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.

Peter’s Vision

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean. Acts Chapter 10 verse 28.

Peter’s vision is instructive of how rigidity to certain belief systems can limit a person’s scope in about every area of life. As far as Peter was concerned, he had no business with unclean meat. But God had other plans for Peter, greater than his finite understanding of unclean meat and how unclean meat can be cleansed by God, and the ever cleansing and sanctifying blood of Jesus Christ.

Peter’s vision helped to expand Peter’s horizon of ministry which was hitherto exclusive and limited to a certain race. Peter did not realize that ministry for him as well as the other apostles was for all of humanity. But for the timely vision, Peter would not have accompanied the people Cornelius sent to him to meet with Cornelius and his household. The visit to Cornelius coupled with the great outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Cornelius and members of his household stretched the scope of ministry for Peter. Additionally, Peter dropped his exclusionary practices to allow for inclusion of all people into the kingdom of God.

There are lessons worth learning from Peter’s vision. God’s love and salvation is for everybody irrespective of race and socio-economic backgrounds. It is not for specific families, communities, ethnic groups, race or nations. Therefore, stretch your borders beyond where you are now – extend the borders to accommodate God’s inclusion of other ethnic nationalities; expansion beyond your immediate environs and understanding. Discard orientation, belief systems and relationships which limit, resist inclusion and inclusionary practices which will bring about the expansion God is bringing your way.

The Power of His Name 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Emmanuel God With Us

The power of His name is reflected in His names and the connotations of His name. one of such names is Emmanuel which means God with Us.

God indwells His children through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, the gift of God that is given to those who obey God. Please read Acts Chapter 5 verse 32. It is no use asking for the infilling of the Holy Spirit if a person has no intention of obeying the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 46 verses 7, 11, Matthew Chapter 1 verse 23, Isaiah Chapters 7 verse 14 and 8 verses 9 to 10.

The Presence of God ensures and guarantees safety, security and deliverance from any of the attacks and projections of the enemy in any form. But for the Presence of God that was with the nation of Israel, Moab deploying the services of a spiritualist named Balaam would have succeeded in cursing Israel and bringing harm to Israel while on their way to the Promised Land. But God stayed both Balaam and Moab from carrying out their designs on Israel. Please read Numbers Chapter 23 verses 19 to 24.

Leadership is Service

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Jesus Christ spent three and a half years in ministry. It is interesting to note that apart from preaching, teaching the word of God, working miracles and bringing salvation to the world and eventually dying for the redemption of humanity, Jesus also raised leaders for the early Church. These were the people who succeeded Jesus in building the early Church. Severally and privately, outside of public glare, Jesus taught them great leadership principles. He made them understand that the primary responsibility of a leader is service. Please see Matthew Chapter 20 verses 20 to 28. The Apostles definitely internalized this principle as they also served the Church of God through prayer and the ministry of the word. Please see Acts Chapter 6 verses 1 to 7. They devoted themselves to this aspect of service; raised other leaders for administrative purposes. Quite significant is the fact that some of these leaders also served God and the early Church through prayer and the ministry of the word. No ministry gift or position supersedes the other therefore no one should lord it over other people in the name of special ministry gift or position by intimidating people with threats of curses, God not blessing them if they do not worship him and members of his family so to speak.

Jesus Christ showed the Church the perfect example of leadership. He served, preaching and teaching people, healing people, raising the dead and performing miracles. Jesus did not literally harass people to follow Him or worship Him. Worship belongs to God and not humans; therefore when fellow humans demand worship from other humans who work or partner with them; then there is a problem because a contrary spirit is at work. This is because a person who is filled with the Holy Spirit and is genuinely working with the Holy Spirit will always seek to serve and not to be served. Please see Luke Chapter 22 verses 24 to 27. Beloved, leadership is service.

A leader should therefore be tolerant, accommodating, focused, selfless, forgiving, and intuitive and be humble enough to accept corrections and rebuke. A leader should have a compelling vision of where s/he is headed otherwise; s/he is driven by personal desires and passions that have nothing to do with the global public good.

The Creative Power in the Word of God 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The word of God has the capacity to burn out anything that is not of God as well as the capacity to break rocks in pieces. Please see Jeremiah Chapter 23 verse 29. This is because the word of God is sharper than any two edged sword and can pierce through soul and spirit, joint and marrow, discerning the thoughts and intents of the heart. That explains why sinners break down in tears, become convicted of sins and repent of their sins. It is also why believers are daily cleansed by the word of God as they renew their minds on the word of God (Romans Chapter 12 verses 1 and 2, John Chapter 15 verse 3.

Additionally, the word of God cleanses to bring about spiritual cleansing, healing and transformation. Please see Psalm 119 verse 9, Ephesians Chapter 5 verse 26, and John Chapter 15 verse 3.

The word of God has power because Jesus Christ is the Word of God made flesh (John Chapter 1 verses 1 to 9, Revelation Chapter 19 verses 13 to 16 and 1^st Corinthians Chapter 1 verse 24). Therefore, pray that the word of God will daily unfold in the hearts of people and bring light and give understanding to the simple in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Please read Psalm 119 verse 130.

The Creative Power in the Word of God

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

There is power in the word of God, the power to create out of nothing (Romans Chapter 4 verses 17 to 25, Genesis Chapter 1). Examples include the creation story where God created the universe out of a formless empty space covered by darkness. God created life and beauty by His Spirit through the spoken word, and God said, let there… and there was.

The word of God also has the capacity to give life to what appears dead and to make impossibilities possibilities. The prophet Ezekiel prophesied the word of God as directed by the Spirit of God and the very dry bones, long dead and forgotten in the valley of dry bones came alive as a powerful army of God. As Ezekiel prophesied, the spoken word of God that does not return to God void accomplished divine purpose by restructuring the bones and activating lives in them. Please see Ezekiel Chapter 37 verses 1 to 14, Isaiah Chapter 55 verses 8 to 11.

Beloved, God is able to restore life back to whatever appears dead in any area of your life in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Through the power of the spoken word of God, every stagnation and seeming lack of progress in any area of your life will give way to great progressive movements that will birth overflowing abundance in your life in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. This is the day which God made to put a new song of great joy and celebration in your mouth. Celebrate this day with thanksgiving and watch God unleash the floodgates of divine abundance, uncommon favor and awesome deliverance in your life in the mighty name of Jesus. God is always able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you can ever ask or think of in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.