“Pastor, I’ve been married for over 3 years now and yet no children. I’ve fasted, prayed, sown seeds, given to the needy, prayed for those who also need children, engaged in soul winning and establishment, yet no issue. What else can I do?”

First you need to understand the difference between a gift and a promise. Gifts can be inheritances, something that is freely given, promises are made and fulfilled based on a certain condition. Gifts or inheritances in the kingdom can be instantly received by faith, but to receive a promise, you’d have to wait either till you complete the will of God or till the stipulated time.

For instance, the disciples of Jesus didn’t receive the Holy Ghost as a gift, they received Him as a promise. The promise of the Holy Spirit began with the prophets; Prophet Isaiah, Prophet Ezekiel and Prophet Joel. When Jesus came, He also made a promise of the Holy Spirit to His disciples. Let’s see how scriptures put it:

Luke 24:
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

Acts 1:
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

John 16:
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

The first scripture establishes that Jesus promised them The Holy Spirit, the second scripture clarifies that the Holy Spirit had not been released, and the third scripture confirms that Jesus would have to go for the Holy Spirit to be sent.

In Acts 2:1-4, we see a fulfilment of that promise. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.”

Now you understand what I mean when I said they received the Holy Spirit as a promise. It was after the day of Pentecost that the Holy Ghost officially became a gift to the church. You don’t have to wait as the disciples did to receive the Holy Spirit, once you’re born again, the Holy Spirit becomes a heritage you can receive by faith, at any time.

In Acts 19, when Apostle Paul met with some of the disciples at Ephesus, he asked them if they’ve received the Holy Ghost since they became believers. After they responded, he got them baptized right there. They didn’t have to wait. It was no longer a promise, but a gift that could now be received by understanding and faith.

Now back to our question, children are no promises at all, the bible calls them heritages. Psalm 127:3 says, “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward”. In other words, they are gifts from God. And if they are gifts, it means the only thing you need to do to receive that gift is to have faith. If you were making all those sacrifices just because you want a child, then you clearly do not understand God’s word. Consider those who got pregnant out of wedlock, what did they do to get pregnant? They didn’t even want the pregnancy in the first place. They were not expectant, yet it happened. This is to tell you how minute the subject of child bearing is before God. It’s probably as free as salvation.

Ofcourse, doing all those things are expected of you as a Christian. Promoting the kingdom, praying, sowing seeds, making sacrifices, those things should be part of your lifestyle. But if you’re doing them to impress God, then you’re making a mistake. Just have faith, and your child will come.

However, the second part of that scripture is worthy of note. It says, “the fruit of the womb is his reward”. Although children are an heritage, but that heritage can be hindered if there’s a problem with the womb. If that’s the case, then service to God can fix your womb or better yet, give you a child. I’ve heard countless number of testimonies of women whose wombs were removed, yet as they engaged in kingdom service, they were confirmed pregnant and became joyful mother of children. Psalm 113:9 says, “He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children”.

So as I conclude, children are primarily a gift, just as salvation, and all you need to do is receive them with faith. But if there’s an hindrance, perhaps some organ failure, then children can be a reward. At this point, you may need to offer acceptable service to God to get them. Either way, it’s unscriptural to be without your own children.

I hope this has brought enlightenment to someone.

Remain ever blessed, in Jesus precious name!

#EmekaAnslem