He was once the richest man in the world. The first billionaire in the world.

By age 25 he controlled one of the largest oil refineries in the nation. By age 31 he had become the world’s largest oil refiner. By age 38 he commanded 90% of the oil refined in the U.S. By the time of his retirement at age 58, he was the richest man in the country. By the time he died, he had become the richest man in the world.

As a young man, every decision, attitude, and relationship was tailored to create his personal power and wealth. But at the age of 53 he became ill. His entire body became racked with pain and he lost all of his hair. In complete agony, the world’s only billionaire could buy anything he wanted, but he could only digest milk and crackers. An associate wrote, “He could not sleep, would not smile and nothing in life meant anything to him.” His personal, highly skilled physicians predicted he would die within a year. That year passed agonizingly slow.

As he approached death he awoke one morning with the vague remembrances of a dream about not being able to take any of his successes with him into the next world. The man who could control the business world suddenly realized he was not in control of his own life. He was left with a choice. He called his attorneys, accountants, and managers and announced that he wanted to channel his assets to hospitals, research, and mission work. On that day John D. Rockefeller established his foundation.

This new direction eventually led to the discovery of penicillin, cures for malaria, tuberculosis and diphtheria. But perhaps the most amazing part of Rockefeller’s story is that the moment he began to give back a portion of all that he had earned, his body’s chemistry was altered so significantly that he got better. It looked as if he would die at 53 but he lived to be 98.

Rockefeller learned gratitude and gave back the vast majority of his wealth. Doing so made him whole. It is one thing to be healed. It is another to be made whole. He attended the Baptist Church. He was faithful in working for God in the church, cleaning the house of God, until he died!

Before his death, he wrote this in his dairy:
“I was early taught to work as well as play,
My life has been one long, happy holiday;
Full of work and full of play
I dropped the worry on the way
And God was good to me everyday”

I hope the true story of the life of this man, who happens to be the first billionaire, will make many wealthy ones or those chasing wealth have a rethink to show more LOVE to mankind.

He was once the richest man in the world. The first billionaire in the world.

By age 25 he controlled one of the largest oil refineries in the nation. By age 31 he had become the world’s largest oil refiner. By age 38 he commanded 90% of the oil refined in the U.S. By the time of his retirement at age 58, he was the richest man in the country. By the time he died, he had become the richest man in the world.

As a young man, every decision, attitude, and relationship was tailored to create his personal power and wealth. But at the age of 53 he became ill. His entire body became racked with pain and he lost all of his hair. In complete agony, the world’s only billionaire could buy anything he wanted, but he could only digest milk and crackers. An associate wrote, “He could not sleep, would not smile and nothing in life meant anything to him.” His personal, highly skilled physicians predicted he would die within a year. That year passed agonizingly slow.

As he approached death he awoke one morning with the vague remembrances of a dream about not being able to take any of his successes with him into the next world. The man who could control the business world suddenly realized he was not in control of his own life. He was left with a choice. He called his attorneys, accountants, and managers and announced that he wanted to channel his assets to hospitals, research, and mission work. On that day John D. Rockefeller established his foundation.

This new direction eventually led to the discovery of penicillin, cures for malaria, tuberculosis and diphtheria. But perhaps the most amazing part of Rockefeller’s story is that the moment he began to give back a portion of all that he had earned, his body’s chemistry was altered so significantly that he got better. It looked as if he would die at 53 but he lived to be 98.

Rockefeller learned gratitude and gave back the vast majority of his wealth. Doing so made him whole. It is one thing to be healed. It is another to be made whole. He attended the Baptist Church. He was faithful in working for God in the church, cleaning the house of God, until he died!

Before his death, he wrote this in his dairy:
“I was early taught to work as well as play,
My life has been one long, happy holiday;
Full of work and full of play
I dropped the worry on the way
And God was good to me everyday”

I hope the true story of the life of this man, who happens to be the first billionaire, will make many wealthy ones or those chasing wealth have a rethink to show more LOVE to mankind.

• 

If you want to be worded, please feel free to study scriptures without reading the whole Bible. Just go for Greek and Hebrew, you know, katakrino, epiginosko, hasedagape, and so on. Very soon you will be a rhemified wordsmith and bible teacher extraordinare.
Listeners will slap their laps as you tear them word, shouting Shanda! Yes Sir!! Preach it!! And several tonguings like Zualakate and so on
BUT if you want to live the Christ-Life, you have to read the Book. I maintain that it takes the whole Bible to make a whole Christian. It takes the whole Bible to make a healthy church. The whole Bible is the Christian doctrine.
Three times the devil tempted the Lord in the days of His flesh, and not once did He say “the greek word for stone is ajeokuta mamomi” or “the context of that verse you quoted in the greek is not jump but glide…”. Mba. He simply replied “It is written..” or “It is also written”
Not once did He say, that is Jesus; “Have you not studied the rhema of this or that?” Rara. He said “Have you never READ…”
Both reading and studying are important, but reading comes first. Reading is fundamental to studying. Paul did not only write to Timothy saying “Study to show yourself a workman who rightly divides the word of truth.” He first said to him “Give attention to reading.”
Before you can specialise in advanced calculus or space geometry, you have to do mathematics at a basic level. Before you can read books and write poems, you have to learn A to Z. Before you become a specialist in any area, you need a foundation in the general knowledge of that field.
No one gets into school and starts learning obstetrics or heart surgery. No. You will learn nonsense. First you have to know about the whole human body – how it is structured and how it works; then later you can focus on the heart. The whole Bible is one message. Reading the whole is the proper macro-context for studying any part.
You know, a doctor can look at someone’s feet and know that there is a big problem with their heart. He or she will treat the heart and both the heart and feet will be fine.
Another person who never studied medicine but calls themselves a foot specialist will see the same feet and start massaging it, making marks on it, and applying all kinds of substances until the person dies.
That’s why we have so many dead doctrines that massage the itching ears of some but do nothing for their hearts. It is because the teachers are trying to explain Paul’s algebra but they don’t know Isaiah’s arithmetics. They cannot count 1 to 100 but are trying to solve (yx + 2xy – y)/(x – 1) = 12.
Disaster.
Jesus said to the Jews “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?” When He explained the gospel to His disciples, He began with the writings of Moses and went through all the prophets.
Some of you don’t know how to pray with the understanding at all, because you have never really read the Psalms. Eugene Peterson, the author of The Message Translation said the Psalms are the prayer language of the church. That book is an anatomy of all kinds of prayers; whether intercessory, supplication, warfare or others. Jesus on the Cross prayed with the words of the Psalms. The apostles in Acts 4 prayed from Psalms 2.
Some of you want to be deep worshippers and worship leaders but you don’t know the Bible. Don Moen sang “You make me lie down in green pastures (Psalm 23)”; “He never sleeps (Psalm 121)”; “God is the strength of my heart (Psalm 73)”. Ron kenoly sang “The Lord be magnified (Psalm 40)”; Ancient of Days (Daniel 7) and so on. Nathaniel Bassey sang “Your name is a strong tower (Proverbs 18)”, Casting Crowns and Book of Life (Revelation)
But you want to be doing deep spiritual chants and you think it’s only when you do unknown tongue chants that you are doing a Holy Ghost ministration. No! The Bible says – be filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking to yourselves IN PSALMS and hymns and spiritual songs…but you have never read the Psalms or the Prophets. You want dance like David danced but you haven’t read what David said
You never hala!
Some of you cannot preach and prophesy because you don’t know the prophets. When Jesus got to His hometown, He said the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me. Isaiah 61. It was powerful! The first time Peter preached, He said “This is that which was spoken by the prophet…that’s right. Joel 2.” You want to teach like Paul taught but you haven’t read what Paul read.
You never hala!
And some cannot live for God alone because you have never read the Scriptures.
If you’ve read Abraham’s story, impatience will die
If you’ve read Joseph’s story, complaining will be hard
If you’ve read the young prophet’s story, no false prophet can easily deceive you
If you’ve read of Ham, you will shun dishonor
If you’ve read of Hezekiah, you will be more careful what you post about your personal life
If you’ve read Hosea, you will understand love better
If you’ve read of Gehazi, you will serve more sincerely
If you’ve read of Ananias and Sapphira, you won’t tell lies in church
If you’ve read of Paul and Silas, you will praise God when the odds are against you
Until you see that you are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses; and not just Paul’s witness; you will find it difficult to run the race with patience, the race set before you. Unless you know that everything was written as an example to you, for your learning, comfort, teaching, rebuke, correction, and training in righteousness; you will be a drop out from the school of the Spirit with an incomplete kingdom education.
And Jesus who began to do and teach quoted Genesis, Exodus, Psalms, Deuteronomy etc and Peter quoted Exodus, Leviticus, Isaiah, Psalms etc and Paul quoted Isaiah, Malachi etc; then if you must know the Christian faith; and you must live as they lived
Then you have to read your Bible from Genesis to Revelation.
Nothing less will do.
Good evening.

TEXT: JEREMIAH 29:20-32
🔑KEY VERSE “Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; because he hath taught rebellion against the LORD” (JEREMIAH 29:32).

“Thus saith the Lord” has become a common tune in the mouths of many in our society. There are so many self-appointed prophets showcasing themselves and their ministries on radio, television and the social media. They use high sounding words, push people down under a purported anointing and are always quick to make prophetic declaration on every trending issues in the society. The most unfortunate fact of their life is that they have no knowledge of the God they claim to represent. They have, in turn, made their followers “twice children of hell”. These are impostors and deceivers in the world.

Today’s passage opens with the declaration of God’s displeasure and judgment against three impostors in Jeremiah’s day. Zedekiah, Ahab and Shemaiah arrogated to themselves the office of prophets that God never gave them. God declared them to be adulterers and liars, and placed a curse upon them in Israel for their hypocrisy and misleading utterances. These impostors had something in common; they were all involved in telling the people what they would like to hear.

This passage presents some salient lessons to us. First, God honours, supports and defends His faithful servants. Second, unregenerate minds cannot be used of God to liberate those in captivity. Third, we should be wary of ministers who preach only what people want to hear but avoid the bitter truth of God’s word. Fourth, God will definitely cut off the remembrance of impostors.

Faithfulness to God’s word will definitely draw criticisms and persecutions; but like Jeremiah, we must be resilient in our commitment to the truth. We are to rebuke sin and corruption but should not forget to spread the word of peace in the gospel of Christ to the society in a difficult time like this.

✍THOUGHT FOR THE DAY Test every Spirit and hold on to the truth.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 CHRONICLES 9-11.

MEDITATION

Rebellion in the house of God

1. The divine verdict
   a. The self styled prophet Shemaiah was accused of not only rebelling against the word of God but also teaching rebellion to others, v32.
   b. Severe judgements that also affected his lineage was pronounced on him, v32.
   c. Untimely death of all the male child that will be born to the family including his own untimely death were the evil verdict pronounced on him, v32.
   d. This agrees with Matthew 5:19 where Jesus said “whosoever shall break one of these least commandments (on the sermon of the mount) and shall teach men so” shall be cut off from the “kingdom of heaven”.
   e. Observe that his children who did not know the Lord will partake of the calamity even though they might not have been born by then. How wonderful is it to be truly saved and free from inherited curses!
2. The defining villany
   What really constituted what God called his rebellion against the Lord?
   a. He presumptuously sent a message to people of God in the name of the Lord when God had not sent him, vv25,26.
   b. His love for preeminence made him to hijack leadership authority of God’s appointed prophets, vv25,26.
   c. He was calling the appointed ministers of God unprintable names, like “mad” people out of self inspired overzealousness, v26.
   d. He was exercising the authority of a priest and judge, which God had not giving him, to dictate punishments and imprisonment of God sent servants in the name of the Lord, v26.
   e. He was guilty of enviously instigating the people of God against His truly sent servants and their messages, v27.
   f. He defiantly contradicted the clear word of God or prophesy of Jeremiah, the true servant of God, vv27,28.
   g. He, using his communicational ability, successfully and convincingly carried along the naive people of God and gave them false hope by causing them “to trust in a lie”, vv28,31.
   h. He lowered the standard of God’s word by speaking to please the people, telling them that captivity will be brief when the word of God said the opposite, vv28,31.
   i. He deliberately and consciously justified what God did not approve in the name of the Lord, vv31,32.

Ponder to make sure that traits of rebellion are not in you or those that are your ministers you enjoy listening to🤔

3. The demanded virtues
   a. It is easy to see the virtues that God demand from every child of God. Those virtues are diametrically opposed to rebellion and its “innocent tendencies.”
   b. Presumption, pride and self are root causes even though they may be justified with the name of the Lord.
   c. Meekness, humility, commitment to do the will of God, self crucifixion etc are virtues that God demanded from every true child of God. Jesus said, “learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls, Matthew 11:29.

Question
Can you in your inward heart honestly claim that you are meek and lowly in heart?

The standard of God is not generational biased. The grace of God in the life of those who lived in the generation past will produce the same virtues in those who live in the modern time🤷‍♂️

Prayer points
I want the old time grace of meekness and humility of Christ to be made deeper in my heart🙏
Let you word and your Spirit scan through my heart to expose and remove all tendencies towards rebellion in my heart 🙏
Take away all adoration and admiration that I have for rebellious ministers posing as servants of God🙏
Pray for convictiom and repentance for all ministers that are already treading the path of rebellion in order to have large followership🙏

TEXT: Revelation 17:1-18.

Memory Verse: “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).

This chapter of the book of Revelation reveals many things concerning “the great whore”, a woman “with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication,” and who has corrupted “the inhabitants of the earth… with the wine of her fornication” (verses 1,2). She was “arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold”, holding “a golden cup… full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication” (verse 4). The woman, “drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus” (verse 6) was also pictured as sitting upon “many waters”. John, the Beloved, who saw the vision of the woman sitting on the scarlet-coloured beast, was astonished at her appearance and apparel. He wondered with great amazement at what the woman and the beast symbolised. “And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns” (Revelation 17:7). One of the seven angels, pouring out the vials of God’s wrath observed that John was amazed at what he saw and offered to interpret the vision to him.

DEPICTION, POSITION AND PERVERSION OF THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS
(Revelation 17:1-6; 13:1-6; Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Jeremiah 25:6,7; 51:47-49; Ezekiel 8:5-18; 24:13,14; Matthew 4:10; Ephesians 5:5; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Colossians 2:18; 1 John 5:21; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12; Revelation 18:12-16,20-24)

Apostle John was invited to closely observe the judgment determined by God upon the whore: “And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters”. The judgment of the great whore and the inhabitants of the earth who have drunk the wine of her fornication is certain. Who does this whore (harlot) represent? A harlot or prostitute is an unfaithful and sensual woman who engages in sexual activity for money. The Scripture uses harlotry to express non-committal to a single person in relationship or involvement with multiple persons for filthy lucre. She is different from a faithful, upright and loyal woman who remains attached to her husband. In the Old Testament, Israel was portrayed as the wife of Jehovah (Isaiah 54:5; 62:5; Jeremiah 2:2,3) but her unfaithfulness to God made her to be tagged a whore or harlot (Hosea 2:2-13). In the New Testament, the true Church is pictured as the bride of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:25-30; Revelation 19:6-9). So, this “great whore that sitteth upon many waters” represents the unfaithful, false, apostate church – a worldwide church that loves the world instead of Christ (1 John 2:15-17). It is the nominal church that calls Christ “Lord, Lord” but would not follow His teachings (Luke 6:46). This is the counterfeit church that persecutes true followers of Christ (Matthew 23:34-38; Galatians 4:29). The apostate church will have world-wide control during the great tribulation. The religious system of the last days will be an unmistakable manifestation of Satan’s counterfeit of true Christianity.

Question 1: What does the “mother of abominations” represent?

The lewd and abandoned whore or harlot, representing the corrupt, unfaithful, idolatrous and apostate church of the last days will be influential during the great tribulation. Her position of sitting “upon many waters” shows her intercontinental perversion. “The waters where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (verse 15). Here, “waters” symbolise nations as explained in Revelation 17:15. This harlot or false religious system will have and exercise great, world-wide and sovereign power. Her position is that of a ruler seated on a throne, ruling and controlling the nations of the world. Historically, the apostate church had seduced the rulers of the earth, leading them to idolatry, false worship and corruption. Even today, many princes, nobles and great men are entirely under the influence of the corrupt, unrighteous religious organisation. “And the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” When the Lord showed Apostle John the Bride of Christ, He took him to a mountain, great and high. But when He showed him the apostate church, he was carried into the wilderness. “So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy.” Wherever there is spiritual adultery, there is desolation and a desert of dreary waste. Scarlet is the colour of luxury, splendour and royalty. The scarlet-coloured beast, the Antichrist, for a time will support and use the false religious system to bring about world unity. Eventually, he will openly bear names and titles of blasphemy. “And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls.” The woman, representing the church that has departed from the faith, is portrayed as a prostitute who has plied her trade successfully and become extremely wealthy. There is “a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication”. The life and secret acts of leaders and members in the apostate church are full of abominations, filthiness and all forms of uncleanness.

Question 2: What do the name and clothing of the great whore signify?

The name on the forehead of the harlot referred to spiritual Babylon, the mother or source of harlotry and abominations of the earth. The name identified the whore to be a religious system fostering and tolerating all the abominations that go with idolatry and spiritual fornication. As a harlot, she would promote the amalgamation of all false and Christ-less religion with a common purpose to defile and persecute the true Church. False religion has killed millions of believers over the centuries and the false religious system of the last days will be far deadlier than any that preceded it. “And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration” (verse 6). History tells us that Queen Mary was a religious woman who ruled England from July 1553 until her death in 1558. She was also known as “Bloody Mary” because under her reign, over 280 Christians were burnt at the stake because of their Christian stand. Believers will surely experience trials but the comfort of the Scripture is, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).

Question 3: Describe the method used by “worldly churches” to draw people away from true gospel.

DESCRIPTION AND DESTINY OF THE ANTICHRIST (Revelation 17:7-13; 9:1-3; 13:1-18; 11:7; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10; Daniel 7:7,8,20-26; 8:23-25; 11:36,45; 1 Timothy 4:1; Zechariah 1:18,19)

“The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit.” This refers to the Antichrist. He had an existence in the past (in the form of evil, wicked, anti-God government), but ceases to exist for a time. Then he would ascend from the bottomless pit, that is, he will be an incarnation of Satan and evil beyond anything ever seen before. He will embody all the terrorising traits of the ancient empires. “The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth” – undoubtedly referring to Rome, the seven-hilled city. The kingdom or government of the Antichrist will subdue and embody seven great kingdoms. His power will be great and supernaturally evil. He will conquer three more kingdoms. “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings.” These ten kingdoms will be under the power of the Antichrist and form a great alliance with him. The beast carrying the woman is connected with that of Revelation chapter thirteen; the beast will flourish for a while but will eventually be destroyed (Revelation 17:10,11). “And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast” (Revelation 17:12,13). These ten horns on the seven-headed monster are united in the promotion of the same evil plan – to fight against Christ, the Lamb of God. These ten horns are ten kings which receive power to reign as kings one hour (for a brief period) with the beast (Revelation 17:12). The revived kingdoms of the end-time Roman Empire will be united in support and submission under the government of the Antichrist. The Antichrist will be so mighty and powerful as all the kings would give their power and strength to him. There is currently a high level of fraternity between the apostate church and the world. This is part of the satanic conspiracy to deceive multitudes and cause them to remain in wickedness which will lead to the eternal damnation of their souls. Believers must be wary of Satan’s subtle allurements which are aimed at inducing them to fall from steadfastness and faithfulness to the Lord. Christ’s warning remains, “Take heed that no man deceive you” (Matthew 24:4,5,11,24).
Question 4: Why is it needful for believers to be watchful in these last days?
As believers, we must not allow anyone to deceive us. Multitudes have been deceived from the simplicity of the gospel and have fallen into a false system of worship that permits a worshipper to call Jesus “Lord, Lord” but do not the things which He says. They blindly follow leaders who “promise them liberty”, but “they themselves are the servants of corruption”. Such people who follow the pernicious way will, no doubt, partake of the judgment reserved for the mother of abominations. The judgment of all who sell their souls to the apostate church and false religions will be terrible, fearful and eternal. The path of wisdom today is to repent genuinely and have faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus.

DEFEAT AND DESTRUCTION OF THE ANTICHRIST AND APOSTATES (Revelation 17:14-18; 16:14,19; 19:15-20; Psalms 2:1-5; 21:8-12; 110:5; 149:5-9; Jeremiah 51:13; Micah 5:7-9; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Isaiah 14:27; Revelation 16:19; Romans 8:37)

“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” The ten kings and the Antichrist shall join forces to make war with the Lamb but He shall overcome them. As believers, we should rest assured that the Antichrist and his mighty army will fight against the Lamb but will not prevail. Christ must reign till all enemies are put under His feet. Though there are and will be myriads of opposition against His kingdom, He is sure to have the victory. Though many affronts may be raised by the enemy to frustrate us on our heavenward journey, we are more than conquerors through Jesus our Saviour (Romans 8:37). Christ’s victory is certain and predetermined over all forces of evil, the power and army of the Antichrist. Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings. He has supreme power over all the earth, and all kings and powers will be conquered and subdued under Him.

Question 5: What assurance does a believer have considering Satan’s inspired onslaughts against the Church?

“And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth” (verse 18). The woman represents mystery Babylon, religious Babylon, that is, the apostate church with all systems of false religion. The false worship of mystery Babylon, the mother of abominations, will influence and control the minds of multitudes of people on earth. The Antichrist will use the false prophet who will perform deceptive miracles and lying wonders to sway, win and hold the minds of men. After achieving his purpose, gaining control over the whole world, the Antichrist and his political alliance will turn against the religious movement of Babylon. Religious Babylon will be destroyed. “And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire” (verse 16). The Antichrist will eventually strip religious Babylon of its formidable power. Such destruction and overthrow of false religion is ordained by God; “For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled” (verse 17). And when God’s purposes are fulfilled, the beast and his alliance shall go into perdition. Believers should be determined to make the rapture so that they will not be here when all these things begin to happen. Let those who profess Christ commit the keeping of their souls unto Him who is able to save us to the uttermost.

Pa Syndey Elton and the prophetic destiny of Nigeria

Dr. Sunday Adelaja.Pa Sydney Granville Elton was a towering apostolic and prophetic vessel in the hand of God specifically for Nigeria. This man lived in Nigeria for 50 years from 1937 to 1987, you can say he gave his life for Nigeria. Before he died he made this profound prophetic declaration about Nigeria.Pa Elton was no stranger to the prophetic. When he was a young man growing up in England God specifically spoke to him to move over to Nigeria and locate a town by the name of Ilesha. He searched and low and behold, he found such a town in Nigeria, it’ll be home for the next 50 years of his life.When he got to Ilesha, he became a part of an ongoing revival there led by Apostle Ayo Babalola. He ended up becoming a mentor to Apostle Babalola, and many other known Christian leaders in Nigeria. He was the spiritual father of Archbishop Benson Idahosa.Benson Idahosa testified of how God specifically gave him the name  Ilesha and told him to go look for a white man there who will mentor him. There are other great names that came out of Pa Elton’s prophetic revelation to raise up future Christian leaders from Nigerian universities.The list of names that came out of that obedience is impressive; Pastor E.A Adeboye, W.F Kumuyi, Emeka Nwakpa, Gbile Akanni, Francis Wale Oke etc. His only daughter Ms Ruth, just like her father gave her life for the service of humanity in Nigeria. She got a Nigerian passport and refused to marry or move back to England.Listen to his prophecy about Nigeria and Nigerians: “Nigeria and Nigerians will be known all over the world for corruption. Your name Nigeria will stink for corruption but after a while, a new phase will come a phase of righteousness. People from the nations of the earth will hold to a Nigerian and say, We want to follow you to your nation to go and learn righteousness.”

I believe that just as this man saw it in the spirit years back, Nigeria is presently going through that phase of shame and humiliation. I hope we will not give up on ourselves thereby spoiling the purpose of God for us as a nation. The name Nigeria is not only stinking to those afar but as we see today that it’s now having a bad odour to Nigerians themselves, such that many are now clamouring for any other state other than Nigeria.If we however can only persevere through these hard and difficult times, I’m certain there’ll be light at the end of the tunnel. Every dark night no matter how dark will eventually end up in a new dawn. I believe better days are still ahead for Nigeria, I pray we shall live to see and partake in those days in Jesus name.Dear Nigerians, our population is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to us. Our population is our trump card. If we had not had the population we have, things would have been gloomy for us. It is a pity that Nigerians talk more about tribalism and other things dividing us instead of celebrating the beauty and the majesty we possess, thanks to the fact that we are together. It is a pity that some parts of Nigeria now talk of breaking away. It is a shame that some Nigerians now see fellow Nigerians as enemies.It is unacceptable that there is now fights for separation in Biafra, Oduduwa nations all over the land. This is unacceptable, for it is aimed at bringing down one of the countries that have the capacity of becoming one of the greatest in the world, just by diversity of size and population alone. In the case of Africa it will be detrimental because this is the only country that has the real potential to fly the flag of the black race to greatness.Just for comparison, let’s assume that the United States of America did not have the population it has, let’s say it had only 30 million people, there is no way they would have become the super power of the world that they are today, neither economically nor militarily.Small nations don’t become super powers, not economically or militarily. That is why when America was smaller and consisted of only 13 states, they embarked on a mission of buying and taking over more lands and territories for the purpose of becoming a super power in the future. That is what led to the addition of other territories like Texas, California, Florida, Colorado, Porto Rico, to the entity of the United States of America, making them a super nation on the earth.In the history of the world at large, almost all nations went to war only for this purpose to expand their territory and population. It was obvious to them then just as it is to us today that only countries with bigger populations and bigger territories will be respected and honoured in the world.Can you imagine Russia being a super power without its population? When Russia was a super power, there were about 300 million people as well. After losing half of that population, Russia is not the same anymore even though they are still a large nation of almost 150 million people. As the case may be, if Russia had 10 million or 20 million people, their production capacity would not have been able to pull them through to become a super power.Only large populations create large economies. I know there are Nigerians who will say they don’t need a big country neither do they need a superpower nation, that they only need to eat and drink now. What if the Chinese have said the same thing at their trying hour, what if Americans have been satisfied with only 13 states, none of them would have become the beacon of hope they presently are to the world.Egocentrism and selfishness are what have brought Nigeria to the state she is in now, and it’s that same selfishness that makes people say just give me what to eat I care less for a great nation. This mentality of instant gratification is what is killing Nigeria, no matter how many smaller nations we are divided into we will take this demon with us. Great nations we run to for economic refuge were not built by people who thought about themselves and what to eat or drink only.Hence JFK the former President of America says not to ask for what your country could do for you but rather ask what you could do for your country. This is the mentality we need to build a great Nigeria. We need to begin to see the big picture in regards to the future of Nigerian, we need to know that we must sacrifice today to get a greater tomorrow.By the way, what we call hardship in Nigeria today is nothing compared to the hard price paid by those who built the nations we admire today, be it in Europe, America or Asia. Government doesn’t build great nations, only citizens do. Nigerians must stop their mindset of waiting for the government to do everything for them and begin to take charge of their nation’s themselves, just as they do in developed countries.There are many factors that make great nations great. The most important of those factors is the population. Are you not glad that Nigeria has that in abundance, why should we break that away into smaller, insignificant segments whatever it’s called; Oduduwa republic, Biafra or Arewa republics? Apart from the production power of a huge population like China, there is also the vantage position of their purchasing power.Still taking China, for example, people used to say China has the largest number of poor people in the world, but that was only a matter of time. In fact, right now, the events of the last few decades and the rapid development of the Chinese economy has left no one in doubt that China indeed is the future of our world.It is on its way to overcoming the USA to become the strongest and largest economy in the world. The same thing with India. Even though there is a large number of poor people in India today, it also has one of the largest number of millionaires, the same as China. The same will be the story with Nigeria,  the Nigerian economy will recover and become like China or India sooner or later.If China or India had given up on their nations while they were the capitals of poverty in the world then they won’t have the results they have today. The tide shall turn for Nigeria too, nothing remains the same forever, change is the only constant in life, we won’t be the poverty capital of the world forever. By 2050 Nigeria will become one of the largest economies in the world this is the projection of the World Bank.Today India, not minding the fact that it is a developing country, now ranks as the 4th largest economy in the world. This is all thanks to their population. Nigeria and Nigerians therefore should be rejoicing and bragging about their good fortune to have managed to live together with so many diverse nations under one umbrella.Have you ever heard of The European Union coming together? Why do you think they did so? Do you think they had no reason in doing that? No, my friends, it is because they know the power and the strength of numbers. They know the place of the population in human development. Small, small nations even if they are 50, scattered all over Europe, are weak and defeatable without the strength of a combined population. They are vulnerable economically and militarily.We don’t need to begin to go through that process of bringing tribes and ethnic groups together all over again in Nigeria. It is already done for us either by chance or default. Whatever the case might be, Nigerians should be some of the most hopeful people on the planet, especially if we get our act together politically and economically.It is my firm belief that our nation Nigeria is just on the verge of announcing her arrival on the world stage as the Rising Sun of the new age. This is not the time for us to begin to use tribalism to pull ourselves down. It is not the time for us to begin to lay emphasis on our old and outdated stereotypes, blaming one tribe or the other for all the woes of our nation.Lastly, some people tell me, “But you are in Ukraine and Ukraine broke away from Russia, why do you not want Nigeria to do the same? Yes. Countries that broke away from Russia were fifteen. But do you know by name any of them right now? They broke away into insignificance, troubles, and instabilities.Hope you know what is happening in Ukraine right now? Have you heard about the civil war in Ukraine after they broke away from Russia? As Ukraine broke away from Russia, some parts of Ukraine are now fighting to also break away from Ukraine. It has already happened in Yugoslavia, Yugoslavia was a respected country until the voice of secession began to raise its ugly head.Today, you can hardly remember the names of the new nations, their plight has only worsened the direct opposite of what they aimed to get. There is no end to secession, as seen in the example of Yugoslavia once a country disintegrates, it continues to disintegrate.It was Kosovo that started the call for independence, but that one secession didn’t stop there, it led to Croatia clamouring for their independence too, once they are gone Slovenia became the next one. Now we have Republic of Serbia, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia. Bosnia and Hercegovina, they all have one thing in common, once glorious now unnoticed, unknown, unsung and ingloriousIt is true, countries indeed broke away from Russia, but they all broke away into insignificance, some into oblivion. Russia, still remains great until now. When they were part of something big, their strength was unmatched and they could not be conquered.I have made a strong argument in this article against the disintegration of Nigeria. I am convinced that secession is not nearly the end of Nigeria’s problems, it would rather be the beginning.If God forbid Biafra or Oduduwa manage to break away from Nigeria, that might only be the beginning of sorrow, because they too might end up breaking down into smaller segments, it’ll be good if they do without bitter civil wars among themselves. It’ll be a tale of woes and gory.Throughout these 20 articles,(check my facebook wall for previous) I have tried to make a case for why Nigeria is better together. I have tried my best to present arguments why Yorubas are better off in Nigeria.There is no doubt that we can create a great nation, a world superpower together. If all the 371 tribes in Nigeria bring together their strengths we can make the case for the black race. We can overcome all our challenges. We can stick together to create a better and greater Nigeria.Many countries have stuck together to resolve their problems. East and West Germany were two troubled states, but they chose to heal from the bitterness and hatred that was passed down their throats. They chose to heal from the wounds of a bitter war.As a result of that choice, Germany is a world Superpower today. Nigeria too can do the same. Nigeria can heal from the wounds of our present divides. Nigeria can move from the pains of our economic failure, overcome the bandits and the kidnappings. Nigeria can choose to be a nation in brotherhood,if we do this, Nigeria will one day sit on the same table as America, England, China, France, India and other great nations as equals. It is our place to carry the flag for the black race and become the pride of Africa and all Africans everywhere.Dr Sunday Adelaja is the Nigerian born  founder and senior pastor of the Embassy of the Blessed Kingdom of God for All Nations, an evangelical–charismatic megachurch and a Christian denomination in Kyiv, Ukraine.

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