Tiany had just called off her 6-year relationship with Jackizy. As she narrated the events that led to the painful separation, she wept profusely over what she termed “6 wasted years”. Being a ‘spiritual lady’ and church cell leader, she felt that this separation was a dent to her reputation and a bad example for others. I encouraged her from the scripture and told her that in a few months, she would be happily engaged to the man she was meant to marry. In addition, she would be so engrossed in her newfound love to the point that she would forget she ever had anything to do with Jackizy. I reiterated (with a smile) that I was 100% sure about this and would give the little finger on my left hand, if it did not happen.
Give my finger? Yes! I first witnessed something similar with Pastor Jide Lawal several years ago. I participated in the recruitment exercise of a blue chip company and after going through 6 different stages of assessment in a space of about 5 months; I was informed that I had not been successful in my last interview with Idy. I couldn’t believe it! This was a humiliation for a man of God! As I lamented my ordeal to Pastor Jide, his words were very reassuring and comforting. He said, “Tope, I can assure you that in a few months from now, you will be so busy on your new job that you will forget you ever had such a painful experience.” He was very right, and there is more.
About 7 years after we had that conversation, I was bidding for a contract alongside 3 competing companies, including Idy’s. On the day of the presentation of proposals, my company was first to present and as usual, I gave what I think was a “power presentation”. As I walked out of the client’s boardroom, I saw the representatives of one of the competing companies walk in and Idy was going to give the presentation. As I walked past Idy, I whispered to my colleague – that’s the guy who felt I wasn’t good enough 7 years ago. You can be sure that Idy didn’t recognize me. Days later, I received a call saying that we had won that bid. Wow, life can be interesting! Today, my client probably thinks Idy is “not good enough”. Hmm! Tiany is also currently happily married with kids, while Jackizy is still searching for his wife.
Why was Jide so sure things would turn around for me despite the pain I felt at the time? Why was I willing to ‘give away’ my finger if Tiany didn’t experience a turnaround? It’s simple! The words Jide and I gave could be termed “Word by Knowledge”; a prediction of an outcome based on the knowledge of a person’s life/lifestyle. The scripture is replete with instructions that if we obey as believers, yield 100% predictable outcomes. For instance, Luke 6:38 says – “Give and it shall be given unto you”. I don’t need to hear God before I tell a giver that he would enjoy the giving of others. In like manner, a believer who genuinely serves God will definitely blossom; we can say unto the righteous that it shall be well with him. We can say to him who delights in meditating on God’s word that “whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1:3). Back in the day, I saw that Tiany genuinely lived for God and I could predict her future no matter what she was passing through currently.
Beloved, no one swims with God and goes to the bottom (Polish proverb). A friend of mine recently said to me – “Tope, in the past 4 years I have never seen you worried.” I think he should have observed instead – In the past 4 years, I have never seen you worried about a believer whose heart genuinely pants after God. If God opened our eyes so we could see all that would happen to us in 7 months or 7 years, or preferably, in eternity, I am sure we would dismiss all our current worries. But don’t wait for that; read the scripture to see what God has said and done about your future, and you will experience a peace that passeth all understanding.
Shalom!
– Tope S. Aladenusi
One striking difference between people who lived in the Old Testament times and believers of today (that existed after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ) is the relationship and operation of the Holy Spirit in their lives. In the Old Testament, the Holy Spirit did not dwell inside any being. He only manifested at some points and later departed. Sometimes he had some symbolic representations. For instance, when Samson’s hair was scrapped off, the Holy Spirit departed from him. But Jesus came with a new order.
He told his disciples in John 14:16 “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever”. The promise of Jesus Christ to us is that the Comforter (Holy Spirit) will abide with us forever. And since all believers have theHoly Spirit dwelling in them (Romans 8:9), they also have that supernatural advantagewhich comes with the indwelling of God’s Spirit forever. There are magnificent implications of this singular (yet powerful) fact, but it is quite unfortunate that many believers undermine them.
Ephesians 4:30 (GNB) says “And do not make God’s Holy Spirit sad; for the Spirit is God’s mark of ownership on you”. One of the key evidences that God has already purchased you with the blood of Jesus Christ is that his seal of ownership is on you, and that seal (Holy Spirit) will remain on you forever 2Corinthians 1:22 tells us — it is God who has sealed us with His Spirit irrevocably! You don’t have anywhere to run to and the devil or any evil spirit cannot dwell in you again. I once told a friend this and he referred me to Matthew 12:43-45 (CEV):
“When an evil spirit leaves a person, it travels through the desert, looking for a place to rest. But when the demon doesn’t find a place, it says, “I will go back to the home I left.” When it gets there and finds the place empty, clean, and fixed up, it goes off and finds seven other evil spirits even worse than itself. They all come and make their home there, and the person ends up in worse shape than before.”
My friend tried to explain that when a believer sins, the Holy Spirit can leave him and evil spirit can return to that person. But that’s a lie! John 14:16 tells us that the Holy Spirit will abide with us forever. God does not give up His ownership nor can He hand us over to the devil just like that even though we did what we were not supposed to do. I John 2:1 reminds us that our advocate – Jesus will stand in for us if we sin. And because the Holy Spirit dwells in us, we can never be found in an “empty” state where there will be room for an evil one to return into us.
Some believers even think evil spirits can dwell side by side with the Holy Spirit inside us. But the bible says in 2Corinthians 6:14 GNB “…How can light and darkness live together?” So beloved, don’t believe those who say believers can have spirit husbands / wives. Don’t accept the idea that the evil one can dwell within you. Believe the report of the Lord and act accordingly. Jesus Christ already paid the price by his death and resurrection and henceforth, the Holy Spirit dwells in us forever!
– tope aladenusi