My Heart Bleeds … Not for the Eagles but for Nigeria

I’ve just read a piece by the Nigerian celebrated columnist Reuben Abati in the Nigerian Guardian Newspaper titled, “This can’t be right.” You can click on the link below to read the article or copy and paste in a browser.

http://ww2.guardiannewsngr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14062:this-cant-be-right&catid=38:columnists&Itemid=615

My heart bleeds for Nigeria. We must not enter our jubilee like this. We need to get out of this rot. We have dwelt in this for too long, for 50 loooooooooooong years. I wept and prayed. Please, those of you praying for Nigeria don’t stop praying for the nation. We are not out of the woods yet.

And somebody will call him/herself the Managing Director of the airport. What on earth is he/she directing? What are they managing? How many international gateways do we have into Nigeria that we cannot maintain them in a state of excellence? Singapore opened her third terminal of international and most modern standard over two years ago. India will launch a brand new international airport in few weeks/days time. The only one we’ve had ever since we cannot maintain. This madness must stop!

Nigeria needs a radical surgery. Nigeria needs a divine intervention.
I was leading a prayer meeting yesterday, and I was led to consider God’s word to Moses in Exodus 12. I think we need to pray this Scripture for Nigeria.

God is speaking here:

On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn — both men and animals — and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. Ex 12:12

God must pass through Nigeria; to execute judgment on everyone that will not let go; on every Pharaoh that will not allow Nigeria to go into her destiny. This cannot be right! This is not what God has destined for Nigeria. We are about to celebrate 50 years after independence and yet we are not free.

Please, let’s pray and say:

1. Lord, pass through Nigeria; from the north to the south, from east to west; and execute judgment on everyone that will not let Nigeria go.

2. Lord, execute judgment on all the gods, and all the lords of Nigeria; everyone that profits from the fruits of darkness and deceit, let your judgment come upon them.

3. Everyone that is in high and low places that will not let Nigeria go into her destiny and takes her place in the comity of nations, Lord, bring down your judgment upon them.

Nigeria shall be saved!

Lunch with Abraham

No cars, no bicycles, no airplanes. The only way is on the back of Camels.

That was our experience on our way to visit "Abraham" back over 4000 years in history. He and his servant Eliezer hosted us to an ancient lunch. Uh not so bad! But really it was good and healthy. No wonder the people of those days lived for years.

Reflections from Israel: “Sorry please, this is not a Post Office to Heaven.”

That is how our Scottish guide responds to “religious” Christians who want to turn every holy place to a shrine; and worship the place rather than appreciating the significance of the event that takes place there.

I’ve just returned from a trip to Israel—the land of miracles. It is an experience of a life time. The Bible has taken on fresh insight. Bible reading has taken on new impetus. Now I can visualize in my mind the places as I read the stories. Things are no more abstract. This morning, I read in 2 Samuel 15 about the flight of David from ambitious Absalom. I could chart his course as he fled the city. WOW! We moved from Dan to Beersheba, Israel’s definition of north to south; and from River Jordan to the Mediterranean. Eleven days of walking through God’s own land—Eretz Israel.
Jerusalem is right on a mountain—a city that cannot be hidden. It is a city of natural beauty. If the Negev (the wilderness) and the region of the Dead Sea in the south are hot like hell, Jerusalem is heaven. The weather is perfect. No wonder everyone is laying claim to it.

For the first time in my life I floated while swimming. No matter what the scale reads when you stand on it, you will float in the Dead Sea. It is effortless. A water so dense you could feel the weight between your fingers.

… still in unbelief!

Even after years of civilization and many generations, the biblical landmarks are still there. And yet, some will not just believe. Privately, like Nicodemus came to Jesus, I asked our Jewish guide after taken us to all the important places in the life and ministry of Jesus: Now what do you think? He replied: “I think he lived.” I was excited. “But…” he continued, “My problem is with the resurrection.” I said: “C’mon, don’t tell me this. You have just taken us to the Garden Tomb, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where Jesus is claimed to be buried. We didn’t see anything there. You mean you guys are still saying the same thing two thousand years after!” That is the irony.

Holy or Profane?

On the other side are those who over-believed—believing to the point of idolatry. That is the pain I have from the trip. Holy places have been turned to shrines. A dear sister on the trip said some of those places reminded her of her visits to the Taoist’s temples when she was younger. The barriers of darkness are so strong in some of the places that make you want to run.

That is why I duff my hat for the Protestants from England who are taken care of the Garden Tomb. Whatever flower or prayer request you leave behind in the Tomb, they pack it out at the end of the day. The place is sparkling clean. You will be awed by the presence of God there. My Rabbi Professor said this is one place you could come for a private time with the Lord. So true.

And the wailing (sorry, western) wall! I wrote in my Facebook entry on the day we visited: “How amazing an ordinary wall could rise to become the holiest place. This is what happens when a people do not recognize their time. Oh Jerusalem! But you were warned …”

The sight of the Jews praying in the area is moving. The Holiest place of all, the temple area, is now being trodden by the people of another faith. When you miss your time, you pay for it. But our God is merciful. He is a God of second chance. “And so all Israel will be saved.” Maranatha!