Olaniyi Olanrewaju

I have an habit that started when I was in final year. My parents have complained severally about it, but I couldn't stop it because I found so much pleasure in it. I do it whenever I'm alone because I really don't want anyone to see me when I am in it. Although, I often get caught. At times, my mum would call me aside and ask me why I am always do it, but I would just smile. She believes that it is not a good thing to do as a Yoruba person. Recently, I heard that some pastors also do this thing. Did I hear you say are we still brethren? Relax! Tap your heart and say all iz well 3 times. We are still brethren. Oya, let me confess. Anytime I pick up a bubbling word in my heart or when I get an invitation to preach in a place, I do rehearsals. After family night devotion, I would pick up my bible and start doing drama. I would firstly play the role of the host of a church and invite me and my humble self (....lol) to collect the microphone from the host. Then I wou...

God has been calling my attention to our specific place in the body of Christ. The body has many members with different specific functions. The analogy that the Lord has brought to my heart is the arrangement of the natural Israel. The nation is divided into TRIBES, FAMILIES and HOUSEHOLD. We saw it in the case of Achan when he was to be identified. It was represented in another manner when Gideon was called as TRIBE, CLAN and FATHERS' HOUSE. The Lord says that the measure of time presently calls for every member of the army of the Lord to be able to identify his/her place so as not to break ranks as prophesied by Prophet Joel Joel 2:7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march EVERY ONE ON HIS WAYS, and they shall not break their ranks: Joel 2:8 Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk EVERY ONE IN HIS PATH: and [when] they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. We must walk accurately in this da...

This morning, I remembered a woman that became a very hot cake among some circles about 7 years ago. She was popularly called Erelu. She claimed to be a very high ranked witch in Africa before she got saved. She also claimed to be the person that gave a lot of pastors and music ministers in Nigeria power. The most prominent was Bishop Oyedepo. I was few months old in Christ at that time, so I easily believed the claim and argued with my friends who were cautious about her. I wouldn't allow anything to stop me from believing. It's been 7 years and I still have some struggles listening to Bishop's messages even when it has been established that the woman lied. Truth always stand the test of time. I remember the part of the scripture that says if anyone makes a little one to sin, it would be better for the person to be drowned with a millstone tied to his neck. Whenever I see a post that mentions names of some ministers and claims that the ministers are not true to Go...

I have discovered that my fears are not about my inadequacies, but about the light in me that is looking for opportunity to shine. I remembered when I started writing in secondary school, I thought I was the worst writer that would ever appear on the earth. I remember how I would hide my writings from my subgroup head in my fellowship in the University. I felt small standing before the ocean. The mass of the sea was intimidating. Now, the testimonies from my writings makes me wonder how I got to this point. I can't remember the point that I decided to overcome the fear of shinning. Let me ask you a question. Why are you scared of shinning? You're in adequate? If you can't do it, God wouldn't have told you to do it, so you've got to start now! Don't wait till you get enough finance to publish a book. Start writing on Facebook or open a blog. Don't wait till Mount Zion calls you to feature in a movie. Record a video on your phone and share...

Last month, I attended a program that was tagged Tongues and Worship. It was a meeting that was filled with several revelations about songs. I am not musically inclined, but I held on to some things that was shared. A particular statement made by one of the preachers that music doesn't need my permission before it enters into my soul, has stayed with me till this moment. I have made some decisions as a result of the statement. I have always loved to preach to people when I enter a taxi, but I have always had constraints which ranged from my inability to preach fluently in Yoruba to fears. However, since Tongues and Worship, I started doing something. When I enter a Taxi, I would start singing a bit aloud with my heart focused on making the songs enter the other people in the car. So far, it has been awesome with supernatural things happening in the cars. The atmosphere of the taxi becomes exactly as if I am preaching in words and everyone keeps quiet. Even the driver tha...

In 2010, I went to the Students' Union building of my school to get a KJV bible so that I would be familiar with the scriptures I do hear in my fellowship and around me. I was using the NLT bible I brought from home at that time and some of the verses seem unfamiliar when I hear them. I got the bible and as I was about to leave the book store when I saw the title of a book "How you can be led by the Spirit of God" by Kenneth E. Hagin. I just gave my life to Christ some weeks back and I was hungry to be able to recognise the voice I was hearing within me. At times it sounded like my own thought and at times, I 'think' it is God speaking to me. So I got the book. After lectures one afternoon, I was holding the book and a friend saw it with me. "Haa, Kenneth Hagin! Where did you see it". I was surprised at his exclamation as I didn't even pay any attention to the author, I was only concerned about what was written inside. "The man was a gre...

For about a month, I have not been able to write any article and I have been battling a soup of mixed feelings about it. I found myself in a junction where I wanted to write as much as I didn't want to write. It's kinda weird, but it does happen and quite often too. Breaking away from the life that is scared of shinning is a feat that must be encouraged in every soul as we progress in the time of life. Our struggles with the deposits of God within us are mostly as a result of how much of our mind has been dedicated to ourselves. Recently, I found out that the help I need to start writing again is locked up in how much I want the writings to be a blessing that will break whatever struggle existing out there. The struggles that is making you to cover the lighted candle may be genuine, but the solution to your struggle actually lies in allowing your light that you call little to shine. Yesterday, I listened live to two people I have itched to meet for a while now (Pastor ...

Over the years of being a Christian, I have watched my desires change in a way that I cannot compute a formula for. The seven years that I have spent in Christ seems to cause some buildings and destructions within me. Definitely, it is a process; a journey. Several people have asked me why I use the image of a lion as my profile picture on social media. Well, to begin my defense, I am not hiding my face though, I am not a friend of the camera. The image of a lion signifies my present desire. It's a longing for a dimension of God in the earth. Contrary to some winds organizing parties in town these days, our God is full in His own way. He is described as the all-breasted one. That is, in Him, all can find his/her drink and be satisfied of Him. There are several dimensions to God and the dimension that I long for in the earth presently is that of a lion. God is not a lion, but He created a lion so that we can understand that dimension of Him. Severally, the bible calls Him a...

When I was serving in Plateau state, I had to travel to Borno state for an official NCCF assignment. It was a long trip plagued with different parts of the car breaking down. The trip that was meant to take about a day took almost 3 days. Due to the breakdown, we had to stop at Bauchi and Damaturu. We were just 3 that embarked on the trip. I remembered the journey of Bauchi to Damaturu. It was all dark and sort of scary. The National president, who knew the road, slept for a long while because he was feeling feverish and the assistant transport secretary, who was driving on a new road in the dark had to concentrate. It was Fast and Furious practical class. So, I was left to myself to do whatever I wanted to do apart from looking out into the dark road. My mind has proved to be able to give me good company at times like this. I thought about the church in Nigeria and how many people are beginning to lose hope in the efficacy of the scriptures and the availability of genuine Pasto...

I have some friends who are always busy whenever they are called up to do something in the church. Something was always more important than the assignment on ground in the church. The excuses are always so genuine that I, at a point began to wonder if something is wrong with me. I mean, why am I always available? Since part 1 in the university, I have always been available so, I began to wonder if there was something I ought to be doing so that I would be busy like my friends. A basic prerequisite to being used by God is to be available. Your availability gives God the right to make you into a usable vessel for great things that are beyond what the mind can capture. The first choice of leadership in my fellowship on campus happened when I was in part 1. Some days to the date, I prayed a prayer in the third compartment of a place we call 'The Net (or Den)' in OAU. I told God that I am available. Some things are just odd. What would make a two month old believer tell ...

I was lucky to get a taxi easily this evening. I aimed at getting home early and I was grateful for leaving the junction that is mostly crowded. I settled in to enjoy the ride and relax my aching legs. As we were leaving the bus stop, the driver abused some people in the most creative manner I have ever seen. Ibadan folks are known to be creative with words whenever they want to use this one's body as a metaphor. But this man's skills was different. He crafted the words in a manner that everyone in the taxi marveled at how he is able to combine words within split seconds and dish it out with a very creative attitude. I have seen some men with such prowess too. Many of them are teachers. Such persons seem like they run on talking and not food. Paul is a classic example. After saying finally in his letters, he would still write 2 more chapters! Then, I thought of myself. A quiet one. With time, I am learning to appreciate quietness as a virtue that can be as loud as t...

I kept on wondering what the Holy Spirit has in mind with this last card of mine. Now is not the kind of time that I won't be permitted to spend my money. Wait, did I just say my money? How many times I have preached and told people that when money comes into your hand, you must allow God to decide how to spend it. It's my turn to obey. Talk is so cheap. The Holy Spirit said He has a special assignment for the last 5,000 naira in my account. Isn't that a lovely and sweet statement? Okay o. Now, I am on the road to spend the money on this special assignment. It's so hard. If I let go of this money, that means no food tonight. While I was meditating on how God's instructions can at times be hard to carry out, I saw a woman standing on the walk way in front of me. I knew the money is meant for her. She looked hopeful. I tapped her and stretched my hand towards her. She grabbed the money and began to run into the street behind her. I became very curious, so I ...

I remembered how Tongues flowed from my mouth like an automated machine when I woke up. I had spent about 15 minutes praying before I realized that the prayer was coming from a fearful heart. All my thoughts was that some people got to know of my plans of getting a land and they want to use some sort of divination to scatter all my plans. For the past four years, I have been saving so that I can get a land. Now, the Money is complete and a man appeared to me in my dream, gave me an account number and told me to send the money into the account immediately I wake up. All I could do when I woke up was pray in tongues until a word came from the Lord. 'Do not be weary in well doing...' Hot sweat manifested from my body when I realized that the instruction is real. Why does God like to so this? I checked the time- 3am. The previous night, I kept on singing about how much I am willing to follow God. Okay. I will do this. I wrote out the account number I got from the dream, p...