Live: Reawakening Identity and Functioning As God Intended

By Isi Igenegba

Constant discussions and an increasing awareness of the importance of finding your place and discovering your purpose have been ongoing since time immemorial. Many are plagued by the fear of the unknown and awake daily to unresolved questions about life and its mysteries. 

In this book, Isi Igenegba, using practical examples and painfully honest stories, details the personal struggles and lessons learned as a growing child, Christian and minister of the Gospel. While dealing with living purposefully, acknowledging and effectively utilizing seasons, and recognizing and harnessing resources provided to aid you on your journey, LIVE also seeks to overhaul religious 'Christian' truths and helps to reset the foundation on which the faith of many has been constructed. 

Covering 12 important facets, each unfolding and delving into something deeper, it offers a rich diet which is sure to rouse you fully and strip away carefully designed masks with which you are burdened; while reminding you over and over again that only one opinion counts: that of the Master.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Publiseer Publishing
• Release date: Oct 4, 2018

Book preview

Author

Dedication

I dedicate this book to everyone who is on the journey of finding the heart of God amidst the  many undulating seasons of life. May you through this material find wisdom and strength to push further than the boundary lines of limiting ideologies, and through the Spirit of Peace and Righteousness break into the joy of living freely!

Foreword

Ihave known Pastor Isi for about a decade now and have been privileged to see her through changing seasons, ups and downs, in public and in private.

Reading through the manuscript of her first book, LIVE, has afforded me the opportunity to understand firsthand the journey she has been on -an ever deepening relationship with God- given quite a bit of the context I have personally witnessed over the years.

I feel a sense of excitement as I read through the book because I imagine the many who are seeking a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God who this book will help a great deal. LIVE is simple and easy to read, but loaded with nuggets of wisdom gleaned from a very personal walk.

Pastor Isi has been quite open (surprisingly) about the dealings she has gone through -particularly in the last 4 or 5 years- which have clearly resulted in tremendous growth spurts that one almost cannot recognise her. Many who know her as bold, passionate and fiery can't reconcile her as having destabilising fears that can paralyse. Few know the real journey of brokenness and submission that she has been on these past years.

What has been a common thread through the years (and evident in LIVE) is Isi's dependence on God which has brought about a fresh depth in her relationship with God. The lessons shared are very relevant to people at any stage in their walk, with God who are yearning for more.

As I read through, one word kept coming to mind - TAPESTRY. The walk that has culminated in LIVE is like a tapestry of complex colours and images put together to result in a beautiful masterpiece. Only God can weave that kind of masterpiece -if we will let Him.

The hope is that LIVE will set many free from everything hindering a vibrant and fresh relationship with God. The deep insights Isi has shared are well beyond her 'years, but are a validation that God is no respecter of persons (age, gender...)

Nigel Cookey-Gam

Introduction

Iwrote LIVE at a time when I had just come out of a season of darkness, and nothing seemed to make any sense or offer any satisfaction. I had reached my lowest point and truly believed at the time that I was done with this world and ready to leave. Much as I tried I couldn’t find joy in anything or locate my place in Heaven’s agenda. I felt I had failed God and also man, and as such there was no place for me here anymore.

However, I soon came to a revelation: the enemy utilizes seasons like this to strengthen his web of lies within the minds of people, exercising his wickedness and wrapping them completely in darkness. His aim? To drive them to the edge of their sanity and make them pull the plug on their own lives.

On one of those days while seated on my bed, I’d had enough and said, God, I want to live, I want to TRULY LIVE! I shouted this over and over until somewhere within my heart, I glimpsed a ray of light reflecting who I truly desired to be: free, bold, happy, wise, and at peace with God and man.

From that day I prayed differently. I prayed holding on to that image because I realized it was the Lord bringing me to that exact moment and revealing the (borderless) extent of His grace towards humanity, while also showing me the role I had to play to lay hold on and exemplify it in my generation.

Beyond my personal experiences, I also wrote this book in response to the many questions I received from others on how to go through life freely and truly, and stay on the course of purpose. The answers to these and many other questions I discovered were not so simple. Each question is tied to seemingly unending physical, spiritual and soulish loops to be dealt with and explored.

In essence, behind every success or failure are circumstances intertwined with spiritual and physical principles which have to be understood and followed. And some of these principles would be explored in great detail in this book you hold in your hands.

My prayer is that this collection of multiple spirit-inspired thoughts, principles and real life stories would lead to your rising above every limitation of darkness, and cause you to exercise the liberating grace of God in every aspect of life.

Pastor Isi Igenegba

Chapter 1: Beginning With Truth

Every time I met with Jesus, all other opinions of who I thought I was ceased to matter. It was and is almost as though in His eyes I could see the TRUTH regarding who I truly am, and in an instant could begin to understand all I am capable of.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.  John 8:32

Until recently, I had never been able to articulate clearly or explain confidently how differing spiritual occurrences have changed me completely... How do I tell people I go to bed one woman and wake up another? How do I explain the wealth of transformation that occurs in what looks like a split second of an encounter? How do I explain my out-of-body experience while reading the Hebrew and Greek renderings of words in the Bible, after which I returned changed, confident and on fire for the next phase of ministry?

These spiritual encounters have been a mystery, though sometimes overwhelming; and I have resolved to leave the doors of my heart open to much more.

There have been times in my life, when I have felt it was impossible to move on or go forward. At these times I have met with God. When I say impossible to move on, I don’t mean the regular discouragement we all go through now and again. I mean complete dismay, depression, hopelessness and utter emptiness. I have reached this point twice.

But each time I reached rock bottom, I have found the Lord. I would have visions and dreams of Jesus at these points where He would sometimes speak to me, or at other times say nothing while giving me a hug or a smile, a pat on the back or a kiss. His mere presence would melt every worry, doubt or question in my heart.

Here’s what I discovered. Every time I met with Jesus, all other opinions of who I thought I was ceased to matter. It was and is almost as though in His eyes I could see the TRUTH regarding who I truly am, and in an instant could begin to understand all I am capable of. Just that inexplicable knowledge received empowers me beyond ten conferences put together.

Because of this I can confidently say that truth is not a law, neither is it something that keeps one in bondage. Truth is Jesus Himself - the complete embodiment of the desires of God for all creation, past, present and in eternity.

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me. John 14:6

Truth is a revelation of God’s love for me, liberating me and freeing me of any and every fear. It is the light that enables me to live an abundant life and is all that Jesus represents in words, thoughts or deeds. And even when He’s not speaking, His divine presence takes away the restlessness of the world’s stormy controversies.

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Exploring Our Truth

I looked up the meaning of Truth. It is said to be the actual state of a matter. A verified or indisputable fact, proposition or principle. An accuracy of position or judgment.

If these accurately define and reveal the power of truth, then the question is: what is truth to you? What do you consider as true? Do you truly turn to Christ and His standard for every area of your life, or do you go with the culture and norms of earth’s seasons?

Do you truly believe there is an accurate position on every matter, or do you sometimes settle for half-baked realities-a little here, a little there, never white or black, just in the safe zone of grey?

If we cannot accurately judge what truth is, how then are we able to clearly define ourselves? How then can we clearly state our identity and let the world know who we truly are without conforming to its patterns? How can we clearly know or explain what our purpose is?

Having the right understanding of truth is the only way to be guided and empowered by the reality of who God says you are and by the truth of His word.

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The Truth Flow Chart

There is what I call the Truth Flow Chart. This is basically different levels of truth, or how truth flows from the heart of God down to us. It is how we each implement truth in our daily lives. Many times we get stuck on one level or the other, wondering why we have no breakthrough or feel no grace from God regarding a matter. We forget there’s a required revelation of truth needed for each level.

Let me give an example. In the past I used to be known for making a run when I felt I had heard the voice of God, without stopping to process or think it through. As soon as I believed the Lord had spoken and given me a word, I would just go boom!

In the initial stages of my new birth experience that was kind of cute, until the Lord began to teach me there was a need for patience and the application of every fruit of the Spirit in receiving His word.

But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:4 NKJV

When I started learning to patiently process and understand the words, signs and visions God gave me concerning a matter, a person, or a thing, I started to align with His heart concerning the things and situations revealed to me. And every time I took my time to understand what He truly meant with regards to anything, He told me I was honouring Him. Knowing who He is and learning to wait on Him is what enables me to discern and understand clearly everything He says to me. My actions as I yielded to Him were signs of spiritual maturity.

Now, when I receive a word from God, irrespective of how exciting it is, I pray about it, waiting to grasp how He would have me go about the matter. I am also not afraid to shut anything down once I sense I have strayed from the path the Lord would have me take with regards to its execution; be it relationships or projects.

Sometimes, right now, I can be very slow when it comes to making a decision and my wait may actually get out of hand. I’m always trying to understand why, how, where, who. However, in learning to find a balance when it comes to discerning and patiently waiting, I have finally settled, within me, that at the end of-the day, the Holy Spirit is where I find my balance.

There’s no method, application or style to knowing when to move forward. I am simply learning to consistently ask, and honouring Him in every decision. Just like it says in. Proverbs 3:6, In all your ways acknowledge Him and He’ll direct your path.

In understanding truth though, I have come to realize that when God reveals a truth to us it is like a white light. How we perceive it is similar to how that light is reflected though a prism: multiple colours. While each revelation inherently carries the same nature or DNA of God’s truth as it were, it is expressed in differing and multiple ways to multiple people in multiple places and at multiple times.

After you believe you have received a word from God, the question you should ask yourself is:

-  What does this truth mean?

-  How do I interpret it?

-  What is it saying to me?

It is important to get a clear picture of what the Lord is saying.

Recently, I heard Kris Vallotton talk on the word of God being true. He said if an object was red, the moment God calls it blue it becomes blue because the word of God creates. In other words, God’s word has the creative ability to makes things as He intended, irrespective of the state and shape it probably seems to be in.

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, May no one ever eat fruit from you again. 

And his disciples heard him say it. In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered! Mark 11:12-14, 20-21 NIV

From the story above we see the fig tree, though healthy, drying up at the word of Jesus! Amazingly that’s the same level of authority we have been given as children of God. Like our Father in whose image we are made, we speak things into existence and see them happen.

I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you imprison, God will imprison. And whatever you set free, God will set free. 

Matthew 18:18 GWT

When God reveals a truth to you, it is then expedient for you to not just speak the word, but agree and partner with it.

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The Heart Of God

In 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, Paul speaks about how God has so many wonderful intentions in His heart for man not yet revealed to anyone:

But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things. which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all. things, yes, the deep things of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 NKJV

God’s desire is to be consistently revealed to His children, and eventually loved and understood by His sons and daughters. Yet sometimes we imagine Him as a slave driver intent on His desires alone, and as a result we walk around sadly having a mindset of failure. As long as you live this way, seeing the end result of God’s plan for your life will always be difficult.

God isn’t unjust. Whatever He allows us go through is always for our benefit, and to move us to the next level. In our walk with Him it is important that our eyes stay on Him and the end He has revealed to you. This reveals our trust in Him, and trust is a love language for God. Little wonder the Bible says in Hebrew 11:6, ‘Without faith it is impossible to please God.’

What has God shown you about your life and the future? What do your eyes see presently? Sight is an important factor in receiving all that God has prepared for you. Remember Abraham in Genesis 13:14-15?

And the Lord said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are—northward, southward, eastward, and westward; for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.

We are to see like God sees. When He looks at us He does not see anything less than Himself, and so He treats us with the utmost love, a love that can never be replaced by anything else; in this world or the world to come. This love assures us of victory. This is very important. Until we have learnt to see the victory guaranteed while going through the process, we will not be able to rest fully in God’s consistent presence.

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Trust God, His Words Are True

The Lord appeared to me (Israel) from ages past, saying, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you and continued my faithfulness to you. Jeremiah 31:3 AMP

The words above were spoken to the children of Israel by God through Jeremiah the prophet, and they also apply to us who have become God’s children. While I know some may make the mistake of thinking: Well, He was referring to the nation of Israel and not to me, we see God reiterating through Paul the Apostle the same message, and even elaborating on the depths of this love.

What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us. whom God has chosen for his own? No one. For God himself has given us right standing with himself. 

Who then will condemn us? No one. For Christ Jesus died for us and. was raised to life for us, and he is. sitting in the place of honour at God’s. right. hand, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate