DRAMA: Disarming the Strongman

Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the Lord, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. (Isaiah 49:24-25)

PLOT STRUCTURE:

This is the story of Gbade. A young man who is the product of generational curse; this curse has been raging like a stormy sea in every area of his life. His family has given up on his chances of success as a result of the terms and conditions of the devil. Will he make it? Who will stand in the gap for him? Enjoy the Power of Intercession.

CAST: Six

Baba Gbade

Gbade

Tolani (Gbade’s sister)

Gbade’s friend (Femi)

Dean, Administration

Bully

Prologue:

Gbade is walking on a path with great treasures in his possession walking gleefully with joy until he was confronted by a bully.

(Bully comes in from left of stage while Gbade comes in from right of stage)

Bully: Hey you... come here.

Gbade: What! What!! What!!!

Bully: (Lands him a slap) Are you crazy? Do you have a death wish? If you don’t want to die, bring it all...

Gbade: No, it’s mine... you can’t take it... (Begins to drag it with the bully)

Bully: (He beats him the more and aggressively drags all from him) Stay down you fool...

Act One, Scene One:

Tolu is walking on a path with great treasures in his possession walking gleefully with joy until he was confronted by a bully.

Bully: skkksss... Come here... You

Tolu: What is it?

Bully: Are you challenging me?

Tolu: I'm asking you what do you want?

Bully: You no dey fear face? You dey craze? You are not even afraid of my weapon?

Tolu: The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4)

Bully: Guy, you go die today... Since your possession is more valuable than your life.

Tolu: You don't understand, I'm more valuable than your life because greater is he that is in me than he that is in you... You are just a bully.

Bully: (Applause) So you recognized my name... (he attempts to strike)

Tolu: Just give it a trial and see what will happen...

Bully: What boldness... If I don't dump your body in the gutter today, call me a bastard. ( As he tries to stab him, he stumbles and injures himself)

Tolu: (smiles) O gbeja onija keru o ba onija... (To bully) I dwell in the secret place of the Most high and I am bound to abide under the shadow of the Almighty... He who watches over me does not sleep nor slumber.

Act one, Scene Two

In the home of Gbade... He is at home pondering what he is going to do.

Gbade: (audience)I am the first born of my family. The first of two children. My parents are still alive. If you care to know, I'm in my 30's; single,unmarried, no prospects at all.

You may ask, why I'm being too hard on myself. Who can blame me? My family has given up on me, even the society doesn't count me as anything. I'm not living just existing.

Who will help me now? Where will hope come from?who will pray for me? Will you?

Tolani: Bro. Gbade... Who are you talking to?

Gbade: The spirit of my forefathers... If they can hear me, they should forgive me if I have offended them.

Tolani: Brother, please don't talk like this. You will make me cry... (Wipes her face)

Gbade: You have secured admission... You'll be going to school soon. Me, I don't know the point of graduating when Bricklayers are better than me.

Tolani: Brother, Don't talk like this please...

Gbade: OK, if you say so... ( His dad calls from distance)

Gbade's dad: Gbade! Gbade!! Gbade!!!. Where is this useless son?

Gbade: I'm here sir...

Gbade's dad: since you were born, I knew it would be hard for you to make it...

Gbade: Dad! please don't talk like this... I will make you proud of me.

Gbade's dad: Let's wait and see about that... I have given up on you already.

Act One, Scene three

Gbade goes to school with his sister for registration and she was faced with an unexpected disappointment.

Tolani: Good morning sir.

Dean: Yes! How may I help you?

Tolani: My name is Tolani Adekunle... I came for my registration.

Dean: Let me check your name... What's your 2nd name?

Tolani: Evelyn sir.

Dean: Eve is in my records...

Tolani: It must be my name sir. I'm sure there is a mix up somewhere because I have all my documents with me.

Dean: Well, I can't guarantee that... If any Eve doesn't come, then the admission is yours.

Tolani: Please sir... I'm sure I'm the one.

 (Gbade comes in to reason with the Dean as well but he chases them out of his office.)

Act two, Scene one

Tolu is at home worshiping God and as he studies the word of God, he receives an insight from the Holy Spirit and decides to visit his friend.

Tolu: You are the mighty God, the great I am, Halleluyah, Halleluyah... Mighty warrior, great in battle, Jehovah is your name... There is none like you, none can compare to your Mighty power. Arise oh Lord, as the Mighty Man in battle. Silence every raging storm and calm every troubling waters. Every devourer, mitigating against our purpose, neutralise them in the mighty name of Jesus...

(Picks his phone and calls Gbade) Hello Gbade, are you at home? I'm coming... We need to see urgently...

Act two, Scene two

Tolu: Gbade... How are you? Have you eaten?

Gbade: My friend... I don't even get hungry again because hunger has mixed with my blood.'

Tolu: Please stop taking like this... The Power of life and death is in the tongue so you have to be careful about your utterance.

Gbade: There is no positive thing I say that will change my fate... This is my Kadara and I have embraced it warmly that I can't make it.

Tolu: Please, stop talking like this...these are depressive thoughts from the devil and I plead with you not to entertain such thoughts...

Gbade: I have been told several times that I can't make it... E mi ti gba Kamu were' n temi

Tolu: What's that supposed to mean? Trust in God my friend, he will turn your situation around and change your story.

Gbade: I pray o.

Tolu: Speaking of which, the spirit of God revealed to me that when you want God to hear you, you should listen to what he has to say to you... Do you listen to the voice God? Is your relationship intimate or distant?

Gbade: Me, I have given up on God already... Even when I sleep, I dream that all my possession are taken away and I am always too weak to fight it?

Tolu: That's the devil... I have had that kind of dream before but by the Power of God, I take charge and the enemy is subdued... The devil's manifesto is to kill, steal and ultimately destroy the purpose of God for our lives... In the Name of Jesus, we will have victory in Jesus Name, Amen.

Gbade: Thank you my friend... Please can I have change for garri?

Tolu: you are not serious.... (Aside) When you think small, you'll be small... You can't be bigger than what you think. Please manage this and take care of yourself brother.

Gbade: Thank you so much...

Tolu: Come on... it's time to wake up from your slumber...I'll pray for and with you.

Act two, Scene three

Dean: Good morning... Wow beautiful. You smell nice.

Tolani: Thank you sir... It is the aura of the Power of God.

Dean: mtchew...What do you want?

Tolani: I have come to claim my right...

Dean: (laughs hysterically) What right?

Tolani: My admission sir... It's six months already.

Dean: Oh... It's you. Haven't I told you your name is not on the list?

Tolani: Sir, my name is there. I told you it must have been a mistake...

Dean: Don't waste my time...

Tolani: I won't... Sir, no one decrees a thing when the Lord has not commanded it.

Dean: I can't believe this... This must be a prank.

Tolani:  What is going on?

Dean: You are Evelyn right?

Tolani: Yes sir... That's what i said the last time.

Dean: Your name is here... Correctly I might add. I can't believe this.

Tolani: That is God for you sir... He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, according to the power that works in us...

Act three, scene one

Tolu: (singing) Let God arise and his enemies be scattered... Alagbara lo lorun wa, agbara agbara agbara yi po o, agbara. Lord Jesus, I worship you, I extol you, I magnify you. You are God from the beginning to the end, there is no iorta of doubt or argument. You are God all by yourself. You don't need permission to speak, you don't need permission to act, you are the alpha and omega, the first and the last, the only wise God.

Lord, I lift up my voice over your son, Gbade... Oluwa Gbade ninu aye re, take all the glory over his life. According to your word in Ephesians 6:12, we wrestle not against flesh blood, but against principalities, rulers of darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. Father, as you silenced the mouth of the lion from devouring Daniel, Lord silence and neutralise every spiritual wickedness laying siege upon the purpose and destiny of Gbade. Lord, silence and neutralise them, in the Name of Jesus.

Every knee oppressing his life, let them bow, in the Name of Jesus... Your word says in Isaiah 49:25-26. you will contend with them that contend with thee... you will feed  them that oppress thee with their own flesh.

I decree and declare, Gbade is free from every evil covenant, every lineal curse is breaking now in the name of Jesus. Every ordinances that are contrary to him, his life and purpose, his family are blotted out and nailed to the cross in the Name of Jesus... ( Colossians 2:14)

Scene switch:

Gbade is in his room praying...

Gbade: ... (boldly) Lord, have mercy on him. I renew my trust in you. Your word says and I believe in 1 John 3:8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Every work of the devil in my life, I decree destruction upon you in the Name of Jesus. I speak life upon my life and destiny and I command every contradictory utterances made upon my life in Jesus Name. Everything that has been stolen and taken by the locusts and cankerworm, I speak replenishment and recovery in the Name of Jesus.

Act three, Scene two

Gbade... Has the same occurrence as the first scene... The bully walks close boastfully with his goods.

Bully: Maga, how far! Anything for me? Or you've come for more beating?

Gbade: This is the worst day of your life... The is the last time you will mess with me.

Bully: I've just started... I have not even done enough!

Gbade: All the things you forcefully took from me, it's time to give them back.

Bully: (laughs hysterically) This is mine and you can't have it back.

Gbade: You lie!!! I'm having what is mine back. I belong to God, I have overcome. Greater is he that is in me, than he that is in the world. I am royalty (bully smiles with boastful moves) I will never beg. I command you to return all you have taken from me in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Bully: (grudgingly returns everything) Can't someone play with you again...

Gbade: I have no association with you anymore, you can't oppress and enslave my purpose anymore. I am free from you, because the son of man has set me free. I am a light that shines in darkness... 

Act three, scene three

Gbade's father: (reading newspaper)  Mama Gbade... Have you collected the rubber of rice I sent you?

Gbade's mother:  Shameless and stupid man. Did you give me money? If you are not tired of embarrassment me I am o.

Gbade's father: That means we won't eat tonight.

Gbade's mother: This is not the first neither will it be the last night we will starve to death...

(Gbade rushes in and his parent's are shocked)

Gbade's father:  You this boy... You want to compound our misery and kill us before our time.

Gbade: In Jesus Name... You will live and not die and reap the fruits of your labour in Jesus Name, Amen.

Gbade's father: Are we talking of prayers? We are close to the grave.

Gbade's mother: Maybe you are, me I am not o.

Gbade's father: What is it before you annoy me further?

Gbade: He has done it?

Gbade's father: Who did something? What? Are you sure you are okay?

Gbade: God has done it. The king of kings, Lord of Lords. Has done what no man can do in my life.

Gbade's father: What nonsense are you saying?

Gbade: God has restored my life... I received a call on my way home from the American embassy that I have been selected by the Federal government for an all expensed paid fellowship, with all manner of juicy allowances and at the end of my stay that a job is waiting for me.

Gbade's mother: Oluwa e Seun... Ogun ti se...

Gbade: What is mummy saying?

Gbade's father: (sits dumbfounded until he catches his breath) This is not supposed to happen...

Gbade: What do you mean dad?

Gbade's father: You were not supposed to make it... The agreement that was with the gods was that you will not make it.

Gbade: I don't understand what you are talking about.

Gbade's mother: For 10years, we didn't have any child... We ran helter-skelter and we became a source of ridicule and when we became helpless and hopeless, we needed a way out.

Gbade's father: We went to a diviner and he promised the gods will give us a son... But it came with a price... That you will not make it. That's why I used to talk to you the way I did that maybe it will make you work harder and you will break free because we are Ashamed but had no choice. We needed children. How did you do it?

Gbade: Daddy... Jesus is the secret. His blood paved way for me. Delivered me, gave me breakthrough, rescued me from the bondage and oppression of the devil. That is the reason for my victory.

Gbade's father: Baba said once you make it I will die... I am ready to die now.

Gbade: I rebuke death and damnation in Jesus Name. Who is he that speaketh when the Lord has not commanded it?. Daddy, Mummy you need Jesus. Jesus made a way for Tolani and I and he will do it for our home too.

Gbade's father: But baba said...

Gbade: We don't care what baba said... We believe only the report of the Lord. His report say he was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities and by his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5). We need to make a choice as a family to yield our lives and home completely to the Lordship of Christ and he will fight our battles for us.

Gbade's father: Even for what has happened in your life,  we are ready. (They kneel together)

Gbade: Dad, mum please repeat after me:

Lord Jesus, I ask for your mercy,

Forgive our sins and transgressions.

We yield our lives and all to your Lordship

Please write our names in the book of life

And give us the grace to live a life of complete freedom

 from the bondage and oppression of the devil in Jesus Name, Amen.