Kunle Ojeleye
From the onset, let me categorically state that my last post was triggered by an occurrence that made me laugh my heart out when I stumbled on the pictures Johnson (JB) and I took in the palace when His Imperial Majesty, Ooonirisa Ogunwusi, Ojaja II treated us to a sumptuous lunch with hours of historical reflections seven years ago.
The last post had nothing to do with anything ongoing in Nigeria, even though it unintentionally coincided with the social media brouhaha about Papa Adeboye.
I may still write about the event in Ife, which made me laugh hilariously someday.
From a very young age, less than five years old, I have found myself in the company of religious leaders of the Christian and Islamic faith by tying myself to the apron string of my father. Sometimes, I wish I was also able to sit in the company of Indigenous religious leaders to fully understand the practice of my forefathers before the advent of the Abrahamic faiths.
I have been around faithful Christian men of God, manifesting his powers and exhibiting one or a combination of the nine gifts of the spirit as espoused in the bible.
Through their shared thoughts with me and my observation, these men have also taught me that they are human beings, that despite their individual human frailties, faults and failings, they were only privileged to be chosen by God to show his works through them.
Many shared how God was working and walking with them and their efforts and sacrifices to overcome the human flaws God wants them to jettison to take them to a higher realm of spiritual connectivity. They were open to sharing their challenges and difficulties in overcoming human flesh and weakness with me.
From them, I learnt that not all visions shown to you about someone you reveal to the person. In some cases, you become the intermediary standing in the gap with prayers and fasting for them, while in some, you would blanketly advise them to fast and pray during a particular time without sharing what their sacrifice of time and food is for. When the person testifies about victory in the situation you have been shown, you may then reveal the reason for instructing them to fast and pray.
These men would not take money from you to give you directions when sent by God or for standing in the gap with prayer and fasting on your behalf.
My father taught me to appreciate them through casual visits when nothing is at stake, spend time with them, and leave something small as I would for any ordinary person I care for and visit.
Above all, they taught me to test anything coming from their mouths, to talk less of the pulpit, by seeking knowledge in the bible. They told me that as I seek God, he would reveal himself not just in his written words but also by his manifestation, which sometimes we think is the sixth or seventh sense warning us about something.
As such, I know every Christian man, even when called by God (to talk less of those who called themselves), would exhibit the Adamic nature now and then.
In fact, when many are carried away by the exploit made on God’s behalf in the early years of their ministry, they begin to stumble, but followers would not discern because they assume the old glory is still burning.
May we not lose our heavenly race because of the fruits and cravings of the flesh.
N.B.
Gbadura fun Nigeria.
Ẹni to fẹ yio se rere.
I pray for all political, religious and traditional leaders I know and those whose decisions impact me and those I hold dear.
May they do what is right at all times for the greater benefit of the majority.
*Dr Kunle Ojeleye is a writer and public affairs analyst