© Ayo Omolayo
I stood at the assembly ground and burst into so excitement when the principal announced that anyone having something to share with the crowd should step forward . I knew my opportunity was here again. I was not myself anymore. The normal Juliet Anderson I know very well will not be so excited about evangelism. How come I am so excited that I have an opportunity to get up and preach the word of God?
“Daddy confess oooo! What have you done to me?” I asked within me, all smiles.
I could hear daddy laughing within me.
“I catch you daddy! You have done something to me. Tell me, what did you do?”
“IT’S CALLED TRANSFORMATION. THAT’S WHY PRAYER AND STUDYING THE BIBLE IS VERY IMPORTANT. THE MORE YOU PRAY, THE MORE AN INTERNAL WORK IS GOING ON IN YOU WITHOUT YOUR KNOWLEDGE. BUT YOU WON’T KNOW. ALL YOU KNOW IS THAT YOU OBSERVED YOUR QUIET TIME. YOU WON’T KNOW THAT DADDY WAS DOING SOMETHING WITH THE TIME YOU GAVE TO HIM IN HIS PRESENCE.
THAT’S WHY THE BIBLE SAID THAT AS JESUS WAS PRAYING, HIS APPEARANCE WAS ULTERED AND HE TRANSFIGURED IN THE PLACE OF PRAYERS. THE MORE YOU KEEP APPEARING BEFORE ME TO SPEND TIME IN MY PRESENCE, THE MORE YOU’LL BEGIN TO DISCOVER THE THINGS YOU USED TO DO BEFORE AND LOVE BEFORE WILL BEGIN TO FADE AWAY. BECAUSE A NEW YOU, THE REAL YOU, IS EMERGING.”
“Come forward!” The Principal said.
I stepped out bold and confident. A number of students mumured on seeing me, but I wasn’t moved by what I was seeing.
I began my sermon and preached with all boldness. They gave me little attention. Some gisted with their partner while I preached. Some giggled and pointed at me. As I made to step out of the stage. The students roared in laughter. I was scared at first and looked to be sure something wasn’t wrong.
I noticed they were pointing at me and I was wondering if something was wrong about my uniform. I looked myself over to be sure and was satisfied with my looks. But immediately I turned to step out of the stage, the laughter got so loud.
“She doesn’t know!” A male student said to the person standing close to him.
I was now confused. I gave Romeo a look that had my question written on it. He was pointing at his back and using sign language to tell me that there was something on my back.
I was still on the stage, but I quickly did so and felt there was something attached to my white uniform on the back. I pulled it off and discovered it was a cardboard paper, with something boldly written on it.
“Fool!” That was the word written there.
Anger boiled inside of me. Who would have done such a thing? I remembered a hand touching me on the back when I stepped out, but I had no idea that something was attached to my back.
Anger boiled within me as I looked around to know who was responsible for it. I quickly tore the paper into shreds in such a way that expressed my anger. It only did one thing, it made them laugh at me the more.
It was obvious I was nothing but a laughing stock. I got down form the stage and returned to where I was on the line furiously. The more I exhibited my anger, the more I was being mocked. Romeo who was at the far end of the line found his way to where I was and tapped me on the shoulder.
“Juliet I’m sorry about what happened!”
“Please! I don’t want to hear a word about it!” I said furiously.
I saw the shock in his eyes, but I was not ready to say I was sorry. I was just so angry that I wished I could lay my hands on that person who did all this to me. I wished I could discover who it was. I would have dealt with that person beyond recognition.
Soon, I felt a piece of paper was being slipped into my hand. It was Romeo again.
“Romeo you better be careful. You might be my next victim!” I said within me.
He left the line and went back to his former position. He was no longer standing behind me.
I opened the piece of paper and read it’s content.
“Matthew 5:10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Verse 11. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Verse 12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
This is what the Holy Ghost said I should tell you.
And also, he said you are too angry that you have not given him your listening ears anymore. It’s almost as if he left, but he’s trying to calm you down. You have allowed your emotions to deafen his voice.
So he said you should calm down so he can talk.
I felt like weeping on the spot. I can’t believe all what happened to me was just being persecuted for righteousness sake. Haaaaa! Instead for me to be glad and rejoice that someone has added to my reward in heaven, I was busy looking for how I would deal with the person.
“Whoever did this to me! God bless you abundantly!” I said to the hearing of everyone in the assembly.
More students laughed, only few of them expressed their shock at the abnormal statement I had just made. It was glaring I had gone insane.
I was now smiling. I turned around and my eyes met with Romeo. I had not been a good friend to him. My character or temper was not something that would encourage a young convert like him. Yet, he was not discouraged.
With my lips, I mouthed the words, ‘Thank you!’
He smiled and nodded.
“Daddy, I’m so sorry for allowing bitterness to take root in my heart. Please forgive me,” I whispered.
“FINALLY! JULIET YOU DIDN’T GIVE ME BREATHING SPACE. I WAS TRYING TO TALK TO YOU BUT YOUR ANGER WAS SHUTTING YOUR EARS FROM HEARING MY VOICE.”
“I’m so sorry Daddy! I will never give in to the desires of the flesh ever again!”
“IT’S ALRIGHT. SO YOU DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING DID YOU?”
“No sir!”
“SO YOU DON’T KNOW THAT AFTER A BREAKTHROUGH PRAYER THE NEXT THING THAT HAPPENS IS THAT SOMEONE PUSHES YOU TO QUARREL AND LOSE YOUR SPIRITUAL FIRE AND BLESSINGS?
THAT’S WHY AFTER A POWERFUL VIGIL SENSITIVE MEN OF GOD WILL WARN THEIR CONGREGATION THAT AS YOU ARE GOING, DON’T QUARREL WITH ANYONE. IF ANYONE PROVOKES YOU, DON’T ANSWER THEM. IT’S NOTHING BUT A TRAP TO STEAL YOUR BLESSING.”
“I’m so sorry daddy! I never knew Satan was planning me all this while.”
“PSALMS 119:98. THOU THROUGH THY COMMANDMENTS HAST MADE ME WISER THAN MINE ENEMIES: FOR THEY ARE EVER WITH ME.”
THE STRENGTH OF THE ENEMY IS IN YOUR DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS. SO ALL THE DRAMA THE DEVIL IS DOING IS ONLY AIMING AT GETTING YOU TO DISOBEY GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS.
REMEMBER THAT SCRIPTURE THAT SAID HE THAT BREAKETH THE EDGE A SERPENT SHALL SURELY BITE.”
“Yes! I remember that scripture very well!”
“GOOD, SO KEEP CALM. BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. ALL THEY NEED IS FOR YOU TO BREAK THE EDGE. THEY CANNOT BREAK IT BY THEMSELVES. THEY NEED YOU THROUGH YOUR GIVING IN TO THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH, TO BREAK IT FOR THEM, SO THEY CAN BITE YOU. SATAN IS TRULY POWERLESS, HE’S EVEN DEPENDING ON US TO DEFEAT US”
“Jesus is Lord!” I said in a low tone.
Soon the assembly was over and we all got to our classes.
I was smiling as I sat beside Romeo. He returned the smile too.
“It’s a great privilege to find yourself surrounded by godly friends. They will always watch your back. I’m so glad you did. Thank you!”
“I guess we’ll have to thank God for that. I was only an instrument he used.”
“Then thank you for yielding yourself to be used by him!”
“Thank God for helping me to yield myself.”
“Then thank you for accepting God’s help to yield to him.”
“Thanks to God for helping me to accept his help!”
“Then thank you for collecting God’s help!”
“Haaaaa! Juliet!”
I burst into laughter.
“You just want to look for my trouble this morning.”
“You must tell me welcome ooo. You are not ready to agree you cooperated with God. You did something ooo! If God said do this and you said no, nothing will happen. So thank you!”
“Let’s give all the thanks to God.”
A teacher stepped into the class and we all stood up to greet.
“You’re lucky there’s a teacher in the class. You would have begged me to have mercy on you this morning,” I whispered to Romeo.
He tucked out his tongue and gave me a mock smile. I shook my head grinning.
“Good morning everyone! Please sit down!” The female teacher Mrs Daniella said.
We all sat down.
“Miss Anderson! Come forward!”
I was shocked. Haaaa! Do you mean they still want to call me out to embarrass me?
“Miss Juliet Anderson!” She called. Her eyes met with mine.
“Yes, step forward.”
I stood up and walked up to her.
“Face the class!” She said.
I did as she instructed and met some of them laughing.
“Pastor woman!”
“The woman pastor!”
“The Holy one of Israel!”
I could hear many saying different kind of things to entertain themselves.
“Listen up everyone! I don’t have a problem with Miss Anderson. The problem I have is with this Christianity she claims to be carrying on her head. That’s why I called her to the front of the class.
Take a look at her!” She pointed at the length of my skirt.
“Her type like wearing long skirt. They like dressing like holy Mary, but they are the worst kind of fornicators. They sleep with anything in trousers.
“Ma! That is not true,” I said in my defence.
“Will you keep quiet? Is something wrong with your brain?”
“I’m sorry ma!”
“Many of you have decieved us. You have fooled everyone claiming you are Holy Ghost’s younger sister. But you are a snake! A venomous viper, with deadly poison!”
The word snake irritated me so badly. Anger boiled within me. I looked at her and my eyes spelt it out that I was angry with her.
“You want to beat me? You want to say something? Go ahead and say it.
I searched for Romeo with my eyes and saw that his eyes were closed and his lips were moving rapidly. He was already praying for me. That was when I realized this was not ordinary.
As I wanted to reply her. Immediately my eyes opened.
I saw myself dropping my sword and picking up a broom stick. Immediately I dropped the sword, some demons came in a rush, grabbed the sword and ran away with it.
I blinked my eyes and discovered I was in the class with the teacher.
Wow! That was eye opening. Now I had an idea of what was happening. They are after my sword. Ha ha ha ha ha! God no go gree for una (you).
I positioned myself very well and began to pray within me. I didn’t speak audibly, but I was speaking to God with my mind.
“You spiritual thief, I release Holy fire on you in the name of Jesus.
The teacher was still talking when she made to the board and slipped. She fell on the ground and the entire class burst into laughter!”
“Hallelujah!”
“Amen!”
“That’s what happens when you mess with a real child of God!” A lady shouted.
“How dare you? Who said that?” The teacher asked.
No one responded.
“Oh! You guys no longer respect your teacher, right? I fell and the only thing you could do was to laugh, right?”
“It was funny na! Maybe na her God push you fall!” Samson said.
“Samson stand up! Get out of my class!”
“Ma! I was only stating the facts ooo! You know I am good at spotting out the reason behind a problem.”
“Shut up! Get out!” She yelled.
He quickly ran out which got the entire class laughing.
“Juliet follow him!”
“I’m sorry ma!”
“Follow your church member!” She shouted.
I quickly followed to avoid further insults.
As soon as I got out of the class. A smile appeared on my face.
“Thank you Daddy! I’m so happy I didn’t fall into their trap!”
“TODAY’S NOT OVER YET. YOU ARE STILL UNDER SERIOUS ATTACK. I WANT YOU TO START PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST FOR SPIRITUAL EMPOWERMENT TO OVERCOME THEIR DEVICES.
THEY SERIOUSLY WANT TO GET THAT SWORD!”
“They are thieves! They will not collect what is mine!”
“THEN YOU MUST BE MORE THAN READY TO DEFEND IT.”
To be continued……….
Hmmmmm Juliet is going through alot ooo. You guys should pray for her. This is not a time to make mistakes and come back to correct them. This is a time to seriously stand firm for Jesus.
How many of you have really seen that scripture for what it is?
Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Verse 12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
But many of us today, instead of rejoicing, we start crying. Some of us will say, ‘ I am not going to help people anymore, I will stay on my own. I cannot kill myself because of others.’
When you are supposed to be rejoicing that a someone is unknowingly helping you have greater rewards in heaven. You’re busy saying something like, ‘ People are very wicked. With all the good I am doing, they are not even appreciating it. I will stop!’
Some will say, ‘ I’m not going to be ushering in this church again. Since all they know how to do is to insult workers, I will be on my own. I cannot stand being insulted.’
Didn’t they insult Jesus Christ because of you?
You never understood what was really happening.
Please repent of this behaviour and learn to put on a smile as you are being persecuted for righteousness sake. Continue helping people. Continue with that work for God.
Don’t be discouraged.
