The Waiting Room for Hell

Thanksgiving is one of the days families come together to discuss what they are grateful for as they look back at the year coming to an end. Being that Africans love an excuse to cook fried rice and meat pie, my household gladly substituted the usual mac & cheese for some authentic Nigerian fried rice, and mashed potatoes for some finger licking meat pie. We couldn't just Nigerianify (I just made this word up lol) the whole menu, so we also made turkey and corn bread to balance the meal.  

After all the festivities, I gladly obliged my bed’s calling as I was tired and stuffed, unknown to me that I was about to witness something that would forever change my life.

I had a dream that showed me the two types of people who had one thing in common; they were in the waiting room for hell.

So here’s how it all started..

I woke up at about 5 am and felt a tug in my spirit to pray, so I did. As I was reading I started drifting in and out of sleep, and shortly after was pinned down in the exact position I lay on my bed. Some of you might know what I’m talking about, but the term people use is Sleep Paralysis. Sleep paralysis is basically when you are in between sleeping and consciousness and you feel some pressure/force holding you down. You can’t move or speak.

 Now, this was certainly not the first time this happened to me, but by God’s grace it was the last. For years I dealt with this and I knew it was the enemy sending his agents to torment me. On this very day, I was sick and tired of being scared of an enemy I knew deep down I had been given the power to overcome (John 1:5). I never clearly saw the faces during any of the attacks, but God opened my eyes and let me tell you they are quite unimpressive. At the mention of Jesus, all three that held me down on that night fled and never came back!

After that happened, I still remained on my bed but the scene dimmed and out of nowhere a woman approached me. I didn't see her face, but I remember thinking she looked fly. She was dressed in a stylish business professional outfit, hair on point, and shoes looking fleek. My observation was cut short when she spoke saying “I don’t know why you keep trying to pray when God isn't listening. You don’t read your bible or pray enough. Just stop wasting your time because you’re going to hell”

The condemnation that she spoke kicked in, because indeed I felt like I wasn't doing enough of those things and I thought “Lord, I know I’m not perfect but I didn't know You had given up on me”

She then took me into another room that was lit up and packed with lots of people, some of which I knew personally. They appeared happy, but deep down I knew something wasn't right about that place. As we walked through the room, I saw an area where the people treated like royalty and I asked her what it was. She chuckled and responded “They are in the VIP section”

We walked back to the first room which was literally dark, and now it was packed with people lined up in rows like soldiers. Their minds had been conditioned and I knew they had lost all hope. The woman then told me “You see, you’re going to hell so just join the line with the rest of them”

At this point I lost all hope. I just came from a room where I knew a lot of people who thought they were in the light, but I knew they weren't so obviously I must be going to the same place they were, hell. You've probably heard the saying “Show me your friends and I’ll tell you who you are”, so I walked towards my spot on line and heard a still voice whisper “Just call on me, trust me”

For some reason I had a candle in my handle and as I blew it out, I called on Jesus and received power to pray. My faith was still low, but after every time I said “Jesus” my faith grew, and the lady who had kept her composure the whole time began to scream. She told me to stop calling the name and sent her sidekicks (the ones from the paralysis) to come stop me. I ordered them to stop in the name of Jesus, and they fled.

Then I began to scream  at the top of my lungs to the people in the room that the woman had deceived them and they didn't have to settle for hell. All they needed to do was believe. The lady was screaming and pushing the people out of the room, so they wouldn't hear what I was saying. To cut this long story short, there were a lot of people in that room and only four people left that line of doom.

When I woke up, I was shaken as you can imagine but there are key lessons from this dream that God showed me and I have been led to share.

• We cannot tolerate and let the enemy boss us around. God has given us the power to overcome the adversary, but when we don’t know who we are we run scared. There is power in your tongue (Proverbs 18:21)- don’t sit inactive.

•   The lady represented those people in our lives or around us who we look up to, and because they “appear” to be trustworthy we take everything they say as gold. The enemy will use people who you hold at a certain level of honor to deceive you.

 Have you ever watched those toothpaste commercials? They use doctors in lab coats to promote because subconsciously people have this trust factor when someone is represented as “knowledgeable”. In my case, my field of study is business so when I saw her and admired her from the start, I was more susceptible to take what she said as the truth. If you want to be sure whether a person is speaking from God, then line their words up with His word. This lady brought condemnation and the Holy Spirit brings conviction. The difference is one points to hell as the ultimatum, and the other corrects but brings hope (a solution). Don’t be deceived just cause someone is “dressed up” for the part doesn't mean they are from God.

•      Those in the lit room who thought they were in the “light” were actually not; instead they were in the appearance aka facade of light. When you deceive yourself long enough, you begin to lose sight of what is real and what isn't.

“..I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive—but you are dead.” (Revelations 3:1b, NLT)

We unfortunately, live in a world that places so much emphasis on outward appearance that we forget how to truly examine bad fruit. The bible says to test men by the fruit they produce (Matthew 7:16), but we test by how well kept their outside appears to be. Make sure to check inside because the exterior isn't always a reflection of the interior. People put on the garment of “good works” and that is classified as a life lived under Christ when it’s not. Faith, which comes from the inside, is what should propel the exterior work we do.

You can be outwardly vivacious and spiritually dead. Christ died so that we might come alive spiritually, not settle for a perception of life. The people in the VIP section represent those who have been bestowed great callings, as whom much is given much is required. It is possible to start out right, walking by faith and the unction of the Holy Spirit, and then settle for works to be seen. God is looking at your heart condition.

•      I can relate to those that were in the dark room as I almost joined the queue of those who didn't assume they were in the light, in fact they had mentally settled for hell. God examines the heart, and you may not even know that subconsciously you don’t believe you can make it to heaven. Sometimes we think that our sin is too great to forgive or that we are too messed up for God, but in reality who you are and your sin does not scare Him.

          God is not intimidated by our past or present or even future.

      Before the foundations of the world, He knew every decision we would make and still chose to die for us. We have to learn that we are saved by grace which is a gift bought with the blood of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8)

Sure, you might not be were you think you need to be, but grace has covered you. The reward for the sacrifice of Jesus is a chance to have a relationship with you, yes you! He bore your sins and shortcomings on his back thousands of years ago, so that you didn't have to carry the weight. Rest in Him, and rebuke the enemy. You belong to Jesus. Be encouraged!

Prayer: Abba, please reveal to us if we fall into any category, and give us the strength to accept that indeed, Your grace is sufficient. For those that feel condemned, I ask that you whisper Your words of hope to their hearts. Remind them that You foresaw it and made provisions, and all they have to do is listen to Your voice. Examine us Lord! If we are dying spiritually, revive our hearts, and help us set our minds on things above. All this we ask in Jesus name. Amen!

The Secret to Having a Relationship With God

For a long time, I cheated God in our relationship and stole His glory while claiming I was “worshiping” Him.

The problem was that I was lazy; it looked like too much to put in time to develop my relationship with Him. It was much easier to cheat off my neighbors and copy how I saw them worshiping God, or how they described the way they interacted with Him.

After my consistent “high” sessions of apparently coming so close to opening heaven’s door, I felt I just couldn't get in.

Wasn't I knocking hard enough? Seeking enough? Praying enough?

So, I tried to increase my prayer time thinking that it would do the trick, but I was wrong again. Now, I’m not saying that God wasn't speaking during this period because He was, but I on the other hand wasn't exactly listening to Him. There was such a burden in my belly for this place I couldn't quite describe, but my heart sung of it daily.

I knew without a doubt that God was calling me higher and deeper into fellowship with Him but a part of me was defeated. After all the “work” I put in, I wasn't getting there; it was like I was being teased by the picture of the door to my Kings’ heart but couldn't make it past the gate.

Eventually I got to the end of myself, and there began the journey to building my relationship with God. When you are done with trying to calculate your relationship with God like it’s a 12 step process and step aside, then God will show you how He created you to have a relationship with Him.

Let’s look at Abraham in the Bible. God gave him a promise of a son and it became such a burden on him and his wife when it wasn't happening; they decided to take matters into their hands. It seemed like time was just going by and they weren't of help. So, they tried to “birth” the promise based on their plan. Eventually, they realized that Ishmael could never be Isaac. He could never replace the promise.

It’s the same way Jesus brought the promise to us in this era of grace called Relationship. We no longer have to go through high priests and prophets to get to God. He lives within us and calls us friends. We have been given the opportunity to have a personal and intimate relationship with our creator.

So trying to replace this promise by substituting it for what you see your neighbor doing won’t cut it. Not only are you robbing God of the sound He placed in your belly that sings a song of glory in His ears, you’re also robbing yourself of truly experiencing God.

Honestly, this generation has the most microwaved mindset meaning that no one is willing to build. We want things quick, easy, and simple.

What we neglect is that relationships take time to build. Copying the layout of your neighbor will make you like an unstable house that will be blown away during testing because your foundation is off. Each person has a unique layout/foundation when building a relationship with God.

Same God, different person, hence uniquely crafted foundation.

Wasting time copying someone’s foundation because you’re lazy to build from ground up will have you running in circles, and I’m saying this from firsthand experience. I've built a lot of houses that got blown away, but never be afraid to get back up again. God is waiting for you.

From what I've learnt, one of the greatest secrets to having a relationship with God is embracing the sculpt He made you in. We are to worship Him in Spirit and truth, but we cannot do that by trying to be someone we are not. There is a huge emphasis on the relationship being a “personal” one. It’s between you and God, not your neighbor, pastor, family, or friend. Don’t get me wrong they can be used by God to speak to you, but don’t substitute their relationship for yours.

The reason why I could never get to that higher place was because I was trying to knock at the gates of heaven like my neighbor, but when God hears the sound He doesn't recognize it. He won’t open that gate.

I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber! (John 10:1, NLT)

Each sheep has to individually walk through the gate, so your friend cannot carry you in. There’s a way to get to a deeper relationship with God, and cutting corners will not get us there. We have to take time to ask God to show us how we were made to worship and have a relationship with Him. Even if you don’t desire that, you can ask for it and God will give it to you. There were times when I got so complacent in my understanding of God, and I sensed there was more but I didn't desire it in my heart. But we serve the God that sculpted every intricate corner of our hearts, and only He can change it. He changed my desire and can do the same for you.

As long as you have breath, it’s not too late to revamp your relationship with God. All he needs is a heart that is willing. Be encouraged, and God bless!

Are You Being Shifted?

The other night, I was watching the story of Moses on TV, and God poured into my heart a word of encouragement for those experiencing a shifting. 

“Many years later, when Moses had grown up, he went out to visit his own people, the Hebrews, and he saw how hard they were forced to work. During his visit, he saw an Egyptian beating one of his fellow Hebrews.” (Exodus 2:11, NLT)

Moses lived in Egypt for years, although the bible doesn't mention him ever seeing the oppression of the Israelites until the verse above. I assume that he had an idea of what was happening in that kingdom in terms of order, meaning that he knew the Egyptians were in charge. When he paid the visit to his people, he saw the oppression and became very uncomfortable. That resulted in him killing one of the Egyptians. A question struck my mind while examining this scenario, why then and not sooner?

It all trickles down to God’s appointed timing. Maybe he could have visited a year sooner, but then he wouldn't have been walking in Gods divine will. No man can come unto God unless He draws them (John 6:44), and this was the time God had ordained to draw Moses out.

The process began when God led him into the Hebrew camps, opened his eyes to see, and his heart to feel. The wrestling in his spirit when he saw the oppression against the Hebrews was a part of God’s way of drawing him. Sure, he could have escaped immediately he killed the solider, but I believe he was comfortable in his old life and tried to fight his conviction of just sitting and watching his people be oppressed. He tried to act normal, but God drew his heart back to visit his people for a second time. He couldn't escape his curiosity and the burden of these people on his heart, even if he may not have understood why. But then he realized that people knew what he had done and sought his life, so he fled. But if no one knew he probably would have acted normal and stayed.

Now, let’s define what it means when the Bible says the father “draws” them. According to the dictionary it means to cause something to move by continuous force, as by leading, to uncover, to cause to flow forth, to pull out, to bring about deliberately.

Moses, before the foundations of the earth had been set apart by God to deliver the Israelites from Egypt. Romans 8 says that those God predestined, He called, then justified, and finally glorifies. Meaning that there is a period between your predestination and calling. You may or may not be following God during that time frame of 2 years, 30 years or whatever, but God is never a second late!

He has set a date to call you out of the lifestyle you might have grown accustomed to in order for you to walk into your calling. He will literally shake everything, move anything, and do whatever it takes to get your attention. In the case of Moses, his settling in Egypt was not conducive with regards to where God was taking Him- there probably would have been opposition from those closest to him being that they weren't going in the same direction. God had to take him out of his comfort zone which in turn cultivated his heart to be good soil before God could work with him. I believe that if God had given Moses an instruction while he was still occupying his position in Egypt, he wouldn't have listened.

So, do you feel like your heart is being tugged in certain areas? Like the surrounding you have been so familiar with is shaking, and don't understand why?

Then I have great news for you! You’re in good company, because it means that God is calling you into a different season. It doesn't mean that you will immediately begin your ministry or step into the place God has for you, but it could be a call into intentional preparation for your journey. Anytime I start feeling restless in my spirit or a great pull towards a certain direction, it is not always comfortable but we must learn to not limit God to our feelings. He is too great to be confined. Too mighty to be held within our earthy minded capacity. I mean this is a God whose thoughts are as high as the heavens, how then shall we fully understand His sovereignty?

Alright, it’s story time! When I started University in 2010, I was a Pre-pharmacy major and it isn't an easy field, so I put in work but it was never enough. When I got really frustrated, I cried to God. He gently reminded me of the past six years he had been speaking about going into a different field; I wasn't willing to hear it then. See, I was chasing affirmation, security and money which I thought came along with my field of study, so I ignored God’s tugging on my heart. To get my attention, He allowed my whole world to literally crumble and it was at that point my heart became receptive. I ignored that call for years and with every year that went by, it appeared too great a sacrifice. But God’s grace carried me, until 2011 when my calling into the College of Business came and I could no longer hide.

Granted it was a great shift, but I want to assure you that God was with me every step of the way and He will be with you too. Through the hills and through the valleys, come rain or sunshine you can bet your bucks that God does not sleep or slumber. He is clocked in on your case for eternity, and He will lead you to a glorious end if you let Him. 

Be cheered by the story of Moses, the dude killed a guy but yet his “mistake” led him to a place where he could hear clearly from God.

Some of the things that scare us are limitations like, who we used to be, the mistakes from our past, and qualities we don’t think we possess. Moses, a murderer with anger issues was used to deliver a whole nation, because he chose to rest on God’s word. Your limitation does not inhibit God’s ability to use you; rather it increases His ability as it is in our weakness that He is made strong (2 Corinthians 12:9). If you were perfect, you would have no use for God, and the cross would have been a waste.

Often, we have a tendency to fight change because we would have to start all over to get back to a point of comfort. Blindsided to the fact that people’s lives could be hanging on the line of our obedience. Like Moses to the Israelites, yours to your neighbor, child on the other side of the continent, family member or whoever. Trust God, and know He will never lead you astray.

Be encouraged all around the world! God has glorious things in store for every one of us, but we have to trust Him to lead us out of our Egypt into the predestined promise. 

Side Note:

I truly appreciate everyone of you that takes time to read this blog, subscribe, and share! By God's grace your heart has been fertile soil and good seeds have been sown. In the upcoming weeks, I have some huge announcements about what God has been doing in my life to share with you all. So, follow me on social media for an immediate update. May God continue to keep and bless you in Jesus name!