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The meeting

“This is God’s will. The University of Lagos. University of First Choice”, I spelled out in my heart as I walked past FSS, the Faculty of Social Sciences, enthusiastic and gleefully leaping too. “It must be a good place for God to have sent me here”.

I kept walking, determined to know the environment very well before lectures began to hold fully. I soon reached the Pharmacy. As I walked on, I saw, about six metres away from me, a woman, mermaid in fact.

Honestly, she didn’t have a tail or wiggle around. There wasn’t even a water body close. The closest was the lagoon and that was quite far from CITS. On this woman were all forms of seashells, beautiful, adorning her lower body. She had a bikini like top covering her breasts as the shells formed a train to mark her terrain and authority.

My eyes had this tingly feeling as I took in all of her features. I looked around to see if anyone was amazed like I was. No one was because at the next look at her, she was dressed like a normal lady in a green body-con off shoulder gown.

As I slightly rubbed my eyes, I saw her again in the former attire. She had on her a crown embellished with glittery shells. I felt extremely weighty and the distance between us closed. Suddenly, I felt one of my angels pat me on the back, nudging me to keep going without fear. It was as though they held my shoulders in place because I had slumped already. Those six meters were the longest six metres I had ever walked in my life.

Fair skinned, her skin glowed like a model sprayed with shimmer or fairy dust. It glowed like the sands by the shore when hit by the sun. But in reality she had a glowy skin and it was just 9.45pm. This is definitely no human, I thought to myself.

As we closed in (she and myself), I acted completely oblivious but she knew I saw her. As long as we didn’t say anything to each other, she was okay. Her beauty was mesmerizing, even to a lady. As soon as we passed each other, I held my chest tightly as I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me. He was walking with me too but I sensed how sober he was. He was in pains and it was affecting my heart. I felt the pain so much that I began to wail.

Some destinies were going to be destroyed that night and I was even afraid of confrontation. Few minutes ago, I was glad I wasn’t instructed to confront her. But the pain that flooded my heart that God’s precious will for all was thwarted in some people’s lives that night brought me to tears.

This experience was different and the territory too. I told myself I would tread carefully.

I went back to my hostel as soon as I was calm enough to walk. By now, it was 11.20pm.

As soon as I reached, My eyes got tingly again. I was having short breaths and the pain in my heart returned. I began to pray loudly in tongues but I felt weak in my body. The visions came as disquieting flashes in my eyes.

I quickly plugged in my ears with a sermon by Prophet Abraham, The Things Above. I picked up my school notes, wrote my name and courses on them and dropped them in my locker. I came back to bed, still plugged in and slept off. I thought the previous encounter was strange until I went on a journey in my dream and realized I could feel myself, in a dream. Stranger things.

I knew I was asleep in a dream inside the dream. I pinched myself in the dream so I would come back to life in reality (I learnt this in the movie Divergent) but it didn’t work. I was really struggling to wake up because what I saw ehn…

E be things. The story continues

Onaopewapo.

I was struggling to wake up because what I saw ehn, e pass my mouth. Hanging on the walls of the already peeling walls of Jaja Hall were creeping flying creatures. They looked like small dragons but they were attached to the walls of this hall.

Funnily, people thought of them as aesthetics rather than creatures to be chased away. I shook my head and I walked away. Suddenly, I saw a lady in my department. She was in her second year, a year higher. I met her during my clearance.

In the dream, she held onto a book, a textbook to be precise. But she was speaking to a guy in rags. He looked mad but he spoke clearly and fluently. He acted really normal but I just knew he was very crazy if that’s a way to put it.

I stopped and watched their exchange. Apparently, he gave her the book but he asked her for something. He asked that she allow Him have sex with her, in her dreams. She wasn’t shaken, even as she agreed.

“Yeeeeee”, I screamed internally. “What did you just say yes to? Are you stupid?”. I almost got caught as I stared intently. Moya look away because almost everyone was dressed in rags except the others dressed in white.

I’m pretty sure if you looked from the top at this place, it’d have looked like a chess piece, rags and whites. People moved about like they were pieces in a game.

As I walked on, catching my breadth, I saw a canteen right in front of Moremi Hall. It wasn’t by the side. It was right in front. People walked in and ate. The attendants picked the meals from a main kitchen. I watched as they went to collect every order from the kitchen till God said, “enough watching, go to the kitchen and don’t get caught”.

I should have been scared and even given a side eye but I just went. Upon opening the doors, I saw a shrine. Not the Yoruba film, red and black shrine OOO. The incense burning in the corner, Image in frame hanged in the center, “Healing” water in the other corner, all on a table kind of shrine.

I wondered where all the equipment disappeared to. I could have sworn I saw a proper kitchen earlier. Afi k’olorun sanu.

It was here I almost got caught and started running. I just wanted to leave the dream. I kept struggling, pinching and trying to just wake up till my roommate knocked on the door. The funny thing is, I saw her walk to the door and knock. But I couldn’t stand up until she knocked.

The joy was quickly covered up with confusion and worry. I had a million and one questions for God .

But His response was one…

The Physical is a masked manifestation of the spiritual.

Onaopewapo.

But His response was one. “There are forces that govern every territory and from the day you step into the environment, they become intentional about your choices. Every action is done with strategies and plans. There are no accidental encounters with spirits: good or not. One thing is true. They will try to silence you but remember this.

The words in you are Spirit and they’re Life. Every single word I speak through you is Christ. So when I ask you to speak, do not hesitate.

Trust me when I say there are forces against your soul, trying to pull you down because when they do, they’ll pull millions down with you.

My Spirit will always guide you even as you walk in the University of Lagos.

The charge I give you today is to stand as a watchman on the tower, a priest in golden royal rainment, at the river of whom I am the source, and Draw. As you draw, pour unto the Campus and ensure that it becomes flooded.

Of a truth, you are a channel of that river. Open up and watch how I, the river of living water floods Unilag. Open up, Iyin.

Confusion will arise, the waters might get blurry as the devil will cause it to be unsettled but know this, Love, Power and a Sound mind are instruments with which these mountains are made plain.

Never let a day pass where you’ll be weak. In supplications and prayers, let me know all that troubles you. Never let a day pass without you speaking to me.

Your strength will fail you. Your might will fail. Your power, you don’t even have any. But My Spirit, it’s the only one that’ll never fail.

I give unto you these two olive trees. They are the constant supply of oil in you. They connect to the lamps that guide you. My Lightbearer, Go in peace and watch how Christ rises in this sphere.”

These words came to me in my half-asleep state.

They brought all the calm I needed because Kamapuro Kamajale (to be honest), I was scared. This was no ancestry curse. It was a territorial war. God’s words didn’t only soothe me, they gave me confidence. The Joy that comes with God is a different type. Not even money or food, nothing ever made me feel this way.

I slept with a smile on my face but on waking up by 3, I saw a text informing me of a test by 8am. How? I wasn’t even prepared.

As I read, I began to have crazy thoughts. They were really crazy because I thought I liked my roommates. Emi? Girls? Nibo?

There are forces against your soul, desperate to get a hold of you. Jesus is not just a force, He’s Power, Light Himself.

Onaopewapo

POV: The Kingdom of Darkness

“She knows what we’re up to. She’s not ordinary.”, Atama, Chief of crippling spirits said.

We can’t leave her be. She must bow to us. It’s the season of immorality, our plans must be successful. But How do we stop her?

As I thought of ways, the Crippling spirits thought of ways to attack. Some suggested Money but God already taught her to manage it. Some suggested Friends. She understood the principles. Relationships? She had too many boundaries. Academics? She just started. Exams were far and there was an edge too. Parents? They were intercessors themselves, especially that mother. Business? God taught her too well. She passed the tests for this season already. Thoughts? She was a deep thinker. Thoughts? It helped in her meditation. Thoughts? The perfect entrance.

“These persons were great at inspecting. They found out the crack in her thoughts. She was strongly against off colour jokes but she watched that movie without an outburst. Somewhere in her is accepting the idea. We can work with that. We’ll strike it persistently till she yields to our desires.”

POV: Iyin

I needed to rest a little from all the screening and matric stress so I joined my roommates for a movie. It was really captivating at first till I started noticing some unnecessary scenes. It was as though it was there to buy time. Anyone would understand the storyline without all those mushy mushy scenes. I began to get drowsy where I sat squished between Tomi and Ife. Those two were so keen on understanding every detail and they almost fought because of their opinions on every scene. That was one of the reasons I sat in between them though. The other was because they were so warm. It made me feel at home.

Tomi kept nudging me though. I soon lost interest in the movie especially when I saw that the lead actor had a boyfriend. Eskis me, how did that help him get better at saving the city? He was a hero already before they included that rubbish.

I think it was at this point I totally just went off. I went to my bed and slept off honestly.

This happened three days ago so when the thought that I liked Seyi, the extremely endowed queen of our room came.

I lost it.

It was then I heard that calm still voice say, “It’s not your thought, cast it out”.

I’ve always looked at Seyi, half naked or not. We’re ladies in the same room. I would never think of that. It’s definitely not mine. I cast off the thought and remained still. It was then I knew, even my heart could be corrupted, desperately wicked.

If not for Jesus in my life, I’d have thought I was the one thinking that. Chinekeeeeee! I’m grateful. I actually thought the thought would not return to me till…

At every place where I was exposed to seeing ladies naked, this evil thought tried to creep in and each time, I spoke against it.

The funny thing is, a month earlier, I had sensed a wave of this LGBTQ spirit around the school and I prayed against it with Fiyin.

Is this one of the reasons Jesus was always in God’s presence? A second away and one spirit is trying to convert me to something I wasn’t even made for. Things dey occurrr

I told Fiyin about the thoughts and she said she experienced the same. It was then I understood the attack. It was time to break the altar and the priest servicing this altar.

I had to call on my gees. They were also wrestling against Lust. The devil is a bastard. Is this a joke?

What did God have to say about this though? His response was one.

It’s time to go the traditional way. We’d have to stand as not just watchmen but as Priests and raise an altar of righteousness to displace that of immorality.

Take on the headpiece of salvation, garment of purity, the incense of prayer and worship and the girdle of the Word. But The priesthood wasn’t going to be a one time. It was to be a lifetime process.

It was then it dawned on me that we were Sons but not yet Priests.

It was an awesome process but trust me, with a lot of mountains.

This is where I draw the curtain on the four weeks. See you same time next week.

We were Sons but not yet Priests.

Iyin
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From the archives

I can’t get enough of the “Im back” I’ve shared with you.

I want to share something I’ve really been wanting to share. I’m repeating words already.

I’ve been gradually developing into Christ, slowly but surely. It’s been pleasant and it’s been rough, I must say.

I bring words of comfort today to every youth out there. Jesus loves you and wants you back. He never wants you to turn away.

At some point when I was low, I felt void. It reminds me of the beginning of the world. I was in that state for weeks struggling for light. I was definitely still being a source of light to many but it was like someone switched off the lights in a hazy room and dumped me there.

I’m not writing this so you can tell me things or be sorry. I’m sorry. But this is for you and I.

A lot of pressure is placed on Christians and as much as it’s a strategy of the devil, it sometimes comes from us and the church.

The walk is important but what happens when you appear not to be walking.

What do you do when you just want to leave God’s presence and be caught up in the moment?

What happens when you hear God and minutes later go off the radar?

What happens when no one gets you and a friend can’t help you out?

The truth is, you do nothing.

You really can’t do anything.

This is the moment where you surrender. Total surrender.

There are levels to this surrender and service thing and it can be found in Christ short chat with the rich man in Mark 10: 17.

You’ll do things that make you believe you’ve reached the bar of surrendering till God shows you another loophole, till he shows you another potential idol.

This is why you return to the void state, without light. The truth is, you’re still in light and with God but God showed you the muddy waters inside you.

The flesh in its attempts to keep them muddy throws you into a frenzy. You’re probably convulsing spiritually with God by your side calling out to you to direct you and show you that the muddy waters are there no more.

In periods like this, your best way to hear God is the Bible. This is because like earlier, sound waves through muddy waters are really confusing but the word of God written and inspired by the Holy Spirit can be trusted.

The funny thing is as I write, I learn more on God’s view of our lives.

When read and meditated upon, restoration occurs. He leads us beside the still waters and restores our soul. He then guides us in the paths of righteousness.

Till we die, the journey to becoming holy as God is can’t end. He’ll always work on us. But we mustn’t flee God’s presence each time we feel short of God, like Adam. Take responsibility and wait till he confirms your healing and asks you to present yourself to the priests (testify).

Yahweh is truly the Shepherd.

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The Adventures of Iyin

She’s taken over the village, her friends too. They’re starting to strengthen the captives. Most of them have even been set free. They’re starting to see the Light, Master.

What can we do? Who really is she? Who gave birth to her? Astragalus, find out where she lives, the altars we laid there, her family altar and her grandparents’ altar. We must have a loophole somehow. How can one human destroy all that took us years to engrave? Preposterous!

This conversation was ongoing in the spirit realm between the devil and the demon Astragalus. He had the appearance of a flower after the famous flowering plant but it was all a deceit. He was nothing like the healing herb.

Astragalus sent three of his subordinates to search for loopholes in Iyin’s life. They visited Iyin’s home, looked around and found it clean with a burning altar. The altar the devil raised had been ruined and replaced by another, with sacrifice burning to God. They couldn’t go near it so they sowed tares. They carefully kept cold coals in the basket. This would take a while to burn. The complacency and tiredness tares would discourage the parents from waiting for it to burn. All this was in the spirit realm. But by the time it manifested, Iyin’s Dad, Mr Jide lost His job. It came as soon as they paid their first fruits. A month later, The kitchen got burnt. No one was hurt but a lot of their savings went into fixing the house as the Landlord put pressure on them to restore his property to it’s former state. The home was starting to experience imbalance and it affected the altar slowly.

These three didn’t stop there. They went to her school, making sure that they were always around her friends. Those four, suddenly became seven and you know, it looked like a perfect number so they weren’t really concerned.

Everytime those four decided to pray, one of those three would have an excuse to waste time and bring excuses. Personal prayers were the next thing to attack.

One evening, Iyin had a bath in anticipation of Christ’s teaching. She was really expectant when Sophie’s number popped up. Iyin would normally not pick calls but it was Sophie, the quiet one of those three. She picked up only to hear Sophie crying.

One loophole was รŒyรฌn’s inability to balance emotions and logic. It took wisdom to do that. But รŒyรฌn was more of an emotion person. Emotions could be manipulated and that’s what Sophie did.

Funnily, Iyin had never liked those three but for Tobi and Tayo who thought it wrong to dismiss well meaning people who wanted to grow spiritually.

Now what was wrong with Sophie? Her mum died and would be buried in 3 days time.

รŒyรฌn tรณ the rescue! She forgot completely about the meeting with Christ. She said a short prayer, left and became the comforter.

รŒyรฌn got to her dormitory that afternoon and tried to keep her calm. Sophie stopped crying and sobbing. She slowly began to sleep. To Iyin, the comforting words from scripture worked wonders.

She was going to leave and get back to her meeting but at every instant, Sophie woke up.

It was difficult. She too soon started to yawn. At that very minute, Christ came to her room, waiting patiently for his best friend. He called out to her. But just outside Sophie’s room was a spiritual barrier. There was no reception inside the room.

At the last minute, Iyin opened her eyes and got up to pee. As she opened the door, she heard her name loudly and saw two angels waiting outside. They could see her but the unclean barrier kept them from her. They stayed quiet amidst Iyin’s questions through the walk back.

Christ was excited beyond her imaginations. She wondered why and he started to explain that once she broke the streak, her flesh would take over and it would be difficult for her to accept God’s will into her heart

Dreading losing her best friend, she promised to try to maintain the streak as long as God’s grace was with her.

But she didn’t ask about the three friends Out of love, Christ said, You’re just four before my Father. Those three don’t love me and can never. Iyin couldn’t keep her mouth closed as she heard those words. She never really trusted them. She was starting to open up to Sophie. Now what? How do I stop being friends with someone who lost her mum? What does that make me?

Christ smiled and said, How do you continue being friends with someone who takes you away from my presence at every chance they get? How do you talk about the world and its pleasures at peace with these people?

The next day, Iyin called Tobi, Fiyin and Tayo and told them what Christ had said. Tayo confirmed it all and even exposed that Philip was talking him into joining a group of seniors who were homosexuals. Philip assured him that he’d not have to study hard as our class teacher, Mr Eroja was the head of the group and he’d ensure great grades if Tayo joined them.

Wow was all we could say. I’m pretty sure Tobi and Fiyin had encounters but they were quite reserved. We agreed to steer clear off them but Fiyin kept asking how Sophie could get help with the loss of her mother.

It would be heartless. She was starting to doubt what we heard so we prayed together for individual confirmations to foster unity.

Meanwhile as we prayed, these three started looking for ways to flee the school. Afแบนfแบน ti fแบน…

The cold coals were still on the family altar. It was here that God taught รŒyรฌn what happened with the Baal prophets.

After she prayed, Fire burnt even with the wet coals and the fire didn’t burn out. The same fire scathed the demons. There were burn marks on them.

They won once again because Christ’s love was immeasurable. He kept looking out for those four. This love defied all of the devil’s odds and gave strength to them.

Iyin’s dad got a much better job, better pay and more personal time. He could work remotely and on site too. As if that wasn’t enough, The organization gave certain packages with it: housing, and transport. It was a real estate company that took special care of it’s staff. Mr Jide would be the owner in two years of working with them.

Those four kept burning. They healed the sick, especially children with the down syndrome. It seemed almost impossible when they held their hands together but as they opened their mouths, Fire fell on the sick and smote the chains that held their tongues, arms, brains, feet. All they could see was peace.

More importantly, they grew in wisdom, knowledge and discernment.

Who are these four? Heirs of the Most High, Joint heirs with Christ and that’s on periodt.

They continued in this till they graduated secondary school and part ways as they arrived at three tertiary institutions.

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The Adventures of Iyin

Ministering Spirits

We handed over to the Children. They prayed and brought men to Christ. But it still wasnโ€™t over.

The two teachers werenโ€™t done with us. They stared at us horribly.

It was here God showed a vision. In the vision, God showed me what the original plan was for the children.

Children would be exposed to sorcery and divination first. If that was stopped, the next thing would be lust, both of the eyes and of the flesh.

Fiyin and I sat under the tree, waiting for the boys to return with our foods. It was time to break the Wednesday joint fast. Everyone sat in groups and had their volunteers get the meals.

As always, the four of us always ended up together. It was as though we were the remnant from the groups and so we formed a group.

Tobi and Tayo returned in five minutes. We were about to pray when I heard a loud cry of pain. Tayo, Tobi and Fiyin looked at me. Apparently, the four of us heard the cry. It was continuous. The voice of a mother weeping for her children. We looked around and didn’t see anyone in our line of sight. The other groups didn’t hear anything. There were no buildings in sight. Who was crying so loudly?

Tobi switched saying “It’s Rachel. She’s weeping for her children”. Herod’s Spirit is in this village. He won’t let any Child live until he has Iyin. Rachel is weeping for her children.”

Did this mean we had to hide like Christ was hidden? What would befall the children? After all, God’s response to Rachel was to refrain from weeping. She was assured of her children’s return and prosperity.

This message brought worry to my heart but God comforted me through the meal prayers.

It was lights out at 10pm. The boys were in their hostel while Fiyin and I stayed at Captain Abiodun Hostel. I honestly couldn’t sleep.

Fiyin stayed by my side as we read through the Psalms. She shared that God was going to be visiting me tonight through ministers and that I shouldn’t be afraid or worried but to receive all with humility and love for God.

I kept on looking at the clock as I imagined what an encounter with an angel would be like. Was it going to be scary? How tall would he be? Would it be like those descriptions John gave? แปŒlแปrun Shanu mi.

11pm passed. 12 too. 1 too, 3 too. Se this minister will not come again. I had forgotten the tip Fiyin gave me. Do not be disturbed. Do not be worried.

It was at the minute I stopped thinking and stood up to ease myself I saw a great light. How did light stand alone in darkness? This being was literally light, no other features, just light. He said, I am not a minister. I am the source of the ministers. Jesus Christ.

I was quite far from this Light but I could hear His voice as though He was right by my side. Eiuu God, Have mercy was all I could mouth.

He drew me closer to His side without moving, Like a moth drawn to a flame. I’m definitely that moth. My legs were elevated to His feet. This means He wasn’t standing on the ground. But it looked as though we were on a ground. At an instant, I found us outside the hostel. He took me to a mountain top. There we sat as He opened my Bible and handed it over to me.

I wondered how and why the Bible was here. It was in my box, the last time I checked.

As though he heard every thought, He said, Study it. Read, Read, Read. He picked clay from the side of the mountain. He then said it was too dry to be an anointing. He asked me if I understood. I shook my head and all he did was smile.

He called out water from the rock we sat upon. Water gushed out and he mixed the clay with some water.

Next, he anointed my eyes with them.

He then rinsed my face with the water that gushed out. Now he said, ” Read. “.

I kid you not when I say that My eyes were opened. I could see beyond the written words on the sheet of Genesis 3. There were so many footnotes under each verse. I looked at Him and looked at the Bible. I wondered if it was still the same Bible. It was. Something was wrong right. It wasn’t the Bible, It was me. Jesus opened my eyes. He is the source of Ministering Spirits.

He then began to teach me about Adam’s love and fall. He took me to His own days on earth and opened my eyes to see all that He suffered just to get men reconciled back to God. The number of days he went without food just to get us back to the Garden of True Pleasure, Eden. It was here I realized that it really wasn’t by works but by grace. Years of pleading for restoration was what he underwent till He finally ascended and the intercession still hasn’t ended. All of these knowledge and many more was poured out on me but more importantly, my identity in Christ was proven.

Jesus reminded me that He knew me before I was born and that He had called me. He showed me some snippets of my life. He then took me to my first altar call and all the others I had attended to rededicate myself. What could a 10 year old broken child do in church?

He asked me if I understood what it really meant to heed the call. It was to literally drop dead and take up Jesus’ life and live as He is. I can’t even explain it well. But Colossians 3 does justice to it.

He asked me if I was ready to allow Him manifest through me and I agreed but I wondered if Fiyin, Tayo and Tobi could also see Him the way I could.

He told me that they were also receiving encounters at the time.

The last question He asked me before Kehinde tapped me was “Are you ready?”

By the time I saw my friends, they confirmed meeting Jesus that same night. How did three hours feel like three days?

I saw water by my bedside too but I saw three other things, my Bible, A pen and A journal.

Since that day, visitations from Christ was unending. The Holy Spirit would whisper in my ears that Jesus wanted a walk and I would jump at the offer. No day passed without a visitation.

Verse 4 became our song.

God has so many extensions of Himself and one of them is the Ministering Spirit(s). They’re not in extinction. They’re more active than you can imagine and one of God’s ways of speedily training His children. I pray that we’ll not just encounter them but we’ll also be able to discern their presence, stay calm and welcome them.

Note: whatever God starts, the devil tries to hijack. Ministering Spirits are not angels or demons but an extension of God’s presence.

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The Adventure of Iyin

This is a story inspired by the Holy Spirit, fictional for parents and children alike.

I ran as fast as I could but it appeared as though I wasn’t. The wind lifted my legs as I ran and increased my speed. I covered so much distance and by the time I stopped, I couldn’t see anyone around me.

It appeared as though, I was free from those angry men but I was lost too.

Pardon me, darling. A lost person keeps on talking if you understand me.

I’m Iyin and the Holy Spirit has been giving me some roller coaster experiences of late. This last one took me to a land I know nothing about.

Three weeks ago, my campus fellowship organized an evangelical outreach and I got the nudge to go.

My friends, Tobi, Fiyin and Tayo were so excited. I was scared. I just knew this village had its perks.

If God sent us though, then there was nothing to be scared of, right?

A week after, we arrived at รŒpรณlรฉ ร€gbร do. This village was quite exposed to civilization. It had a church, more like a cathedral, Community Primary School and a basic health centre amongst other grassroot facilities. The church was the only public place of interest to us though as there was also a shrine area that had been deserted by many.

As we walked round the village after visiting the Baรกlรฉ, we spotted an area where two middle aged women taught the children.

I was drawn to them and quickly walked to greet them but as I drew nearer, I noticed something really strange.

What they were taught to do was more like sorcery. The children were taught to engage in the metaphysical realm, speak in tongues and even go in trance.

If these women were declared pagans, it would have made the event more understandable. They were Christians.

They attended the only church in the village, a C&S church and were part of the prophetic unit.

It was here I understood what they were doing to the children. Children are naive and always amazed by the giftings of the spirit so teaching them to be active users of these gift would be an easy way to get more children into the church. But the mannerisms of their teachings and what was taught had nothing to do with the Spirit. It was pure black magic.

The devil had hijacked their idea and deceived both parents, teachers and even the children.

“This must be hurting God”, I thought.

While I was thinking, Tobi, Fiyin and Tayo had caught up with me. They greeted those women.

They stared at me. They obviously could see and feel God’s hurt.

We held hands and immediately asked to watch the kids so they could rest. This was evening and those women were definitely thirsty for a break.

Immediately they left, we swung into action.

We prayed together first and asked for instructions on how to make use of the two hours given us.

God responded almost immediately we opened our mouths to pray.

We were overwhelmed by how strategic God was and started to do as He said.

Tobi, Fiyin, Tayo and I took to our positions and prayed with the children. We then started to…

To be continued next Monday .

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Living on God’s own terms 2

Grace and honour be unto the Most High for all that He’s done in my life and in the life of every man. I woke up with all the confidence I never thought I had. “This week’s going to be great”, I thought.


Upon getting to my primary place of assignment, Warri Refinery and Petrochemical company, The secretary informed me that there was no space anymore for corp members to take in the department. I was still confident, for in God will I trust.


I found out there were openings in another section of the refinery, Department of Petroleum resources.
I applied there and waited two days for a reply. There was no reply but I was confident. My purpose was to serve God and get joy only in Him. Nothing was going to take away my joy, not again.


As I walked into the office, I met the Secretary to Mr Bala, the registrar. She was the one who collected our application letters earlier and asked that we wait for two days. I greeted her and offered a smile which she returned with a half baked smile. She later told me to stop wasting my time and check elsewhere but this guy wasn’t going to break. No, He wasn’t.

I was going to pray for God’s favour at this moment but praises came to heart instead. I began to sing quietly. The songs flowed like a river with an unending source.
I was lost in worship that I didn’t even notice Mr Bala pass by me.
When he returned, I was still deep in worship. He tapped me and said, “Follow me”. The joy that moved round me was unexplainable. I walked in highly expectant. He didn’t ask that I sit and I didn’t. He stood and said, “Continue waiting on the Lord, He’ll renew your strength”. The songs were still playing at the background of my mind. I hummed. Silly me hummed when this man was staring at me, expecting a response.
“Okay” was the word that crossed my mind and I said it, accompanied by a “Sir”. He smiled and offered me a letter tagged DO NOT READ TILL YOU’RE OUT OF THE ORGANISATION.
Thank you very much sir and I was out as fast as a cheetah would run.


Service year was a great one. Mum would visit once in a month and share stories of various personalities she had encountered. She was gradually getting over Dad’s death. But I know she could never forget him. I just continued to pray for strength to handle all these responsibilities that were becoming evident as the days went by and to achieve purpose (ultimate goal).


Upon opening the letter, I found that I was accepted into the organisation but I’d have to work at Kaduna for some months. I wasn’t happy. I was joyous. I screamed in my head and sang loudly (thank God, I was outdoor). I went back in to thank Mr Bala but he left already. I was going to wait for him to return when his secretary walked across the room, swaying her hips like one dancing to Bata. I quickly asked when he would be back and she said He wouldn’t. He was going to Mecca for Hajj and to Australia for a professional course. He would be back in about a year and a half. All along, I thought he was a Christian. This meant we might not meet again. I’ll definitely find him and appreciate him in person.

Work at home seemed to distract me from life as a whole. But the sixth month was rocky for me. As the assistant to the auditor who was quite lazy, I had to make and organise all the reports of the organisationโ€™s finances. It was tasking. Something happened and I was invited by the disciplinary committee. There was financial misappropriation. This must have involved the auditor, accountant and a clerical officer so I understood why I was being investigated but the issue at hand was what I didnโ€™t understand. How did this happen? How? I always checked. Anyways, Iโ€™m innocent is what I can declare. As investigations continued, I was stressed out that I didnโ€™t remember my extra copies at home. After two weeks of lost reputation and tiredness, Mum called. She was really ill. All appropriate medications didnโ€™t seem to have any effect. Double wahala. I asked for permission to travel to Lagos from Kaduna to be with mum but they wouldnโ€™t budge. They thought I was trying to run away.


The next week was worse. The report from Das Engineering Company came in. How does a business wither within a month? How?


Das was Dad’s business before he died. An auditor can never be an engineer but he could read financial reports and from what I was reading, Das was dying. I asked the manager to go ahead with the payment of salaries and prayed that the next month would be better.


These 4 weeks changed the way, manner and timing of prayer. I still studied but every verse seemed like God was saying “stay in it”. This burden is too much for a 20 year old guy. I’m still a young guy. I shouldn’t go through this, yet?


Two days later, I got a call.

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Mend it.

One Saturday morning, I woke up with the nice thought of making “baby food” like Nigerians sometimes call it, Classic Mashed potatoes.

I set off, peeled the potatoes and began slicing with the manual slicer.

It was going well till boom, I sliced the top of my finger in half.

It wasn’t neatly wrapped because I didn’t stay still.

At that moment, I felt no pain but I felt the need to ask for help. As I held my finger, I marched to my parents’ room while asking Holy Spirit to keep me calm as I’m the infamous drama queen especially when I hear “let’s add spirit”.

I got to their room, and started saying “blood”. My dad quickly took me to the bathroom and put my profusely bleeding finger under running water. It continued bleeding that I began to get so dizzy.

Time for “spirit”!!!

I started mentally preparing myself for more pain as even the running water caused some pain. My dad found the bottle and poured the methylated spirit. It didn’t get in but I screamed and blew some air. O’s and ah’s filled the room. My body was losing too much blood for a girl on a diet and fitness routine.

I felt no pain but became so pale and was forced to eat all I had denied myself of for the past few days.

My finger was carefully cleaned and wrapped in a plaster.

After a month, I healed after weeks of being forced to take multivitamins and blood tonics. I gained the weight fast but my nail looked new without scars.

Today’s topic is mend it.

I had to remind us as my story doesn’t really portray it but I’ll explain.

We often go through new issues, progress, downfalls, upgrades, downgrades and the likes in life but when we do, we say things like “I don’t want to burden you” when asked why certain things turn out the way they do.

As much as God says, tell it all to me, he wants you to also tell certain people who he leads you to. He does help us or send help but we fail to receive it because we don’t want to mend certain broken pieces in the relationship.

I’ll say this, The Holy Spirit must be the first to know as He’s the Advocate (John 16: 7).

Is your relationship with him in the rubble or is it leaking, is there a missing piece, what’s causing the gap?

In conjunction with the Holy Spirit, How’s your relationship with others around you?

If you meet someone today, how would you speak? Would you be able to? Would you bleed profusely or be numb?

Is your relationship like my hurt finger or is it bandaged or is it completely healed?

Mind you, I was able to make my mashed potatoes without help. I made it. It came out lovely. Quite delicious a recipe. But…

I got dizzy spells three times that day: while treating it, while cooking and in the evening. So the wound reopened and bled again and I had to put a hold on some chores for three days thereabout.

Is your relationship one you just go about hiding, smiling and making things happen without treating because of your stubbornness like I did?

What are you neglecting at the expense of your health?

Is it your health, your friendship, your marriage, your business, your community, your family? What are you leaving behind at the expense of the other?

Mend it. God is saying, “I know you’ve tried to mend it and it’s tough, I know. But you never talked to me about it. You never sought my opinion. You never asked what I wanted. You can now. Ask me what I think you should do. Ask me to help. Ask me to speak into the matter. “

To go to God, you go through the Son, who asks that you go through the Spirit.

When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement.

John 16: 8 (NIV)

Mend it today. Go through the pain, heal and be new again. Don’t frown at the mention of a name, don’t cry at it, don’t think or worry about it. Ask the Amen, the faithful and true witness to be your witness and your advocate. Ask He that is Holy, He that is true to lighten up your heart on those matters; that the desires of your heart may be in alignment with the purpose of the Lord your God.

Mend it.

If you ever need help or you feel like you need someone to talk to, after talking to the Holy Spirit, you could talk to me. My details are in below. You could also

Pre-Exilic Books: Jeremiah 24 & 25

Judah goes to exile and God shows us mercy’s strategy. The good figs are fit but are sent out of the basket for preservation. bad eggs or apples or fruits generally will cause good ones to spoil if kept together. It’s mercy that separates them. It’s love that carefully positions the good in an environment that sustains the good of the figs.

God’s positioning is the best. I pray to always be in his will and location. I remember thinking to myself yesterday and telling HS that I’d choose God’s will as it is free. he highlighted that God’s will is usually position based for man. Position, not necessarily location. It led me to ask if the promised land was rally Canaan or a position. I think posture is also another word to consider.

This will lead to a study on God’s positioning.

Chapter 25 leads me to wonder how old Jeremiah was at this point. He was young when God called and was 25+his teenage years in this chapter. I think he was in his 40s. In this chapter, Nebuchadnezzar became king and Daniel was starting to settle in with his friends in Babylon.

Daniel and his friends definitely grew listening to Jeremiah. They paid attention too.

ย โ€œBut when the seventy yearsย are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylonย and his nation, the land of the Babylonians,[b]ย for their guilt,โ€ declares theย Lord, โ€œand will make it desolateย forever.ย 

13ย I will bring on that land all the things I have spoken against it, all that are writtenย in this book and prophesied by Jeremiah against all the nations.ย 

14ย They themselves will be enslavedย by many nationsย and great kings; I will repayย them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.โ€

Babylon was only a separation tool. It was maybe a serviette or paper tray soon to be discarded when the bad figs had been disposed and the basket (Israel) washed and dried.

God’s judgment and wrath will flow from the church to the world. This is similar to how it flowed from Israel to Babylon. Another anecdote.

Like then, โ€œLook! Disasterย is spreading
ย ย ย ย from nation to nation;
a mighty stormย is rising
ย ย ย ย from the ends of the earth.โ€

Shepherds must arise once again. Intercessors must stay at their posts. No one is to be found seeking vain things that can and will be destroyed in a few. this isn’t time to be quiet and shake heads. It’s time to weep and wail. We must be loud about God’s judgment soon to come. We must take actionable steps to proclaim God, the gospel and Christ’s return.

Judah didn’t believe in the exile until 23 years after the prophecies came. Nebuchadnezzar had no idea, the clock was ticking. Time is such an entity of disguise. We don’t have time for frivolities and vain seeking.

Shepherds, watch, weep and wail.

Pre-Exilic Books: Jeremiah 23

Ninu Ona yi
Ona Ihinrere 
Ma ma sare ooo
Ngo pa gbagbo mo 
Ounkoun to wu ko de ba mi 
Ireti yi sha wa lokan mi 
Baye yi ba koja 
Ori mi yi a dade ogo

In this journey, wherein we’re sent, Our inactions and inactions have consequences. God has given unto us freewill but we must live with the consequences of our actions.

The shepherds and pastors whose actions and inactions drove Judah into failing God will be held accountable. Similarly, you and I will be held accountable based of the same premise. Many lives have been committed to us whether we acknowledge it or not and our choices adversely affect them.

God however promises a righteous branch, one who establishes right acts(righteousness) and justice. He is Jesus, Yahweh Tsidkenu(Theย Lordย Our Righteous Savior)

This Statement: The prophets follow an evil course
    and use their power unjustly. This situation has been so common in the past years of my life. I started to question the prophetic frequently. It was a blessing in disguise as i’m growing in the knowledge of what prophecy and the prophetic is. When Prophets misuse the gifts of God, people get hurt. A lot of people choose wrongly. Some grow to hate “the voice of God”. Some lose interest in everything that pertains to God.

E don tey when prophets they do wetin God no like. E don tey wey dem dey lie.

God is faithful and consistent. He will punish every false prophet and ensure they reap the fruit of their “labors”.

God gives us counsel on how to know false guys in the verse below.

But which of them has stood in the councilย of theย Lord
ย ย ย ย to see or to hear his word?
ย ย ย ย Who has listened and heard his word?

Falsehood flees from the truth. He who knows God’s voice knows His word. He who says the Lord says must have listened and actually heard His word. It’s not about mimicking God. It’s about telling God’s word. Telling a story comes from the experience of living the story out whether in meditation or experientially.

Men who have not walked with God can never understand his voice and words. It takes intimacy to know God and His voice. Men who don’t know God, His character or voice arise as prophets and misrepresent him. It’s impersonation and a crime against God’s conduct. I need lawyers to help with the other details of this crime. It’s obviously a lie and will be judged.

Can false prophets hear God? Yes. Do they hear God? No. Why? they don’t stay in his presence to hear. They stay in their minds and in the presence of Baal.

As we progress, we see God’s encouraging words to the ones who are true and faithful to The Faithful one. ย 

Let the prophet who has a dreamย recount the dream, but let the one who has my wordย speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?โ€ declares theย Lord.ย 29ย โ€œIs not my word like fire,โ€ย declares theย Lord, โ€œand like a hammerย that breaks a rock in pieces?

As falsehood shines through signs, Truth must not be silent. God is giving us counsel to not be quiet because falsehood prevails. God wants truth to arise and speak faithfully. God wants truth to spread. Many of us cower whenever we’re in spaces were darkness have clearly been predominant.

God desires that we speak faithfully. We speak truthfully. Another category is the set who steal from one another words supposedly from God. God’s word is new every morning. There is a theme in every season. However, God’s words to individuals are unique. God may imply the same thing but He’s too creative to be repetitive to different people. He’s not forwarding BCs. He’s communicating and that takes effort, from both parties.

Upon all who lie about God’s words to His people, there shall be everlasting disgraceโ€”everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.

Let us all repent from our wrongs and fear God going ahead.

So help us God.

Pre-Exilic Books: Jeremiah 21

My dad says the church starts from the home. I had to attend to family and couldn’t make out time to post hence, the delay.

The first few verses demonstrate a significant truth. Those at the top don’t really hear everything that goes on in the country. However, I’m baffled that the king was only concerned about God’s instructions when war was at Israel’s gate.

We shouldn’t go to God for needs when it’s pressing as though He’s a machine. I like that God didn’t even look at the rudeness of the king. He still answered and gave them advice.

Israel acknowledged God as refuge and never stayed under his Shadow.

From this chapter, I’ve learnt that to access privileges from God and even men, you must be connected in some form. Human connection is fading and being replaced with content. If men aren’t connected, how can we speak of God-Man connection?

We must genuinely seek human connections and the God-Man connection.

If we don’t, the relationship is stifled and parasitic in nature, leading to frustrations, anger and hurt.

What you wouldn’t let anyone do to you don’t do to anyone, let alone God.

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