“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal 2:20)
I was an unbeliever and an atheist until I was 32. I did not believe in God, in devils, in heaven or hell. As a doctor I discouraged my patients…I told them not to pray, because ‘prayer is useless’. Oh, the amazing grace of God… I became saved here in Warri, Nigeria, on the 14th of March, 1986. It was a crisis conversion. It was not thru the ‘regular way’ of church activities. The Holy Spirit arrested me and brought me to my knees. I did not attend a church before that time. I did not see a Bible with my eyes before I came to Nigeria. I prayed the ‘sinner’s prayer’ by myself in my living room. I did not know it was called like that. I only wept and wept for my sins.My broken heart and my tears were ‘the sinner’s prayer’. I told God to either save me and use me or kill me there. It pained me that i destroyed the faith of many by my proud talk as an unbeliever. God answered my prayer: He killed me in my living room. The old Lia, died there. In the same time, God’s mercy was revealed to me. The Holy Spirit filled me there. I became a new creation! I became a child of God!
After that I started reading the Bible and going to a church here in Warri. But because of my conversion outside the church set up, from the beginning I knew the difference between the Holy Spirit and the religious spirits. This knowledge has helped me since then.
I am a pastor of a church now. I know my limits. When I minister, I depend totally on the Holy Spirit to lead the way and to work in the hearts. I refuse to use any form of manipulation to change somebody. To me, it is better to be a honest unbeliever than a religious hypocrite. I am also careful to give all the glory to God for any good work done thru me.
Jesus set me free! One of the greatest revelations for me was to find out that a man (or a woman) can live on this earth totally fulfilled, completely free from all fears and inferiority complexes. When I gave my life to Christ, I was so happy to know that my sins have been forgiven. It was even a greater surprise to discover that forgiveness of sins is just the beginning of the blessed Spirit filled life. So many other moments of joy have paved the narrow royal way of the Cross!
It is such a sad thing that so few Christians desire to know the power of the Cross. They run away from the Cross, not knowing that they cheat themselves by ‘denying the power thereof’.
As for me, long ago I made up my mind that I will go closer to the Cross and study it by myself. There is a magnetic attraction for me to go and see, and touch, and listen…to any drop of revelation…The Word of God about the Blood shed on that Cross… I fast and pray to know it more…
Just the way many people here in Nigeria are desperate to go ‘abroad’ so am I to go to the Cross of Christ. But something strange happened… The closer I went to Calvary, the fewer people I met. But loneliness is a small price to pay for the excellency of knowing my Lord, in the glory of His crucifixion and resurrection power. There are no words to describe the love manifested on that hill far away…In the light of this love I breathe and I dwell… This is my story: Christ gave Himself for me! Glory!
Green Pastures 
Beautiful Precious Lia. Yes we are children of God, through the reconciliation of our sin at the Cross of our Savior Jesus Christ. We are brand new creations. I needed this reminder, especially today, that it is no longer I that lives. The old me is gone. The life I now live is in Jesus. Thank you for your testimony. I know there is so much more.❤
One of the ways the devil is attacking the minds of the believers is by telling them to be alive to both the flesh and the Spirit. This causes confusion because each has its needs and dreams. The flesh and the Spirit cannot be reconciled, cannot become friends. The Holy Spirit is able to kill ‘the old man’. That solves half of our problems. In Christ I died to sin, to self, to the devil and to the world. I am not dreaming about fulfilling dead men’s desires. My ‘work’ now is to study the Word of God and to apply it to the new me. I dream God’s dreams now. It is so much more easy and wonderful too! My life is so much simpler, and so much happier. It is because I have very few personal needs, I am able to impart into others the overflow of life. Praise the Lord for that! Love from me to you dear sister Laurette!
Yes and this with persecution. In our ministry I have come under personal attack which caught me completely off guard. However if I have died to my carnal nature this shall not hinder, detour or cause worry. Dead men don’t worry. My spirit forgives and remains fruitful abounding to every good work! Praying for those who spitefully use and abuse and blessing and doing good to all. Amen🎚❤ love to you Pastor Lia.
Your words have the fragrance of Christ. Just by reading them my spirit rejoices! God bless you Laurette!