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GOOD FRIDAY MESSAGE: BY HIS STRIPES, WE ARE HEALED – Pastor (Dr.) L.O Oladele

Published

6 years ago

April 9, 2020

BY HIS STRIPES, WE ARE HEALED – Pastor (Dr.) L.O Oladele

Text: 1 Peter 2:24: “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness; by whose stripes ye were healed”.

For illustration purpose, let us consider the Bible in Basic English Version of the same text. 1 Peter 2:24: He took our sins on himself, giving his body to be nailed on the tree, so that we, being dead to sin, might have a new life in righteousness, and by his wounds we have been made well.

INTRODUCTION: The greatest, most inconceivable, most mysterious and most infinite love that God has ever shown to man is seen in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, that is, the coming of Jesus Christ from His glory and becoming a man, and also His atoning death and resurrection which we are marking at this time. Whether man knows and accepts it or not, Jesus Christ came and died for the sins of the world, thereby establishing his Messiahship (1 John 3:1).

In this introduction, you will agree with me that Apostle Peter was no doubt one of the closest Apostles to our Lord Jesus Christ when He was on his earthly ministry. The record of Apostle Peter therefore should be seen as a factual record of an eye witness, and one of an active participator of Jesus’ ministry, who witnessed His death and resurrection. This epistle, written about 30 years after the death of Jesus (i.e. AD 60), is incontrovertible and infallible, which should be taken as a sacrosanct piece to be believed by all men. In the text, he said, Jesus Christ came and took our sins upon himself, gave His body to be nailed on the cross of the Calvary, being dead to sins, that we might have new life in righteousness and by His wounds, we are made well”. What a credible account from an old Apostle like Peter!

From this text, therefore, we can see succinctly the fact, mode and nature of Jesus’ death, and the purpose, consequences and blessings for believers across ages. On the fact and mode of Jesus’ crucifixion, the text says “who Himself bare our sins in his own body on the tree”, meaning that Jesus physically offered himself and He was hanged on the tree.

Jesus Christ was hanged on the tree for my sins and your sins and for the sins of the whole world.

Also, on the purpose of His crucifixion, “that we, being dead to sin, should live unto righteousness”, meaning that purpose to save humanity that has already been befallen with woe and perdition of sins. The consequence of His crucifixion is for us to lives of righteousness. While the immediate benefit on earth is that by the stripes, suffering and death of Jesus, we are made healed/made well.

THE FACT OF JESUS CRUCIFIXION

1. It was foretold by God (Genesis. 3:15; Hebrews 2:14).

2. Psalmist and Prophets also bear witness to it (Psalms 22: 1, 17-18; Isaiah 52:14; Isaiah 53: 7-12; Zechariah 13:7).

3. Jesus Christ Himself testified about it (Matthew12:40; Luke 9:22; John 2:19-21).

4. Paul the Apostle also testified about the fact of Crucifixion of Jesus (Acts 17:3; Acts 26: 22-23; 1 Corinthians 1: 17-18; 2 Corinthians 4:10-11).

5. This crucifixion was fulfilled (Matthew 27; Mark 15; John 19).

6. There are also many infallible proofs by archaeologists across centuries and ages that have proved that Jesus actually came to the world and died for the sins of the world. All you need to do is to believe in Him as the only begotten son of God.

MODE AND NATURE OF JESUS’ CRUCIFIXION

1. He died by crucifixion, that is, physical hanging, nailed to the cross (Matthew 27:35; Mark15:24; Luke 23:33).

2. It was an ignoble, shameful, painful and detestable death (Hebrews 12:2).

3. It was an accursed death (Galatians 3:13).

4. His death was voluntary, nobody could have killed Jesus Christ, He offered himself (John 10: 17-18).

5. It was a vicarious substitutionary death (John 10: 11).

PURPOSE OF JESUS CRUCIFIXION

a. Jesus died to make reconciliation between God and Man; the death of Jesus Christ on the cross reconciles man back to God (Romans 5: 6-11; Ephesians 2:13-16).

b. He came and died in order to redeem man (Isaiah 53:4-12; Ephesians 1:6-7; Colossians 1:14).

c. Crucifixion of Jesus was to purge our sins (Zechariah 13:1; Luke 24: 46-47; John 1-29).

d. To secure forgiveness (Acts 5:30-31; Romans 4:25).

e. To offer salvation, i.e. to save mankind (John 3:14-17; Romans 6:3-5; Gal. 2:20).

CONSEQUENCE OF JESUS’ DEATH

From the purpose of Jesus death stated above, the crucifixion of Jesus therefore avails and provides all believers the opportunity to live unto righteousness through the atonement and ransom paid by shedding His precious blood on the cross; we are free from sin, have received divine mercy, and are qualified to reign with Him (Romans 10:4; Phil.3:9).

THE BENEFIT OF CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS CHRIST

The immediate benefit of Christ’s crucifixion, if you believe, is that “By His Stripes, Ye Are Healed”. The healing has been completed on the cross, you only need to key into it, the New basic English Bible says “By His wounds you are made well”.

Jesus was whipped, that is, flogged during his trial before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish council), he was whipped by Pilate and even soldiers. He received wounds because of you and I.

The forty stripes received by Jesus cover all the calamities of man, all the troubles of man, and even all diseases you can mention. Even Coronavirus, the stripes of Jesus cover them all.

The healing received from His stripes means total salvation, blessings, joy, healing and wellness from sickness, poverty, epidemics, pandemics, troubles, attacks. Oh! What powerful blood shed on the cross of Calvary.

CONCLUSION

By the authority of this message ‘By His stripes’, I decree, your life will be healed, made well, healed of all agonies, failures, and weeping; the whole world will be healed of the pandemic rampaging the whole of humanity.

Note however; Have you received that salvation? Have you received that forgiveness of sins? Have you received purging of sins? Have you been redeemed? Have you been reconciled to God? If the purpose of Jesus’ death for you has not been fulfilled, why don’t you use this time to decide that the purpose of His death for you will not be in vain. Why not amend your life? Why not stop that life of sins? Why not you stop following the devil, flesh and the world? Accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour so that all these good purposes will be fulfilled on you because, if you fail to effect changes, it shall be eternal damnation. May this not be your portion in Jesus’ name.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Lord Jesus Christ, I appreciate your atoning death for my salvation on the cross of Calvary.

2. Lord Jesus, as you gave your life for me on the cross, let me also give my life, my obedience, my holiness, and my total service to you throughout my lifetime.

3. My Saviour, I confess my sins and soberly amend my ways so that I would not nail you to the cross anymore.

4. Jesus the Son of God, by your stripes I am healed, I’m delivered, I’m saved, I’m heaven-bound. AMEN!

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NELFUND: The Renewed Hope Engine Propelling Nigeria’s Youth into Tomorrow

Published

2 days ago

November 28, 2025

The Gleamer

By Dayo Israel, National Youth Leader, APC

As the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress, I have spent most of my tenure fighting for a Nigeria where every young person, regardless of their ward or local government, family income, or circumstance, can chase dreams without the chains of financial despair.

Today, that fight feels like victory, thanks to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Launched as a cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, this initiative isn’t just a policy tweak; it’s a revolution. And under the steady, visionary hand of Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFUND has transformed from a bold promise into a roaring engine of opportunity, disbursing over ₦116 billion to more than 396,000 students and shattering barriers for over a million applicants.

Let’s be clear: NELFUND was always destined to be a game-changer. Signed into law by President Tinubu on April 3, 2024, it repealed the outdated 2023 Student Loan Act, replacing it with a modern, inclusive framework that covers tuition, upkeep allowances, and even vocational training—ensuring no Nigerian youth is left on the sidelines of progress.

But what elevates it from groundbreaking to generational? Leadership. Enter Akintunde Sawyerr, the diplomat-turned-executioner whose career reads like a blueprint for results-driven governance. From co-founding the Agricultural Fresh Produce Growers and Exporters Association of Nigeria (AFGEAN) in 2012—backed by icons like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina—to steering global logistics at DHL across 21 countries, Sawyerr brings a rare alchemy: strategic foresight fused with unyielding accountability.

As NELFUND’s pioneer MD, he’s turned a fledgling fund into a finely tuned machine, processing over 1 million applications since May 2024 and disbursing ₦116 billion—₦61.33 billion in institutional fees and ₦46.35 billion in upkeep—to students in 231 tertiary institutions nationwide. That’s not bureaucracy; that’s brilliance.

Sawyerr’s touch is everywhere in NELFUND’s ascent. Since the portal’s launch, he’s overseen a digital ecosystem that’s as transparent as it is efficient—seamless verification, BVN-linked tracking, and real-time dashboards that have quashed misinformation and built trust. In just 18 months, the fund has empowered 396,252 students with interest-free loans, many first-generation learners who might otherwise have dropped out.

Sensitization drives in places like Ekiti and Ogun have spiked applications — 12,000 in a single day in one instance, while expansions to vocational centers in Enugu pilot the next wave of skills-based funding. And amid challenges like data mismatches and fee hikes, Sawyerr’s team has iterated relentlessly: aligning disbursements with academic calendars, resuming backlogged upkeep payments for over 3,600 students, and even probing institutional compliance to safeguard every kobo. This isn’t management; it’s mastery—a man who doesn’t just lead but launches futures.

Yet, none of this happens in a vacuum. President Tinubu’s alliance with trailblazers like Sawyerr is the secret sauce securing Nigeria’s tomorrow. The President’s Renewed Hope Agenda isn’t rhetoric; it’s resources—₦100 billion seed capital channeled into a system that prioritizes equity over elitism. Together, they’ve forged a partnership where vision meets velocity: Tinubu’s bold repeal of barriers meets Sawyerr’s boots-on-the-ground execution, turning abstract policy into tangible triumphs. It’s a synergy that’s non-discriminatory by design—Christians, Muslims, every tribe and tongue united in access—fostering national cohesion through classrooms, not courtrooms.

As Sawyerr himself notes, this is “visionary leadership” in action, where the President’s political will ignites reforms that ripple across generations.

Why does this matter to us, Nigeria’s youth? Because NELFUND isn’t handing out handouts—it’s handing out horizons. In a country where 53% of us grapple with unemployment, these loans aren’t just funds; they’re fuel for innovation, entrepreneurship, and endurance.

Picture it: A first-generation polytechnic student in Maiduguri, once sidelined by fees, now graduates debt-free (repayments start two years post-NYSC, employer-deducted for ease) and launches a tech startup. Or a vocational trainee in Enugu, equipped with skills funding, revolutionizing local agriculture. This is quality education that endures—not fleeting certificates, but lifelong launchpads. Sawyerr’s focus on human-centered design ensures loans cover not just books, but bread—upkeep stipends of ₦20,000 monthly keeping hunger at bay so minds can soar. Under his watch, NELFUND has debunked doubts, refuted fraud claims, and delivered results that scream sustainability: Over ₦99.5 billion to 510,000 students by September, with 228 institutions on board.

As youth leaders, we see NELFUND for what it is: A covenant with our future. President Tinubu and MD Sawyerr aren’t just allies; they’re architects of an educated, empowered Nigeria—one where poverty’s grip loosens with every approved application, and innovation blooms from every funded desk. This isn’t charity; it’s an investment in the 70 million of us who will lead tomorrow.

We’ve crossed one million applications not because of luck, but leadership—a duo that’s turning “access denied” into “future unlocked.”

To President Tinubu: Thank you for daring to dream big and backing it with action.

To Akintunde Sawyerr: You’re the executor we needed, proving that one steady hand can steady a nation.

And to every Nigerian youth: Apply. Graduate. Conquer.

Because with NELFUND, your generation isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving, enduring, and eternal.

The Renewed Hope isn’t a slogan; it’s our story, now written in scholarships and success. Let’s keep turning the page.

Dayo Israel is the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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