My Prayer

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Success is subjective to individual values. The most popular definition of success however is attached to money and things money can buy. These things, no doubt make life beautiful; ranging from grand glass houses by the beach, buying an island for oneself, driving speedy bullet proof metallic cars, owning fleets of Titanics, drinking the best of wines and having to associate only with people of the same class. Giving 90% of one’s monetary worth to charity and still not being able to track one’s wealth without the help of a financial manager should be success enough. This introduces the next most popular definition of success.

Giving back to the society has become an everyday phrase. People want to impart on other people’s lives, genuinely or in genuinely. Some rich folks want ‘philanthropist’ added to their titles. Some want more fame than they have. Others use it as a diversion or leverage to retain what they have and keep gaining riches.

Another set of people have sympathy for humanity and want to help change lives. These set of people may not have much money but they are willing to share the little they have with people that don’t have. Nothing else gives them more satisfaction than the smile they put on people’s faces and to them this is success.

Worthy to note is the division that associate success to their careers. Doing well in what you like doing should be satisfying. Being recognized as a champion in one’s field of operation is elevating. The idea of being a professional and the most sort in the labor market is 90% of dreams that creep around at night on earth. Earning grandly in this career one loves is not something that is seen every day, so may it receive its due acknowledgement.

This last category is what I want my definition of ‘success’ to be. Firstly, I want my heart to burn so fiercely for God. I want him to set my heart on fire. I want to be consumed by desire for him. To be able to put him first and not trade him for anything else is what I desire. To lay on my death bed and be able to smile because all my life I have preached the gospel; I have won souls for Jesus; I have fought the good fight of faith; to have the gospel as my number one mission in life is my goal. For God to be ‘practically’ (not just generically) more important than my spouse, mother, father, siblings, career, money is my prayer. I am not satisfied with just telling him I love him and that he is more important than every other thing. I really want to deeply love him with clenches, fists, my last drop of blood and last draw of breath. I want to be able to preach the gospel without reservation; to yearn and groan for people who do not understand; to study and know the bible so well that I can teach effectively and answer questions in the hearts of men and to choose discomfort and inconvenience for the sake of the gospel. I want to be a mobile gospel, in fact. I need money, career and everything the world has to offer to weigh less than my desire to preach the gospel. I want nothing else in mind when I pray asides my brokenness for him and my requests for hearts receiving the gospel. I want to die calling myself successful because I preached the gospel and I love the lord. This is my prayer. I pray that I be successful!

The Walk Home

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I already wished I never started this

I already know that I must do this

I’m already steps into the final lap

Home, my destination on this sullen track

The noise they make drowns into the silence

The pain I feel drowns into my weariness

The curse I bear charts this course to which I am bound

Home, my destination on this sullen track

My enemy sees me fall and rejoices

He thinks this end means victory for him

He can’t see my journey ends not on this tree

Home, my destination on this sullen track

Though this night lingers and this tree withers

My hope breathes fire, my purpose never wavers

Many think this a lost cause but I drew the map

Home, my destination on this sullen track

Beyond this night is a morning that forever glows

Beyond this failure is glory untold

Beyond this pain is healing, beyond this downfall is rising

Home, my destination on this sullen track

If the enemy had known better he wouldn’t bother

Like a pawn in this game he moves at the will of the Father

Making way for us kings and queens to walk the path to

Home, our destination on this sullen track

Yes He died, yes we fell flat on our back

Yes He rose again, yes we will get back on track again

Yes our journey never ends till we get

Home, our destination on this sullen track

Home is righteousness borne of the salvation Jesus brings

Home is peace everlasting the kind that passes all understanding

Home is joy and rejoicing in the victory of the risen King

Home, our destination on this sullen track

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

By Ezeonyeka Godswill

FAQs

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For a while now, I’ve been so confused about Christianity. Everyone has their own version of everything. So many different doctrines! So many lifestyles. I heard that all you need to do to be a believer is believe in Jesus. Wait, that doesn’t sound right. I had my doubts too.

A friend asked me why I didn’t attend church service. I told him I needed a breather. I had had it up to my neck. I said, “I need to know God for myself”. I sat back and folded my arms. That was my mantra for a long while and I wasn’t doing anything to solve my problem.

I had questions but I wasn’t asking them. What about my actions? That’s the only way people will know I’m a Christian. “By their fruits you shall know them”, right? Paul said, “I discipline my body” but I thought we have power over sin and it’s by the grace of God. Ah, tongues. That had always been and is still my biggest question. Is it a proof of the Holy Spirit? Must every believer have it? What if I don’t desire it? But we are to “desire all gifts”. As a Christian, should I listen to secular music? I really like some of them. What is secular music?

So many of them but I just folded my arms and carried them about. In fact, some of them are still questions and very necessary for spiritual growth. I am working on getting answers now. But I’m not writing this piece to answer the questions. I am writing this piece because I got an answer yesterday to the only thing that matters.

Yes. All it takes to be a believer is to believe in Jesus.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.

Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.

THE ARMY

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I sat in my shadows, legs crossed,
There was a knock,
And the Other had with something good to sell,
Large smiles and affordable prices,
We made a good bargain and I felt good,

It began to wear off,
I knew there would be a fight,
I should not have let it in,
I knew I would lose and I saw the Other taunt me,

The Eyes that saw me looked away,
I was trapped,
The Other flashed it’s bloody teeths,
The One I looked to turned away,

I crawled out of my shadows,
The lights blinded me,
Sharp hues of White, ivory and gold,
I stumbled around looking for my shadows,

The Other grabbed my shoulders and pulled me,
I couldn’t fight back,
I could only wimp,
It pulled me slowly now,
Perhaps reveling in its victory,

I looked up at the blinding light,
Only now I saw the One coming,
He held out his hands,
I had two choices,

It was a fight,
I tried to pull myself out of its grip,
It held on tight, a little tighter,
Then it bound me so much I felt taut,

I looked up again,
His hands were still outstretched,
I opened my palms and stretched my arms,
Before me,
I made a choice,

He took my hands in his and I turned back,
The Other’s eyes lit like fire,
I turned back and trembled,
He smiled and pulled me towards him,
I fell to my knees and watched the fight,

This time, I knew I would not lose,
Because I had an Army.

Ifiokabasi Okop

(c) 2018

Let’s Pray

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I was breathing heavily.

I made my choice already, I kept mute.

“So no one is a Christian here?” the man holding the gun shouted.

I was dead silent, with my head lowered and my eyes shut.

“You are all a bunch of pretenders and liars” he said laughing sarcastically.

“You don’t know God; you don’t even believe he exists” he said.

It was a Sunday morning. I was well dressed and ready for service. I looked through the mirror as I knotted my tie. I adjusted my trousers and stretched out my body.

“You look good” I said to my reflection and he smiled.

My smile was short-lived when I remembered what my mentor said to me few days ago.

“God wants to test you” he said. I knew I had not been the most serious of Christians but I worked in the protocol department in the church, I gave my tithe and offering, I did most of all that was required of an average Christian. Yes, I did. But I think I got the gist. Being average wasn’t what was expected, but that was me, at least for now.

“Brother Dele, Good morning” a voice greeted as I locked the front door to my room. I turned to reply. It was Funmi, she lived in the room across mine.

“What’s up Funmi, Happy Sunday” I replied smiling.

“Are you not ready? Oya na let’s start going” she said adjusting her skirt slightly.

We walked out of the compound together. The Church wasn’t very close to where we lived, as it wasn’t easy to find an Anglican Church in this rural area, most corps members just settled for any living church in the area, but I had a thing for Anglican Churches.

Not long, we arrived at the church. I took one last reassessment of myself, and walked in with satisfaction.

I opened the western door and was confused. It was so dark, I looked back to be sure if I was sane and there was no door again, like the darkness had moved. I seemed to be in the middle of it now.

I reached for my pocket bible, hoping to feel safer as I clutched it.

“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” I whispered silently, my legs shaking, my arms trembling.

Then a light came on. It wasn’t very bright but it felt much better than pitch darkness.

I thought the worst was behind me, I didn’t know I was in for a treat today.

A huge figure walked into the light, a man. I couldn’t see his face clearly but he had a gun in his hand.

He was saying something, but I couldn’t hear him. He seemed to be getting angrier, he kept moving around but within the light, and then He stopped.

He pointed to the dark, not towards me. A young lady walked out immediately, she was shaking, begging for her life.

“Please don’t shoot me” she begged.

“I will surely shoot you, except he passes this test” he said.

I started trembling. I somehow had this feeling that I was the one to be tested.

What kind of test is this?  I thought to myself.

Aiiee! She screamed as he cocked the gun.

“Listen, If you are a Christian here, come out now and I won’t kill her” he said. He raised his hands up making a signal, and the lights fully came on. I still couldn’t make anything of this place. I could see other people too, but everyone was too busy shaking and trembling.

“If you are a Christian come out, or I kill her” he repeated. It was strange, I recognized the clothing of the girl he was holding.

Was it Funmi? I asked myself. I hoped she wasn’t the one.

I was breathing heavily

I made my choice already, I kept mute.

“So no one is a Christian here?” the man with the gun shouted.

I was dead silent, with my head lowered and my eyes shut.

“You are all a bunch of pretenders and liars” he said laughing sarcastically.

“You claim to know God; but you don’t even believe He is…” he said.

“No” a voice interrupted

“No, you are wrong” he continued

“I am a Christian, a Child of God” he said walking towards me. His clothing was very similar to mine; I was just waiting to take a closer look at his face.

He walked up to me and halted. I couldn’t believe my eyes; like I was seeing myself standing in front of me.

My jaw still dropped, I shivered slightly as I tried to speak.

“Ho-how is this…?” were the only words I could mutter. He leaned closer to whisper.

“Your reflection” he said with a grin, and continued walking toward the man with the gun.

The man changed his aim, pointing the gun at me, my reflection rather.

“Oh, bravo” he said clasping his palms in sarcastic appraisal

BOOM he fired

My heart skipped a bit as if fell to the ground. There was a ruckus as everyone scattered around

“He misfired, Who does that?” I thought to myself.

“Nobody move” he shouted, firing another shot in the air.

I tried to stand, I couldn’t move.

Argh I grunted. It felt like I was hit with a hammer. I looked at my chest and saw my shirt soaked in blood. My vision became blurrier, my head seemed heavier. I had no control over my body anymore. I dropped to the ground again.

Everything was fading fast, I could see a bright light, I could feel it, I was going. I could hear someone calling out my name faintly.

“Dele, Dele” the voice called out faintly.

The voice grew louder and clearer.

“Dele, wake up” the voice shouted.

“Jesus” I shouted as I sprang to my feet. I was sweating and panting like one who just wrestled the devil. I touched my chest and heaved a sigh in relief.

I turned around and it was my wife.

“Honey, you had a nightmare? What was it?” she asked with worry in her eyes.

“Funmi, it was really serious” I replied still trying to catch my breath.

“I think God wanted to show me something. We will talk about it in the morning”

“Let’s pray” I said, holding her hands.

In Jesus’ name.  Amen.prayer-e1522104184118.png

Blessed Is He Who Comes In “THE NAME” 

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THE GENESIS 1 OF ALL CREATION. 

    In the beginning was the WORD and the WORD was with God and The Word was God. John 1:1

All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made. John 1:3

In Him was Life and the Life was the LIGHT of men. John 1:4

And the LIGHT shines in the darkness and the darkness does not understand it! John 1:5 

LETS ESTABLISH THE NEED AND SOLUTION FIRST. 

“For all men have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.  -Romans 3:23

By this we know that of ourselves we only deserve death. Like death unto the grave, then whatever is below the grave. ( that would be hell by the way. :Eternal Darkness)

This is the verdict for the soul/person who is born in the Sin nature and remains in it. 

                   BUT

Light has come into the world to redeem that man who will BELIEVE, not just hear the story and say ” oh yes that talk about Jesus, I believe it”, 

But a person will have BELIEF so strong, however small, he will be transformed in his very nature. These ones will become what Paul Called the NEW CREATION! That’s a Creation that never existed prior to when they BELIEVE. 

This Belief  will not be of them but of God. 

For God is Faithful and Just to forgive us our sins (Old Nature) and cleanse us from all Unrighteousness (its fruit)

 -1 John1:9 

By receiving this good report of LIGHTS  arrival in the earth they will have FAITH.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17

The Word Is God! The LIGHT Who came into the world in the person of Christ Jesus to Redeem man from the Curse of Darkness i.e Sin and death. 
So Faith comes from the very PERSON of God, Faith Is His Nature. And we have faith only by Hearing and Hearing Christ Jesus.

So the more we Hear and hear, the more we BELIEVE, the more we are Transformed in our soul and body.  

N.B: The word Hear is translated from the Hebrew text SHEMA which means: Listen and obey, Listen closely, Hear and respond, Pay attention to or Focus On. See SHEMA graphic illustration word study.

Now Notice those who believe receive The New Life of the Kingdom in the spirit (Heavens). This is why Jesus taught His disciples not to look up or out there for the kingdom of God but within themselves for they have received Him and now Believe. Jesus also taught His disciples to pray thus To Our Father In Heaven,

“….. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

-Matthew 6:10

So next time you pray the Lords prayer, make it a little more personal…

“…. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in this earth (beat your chest) as it is done in the heavens”

For the flesh is of the earth and can only be Transformed by the Finished work of Christ as in the Heavens, let it be so here. Amen. 

Now! Back To THE NAME. 

When I think about Uchechukwu Nwachukwu, I do not simply imagine words spelt out on a blank surface,

 A person comes to my mind. 

A living, breathing, walking, talking person in this earth, comes to my mind. 

Uchechukwu Nwachukwu is my Friend, Uchechukwu Nwachukwu is His Name and His Name is His person. This is Who He Is. 

Jesus told His disciples that they will do all manner of great and wonderful things in His Name! And only in His Name did they have authority to do all He sent them out to do, All Glory to God. (Seriously its so cool check it out in Matthew 10)

But there is one peculiar thing that we can notice about all of Christ’s called, abandoned all to follow, taught and sent ones, They Believed, Rejoicing even unto the point of Physical Death. 

Now before you get all gingered Up, Know This…

This was not Normal Guys, No one just wakes up to a story of How Light came into the world to destroy darkness and suddenly decides that His Life ambition is to be a Martyr. 

So what was it?! What made these ordinary men so different? And why is death so Inevitable? Jesus said

” verily I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and DIES it abides alone, But if it Dies, it produces many seeds” – John 12:24

Imagine if we eat all the seeds, and eliminate all the eggs in the world, (its a tall order but just imagine it) For a time, it will seem as though there is life but as time goes by there will be silence in the earth. Death Without New life is extinction. 

So basically for New life/much fruit to be produced, a seed must first go into the Earth. Be it the ground or a female. This is the principle of Death and Resurrection. 

But instead of just Death unto the grave and Hell, This Time its a Death unto New Life. 

So the earth (man) ceases to be a grave because in Christ it (his heart) becomes good soil. 

At this point, if you’re  still nursing ideas of martyrdom I suggest you keep reading, This isn’t over yet. 

Now Paul made a disturbing statement in Galatians 2:20

“I am crucified with Christ, ” he said

“Nevertheless I Live,” hmmmm

“Yet not I!”  Say what now?!

“But Christ Liveth in me” owkayy…

” and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD”  🙂

“Who loved me and gave himself for me”  wow! 

Paul was a dead man even before he finally exited this World physically. Or as Christ will say “went to sleep” for God is not the God of the dead but of the living. 

Stay with me people

That would explain why Isaiah though he was cut in two with a wooden saw, peter was crucified upside down ‘on request by the way’, Paul died many times by stoning, wild beasts and what not, John was soaked in boiling oil, didn’t die and was later banished to Patmos because “annoying” and many other records of ordinary men unafraid, unashamed and unmoved will not recant in the face of persecution. 

For they came not In Their Individual names, But in  THE NAME of the One Who Lives Forever! 

{Praise Break!}

So by the FAITH OF GOD in them, they were made testimonies of Eternal Life even in the World destined for destruction.

 (It was not just a new testament thing, God has shown Himself Graceful, Merciful, Mighty, Strong and Awesome in and Through His people right from the beginning of Time God did not just start this 2000yrs ago, He has always been and will always be Loving and Faithful to His People)

Now,

 “Arise! Shine! For your Light is come and the glory of the Lord is Risen Upon You! ” 

This is where you and I come in…

“… Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in the earth, in me, my soul and body as its already done in the heavens”,

where is heaven? The spirit of God, The kingdom of God, His Reign as Lord and King in You first, then in the earth as a whole. Get it? It starts from within you! 

 Doesn’t stop there, Transforms the whole World until Darkness is driven out by LIGHT. 

“… Revelation 11:15

15And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 

Quick Question, where is your name in the scripture? 🙂

I’d show you,

Living as Those Made Alive in Christ

1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is youra life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry….. Colossians 3.

Want to be a martyr? Here’s a good place to start, Understand that you have Died To Your Flesh in Christ! 

Now before you get any bright ideas and start cutting off arms and legs let’s get this straight. 

Jesus when He Rose from the Grave! Glory to God!, Told His Disciples

And I paraphrase simply 

“If I don’t go and send my Spirit to you, you’d Never Be Me! And I Know you’d miss me but Don’t worry  My Spirit only Speaks of Me, He will Guide you into all of Me! (Truth) I have testified of my father and you must do same, Testify of me because You have been with me from the beginning, through Death and Resurrection” – John 15:26, 16: 5-8

To Testify is To Be and To Live As Christ Did in the Earth as it is in Heaven, Just as His Disciples did! -Living Testimonies. 

So to Die on your own, thats suicide. 

We are only able to Mortify this flesh and its deeds being sanctified ,our lives laid down as a sacrifice by the Help of the Holy Spirit of Truth sent From the father Himself. 

God is with us to see us through it all.

His promise to never leave or forsake us is True!

“So walk in the spirit therefore and of the spirit you will bear good fruit of The Spirit” Gal 5. 

Talk about being good soil. 😀

Now In Christ you have right to ascend unto Eternal Life You are destined to Die, But in Christ Unto Life, You Cease to Live Now He Lives In You Through You, You Live In the Flesh Now But By His Faith Unto Transformation its Galatians 2:20 all over again!

Your Pass into the Life of God Is THE NAME CHRIST! JESUS! His NAMe is HIS PERSON!

Not just words you say with your mouth, but your BEING.

“You also must testify of me….” Jesus said, He meant your Life, Now His own and No longer yours! Glory to God. 

Remember FAITH is of God, Faith does not Fail. So this is why we do not lean on Strength that is born of a nature destined to die instead we SHEMA and SHEMA The WORD.

 no more gloomy defeated Living now, Arise and shine .

“…. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of Righteousness, Peace and Joy in The Holy Spirit!”

Therefore I cease to be __________________ (insert name here.) Because Christ Is and

BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN CHRIST JESUS.