If Any Man Be in Christ

By Kayode Oladipupo

The book, ‘If Any Man be in Christ’ delineates very succinctly the difference between a life in Christ and the life outside of Christ. The great difference that the believer’s life displays in terms of power, character, divine provisions, victory over the powers of darkness and indulgencies are well illustrated through the author’s personal experiences as well as other believers. The book challenges one both to examine oneself and to aspire to live the life of that remarkable difference that Christ makes, a life that someone has described as the “Incredible Christian”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kayode Oladipupo
• Release date: Jan 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005923815

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

A NEW CREATION

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

Saturday, the 9th day of June, 1990 was a very busy day for me. I had my planner crowded with must-do activities. First, was the lecture to be delivered to some National Youth Service Corps members serving the nation in Ikere – Ekiti, a local government headquarter in the then Ondo State Nigeria. Next was the burial ceremony of the first Executive Governor of Ogun State Nigeria, Chief Olabisi Onabanjo which was scheduled for about noon in Ijebu- Ode and a night party to attend later in Ikere the same day. I woke up early to prepare for the lecture. I made my presentation quickly with the hope to gain enough time to be at Ijebu Ode for the funeral. That was not to be.

My wife had hidden from me an invitation from her colleagues at the College of Education for a Luncheon Outreach of the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International scheduled for 13 hours the same day. The invitation must have been accepted by her, with the hope that the meeting could afford her the opportunity to receive healing and deliverance from a strange disease that had left her almost paralyzed. She had to be supported with pillow before she could sit on a chair as a result of the disease at the time. She pleaded with me to attend the luncheon with her but I resisted. I would not have her phony invitation stand between me and the opportunity of paying my last respect to a former Governor and a highly respected man of the pen popularly known as Aiyekoto. I maintained an unyielding position; my wife would not argue but knew what to do to have her way. There was no way I could go to Ijebu- Ode at the time without her support. She knew it and capitalized on it. I soon realized, it was impossible for me to go to Ijebu- Ode even if all resources were placed at my disposal. The time was no longer there. I reluctantly agreed to follow her to honor her invitation.

It was a nice lunch though. The setting was strikingly colourful but, it was nothing compared with what I would have enjoyed at Ijebu - Ode. In the midst of eating and drinking, a man stepped forward, turned his Bible to the book of Acts of Apostles chapter 16 verse 31. It reads ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your entire household". He made altar call thereafter; I found myself stepping forward to repent from and ask for forgiveness of sin and turn my life to Jesus Christ.

I went back home to prepare for the night party I had earlier been invited to. It was a well-organized party. A pretty lady was brought from the State Polytechnic all for my entertainment and enjoyment in honor of me for the lecture I had delivered in the morning. I sat throughout the night looking at the face of the girl. I could neither ask her for a dance nor make advances to her. It must have been a boring, agonizing and torturing night for the poor girl. She would have lamented her misfortune of having her paired with a ‘eunuch’. It was a strange experience for me. I never knew that a new Spirit was already operating in me as a result of the encounter I had with Jesus Christ in a Full Gospel meeting earlier in the afternoon. The power of sin over me to commit adultery and fornication had been replaced with the spirit of chastity in the righteousness of Christ. I was already in Christ, the old thing of adultery and uncleanness had passed away, a new life had come.

The second day, Sunday, June 10, 1990