publish...

“The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him--the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” (Isaiah 11:2) Today, we look at the Holy Spirit's function as the Spirit of understanding. To have understanding is to have a deep knowledge of something. It goes beyond knowing the facts about something. It entails knowing why things are the way they are. Binah (בינה) is the Hebrew word for understanding. It also means discernment, insight, and comprehension. It involves the ability to distinguish, separate, and perceive the relationship between things. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, He gives us understanding into the issues of life. A good part of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to affect the way we think. The Spirit accomplishes this most of the time while we meditate on God's Word. “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130) By ...

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13) Whether you realize it or not, there are mental barriers that impede our performance in life. Some of these barriers are self-erected, others are imposed on us by society. History has however given us countless examples that with determination and the right attitude, God can use us to break barriers. It was Henry Ford who once said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right.” Theodore Roosevelt also said, “Believe you can and you're halfway there.” The mental attitude which makes you believe that you can accomplish whatever you have set out to do with the help of God is a very powerful factor in the success equation. Let's pick some inspiration from the life of the late Kofi Annan. Born in Ghana on April 8, 1938, Annan defied the odds by rising through the ranks of the UN to become the first black UN Secretary-General from 1997 to 2006. He earned the Nobel Peace Prize, one ...

“The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him--the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” (Isaiah 11:2) The second of the seven Spirits of God is the Spirit of wisdom. Charles Spurgeon defined wisdom as “the right use of knowledge.” As the Spirit of wisdom, the Holy Spirit endows us with discernment, insight, revelation, prudence and guidance. Thus, the Holy Spirit influences the way we think and process issues.  When we are filled with the Spirit of wisdom, we have clarity of thought, sound judgment, creative solutions, effective decision making, and godly counsel. It was by wisdom that King Solomon judged rightly between the two prostitutes (1 Kings 3:16-28). It was by wisdom that Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's dream and offered practical guidance to avert a pending famine (Genesis 41:15-41). This was what Pharaoh said in response to Joseph’s direction: So Pharaoh asked them, "Can we find anyo...