The Resident Pastor of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) Holy Hills Temple, Rev. Oscar Morrison, has called on Christians to complement prayer with deliberate action, stressing that genuine breakthroughs are realised when faith is backed by diligence, innovation and the effective use of God-given gifts.
According to him, while prayer remains essential to the Christian faith, believers must also take practical steps towards achieving their aspirations, as God blesses the work of prepared and committed hands rather than passive expectations.
Rev. Morrison made the remarks during a sermon delivered at the climax of the church’s fasting and prayer programme, where he encouraged the congregation to embrace personal responsibility in their pursuit of divine blessings.
Preaching from 2 Kings 4, which recounts the miracle of the widow’s jar of oil, he said God often begins His miracles with the resources people already possess rather than what they lack.
Reflecting on the Prophet Elisha’s question to the widow, “What do you have in your house?”, Rev. Morrison noted that this question is still relevant today, as each person has been blessed by God with unique gifts, talents, skills, and opportunities that can be cultivated for success and to make an impact for the kingdom.
He observed that many believers spend years praying for financial prosperity, career advancement and business growth without investing in the knowledge, discipline and competencies required to sustain those blessings.
He therefore encouraged students, professionals, entrepreneurs and job seekers to pursue continuous learning, sharpen their skills and strive for excellence in their chosen fields.
“After prayer and fasting, there must be action. God has released His grace, but you must also position yourself to receive it by putting your gifts and abilities to work,” he stated.
Rev. Morrison cautioned Christians against despising seemingly insignificant abilities, noting that throughout Scripture, God consistently used ordinary people and ordinary resources to accomplish extraordinary purposes.
Drawing further lessons from the account in 2 Kings, he explained that the widow was instructed to borrow as many empty vessels as possible before the miracle occurred, describing the vessels as symbols of capacity, preparation and expectation.
He urged believers to continually expand their capacity through education, entrepreneurship, innovation and personal development, stressing that God enlarges what people intentionally cultivate.
The pastor also referenced Jesus’ miracles, including the transformation of water into wine at the wedding in Cana and the feeding of more than 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish, saying both accounts demonstrate God’s ability to multiply whatever is willingly placed in His hands.
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He encouraged Christians to dedicate their businesses, careers, education and talents to God, expressing confidence that divine favour follows those who combine faith with obedience, preparation and hard work.
Rev. Morrison further challenged believers to become agents of transformation within their families, workplaces and communities by using their gifts to serve others and advance the Kingdom of God.
He reminded the congregation that God’s timeless question to every believer is, “What do you have in your hands?” He encouraged them to recognize, develop, and offer their abilities to Him for divine multiplication and lasting impact.
Source: Isaac Kofi Dzokpo
