Pray Without Ceasing

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Prayer is a command from God to believers. Please see Luke Chapter 18 verses 1 to 8, 2 verses 36 to 38 and 1^st Thessalonians Chapter 5 verse 18, and Ephesians Chapter 6 verse 18. It is also a platform for making our requests to God.

The content of prayers is very important to God. I am sure that explains why Jesus Christ gave the Church a prayer template in Matthew Chapter 6 verses 5 to 15, Luke Chapter 11 verses 1 to 4 so that believers are not misguided when praying especially so when they are praying against people who hurt them, offended them and made them angry. Nowhere in the Bible did Jesus say that believers should pray against their enemies; asking them to die, be destroyed, or their properties destroyed. Also, the prayer template does not give room for self righteousness as in the case of the two men – the Pharisee and the tax collector who Jesus Christ described in Luke Chapter 18 verses 9 to 14. Jesus Christ commended the tax collector who humbly asked God for mercy.

Why Pray

God answers prayer. The Bible is replete with instances of the people of God praying to God and God in turn responding positively to their prayers. Additionally, God said so in His word. Please see Matthew Chapter 7 verse 7, Luke Chapter 18 verses 1 to 8, and Jeremiah Chapter 33 verse 3. The early Church prayed without ceasing in spite of the fact that the Apostle Peter was already on death row. God intervened and Peter was miraculously released from prison by an angel of God. Please read Acts Chapter 12 for details. Prophet Elijah prayed for the son of the widow of Zarephath and the young man came back to life. Please read 1^st Kings Chapter 17 verses 17 to 24. He also prayed for rain after a long period of drought in Israel. God honored his prayer and there was a heavy downpour. Please read 1^st Kings Chapter 18. The prophet Elisha prayed and the dead son of the woman of Shunem was brought back to life. Please read 2^nd Kings Chapter 4 verses 15 to 37.

The Significance of Light in Healing the Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

In the creation story, the earth lacked form; there was chaos, lack of order, total disorder, and lack of direction. There was no clear cut direction, everything was done haphazardly; void and darkness was on the face of the deep. To give the earth form and fill the void, light was required to take away the darkness and give direction to the creation process. So God created light first. In like manner, light is required to bring order out of chaos and that light is the word of God, which comes through salvation by faith in Christ Jesus. Darkness symbolizes ignorance, absence of light, lack of understanding, lack of wisdom, foolishness, rebellion, confusion, unbelief, lack of direction.

Righteousness symbolizes light, right direction, clear cut specific direction, knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and obedience. It is only the righteousness of God that exalts a nation. Please see Proverbs Chapter 14 verse 34, Romans Chapters 3 verse 21 to 22; 10 verses 1 to 13; 9 verses 27 to 33 and 1^st Corinthians Chapter 1 verse 30. The morality of a person or persons in a nation/s cannot exalt the nation; neither does the supposed righteousness of the nation established outside of the righteousness of God. This is because the righteousness of man is like filthy rags.

Light represents clarity, knowledge, and understanding. That is why light excels darkness – Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 verse 13. Visibility and clarity is enhanced with light and greater mobility is assured in the presence of light. Light gives speed, leverage, an edge or edges over your competition. Light causes you to excel as you will have greater understanding of what to do, how to do it better; when to do it to achieve greater and better results – Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 verses 1 to 11, 17, 1^st Chronicles Chapter 12 verse 32 and where to do it.

Individual Repentance for Healing the Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Repentance is a change of mind, a change of heart, a change of course of life from sin to righteousness. Please see Luke Chapter 6 verse 44.  True repentance is manifested in a genuine turning away from sin, further demonstrated in a genuine hatred for sin. Please see Romans Chapter 12 verse 9, Psalm 119 verse 104, 2^nd Corinthians Chapter 7 verse 10, Luke Chapter 22 verse 62, Proverbs Chapter 28 verse 13, Ezekiel Chapter 14 verse 6. A person who does not hate sin loves sin.  Unfortunately, many people give or make excuses for sin - Genesis Chapter 3 verse 13. When people make excuses for sin, the sin becomes a besetting sin. But when people acknowledge their sins and repent of them, they receive grace to completely turn away from the sin.  

Repentance is also reflected when a person bears the fruits of repentance. When Paul was converted there was a complete transformation; a u-turn from persecuting the Church to promoting the Church. He embraced the belief that he vehemently rejected.  Consequently, the same people who admired him and employed him became his persecutors who wanted to kill him. Please see Please see Acts Chapter 8 verses 1 to 4, and Acts Chapter 9. Paul was a student of law under Gamaliel but Paul became the leading Apostle of the Christian faith after repentance.

Proclaim His Praises in 2017

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

What a year! To God be the glory, great things He has done. Blossoms, fruiting, harvests, glories, excellence, manifestations of His glory and blessings, fruitfulness, progress, growth, and every good thing that comes from the Father of light.

God will bless His people and the nations and do them great good in Jesus mighty name. His healing streams will flow through the nations, flooding His people with healing in diverse areas of life. He is the Healer and will heal the nations and the peoples of the nations for He is the Governor among the nations and turns the hearts of kings wherever He wishes. He will turn the hearts of kings to righteousness so that as kings rule in righteousness, they will lead the people of the nations to walk in the righteousness of God through salvation by faith in Christ Jesus.

Beloved, shout to proclaim His praises as He works wonders in the earth in 2017. Welcome to 2017, the year of God’s greater glory in the nations as we proclaim His praises in and among the nations. To Him alone be all the glory. Shalom.

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