The Place of Fiscal Discipline and Fiscal Integrity in the Healing of the Nations 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The Biblical Nehemiah who served as governor in Jerusalem did not even collect his allowances and perks as governor. Rather, he supported the people of God and Jerusalem with his personal resources. He realized that state resources were small; the people were greatly impoverished having been in captivity for a while. So he did not even bother the people with extra taxes as some leaders do to raise income for their states and nations. Unfortunately, such monies are sometimes embezzled by corrupt officials thereby further impoverishing the state and the people. Beloved, Nehemiah is a good, godly and classic example of incorruptible leadership whose fiscal discipline and integrity contributed to the development of the people of Judah as well as the rehabilitation of Jerusalem.

Samuel was a great prophet in Israel feared and respected by all. On account of the power and authority conferred on him by God, he could have enriched himself at the expense of the people. Yet, he was content with whatever God blessed him with and at a point challenged the Israelites to speak up as to whether he collected anything from anyone. No one dared speak for Samuel had never received anything from anyone to enrich himself.

And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons [are] with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. Behold, here I [am]: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received [any] bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you. And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand. And he said unto them, The LORD [is] witness against you, and his anointed [is] witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, [He is] witness. 1^st Samuel Chapter 12 verses 1 to 5.

The Place of Fiscal Discipline and Fiscal Integrity in the Healing of the Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, [that is], twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor. But the former governors that [had been] before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God. Yea, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants [were] gathered thither unto the work. Moreover [there were] at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those that came unto us from among the heathen that [are] about us. Now [that] which was prepared [for me] daily [was] one ox [and] six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy upon this people. Think upon me, my God, for good, [according] to all that I have done for this people. Nehemiah Chapter 5 verses 14 to 19.

A nation, community and Church finances belong to God and should therefore be divinely deployed. They should be deployed for divine as well as national, community purposes that glorify God and increase the kingdom of God. Some people in the Bible disdained the holy offerings of God by partaking of what did not belong to them but to God. They were irreverent, had no respect for God and dared to consume holy offerings. Their actions were sacrilegious and led to judgment, in point of fact untimely death and generational judgment from God. Please read 1^st Samuel Chapter 2 verses 27 to 30, 8 verses 1 to 4, Joshua Chapter 6 verses 17 to 18, 7 verse 1, 20 to 21, Malachi Chapter 3 verses 7 to 12 for greater insight.

The finances of nations and communities are also divinely designed to benefit the nationals of the nations and communities. They are not meant to be squandered in riotous living or stolen by the leaders of the people. It is a sin to deploy national or community resources for personal benefits of aggrandizement. Achan attempted to secretly steal what was divinely ordained for God and the nation of Israel. He became a stumbling block to the nation and unfortunately died young as the penalty for his transgression was death. Pathetically, he did not die alone.

Writing to Heal the Nations 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Books are not written in a day though it is possible to have a draft of a book in a day depending on the size or scope of the book. A book can start as a letter which graduates into a series of letters which eventually culminate in a book or books which make up a book of books, for instance the letters of Apostle Paul to some of the Churches he planted which culminated in the Pauline epistles in the New Testament in the Bible.

King Solomon for instance commenced his writing career by speaking – the Bible records that he spoke three thousand proverbs while his songs were one thousand and five. Everything he spoke was documented, some by himself, and others by court scribes and they were handed down to succeeding generations as the books of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Songs of Songs. Please read 1^st Kings Chapter 4 verses 31 to 34, Ecclesiastes Chapter 12 verses 9 to 10. The Bible records that he chose his words carefully while speaking and writing. He chose words that would point people in the right direction in life. The fact that some of the writings of King Solomon were done by court scribes implies that the author of  a book may not necessarily be the writer of the book as the writer may be a conduit or channel for documenting the person’s ideas, thought processes, speeches, prophecies, messages etc. Baruch also wrote for the prophet Jeremiah.

Writing to Heal the Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Writers are divinely designed to bring God’s love, healing and transformation to nations and peoples. The place of writers in healing the nations is significant as writers ordained by God to heal the nations with their writings are divinely tasked to write to impact humanity positively. The prophet Jeremiah wrote to instruct the Israelites to obey God, ignore the false prophets and the lies they told. Jeremiah encouraged the people to go to exile in Babylon and be fruitful while in exile. He also told them that exile in Babylon was not permanent as God would set them free and bring them back to Jerusalem after seventy years. The basis of Jeremiah’s prophecy, documented informed Daniel’s intercession for the release of Israel from Babylonian captivity. Please read Daniel Chapter 9 verses 1 to 5, and Jeremiah Chapter 29.  The Apostle Paul, John the Beloved, Moses and Habakkuk wrote to instruct believers and nations on how to live holy lives that would ensure peace and development in the nations. John the Beloved was instructed to write his visions in book for onward transmission to the seven Churches in Asia. Please read,  Revelation Chapter  1 verses 10 to 20, please note verses 11 and 19; Habakkuk Chapter 2 verses 1 to 3, Luke Chapter 1 verses 1 to 4, Acts Chapter 1 verses 1 to 20, Jude 3, 1^st Corinthians Chapter 10 verses 1 to 11.

This implies that God uses writing as a tool to fulfill divine purpose and impact lives. Therefore, writing to impact lives positively in order to improve and enhance the quality of lives of people to bring about positive transformation in their lives as well as be a blessing to humanity is great writing that should be hugely encouraged. This is because the benefits of such writing are immense. To start with, your writing enriches the mental processes of your constituency as they engage with the life transforming words, issues and subjects written about. Their enriched mental processes birth divine ideas which are again filtered through other quality life transforming books they mentally engage with or even produce.

Beloved, does your writing inspire, motivate people to rise up to their divine potentials and heights in life? Does your writing encourage people out of depression, stir them to challenge whatever limits them or is trying to put limits on them so that they can be who God created them to be? Does your writing provide guidance, direction, to guide people in the paths of righteousness and holy living? Does your writing inspire confidence and faith in God so that people believe and trust in God and subsequently have confidence in themselves based on their understanding of God’s love to them; God’s divine deposits in them to excel and soar?

Praise Heals Peoples and Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation Chapter 4 verse 11.

Praise to God is always a sweet smelling savor, a worthy sacrifice which God always delights in and responds to. God is great and worthy to be praised. He deserves your praises and the praises of the peoples of the earth and the nations of the earth. To start with, God created you, the peoples of the nations and the nations of the earth as well as everything that resides in the earth. He did all of these for His pleasure. Please Revelation Chapter 4 verse 11.

Therefore, one of the great gifts you can give to God at all times is to praise Him. Give God praise in whatever situation, place or position you find yourself in.  Do not allow the circumstances overwhelm you; rather overwhelm and overcome the circumstances through praise and the undiluted word of God. The Psalmist noted that he would praise the Lord at all times and that the praise of God would always dwell in His mouth. Beloved, to praise God does not require and attract any monetary cost. Therefore there is no reason why anyone should not praise God. Every ingredient required to praise God is embedded in you – your voice, your mouth, your thought processes and imagination. All you need do is PRAISE.