Chit chat! [with Sir Judah Immanuel]

I’ve been super excited about this interview, the first ever on the blog, I even dreamt about it.

I know you are anxious, so I’d get to it already. This is one interview you’d want to read again and again…and again, lol.(Do read through though). I’m glad I was the first partaker🤭. Well, enjoy… (Drum rolls, please.)

******

Zoey: Okay, Good afternoon again, sir.
Thank you for agreeing to do this with me, and be featured on my blog.
I’m super excited.

I’m Zoey, and I’m a blogger at “grow.withzoey”. My blog is more or less a lifestyle and faith blog.
I’m particular about words bringing about healing, change and growth.

Sir Judah: Wow interesting.

Zoey: This interview is for a feature on the blog titled “featured Friday”. What this is about is that every last Friday of every month, just like this one, I feature guests on the blog page. I will interview people subsequently.
People who have achieved some level of growth in one or more areas of life. And you, sir, happen to be my first guest (yay). And today’s episode is going to be on spiritual growth.
Thank you again for doing this.

Sir Judah: Wow! Such an honour 🙏🏽
This is awesome.
Thank you for the privilege, Zoey.

Zoey: Without further delays, could you please tell us about you— who you are, what you do and every every you think we should know.

Sir Judah: My Name is Judah Immanuel Alafiatayo. I am a graduate of Library and Information Science, from the Prestigious Ahmadu University Zaria.

Sir Judah: I am passionate about people and their Fellowship with God.

(Zoey: Amazing! I sure came to the right person, lol.) (Sir Judah laughs).

Sir Judah: I am also passionate about how Tech drives societal transformation; and also passionate about Social Entrepreneurship.

Zoey: Oooh, this is so cool. ***
Okay, I promised to keep this short so as not to waste your time😁. So, unto the next…

Sir Judah: Not at all, I am very much with you ma’am.
Any details you will be needing, I’ll give you. 🙏🏽

Zoey: Awww, thank you so much. I appreciate it.😄

Can you tell us something about your journey as a believer? How did it all begin? Were you born on fire like John the Baptist? Lol.🤭

Sir Judah: (laughs) Well, I had the privilege of growing up in a Christian home that was very passionate about Spiritual growth. My biological father led us to pray every morning and taught us the Scriptures too.

Zoey: That’s lovely. A lot of people start here as well.

Sir Judah: But my Christian Journey really began in 2009.

Zoey: Wow, okay.

Sir Judah: At this point, I had just gotten into Secondary school; I met other students who were very much passionate about the pursuit of God.
We would pray everyday after school activities.
This went on for some years.
In 2012, I was hungry for so much more, so I embarked on a retreat for 3days; this was when I had my first encounter with the Precious Holy Spirit.
His Presence was so strong and real, 30th December, 2012, is a date I cant easily forget.
This was also a time when the Seer Anointing began to show upon my life.
It was around this season I also began to sense the call of God to help His people, and reach Him deeply.

Zoey: Okay, you mentioned the “Seer anointing”. Can you tell us briefly about that?

Sir Judah: I noticed that I began to see events before they would happen; sometimes through dreams, other times trances and most of the times through open visions.
I would newly meet people and begin to see their ages, dates of birth, issues bothering their hearts etc.
This Seer Anointing opened my Spiritual eyes to see the unseen and better intercede for people.🙏🏽
And also, it helped me give people the Counsel of God concerning various concerns in their lives.
The Seer anointing helped me generally edify and comfort people with God’s word.

Zoey: So this is more like direction, of some sort, from God to His people?

Sir Judah: Exactly! 🙏🏽

Zoey: Amazing! Since you began your walk, have you faced challenges or ever felt like giving up the faith?

Sir Judah: Yes, I have faced several challenges and many times felt like giving up.

Zoey: Could you please highlight one of each instance?

Sir Judah: Okay. There were times I struggled with consistency in studying the Bible and Praying unto God. There were times where for two weeks, I couldn’t pray or study God’s word; I would be so worn out at such times and wonder if I could really continue my pursuit for more of God.
At some of this times I felt so distant from God, I couldn’t hear His voice or feel His Presence. The Christian walk is not based on how we feel, but I needed signs from Him that He was still with me; at times I got some, other times I got none.

Zoey: Hmmm. Happens to everyone, I guess.

Sir Judah: Yes, dear.

Zoey: In all of this, how have you been able to hold on to the convictions you have that they are actually real and not some mere mirage?
Your convictions about God inclusive.

Sir Judah: I learnt through those times that the very important roles of Fatherhood, Mentorship and a Christian Family must play to ensure victory in our Christian walk with God.
The Holy Spirit plays a very special role of being our comforter, but there will be times where we will feel so disconnected from Him.
At such times, we would need believers— People who can relate with the phase we are at and speak the right words of God to strengthen our faith. I have had the privilege of experiencing the importance of having Spiritual Fathers and being planted in places where I could be nurtured Spiritually.
I would wait upon God in silence, pouring out my heart to Him; all of the emotions and despair I felt, and He always came to strengthen me.
Most times, via Encounters, Visions, His Voice and Word😍😍
I would immediately become 10 times stronger and move on.
I’ve learned not to play with the secret place.

Zoey: What would you say are things necessary for growth?

Sir Judah: A strong foundation of the Word of God. One of the problems I had was I didn’t invest enough time studying the word. I had a shallow word content and so couldn’t survive storms easily.
I was always interested in Spiritual gymnastics, prayer, prophecy, dynamic Manifestations of God etc. But I spent little time with the Word of God.
The Word of God is the Person of Jesus, in letters awaiting your study and meditation with the Holy Spirit. When you meditate on Scriptures with the Holy Spirit, the letters of the Bible come alive in you.
Many believers struggle because they haven’t spent enough time with the word.

Zoey: Woow. Just like the tagline of my blog, The Word alive. I’m actually learning a lot. This is really like an eye opener.

Sir Judah: In the book of Ephesians 6, Scripture shows us that we are in a constant battle and so we need to put on the whole armour of God. Our Shield is Faith and Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God.
The Scripture says that In every battle, we should take faith as our wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at us from the Evil One!
So, no faith, no shield.
No strong revelation of Scriptures, no faith.
A strong foundation of the word of God, consistently feeding on Scriptures and Holy Ghost anointed materials (Books, Audio messages etc).

A Consistent prayer life!
Communication with God gives Him a direct invitation into our life and affairs and permits Him to always intervene for us.

Zoey: Would you say there’s a striking difference between knowing the Word and letting it come alive in you?

Sir Judah: Yes exactly.
And that’s the ministry of the Holy Spirit. But the Bridge between just Knowledge of the Word and it coming alive in you is meditation.
Moses instructed Joshua to meditate on the Law.
He told Him His meditation on the Law would be the very secret of His prosperity and success.
People must understand that the word of the Lord is life.
Through His word He created the Whole Earth.
The letters killeth, but the Spirit gives life.
You remember the Ministry of the Holy Spirit is to guide us into all truth?
To reveal to us what Jesus wanted to tell His disciples that they weren’t ready for?
He teaches us all things.
Next, One needs a strong Spiritual Covering/ Mentorship.

Next,one should also desire a company/Family of Believers, because two are better than one and iron sharpens iron.
Truth is, a sincere desire for growth will bring growth.
It is God who gives growth.
I planted, Apollos watered, but God [all the while] was causing the growth.
1 Corinthians 3:6 AMP.

Zoey: So, no Holy Spirit, no Word coming alive in you despite your meditation?

Sir Judah: Exactly!

Zoey: Has there been one particular encounter that has stood out for you and sharpened your faith?

Sir Judah: Yes, my Encounter with the Lord Jesus. This is by far the most impactful encounter I have ever had.

Zoey: I’m tempted to ask what it was like.🌚

Sir Judah: (Laughs) Truth is, I didn’t expect it. At least not that early.
It happened in 2014; He came to me with so much Glory that night. I thought I was going to die, but I could feel so much love and life.
I was asleep that night, I had just finished reading Revelation 4.
That night I was so discouraged by the several weaknesses that so encumbered me. I slept feeling I wasn’t ever going to be useful to God.
While asleep, I was awake by the very Presence of the Lord Jesus.
The Reverence and Fear of the Lord was the first thing that awoke me. It was so strong I felt the fullness of my unrighteousness, but at the same time I didn’t feel condemned; instead, I felt so loved. I felt His Righteousness cover my unrighteousness like a Cloak.
His Fiery Presence swept through my whole body, I had never experienced such Fire😅
It was as though I was pinned to my bed. I couldn’t move!
I also couldn’t open my mouth to speak; His Presence was so strong.
His Face was the most beautiful thing, I saw eternity in His Sapphire blue eyes!
He called my Name, Emmanuel, my head almost blew; so Jesus knew me, amongst the 7billion people on Earth, He knows me!
This encounter happened twice that night.
This encounter is still so very real to me. More real than even human beings I see every day😄😄
For weeks my heart burned with fire.
I could feel it physically.
Passion for my lover and maker.
This encounter is the true fuel of my perseverance and pursuit after God.
I want moreee…

Zoey: WOW!
This is so beautiful.
Mind blowing encounter indeed.

This has been such an amazing time, truly.
Last thing before I finally release you, haha.

Sir Judah: (Laughs).

Zoey: What word or ‘advice’ do you have for everyone reading this?

Sir Judah: God loves you specially and specifically. He knows your name, His eyes are always upon you. He wants you to encounter Him fully. He wants you to see His Son, Jesus face to face and enjoy intimacy with the Holy Spirit!
But only if you are hungry and ready to yearn for more would you experience this.
When you encounter the Lord Jesus face to face, you would fully understand the scripture that says seek ye first the kingdom of God and everything will be added unto you!
Because Jesus brings the pieces together, and He will provide all you need here and forever.

Zoey: Wow. (I think I’ve said that a lot already, lol).

Sir Judah: I celebrate you from my heart, Zoey.🔥♥️🔥

Zoey: Thank you so much, sir. Indeed words fail me right now. Thank you for this sacrifice. Like I always say, do know i’d still come again and again to disturb you.🤭

P.s: Happy Birthday in advance😀

Sir Judah: Thanks so much 🤭🤭🤭

(And it’s a wrap)…

Who enjoyed this as much as I did? Tomorrow is his birthday, do well to drop a prayer for him.

Thank you for being here. Check back again, as often as you breathe. On your way out, don’t forget to like, leave a comment and SUBSCRIBE!

Sending love and light your way.

Cheers to steady growth,

Zoey.