02/10/2026
I remember a story of an old man of God—one of the first evangelists from the era when they were preaching on radio before television even existed.
In those days, he would say, "Put your hand on your radio," and far away, people would place their hands on their radio sets and outstanding miracles and healings would take place! Whenever it was time for his radio program, even non-believers were glued to their seats. It affected the entire land in a very powerful manner.
I had always wanted to meet him and learn from him. Then suddenly, I stopped hearing his voice. The radio program was canceled, and I wondered what had happened.
One day, I received a letter of invitation: "Brother Gbile Akanni, you are invited to come and give a message." It was signed by him, under the name of his ministry.
I said to myself, "If an elder is calling me—not even for what I want to preach, but just to see him—I must go."
I prepared, thinking I was going to preach to thousands of people because these were men who had moved the land. But when I arrived, I was directed down small turns until I entered a living room.
I asked, "Where is the meeting?"
He said, "This is the meeting."
I was confused. When they led me to the man of God, his assistant said, "Brother Gbile has arrived." I prostrated in respect.
He brought his son close and said, "Gbile, I have been hearing about you. I invited you to come and help me because I missed it. It’s not about a big meeting. I wanted to meet you so I could tell you what happened to me, so that you will be careful for it not to happen to you. Once I tell you, I have done my job."
Then Baba began. He said, "God used me mightily. There was an anointing that God poured on my head. We went to cities, and crowds gathered. Miracles happened. But look at me today—everything is gone. All you see here now is all that remains."
I asked, "Baba, what happened?"
He said, "Gbile, fear women. The lust of women entered my life. It started like a joke... and now I am finished. What God told me to do, I have not finished it—and now I cannot finish what I was called to do. That is why I asked young men like you to come, so I can warn you."
I knelt down right there. I wasn't praying for Baba; I was crying for myself. I cried and said, "Oh God, You brought me all the way here just to hear this." I lost all interest in speaking to the few people gathered; I just wept.
Finally, I said, "Baba, may God help you. There is still hope. 'For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again...' Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."
In the Amplified rendering, it means they will exchange their strength—just like taking a car to the mechanic. The mechanic drains the dark, dirty engine oil and pours in fresh oil. He resets your spark plugs, cleans your carburetor, replaces the blocked fuel filter, and adjusts the idling valve. When he is done, he says, "Drive it around and test it."
God does that for us whenever we wait on Him. He has never failed to do it for those who wait for Him and wait on Him.
But what causes a strong young man to faint? What is the screwdriver in the hand of the Philistines? What is that small needle that punctures your spiritual balloon?
It is only one small word, no matter how you try to paint it: SIN.
If you are a strong man and you are not running to the Lord for grace and purity, you cannot be trusted.
