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!

Koreans, Prayer and Missions

Koreans, Prayer and Missions
Koreans love God, and they are doing missions in a big way also. I was there not too long ago, and I could not but be amazed by their devotion. Their Dawn Prayer meeting is key to their spiritual vibrancy. When we are in tuned with God, there is no way our lives will not be better off. There is no way we will not put Him first in our lives.

There are over twelve thousand Korean missionaries all over the world serving the Lord. You see them everywhere you go. I saw them in Cambodia. Even in the dangerous places where the fainthearted will not dare go, Koreans are there. They are second only to America in the number of missionaries being sent out.
When we start our day in God’s presence, the effect is felt throughout the day. No wonder Jesus also arose before dawn to be in the Father’s presence, Mark 1:35. The Prophet said:

The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. Isa 50:4

May you receive grace to seek him before dawn!

They Didn’t, BUT HE Knew!

One of the questions that have always agitated my mind about the authority of the Bible is: Did the various writers know they were writing the Scriptures when they were writing?

This is because if you look at the New Testament especially the epistles, they are just letters—letters written by a pastor to his former congregation. Or even the gospels; take Luke for example. It was a letter written by an historian to somebody whose identity is not even known. How come we have exalted such letters to such a glorified state we have placed them today? What makes Paul letter to Philemon for example different from a letter I write to my congregation in the Seychelles?

But then I discovered one thing: They didn’t know, but God knew! And thank God they didn’t know. Otherwise we would have seen them on the pages of those letters. Do you know that most of the books of the Bible did not even come with the names of their authors? That is to tell you something straightaway: It is not about them; it is all about HIM!

Had they known they were writing the Scripture they would have put lot of flesh in it—their own carnality. Had they known they were writing books that would go round the whole world; they would have at least left their imprints on them. They would have dressed it very well. They would have dated it. They would have embellished it. Thank God they didn’t know!

One of the amazing ways by which God works is that He hid His intention at the onset. The Psalmist understand this very well: Ps 10:1

Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

Why does God hide Himself as it were? So that we can trust Him through the process; so that we can rely on Him and not depend on the arm of flesh.

At the beginning of the travail of Joseph, he thought it was his brothers that were behind his ordeal. He thought he was suffering from injustice. He thought he was suffering for nothing. Gen 40:15

15 For I was forcibly carried off from the land of the Hebrews, and even here I have done nothing to deserve being put in a dungeon."

But at the end of the story, he knew better. Gen 45:4-5, 7

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

They didn’t know they were writing for God. They didn’t know they were being used by God. They didn’t know they were commissioned by God to do what they did. Like Esther, they didn’t know they were in the kingdom for such a time as theirs. They didn’t know there was a higher calling!

And I think that is how God deal with us most of the time. That is why the apostle Paul said in Rom 8:28

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. NASU

Maybe right now you are on assignment for God! Maybe what you are passing through right now has a higher purpose! Maybe it is for something bigger than you! Maybe history is in the making! Maybe it is not really about you! Maybe you are just a pawn in the hand of the Master! I think it is most likely so!

Apologeti-cing for our Faith

Ever heard of pre-evangelism? I'm sure not. Even me too! Not until three weeks ago did I even come across such a term. It is one new way to do evangelism. It is helping your unbelieving friends every day and in every way takes a step close to Jesus. It is removing obstacles that may be preventing them from coming to Jesus, be it spiritual, emotional or otherwise.

Yeah, we may not be able to get all our friends to Jesus in one single moment, but sure we can help clear their paths. We can help remove the stones from their ways. We can help smoothen their way to Jesus. By answering their questions, providing them with reasons but more importantly, by targeting their hearts, we can help move them to Jesus. That is what Apostle Peter said in 1 Peter 3:15

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

In fact, that is where the word—apologetics come from—answer. The Greek word is apologia—a reasoned defence of the faith. It is not apologising for our faith, but rather giving a defence for it; clearing the doubts, uncertainties and confusion of our pre-believing friends.

Don’t Write Off

Philemon 1:17 So then, if you still regard me as your beloved brother in Christ, welcome him (Onesimus) with open arms the way you normally welcome me (My translation).

Paul is one man that understands the power of the Gospel of Christ to change lives. He himself has experienced that same power in his life—the worst of all sinners, now an apostle of Christ (1 Timothy 1:15).

In the context of the above Scripture, Paul was writing concerning a once useless slave who has now met with Christ, and has been transformed by Him. He knew the history of Onesimus, a useless slave, but then he also knows what the gospel can do. He knew beyond all doubts that in Christ nobody is hopeless. There is no life lost. Anyone can be redeemed.

Onesimus has shared in the life of Christ. He is now a beloved brother. The old has passed away. The new has come. Paul’s premise is this: upon conversion, even a slave becomes an equally important part of the body of Christ; as important as anyone, including Paul. And so should be regarded as such.

Do you know of anyone that appears hopeless or useless? Don’t write off until meet with Christ.