THE INTERCEDING PRISONER

He’s no famous Bible character. In fact, his name appears only 3 times in the Bible, but there’s just something about him.

We would not have known his name or his life’s work if Paul had not mentioned him in his letters to the Colossian church and to Philemon. We would not have known his place & impact in the kingdom, but heaven would have known. Many lives he touched may not even have known his name, but the Master would have known. This man was such that Paul called him a fellow servant, a faithful minister and a servant of Christ (Colossians 1:7 & 4:12), terms he used ever so sparingly in his epistles.

EPAPHRAS. His name literally means he was devoted to the goddess Venus, but this man received Jesus and became devoted to the Master. He became so devoted to God’s people in Asia Minor that, even when he was imprisoned and could no longer serve as a pastor or minister directly to them, he kept agonising, contending & labouring fervently for them in prayers for one purpose: that they might stand perfect and complete (mature and full) in all the will of God (Colossians 4:12).

Epaphras was a faithful minister of Christ (apparently a pastor & teacher) to them while he was a free man. Being imprisoned, he could have had a number of different responses. He could have gone into self-pity, depression, doubt or even resentment towards God. He could even have gone on a “ministry vacation”. After all, you can’t pastor a church from prison. He could have taken a break from being a Christian. Some people do in such situations, but not Epaphras.

I may be in prison, I may not be able to write letters to teach and instruct the church like Apostle Paul, but I can pray. My freedom may have been taken away, but my speech hasn’t. My body may be locked in, but my mouth isn’t locked; my tongue isn’t tied, my knees can still bend. I cannot be in Colosse physically, but I can still touch them in the Spirit. After all, the adversary that seeks to keep them out of the centre of God’s will is a spiritual adversary. It’s not a flesh-and-blood battle. I may not have a pulpit to preach from, but I have a prayer altar to mediate from!

Such was this man’s conviction that he burned with great zeal for the saints in Colosse, Laodicea and Hierapolis. Paul the apostle saw it and bore witness. If the letter to Philemon was not written or read, we would never have figured out that he was a prisoner (Philemon 1:23). He was unlimited by the bars.

There are those that are in a physical prison, like Epaphras. There are those who are not limited by physical bars; but are barred by old age, physical infirmity, financial lack, illiteracy & peculiar circumstances from serving God the way they desire to. Some have their heads bowed in discouragement, self-pity & low self-esteem. Some have their hands weakened by their circumstances. Whichever category you may belong to, God has sent me to you with a message: YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE LIMITED! Where you are, in those very circumstances; even in a physical prison, YOU CAN BE MIGHTY FOR GOD.

Epaphras was a mighty prisoner; mighty for God, mighty in prayer (Colossians 4:12). Anna was a widow, limited by her social circumstances. She had enjoyed only 7 years with her husband; but she did not become a bitter old woman. She worshipped night & day in the temple, fasting & praying. She prophesied over the Messiah Himself (Luke 2:36-38). Seemingly inconsequential in the social order, she was mighty in the Spirit. Many widows have learnt from her through the centuries of the Church. Hagin spoke of one of them who prayed a full gospel church into her town. Paul was an apostle, he was a go-go man; ever on the move for the Lord Jesus. Imprisonment came, but his mouth was not shut. He could pray, he could write, he could instruct & mentor; and so he did.

Are you bitter or battered (discouraged) because of your circumstances? Look to Jesus & the joy His Spirit supplies within (Romans 14:17&18). That joy is your strength. You can look beyond your circumstances & pray for others as Epaphras did.

Is your job/academic schedule preventing you from serving in the specific way you would like to serve? Does there appear to be no way around it yet? You can still serve another way. If nothing else, you can be an intercessor. If you can’t serve behind the pulpit, you can be mighty for God behind closed doors.

Are you a widow with an empty nest? Are you “too old” to serve in a department? You can still be an intercessor. You can still be an encourager, you can still visit; you can still be a mother to many. You can be a conduit for the gifts of the Spirit. You can even write.

Are you weakened by physical infirmity? Have you released your faith & received healing that has not yet manifested? You can look beyond yourself & lay hands on other sick people. You’ll be shocked, they’ll be healed! Even if you can’t move from your bed, you can still pray!

It doesn’t matter what your peculiar situation is. You can cover distances in the Spirit like Epaphras. There are unconfirmed reports of women in church history who even took it a step further: crisscrossing continents in the Spirit, ministering physically to prisoners of war & returning to their homes in time for dinner. If so, they must have learnt from Jesus, Elijah, Elisha, Paul & Philip (John 6:21, 1Kings 18:12, 2Kings 5:26, 1Corinthians 5:3&4, and Acts 8:39&40). I said that to let you know how limitless you are in Christ. The possibilities of the divine life in you are endless.

If the only way you can serve God & His people in your peculiar situation is by interceding, then give yourself to it. I say again: YOU CAN BE MIGHTY FOR GOD RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE!

MY BIRTHDAY TESTIMONY 2

Three years ago, I wrote a birthday testimony; thanking God for His faithfulness DESPITE everything that had gone "wrong" in the two preceding years. Today, I'm writing this to thank Him BECAUSE OF everything that has happened in the last 2 years.

I experienced delays in 2013-2015, it seemed as if things did not exactly go according to my plan or even (to an extent) His plan. It seemed as if most things were just not responding to me. In all that, God was faithful.

At a certain point in 2016, I was sorely tempted to start breaking generational curses and praying "fall down & die" prayers; but instead, I kept meditating on the blessing that I carry, declaring that I am blessed, 'cos I am! Thank God for the Holy Ghost!

2017-2018 was the season of turnaround. I have seen God give me speed. I have seen my life unfold according to divine programming such that God & I know it and I'm not wondering if this is His plan. Everything's not perfect, no. But I have seen the blessing at work, I have seen the blessing find expression.

2017, He took me on a journey through Jigawa. The only downside in Jigawa was that I didn't make much money. In fact, I made losses. But in everything else, I prospered. Talk about spiritual increase, promotion in ministry, career, health, protection, peace, divine favour, direction, impact, purpose, great grace, unique opportunities, strength, personal revival & radicalisation for Jesus and you're telling my story.

Despite having failed Him in certain ways in 2015/2016; God gave me the privilege to serve Him in NCCF (that's an epistle on its own). God radicalised me through the Deeper Life Church & through NCCF National Conference 2017 (my life has not remained the same). I also met amazing people. Then He brought me back to Osun State with much rejoicing.

2018, a floodgate of testimonies, especially in my career where I had previously experienced pain. God has been opening job doors to me in undeniably favour-based ways. God has given me speed. Within three months, I prepared for & passed my primaries (an exam that many prepare for over several months & fail); not by skill or intelligence, but by divine direction & favour. God led me to the right people & materials. God used people like Dr Wumi Akinwande, Dr Familusi & Dr Akarakiri for me.

After the exam, He took me to Living Hope Hospital (a wonderful home & workplace and physical & spiritual environment) where I learned ultrasound scanning & a boatload of other things, met wonderful people; had souls won and people receive the Holy Ghost. Then this October, He opened the doors of residency training to me. I said I wanted to be a consultant OB/GYN by age 30 before. Now, I'm starting residency in Family Medicine in 2 days' time (from O & G to Family Medicine, a story for another day, if occasion permits). In this same year, I was consecrated as a youth pastor in the Foursquare Gospel Church.

There has been provision too o! Looking forward to more financial increase.

There have been adventures with the Holy Ghost.

I'm not where I want to be yet, by any standard; but I'm not where I used to be. I'm evolving, I'm accelerating, I'm spreading!

The summary of my testimony in this season is: I have been mightily helped by Jehovah Ezer.

Thanks for reading my testimony. Thanks for all the birthday prayers & wishes & congratulatory messages; all the calls & texts & whatsapp & Facebook messages. Nations will surely rejoice with you too.

Dr Jesutola (Ayanfe) Adewumi.

DIVINITY

Through the centuries, man has craved divinity. Man has always wanted to be like God, or to be a god. It started with the deception of Eve. Adam & Eve were already like God (Genesis 1:26), but the serpent said to her: eat & you will be like God, knowing good & evil (Genesis 3:5). They ate, they became like God in the sense of knowing good & evil (Genesis 3:22), but they lost the very thing that actually made them like God in the first place (His nature).

From that day forward, there has been something in man, a knowing: "I am meant to be more". Different men have devised different ways of becoming "more"; becoming gods. They tried to make an everlasting name for themselves by spectacular achievements (Genesis 11). Some attained great wealth, power & influence & sought to immortalise either their names or themselves. Some men killed other men & drank their blood; others subjugated fellow men (Judges 1:7) & often demanded worship or worship-like postures & expressions from them (Genesis 41:43 & Esther 3:2-5). Some, through research, have sought to use science & technology to achieve those very goals. 

There's another category of men that have sought things such as "the fountain of youth", "the secret of life"; "the center of the universe" or "the hub of creation", often out of  desire for immortality, great power or great wealth. Others have done everything they thought could work to give them powers beyond the natural. In recent years, the Eastern religions have gained ground in the Western world. Why? There's a promise of divinity, the introduction of a most fantastic thought: that divinity dwells within every man & can be nurtured & activated through transcendental meditation. It simply speaks to a certain deep-rooted desire in the human heart. From Egyptian Pharoahs to Japanese & Incan emperors to American serial killers and leaders of various cults or religious sects, men through history have fancied themselves  gods or God.

Of all these men, not a single human being has attained divinity or even immortality. But in A. D. 30, a Jew named Jesus came on the scene and began to declare himself God (John 10:33). Several times, the Jews were ready to stone him, but they never could. Sometimes, he hid himself supernaturally, sometimes his words made them unable to. At other times, he simply walked away. This same man kept saying that it was possible for men to be born of God, born from above just as He was (John 3:3&5). He began to say that by simply believing in him, men could have eternal life (John 3:16). He went on to say the strangest thing:

"If you eat my flesh and drink my  blood, you have eternal life in you. If you don't, you haven't!" (John 6:53&54 paraphrased)

This time, the Jews were deeply offended & confused & many who had been following him turned back. It seemed like he had simply gone off the deep end. But those who stayed with him later understood (and experienced) exactly what he was talking about (John 6:63, 1:1 & 1John 1:1). While he was NOT introducing to the Jews the cannibalism that men through the ages practised in trying to attain divinity, he sure WAS painting a picture such people could relate to: "you can eat & drink all the blood & flesh you want to, but if you haven't had my own (by believing my words), you don't have the divine life!"

This life was to be like a never-drying wellspring of water within them. This life was a different kind from that life by which they had been existing before he came. This was a superior life, a higher life, THE DIVINE LIFE. This was divinity at their doorstep. What men have sought through the ages, what men have done all sorts of things to attain or at least mimic; readily available at their doorstep, readily available at YOUR doorstep. According to 1John 5:11&12, this is the testimony of God: He has given us eternal life (ZOE: the divine life & nature, what makes God God), and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has that life. He who does not have the Son does not have that life, period!

Do you have the Son? No? Then you don't have eternal life. It really is very simple. Do you believe that God has raised Jesus from the dead? Then take a moment right now & confess Jesus as your LORD, receive the life He so freely offers. Have you done that? Now I can speak to you as to every other believer.....

You are divine in origin & nature

You are heavenly, born from above

You are not of this world, realm & plane

You are divine

You are a god, just like God

You have been born of God, not just adopted

You are a child of God, you are God-class, God-kind

Don't look at your body or soul, look at your spirit, the real you!

Look at Jesus, look at the Father!

Look in the Word for that is your mirror!

You are just like God, you can function like Him by His Spirit & Word in you

The only thing you are not is God Himself (the Father, Son & Spirit)

Yet you are a son, just like the Son

Where the Father & Son are seated, you are seated

By the Word & Spirit of God

Everything that God is, you are

Everything that God has, you have

Everything that God can do, you can do

That is glory!

This is divinity!

Light dawns!

SHADDAI'S SHADOW

I dwell in Shaddai's shadow

I'm hid in Shaddai God

My soul is bound in the bundle of the living

Shaddai God keeps me

No loss, no destruction, no harm can come

Nothing hurts, nothing devours in this holy mountain

I'm fed from His table, I drink of His river

By pure streams of delight, no evil assails

Under His wings I've come to rest

In His Name I've come to trust

Refuge I find, solace & comfort

No plague besets, no evil befalls

Out in the darkness, the pestilence ravages

Screaming & wailing, cries & shrieks

A thousand destroyed, ten thousand fallen

It comes not near, I watch from the Fortress

The sun does not smite, neither the moon strike

In the shadow of Shaddai's light, no arrow can fly

Terror flies out there, Shaddai's truth is my shield

Destruction lays waste, but His love forms a force-field

And when the storm & tempest roar

On the wings of Shaddai I soar

Neither gale nor wind can bring me fright

In Shaddai's love I have sure flight

Shaddai still keeps in perfect peace

The soul stayed on Him

Trust in Shaddai forever

In His shadow is eternal strength

Inspired by Psalm 91 (The Message Translation)

Ayanfe

January 26, 2017 @ 10:26am

JEHOVAH EZER

When a Christian in Yoruba land is assisting you in some way or another (or even seeing you off after a visit) and he/she feels they've done enough or can go no further; they often say, "Ebenezer; thus far the LORD has helped me" (in the Yoruba language anyway). Hearing this several times while growing up, I always wondered, "Are you saying He can help you no further?" I mean, if He has helped you up till that point, then He can help you go even further in assisting the person or seeing them off!

As time passed, I came to realise where they got it from, but I was shocked at the stark contrast between the real meaning & the Yoruba version! What they often meant was: this is how far I can go with you. In contrast, see the bible verse here:

1 Samuel 7:12 - Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us."

Ebenezer literally means "stone of the help". The stone was a memorial of thanksgiving to the LORD for the victory He gave Israel over their Philistine enemies. That same way, God is our Helper. All through the book of Psalms, David kept speaking of God as his helper & Israel's helper, asking Him to help him, thanking Him for His help. In fact, he said, "Your help has made me great" (Psalm 18:35). Through Isaiah, Jeremiah & Ezekiel, God kept speaking of how He had helped/would help His people.

When Jesus came, Himself being Jehovah Ezer (the LORD our help), He began to help people by the anointing of the Holy Spirit, delivering them from the devil who was oppressing them (Acts 10:38). The ultimate help He gave was on the cross, taking our sin & the judgment we couldn't carry (Isaiah 53). He conquered Satan for us (Hebrews 2:14), then He rose from spiritual death & received the highest name/title in all ages (Ephesians 1:21, Philippians 2:9-11). Now, all the help we need is available in His Name (Psalm 121:2). Halleluyah!

Having ascended, He not only gave us His Name for our help; He sent us another Person to take His place, One that can help us exactly as He would help us if He could stay. He sent us His precious Holy Spirit. He called Him "paraclete" (Greek) in John 14:16, meaning Comforter, Counselor, Advocate, Strengthener, Intercessor, Standby and.......you guessed right, HELPER!!!

Glory to God! I've got the Helper in me now! Jehovah Ezer! He is in me! Halleluyah! I will never be helpless again in my life! My help is in the Name! My Helper is inside me!!!

When you need help, invoke the Name! Whisper it, shout it, anyway you want; but by all means, "Jesus!" When you require help, say "Holy Spirit, you're my Helper, I receive Your help right now". Then pray in tongues! Let living streams of help gush out of your belly!

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God; the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. God shall HELP her, and that right early (Psalm 46:4&5)

The Holy Ghost is the river (John 7:37&38), tongues is one of the streams (Proverbs 18:2 & Acts 2:4); you are the city of God, you are one of the many tabernacles of the Most High (1Corinthians 3:16) and your spirit is the holy place where He dwells. Do you get the picture?! Are you seeing it?! You will not be moved, you will not fall! You are helped right early (at the break of day)!

Jehovah Ezer is in you now, will you ignore Him and go from pillar to post looking for help? Will you sit on the floor & cry your eyes out because there is "nobody" to help you? Will you mourn because a physical helper has been removed from the scene & you think you are now helpless? If you do, you ignore/forsake your help. It's a choice. That doesn't change the fact that Jehovah Ezer is in you. If you know this, then you can rejoice, you can "lambano" (Greek: receive/take hold of) His help & be made great! What is your choice today?

TRIBUTE TO BAAMI

Baami (my father) was born on a Wednesday, that has nothing to do with this, but just so you know.

My first conscious memories of him include going with him to his office, playing chess together, him playing the keyboard and of course, him with a whip ("wire") in his hand & pain in my buttocks (I must have committed one of a wide range of trespasses, you take a guess).

Now, I really didn't like Baami much in my teenage years (how many guys do?), but I grew to realise how much better off my life is with him as my father. I came to certain understandings of fatherhood & sonship, and he also kind of "chilled out", so we sort of met in the middle. Today, I know without a doubt that I love him and he loves me, and that is a really big deal. It is.

Baami is 65 years old today. I know it may be a few years too early to write a biography, but hey, we can always start rehearsing.

Scripture says a good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children. Now, most people (including me) believe that refers to physical resources, and so it does. Yet, it is clear that a proper inheritance goes way beyond mere physical resources that perish with the use thereof. Baami is a good man in every definition of the term.

The first inheritance he gave us to use & pass to our children is the Word. He taught us every morning until we could also teach from the "Our Daily Bread" devotional. He and the rest of the family were my first audience. He made sure we were fed with the Word at home, took us to church & also gave us freedom to go to places like Happiness Club where we were fed with even more.

The second inheritance is a good name. I tell you, I have never been to a place where someone knew/discovered I'm his son and didn't speak well of him or attend to me well. Even when he made enemies by standing for the truth in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife; I was never at a disadvantage for it. I applied wisdom too sha o!

The third inheritance: opportunities. He has given us opportunities in life, within his ability. I tell you, each one of his children (biological & numerous others) have good standing in life because of him. He has always encouraged us to go for the best. And he & Maami have been our cheerleading team all the way.

The fourth inheritance is the blessing. I don't know anyone who blesses better than my parents. Every morning, every birthday, every new phase & everything that looks like an opportunity to bless; they release spiritual blessings through words & the laying on of hands. I learnt from the best!

The fifth is physical wealth. If he leaves for heaven before us, he will leave his earthly wealth to his children's children, because his children will be too busy administering their own wealth to add the burden of his own! But even now that he's with us, I can testify that since my childhood, I've never known him to fail in his responsibilities, and now we can stand without support. So, he has already given us that inheritance.

I could go on & on. Baami, if you ever happen to wonder whether you're still relevant to us, to me; I want you to remember this: you are indispensable & invaluable. Thank God that He has helped you to raise us to be able to stand on our own; but even now, you remain a father. We may not need physical provision anymore, but there's so much more that you're still giving: your exemplary lifestyle (especially in generosity & fearless standing for truth), your strong support in all things, your blessing, your prayer etc. All these things are timeless, seasonless & priceless.

Reverend Professor Ifeolu Kehinde Adewumi, olowo ori Adejoke, baba Dr Tomi Imarah, Engineer Tolu Olukoga, Moneybag Ayo Adewumi ati Dr Jesutola Adewumi; father of many non-biological children spiritual & temporal, astute academic mind & CEO of Greengold Initiative, I greet you.

Most blessed of fathers are you, may you be favored by all, may you bathe your feet in oil. The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days (Deuteronomy 33:24&25).

And lest I forget, happy birthday. I love you Baami. Your favourite son, Ayanfe.

I DON HAMMER!

I rejoice at Your Word like one who finds great spoil - David Jesse, King of Israel

David Jesse lived many centuries ago. He was first known as a shepherd boy, then a musician, then a warrior & finally a king. Through all these phases of his life, a few things remained constant; one of them was his love for Jehovah. So deep was that love that David would spend a lot of time singing & playing his harp. Later, as king of Israel, he spent huge resources raising a battalion of Levites whose sole purpose was to worship & praise Jehovah. One of the things he most loved praising God for was His Word (His law, His commandments, statutes & testimonies).

David had such an amazing love for God's Word that not only would he meditate on it often, but seven times a day, he would praise God for that same Word. His love for the Word is shown in one particular verse, Psalm 119:162, where he says, "I rejoice at Your Word as one that finds great spoil". The Message version reads, "like one who strikes it rich". If there was a Pidgin English Version (PEV) of the Bible, it would read: LIKE PERSON WEY DON HAMMER!

How did you celebrate the last time you made some good money? You've seen people who won the lottery, a scholarship, received a monetary award or closed the business deal of a lifetime. How do they usually rejoice? They jump, shout, laugh & dance; some roll on the floor. They call their friends & family to share the good news. They pop a bottle of wine. Some even organise celebratory parties. They do "thanksgiving" or give testimonies in church. You see the evidence on their BBM & whatsapp DPs, they post on Facebook etc. Do you rejoice like that at the Word of God?

Does the revelation of God's Word get you screaming & shouting? The Word revealed fills your heart with joy. Do you allow that joy to show up on the outside or are you too cool, calm, collected & "Christo-sanctimonious" to rejoice at God's Word?

Indeed, when you find God's Word, you've found great treasure. Two reasons: the Word is treasure & the Word can produce any treasure. Do you know it? Do you act like it? Have you seen the Word produce results in your life before? If you haven't, then you should be highly dissatisfied with your Christian experience because there's so much you're missing! Be dissatisfied enough to do something about it. But even before results come, there's an understanding that the Word is life to anyone that finds it (Proverbs 4:22). That understanding gets you rejoicing.

Maybe it's an attitude problem, a perspective problem. Maybe you just don't see God's Word as something to rejoice about. Beloved, repent. God's Word is worth shouting over, it's worth running, dancing, screaming & celebrating over! Depending on the level at which the revelation of God's Word hits you, you can even prepare a feast just to celebrate the Word you've received! It is that serious!

Beloved, I pray for you today: as you continue in God's Word, the Holy Spirit will show you greater & greater things that will cause your heart to rejoice & cause your life to be ever-transformed in Jesus' name. Shalom!