BusinessDay 18 Feb 2018

Sunday 18 February 2018
BD SUNDAY 37
Path to the unconquerable Christian life
Book Title: The Unconquerable Christian
Author: W. F. Kumuyi
Imprint: Lagos: Life Press Ltd., 2012
Pagination: 90
Reviewer: Chuks Oluigbo
Book Review
The Unconquerable Christian by
W. F. Kumuyi sets out two primary
tasks for itself. These tasks, as
enunciated by the author in the
Introduction, are, “first, to address
the problems of ignorance, unbelief,
satanic deception, prayerlessness, among
others, that have robbed many Christians
of requisite spiritual energy for victory; and
second, to propel liberated Christians to
maximise undeniable spiritual privileges,
potentials and possibilities awaiting their
faith-adventure”.
This faith-inspiring book is set against
the backdrop of the fact that it is the burning
desire of every believer to live the
invincible Christian life, but oftentimes
many find themselves wandering in search
of the path to this victorious life.
The book, therefore, takes the reader
on a faith-building journey meant to help
those who seek to get connected to the
divine enabling and sustaining power of
God. This journey is presented in seven
(chapters) steps as follows: Unusual Offer
from Calvary, God’s Abundant Resources,
Gateway to the Unconquerable Life,
Sacrifice of Victors, Faith and Power of
Conquerors, Fighting to Win, and Necessary
Partnership of Heaven-bound Saints.
Beginning from the first chapter, the
book traces humanity’s journey from
creation through the fall in the Garden of
Eden, revelation of God’s redemption plan,
and Christ’s eventual ultimate sacrifice at
Calvary.
Created to live the unconquerable life
and have dominion over all created things,
man quickly lost his pride of place when he
fell out with God through disobedience to
divine instruction not to eat the forbidden
fruit. By so doing, man attracted to himself
“grave and unpleasant consequences”.
But God was not going to leave man
helpless in his fallen state. So, He promised,
at the same time He was dishing out punishment
to man for his disobedience, that
“the seed of the woman” would come to
liberate mankind and “reverse the consequences
of man’s tragic and fatal fall”. That
seed, Jesus Christ, would have a definite
mission: “to give His life as a sacrifice for
the remission of the sins of the whole
world”. (p.8)
So began God’s “programme of redemption
for fallen man”, which was subsequently
revealed in many diverse ways
in the course of history, especially through
the mouths of holy prophets.
Christ died for the salvation of all
mankind, and through Christ’s sacrificial
death at Calvary, “God offers salvation,
healing and deliverance to everyone”
and through the power of Calvary,
“every yoke of sin, sickness, ill-luck and
misfortune that hold people in bondage
can be broken”.
But there is a condition that must be
met – belief. The author writes, “It is those
who believe this incredible report that will
experience the arm of strength of the Lord.
In the same vein, if you believe the story of
Calvary today, you will experience God’s
mighty power for undefeatable living.”
Furthermore, he says, “The moment you
acknowledge, repent and confess your sins
to God and believe that the substitutionary
death is for you, he forgives, cleanses and
takes you to a new realm of victorious living.”
(p.16)
So, to enter into fellowship and communion
with God, there is a foundational
step that must be taken, without which
“every other attempt to draw from heaven’s
resources and live in constant victory
would remain a mirage”. (p. 23) That step
is reconciliation with God.
Same way, God has provided enough
resources to humanity to meet life’s challenges
and these resources are available
in sufficient quantities for everyone. So,
rather than get accustomed to your problems,
or tolerate your suffering and endure
severe hardship, or get familiar with your
difficulties to the extent that you take
pleasure in them, just remember that you
can change your “situation by drawing on
the resources of heaven”. (p.24)
But to draw “on the resources of heaven”,
to receive God’s best, to enjoy His
blessings, one has to be “willing to play the
game of life according to the rules”, “to do
His bidding” all the time, and not just “pray
and serve God” only in times of difficulty
that requires God’s intervention.
To buttress this point, the author says
in Chapter 2, “We cannot go our own way,
do things our own way, serve Him when it
pleases us and expect to have His best. The
Almighty God demands that those who
would enjoy His best gifts in life must be
people who are willing to obey His words.”
(p.25)
To further demonstrate that God is ever
faithful to His word and that His word is
infallible, the author draws inference from
God’s past miraculous deeds towards
“Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, David and
other children of Israel” as recorded in the
scripture. If God fulfilled His promises in
the past, then Christians have every reason
to have utmost trust and confidence
in Him. “Having spoken the promises, He
will ensure their manifestation as He has
purposed.” (p.32)
But even though God has purposed an
unconquerable life for everyone, there are
very important steps that must be taken
in order to be launched into the realm of
conquerors. These steps are irrefutable
conversion, which ensures that “old habits
of sin give way to a life of righteousness
in Christ”, irrevocable covenant, which
“ensures security for our lives through the
power of God”, and irreversible consecration,
which “gives you an edge over the
battles of life”, “sets you on the path of
commitment and dedication”, “shuts the
door of backsliding behind you and gives
you determination to forge ahead in spite
of challenges”.
Moreover, to live the life of victors
entails what the author calls “Sacrifice of
Victors”. Just as Christ relinquished His
position and glory in heaven, came down
to earth and shed His blood to make
atonement for humanity and so fulfil God’s
demand for man’s redemption, those who
wish to live as victors must also be willing
to make certain sacrifices, which include
total surrender to the will of God. And for
such sacrifice to be acceptable, it must be
blameless and undefiled. In other words,
“until a person repents, God will not accept
any sacrifice from him or her”. As such,
“people living in immorality, idolatry and
wickedness should first offer their hearts
to God in repentance. Afterwards, they
should come and offer their services to
God”. (p.48)
To navigate through life’s numerous
daunting challenges and live the life of conquerors,
the author says, also requires faith
in God, which “helps us in handling life’s
vicissitudes as they come”. Faith in God,
however small it is, “can be instrumental to
solving our problems. It is key to overcoming
challenges and achieving success in life.
Through faith believers can grow spiritually
to the point that they become terrors to the
devil and his agents.” (p.58)
Faith, the author says, is “a major ingredient
for success in all areas of our lives – career,
business, spiritual life and marriage”.
It is “the key that effectuates required
changes where they are needed”. (p.64)
It is for this reason, and the fact that “our
faith comes under constant and severe attacks
from the enemy”, that “we need to
invest in developing our faith to be able to
enjoy constant victory over our adversaries”.
And when God is the source of our
faith, that faith is incorruptible such that
neither Satan, powers of darkness nor the
world can overcome it.
To win life’s battles, therefore, believers
must be aware of Satan’s wicked devices
and constantly be on the lookout. In all of
this, prayer, fasting, praises, blood of Jesus,
and word of God are potent weapons of
warfare against Satan and his agents.
But while it is wonderful to have a sense
of fulfilment on earth, the author reminds
believers that their success story goes
beyond this world as they are on a journey
to the eternal, heavenly home. Like the Israelites’
journey to the Promised Land, the
road may sometimes be rough and tough,
requiring endurance, but God assures that
His power and protection will carry you
through provided you maintain closeness
and partnership with Him.
The author, in concluding, reminds us of
God’s protection for all who abide in His
Word and will. To drive home this point, he
quotes elaborately from Psalm 91, where
God promises to protect and defend His
people “from the snare of the fowler, and
from the noisome pestilence”.
Presented in simple language, The Unconquerable
Christian comes as a handy,
bold, faith-boosting, easy-to-read book
that every Christian should have and read.
Its boldness derives from the fact that, at
a time many preachers of the Gospel are
watering down their teachings in order to
retain membership, the book is emphatic in
stating that living a sinless life is an absolute
precondition for attaining an unconquerable
life. Its ample bible quotations make
it an easy reference material for every
Christian.