© Ayo Omolayo
“Stephen was a man like you and I. There was no difference between that man and each of us. I’m not going to dispute the fact that forgiveness is a piece of cake, cheap and easy to do. But there has been a problem in the body of Christ that has not been addressed.
The Bible says that by the arm of flesh, shall no man prevail. We believers have forgotten that this Christian race is not a race we run with our physical strength. So whenever you mention forgiveness, which is according to the human strength, impossible. He quickly screams, impossible! Forgetting that it is not by power, nor by might but by my Holy Spirit, says the Lord of hosts”.
There was a brief silence in the sitting room, before Joseph said.
“Hmmmmm! It’s hard oooo!”
“Matthew 19:26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible”.
Looks like my husband is armed with scriptures to silence every negative thoughts in our heads tonight.
“So Daddy, now tell me, what can we do in order to obey this difficult command?” Tina asked.
“That’s a good question! Who’s our role model in the Bible?” He asked.
I don’t know why my Roberto loved asking this question. I believe he’s trying to always make us look unto Jesus as our example.
“Jesus!” We all chorused.
“Beautiful! Now did God give Jesus a difficult command? Yes he did. Infact, he sent Moses and Elijah to him on a mountain to tell him he was going to be sacrificed for the sins of mankind. He was going to be disgraced, spat on, whipped, chained like a criminal, nailed to a cross, stripped naked in front of a crowd and bleed till he died.
It was a death loaded with pain. Anyone can die a quick death. A bullet, just one shot, you can just close your eyes and open them in eternity. But a painful slow death? It’s so scary. Jesus was so afraid and sad. His disciples noticed it because he told them.
My spirit is sorrowful even unto death. And he went to the place of prayer and even asked God to permit him to disobey his command. Can you imagine?”
Nobody said anything. All eyes were focused on my hubby.
“Jesus showed us the perfect example. Whenever obeying God is too difficult for you to do, go to the place of prayer and seek his face for strength.
Because while the prayers were going on in the book of Luke 22:43. AND there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
Strength came from God to enable him carry out the command that was given to him. Because the bible made us to understand in the book of Philippians 2:13. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do his good pleasure.
Joseph, that desire to forgive was God’s doing. But it is incomplete with that desire being fulfilled. Joseph, God placed it in your heart to forgive. So your job is to go and meet the God who place that desire in you, and ask him for strength to fulfill it.
Listen to me all of you, stop trying to please God with your human strength. You will fail and continue to fail. You will sin and continue to sin until you learn to kneel down before God and say, give me strength.
Give us strength! There are powers of immorality out there, I need strength to stay pure. There are powers of bitterness out there, I need strength to stay pure. Lord we need you! That’s why a Christian that is not serious with his quiet time is in for serious trouble.
Satan knows that a prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian. So he’ll do everything in his power to keep you from praying. John 1:12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
God actually gave us power to become like him. To live a righteous life like him. To forgive the way he forgives. To love our enemies the way he did when he was on earth. To pray for those who persecute us the way he commanded us. But why is it as if we don’t have this power?
Ye have not, because ye ask not. And where is the place where you meet with God to ask him for strength? In your quiet time.
That’s why Satan is ready to make sure you don’t keep your quiet time. He’s ready to make you so busy and allow you see 21 reasons why you don’t have time for prayers and studying God’s word.
So when unforgiveness comes, you’re powerless. When fornication comes, you’re powerless. When anger comes, you can’t control it. When bitterness comes, you cannot tame it and send it packing.
Pray! You don’t have time. Anyway, Satan has your time and he’s working overtime to keep you struggling to grow.
Pray! You said you’re tired. Well the enemies won’t come and find you tired and leave you. They won’t say, he was tired that’s why he couldn’t fight us. We would come back another day. They will so reck your life that you won’t believe you were born again in the first place.
Can we go down on our knees right now and ask God for strength!” My husband said as he stood up with Tina and knelt down.
My son and I quickly joined them.
“Let’s ask God for strength! Strength to do his good pleasure! Strength to love our enemies! Oh! Do you think it’s easy to love those who persecute you? Go ahead and try in your human strength. I wish you good luck on that.
Go ahead and cry to God. On my own! On my own! I can’t make it! I can’t make it!”
My kids and I began to burst into prayers.
“Please pray like Jesus taught us to pray. Jesus is our perfect example on how to pray. The Bible says, Jesus was dripping out sweat as he was kabashing. All these gentle man prayer is how the Rabbi, Pharisees and Sadducees pray.
Pray fervently! Pray with energy! Let God know you mean business! You don’t pray a gentleman prayer and sweat heavily.
The Bible says in Luke 22:43. At once an angel from heaven was at his side, strengthening him.
44 He prayed on all the harder. Sweat, wrung from him like drops of blood, poured off his face.
Jesus was a man of fervent prayers. Even the bible says a fervent prayer of a righteous man is so powerful and availeth much than all these gentleman prayer!”
With that, my kids changed into a fervent praying mode. Everyone was blasting in tongues and in no time, we are all dripping sweat like Jesus.
“Lord! Fill us with power! It is your spirit that quickeneth. The flesh profiteth nothing! Oh my God!
Angels are here! Angels just arrived to give strength. Who’s ready to recieve!” My hubby announced.
The prayers become hotter. I threw myself on the floor and began to groan in unknown tongues. Mt stomach tightened as I prayed.
“Lord! Cris has offended me. I’m so bitter! I cannot make heaven with such a bitter heart! Please wash me! Strengthen me! Help me to forgive her. On my own I can’t forgive her. What she did is so painful! But Lord, I still love you and I’m ready to show how much I love you by keeping your command.
But you’ve just made me understand that I can’t do it on my own. So please help me! Help me forgive her!”
“DAUGHTER! WHY IS FORGIVENESS SO IMPORTANT?” Came the inner voice.
I was still speaking in tongues, but this voice was engaging me in a conversation. Prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue. It’s a discussion and it’s done between you and God.
“HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO FORGIVE?”
“No sir!” I replied.
“FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES, AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US”.
“Yes Lord!”
“DAUGHTER! UNTIL YOU FORGIVE CRIS! I AM FORCED TO DENY YOU FORGIVENESS! I CANNOT GO AGAINST MY WORD! I LOVE YOU AND I’M READY TO FORGIVE YOU, BUT I CANNOT BREAK MY WORD. YOU HAVE TO FORGIVE CRIS SO I CAN ALSO FORGIVE YOU!”
“Lord! I’m ready to let go!” I replied.
“BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY! AS YOU HAVE SHOWN MERCY, THEREFORE, I HAVE SHOWN YOU MERCY! JULIET MY DAUGHTER, I FORGIVE YOU!”
It was as if a heavy load was taken off my chest. Immediately, I felt my joy restored, I felt peace of mind. I was still speaking in tongues, but I was now smiling.
“Lord! Cris was the one who sinned against me. Why were you confronting me that I was a sinner?”
“YOU SINNED!”
“What was my sin?” I asked.
“BITTERNESS! HOLDING GRUDGES AGAINST HER! SIN IS LIKE VIRUS. YOU CONTACT IT BY ALLOWING THE PERSON WITH THE VIRUS SPREAD IT TO YOU. BUT IF YOU PUT ON YOUR NOSE MASK AND SANITIZE YOUR HANDS, YOU’RE SURE OF A SPIRITUAL HEALTHY LIFE. GOD’S WORD IS YOUR SANITIZER”.
I bowed myself to the ground in worship and began to sing praises to God.
To be continued…….
Our God is awesome
He wants us to forgive so that we can receive his forgiveness.
Can you imagine?
So why are we wasting our time in bitterness and grudges. Instead of forgiving and moving on to enjoy our relationship with God.
And how many of you learnt something from the prayer life of Jesus. Fervent prayers are so powerful and unique. Please let’s wave our gentility prayers goodbye. We are warriors in the realm of the spirit.
Please share with me one or two things you learnt from this episode. Don’t just pass without saying anything.
Please don’t be a Ghost reader
I’ll be waiting for you in the comment box
