Month: November 2010

What fills my heart?

As my life adventures of faith in Jesus Christ take me here and
there, I see that the need for regular pit stops cannot be over emphasized.

I’ll be
leaving Sudan soon; but not before I finish running tests on my heart, with the
instructions of two great men. John Maxwell’s message – Inside
Out Leadership, fuels my resolve to probe my intentions and re-evaluate my
relationship with Jesus in the light of my Christian service.

Brother
Maxwell insists that working on being bigger and better on the inside, will by
and by make one bigger and better on the outside. People, who appear bigger and
better on the outside but small on the inside, will sooner or later hit the
wall. The inside, is the heart-side.
So I’m asking the question, “What fills my heart?”

Apostle Paul
enjoins believers in his Epistle to the Corinthian Church to, “Test yourselves to make
sure you are solid in the faith. Don’t drift along taking everything for
granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not
mere hearsay that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do
something about it.”(2Cor 13:5 The Message Bible)

It is impossible
to properly address the condition of any heart without revealed truth. Where
truth is frustrated with deception and disallowed through unbelief, compromise
thrives. If unchecked, over time, compromise displaces truth and one’s
conscience becomes “seared with hot iron”.

I’ve seen
how vices like covetousness, lust, bitterness and unforgiveness can thrive
successfully in the heart of Christ’s disciples; even as they earnestly seek
godly privileges and pursue their divine callings. Tragically, they may feel no
need for an emergency spiritual make-over. I wonder at these things with the
question, “What fills my heart?”

“But
Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep
back some of the price of the land?”” (Acts 5:3 my emphasis)

This man and
his wife were about to hit a high pitch on the outside, but God exposed the
diminutive nature of their inside.
Their inside was filled with lies. They may have known Jesus personally, so I
don’t think they started like this- alas, how badly they ended.

I’m asking
myself today, “Uche, are you doing anything remotely similar to what
Ananias and Sapphira did though you seek and expect the evidence and power of a
life totally given to God, but giving yourself only in part, yet presuming to
have given yourself wholly?”

The
searchlight is on me, but
you may also see yourself if you try searching. I know I want
the semblance of the comfort of the Spirit and His intimate communion, but it
appears too, that I want it at the lesser price of embracing truth in a
doctrinal sense alone, or in the sense of being correct, rather than
acknowledging truth as the very sum and substance of the reality of my
existence.

Sometimes, I
notice a struggle in me to want to speak the truth but not to be true; to use
correct words and publicly acknowledge truth, but not to obey it. In the light
of my relationship with Jesus, I’m seriously asking myself, “Uche, what
fills your heart, a passion for Him or for yourself?”

Am I
replacing partial truth for the whole, in my attitude and actions? Is the
reality of what I believe and teach transforming me first? For Ananias and
wife, it was covetousness which had to be preserved with lies. It could have
been unforgiveness or bitterness or pride… A heart gets filled with
something. “Uche, what’s fills your heart today?”

To decide to
tolerate one evil (no matter how insignificant and for whatever the reason) is
to violate the whole truth. To be 99.99% true and represent that as the whole
truth is to lie utterly. It could be where I’m most tempted to keep back for
myself that the issue of truth really lies.

What one
truth, what one final issue, what one reserve is it, that keeps me back from that
total abandon in Jesus I earnestly long for, that makes truth really the truth,
and injects into my vision and ministry the reality of  Christ’s presence
and glory?

What really
fills my heart… and yours?

Encounter with demons

Years ago, we use to derive
immense satisfaction and fun from engaging demons and dealing with them. In
those days, you dare not fall to the ground during a prayer meeting, worship
session… If you do, that to us was a clear manifestation of demonic presence
and you’ll not go home until they or it is cast out.

Yes, Jesus said not to be
carried away by the submission of these fallen beings… but the idea of a small
me, kicking the butt of a demon was and still is thrilling. Ha! my name
better be written in heaven… thanks for your concern.

Since arriving Yei a
couple of weeks ago, I’ve heard and witnessed several cases of demonic attacks.
Though I’ve not been involved with any case yet, it’s like there’s a surge of
their activity here. Not even children are spared.

It just struck me that
cases like the ones we have here have diminished back home. Apart from the
stage dramas of T.B. Joshua and his people, I can’t remember when last I
witnessed a real deliverance session back in Lagos.

What happened? The demons
all fled? Are all the people in our neighborhood free from demons? Could it be
that the demons have become immune to our prayers? Or is it that we are not
going to where they reside? What do you think?
 
In this blog earlier blog: Can children be witches, I promised to tell the story of one unique encounter with demons. Here it is.

In the company of two
wonderful friends, we had an unforgettable experience casting out demons from a
15year old boy possessed by fifteen ruthless ones.

It was the last night of
the evangelical outreach on campus; we called it Holy Ghost Night and indeed,
it was His night! 

When it seemed the
commotion of that evening had died down as most students had left the venue, I heard loud prayers and commands to-
“Come Out!!” coming from the uncompleted building near the
hall of meeting. I raced to the point, bubbling with excitement.

There on the ground was
this young boy, pinned down to the floor by six guys. Brother Austin Okeke (now
a pastor) was leading the session. 

I watched for a few
minutes and on hearing the demon speak and make some confessions, I ran to the
hostel to grab a tape recorder. This drama must not go unrecorded.

I returned to the scene
and they had cast out six out of the resident fifteen demons. It was a
methodical approach, one that Bro Austin had not tried before. He asked each
demon to say its name and describe its duties in the boy. One after the other,
they obeyed.

I began to record this
rather bizarre event when the 7th demon was being interrogated. The
voice of an old man came from this kid as he gnashed his teeth over and over in
a manner that sent cold shivers running through my spine.

After keeping mute for quite sometime, it said, “When a
foolish man holds his peace, he is counted a wise man.”[I cannot forget
my shock 2weeks later when I read the same words from Prov.17:28]

We pressed this demon for
its name and it contorted this boy’s face in a way I can’t even describe and
asked us, “Can you imagine a tree, growing in the midst of the sea?”

Bro Austin tried to
imagine that and said, “So you are Oke osisi” (meaning a great
tree in Igbo language). But no, his name meant more than a great tree.

He said, “My name is Nkpologwu
bina mmiri” (In Igbo language this means: a root that dwells in the
water). On saying this, the young boy shifted with great physical strength and
all six brothers holding him lost their balance. He made it clear to us that he
cannot be uprooted from this kid. But we got him out.

It was late into the night
now and someone advised us to cast the rest out all at once. So everyone
released the boy and began commanding all the demons to go out at once. But to
where?! Each person was casting them to where he felt was safe, some
said “to the moon” another said “to the sun”, to the
Arctic” etc and then the boy made a prolonged loud cry and opened his
eyes. We thought it was all over and retired.

The next day this kid
walked up to Bro Austin and said, “How do you think you can cast all of us
out like that?”

“So you are still in there
eh?”

That Sunday night, Brother
Austin, Brother Ken Nwaopara and I took this boy to a remote area on campus for
the final showdown. We didn’t need a lot of physical restrain to control the
boy that evening. We also kept wondering, “What made this boy come back?”
The only answer was the Holy Spirit.

It was a most amazing
encounter. The remaining eight, each with its own unique voice and
characteristic, told its name, duties and other unsolicited facts we later
confirmed to be true. We heard of past, present and future diabolic local and
international plots, with many other ills neither we nor this kid could have
ever imagined.

Sadly, some of these
horrors are still in the news today; from cultism on campuses, slumber and
nonchalance in the churches in matters dear to Jesus; to leadership issues- one
world government etc. It was an eye opener. We’ll never forget!

We saw from that encounter
that Satan was better organized and more determined than we’re willing to
admit.

When the last demon left
this kid, we knew it. He sprang upon his feet and asked what we were doing
here, why we were sweating… We told him and he wept sore. We led him to
Jesus there.

We know, don’t we, that
Satan’s strategy of deception and camouflage hardly change? But I’m wondering
today, if he has improved on his stealth operations.

Could he be content with
cuffing and blinding some Christians with pride, envy, unforgiveness, assorted
lusts, …, rendering them useless to Jesus and to themselves as they continue
to seek justification for their pitiable status.

I know this blog is too long now but I need to ask if the signs of our
war are manifest where you dwell? Are you moving from victory unto victory… from glory to glory?

“This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk
away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a
life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be
prepared.

You’re up against far more than you can handle on your
own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when
it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.” Eph 6:12-13 (Msg)

“THE LORD (God)
says to my Lord (the Messiah), Sit at My right hand, until I make Your
adversaries Your footstool.” Ps
110:1 (Amp)

Where are the Women?

When one of the lead facilitators of an important ministers’ training I attended here asked, “…why are there no women here?” his query seemed to suspend airflow in the room briefly. Our befuddlement was salvaged by a quick response from one participant, urging him to proceed without waiting for an appropriate answer on this worrisome question.

 

No excuse could suffice for the absence of a single local female in that meeting. But were they considered and invited? Were they needed there? Who really qualifies among them to attend anyway? In a meeting where the youth, church growth, discipleship and children are on the main menu, it’s sad to imagine that local women were absent.

Brothers and Sisters, we have a largely unengaged battle field before us here in South Sudan. This is another Macedonian Call! Who’ll come to our rescue?

We are in dire need of Women whose heart the Master has touched; disciples of Christ to whom women here can run to for godly counsel. Our future is doomed without local mentors who have been through it and withstood the heat, arising from the complex issues that bedevil today’s Woman.

Let me attempt to give you an idea of what we are wrestling with here.

Early this week, I had this chat with a pastor friend, who told me he was just returning from seeing his brother whose wife passed away.

“Was she sick?” I inquired.

“Well yes, she had a mental illness for some time and just committed suicide… she left the man with five children.”

“It seems the case of suicide deaths is on the rise here…?”

“Yes my brother, we have an average of 65 cases like this every year here… many of them are married women with children and a good number of young girls too…” he added.

“What do you think is the problem?”
 
“I guess they feel they don’t have anyone to talk to or maybe no one understands them or they are just tired of dealing with the same evils over and over… suicide seems to be their last option.”
 
I was afraid to ask him, “What should we do?” because he could say, I don’t know and proceed to ask me the same.

During the debrief session after our evangelism thrust last Sunday; Rose, a heavily pregnant and yet energetic young leader in the church commented thus:

“It’s a pity we don’t have a lot of our women coming to go on evangelism with us. Many women in the villages are suffering seriously and looking for help. Since we started this evangelism I’ve seen that we have a big work to do amongst the women…”

Others concurred with her, sharing their experiences with women they’d encountered who were drunks, possessed of demons, with illnesses that have defied doctors’ help, in bitterness etc.

A 12yrs old girl was delivered of her baby girl just over a week ago.

Abortion is on the rise.

Some hospitals here now offer the service for quick money.

Many young girls are dropping out of school due to unwanted pregnancies.

Many women are being treated for depression. 

I’ll not talk about the rape cases, the abuse in the schools, the prostitution and so on. No one can minister to a woman better than a fellow woman. So where are the women? I mean local hands!!

When one of the missionaries here, a qualified medical doctor lost her baby during delivery, she connected fully with the women folk around her.

She told me her story, which ended like this:

“When I returned home, the women came running from everywhere but when I told them what had happened, they mourned with me. One put her hands around my neck and said, “…now that you know what we’ve been suffering, you are one of us.” This opened doors for my ministry to them.”

Many local ministers’ wives do not command the respect of their flock? But do they even know their duties? What is the place of the pastor’s wife in the church? I’ve seen that one of the most challenging positions any woman can occupy is- Pastor’s Wife; even here in Sudan. But are we without hope… help? Where are the women?
 

“If the war alarm gives an unclear signal, who will prepare for battle?” (1Corinthains 14:8 my paraphrase) We are at war on all fronts but it seems the church thinks otherwise. Many are doing ministry that’s not people focused.

* Do you have a heart laced with grace and yearning for solution to Women issues?

* Do you lead a thriving Women ministry with abiding fruit?

* Are you concerned for the next generation of Women leaders and wish to mentor some unto maturity?

* Can God use you and/or yours to stir up a response for His fame and Kingdom here?

* Are you burdened enough to seek a solution with and for us? Can you share this with some women in your church or network and solicit help for us?

* Can you sacrifice a few weeks of your life sooner than later to come bring joy to a desperate woman here?

If your answer is yes to any one of the above, please feel free to connect with us. Let’s plan your trip to South Sudan together. You could be Jesus in flesh and blood to someone in need here.

To my wife TODAY!

 

Darl,

When we said what we thought was our last good-nights yesternight; I couldn’t sleep, so I had to make that very late call, to wish you a great day today and also seek an exit into sleep-land.

There was a tad of gloom that pervaded my spirit as we spoke, though I had many reasons to be more joyful, as I’d shared a few with you on the goings on here. STILL, I struggle… , wishing we were together. It’s your birthday today and I’m not there again.

Knowing how you cherish our special days, makes it more challenging to discern how best to light-up your day and make your joy fuller when I’m away; especially with the boys growing older and my absence a little louder with each trip.

You know how I hate to be far from home but you relish the opportunity for an expedition such as this. We’re surrendering better to Abba’s sovereignty. Yeah, He concocts wonders in His matchmaking workshop; ever seeking to announce Himself with and in everything. He doesn’t just love to say, I AM THE LORD! He delights in proving it. He smiles.

I celebrated you here last year and I’m back here this year, celebrating at the very same spot, but you are STILL hundreds of miles away.

Darl, I appreciate you for being in my life like this... I can’t stop wondering why of all men, I should be the one, to have and to hold you… but alas today, of all days, I’m not on site.

The events at home soon after I left burst my surprise package meant for today. But I know you know I understand. I know you know Abba’s smiling. You fill His joys and that of many that appreciate Him for our ministry here and there.

Our common passion for His cause will STILL guide your actions and words, He’s there for you and I am too.

Some days, our adventures with the Master are nice when the waters are calm and not as stormy as now. But you never complain. The last 6weeks have been loaded with activities, duties and issues meant for both of us to tackle, but it STILL pleased you well to let me go, pouring out your blessings and affirmations as I left.

You’ve sacrificed much…

You’ve sown much…

You’ve sweated much…

You’ve served much…

Having done so much, you’re STILL standing; helping to save many.

Truly, truly I say unto you Darl, you may miss my presence today, as I miss yours, but we’ll not miss Abba’s embrace when we finish. I promised, I’m taking us there.

May Abba’s pleasure continue to prosper with your every effort. I prayed long and hard for you this morning; asking The Sweet Paraclete to put a flavor in your week, that’s unique to Him; one that will linger. He assured me.

May the Lamb that was slain STILL receive the reward of His pains as you mark your day today my Darling. (I could rap this line for you:)

On behalf of the boys and me, here’s a toast to you again! We love YOU!!

Your One&Only…

[This video clip is a song by Bebe & Cece Winans that comes close, yes, close to what I think I should sing to you today. But there’s STILL my return to wait for.]

Abba smiles again.