"The Osey Diaries"

For the past two days, a group of us young men have been gathered in a secluded place away from the hustle and bustle of the city, work and other distractions to spend time in the Word and prayer. For me personally it's a big honor from God to be part of a new move of reformation. As I've grown in the knowledge of Christ, I've really been privileged to come across great young people whose hearts are set on serving the Lord alone. We've come to realize that some of the stuff we hear in our churches are either false or watered down. Our hearts yearn daily for a revival in the present day church. We seek to be completely sold out to the one who died to redeem us from death's grip and that is why we've gathered.

Judging from past revivals and reading biographies of men and women God used in time past, we see a trend of people who were completely broken i.e completely broken in spirit and deeply committed to the cause of the kingdom of God. After just two days, we've seen we still have a lot to do especially as we've got younger ones that God has place din our care.

The main focus of this retreat is 'now that you're a leader what are the things God demands from your life' and it cuts across monetary issues, spiritual growth and discernment, anointing, relationships and future spouse and integrity.

So far so good it's been lovely and I believe as God continues to reveal more of Himself to us it will get better. The issue that has actually taken more time is that of our God's purpose for us and the issue of money. For me personally, it's that of purpose that has been the bane of the last few months especially since understanding that my life has been predestined. But I'm confident I'll live here with the 100% assurance of what I'm supposed to do and how I'll go about it.

For a while now the chants for revivals by many Christians has been in the air. A lot are praying to GOD for the outpouring of anointing and power of the Holy Ghost experienced by the early church. Many even believe that this feat is no longer possible because we live in a different time. But from careful study of the scriptures, one would find out that is not true because GOD hasn't changed and it's the same Holy Spirit who is still present today.

Until a couple of months ago I actually had no idea what this meant and each time I heard people talk about it or read it in a book or e-newsletter I just wondered what exactly they where talking about. Gradually I began to understand it with the help of a friend who GOD has used mightily to bless my life without even asking him what it meant.

When I had grasped the full meaning of the word ‘revival’, I then realized that was what I had yearned for at the beginning of the year. I had felt a void on the inside of me which wasn’t filled in the church where I worshipped, I began to get tired of the friends I had who for me weren’t sharing the same passion as I did and began to seek godly people to fellowship with. I also began to yearn for messages and books with depth in them. All in all, I was hungry for more of GOD. I started wondering why the Christians of today weren’t manifesting the power that the Christians of old possessed. I started wondering why youths in churches still dabbled into the world.

But as GOD is ever faithful, He answered my prayers. I started meeting people who shared the same passion as I did. People who were not satisfied with just going to church and quoting their pastors. People who were seeking the full manifestation of GOD in their lives. People who sought to be totally and completely sold out to Christ.

This became like a chain reaction. Like a small spark which gradually leads to a big fire. We stared holding prayer meetings every morning both to seek more of the LORD as well as intercede for our churches and nation as a whole. We became increasingly aware of the need to dwell in the Spirit and not the flesh. We started meeting other young believers like us who where seeking the edification and the sanctification of the body of Christ so that it can be effective in furthering the kingdom of GOD. It was on one such meeting we joined a group called The Reformation Platform. This group holds a retreat every month where they go to a solitary place to spend time in word, worship and prayer.

Last week was the August edition and it was what took place that has led to this post. The gathering included for the first time teenagers. It was a four day retreat which started on Tuesday and ended Friday night. I myself came in on Wednesday night since I was out of town. By then everyone was getting soaked in God’s presence at the revelations coming from the mouth of His servants.

It was a lovely open atmosphere as it was interactive and this was the key to the free flow of the Spirit of GOD. But it was on the last day that GOD really manifested Himself. What I saw won’t probably surprise a lot of Christians but it was the first time I was going to witness the power of the Holy Spirit like this. I’ve got to say here that I try not to get carried away when I see the manifestations of the prophetic but this was a different scenario entirely especially seeing the people GOD used to prophesy.

There were revelations and deep spiritual experiences from all quarters. And the awe inspiring thing of it was that it was the very young ones who we were bringing up that were privileged. In short I was reminded that night as most of the older youths that GOD uses whom He chooses.

All in all, was a wonderful experience as we felt heaven right here on earth. It was a feeling that words can really describe. Even now as I think about it I can only thank GOD that He made me a partaker of this. And if this is only a taste of revival, imagine what an experience would feel like. The ripple effects that it would cause all over the world.

I beg all you Christians to pray for this that the world indeed may know that we serve a living GOD. Let us return to our first love. The name of the LORD be praised.
Shalom

You know there are times I try to fathom how my mind works especially considering the thoughts that go on through them. Things which you just seem to process without much effort. I really thank GOD that my mind is being renewed daily and that it produces thoughts which are edifying.

Three days ago while watching TV; I saw a bank commercial about how to live the perfect life as they said. It showed a family with a beautiful house, expensive car, kids in an expensive school and some other stuff. All they said you needed to get this was some sort of loan which they made look attractive that anybody would fall for it.

As soon as the ad was over my mind went to work as if of its own accord. I immediately wondered if people knew of the ‘BANK OF HEAVEN’. Now you’ve got to understand that at any time in my life up to that point this thought had never crossed my mind and I can tell you I have seen countless TV ads about banks and loans.

I began to wonder why people would fall to the schemes of these banks when there is a bank that gives free loans with no interest rates attached. A loan of ‘grace and mercy’ which is renewed everyday. A loan which seeks nothing in return except your heart.

I’m talking about a bank whose board of directors is GOD the Father, GOD the Son, and GOD the Holy Ghost. A bank that doesn’t need your investment to function. A bank with messengers (angels) who are at your disposal; bringing your answers to you. A bank that meets all both your physical as well as more importantly your spiritual needs. I’m talking of life, health, peace, joy, divine wisdom and understanding. Please if there’s any bank that offers all these I’d like to know.

The question then is why do people (including Christians) keep running helter-skelter looking for help from people who really don’t have their interests at heart but theirs when there’s a bank whose doors are open 24/7 (Sundays and public holidays included). A bank that experiences no power cuts or network failures.

Won’t you stop running and come today. This bank has got a vault with riches untold; a vault so immense the entire size of the earth pales in comparison to it.

Now there is only one entrance into this glorious bank and that is the man Jesus Christ. He’s the only way you can get access into the riches stored up in the bank. All you’ve got to do is believe in your heart that He’s the risen son of the most high GOD. Then make the confession with your mouth and you’ll be saved [Rom.10:9]. That wasn’t so difficult was it? I guess not.

For already existing Christians you’ve already got access. Maybe you don’t know how to gain access and that is why you go everywhere seeking for help. I’m not saying it’s wrong to go to these places but be reminded the earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof. It’s your Fathers’ desire to give you all His kingdom has to offer. The bible says in Heb.11:6b he that that cometh to GOD must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. You need to come to GOD in faith. You’ve got to believe that He’s able to do anything so long it’s in line with His will for your life and the only way to do this is to live a sin free life.

Make GOD your first love. Seek Him for who He is not for what you can get from Him. He has clearly stated that that all other things shall be added unto you once you make His kingdom your uttermost priority, [Luke 12:31].

Welcome to the BANK OF HEAVEN. . . . .

It's great to be back after a long while. I've been busy enjoying my time with the Lord. I just feel my love growing by the day as I know Him more.

In this post I want to talk about something very close to the heart. It was actually this morning while driving it crossed my mind what great friends I have. You know sometimes you just feel like there's nothing in your life to thank God for, but then the Holy Spirit reminds you of something and you are like wow.....That was the feeling this morning.

Truth is I can't thank God enough for the wonderful friends He gave to me after asking Him late last year for godly ones to enhance my Christian walk. And as God works in miraculous ways, they came one after the other without any struggle unlike the past when I used to labor to make friends sometimes portraying a different image just to appeal to them.

This hasn't been the case because these ones accept me for who I'm. They magnify my strengths and advice me on how to overcome my weaknesses using scripture as the foundation. They are always there for me in time of trouble. We fellowship together in the study of the Word and prayer. I haven't felt loved like this until now.

Am I saying I didn't have great friends when I was in the world who even had my back when I was in dire straits? No. I'm just simply stating that nothing beats godly friends. Friends whose minds and hearts are focused on God. Who Help you from erring. Who God uses to speak to you.

Who are this friends? They are Bro. Matthew, Bro. Femi, Osagie and Onyeka. These are my brothers in the Lord.

So as a last word, I want to urge all you Christians out there to seek such wonderful friends who will help you grow strong in the Knowledge of God because many a people have erred from the path of faith because of the kind of crowd they hang out with. All you have to do is go to God in prayer and ask Him and as you do so the Holy Spirit will open you eyes to see those around you in your everyday life. It's not about looks or money; but about a heart that loves God and complements you.

A few weeks ago, a friend and I where in my house plucking mangoes from the tree in the middle of the compound. It wasn’t long after that the weather changed and heavy winds started blowing tossing the tree to and fro. It was at this point we noticed something that completely surprised us. I had known for a while that bats had made that tree their place of abode. I also knew that bats are blind and that they sleep during the day and hunt at night. But on this fateful day, we were about to be taught a good lesson. Lately I’ve learned to be perceptive to all the happenings in my life and draw a parallel in the Spirit like our Lord JESUS CHRIST always did when He taught the disciples.

As the tree shook violently, we expected the bats to start flying around but that didn’t happen. Instead they remained calm like nothing was happening. I mean they didn’t fret one bit like we humans do when we encounter storms. They just hung there upside down with their babies tucked beneath them.

Now this might not be a big deal to some folks because of its simplicity, but because of our perception to the teachings of the Holy Spirit, we both learned something profound.

In our everyday Christian walk, we face trials, challenges that sometimes sway us in the tides of its currents. We hear different kinds of news everyday that sometimes lodges fear within us. But I’ve got good news for you and that is we have a God who cares deeply for us and that is why the great Apostle Paul exhorts to be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let our requests be made known unto GOD. And the peace of GOD, which passes all understanding, shall keep our hearts and minds through CHRIST JESUS (PHIL.4:6&7). Let us cast our care upon Him whatever it is for He cares for us. This was a lesson from bats.

On Friday the 6th of June I took my mum to the market to buy foodstuff and while there something happened that tore at my heart. It has been a trend for a long time now in the city of Lagos Nigeria for people to publicly beat up and sometimes burn people caught for stealing or involved in motor accidents. While I was waiting for my mum, I heard a ruckus and then came out of my car. I saw a woman who must have been in her mid to late thirties by her looks with her clothes torn and everybody chanting thief, thief, and thief. Immediately the story in the bible about the woman who committed adultery and the Pharisees wanted to stone her popped up in my mind. They asked JESUS for His opinion and He replied saying “he that is without sin among you, let him cast a stone at her” (John 8:4-7).

I’m not encouraging stealing in the name of the gospel. I’m merely standing up against these animalistic behaviors that have gone abated. In a secular society like ours it’s not east to walk to a mob and start quoting scriptures and that is why we’ve got laws enacted by the government to maintain law and order. It’s high time the government takes a tougher stand on this issue.

As Christians we’ve got to constantly pray for the salvation of souls of people all over the world. The people who carry out these barbaric acts think they’re well within their rights to beat and burn whoever they catch stealing or whatever crime it’s but as our Lord Jesus said on the cross; them; Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do (Luke 23:34). It’s my belief that if these people were genuine Christians, they wouldn’t get involved in judging people as the bible has urged us not to but instead take the matters to the proper authorities.

I urge you all to join me in praying for the unsaved and to always speak up on issues in our various societies.

Have you ever wondered if GOD was leading you in your everyday life? Well I have and the answer is yes, He is. The bible says in proverbs 3:5&6- "that we should trust in the LORD with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding. In all our ways we should acknowledge Him, and He shall direct our paths". This exhortation was given so that we know that there’s one who knows all things including that your future you’re so vigorously planning for.

For the past few months I’ve been hanging out with a group of guys who until a few months ago I knew nothing about. A few months after rededicating my life to GOD, I asked Him to give me godly friends who would help me in my spiritual walk. I knew this was important because of my prior experience. When I first became born again, I thought it didn’t make any difference if I still spent time with my friends so long as I didn’t indulge in those illicit acts. Well it didn’t exactly work out the way I planned. Before long, I was back into the same old stuff. Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying you should just up and leave. I’m saying you need to make necessary adjustments and allow the Holy Spirit lead you.

Well GOD answered my prayers through one person. I met Pastor Matthew on the 30th of November on my way to a gospel music concert in Lagos and it was through him I met my other brothers in the LORD and the weird part of it all is we all stay in the same estate. Since then it’s been simply wonderful all the way. I never thought I’d feel comfortable talking about GOD with a bunch of twenty plus guys. We meet almost daily unplanned at the shop of Pastor Matthew where he sells Christian materials to share the WORD, our personal experiences with the LORD, and ways of how we can further expand the kingdom of GOD through positive ideas. We call this place “the bar” from the popular Guinness TV commercial. Now this is not your average bar and before some of you start thinking otherwise, let me state that one of the dictionary definitions of a bar, is a place in which a particular kind of food or drink is the main thing served e.g. a coffee bar? Ours is a “spiritual bar” where we come to drink out of the abundance of the Spirit of GOD and we almost always live “drunk”.

Lately we’ve been having early morning worship and intercessory prayers stemmed from individual burning desires that we apparently all shared. This was the first sign the Holy Spirit had showed us that GOD had a plan for our meeting and that it wasn’t mere coincidence. And what an experience it has been so far. Who would have ever thought I’d get down on my knees to pray for people I can’t put a face to.

Looking back, I wonder how it all happened and then I remember Isa.55: 8&9- "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than you thoughts". The bible also says He works in ways we cannot see and the good news is that it’s all for our good.

I urge you if you haven’t, to give your life to Him today and your joy will know no bound.

It's great to be back and a lot has happened since my last post. From the hurricane that hit Myanmar, to the Chinese earthquake that has taken thousands of lives, and then to the pipeline disaster hear in Lagos. I can't help but wondering why? I'm sure some of you are asking questions unless you don't have feelings. My solemn prayer is that God will grant the families of these deceased the fortitude to bear the losses of their loved ones and that the eyes of their hearts will be opened to draw ever closer to Him. I urge you all out there to pray for the survivors of these disasters. I'm also hoping this situation will be a wake up call to those who think they own their lives. God is the only one who knows tomorrow.

I promised to give details of the events that took place in the hospitals we visited. After spending about 18hours in the first hospital where she was on life support because she couldn't breathe on her own, we were told that a CT scan had to be done so a brain surgery could be carried out. Since they didn't have a CT scanner, we where referred to a bigger hospital which happened to be government owned. On getting there and not knowing that the baby was dead, we where told that their own CT scan was bad. Not to bore you with too much of the gory details and what we went through in trying to save this child, the issue I want to bring out her is the deplorable state of our Nigerian hospitals. I personally think that had nothing to do with the life of the baby because I believe God was in control. But this is not an excuse not to have good hospitals. The things that my eyes saw I can't explain in words and after looking back at the events of those two days, I felt GOD was trying to show me something by waking my consciousness as to what was going on around me. The government has it's role to play no doubt, but I think the Church(Body of Christ) has an even bigger role to play because we're God's official government on earth. I'll sign off here for now till my next post.