SHINA RAMBO: A TESTIMONY OF THE POWER OF GOSPEL

Tuesday, 3^rd August, 2021

Bible Reading: Micah 7: 18-19

Memory Verse: We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7(HCSB)

One of the most notorious armed bandits in Nigeria in the 1990s was Shina Rambo. He was well built, dark skinned and about 6 ft 5 inch tall with terrifying eyes. Shina was feared by so many Nigerians who lived in the South Western part of the country and in places outside Nigeria like Benin Republic. He was involved in so many rituals in order to get spiritual powers and fortifications. He was so powerful that he went underground and inside trees that looked like a city which has a lot of beautiful houses therein. He pounded over 27 live new born babies in a mortar and with a pestle; he cut off about 100 human tongues and cooked them to eat; he also went into a river called River of life in Ogoja where top politicians and wealthy men used to go for spiritual fortifications and slept in a cemetery.

The dreaded criminal had so many personalities and could change his form whenever he wanted hence the reason the police were busy killing innocent people and thought they were killing Shina Rambo. According to Shina, 9 herbalists gave him that power and he became stronger than them. One day, he visited their shrines and killed all of them so that they won’t reveal his secrets. He said he once beheaded 100 men and gave their heads fresh to his herbalists, and they were so happy with him that they made me invincible. Of all, sleeping with his mother who is now 85 years old and still alive is one thing he regretted the most. Whenever he sets his eyes on her, he will just start crying because he can’t bear it, he lamented.

Shina Rambo never liked the police as he would go to police stations or check points in broad daylight and kill all the policemen there. He operated in broad day light. Shina once robbed 40 exotic cars in one day and drove all of them in a convoy from Lagos to Cotonou without being stopped. Rambo was wealthy, powerful and invincible. He was a demi-god who apparently came from the pit of hell as everyone dreaded him. He had a wife and three children, but he lost all of them in one day during a bloody police raid whilst he was away on operation.

The death of his wife was his stabilizing factor as his life changed afterwards. He said sometimes he spent 50 million naira (over $100,000) in a day without any stress. Shina Rambo said he handed himself to the police and was jailed for 11 years. He lost all he had including his family. He said he met the Lord miraculously through a chance encounter in prison with Prophet T. O. Obadare and since then his life had not remained the same. He was christened Matthew Oluwanifemi after serving his jail term for his crimes.

Lesson: If God could save a wretched and wicked sinner like Shina Rambo, He can save you too. Give your life to Christ today.

Quote: The Blood of Jesus washes away our past and the Name of Jesus opens up our future – Jesse Duplantis.

Prophetic Decree: The mercy of God shall prevail over judgement in your life, in Jesus name.

Prayer Focus

1. Sing the hymn “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus” on page 105.

2. O Lord, please have mercy upon me and forgive me of all my sins today, in Jesus name.

3. I repent, renounce and restitute of all my evil ways today, in Jesus name.

4. Atoning blood of Jesus, wash me clean today, in Jesus name.

5. By the authority of the living God, sin shall have no dominion over me, in Jesus name.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Chronicles 32-33

HYMNAL: WHAT CAN WASH AWAY MY SIN?

1. What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Chorus

Oh! precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

2. For my cleansing this I see—