Strong People, Strong Nations 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Beloved, God always comes through for those who look up to Him and depend on Him for everything because He is the strength of their lives. Please read 1^st Samuel Chapter 15 verse 17. King Hezekiah and the people of Judah turned to God for help when besieged by Sennecherib and his unstoppable conquistador army that had pillaged the nations around them. Sennecherib and his army threatened Judah, insulted Hezekiah and the people of Judah and even dared to ask the people of Judah not to allow Hezekiah deceive them. Hezekiah was resolute and this made Sennecherib wonder as to who and what Hezekiah’s powerbase was. Rather than truly inquire and walk with Hezekiah’s God, Sennecherib and the leadership of his army dared to speak against God, telling the people not to believe Hezekiah and that God was incapable of saving them.

God heard every folly uttered by Sennecherib and the leadership of his supposedly unstoppable army. Unfortunately for them, God sent one angel who single handedly wiped out one hundred and eight five thousand soldiers in one night. As if that was not enough, Sennecherib was killed by his two sons in the house of his god; ironically while he was worshipping the god he boasted about, his supposedly powerbase whom he claimed gave him power to conquer the nations and was going to hand over Judah to him on a platter of gold. But unknown to Sennecherib, the leadership of his army and his numerous soldiers; Judah strength was in God the Creator and Owner of the Universe and to Whom, everything and everyone submits.

Judah then, which appeared small, weak and insignificant emerged a very strong nation; even without shooting a single arrow; without even showing up at the battlefield. Please read Isaiah Chapters 36 to 38.

Strong People, Strong Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

The people and nations who always look up to God for help and depend on God for practically everything are the really strong people and strong nations. This also goes for families and institutions. Please read Psalm 121.

Often, people and nations who have no idea Who God is and the awesome power of God at work in the lives of those who depend on God often look down with great contempt on people who look up to God and depend on Him. These same people who have no idea of how great and powerful God is consider those people and nations who look up to God and depend on God to be weak minded people who cannot take decisions on their own. But they forget something very important. God is the Creator and Owner of everyone and everything; therefore, it is great wisdom to look up to God and depend on Him for everything. At the same time, it is great folly to think and believe that one does not need God and can succeed outside of God.

While it is true that God divinely created everyone to succeed, the truth is that true success cannot be found outside of God. True success is in God and the divine capacity to succeed can only be activated when a person surrenders to God and looks up to God and depends on God for everything. The lives of a number of biblical people and nations reflect this truth.

King David for instance consistently looked up to God and was empowered to do great things. He was considered a strong person but his great strength including the ability to take on and kill wild animals; bring down Goliath; kill many in battle; lead highly successful military campaigns against Israel’s hostile neighbors and their allies were all a function of David’s great trust in God as well as his unwavering dependence on God. Please read Psalm 18, 1^st Samuel Chapter 17, 2^nd Samuel Chapter 22 and 1^st Samuel Chapter 30.

God is Restoring the Nations 1

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

When the Lord restored the fortunes of[a] Zion,    we were like those who dreamed.  Our mouths were filled with laughter,    our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations,    “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us,    and we are filled with joy.  Restore our fortunes, Lord,    like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears    will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping,    carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy,    carrying sheaves with them. Psalm 126 verses 1 to 6.

I am restoring the years you have sown in tears is a line in a song I love so much more so when the Bible corroborates this in several passages of Scripture. Please see Joel Chapter 2 verses 18 to 29, Jeremiah Chapter 32 verses 36 to 44, Ezekiel Chapters 36, 37.

There is more to God than the Savior. He is also the Healer, Provider, Defender, Strength, Protector, Guide, etc. He is also the Restorer Who brings about restoration to His people. God’s restoration is usually multi-dimensional and spans the spiritual, physical, material, marital, financial, intellectual and in as many other areas that you can think of. This implies that God brings about restoration in every area of life. Significantly, His restoration often doubles; triples, quadruples and compounds whatever losses were suffered in the past.

Joseph is a classic example – the years of servitude and being a prisoner in Egypt paid off as Prime Minister in Egypt. That is why he named his first son Manasseh, meaning that God made him forget the toils, shame and indignity of slavery he suffered for almost twenty three years of his life.

Jabez got double blessings from God for the reproach he suffered on account of the name his mother gave him. Jabez’ blessings are what you could describe as an indeed blessing, the type of blessing that showcases a person, family, communities and nations. Such blessings also bring about uncommon favor, sustainable generational wealth, speed and increase on every side.

Safeguard Measures for Healing the Nations

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

As much as possible, avoid confrontation, strife and conflict as you work with the Holy Spirit in bringing healing to the nations. Sometimes, situations and circumstances can get real stormy. The safe and wise thing to do is always respond as God would always want you to respond; and not as the flesh would want you to respond. For instance, a situation may not be pleasant but God through His word says to give thanks in everything rather than to complain and murmur. People may hurt you real bad and the fleshly option is to strike back but wait a minute, the Bible says forgive and let go. No wonder the Biblical option for resisting the devil is to submit to God. Please read 1^st Peter Chapter 5 verse 9.

Also, stay away from areas of conflict. Jesus avoided the Pharisees and Sadducees who attempted to kill him before his time. Please read John Chapters 11 verse 54, 10 verses 39 to 42.

David fled from Saul when he realized that Saul was determined to kill him. Please read 1^st Samuel Chapters 18 verses 9 to 11; 19, note verses 9 to 24, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27 for details and Holy Spirit inspired understanding and wisdom. David only returned to Israel after the death of Saul. Therefore, run when you have to run and fight when God wants you to fight.

David also fled from his son Absalom when Absalom attempted to usurp the throne and threatened David’s life. 2^nd Samuel Chapters 15 to 18. David and his ran not because they were afraid of Absalom but Absalom took them unawares and they needed to go think and prepared for war. When eventually David and his men were prepared, Absalom and his men paid the supreme price for their rebellion.

Exercise Dominion in the Nations

 Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Genesis 1:28 -- Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Psalms 8:5 -- For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. Psalms 8:6 -- You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,

Rule over your world, your environment and whatever attempts to limit you, underestimate you, undervalue you, exploit you, and intimidate you to inaction. Beloved, you have been capacitated by God to rule over your world. Please read Genesis Chapter 1 verse 28, and Psalm 110 verses 2 to 3. In Genesis Chapter 26 the Bible record how Isaac ruled over the limitations on hi path in Gerar. Rather than set up a lamentation over the antics of the herdsmen of Gerar,  Isaac dug up more wells until he found Rehoboth and the contention over wells stopped.

Jesus in the course of his earthly ministry was daily harassed by the Pharisees and Sadducees. Yet, Jesus did not lose focus of his earthly ministry. He continued strong and ruled in the midst of His enemies despite the fierce opposition and threats to his life.

The Apostle Paul ruled in the midst of his numerous enemies. One of such enemies were the Jews who were fiercely opposed to Paul’s preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Though several attempts were made against his life by the Jews and their cohorts in about everywhere Paul went to preach the gospel, Paul kept preaching the gospel and in the process converted many people to Christ. Additionally, he set up Churches and raised leaders within the Churches to continue the work. That way, the Apostle Paul ruled effectively in the midst of his enemies.

Elijah ruled in the midst of powerful spiritual and political enemies. The prophets of Baal who led the people of Israel astray in idolatrous worship had the strong backing of Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, the then King of Israel. They held sway over the lives of the people, entrenching the worship of idols and evil in the land. But Elijah was undaunted despite threats to his life by Jezebel. Elijah constantly stood on the word of God and decreed the righteousness of God in the land. Eventually, after a time of drought and famine, Elijah was used by God to not only destroy the evil hold of the prophets of Baal over the people but also destroyed the prophets of Baal. Though he incurred the wrath of Jezebel who further threatened his life, God spared Elijah’s life.

Celebrate God in the Nations

Written by Uyoyou C. Charles-Iyoha

God Who does not fail

Always faithful, kind, loving, forgiving

The Ancient of Days

The Great I AM WHO I AM

The Lion of the tribe of Judah

Awesome God, glorious in holiness

Fearful in praises

Provider, Healer, Deliverer

The Everlasting Father

All sufficient God

God Who reigns from everlasting to everlasting

The King of kings and Lord of lords

Mighty God,

Jehovah, the Man of war

Great and mighty in battle and works

He is holy, awesome, glorious

The Eternal Father

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Level the Mountain of Ignorance 2

Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha

Faith is literally tangible. Please read Hebrews Chapter 11 verses 1 to 2 and James Chapter 2 verses 1 to 18, and 20 to 26. The tangibility of faith is the work occasioned by a person’s faith. Noah for instance built the ark by faith (Hebrews Chapter 11 verse 7); the woman with the issue of blood demonstrated her faith by touching the hem of Jesus’ garment (Luke Chapter 8 verses 43 to 48); the centurion begged Jesus to speak the word (Matthew Chapter 8 verses 5 to 10, Psalm 107 verse 20). The centurion believed that the sent word of Jesus was as powerful as the Presence of Jesus. Jesus commended His faith. The actions of these people as well as those of several others in the Bible are the tangible evidence of their faith; faith propelled them to act. That is to say that faith is a propeller, a propeller that propels you to act; for instance, the paralytic and his friends who brought him in to Jesus through the roof displayed great faith.

Faith in God will make you pray always, you will not lose heart; you will not give up because you know that God answers prayers and will do what you are pleading with Him to do for you. Please read Luke Chapter 18 verses 1 to 8, 42, 8 verses 43 to 48, Matthew Chapter 9 verses 20 to 22 and Mark Chapter 5 verses 24 to 34.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God and not testimonies. Faith built on testimonies given by other people and not on the word of God is akin to the seeds which fell by the wayside; among thorns and on stony ground. Overtime, such faith is lost if the owner of such faith does not experience the kind of testimonies s/he heard. So also is the faith that is built on miracles. Faith in God should be anchored in God and His word. That is the enduring faith which receives the precious promises of God. Hebrews Chapter 10 verses 35 to 39. That is the faith which receives without seeing because the faith is based on the word of God and the word of God always produces great and good and precious results. Please read Hebrews Chapter 11.

Dimensions of Faith

Faith does not necessarily have to be great though it is best when it is great. But even if it is as little as a mustard seed, it can move mountains, relocate mountains (Matthew Chapter 17 verse 20). Ironically, the mustard seed is a very tiny seed (Mark Chapter 4 verses 31 to 32) yet when it is planted and grows up as a tree, it shelters birds from the whole world. In like manner, if you receive the word of God as the word of God in your heart (1^st Thessalonians Chapter 2 verse 13) and allow the word to dwell in you richly in all wisdom (Colossians Chapter 3 verse 16) then the sky is the start point for the faith exploits God will use to do because the word of God will mix with faith in your heart and profit you. How does the word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom? Through study, meditation, prophesying.