Basis for Nation Building and Development in the Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

What is nation building? Can a nation / nations be built without the awesome, sanctifying and healing presence of God? 

What God wants from people and nations of the world is already revealed in the word of God. So also is what He does not want people and nations to do. His word states that righteousness exalts a nation; and that godliness and contentment is great gain.

The righteousness which exalts a nation or nations comes from Christ Jesus. If nations turn to Christ, they learn to live right in Christ and God exalts them above all the oppression of the enemy and his cohorts. To live right in Christ is to abide in Christ is to abide in His words and the word brings fruitfulness and great blessings from God – John Chapter 8 verses 31 to 32.

The blessing of God makes rich and does not add sorrow. The blessing of God upon a nation changes a nation irrespective of where the nation is located. It is not about where the nation is located but the nation’s connection with God. This is because the blessing of God upon a nation is predicated on obedience to God. The Bible specifies the modes of obedience in Psalm 1 – study and meditation of the word of God, love for and obedience to the word of God which dovetails into refusal to partner with the ungodly, sinners and the scornful.

Another mode of obedience is absolute trust in the Lord; dovetailing into hope in the Lord.

This results in unending fruitfulness, absence of fear and anxiety in the life of such a nation.

When nations choose to obey God, His word and the promptings of the Holy Spirit through their love for God and not because of the consequences of sin, then they are truly living in obedience to God and His word, in point of fact, they are perfecting obedience and learning to trust God. God prunes the people of such nations on a daily basis to take away the dross that militates against total commitment to Him. God prunes them to greater fruitfulness.

God also rebukes the devourer for the sake of the peoples of the nations. One of the ways God rebukes the devourer for their sakes is to give them wisdom to navigate ignorance, foolishness, laziness, thoughtlessness, carelessness, pride, self-will, etc so that the enemy does not find loopholes to attack and destroy the works of their hands.

Leaders of nations as well as the peoples of the nations should exploit the fear of God for nation building and development. This is because the fear of God is always a precursor to justice and nation building as well as development in any land. Please read Nehemiah Chapter 5 verses 14 to 19.

Pursue, Overtake and Recover All

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

God created you to exercise dominion at all times even when it appears as if the enemy has the upper hand. The Amalekites had burned down Ziklag and taken the women and children captives yet God asked David to pursue and overtake them in order to recover all that the enemy had stolen.

Though David and his men had no idea where to head to, they followed the leading of the Holy Spirit until they found the young Egyptian who gave accurate description of what happened and instructed them on where to head to. Eventually, David and his men caught up with the Amalekites who were celebrating too early. The women, children and livestock were not only recovered but other spoil was taken from the Amalekites. Please read 1^st Samuel Chapter 30, note verses 2 and 3, Ephesians Chapter 4 verse 8, Genesis Chapter 14 verses 12 to 16.

This resonates with the Scripture that the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against the enemy because the Spirit knows best what standard to raise against the enemy in order to quell satanic flood like attacks targeted at the nations. Please read Isaiah Chapter 59 verse 19, Psalm 93 verses 1 to 5, 124 and 118.

The physical walls of Jericho for instance came crashing down through praise to God because God asked the Israelites to praise Him rather than attempt to bring down the walls for which they had no weapons to do so. Please read Joshua Chapter 6 for details and spiritual insight. Nations and peoples of the nations may be or are experiencing satanic blockades which hinder their progress and development. Such blockades can also be likened to the walls of Jericho that attempt to stifle, contain progress in the nations. They are the satanic blockades orchestrated by the doctrines of men, persuasive words of human wisdom to stop the nations from worshipping God. Please read 1^st Corinthians Chapter 2 verses 1 to 4. Quality praise to God by believers will bring all such walls down not by might nor by power but by the Spirit of the Lord God of Hosts Who is the Man of war and the Lord strong and mighty in battle. As the walls come down, the hearts of the people will be liberated to worship God in truth and spirit.

Witchcraft for instance is a work of the flesh, what a person, family or families, institutions and communities do to interfere to stop the progress of other people, for example, the attempt by Moab to stop the progress of Israel to the Promised Land through curses from Balaam. But God reversed the evil attempt and ensured that Balaam could not curse Israel. It is also what the young girl with the spirit of divination attempted against Paul and his team; distract them and the people they were preaching to by continually proclaiming that they were the servants of God. Fortunately, the Apostle Paul understood that as a trick of the enemy to interfere with preaching of the gospel and silenced the evil spirit casting it out of the slave girl. Please read Acts Chapter 16 verses 16 to 19. Thereafter, a good number of people were saved there.

Proclaim Good Tidings in the Nations 4

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Flourish – Excerpts from Ezekiel Chapter 34 verses 24 to 31

God is healing the nations.

He will place the right shepherd over them.

He will make a covenant of peace with them. He will rid the land of wild beasts so that both deserts and forests are safe for living in and sleeping in. The people will be secure in their land.  The bars of yokes destroyed.  The people will be rescued from the captivity of those who enslaved them. There will be no more plundering by the nations incensed against them in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. They will live in safety in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. No one will make them afraid in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Wild animals will not devour them.

He will bless the inhabitants of the nations.  He will also bless the places surrounding His hill. He will send down showers of blessing – the showers will be sent in due season and not out of season. The rain comes when it is required to soften the ground and provide abundant nourishment for the crops planted so that the crops can flourish, blossom and fruit bountiful harvests – Ezekiel Chapter 34 verse 26, Deuteronomy Chapters 11 verse 14, 28 verse 12, Zechariah Chapters 8 verse 12, 10 verse 1, Isaiah Chapter 30 verses 23 to 24. This is why the rain is referred to as showers of blessing – rain in right quantity and at teh right time so that the people will experience and enjoy them in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. The trees of the field will yield their fruit.  The ground will yield its crops.

God will provide for them a land renowned for its crops – their crops will flourish, produce bountiful harvests that will feed them to overflowing; sold for money and wealth and abundance so that there will be a continuous overflow of abundance in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.  They will no longer be victims of famine in the land.  They will no longer bear the scorn of the nations in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

God will always be with them.

They are the people of God and the sheep of His pasture; and considering that His pasture is always lush, well watered and full of the good things, the people will always be blessed with goodies by God.

It is a great privilege to be the sheep of God’s pasture. This is because you do not go wandering in countless directions in search of food and security. As the sheep of God residing in the pasture of God, you will be amply supplied with all you require for daily sustenance - food, security, entertainment, you name it. And considering that God’s wall of protective fire is always around His people, ample security is always guaranteed. Please read Zechariah Chapter 2 verse 5, Psalm 125 verses 1 to 3, Psalm 121, 1^st Kings Chapter 4 verse 24 and 2^nd Kings Chapter 6 verses 8 to 17.

Proclaim Good Tidings in the Nations 3

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Expansion

Listen to me, all who hope for deliverance, who seek the Lord! Consider the quarry from which you were mined, the rock from which you were cut! Yes, think about your ancestors Abraham and Sarah, from whom you came. You worry at being so small and few, but Abraham was only one when I called him. But when I blessed him, he became a great nation. And the Lord will bless Israel again, and make her deserts blossom; her barren wilderness will become as beautiful as the Garden of Eden. Joy and gladness will be found there, thanksgiving and lovely songs. Isaiah Chapter 51 verses 1 to 3, TLB, The Family Devotions Bible.

O house of Israel, trust in the LORD – he is their help and shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD – he is their help and shield. You who fear him, trust in the LORD – he is their help and shield. The LORD remembers us and will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron, He will bless those who fear the LORD – small and great alike. May the LORD make you increase, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 115 verses 9 to 15, NIV, Women’s Devotional Bible.

Protection Plan

God always has a deliverance and protection plan for His people. The Lord is your keeper and your shield; therefore, no weapon fashioned against you shall prosper.

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying], Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him. Psalm 2 KJV.

He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprises. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness; and the counsel of the forward is carried headlong. Job Chapter 5 verses 12 and 13 KJV.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; [nor] for the arrow [that] flieth by day; [Nor] for the pestilence [that] walketh in darkness; [nor] for the destruction [that] wasteth at noonday.  A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; [but] it shall not come nigh thee.  Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, [which is] my refuge, [even] the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in [their] hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Psalm 91 KJV.

Revitalize the Nations 2

                                        Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Economic

Revitalizing the nations calls for economic participation in economic processes by everyone in the nations. This ensures that everyone has access to economic resources – jobs for those who seek to be employed by government and corporations as well as small businesses; mediated access to economic resources for those who want to be self-employed. It also includes raising the consciousness of people from begging and borrowing to feed to actual participation in economic processes.

No nation sustains on welfare to the poor and the poor also do not rise above poverty on welfare. They have to participate in economic processes. Ruth for instance gleaned from the farmlands of Boaz not because she preferred to glean. It was because Ruth and Naomi arrived in Bethlehem at harvest time and because they did not plant before then, Ruth took advantage of the welfare program of gleaning in the farmlands of other people rather than beg. Please read Ruth Chapters 1 to 4 for great insight.

Gleaning is not exactly welfare. It is giving the people who did not plant during planting seasons either because they were not in town during planting season or had no farmlands to plant on an opportunity to put food on their table. That way, they would not have to beg or be a burden to other people or the state.

Resource mobilization and management is strategic to revitalizing the nations economically especially where there are targeted development plans to bring in abundance. The nations would have to mobilize the right resources required for their national and personal development. Optimal resource management which includes judicious allocation of resources to the right places for development across board should also be factored into the resource mobilization process. This will ensure effective and efficient resource management. There is no point mobilizing resources if they would not be efficiently managed.

Infrastructure development is also required to manage the envisaged abundance profitably. For instance what Joseph did in Egypt before the abundant harvests of the seven years of plenty came is   a case in point. He put down relevant structures to accommodate the surplus harvest. The relevant questions the officials of the nations should be asking - What structures are in place so that the envisaged abundance does not go to waste?

Revitalize the Nations 3

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Peace and Development

The significance of peace in the land cannot be over stated. However, justice is the precursor to peace and peace leads to development and prosperity, progress, safety, general security, flourishing businesses, great bilateral trade relations, wealth, favor, etc. to ensure peace in the land, the leaders of the nations should ensure that justice reigns in the land. During the reign of King Solomon in Israel, the Bible records that there was justice and peace in the land and that culminated in great development and progress in the land. Please read 1^st Kings Chapters 3, 4 and 5. Please also read 1^st Kings Chapter 4 verses 21 to 34, 5 verses 1 to 18, 10 verses 23 to 29. The reign of King Asa of Judah is another Biblical case in point. Please read  2^nd Chronicles Chapter 14 verses 1 to 7.

Repentance from dead works

A number of nations waste their God given resources through corruption, laziness, greed, ignorance, lack of planning and absolute inattention to priorities. What is required for revitalizing such nations is whole hearted repentance of the national sins of waste through corruption, lack of planning, mismanagement of resources, lack of care and attention, waste of life through inattention to healthcare, roads, potable water provision, security, unpaid salaries, youth development, care of the elderly. Such repentance will bring in the presence of God and divine direction as to how to manage their resources to revitalize their nations. Please read Zechariah Chapters 5 verses 1 to 4; 1 verses 18 to 21; 14 verses 11 to 12, Ezekiel Chapters 35 verses 1 to 9; 36 verse 5 and Proverbs Chapters 15 verse 27; 29 verse 24.

God hates wicked counsel and wicked counselors – Ezekiel Chapter 11 verses 1 to 13, 2^nd Samuel Chapter 15 verse 12, 31 to 37, 16 verses 15 to 23, 17 verses 1 to 23. Pray that God would send the right counsellors who would give the counsel of God to the nations.

Adopt and operate a zero waste policy as well as fruitfulness – Hebrews Chapter 6 verses 7 to 8.

Connect creativity – link creative people so that they can pool their resources- talent, time, money, etc together for the common good – Exodus Chapter 25 verses 1 to 8, 35 verses 1 to 10, 21 to 29, 30 to 35, 36 verses 1 to 4, 1^st Chronicles Chapter 29 verse 1.