The Place of Justice in Healing the Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

King Solomon was feared and respected in the land of Israel because he administered justice in the land. It is significant to note that King Solomon’s ability to administer justice in the land was on account of the wisdom of God in him. On his own, Solomon would not have been able to administer justice in the land. But because Solomon had earlier on asked God for wisdom; an understanding heart to judge the people of God so that he would be able to discern between good and evil; he was able to administer justice in the land. The Bible records that the request of Solomon pleased the Lord and God Who always exceeds the expectations of His loved ones gave Solomon additional blessings. Please see 1^st Kings Chapter 3 verses 1 to 28, take note of verses 9 to 14, 27 to 28 and Ephesians Chapter 3 verse 20.

Beloved, the administration of justice in any land; even in families, corporations, institutions and communities is to a large extent pivotal to peace and economic prosperity in any land. The land of Israel experienced and enjoyed peace and economic prosperity during the reign of Solomon. Please see 1^st Kings Chapters 4 verses 24 to 34, take note of verses 24 to 25; 5 verse 12; 10 verses 24 to 29, take note of verse 27 and 2^nd Chronicles Chapter 9 verses 22 to 28. The land also enjoyed sustainable development, great international trade, fame ad human capacity development. A good number of Israelites were trained in Tyre to cut timber and prepare for building. Please see 1^st Kings Chapter 5 verses 13 to 14.

The example of Solomon implies that the administration of justice in any land is pivotal and therefore a critical factor of peace, economic prosperity, infrastructural and human capacity development in the land. That explains why the mother of King Lemuel counseled King Lemuel to avoid promiscuity and intoxicating drink so that he would give prime attention to the law; he would not forget the law and pervert justice in the land. She further counseled him to speak for the speechless, the voiceless and vulnerable in the society; judge righteously and plead the cause of the poor and needy in the land. Please see Proverbs Chapter 31 verses 1 to 9. This counsel is very significant for anyone who aspires to lead over people. This is because justice is a firm ladder for leading successfully and living a legacy of peace, economic prosperity and happiness in the land.

The Role of Prophets in the Healing of the Nations 1

Written by Uyoyou Christiana  Charles-Iyoha

A prophet is someone raised by God usually from among His people to speak His mind, His words which He gives to the prophet to His people. A prophet then is God’s spokesperson for the people of

God. No one takes this honor for himself as prophets and prophetesses are usually ordained into the ministry office of the prophet by God – Jeremiah Chapter 1 verse 5, 1^st Kings Chapter 19 verses 16, 19 to 21, Amos Chapter 7 verses 12 to 17, Haggai Chapter 1 verses 12 to 13, Zechariah Chapter 1 verse 17, Amos Chapter 3 verse 7, Deuteronomy Chapter 18 verses 10 to 22.  Prophets proclaim the mind of God through the written word in the Bible which the Holy Spirit sheds light on and then God who says that His word must accomplish whatever the Word is sent to accomplish acts on that word to produce the desired results. This is what prophecy and functioning in the ministry office of the prophet is.

A Prophet is a vessel used by God to provide solutions to personal, family, local, national and global challenges depending on where God assigns him or her to. Elijah solved the national challenge of idolatry and famine by giving the people direction to turn to God and be saved. Elisha solved ministry challenges for the prophets when he retrieved the lost ax in 2^nd Kings Chapter 6 verses 1 to 7.  Who is a prophet? Acts Chapter 15 verses 32. God works in partnership with His servants the prophets. Prophets are the servants of God that He reveals His secrets to before doing anything. Amos Chapter 3 verse 7, Genesis Chapter 18 verses 17 to 33, Acts Chapter 11 verses 27 to 30.

God is the one who raises prophets - people do not wake up to declare themselves prophets. They have to be ordained by God - Deuteronomy Chapter 18 verses 15 to 18, Jeremiah Chapter 1 verse 5. Prophets speak by the Spirit of God the words which God puts in their hearts and mouths. Deuteronomy Chapter 18 verse 18, Jeremiah Chapter 1 verse 9. Prophets are to say exactly what God wants them to say - Deuteronomy Chapter 18 verse 18, Jeremiah Chapter 1 verse 7.

Healing the Nations Through Forgiveness 3

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The Prodigal Son and His Father – Luke Chapter 15 verses 11 to 32

The prodigal son is an interesting case study of some mothers do have them! Generally, sons and daughters and whoever inherits after the demise of their parents or benefactors. But the prodigal son chose to have his inheritance even when his father was still alive. He went to his father and requested for his inheritance. His father obliged him and not quite long he lost everything to riotous living and began to live in penury. Close to eating pods - what he served to pigs as their meal, he did a rethink. He had lived wrongly and had wronged his father. He did a u-turn and returned home. Fortunately for him, his father lovingly accepted him back. The relationship between father and son was restored through repentance, forgiveness and acceptance.

Realization and acknowledgement of sin, repentance, forgiveness and acceptance culminate in the healing process and restoration of relationships. Relationships are very central to God. That explains why the Bible gives a number of instances of relationships that went awry and how God intervened and the relationships were restored. Beginning with Adam and Eve, through Sarah and Hagar, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, the prodigal son and his father, John Mark  and the Apostle Paul, the Apostles Paul and Peter, God and us, the people of Israel, David. Manasseh.

To ensure the restoration of relationships, God gave believers principles for managing relationships. They are in the Bible. Forgiveness is one of them and very key – we are to forgive as many times as people hurt us, sin against us; we are also to ask forgiveness of other people when we offend them; we are to acknowledge our sins and repent of them, we are to tolerate one another in love, speak up and rebuke one another in love rather than bottle up and live in anger, resentment, bitterness and unforgiveness. We are to share information that transforms rather than gossip and we are to pray for one another rather than project ill will. That way, we will have wholesome individuals, communities and nations.

Equitable Resource Allocation and Control for Healing the Nations

 Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. For their riches were more than that they might dwell together; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them because of their cattle. Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau [is] Edom. Genesis Chapter 36 verses 6 to 8.

Socio-economic injustice issues are a major cause of deep seated resentment that sometimes snowballs into conflicts that sometimes degenerate into wars. Unfortunately, this is to a large extent global. Significantly, socio-economic injustice did not start today. It has always been a part of human existence as individual, families, communities and nations have always contended over resources especially in cases of inequitable resource allocation.

There was contention over resources between Abram and his nephew Lot in the book of Genesis Chapter 13 verses 1 to 18. The land was not able to support them because of inadequate pasture for the large livestock they had acquired over time. This created constant contention and strife over between the herdsmen of Lot and Abram over pasture and probably water, storage and shed facilities for the herds of Abram and Lot.

Abram reflected on the contention and strife which his spirit, soul and body abhorred. He suggested separation so there could be peace. That resolved the issue completely but most significantly expanded Abram’s vision of divine purpose and divine resources for the accomplishment of divine purpose. There was no more distraction, anxious moments occasioned by the constant contention and strife. It was focus and progress all the way. Abram could move forward, uninterrupted in the plans and purposes of God for His life simply because he boldly took the decision to separate from contention and strife.

The herdsmen of Isaac and the herdsmen of Gerar contended over wells of water. Isaac and his herdsmen separated and dug a number of places until they found wells of water that were not contended for. They had peace and flourished in the land. Please see Genesis Chapter 26 verses 12 to 33.

Safe Cities Initiative 2

Prevailing By The Spirit - Prayer Alert - Vol. 2 No 4, 2016

 Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely… For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.  And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. Leviticus Chapter 26 verses 4 to 5, 9 to 10 KJV.

Safe cities are cities where God is honored and celebrated. These are cities where God is given the pride of place and has the number one position in the hearts of the people.

Safe cities are cities where abundance is the order of the day. The land is fruitful and people are productively engaged in spiritually, mentally, physically, financially rewarding processes that birth fruitfulness, multiplication and increase on a daily basis.

Clean cities, peoples and nations are people who respect the marriage covenant and honor God in their marriages through respect for one another and fidelity to each other. They also parent their children to be God fearing people who honor God in their daily interactions with other people. Respect for one another, politeness and affirmation of one another characterize the conduct of people and families in safe cities which also explain why the cities are safe.

Beloved, I plead with you to join your faith with the millions of people who are crying for the will of God on earth so that communities, cities and nations will be safe havens of abode for everyone.  There is absolutely nothing that God cannot do. He can make every city safe again to the glory of His name in Jesus mighty name. God bless you as you pray some of these prayer points. Thank you and God bless you.

Clean and Safe Cities Initiative 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Prevailing By The Spirit - Prayer Alert - Vol. 2 No 2, 2016

The enemy uses filth in all its ramifications whether spiritual, physical and mental to afflict people, families, communities and nations. How does he do it? He uses spiritual filth to separate the practitioners of spiritual filth from God. A person, family, community or nation practicing spiritual filth is automatically separated from God and does not have the covering or protection of God. Additionally, suspicion, hatred, rivalry and all sorts of fetish practices that may sometimes involve human sacrifices as well as wanton destruction of life characterize the lives of practitioners of spiritual filth. Life is cheap as people could kill for any flimsy excuse. The safety of people cannot be guaranteed. Anyone could be chosen for rituals or used for ritual murder.

Practitioners of mental filth engage in non productive processes that rob them of their divinely endowed mental capacities to prosper and flourish and be a blessing to humanity. So rather than be creatively and productively engaged in spiritually, mentally, physically and financially rewarding activities, they most often resort to criminal activities such as rape and other related crimes. They become a threat to safety as well as a burden to the state.