Proving God’s Power has become an opportunity to pull some ridiculous stunts for some preachers. How far would you go to prove that the power of God is at work in your life? Walk into any nearby zoo and have some chit-chat with lions as biblical Daniel did? Pray and Fast for 40 days without food or water? or die and resurrect after 3 days like Jesus the Christ?
Whichever way, the choice is totally yours. However, here are five (5) instances where people perished in an attempt to make a point about how powerful God is. Anyone who wishes to prove how powerful God is, should not take cues from these guys.
People Who Perished While Proving God’s Power
1. Alfred Ndlovu, A South African Pastor tried to match Jesus’ 40-Day Dry Fast Record
Thus saith Christ in the Christain’s holy book (John 14:12): “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he also do; and greater works than these shall he do…”
Alfred Ndlovu, a 44-year-old South African Pastor, known as a very spiritual person whose faith could move mountains probably read this part of Scripture, thought, and believed he could do what Jesus did as recorded in the Scriptures. The Pastor embarked on a 40-day dry fast without food or water to further buttress the above scripture.
Ndlovu left his home and stayed in the bush for the duration of his fast possibly to avoid distraction as he underwent this spiritually defining moment of his life.
It was an unsuccessful mission for Ndlovu sadly, he lost his life after the 30th day due to malnutrition as he was checked and declared healthy before he embarked on the journey.
His corpse was discovered by a stranger who then alerted the police since he was alone in the wilderness. But you will have to give the late pastor some credit, it is said that he survived for the first 30 days.
2. Zimbabwean Pastor Eaten By Crocodiles As He Tried To Walk On Water Like Jesus Christ
Sometime in early 2012, Zimbabwean pastor, Jonathan Mthethwa, the spiritual guide of the Saint of the Last Days Church’s congregation was attacked and fed on by the wild reptiles after he attempted to walk on water like Jesus Christ.
Prior to him pulling this stunt, the Man of God did a series of teachings on Faith, and how it makes all things possible. So to prove that indeed faith makes everything possible, he promised his congregation a practical demonstration of Faith – he would walk on water at the Crocodile River.
The pastor drowned and was feasted upon by three crocodiles in a couple of minutes as testified by members of his congregation. They said he was devoured in a couple of minutes and the only thing left of him was his sandal and underwear that floated on the water after the crocodiles had had their fill.
3. The Full Gospel Tabernacle In Jesus Name Snake Handling Pastor Who Died From a Snake Bite
Jamie Coots, a 42-year-old Pentecostal Preacher is a third-generation snake handler from Middlesboro, Kentucky. He inherited the snake handling ministry from his father who inherited it from his grandfather. Before this unfortunate incident, he was hoping to pass it on to his son.
Before his death, the Snake Salvation Pastor discussed the essence of handling snakes as a form of worship to God. He told ABC News that God’s calling for him and his congregants was to toy with venomous snakes and to refuse treatment but wait upon the Lord when bitten for healing.
Sadly, Coots died on the 15th day of February 2014 after he was bitten on his right hand by one of the snakes he was handling during service.
He lost consciousness and was taken home where his family refused anti-venom treatment by paramedics and equally dismissed pleas to visit a hospital. He died two hours after the bite.
Before his death, he has been bitten by snakes 22 times and each time he recovered without receiving any form of treatment – through the power of his faith.
4. Prophet Daniel Abodunrin Who Wanted To Replicate The Daniels-in-the-Lion’s-Den Story In Ibadan Nigeria
This is quite a popular legend in the West African country. It is said that proving God’s power for the “man of God” was all about showing the God of Daniel as in the bible. He wanted to prove that God is still the powerful deliverer who would stop at nothing to rescue those who believe in him from harm and danger.
In 1991, while visiting the Zoological Garden at the University of Ibadan. The prophet had an idea to test God and see if he would also deliver him from the lions as he did Daniel in the Bible where God sent his Angels to shut the mouth of the lions. He grabbed his bible and sneaked into where the lions were kept.
In the lions’ cage, Abodurin kept chanting Bible Verses and speaking in tongues, hoping that God would shut their mouth as he did in days of old. Unfortunately for him, the animals didn’t wait a moment, they pounced and feasted on him. His remains were later recovered from the lions’ cage.
See Also: Tommy DeSimone- All The Mysteries On How He Died And Who Killed Him
5. Zambian Pastor asks to be buried Alive and Promised to Resurrect after 3 days
A 22-year-old James Sakara, Pastor of the Zion Church Chadiza, Zambia attempted a dying and resurrecting stunt. The pastor asked to be buried by his church members and promised to resurrect after three days just like Jesus Christ.
To defend this unbelievable stunt he quoted the part of the Bible where Jesus asked his disciples to “do this in remembrance of me”. The passage he quoted was an instruction from Jesus on the Holy communion and not his death as implied by the clergy.
Sakara dressed in a white gown and was tied before he was buried by his assistants. On the third day, when they came back to meet their resurrected Boss but to their disappointment, He was found dead, with his white gown soiled with mucus and blood. It seemed he had quite a struggle before eventually giving up a ghost. All efforts to resurrect him proved abortive
Proving God’s Power should not be something to do when you are bored. It should be at the command and with the permission of God. Pulling stunts like the men in this article is dangerous and is in no way a yardstick for Proving God’s Power.
