Bishop Isaac Idahosa is usually a delight to talk to. On his way out of the country on Wednesday, Friday 8, 2017, which incidentally was also the day he clocked 52, YES INTERNATIONAL! Magazine’s AZUH ARINZE, somewhere in Ajao Estate, Lagos chatted him up for some minutes. The duo talked basically about his new age. Below are excepts as well as shots taken days later during the birthday celebration…
How does it feel to be 52?
I feel so humbled. It is an honour that God has granted me another year. I feel so excited and elated for the mercies God has extended towards me; to be able to see yet another birthday, to be more productive, more impactful and influential; and to be affecting people’s lives positively.
So, what is going to change about you now that you are 52?
As one keeps aging, he definitely becomes more focused than he used to, because you don’t have much time anymore. The Bible says teach us to number our days, and to apply our hearts unto wisdom. At 52, what you look forward to is posterity. What you used to fancy becomes not what you fancy anymore; you look forward to impacting more lives.
When you woke up this morning, what was the first thing you did?
I was stark naked on my knees to thank Jehovah for keeping me alive and making me see better days. Then, I told Him to grant me more grace, more wisdom. Wisdom for creativity, knowledge for establishment and to be more significant in life.
There’s no doubt that God has been nice to you, what more do you want from Him?
More life; because you see, to whom much is given, much is required. To whom brain is given, sense is required. I have so much to do for humanity. You see, you are not a millionaire because you have millions; you are a millionaire because you have affected a million people. So, I’ve asked God to make me a pipeline. So many people are suffering. All I need to do is to affect the world from my locality.
What would you describe as the greatest thing that God has done for you in the last 52 years?
Life is the greatest gift. He helped me to know his Son, Jesus Christ right on time. I embraced Jesus right on time. So, Jesus began to live His life through me. The Bible says that it’s no longer I that live, but Christ that lives inside of me. The life that I now live is not flesh; I live by the faith of the son of God who loves me and gave His life for me, Gal. 2: 20. So, no more hurdles and challenges. God didn’t promise you a safe journey, He promised you a safe arrival. There will be hurdles, bottle necks, no doubt, but these challenges don’t mar you, they make you. Because problem is attitudinal. Your response to it determines what you will make out of it. So, I’ve learnt so many things in life within these years that I’ve come to know myself as a man; and that life does not give to you what you deserve, but what you demand. So, you must place a demand on life and then be focused, so as to become a focus.
What are some of those things that you asked God to do for you that He has not yet done?
There were times I thought I had enemies, so I asked God to kill my enemies. But the more I asked Him to kill my enemies, the more alive they were. So, He got me to understand that you can win the war by love, not by killing them. I prayed those prayers, I taught them, but the Father said if I was killing them; you would have been killed by someone else’s prayers also. So, I’ve learnt to develop a concept of God: thy will be done. So, discovery is the greatest thing. You must discover what the will of God is for you. And the greatest achievement is the fulfilment of the supposed will of God for your life.
What is the greatest lesson that life has taught you in the last 52 years?
One, to trust the Lord. To make God your source and only source. Not to depend on any man. Confidence in an unfaithful man is like a broken tooth and a leg without joints. No. 3: I’ve learnt to live by faith. Not living by faith is as good as committing suicide. You can’t bend the hand of God. God does thing in His own time. So, if you want things in your own time, you will go your way and it will end disastrously. But when it’s God’s time, He makes all things beautiful. Learn to listen to God and do exactly what He says. Hearing and doing the will of God will put you on the best pedestal.
In the last 52 years, who has had the greatest impact on you?
The Holy Spirit, the word of God. I am a student of the word and at all cost I will ask God to grant me the heart to comply, to respond in obedience to His word, whether convenient or not convenient. I’ve read great books, I’ve rubbed minds with great people through their books, tapes and visuals. If you don’t learn from examples, you become an example. The pitfalls of great people; all they did and all they didn’t do. So, we learn by those windows and that has helped us thus far.
What is going to change about your ministry now that you are a year older?
Anyway, it’s the Holy Spirit that dictates the tune of the ministry. So, I apply it. I relentlessly depend on Him to guide me. So, I’m just like a clay in the hand of the potter. Definitely, like I told you, my name is Idahosa, which means hearing from God. As we hear, we do. One thing I won’t do is to be used to God. I approach God as a baby all the time. I’m not used to preaching, I just allow Him to do what He wants to do. I’m available, flexible, teachable and He tells me what to do all the time and I do it. When you are used to God, you want to draw up a map for yourself. There’s nothing wrong in planning. Don’t even begin to pray for what you didn’t plan for and don’t plan for what you did not to pray for. But when you plan, allow God to endorse what you are praying for.
Lately, I have noticed that you tend to do more of outside ministration? Why are you spending more time abroad than in the country?
We are the light of the world, not the church. We are the salt of the earth and not the church. So, we’ll have to transport light. What He has put within us; hence transforming lives. You don’t sit in a place and possess many places. The Bible says wherever the sole of thy feet thread upon, possess. You go from nation to nation doing the bidding of Jehovah and making disciples of all nations. The light that must shine the farthest must shine the brightest at the base. So, we move from place to place transporting the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. I’m an ambassador. That’s the truth.