The Cost of Following Jesus

Written by Paci Ingabire

Under a heavy atmosphere and stirring of the anointing, I want to honor the spirit of God. I want to decrease so He can find a voice in me. I want to be a vessel, I want to see lives transformed and Jesus glorified.

Let us pray:

Father in the name of Jesus, we call unto you for fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit on this post, it is such a priviledge to share your word to the world, the Bible says in Psalm 122, I was glad when they say unto me, let us go in the house of the Lord. Father let our spiritual gates open to receive the King of Kings, open our hearts to receive fresh grace, anointing and blessings, in the name of Jesus. As Psalm 45:1 says, let my tongue be a skilful writer, i pray Lord as I speak, I be a pen and you be the writer in this moment, in the name of Jesus

AMEN.

When Kim asked me to share on her blog, my first question to God was: What do you want to tell your people, the readers? What do you want to communicate. Lord, let your will be on earth as it is in heaven.

My Testimony

My life in the past 2 years has been nothing but consecration and sanctification unto our Lord Jesus Christ. Never did I think that 2 years of this spiritual journey and encounters with the spirit of God would result in this opportunity to birth a nation out of me (people who drink from the fountain you are drinking from). An opportunity to share the gospel, to impart wisdom and kindness. To help and support with life changing prayers and prophetic words.

My journey started 2 years ago, in my room. I was crying, battling anxiety, fear of starting over in my life and the spirit of rejection. The Lord himself walked in on me. He was compassionate with me, I felt a spiritual hug. I remembered that the word said:

“Therefore if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ].“

Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭AMP‬‬

In that moment, my vehicle in the spirit was brokenness. To set the room and your imaginative capacities alive, imagine a frightened girl, ugly crying under her pillow. This type of cry gets heard fast, and as I grew into the spiritual things, this verse confirmed it:

”My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.“

Psalms‬ ‭51‬:‭17‬ ‭

Forgive me, as a millennial, jumping from one thing to the other has become the norm. As I was saying, I was broken and in need of God's touch and fresh wind of the spirit of God.

THE light entered me that day. The days that followed that encounter, I could not explain it with words. I immediately left everything I knew. My comfort, my life, my habits, instead I jumped into the unknown to follow the Lord that appeared to me. He stirred in me a hunger for the word, I became a Bible addict, not a longtime from that scriptures started making sense!

A river started flowing out of me. The first dimension of God that opened was:

Adonai, El shaddai

He exists. A light came out of the wall and entered me, the same experience as Paul on the way to Damascus. I thought I would die, because the impartation came so strong, and impressed on my heart. I immediately knew life would not be the same again.

”Who may ascend onto the mountain of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to what is false, Nor has sworn [oaths] deceitfully. [Matt 5:8]“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭24‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭AMP‬‬

The journey of ascending into the realms of God and into dimensions of God is a radical one. You leave everything and purge yourself. You make it a commitment, then the grace of God will be supplied, the study time of the word will be available. The grace of God will make you do natural things, supernaturally.

”If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.“

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have received impressions in my heart, in my spirit, sometimes in Greek, or Hebrew, one sentence words, sometimes dreams, visions. I know when a new season in the spirit has been opened. As I grew, the burdens of the Father were so heavy, by praying over them, I was graced with the ability to be an intercessor.

Jireh as a Provider

God has asked me to empty my bank account in faith, so He can provide. I have received random gifts; parfums, clothes, shoes and groceries. Out of faith I saw God move His hand on my behalf. It took obedience and a leap of faith to involve God in my finances, not only did He provide, but he also got me a promotion at work! I fully understood what tithing is and involving God in the work of my hands.

Adonai

This dimension opened as I was reading the book of Ephesians.

I was consecrated during those times of learning, I lived a fasting life. I committed my time, zeal and passion to God. I went all in, a 1000%, even till my destruction ( physical detriment). It was just me with the Bible and learning scriptures as well as hours and hours of sermons.

The spirit of God would lead me through every season. The first 75% of the time, I learned the character of God. His operations, His assignments, His commission, laws and decrees. His love towards me and deep compassion towards His children.

20% of the time I learnt about my limitations, as a human being. The limited amount of time I have left on earth to leave a mark, make an impression and fulfil God's agenda. The limited capacities due to sicknesses, blood conditions, mental disorders, curses, deliverances, family altars, death of my father, work challenges, car accidents, yokes, bondages, being stubborn, almost giving up but getting up back again.

Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Nissi

During my sicknesses, in the valley of the shadow of death, my blood HB levels were 100 ( normal should be above 120) I thought I was dying. My room for 8 seconds became all white, the presence of God was so tangible.

In those days, my prophetic eyes opened. I could see visions, dreams, trances as clear as a movie. As I was fighting for my life, my mind and body experienced evil, sicknesses and spirits of infirmities. I understood what warfare was. I saw my life ending just like that, with nothing to amount for it. An anxiety for advancing the kingdom of God was awakened in me.

However, God promised us that in the shadow of the valley of death, His rod and staff will comfort us, and I experienced this truth. God has been a shield for me, as Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:17- So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion, I was also delivered in the mouth of lions, in the depths and from the deep.

The take away point is to stir a hunger and thirst for the things of God. God is alive and experiencing His people. Do not settle for a subpar Christian life.

The Cost of Following Jesus is victory and access to the heavenly realms.

Jesus is alive and powerful! There is power in the blood of Jesus, there is power in the name of Jesus. You experience God in your day to day life. All of you for all of Him! The power and anointing come as a by product of knowing Him.

As a result of these past 2 years, I am in a place that I understand that I only get one life, I am balancing my work, home duties, spiritual life and serving God’s kingdom. I am taking care of my health and intentional eating sometimes. By the grace of God, I am learning to steward what He gave me, the honor He bestowed on my life but also to move when He says move.

Father I pray in the name of Jesus,

Let the river that flows from the throne of grace find an expression here on earth, give us living water that quenches our thirst, satisfy our hunger with the desire to know you more.

Increase your tents and capacities in us, so we can receive what you intend for us. I pray that as we wait for your financial settlements, marriages, council, visibility, visa, healing, I pray that as you promised in Isaiah 40: 31- but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Let us run our courses and finish our races in glory. In Jesus name.