Olabode Ososami's Blog, page 76

The Overflow of God – A Great Global Christian Gathering.

All over the world, everything that can be shaken is being tossed up and down by strange storms and typhoons. Even all that we understand to be true is being tested and our hope in experience, reason and instincts appear to be under the deluge of a different flood … yet we can only trust in the Good Shepherd to lead us home. Who else do we have to keep us when everything seems to be failing?

Each day I read the headlines and ponder on articles and posts all over the globe and can only come to a conclusion … we must trust in God and God alone, even more than ever. It is not just that the flood of the enemy has of recent become so overwhelming in all its external and internal ramifications, but also that we are warring with an invented sophistry that denies Biblical simplicity and veracity. Our response is faulted not just because it is full or error and plays to the melody of darkness but because it is our response. God answers the flood of the enemy Himself … hence the theme “The Overflow” divinely selected for the annual Congress of The Redeemed Christian Church of God beginning today in Lagos, Nigeria. More people from all over the world, by the grace of God, will gather for a week of worship, teaching, healing and encouragement, than has ever been seen even as the congress is globally streamed.

Isa_59:19  So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

The enemy has his own overflow seen in defiling corruptions, a new humanism, overwhelming worldliness and idolatry in the worship of men and their traditions and contraptions, satanic worship, greed and ambitions, spiritual attacks, satanic discouragement, witchcraft and irresistible seductions.… many that have been carried off by the flood of untruths cannot even discern that they are flowing in a forbidden river heading downhill.

But when the avowed and implacable enemy of Christ and his people, comes into the world, and into the church, “like” an impetuous flood, threatening to carry all, introducing his flood of greed, immorality and profaneness, as in the days of Noah and Lot, a flood of error and heresy of all sorts; and likewise floods of persecution and temptations …Christ and his Gospel, the standard – is lifted up in God’s all powerful Overflow bringing a divine arrest, repentance and restoration to many who believe – also causing the truth of the gospel and His blessings to run over to all nations as witnesses spread all over the earth.

I see the Spirit of the Lord responding Himself as He must, to rescue those who will humble themselves to trust in Him alone. Theology, debates, denominations and traditions of religious institutions have already failed so many even as in these end-times, the anti-Christ, the fake spirit that is almost but not Christ, has released a fresh array of deceptions. God answers with His standard – overflowing in his children to counter what the enemy thought was certain defeat. The Spirit of the Lord is about to put the foe and all his agents, in millions of lives, to flight.

Though we lament the progress of infidelity and impiety, we are assured that the cause of the Redeemer shall gain a complete victory even on this earth, and the saints will be more than conquerors when the Lord receives them to His glory in heaven. There shall be a torrential unstoppable overflow of truth, blessings, healings, salvation, anointing, power, strength, encouragement, joy, peace, divine corrections, repentance and restorations for all who come to Christ. As we are humbled, like His sheep, Christ promises to be our shepherd who – even in the presence of our enemies (internal and external) prepares a feast and fills our emptied cups till it runs over …affecting and changing us for good and all that are around us … even the nations.

The Congress, Dec. 9th- 14th 2013, now a six-day programme, with the maiden edition in 1998 has witnessed millions of worshippers gathered for sessions to celebrate Jesus. This year, the theme “The Overflow” celebrates Christ, the good shepherd who fills us with Himself, till our cup runs over.

Click here to view the embedded video.

I invite you to be part of the congress (for more information www.rccg.org ). We all need more of Christ for the present and future times, to be the salt of the earth and light of the world as we were ordained by God to be. Pastor Adeboye, the Church Overseer reminds us that God wants us to live our lives experiencing His abundance and to the fullest of what He has ordained us to be … but this will only be with the help of His Spirit of truth. You will be blessed.

 Live Stream Day 2

Biblical Perspective to Wealth and Poverty: Part 1 – Industry

Mat 9: 37  Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38  Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

The concept of harvest in the kingdom refers to salvation of souls but there is an underlying principle. God demands that labour and industry be exerted to precede increase … even though another principle establishes that it is God who gives the increase and increase may not necessarily be a derivative of labour.  Still the ethic of work and diligent effort is always exalted in Christian traditions …John Wesley called it a toiling, a hard peculiar work (planting and watering) not always pleasing to the flesh.

In the parable of the talent, Christ further helps us understand who will receive His well done…. Mat 25:20  And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. 21  His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.  Here we see the diligent is given more – enriched with more talent and wealth even as the idle is disgraced.  Diligent industry  seems to be the hallmark of the one God sends to the field …

Pro 22:29  Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.  The mean man is the poor man … the epitome of a sulky excuse giver.

I am concerned about what I observe to be a new entitlement ethic replacing the traditional Christian work ethic…i.e. that life owes me for just occupying space on earth even if I contribute nothing and add no value.  Everything,  it seems is being optimized to reduce effort, rigour, industry and quantum of work required even as fun, free time and vacations are rapidly on the increase … making entertainment and pleasure provision a high growth sector …especially in the poorer unemployed younger segments that can least afford it.

Sowing in tears appears less required as life offers short-cuts and avenues to accelerate the gain of pleasure especially while evading arduous work.   Populist governments will increasingly reward idleness through social welfarist schemes while the unemployed continues to be sedated with more and more idle drunkenness … often sponsored by hard-working tax payers. A recent publication in British media highlights an “unemployed” large family living like royalty in a 6-bedroom mansion on government welfare even as neighbours gaped at an indulgent style.. Sympathy for the idle and slothful may win votes but it is not at all Biblical.

Also, there is a global race for labour and Industry which mirrors the spiritual ethic of diligence…

President Obama recently tweeted  ” In a global race for jobs and industries, the thing we do better than anybody else is creativity…Today, our businesses sell more goods and services to the rest of the world than ever before ….”

 

… but how do developed economies like the US, Germany, Japan and other Asian nations build their wealth given that they are, in many instances, less endowed in raw wealth?

Raw materials are explored and produced and sold but the sales margins for these basic products are easier to regulate and much less. These materials can then be converted through a complex and creative industrial machinery resulting in machines, vehicles, chemicals, clothing, fuel etc.and many financial, consulting, marketing and other services which have added value to the crude materials resulting in a far higher margin and wealth in economies where the value is added.  The countries that export crude products and are unable to produce value-added products will have to pay significantly more to consume what it actually needs …since crude products which are cheaper (earning them less) cannot be consumed … poverty is exacerbated by advertising and an aggressive consumerism which fuels borrowing,   Crude products also tend to have more unstable pricing and demand can be precariously unpredictable … making worse the lot of a nation dependent  primarily on these basic/crude materials.

So what stops poorer countries from processing crude products where they have been blessed by them? The answer seems to be a lack of industry and institutional disinterest in manufacturing and chemical processing requiring commitments to provision of major industrial infrastructure (such as deep ports, etc), capability and capacity building and a more robust entrepreneurial culture boosted with adequate low interest capital that rewards genuine value addition.

Obama is saying in his tweet that there is a global race for jobs and industries … those who are slow and behind in this race, have fewer gainfully employed and paucity of industry, though they may still be able to purchase (though unsustainable access to wealth) the latest exotic car models produced in Japan …and thus over time, get only poorer.

What wealthy nations do not often boast about is that creating jobs and industry is difficult and requires significant long term dedication and planning and investments in infrastructure provision, research, creativity, more courage, industrial experimentation and risk and less short-term gratification.

What the poorer nations, especially those rapidly depleting and selling off their crude resources, will soon discover is that without employment in processing to finished products …it is only going to be a matter of time before realising it cannot afford to keep importing what it does not produce …

President Obama also recently added  “Six years ago, only 5% of the world’s smartphones ran on American operating systems. Today, more than 80% do.”

An illustration of the erosion of the work ethic can be observed in the poorer and developing nations.  For these nations to transition from widespread poverty to wealth requires that they begin to participate and plan to win medals in the more important Olympics for Jobs and Industries … to seek for gold by exploiting their competitive advantage … or in simple Biblical terms finding the talents God has given and training hard till they excel in efficiency, creativity and output in their given endowments.

Even entertainment and sports have been extensively industrialized into an elaborate and complex economic machinery of sorts … the winners are not the countries who applaud or win the medals, or those who buy DVDs and listen and enjoy the new trendy games/mobile leisure offerings but the producer nations behind mega sports and entertainment corporations,  efficient and organized promoters and the net receivers of the billions of dollars spent by all that crave more and more entertainment.

Pro_18:9  He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.  

Another way of spotting an underlying slothfulness is the accompanying colossal wastage of resources that is always closely linked either in bloated government institutions addicted to frills it cannot afford, inefficient and wasteful consumption of resources (where available) and peoples incurably given to expenditures on silly luxuries.

(To be continued)

 

Be Strong

The challenge in Christian livings is often that of first realigning our goals. The ultimate goal of the Christian life is not to do or accomplish, the ultimate goal of the Christian life is to be … to become like Christ.  In the book of Romans we see two types of Christian lives – one weak and struggling (Romans 7:18-25), the other reigning and overcoming (Romans 5:1-11):.  The difference between these two is mainly in strength and spiritual energy.  How do we gain or develop the spiritual strength we need to live victorious Christian lives?

Isa 40:27   Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 28  Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30  Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31  But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

In Romans 8:29  it reads “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son, that He might be the first born among many brethren” and in Galatians 4:19  “My little children of whom I travail in birth again, until Christ be formed in you”

“We are Human beings and not human doings” … Spiritual strength is therefore gained in using the tools that God has provided to build ourselves up on the inside, so we become more and more like Jesus.  We gain physical strength by good FEEDING and proper EXERCISE. Developing spiritual strength comes exactly through the same means (1 Timothy 4;6-8)

Feeding your spirit  ( Matthew 4:4; Acts 20;3)


It matters what you feed on.  There are two things to watch here, one is WHAT you feed on ( 1 Peter 2;2).  The second thing  is WHO you feed from ( 2 Timothy 3;14)
Let the word be before your eyes (read), in your ears ( hear) and keep them in your heart ( meditate) upon them – Proverbs 4:20-22…Remember: hear, read, study, meditate and memorize.  Do not try to fit the word into your life, rather plan your life around the word of God.

2.   Exercising your spirit  (1 Timothy 4;7-8)

Exercise is tough and painful initially because it involves stretching yourself where you have been stiff and redundant, but it gets smoother as we endure.  The same is true of spiritual exercise.


Start with a decision to grow strength
Take every opportunity God has given to exercise ( usually it is a trial)
Decide to walk in the spirit, go the opposite direction from your flesh.

The Top Three Spiritual Exercises are (a). Waiting on God – Is 40:28-31 (b). Meditating on the word – Acts 20:32  (c)  Praying in the Spirit  – Jude v 20. Waiting on the Lord  is not just prayer. Rather it is a time of determined stillness (Psalm 46;10) a time of listening on the inside ( Psalm 4:4)

The natural drive and pressure is to be always seen to be DOing SOMETHING or SAYING SOMETHING. Even when we come into the awesome presence of the Lord in prayer, we tend to do all the talking, while God, the all knowing one is supposed to be a SILENT LISTENER to our lecturers in prayer.  Waiting on the Lord is to learn the wisdom and.discipline of being still and knowing He is God…Psalm 46;10

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you” Is 26:3.

In this life, adversities do come; there are times of “eclipse”, when it seems the joy and love of the Lord is overcast by the shadows of adversity and discouragement.  At those times, it is THE STRONG SPIRIT OF A PERSON THAT SUSTAINS. Be strong.. .“If you faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small”  Prov. 24;10

Where is Nigeria’s Thatcher?

An English grocer and Methodist preacher’s daughter emerges as Prime Minister through the impossible maze of a highly snobbish clique of snooty parliamentarians.  All this in a post-war era dominated by a few amongst an untouchable royal, land owing class and the rest, living under socialist provision of plebian housing, education and paltry inefficient services.  In addition to government domination of services, powerful unions existed to sustain the status quo and hold any change agenda to ransom thus ensuring a surely declining productivity that made Britain the sore in Europe in terms of competitiveness.  Until Thatcher.

A chemist – not from the inner circle – perhaps with many style flaws and no class, but possessing a precise scientific clarity at the level of principles and vision.  She knew borrowing was not the way to wealth nor could you tax productivity to carry inefficient systems.  Because of her revolutionary thoughts, she had few and fast decreasing allies from the party …who still regarded her as “ a house maid completely out of her place” until after a record 11 years in power, a palace coup was deftly arranged to forcibly thrust her out permanently in the cold.

When Sir John Major, a man with no prior intentions or vision to lead, took over, he assumed his role in shock that Thatcher was actually gone.  The woman who almost single handedly built a modern economy from a near basket case, and had led the party to win three elections had been replaced by a crew of irritated and frustrated  party cronies who said it could not be done, only to see Thatcher do it  …  and in their tenure.  The most painful victory for adversaries is that which is in their presence.  Tyrants normally kill their opponents, in Thatcher’s case her enemies brought her the morning papers… and many would have preferred to be dead.  But the people kept voting for her … helped by her courage in standing up and firm during the Falklands Crisis and her role in the collapse of the Iron curtain etc.   Sadly, It was said that Thatcher never got over her forced bitter exit and betrayal … she was quoted as saying “  I will not forget and I will not forgive..” ..we can only pray that she did.

You knew where you stood with Thatcher.  A believer in Christian ethics who on her arrival as Prime Minister on 4 May 1979  at 10 Downing Street, said, in a paraphrase of the “Prayer of Saint Francis”:

“…Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope…”  Britain would soon discover she carefully chose her words and completely meant what she prayed.

When Thatcher wanted to say no she said  “No … No …No”  as the European union, same-sex marriage advocates, unions and others in opposition would often hear.  Her scientific background endeared her to embrace only facts, empirical evidence and sound analysis … always openly disdaining the empty thoughtless echoes of traditionalists.

John Major once said Thatcher was made for her mission and the problems she was born to solve.  Other critics will add that she was not as prepared for her victories and failed to manage as well the success she had earned and the “goddess-like” adulation that came.  Still, I sense there is a Thatcher, God has prepared for every country situation … an unlikely rebel with strange ideas, no obvious political mentor affiliation, saying things like “Nigeria can and will change … and this is how it can be done. ”  someone  … a loose cannon to the status-quo who will overturn the “no-go-areas” positively and irreversibly once and for all.

Thatcher was sacrificed for a conservative party that could not reverse her policies…and the entire modern world who later leverage her privatization models …humbly learning from her mistakes.  There was no gratitude from the new thriving entrepreneurial middle class that emerged only because she tore down the inefficient government  monopolies and embraced free market economic policies that created wealth opportunities for people who had expected to be plumbers because their parents were plumbers.  The unions, relatives of government miners who fought her till their death (many suicides) and their friends, with fortunes linked to the inefficient dinosaurs that had to die, hated Margaret with a fiery passion  … even hosting parties at her funeral. Indeed it seemed more convenient for all to just let her memory quietly fade off even as the head of a bronze statue erected in her honour was chopped off by pained vandals.

Change happens not because people talk but only as someone changes things. Change can hurt … almost unbearably for some … many even dying in delusion that things will remain always in their favor at the expense of an urgently needed national reconstruction.  And as for those who prefer to pretend Nigeria has such herculean and complex issues that defy normal solutions …or who tell us our problems are a product of the “end times” or play games with debates, task forces, committees and dialogues …all I can say is “just wait a bit …Thatcher is coming …”

2Ki 7:18  And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria: 19  And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. 20  And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.

President Jonathan, Blessings and Pilgrimage to Israel

President Goodluck Jonathan will on Wednesday October 23rd, embark on a pilgrimage and official visit to Israel, the Presidency said. A statement issued on Tuesday by Reuben Abati, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, stated that the President would meet with President Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as part of the official visit.

Gen 12:3   And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

God promises to bless those who bless Israel – the people who gave us the written word of God, the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob …the people who gave us the first family of Christianity …Mary, Joseph and Jesus as well as the twelve disciples and Apostle Paul.  The visit of the leader of a country to another is an act of honour and recognition … this one is unique in that our nation – just having recently won a seat albeit with Chad, Saudi Arabia, Lithuania and Chile – on the UN Security Council – is perceived to be at the threshold of its destiny to emerge with the select class of leaders among other modern developed nations … and I pray this pilgrimage will not be without its constructive consequences.

I doubt that few can be in Israel without being moved by the uncommon resilience and cohesion of a small and relatively young country that has overcome a turbulent history to turn out to be a powerful and strategic modern nation.  As Mr. President tours some of the highly revered locations for Christians … perhaps walking on the same sandy paths as Christ Himself … he is afforded a great opportunity for prayer and introspection concerning our nation and to receive fresh insights. I can think of at least some areas that would be immensely beneficial to ponder in the many moments of undisturbed monasterial contemplation.

Our nation needs a cohesion that will drive a rebirth of greatness that realizes the obvious potential apparently going to waste. Disunity is such a potent waster.
Our nation needs a leader with a team who, like Israeli leaders, were fiercely devoted and ready to sacrifice all – especially self, to envision and navigate a direction out of a present morass.
Even before the revivals and unprecedented growth in our spirituality, we could leave our wares unguarded by the road knowing proceeds will not be stolen.  Today basic and extremely complex plots of public and private robbery are daily staged … and we feign as though we are helpless to arrest the decay. Our ethics and values are in need of reformation.
The Jews are not perfect but still generally known as a brilliant people, but more importantly … this brilliance has been leveraged to build a modern and thriving nation. God will give our President insights to align the greatly untapped and directionless capabilities, talents and genius of unemployed Nigerians to work the resources God has given our nation for its greatness..
Israel was not built overnight.  Many who did not see what they gave for, still gave selflessly in the hope that one day in the future a home, that the Jews would be proud of, will come into existence. God will give us a renaissance of true Nationalism and love for our nation built on the hope and assurance that we will one day have a country we will be proud of.  There are many things we must begin today – of which the value may not be seen for another 50 yrs. … a legacy for future generations.

History reminds us that when some of the Russian Jews emigrated as far back as 1890 to the lands that you will see, they met inhospitable marshes and in the first 20 years more than half died of malaria … but they stayed and planted eucalyptus groves, drained the soil and worked the land … few dreamt it would one day be the modern nation it has become. Hard work, vision, diligence and a frugal prudence embodied in a national ethic based on Biblical traditions attracted help and support from all over the world.  Its greatest threat to national security, rather than deter its resolve, was converted to a recognized competitive advantage and unmatched efficiency in its superior military intelligence.

Surely there is a lot our nation and your entourage can learn. The greatest opportunity in interaction with leaders of the Jewish state is perhaps not only in trade connections or/and setting up more business companies/partnerships (with more than a few eagerly expectant future directors on your entourage) but humbly seeking to learn how Israel sustained its values and ethics and the courage required to build greatness from almost nothing … and all this in the face of serious conflict and never ceasing internal and external threats.

God help and bless Nigeria. Amen

God and Leadership (Part III)

In this final part, another important aspect of Godly leadership is featured. One cannot pretend to have covered all the useful leadership factors such as the character of the leader, and I am certain there are many more qualified voices on this and other related subjects. I brought out, in the previous blog, the importance of vision and focus – also mentioning that the leader has flaws and receives divine help – not as an excuse for perfidy and abuse but to bring out the important truth that God hates self-made persons … there will often be limps to humble and compel the leader to lean on the unseen but more sure grace and mercy that only God gives without consulting mortals. This article speaks to the issue of the home.

The successful leader has played his/her God-given role in the family. The importance of the family sounds passé in the postmodern era where the meanings and shades of the word and all it entails are often deformed … with many emerging grotesque options. The heroine of this third part is an exceptional lady called Deborah.

Jdg_4:4  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.

The only female judge mentioned in the Bible was Deborah who led a successful counter attack against the forces of Jabin king of Canaan and his military commander Sisera. Deborah must be an important model if her destiny singles her out in this remarkable manner. There is an order … a sequence to her contribution as a prophetess, wife and judge, as described in Judges 4. First, she served God as a prophetess, she knew God and had a strong relationship and could discern the will of God. We cannot perform the exploits required of bold godly leadership without first knowing God. But second it states she was the wife of Lapidoth … she played her role first in the family … her knowledge of God came to bear first in the family not in the nation or “Church”.  We are not told how well she performed this role of a wife, but I suspect that this emphasis – that she was a wife – points to truth that this was to be her area of primacy before her ministration to humanity. In similar fashion God speaks of Abraham …

Gen_18:19  For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

If you have been a student of Lincoln and Churchill – perhaps the two greatest statesmen in the 19th and 20th century respectively, you will quickly conclude that in spite of many known challenges and serious domestic complications, there was evidence of an uncommon grace in devotion to their wives, children and family values. Demonic leaders will tend to despise the most simple traditional Bible-based family paradigms. e.g. Hitler – who had an incestuous early relationship with his cousin … clung to his mistress Eva Braun for years, and after midnight on 29 April 1944, hastily married her in a small civil ceremony in the Führerbunker shortly before both committed suicide.

When the enemy of our destiny has discovered a strong relationship with God, He has only one next target … not our Church or Ministry … but rather the family. He knows a large hyper-growing mega church is only a sitting duck when divine family structures have collapsed and all manner of palliative experimentation or lack of understanding prevails on matters of the home. Observe also, with Abraham, the order in which he is commended … knowledge of God and then his family came first …lastly was “doing justice and judgment to men”.

An old time preacher once said ‘we are first known as Christians in our family… not as deacons/pastors on the pulpit, or in business or other more prominent leadership parts” … how true.

Back to Deborah, the brave woman …who did what men could not. Women like men can assume strategic leadership roles … but the same principle arises. Men (who are married) need to be husbands and fathers before they are CEOs and great Presidents …similarly married women need to be wives to their husbands before they will excel for God in similar leadership roles. The commendation of Deborah proves that the Bible does not disqualify any gender from leadership … but we still understand that the roles of husband and wife are different … and deliberately so.

In addressing issues of ministry, political leadership and marriage, we need men and women who know God and can occasionally go back to first fix gaps in this key relationship and their holy walk … then our leaders can see the way to have harmony in the family, without which we may only succeed to lead many astray…. irrespective of whether we be male or female. May God help all of us. Amen

Read God and Leadership (Part II)  

 

God and Leadership (Part II)

In a previous part, I wrote of the divine help that comes to the leader, and humility that makes that help feasible … adding that God prepares leaders with the necessary equipment, long before crisis pulls them into the important roles they must play. Another aspect critical to leadership is Vision. Indeed, it is the leader’s vision that ultimately divorces the many pretenders to leadership from the lonely icon.  Vision alienates the leader from the pack and annoys contemporaries … the very same attribute that must be preserved to one day bring the leader to fulfill divine destiny.  Vision is “seeing what others do not see and apprehending a direction that often appears even at its best disconnected to status quo… the to-be of our todays.  While vision pushes many seeking its realization to fail many times in the right thing … lack of it creates victories that are utterly meaningless.

Luk 9:51  And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 9:52  And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53  And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

Indeed, vision should be communicated and shared … but it must first exist.  The visionary is not admired because he is not seen to be solving today’s crisis, nor is he expending resources killing relevant critics … he equally respectfully discountenances indulgent fans, pertinent foes and mischievous mockers alike because he knows they are equally blind to what they will later see.

May God make us like Nehemiah … men who saw repaired walls even when there were only ruins … prophetic insights that sense mighty armies in a valley of dry bones.  Listening to a visionary can be irritating to the ardent manager who must deliver a target … but the vision must first define the paths from which targets and indicators have true meaning.

The visionary who will not be distracted may be perceived as an arrogant “know all” and so must be disdained yet only because his face is set somewhere others have yet to grasp.  Vision is unapologetic to no one … observed as cursed to isolation in nursing what others imagine to be an evil apparition.  He or she  may have limitations, always perceived, like Nehemiah, to be defending insidious plots … constantly suspected, tested, disowned and vociferously rejected, misunderstood and dismissed as a fool … but it is the visionary that has been gifted with the unique insight that draws down a salvation not even the angels amongst us can discern.

In William Manchester’s masterful account of Winston Churchill’s life he describes “ a man with limitations, especially his callousness towards others (including his supporters) and his recklessness, which could border on the foolhardy; but also a man whose vision was global and whose courage was boundless … a light in an approaching darkness..”

We have many who can tell us what we need to do, but only those who have a higher knowledge and can tell us where we ought to be – have right to lead albeit their possession of their many other flaws …

Back to Christ, our Lord and Savior.  In the text He sends messengers ahead of Him to the Samaritans, who did not welcome Him or appreciate His tactless vigor to be in Jerusalem.  The disciples, James and John observed the cold treatment and ask him …

Luk 9:54  … Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55  But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56  For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

The leader will have learnt how to move forward without injury, quietly escaping the confinement of conflict to “another village” …closer to his “Jerusalem”.

Pro_29:18  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

God and Leadership (Part 1)

Biographies are helpful especially when they are factual in painting the subject as could possibly be.  We soon discover that the best of men will be frail humans and not angels.  Yet there are attributes which make for successful leadership, commonalities or traits that seem to distinguish the individuals who made the vital difference to the destiny of nations and peoples.

Tom Hooper’s Oscar winning (must-watch) film – The King’s Speech, is a 2010 British historical drama about King George VI who, to cope with a severe speech impediment, found an unlikely friend and help in an unqualified Australian therapist who assisted him overcome a debilitating and highly unattractive stammer. King George VI did not want or expect to be King …given that he had an elder brother who was already in line.  His wife, Elizabeth said once that she was frightened at the prospect of married to a monarch but on hearing her husband (then Duke of York) speak, she felt sure it was impossible for someone with such incapacitating disability to be ever crowned.,

King George VI was not just crowned, as his older brother gave up the throne for love of a divorcee, he emerged as one of the most successful and inspiring leaders … leading millions through an extremely challenging era of war requiring uncommon courage and persistence to resist totalitarian domination in Europe. It did not matter that he became king at a point when public faith in the monarchy was low … but driven by an uncommon sense of duty, with an unassuming quiet style and by showing rare personal courage, he succeeded in restoring the popularity of the British monarchy and steering a nation to victory.  In the shadow of his brother, he seemed so dull, uncharismatic and plain – yet emerged to the surprise of all – an extraordinary sovereign that the people would follow, admire and love.  King George did not just have a bad stammer that lasted for many years, he was forced to write with his right hand although he was naturally left-handed, suffered from chronic stomach problems as well as knock knees, for which he was forced to wear painful corrective splints. But it was his speech that would have most disabled him and for which unusual help came.

1Ch 12:21  And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host. 22  For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God

In this initial part of this blog article, I will focus on the Help that must come to the leader. God sends help at the right time and in exactly the right time to support successful leaders to conquer the enemy and face the war they were born to win. The Help from God is designed to support – never to compete or threaten – the one that must lead.  The leader is divinely destined to accept and welcome that help (even though lacking the more obvious requisite qualifications) … albeit at a time when no one can sense that a future destiny of a nation is being shaped and rescued by this intervention.  No other king had succeeded a living monarch and as such to imagine King George on the throne would have been treasonable. But God also designed an unusual crisis.

Perhaps you are the help God is sending for your nation.  Perhaps you are the one to be helped. Only God chooses and His providence is perfect. The sad crisis of abdication that shocked the world and shamed the monarchy was only a necessary precondition to complete a preordained salvation God had determined for a nation in need of a uniquely chosen leadership at a trying time.  Did I hear you say luck?  Not so … God is unstoppable when He is at work … this war of corruption threatening the nation will be won.  What you see as a crisis is a necessary precondition for a historic role.  How can I let you be assured that God – not man – is in control of the timing of events that produces God’s leader.  Humility to be divinely helped is essential.

Let me suggest that prevalence of wicked and inept leadership calls for national repentance and seeking afresh the face of God for His unfailing mercies. It is vain to theorize on leadership … also do not deride leaders or poke fun at weak headship – you only laugh at yourself.  Rather repent of pride, pray for divinely ordained help… and for the divinely ordained crisis that must come so that all will be well.

PDP Crisis, Laughter and Leadership

A baby can be described as an infant in young state, unable to communicate … often found to be quarrelling …given to crying loudly when hungry … mostly incoherent in its intent … reigning in its cot of limitations. When babies fail to grow, it can become scary to parents … but what is more unnerving is a squabble of mothers over their babies. I imagine the passion of the two harlots who came to Solomon to seek resolution of the maternity of one baby …the other lying dead.

1Ki 3:26  Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it. 27  Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.

The PDP, Nigeria’s ruling party cannot be described as young but perhaps infantile in its manner of unceasing rows which serve only to slow down the industry of nation building and progress … the common man on the street waits patiently for relief that never seems to be coming. The latest saga in Rivers is perhaps the latest episode in a sad comedy series … but the fight for a baby is anything but funny.

To collectively describe Nigeria’s politicians as harlots may be too harsh on those who have sacrificed much to offer their service  … but what else can we say of hapless damsels that leap from bed to bed with no stable affiliation to any of its fickle lovers.  But harlots are also fruitful and do produce babies.  In the Bible story one of the harlots carelessly sleeps while the other accidentally kills her child and devilishly exchanges the corpse with the living infant.  The wicked mother proposes the perfect solution to the King  … ”split the baby in two”. Evil people always justify evil plots.

This is not meant to be a perfect metaphor … and my understanding of Nigeria’s politics disqualifies me from any depth of commentary. Still, I wonder what is gained if the ruling party – the PDP, is split into two … turning the already ailing leadership to a more deformed cadaver. I hurt for a Nigeria desperately in need of a focused leadership dedicated to a comprehensive transformation requiring the full attention of the polity. The last thing this nation, if we assume it is well positioned to take off, is a top level fracas that imperils all the little gains already made, taking us back so many steps. Still nature abhors a vacuum… someone  once said “if there is no determination to move forward then retreat is inevitable …God forbid.”

I have read many commentaries on Nigeria  … and most are far too pessimistic .  Mistrust and distrust complement a mental sluggishness that calls everything and everyone in Nigeria evil – unable to discover the slightest hint of purity of purpose in anything. Only few suggest constructive  enlightened alternatives or provide  encouragement for a difficult change imperative as if too nervous the government in power may adopt them. The fear that seems to plague more than a few is that our current headship will indeed transform our country successfully and retain its leadership.  How uncreative to conclude that the only solution is for PDP to be weakened and even destroyed for change to happen … how unimaginative to expect that the demise of one automatically promotes the good of another. Learn from recent developments in Egypt. I cannot see the advantage of another lingering crisis in the leadership party in a country whose Achilles heel has always been the fragility and foolishness of its governance.   Nigeria possesses more than enough exceptional people of strength and character, excellent minds and brilliant candidates to present an alternative vision that is more than a demonic mob plot for the destruction of its opponents. The real fight is not against PDP … but a higher war against weakened national values that continue to enshrine compromise and stagnation in different guises.

In the Bible story, Solomon asks that the baby not to be split but to be returned back to the cheated mother… perhaps depressed that wanton harlotry has gained so much ground to advance openly to the palace. Opposition needs to be alive and well for a healthy democracy. If PDP needs be defeated, it is best defeated on a platform of superior not mob thinking, on new paradigms of nation building and alternative paths to progress that convince the people  to exercise their rights to change in a free and fair election.  Then Nigerians can truly laugh that salvation has come. The ailing  populace suffer even more now that an already puerile governance has been put on pause to resolve crisis … paying the price for delays to progressing important bills, approvals and vital change decisions – unrelated to 2015.   Even if PDP must go as many say … is it not better that it goes with all its baggage, friends, cronies and cousins … none should escape in a splinter group.  Indeed, there are times when it is best that evil counselors are set, unbreakable in their commitment and unity in all their malfeasance …have you not read what the Psalmist said…

Psa 2:1  Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing:2  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3  Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4  He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

I am praying that somehow God will galvanize the great potential that exists in this blessed country for a more positive development momentum. I am praying leaders will lead and stop changing their makeup, costumes and beds. I am praying that God will help to embolden and raise alternative platforms that will challenge present falsehoods. PDP Is not my enemy …mediocrity is …and Nigeria is the only nation we have. Still, I do not pray that my enemies die or split… I want them to take counsel and set themselves together against the Lord, and yet live to see Nigeria laughing to her victory… when they all collapse together in a divinely ordained derision

Bill Gates, Discipleship and Gates

Bill Gates in a recent tweet pledged support for a new project “Big History”…an online learning menu offered by David Christian to spread understanding of the history of the universe and how humanity fits in.  According to this often refined doctrine, the world started by a “Big Bang” 13.7 billion years ago and progressed through eight thresholds, specific events at which ingredients and the right conditions combine to permit leaps of increased complexity from nothing to the world we live today. God is nowhere in this new History curriculum. Bill Gates is an example of a true disciple, and David can expect that he will have enough to finish this “Tower”.

Christ called twelve, and spoke often on discipleship so we can discern if we are His or not.  For the gospel and the Kingdom of God to be established … indeed for any agenda – there are costs to be borne … and not only by angels. Disciples must be found.

Luke 14:28   For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? 29  Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,  14:30  Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. 31  Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? 32  Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace. 33  So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Discipleship is costly … and Christ said it will cost all that we have (v.33).  But then Christ will not send anyone anyhow, for it will only be an embarrassing waste to do so… instead He must check the quality of the stock of saints.  Verse 31 states that He is not looking for numbers as He has no intention for our resources to be leveraged in the carnal combat we are used to … He declares that the few (ten thousand) – if they can be found – are  meant to overcome  the twenty. Human strength is not what He fights with. Verse 32 then explains why Christ must often choose His battles and leave the wicked dynamics in the culture undisturbed.  The saints that will not pay the price must therefore be prepared to broker conditions of peace with the world view in its evil spiral and this is what often happens.  Where are the disciples needed? What are they to do when sent by Christ?

Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The gates of hell were not cheap to erect, and demolishing them will require more than prayer.  Sacrificial service, people, finances, infrastructure, technology, organization, planning and actions backed by faith in the Lord of Hosts – are all required.  Christ builds His Church with an undefeatable army attacking mighty fortifications of darkness.  The gates of hell should not be confused with the ornate gates of the Church building.  Delivered saints testify of personal relief – celebrating and contented when the congregation is peacefully growing while corruption, poverty, witchcraft and heresy thrives in other spheres.  But the true disciple of Christ has relocated himself to the boundaries of corruption in government, media and intelligentsia – tearing down poverty through community empowerment/involvement and provoking centers of evil – disturbing and pulling down that which must be destabilized even when they are not immediately threatening Church events.   The disciple cannot not to be dormant, or be reacting to issues … but is a proactive and aggressive change agent targeting stubborn wrongs until gates give way.

The modern day gates are the arguments, legal fortifications and every new, well-funded idea that promote the irrelevance of God.   Our children are now being taught via the global internet about alternative lifestyles, evolution and big-bang theories and tolerance of the abominable while we are permitted to sing amicably in the pews …welcoming the sinner returning home.  But who challenges and attacks evil that seems invisible and remote to the safe church walls without being taunted even in the church as misguided or just spiritually “incorrect”?  Who is sent to discover if indeed the gates of hell prevail or fall when soldiers can be safely gated behind our programs.  The other saints wait even as the gates of hell relocate closer to our services even towards the revered priesthood.

The gates of hell are not in Egypt, Iraq, Iran or Russia … look again.  They are closer than you think  … not as far from your Church gate as you imagine and advancing closer ? Where will you find the strongest and fastest spreading financial and intellectual fortifications and corruptions against Bible truths, justice and divine order?  Who will go and take on these gates …where are the Christian scientists, authors, technology gurus, lawyers, legislators, politicians, revolutionaries, financiers … set to be mobilized to stop alternative messages? There is a purpose to your gift in the Kingdom. Can you be His disciple? Will you go? Do you fear the cost to face the scornful resistance to tearing down the gates or more afraid of not accomplishing what you were created to do.

A preacher once said many are occupied – protecting and growing selfish interests or trying to copy or accommodate the world view. Who will forsake all?  All …yes, like when we sing “take my silver and my gold, not a mite will I withhold…”  ..”How many will remain if told they have to forsake all …their dreams … especially self?”

David Christian may or may not have found an ideal disciple in Gates, but he seems to have access to resources to sponsor his dream of every young innocent child seduced with free online media learning to accept this peculiar view of history.  Soon, teen minds  are to be assailed to believe that more complex levels of order emerge spontaneously … without God the supremely intelligent creator.

One of the eight thresholds of “Big History” – Collective Learning – happened according to David Christian about 200,000 years ago when man appears after the dinosaurs are wiped away by a cosmic catastrophe 65million years ago and language is developed thousands of years later.  Human language allows intelligence, creativity and innovation that causes another leap of complexity.  The Bible instead speaks of a people who sought to build a tower at Babel and were unstoppable because of their unity and single language …only for God to scatter them with different languages and cultures … awaiting a time when Christ will reintroduce a new Kingdom culture to restore the right unity.

Christ explains in His illustration that if saints sing, dance and gather but none are found who can forsake all, then all we should expect is peaceful accommodation of the gates of hell, and increased propagation of strange principles inside and outside the church …seeds that germinate years later in new strains of social evil.  The increased acceptance of abortion and other post-modern social evils are not completely unrelated to the new godless knowledge-ware.

So, how many millions of dollars will you give for the gospel?  Why the outrage when the Church calls for funds to spread the gospel or when billionaire disciples are being sought? Learn from Bill Gates.  If we are not disciples with our money then we are not disciples at all. Lord, help me to forsake all that must be forsaken. Self is the most difficult to forsake not money.  But there are other Christian Davids who must be helped with His funds for the gospel.

God must always have his remnant … they must always be there … His chosen disciples – the lives that are the true cost of revival … they who are used to bring down the gates of hell by the power of God -  in His time.  His word can never return void.