Own Goal
I met a brother some years ago through Twitter, he sent me a DM and we chatted
This led us to become friends in real life
He would come to my office and we would share with each other our convictions of the faith we now profess
He had been trained by a pastor and he had attended some Bible schools
I was at the time working as a Personal Assistant to a pastor and both of us at the time were of the same denomination
The brother is anointed and the exploits of the Holy Spirit in his life were undeniable but he had a love for money like I have never seen before
He said his target was the rich people, those who would frequent herbalists and spiritualists for spiritual help, he wanted to be their source, so that they, in turn, could supply him with physical blessings according to Apostle Paul's assertion in the scriptures
I told him that is not the gospel
He said "The gospel is the power of God unto salvation both for the rich and poor but he would rather minister to the rich than the poor"
Then he went on to talk about the son of a pepper hawker he raised from the dead and how it was a waste of grace because nothing came out of it for him. He then asked me a rhetorical question, he said, "Imagine that it was the son of a governor or a president that I raised from the dead, do you think I will be struggling financially now? The man would have become indebted to me forever and whatsoever I need, he would have provided and keep providing"
I didn't answer his question.
I knew how poverty thinks and he was poor
At this time he was fast approaching forty years of age and he had neither a job nor a family
He was living with one of his uncles and the uncle's wife was giving him a hard time in order to frustrate him into leaving their house
I was not poor in my mind at the time, even though I didn't have much in my bank account
I felt he would change his mind once things began to turn around for him
After our discussion, we prayed and he departed.
A few days later he came to testify that he had gotten a job as the manager of a medical supplies company
I rejoiced with him by taking him out to lunch and buying some clothes and shoes for him to wear for resumption at his new place of work
Then we had a fellowship prayer meeting at a church in Lagos, and a lot of people attended.
He also showed up
At the end of the meeting, he came to me with the number plates of all the big cars and the names of their owners
I mean, he wrote Mr So and So, Car - Gwagon, Plate number - So and So, phone number - such and such
He said they were the ones I should call and follow up, they were the whales
I laughed and said no
He kept quiet
A few days later, one of those "whales" called me to tell me he received a call from one of my pastor friends who came for the fellowship meeting, the man told him they needed to see urgently regarding a bad vision the pastor saw regarding him and his family
He said he invited the pastor over to his office
They prayed together and the pastor delivered his message
He said he gave the pastor some money when he was leaving for his transportation
I said "Okay"
The man then said he called me because he wanted to confirm the man came from me or that I knew about the visit because he had been unsettled in his visit since the visit of this "pastor"
I said I knew nothing about it
I also berated him for encouraging the pastor by offering him money
Then I called this "friend" of mine and asked him to see me as soon as possible
He came to church on Sunday
As soon as I finished ministering that Sunday, I issued a disclaimer to the congregation
I asked them if I had ever asked them to sow a seed, give a tithe or first fruit or any other kind of offering outside of the free will offering we give to meet the needs of the fellowship
They all chorused "No"
Then I said if anyone comes to them in my name or as an associate of the fellowship claiming God told them something, they should not believe it and they should not encourage such ungodly behaviour by giving such a dime of their money
Every believer must live as led by the Holy Spirit, not sentiment.
Jesus told the disciples not to take their money belts, bags and sandals in when they were going to preach the news of His coming to the people but when he was going to be condemned to death he told them to take their money belts and bags. He even told them to take swords! (Luke 22: 35-38)
The gospel of Jesus is free to all, it is the doctrine of condemnation that is very expensive to preach
If the gospel you preach is real, by itself, it supplies every need supernaturally in such a manner that nobody can take the glory or ever tell the story of how your ministry would have been nothing or failed without them.
This brother took my message that day as a slap to the face, he made sure he glared at me until our eyes met and then he turned around and left the fellowship meeting
I felt neither happy nor sad by the turn of events
He had his convictions and I had mine
If he wanted to fleece people to become rich, he was free but he would not be allowed to do it around me
I believe in the immutability of the word of God and I can prove it anywhere
Those who preach religion are those who take hold of the minds of men (through manipulation, coercion, fear, and doctrines) so that they may rob them of their resources
People gave willingly to the gospel in the early church and the resources were multiplied supernaturally to meet the needs of everyone
The church is not a gathering of men and women trying to raise funds to do some charity, build an edifice or do a social project
The church is the assembly of the saints in light, the capital of Zion on earth and there are supernatural entities in abundance to supply the material needs of the church as long as the saints preach the reality of the divine nature
Those who preach morality and dress code gospel can resort to taxing men to fund their lifestyles, but those who preach the reality of the transcendent life must prove it by living that transcendent life effortlessly for all to see
This is my reality and the one I believe every man must live.
A month later, this brother found another whale on that same list and convinced the whale to sponsor his ministry financially
It was a business arrangement that they brokered in secret
The sponsor provides the funds for a hall and equipment plus enough money in the bank to open an account and fund the day-to-day activities of the church for two years
He in turn will put in the performance to draw the crowd and make money off them
His favourite slogan was "When you win a soul, you win his or her pocket"
They launched the new church at Ikorodu, it failed as he couldn't get members for three months, then he moved to Ilupeju for another three months without any result
Finally, he moved to Ikeja and sent me a letter of Invitation to come and minister at his fellowship
I started laughing
The invitation was to get me to draw a crowd to the meeting so that he could then take pictures and tell his sponsors things were beginning to work out as they planned
I declined the invitation
He sent another invitation
I declined the invitation again
He then sent me a stinker that I had become proud and forgotten where we started from because of my success
I ignored him
When Apostle paul was in prison, he wrote a letter to the church in Philippi, in the letter he spoke to them about the motive behind the ministry of many preachers and concluded that he did not care about the motive as long as Christ was preached
Phillipians 1: 15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
There was nowhere in the Bible where I was required to accept such an invitation on the basis of sentiments
The brother couldn't deliver on his promise and his sponsor arrested him for owing fifteen million naira that was loaned to him for business.
The matter ended up on my table
The sponsor wrote to me and so did the brother's wife asking me to step in
The sponsor claimed the business proposal he was given was to loan the brother fifteen million Naira to set up a mobile phone accessories store, the wife claimed the fund was to establish a church and after two years begin to share the income from the church 50/50.
I asked the Lord what to do and He was silent on the matter
So I kept quiet too
I replied neither the sponsor nor the wife
The debtor began to harass him and his wife with police officers and debt recovery agencies.
Friends and family came together and could only raise three hundred thousand Naira for him
Now the matter has gotten to a head, the debtor has sent a message to everyone they know about the debt and his reputation is in tatters
Then he sends a message that as led by the Holy Spirit, he is planning to run away from Nigeria with his wife to start a ministry in Canada and they need funds to facilitate the journey
He still had learned nothing from his travails
I wrote to him and told him he had received Jesus Christ with the wrong mindset and it is as one receives Jesus that he or she lives in Him. This is in reference to Colossians 2:6
He received a message full of error and it had reprogrammed his mind to continue praying, fasting, rebuking, pleading and crying in error. He sees visions in error and hears from the Holy Spirit in error. Everything he does is in error simply because the spirit in him is a spirit of error.
I asked him to consider the true gospel, the news that is almost too-good to-be-true, that Jesus Christ loves him and has given him eternal life.
I told him if he would renew his mind and see the gospel for what it is and the power in it, it would save him effortlessly from that calamity
He was a believer, he is also very anointed and I testify to this.
It was that mindset that was hell-bent on destroying him.
He wrote to me asking that I help him renew his mindset, I sent him a scriptures
Matthew 10: 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
2 Corinthians 9:6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[a] will also reap bountifully. 7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
I asked him to meditate on them and reconcile them to his mindset or belief system that the people of God are sheep to be fleeced by their shepherd.
He wrote to me after two weeks that he had seen the light and also repented before the Lord for the error of his ways
We prayed together and in agreement decided the error of the past would no longer have a hold on his life
Just like that, the coast cleared.
The man he was owed forgave the debt
He got a job with a church to pastor the local assembly on a salary
At about 9 am this morning, he sent me a message asking me if I was still in London because his flight just landed
I screamed with delight
There is a Christian conference in London, his local church sponsored his registration and attendance. he will be in London for the next two weeks.
We sat across the table at Royal Arsenal Hotel and shared the breakfast Ubered to me by @AAlafia earlier today and we discussed the exploits of the Holy Spirit in his ministry since he began to walk with the Lord with the right convictions.
I bless the Lord for His life and declare His path will always be as a shining light.
Glory be to God.
PS: When you don't embrace the gospel in its fullness, you leave room for error and end up scoring "own" goals against yourself while blaming the devil, enemy, generational curses, spirit husband, demons and all sorts of things that should never have power over those who had been translated out of darkness into the Kingdom of His Dear son.
Yesterday was awesome, all the messages I got at a point caused my WhatsApp Messenger to freeze
I am saying Thank you
I know it is not because I am a good person or because I have an impeccable character
I know love when I see it
Thank you all for loving me and making my fellowship with you in Christ a delight
God bless you
A man, created for Worship!
So its @GbengaWemimo's birthday today. If you know him, he will be hiding somewhere... for a man who God has blessed with boldness and greatness, he is actually a very shy man! All the energy and boldness you see is only for God and the gospel... he is also a very soft hearted man! Quick to forgive, easy to love!
I celebrate you my friend and brother. You are a gift! Your strength and forthrightness are a blessing to those who have been blessed to know you!
As you mark another year on God's earth, I pray that your time here will always be marked by the supernatural! Your voice will be held deep into the annals of time and seasons and your impact will surpass generations.
Have a wonderful day surrounded by love and quietness as you love it!
Love you brother and see you soon!
What a record! What a man! I’m so proud of you @Tunde_OD, not only for this magnificent feat but for consistently rekindling hope and inspiring millions of young Nigerians to dream. Because of you, that desperate child under the bridge in Oshodi can say: My dreams are valid.
You did it, Champ!!
#CHECKMATE
When you see a King in tears
Avert your eyes
Keep your lips sealed
Do not even laugh in your room
A crying King is a dangerous king
The tears of a king could lead to the blood of many washing the streets
Do not comment on every matter you see trending
Your comment might count against you sometime down the line in future
To see how someone thinks, all you have to do is check their TL
The TL is more powerful that a reference letter
The more you say, the less sense you make eventually
Silence is golden
-GSW-
It is okay to not be okay. If you are not okay, you don't have to pretend that you are okay. You can say, "I need help. I need help from God." (James 5:16) #JoyceQuote
How to perform CPR should be one thing everyone should know because it’s very important in cases of emergency!!!!
CPR could be the difference between someone staying alive or dying!!!!
Affirmations 📣🪇
I give myself permission to take pride in my accomplishments, big and small.
I let go of imposter syndrome and accept my wins with pride and courage.
I deserve it, I worked hard for it.
I celebrate myself today and always.🎊🎉🥳🎯
Affirmations✨️🪇
Today, I strive for progress and not perfection.
I am human, and bound to make mistakes daily.
I choose to focus on only things I can control and within my means to.
I will learn, unlearn, and relearn.
I will keep evolving and growing one day at a time.
Affirmations ✨️📣
I am gentle, kind, and comforting to my inner child.
I accept my inner child and her pain as we uncover and release the old negative messages within us.
#wellbeingaffirmations
Affirmations✨️📣
I am allowed to feel more than one thing at the same time.
Sometimes, joy and pain can exist simultaneously.
I am human.
On difficult days, I will find one thing that makes me happy and do it.
Even if it is taking "a walk" or "a nap"
Its July Affirmations 🪇.
You deserve to show yourself the same kindness and compassion that you so freely give to others.
Be kind to your mind
Be compassionate to your thoughts
Accept those scars and start healing your mind one affirmation at a time✨️🎇
Affirmation📣
My worth is not found in the opinions of others.
I know who I am, and I know who God says I am in Psalm 139:13-14.
That is all that matters✨️🎖🎯
AFFIRMATIONS📣
I am in charge of my own happiness.
I take back the power to control my emotions
I have happiness within
I refuse to let the world dictate my happiness.
I remain in charge of my happiness now and always💌💫
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