THE POWER OF GRACE - The Personal Testimony of Rev. Dr Esesien Ita

I grew up to know that those who go to church are Christians. I understood that so long as you do not claim any other religion but Christianity, you are a Christian. I have never known any other faith but Christianity. I have never been to any other place of worship but the church. So the faith was “something always there.”

Parents and guardians did their best in guiding me to follow God. Whatever they believed to be of spiritual benefit to us in the family, they did. I remember we were taken to Children Services where we were usually prayed for. At times too, an in-law who belonged to God’s Kingdom Society would take me to Kingdom Hall, and like any Jehovah’s Witness, I would
go with others to sell literatures. All this continued till about the end of 1971 when I left Calabar for Lagos to resume secondary education interrupted by the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 – 1970.

I had no problem attending church in Lagos, after all I was a Christian. However, between 1971 and 1975, I
started having some questions and inner fears about death and hell. I was afraid to die, and did not want to go to hell either. From whence such absurd thoughts came, I could not tell. If only I could dismiss them! But I could not. So I started to pray out of fear. My prayers were usually that God should not allow me to die and go to hell. As days went by, guilt feelings seemed to multiply within me. I felt I would definitely go to hell. I became increasing scared. Surely ‘’the sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me’’ (Ps 116: 3).

I finished secondary education 1976 and started the Higher School Certificate(HSC)course same year at Federal School of Arts and Science(FEDSAS) Sokoto. I had a roommate, Solomon Ovrawah, who invited me to the school Christian fellowship, the Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS). I honored the invitation. After the first day, I continued attending, even more regularly than some old members. I seemed to love the fellowship. Before long, I had become accepted as a brother, doing anything you know true believers do. Was it Bible Study, leading fellowship meetings, prayer chain, prayer band, evangelism, just name it, and you have Bro Ita there. I was even writing articles on Christian topics and posting on the school’s Notice Board. It appeared Bro Ita was the missing link in the fellowship all these years. My almost endless activities simply put me in the fore, and before long, I was made the Publicity Secretary of the group , a post hitherto non-existent, but had to be created in view of a ‘super- brother’ to fill it. That was months after the regular Fellowship election into offices had taken place. So I became an executive member of the Fellowship……. but without Christ.

During these times, my questions and fears have not been resolved. I tried to bury them within so as to brace up outwardly with others. Many times in meetings, I have heard the oft-repeated  invitation that those who want to give their lives to Christ should raise their hand, stand or come forward, to be prayed for. But to do any of these at a time I have already been accepted as a brother would be difficult if not embarrassing. My ego would not allow it. My pride was at stake. So I would pray in my heart.  I did that many times yet knew no change. Despite the encouragement received from many, the evil tendencies, questions, fears, and doubts within persisted. There was a hunger within which was yet to be satisfied. I eventually concluded that the act of raising my hand and going forward was the answer.  I was going to do it, but in a far away land where nobody knew me.

The opportunity came during schools’ long vacation (June-September) of 1977. I had my holiday in Lagos, as also did my roommate Solomon Ovrawah. While there, he was invited to a holiday-special youth programme organized by Youth For Christ (YFC) International to hold in August at Anglican Girls’ Grammar School, Surulere, Lagos. He invited me along.  We went together. One Caleb Maduoma preached from Ephesians 2. 1-10. I could still remember him saying repeatedly, ‘You who were dead, He quickened…’. But I was there for one purpose… to raise my hand and go forward at the invitation. It did not matter if Solomon saw me. He was a good friend. So, when Caleb eventually gave the invitation, I carried out the ritual. One Godwin Ike counselled with me that night. I expected that having raised my hand and gone forward for prayer, my inner fears and doubts should be cleared. But they were not. At resumption of school in September 1977 for a new academic session I returned to Sokoto, not a little frustrated.  

I have tried to help myself but could not. Others have tried too but could not. From whence then comes salvation? SALVATION COMES FROM GOD (Jonah 2. 9)

Saturday March 25, 1978: One Miriam Kenti, then a student nurse at School of Nursing, Vom, Jos, visited a sister friend of hers, an FCS member, Rhoda Ityudogh, in our school. She passed the night there.

Sunday March 26, 1978 (Easter Sunday): I led the Fellowship’s Prayer Meeting that evening. On closing, we exchanged greetings, chatting away as usual. About three of us were with Miriam, chatting casually. Then one of us, Abraham Akanmu, President of our Fellowship, asked her, “if you ask the Holy Spirit to come into you, how do you know He has come in?” I guess Abraham expected Miriam to answer, “you would speak in tongues.” But without fanfare, the sister said, “You’ll just believe.”

You’ll just believe!

Believe! The word sounded new. The moment it dropped out of Miriam’s mouth,  my inner being  responded. I felt within me a heavy load removed, and was thousand times as light, nay, lighter than air. An indescribable peace and joy welled up within. For the first time in my life I had a living faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, with a settled assurance that I belonged to God (Romans 8. 16). For the first time too, I knew an upsurge of spiritual power within me that practically released me from the power of, and bondage to sin, that is, from that almost irresistible compulsion to commit sin. The whole experience which was clearly beyond my power, happened in a moment, and completely swept away every doubt and fear of death or of going to hell. I could now live for and serve God out of love for Him, rather than out of fear of judgment. My perspective of God changed for good.

That experience was the saving power of God’s grace in my life. It brought with it a hitherto unknown illumination in spiritual things, a new love for God, and power to serve Him. Full of this new life, with joy I left the discussion group, without anybody knowing what has happened to me, not even Miriam. Running to my corner, I collapsed on my bed thanking God and committing myself afresh to Him. I had just been born, a baby, into the family of God. The following day I went about telling brethren what happened to me the previous day. Some doubted and wondered how I could have been that active in the Fellowship without knowing God. But that really was my story. I later communicated with Miriam.

To God’s glory I testify that I am saved by nothing but the free grace of God (Ephesians 2. 8). This, my song would ever be. I am kept in the faith by the power of God (1 Peter 1. 5), and would be presented blameless on the last day before His throne, on account of Christ’s merit (Jude 24). Because God started the work, He will surely finish it (1 Thess. 5. 24). His faithfulness guarantees it (1 Corinthians 1. 9).

I wonder dear reader, whether you too are as I was… whitewashed with Christian activities, putting up a very respectable front, while being all in ruins within. Or could be you are inching on laboriously, perhaps with grit teeth, all in a bid to ‘make heaven’, trying to change yourself as a leopard would his skin (Jeremiah 13. 23). Or you are just how you know the truth about yourself (regardless of public praise). Only you know yourself. Could you please, for once, simply forget about your ego, your pride, and square up with the reality about yourself? Why, it is for your own eternal good, not another’s. If it is not all well within, something critical could be missing. That void is yearning for the presence of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who longs to dwell in you (Revelation 3. 20), and who, when He enters into you ‘settles you’. He becomes your hope of glory (Colossians 1. 27). He was crucified on the Cross of Calvary where He died for you. He shed His own blood to wash away your sins and make you acceptable to God. He rose triumphantly from the dead the third day to justify you. You cannot ‘make heaven’ on your own. Nobody who must enter there ever would. Christ has already done that for you (John 14. 1 – 3;  17. 24). So, what do you do?

You’ll just believe!

The Bible says

    

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever BELIEVES in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.           John 3. 16

The one who BELIEVES on Him is not condemned.            John 3. 18

The one who BELIEVES in the Son has everlasting life.        John 3. 36

Believe today on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. There is power in God’s grace to save you. Nothing else would do.

Call out today to God to save you, “for, everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10. 13).

May God’s grace reach you and save your soul, that with the saints of all ages, you may sing the song of the redeemed.

                                                Peace be with you!