Key verse: Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek,” (KJV).

Many people are earnestly seeking for solutions to their various problems through various ways or means. The ways and means people are searching for solutions to their problems include both through some physical and spiritual means. The search for solutions to problems had led them to do some unimaginable things in life. This has also led to the widespread of churches, prayer houses, chapels, prophetic ministries, among others. It is better imagined than stated what people undergo in the hands of fellow men and women in a bid to obtain answers to their problems; the abuse, insults, rape, robbery as well as initiations that are meted to people in those places they go to seek for help. It gives me great concern when I see people reject God’s provision for their personal wellbeing, which is the word of God as taught by Christ Jesus. My concern heightens as I see some friends, colleagues, relations and even parents who have seen the effects of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the lives of true believers and they still go on to reject the word of God. I observe that people are looking for a magic that will get them out of their problems without making some commitment with Jesus for a change in their situations. They are like Naaman in 2 Kings 5:10-12, who needed healing of his aged-long disease, but was not willing to obey the word and instructions given to him by Elisha the Prophet. Naaman wanted it his own way, rather than the way God had instructed Elisha for his healing.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the solution to life’s problems. When Paul, who was formerly a mere religious man without experiential knowledge of God discovered that the gospel of Christ is the key to life’s problems, exclaimed in Romans 1:16, saying: “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.” Paul stated the reason thus: “It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes.” Three things could be observed from the above scripture:

1. ‘The gospel is the power of God’: this means that when you accept the gospel, you are accepting and welcoming God’s power into your life and when God’s power comes into your life, your life will certainly not remain the same. God’s power is the instrument with which God can address issues pertaining to one’s life.

2. ‘Unto salvation’: Apostle Paul said the resultant effect of accepting and welcoming the gospel into your life is ‘Your Salvation.’ Salvation is a package of many things. In Luke 4:16-18, Jesus made it clear that the components of salvation include:

a. Healing: Healing is both physical and spiritual. It heals your body, spirit and soul. It also includes the healing and restoration of your life endeavours (2 Chronicles 7:14).

b. Deliverance: is another component of salvation. The gospel has power to deliver people from their sins and then sin will no longer have control over their lives. The gospel also delivers people from satanic captivity and Satan will no longer torment and mess up with their lives.

• Today’s nugget: The gospel is the solution to all life maladies. Prayer: I submit to the power of the gospel. Prayer lines: 08033299824. E-mail: [email protected]. Rev. (Dr.) Abel Ukachi Amadi, General Superintendent, Assemblies of God Nigeria.