“DEAR FELLOW BELIEVER”:
OF ROLE MODELS AND HARBINGERS
I have had the blessing of coming across numerous individuals at different stages of my journey in life. I found the lives of a good number of them quite remarkable and inspiring. ’A young believer’ wrote the letter you are about to come across later in this writing shortly after his spiritual fervour for the Lord was re-ignited. The gender pronouns employed in this writing is really not relevant as they are not in any way indicative of the actual identity of the character(s) in the piece. The literary style and wordings used in this writing allows for guesses that makes it appear as if the identity of the character(s) are as obvious as it really isn’t. As mentioned earlier, a young believer wrote the letter you will soon come across. Earlier in his life, he had given his life to Jesus Christ and accepted Him as his Lord and personal saviour. Like an average believer, he backslid couple of times before the Lord finally used unpleasant experiences to cut him down to size and bring him to his knees in repentance. He came to his senses when life pulled the carpet right under his feet, and he stared disappointment and failure in the eye. When he realized that everything he had based his seemingly bright future on was not as solid as he had deluded himself into thinking all along, he sensed that the Great I AM had finally caught up with him like He did Jonah on the ship. He knew sooner or later that is bound to him anyway; it was just a question of time. He knew several people (some of whom he had taunted and ridiculed because of their spiritual fervour) have invested their time fasting and interceding for his restoration.
When he was dealt the unsavoury blow of disappointment and failure, his acquaintances and relatives speculated on what could be responsible for his sudden decline. Some reasoned that it must be due to overconfidence. Others claimed it was due to poor time management and/or improper work/study habit. But he knew what the issue was even though he was not talking about it. He withdrew into himself first in defeat, then in repentance. He knew that the time has come for him to retrace his spiritual steps. As the saying goes: a river that forgets its source will run dry. He knew that the time had come for him to crawl back to the Lord – his source. His days of playing field in His kingdom was over. As the feeling of guilt sets in, the prodigal son felt somehow reluctant to return to the Father. He knew he had to return to the Lord whom he had sorely disappointed by continually turning his back to His divine purpose for His life. He knew deep down in him that he would return to the Lord once and for all. On that, there is no second guess or alternative. He gave himself no other choice. Just that the feeling of guilt was so overwhelming. “How do I return to a God who I know I have let down so much,” he reflected with guilt and remorse. He felt ashamed of himself as he crept back to the Saviour. He could recollect some of the words that some of his acquaintances who are believers had mentioned on several occasions in past that no matter how many times you backslide, if you slide back to Him like the prodigal son, He is merciful, faithful and just to accept you back. He felt like he had crawled back one time too many. This pricked his conscience a great deal. The guilty feeling was reinforced. As the assuring words of his acquaintances who are believers played in his mind, he made conscious effort to reconcile with the Source. With the overwhelming feeling of guilt, it was quite a drag.
He found himself picking up the Bible often and reading it. In no time, he not only read the bible, he actually made studying it a habit. He started taking short notes as he waltzed through the pages of the scriptures randomly. Soon, due to constant contact with the word of God, some of the verses stuck to his memory. Hitherto, he had no real prayer life. He really didn’t know how to string words of prayer together. So he started by ‘borrowing’ words of prayers he had heard from other believers. These ‘borrowed’ words constituted his initial attempt at praying to God. Often times, when he fell on his knees to pray, he actually fell asleep! But he was improving at a steady rate. Already, he had been baptized in the Holy Spirit and could speak in tongues. It was just that while he had backslid, the activities of the Spirit of God had remained somehow dormant. He had somehow quenched the Holy Ghost. With his restoration to the Father and his reconciliation to the Source, his lifestyle underwent some meaningful changes. As he delved more and more into the scriptures, and his prayer life became more and more vibrant, the spiritual fervour was rekindled. A spiritual environment was created that made it quite comfortable for the Spirit of God to come out of hibernation. The environment in him became more and more conducive to the moving of God’s Spirit and the releasing of the spiritual potentials the Lord had set in him. As the days went by, he began to sense the true meaning of being a new creature in Christ Jesus. The spirit of his mind became renewed more and more. His prayer life became even more vibrant as he actually weaved scripture verses into his prayer. I mean, he literally prayed the scriptures. His level of interest in God’s word increased. He read it more often. He listened to it more often. He had overcome his feeling of guilt. He knew he had been forgiven by the Father who loved him so much. His past was behind him. He felt like a brand new creature. Even better, he was on his way. He could sense the overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit in his life each passing minute. He could sense he had found himself in the place where the Lord wants him to be. Though several things did not turn out the way he had planned or expected, he knew that the Lord was in control. He could genuinely feel the peace of God that passes all understanding. Regardless of what happened in the world around him, there seemed to be an invisible shield around him (an aura) that create and preserve a sense of tranquility that is reminiscent of the Garden of Eden. With each passing day, he waxed stronger and stronger in the Lord.
He came across numerous believers whose words and actions contributed one way or the other to his spiritual development, and in bringing him to the place where the Lord wants him to be. Some of these believers are former colleagues of his in one of his alma maters. These colleagues were the type who exemplified virtues that are characteristic of fervent believers in Jesus Christ. They have very different ways of addressing issues. Their conduct, appearance, speech, mannerisms, etc tended to be peculiar in comparison to some other folks.
“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 New King James Version - NKJV)
So peculiar were they that they could easily be construed as being drugged by Jesus or something. Of course, they were obviously not ‘high’ on dope or related recreational drugs that some in their generation indulged in. But they obviously were ‘high’ in the Holy Spirit.
18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God (Ephesians 5:18-21 NKJV)
He respected them a great for who they are in Christ and for what they stand for. He found their lifestyles quite fascinating. More often than not, he had joined some of his acquaintances in making fun of them. Some have passed ridiculous / demeaning remarks at them both to their faces and at their back. He usually tried not to partake in such gestures but a good number of times he found himself yielding to the urge to join in the mocking party. Some of the female believers have been teased about their nun-like appearances. “Why don’t you crawl out of that maternity gown you have on and put on something fitted for our time,” mused some. Weird ones those folks, thought others. Little did he realize that the LORD was allowing him to have a glimpse of what will soon become of his life and future.
As mentioned in the preceding paragraph, he came across numerous believers whose words and actions contributed one way or the other to his spiritual development, and in bringing him to the place where the Lord wants him to be. The Lord brought such fellow believers – who are quite strong in the LORD and the power of His might – across his path. One of such fellow believers wrote ‘an epistle’ to him. Below is his response.
Dear Fellow Believer
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (Amen). Needless to say, I know you are doing fine over there. Praise be to Jesus! I am OK over here, too. Sorry it took me so long to reply to that heart-chilling letter you wrote to me not long ago. As I had told you, there is nobody to post the letter neither did I attempt to write it! Well, Satan at work again. But thanks be to Jesus the yoke is broken.
You would have noticed at the beginning of this missive that I made mention of a “heart-chilling letter”. Dear fellow believer, look, the Holy Spirit of God used you to send a message to me! I am serious! This is no joking matter! That letter, believe it or not, has changed my life totally. How? My pattern of fellowship with God has changed. Just as you advised me, I now spend more time on praying and bible reading. I have now developed the habit of studying the bible for as long as the Holy Spirit directs me to. At times, I may be engaged in some other activities but the moment I feel the urge to read the book of life, I leave all I’m doing and start going through the passage the Spirit of God directs my hand to open up in the bible. Apart from the messages I get every morning to guide me through each day, I now make it a point of duty to look up a chapter in the first 4 books of the New Testament which has the words spoken by Jesus Christ himself while he was on earth. Constant reading of the Bible has enhanced my spiritual growth in Christ. Not that Satan has given up, no, but just like you told me, I now know my right and promises of God to me and I am able to ward off any attack by Satan. These days around bible verses, especially those from the New Testament, flashes across my memory in times of temptations and problems and can confidently tell Satan to “get behind me” for the Bible says I have overcome them, for greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). Jesus has now blocked all the channels thru’ which the devil had been using to cheat me before. I now ask for forgiveness of sins immediately I am conscious of them (1John 2:1). I now call on God to help me overcome all sorts of bad habits and temptations which usually come across a Christian’s way and He is doing a good job of it. My eagerness to study the Bible and Christian literatures has changed my praying pattern also. I’ve just discovered that I don’t take things lightly like I used to. I now pray for everything and everybody that comes across my mind during my silent time. At times, the devil may tell me that there is no need to pray about an issue because it is just too ridiculous to think that such a prayer on such an issue can be answered. At times, he tried to tell me that I don’t have to pray about an issue again once I’ve prayed over it before. At times, he even tried to tell me that in some cases when I do experience a slight hitch or break while I am praying (maybe I got lost in thought), that is the climax of God’s attention to such a prayer. But I thank God ‘cos I can always rely on Bible verses like Luke 11:1-9, Isaiah 62:6-7, Hosea 14:8, John 16:24, Matthew 7:7, 1 Thessalonians 5:17. In my prayers, I now enjoy interceding and praying for others. I don’t usually enjoy singing praises to the Lord before but now I’ve made it first thing I do each new day as I set about my tasks. I do also sing praises and offer thanksgiving prayers to Him at any time of the day apart from the obligatory morning songs of praise. Fellow believer, no doubt, I’ve gained a lot since I received that letter. In fact, during the first few days of receiving the letter, it became my second bible as I do glance thru’ the sheets after or during my period of bible study. What I now read, hear or see concerning the gospel now forms the basis of my prayer to God which eventually serves as a pointer to my day to day activities. Though I am a baby in Christ but I will like to share some of the messages I have received before from the Almighty with you. I am very sure the following bible verses will increase your faith in Jesus: Matthew 5:7, 1 Thessalonians 5, 2 Peter 3, 1 Timothy 5:18, Philippians 4:4-14, Colossians 4:2-6, 2 Timothy 6:17-21, Colossians 1:10-12, 1 Timothy 4, James 5:7-20, John 11:40.
Lest I forget, thank you very much for that lovely gift of a Christian literature booklet. I read it before writing this letter and I have gained something worthwhile in it concerning my prayer life.
I am now determined to spread the gospel to the lost and I am starting by distributing Christian tracts that I have already ordered. I have decided to pray and bless them before distributing. It has worked before for others and I know it will also work well for me too by God’s grace.
Ever since I submitted myself totally to Him, he has been directing the pace of my life. I no longer have course to express regret about anything that happens to me neither do I have to curse my luck. No, rather I’ve formed the habit of praising and thanking Him even in unpleasant situations. Since I do commit each day into His hands, and I get myself covered by the blood of Jesus, I take all events as being monitored by God - whether good or bad.
Fellow believer, I remember to support you with prayers. I know the wish of God will be done in your life and God’s wish for you is success.
Thank you very much for showing a great deal of interest in my spiritual development. You are a good example of born again Christians who are really living up to the great task. You have laid the foundation on which I would continue to build on. Remember me during your silent times so that I will not go back to my past iniquities. Also, pray to God to give me the courage to show the gentiles the light and prepare myself against persecutions and tribulations as well as temptations from Satan. So also will I intensify my prayers towards your spiritual upbringing and other aspect of life concerning you.
I will try and remember all your messages to me and may He put the spirit of understanding into my heart.
So long fellow believer. Till we hear from each other again. Till then, God bless and God speed.
Yours In Christ
He Who The Lord Knows
How about that?
17 .......... but to preach the Good News and not with clever speeches and high-sounding ideas, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power. 18 I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God............ 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never find him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe. (1 Corinthians 1:17-18,21 New Living Translation)
God bless.
Yours
Adekunle Majek’
H I A F E M
Of impact, quality & excellence
That’s the Spirit!
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