THE NATIONAL PRAYER ALTAR
MARATHON PRAYERS
Monday 25th Nov. - Sunday 1st Dec. 2024
PULL OUT THE LOG FROM YOUR OWN EYES
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye (Matt. 7:3-5).
At present, Nigeria is going through a lot of upheavals, economically, socially, and emotionally. All accusing fingers are pointing at the people in government, with the greatest accusation going to the president of the country. While we are not excusing the APC government or the president, there are other directions in which to also point our accusing fingers.
What role have citizens played to bring Nigeria to its sorry state? What moral ground do Nigerians have to complain against disarray in the country when, at individual levels, many Nigerians are corrupt, wicked, and self-seeking?
We cannot to talk to all Nigerians, but the Bible gives us authority to address the Christians. In 2 Chro. 7:14, God says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
God confirms here that His people have “wicked ways,” that only if they repent would He hear their cry from heaven and heal their land. The conclusion is that Nigeria is going through distress because of the “wicked ways” of the “the people of God.” From all indications, the indignation might persist until the people forsake their evil ways and return to righteousness.
A few months ago, a senior official of the Central Bank of Nigeria was arrested for various acts of corruption. The stolen funds credited to that individual ran into trillions of Naira. A particular monetary policy of his, had thrown the entire country into a spin for months, to the point that a distraught man stripped himself naked in a banking hall as he was unable to withdraw his money to feed his family. When that former CBN official showed up in court after being arrested, he was carrying a Bible as big as the two tablets of the Ten Commandments. That was understandably a Christian, who identifies as one of ‘the people of God.’
Just last week, a Vice Chancellor in southern Nigeria was removed from office by the Federal Government for fraudulent claims to being a professor. His defence was described by Premium Times as “tissues of lies and misinformation.” He is a Christian. There are scandals upon scandals involving Christians in political and administrative offices, as well as in other spaces of the traditional ‘marketplace.’ The late Archbishop Benson Idahosa was reported to have said, “Many are called, but few are thieves.”
That raises a very important question: What are all the preachers in the country doing? If the Church was established by God for spiritual and moral reformation, what kind of Christians are being produced by the ministers of the gospel? There is neither reformation nor morality in the lives of many Churchgoers in Nigeria. Some of the most wicked, greedy, mean, and vindictive people in this country call themselves by the name of God. Unfortunately, many of them are even called pastors. The grave lawlessness and impunity of politicians seems kindergarten when compared to the character of some “men of God.” It could mean looking for trouble to demand accountability from some church leaders. To them, it is an affront to be called upon to account for their actions and decisions.
When Church leaders demonstrate such impunity and recklessness to accountability, what would they impart to their churchgoers? They make laws that target others but exclude themselves. Does God practise such double standard? Even corrupt politicians step down once their tenure is over, but many pastors would scheme their way on. Ironically, they preach morality.
If Nigeria is in distress today, the Christian should look in the mirror. Before pointing at the speck in the eyes of Tinubu the President, Christians should remove the log in their own eyes. God did not say, “If the president will turn from his wicked ways…”; He said, “If My people, which are called by my name ….” God is not waiting for Tinubu to change before healing Nigeria. He is waiting for Christians to change. Psalm 51:6 says, “thou desirest truth in the inward parts.” Christians should admit the role they played and are still playing in the calamities of Nigeria. When Christians collect bribes in government ministries, fornicate, and break laws without remorse, what do they expect would happen to the country?
If no one will talk to us, let us talk to ourselves. Nigerian Christians, we are not doing well in godly character. Many Christians have adopted the hypocritical and pretentious character of the Church leaders, most of whom are hirelings. They are not good shepherds. It is the Church leaders who cause division amongst the saints, and they are the people who introduce satanic doctrines that ridicule Christianity and inflame greed and vanity in the people of God.
It is good that some Christians are praying for Nigeria. It should go on. However, beyond prayers, Christians should individually appraise their character, whether it is Christlike or not. In name, many Christians follow Christ, but in character, they follow Satan. If the Church should embraces righteousness as a way of life, Nigeria will turn around for good, without delay.
Prophet Hosea wrote, ”Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up” (Hos. 6:1). It is a call for Christians in Nigeria to become Christlike. Because of the iniquity of the Church, the land is mourning. Let us call ourselves to order and stop following charismatic liars in the Church whose god is their belly.
It appears that this generation of ministers was trained in hypocrisy and greed. When they speak, they condemn immorality and corruption in the Church, but they do worse than what they condemn. The unfortunate thing is that their congregations know this, but “they love to have it so” (Jer. 5:31).
It is time to proclaim repentance in all churches. Nigeria requires healing, and the Church should quickly facilitate divine intervention. The situation in the country should not be worse than it currently is. May God have mercy on us and heal our land. Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. 2 Chro. 7:14
Confess the “wicked ways” of the people of God and pray that God would purge the Church.
2. Mal. 3:3-5
Pray that God will purge pastors and all ministers of the gospel in Nigeria and hasten the judgment He has decreed against those who pollute His sanctuary.
3. Eph. 1:7
Plead the blood of Jesus to atone for the sins of Christians in Nigeria. Pray that God will have mercy and purify His Church.
4. Ps. 75:6-7
Pray that God would promote righteous and God-fearing men/women in the Church, to occupy leadership positions.
5. Isaiah 26:9-11
Pray that God would have mercy upon Nigeria and judge evil, wherever it is found.
6. Joel 2:28-30
Pray for revival in the land.
7. Matt. 16:19
Take authority over Satan and all the forces of darkness behind bloodshed, kidnapping, corruption, and perversion in the land. Bind and cast all those evil forces out of Nigeria. Amen
