“Brothers and sisters in Christ, if the Israelites had known the plan God had for them, they wouldn’t have complained much after Pharoah increased their load. Maybe they’ll be irritated or something, but… with the knowledge of what God was about to do to set them free, they would taken it cool kraaa.”

This Sunday, Pastor Arthur was the one at the pulpit delivering the word of God, and he was going hard that morning with a timely reminder of how God knew how to come through for His people. Sitting in their special chairs, David and Sika nodded, fully in tune with the sermon. It was good to be able to take a seat and let someone else do the preaching.

“Listen! The point is, as hard as it may be for us to really fathom that things may get better when we’re going through the fire, the God who delivered Israel from the harsh hands of Egypt is the same God we serve. When it looks like things will go downhill totally, He steps in and makes a way that simply blows your mind. At the end of the day, He wants the glory from your story, and He’s not really gonna get that much if your situation is super cheap.”

“Amennnn!!” Sika echoed, rising to her feet and clapping.

“You are preaching good!” David added, clapping as well.

That definitely hit home for him. Three weeks had gone by since he ripped Roger apart, and he knew all too well that it was a mere respite he had been given. The man certainly wasn’t going to let up; he could well be plotting something else.

And to be honest, that was what worried David sometimes.

There had been a few times when he laid on his bed while Sika was fast asleep and wondered why Roger was getting a free pass to do all the things he was doing. He knew God would come through, but sometimes it felt like God was allowing too much to happen.

After all, He could have easily struck down the boys while they made their way to the church. He could have caused the car of those lowlifes to stop moving before they even caught up with them. Nothing is impossible for Him.

But he had to remember that God was sovereign and far wiser than he could ever hope to be. So he was learning to calm down about it and let the Judge of all the earth do right as He always did.

“See, brothers and sisters, if you read the book of Exodus very well, eh, you’ll realize that the Israelites didn’t have to pass through the Red Sea. But the Lord instructed Moses to get them to pass there. You know why? Because God was in the mood to show up, and show off, and let the world know who the Real Boss of this universe was! Pharaoh was feeling too big and too powerful, and thought Adonai, the Alpha and Omega, the Creator of all things seen and unseen, was his co-equal. And so He picked that impossible situation to show Pharaoh that there is nobody who is on His level! Nobody can stand against Him and succeed!

“Listen to me! When God wants the glory from your story, He’ll do it in a way that men will witness and say ‘This can only be the doing of the Lord’. You’ll have your back against the wall, and your enemies will think they’ve conquered you! They’ll mock you and say all sorts of things to make themselves feel good, believing they have already won. But at the end of the day, our Goddddd will show up! Our Godddd will put them to shame! Our Goddddd will make an open spectacle of them, and our Godddd will take the glory! Somebody put your hands together, and give Him praise!”

The whole church was on their feet, clapping and cheering and shouting. David and Sika included.

Shaking his head in wonder, David gazed at his pastor, his heart filled with gratitude. This truly is a word in season. Truly a word in season. Thank You, Lord Jesus… 

***

“Great, so let the choristers be made aware of that now. And again, God bless you, Osofo! What a word!”

Pastor Arthur bowed gratefully. “All the glory belongs to God, Rev DMJ. All glory to Him. Thank you.” Then he left the office.

All by himself, David had met the few people that came to see him personally, so he was ready to get out of the office and gather his family and head home. As he rose up, his phone vibrated on the table. He checked to see who it was, and was pleasantly surprised.

“Eii! Osofo Tsedeq! Wow! I wonder what’s up!” he wondered aloud before answering. “Osofo, good afternoon!”

“DMJ my brother in the Lord! How are you doing?”

“By His mercies, all is well oooo! It’s been so long! How are you?”

“Oh, I’m also doing well by the grace of God. Service ended not too long ago.”

“Great, great, I guessed so. You know I wouldn’t usually call around this time, but I’m at the mountains. Been here since Friday, so Mawuli is handling the services for today. And as I was coming down, the Lord placed this scripture in my spirit to share with you. Proverbs chapter 24 verse 10.”

David sucked his breath in.

‘If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.’

That was the scripture he had been praying with for a few days now. This had to be a confirmation.

“The Lord says you must keep this scripture to heart, for a day is coming. I don’t know what that is, or what will happen, but you must hold on to it and keep the fire burning. Keep your strength renewed. For when that day comes, that strength will see you through, and the power of God will manifest like you’ve never seen before.”

David went silent. Nodding quietly, he simply inhaled and exhaled.

“Stay strong, my brother. You are in the will of God, and once you are, you will not be put to shame. Elohim shall fight for you, and you know what that means. Victory. Total victory. Just continue to wait upon Him and build yourself up on your most holy faith. Take care, and my greetings to Sister Sika and the children.”

***

“In the name of Jesus, I stir up the fire in me, I stir up the fire of Jehovah in me! Let the fire of Yahweh rise higher and higher! In the mighty name of Jesus…”

It was midnight, and David was walking around the room, fiercely praying in tongues. Another one of those nights where he felt that irresistible stirring in his spirit to pray, and he duly obliged. The word for the prayer, as had been the case for the past three days and had been confirmed by Pastor Tsedeq, was simple.

Strength for the day of adversity.

Sika, who had been asleep while he prayed for the last half-hour, briefly stirred, then opened her eyes and saw her husband immersed in prayer. Silently, she watched him, knowing better than to interrupt his time of warfare. A minute or two later, she laid her head back on the bed to try and return to slumber land.

A few more minutes of firing off in the spirit, and a profound sense of peace settled over him. The weight he carried seemed momentarily lifted. He then felt an urge to conclude his prayers, which he did. He returned to the bed and lifted the covers over himself, unaware that Sika was now awake.

“David,” she whispered.

He turned to her. “I didn’t mean to wake you, love. Go back to sleep.”

Sika reached for his hand, intertwining her fingers with his. “You don’t have to apologize. I know. Is everything okay?”

David nodded. “We’re good. Just doing what the Spirit tells me to do.”

Sika sighed and nodded. “Still about strength for the day of adversity?”

“Yep.”

Sika sat up and took a deep breath. “I can’t lie, honey. I get nervous. It’s been three weeks since we heard anything from that Wakefield man. We don’t know what he’s planning…”

“I know, my love, I know. I haven’t got a clue myself. But remember, whatever he has in mind cannot stump God,” David reminded her. “I won’t lie and say I’m not moved at all. But I remind myself who I am and Whose I am. He’s the God of Angel Armies, and once the Spirit leads me to this, there’s nothing to despair about.”

Sika nodded, the worry still evident in her eyes. “You’re right, you’re right. I’m just… still so scared from that last time. I don’t wanna be like Job’s wife, but… David, I’m scared…”

“Hey, ssshhhh,” David gently cut in, placing a finger over her lips. “Don’t be shaken. Everything will be fine. We’ll be extra cautious, of course, but trust me, everything will be fine. And you’re definitely not like Job’s wife. A woman of wisdom and grace like you? Never. In any case, I don’t think his wife had lips as beautiful as yours.”

Sika’s look of concern turned to amusement. She shook her head. “Hm! You this man!”

David laughed. “It’s true, lah. You know how your lips make me weak. Especially when you smile…”

***

“Roger, I want to make this clear. Nobody involved with our political party should lay a finger on that man of God,” the president’s stern voice echoed through the phone.

Roger nodded, a mock sincerity in his tone as he sat back in the backseat of his car. “Mr. President, you have my word. I’ll make sure of that. We can’t afford any more negative publicity at this crucial juncture.”

The president’s voice carried a warning, “I mean it, Roger. The public won’t tolerate any harm to a pastor, especially one as well-known as David Mensah-Jones. It would be disastrous for our image. Already so many people think I sent for those foolish boys to go and wreck his church. You think it’s funny to have those annoying kokonsa media people trying to call in to ask these questions when I have no idea about it?”

“Mmmmmm. I can imagine how bad it is, Your Excellency.”

“Exactly! So send word around. Nobody should touch him. Let him shout and say all he wants. If they want to insult him on social media, that’s fine. But nothing physical. Got it?”

“Rest assured, Mr. President. We’ll keep it clean,” Roger assured with a faux sense of loyalty.

“Good, good. I’ll talk to you later, then.”

As the call ended, Roger smirked. The orders were clear, but Roger had no intention of following the president’s directive. Especially when he was still extremely salty about getting torn a new one the last time he called David. Three weeks had passed, and the wound was as fresh as ever.

“He must be joking. The way this guy really has some nerve! He thinks he can just challenge me like that?” Roger muttered to himself, clenching his free fist. “I won’t be made a fool of by some self-righteous preacher. He dares to speak to me like that? Me? This poor, dilapidated joke of a pastor thinks he can challenge me? Nahh, I won’t understand. This one, I won’t understand. He’s poked the bear, and this one paaa diɛ, he won’t get away with it. Never! The Pope sef can’t convince me. He’ll be dealt with.”

As he sat back, his mind briefly went over the concocted plan that would not only put an end to David’s crusade but also ensure he’d never dare to challenge Roger, or the government as a whole, ever again. The flames of revenge danced in his eyes as a sinister smirk curled his lips. There was no way this plan wouldn’t work; it was just perfect.

And it had been properly planned out, which was why it took three weeks. Absolutely perfect. By now, the pastor probably thought his warning had frightened Roger off.

Well, he was stark raving mad if he thought that. This was going to hit him like a Pearl Harbour attack.

“This time, no warnings. No subtle threats,” Roger muttered under his breath. “I’m just going to hit him where it hurts the most. And it’ll be like nothing he’s ever seen or will ever see again.”

Roger really dey taya me. So even as the president has warned you, you’re still going ahead? Ei. What kind of maliciousness is this? Hmmm…