Wanted: God-Fearing People in Power
What I'm about to share is a burden that I've carried for a few weeks, ever since this matter was brought to my attention. And the more I've thought about it, the more my spirit has been troubled. I'm sure we do appreciate the fact that such burdens come from the Spirit of God inside of us being grieved.
To say that God's cup of wrath against this generation is getting fuller and fuller is an understatement. No wonder the Bible says that on the Day His wrath will be revealed, even the mountains will be looking for a place to hide. I can understand why some people have stopped listening to the so-called 'news' because the things you hear do not edify your spirit. Unfortunately, when you run from hearing such 'news' on the TV, you confront them on the Internet, Facebook, Whatsapp etc. It appears there's no more hiding place for us any more.
Let me 'hit the nail on the head' about what has troubled my spirit for so long. It is the news about the brutality experienced by two female opposition leaders in Uganda, who were stripped naked by the police force and paraded before the public. What was their crime? They left the main party and joined the opposition. Now what do you say to that? I know that African leaders commit many atrocities once they're in positions of authority and have tasted power. It's usually a 'do or die' affair. This vice is not exclusive to African leaders. It exists in other developing countries as well. But the problem is that if people were in power to transform their society and be a blessing to their people, and not for selfish gain, why would it matter what party they supported?
I'm sure like me we can all heave a sigh of relief that when we die no one takes ANYTHING out of this world. We come naked, empty-handed, and we leave empty-handed. I suppose God knew why it had to be so. You can imagine what the world would look like if people died and were able to take their wealth with them? Yet, see how low some leaders really degenerate to.
What would be the gain of stripping two women of their dignity and parading them before the public? What sin have they committed? Do they not have a right to their own opinion and decision? Yet, the people who committed these atrocities have mothers, wives, sisters and other female relatives. Would they love for someone to do the same to their loved one? It is no wonder that Jesus asked us to live by the golden rule: 'do to others, what you would like done to you' (Matthew 7:12). Imagine what the world would become if we all lived that way?
When a woman was caught in the very act of adultery and brought to Jesus, they thought He would condemn her according to their law. But we all know how Jesus responded, 'he that is without sin, cast the first stone' (John 8:6). David understood the heart of God when he wrote 'if you O Lord, should mark iniquities, …who will stand?’ (Psalm 130:3). Thank God that today we are where we are, only by the special grace of God. When Adam and Eve sinned, He gave them clothing to cover their shame. And in fact the Bible says 'love covers a multitude of sins' (1Peter 4:8). Any human being who takes delight in exposing the nakedness of others of course has the judgement of God awaiting him/her.
On the other hand, beloved, these atrocities and these things we see, hear and read about in all these media outlets should force us to our knees to cry out to God, and should put a 'holy anger' in us to share the gospel of the kingdom, with more intensity. The world needs to understand that there's an alternative lifestyle, life in the kingdom of God, and our aim should be to bring many into that kingdom. Sadly though, it is becoming more and more difficult for the world to differentiate the children of the kingdom, from those living in the kingdom of darkness. Our lifestyle often negates principles of God’s kingdom. So, what is the attraction for others desiring to come into something that is not much different from what they already have? Hence I believe the Body of Christ need an outpouring of the Holy Spirit; a spiritual awakening that will enable us to REDISCOVER the kingdom of God. The Lord will help us, in Jesus' Name.
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However, God never leaves us without a witness. We have enough examples of people in positions of power or authority, whether as recorded in the Bible, or even before our very eyes, who saw their positions as the means to help their people, and not to exploit or take advantage of them. Imagine that another African like the Late Nelson Mandela, was able to sacrifice 27years of his life fighting to liberate his people, and when the time came for him, like Joseph, to become the President of his country, he preached peace, love and forgiveness. Not only that, even if he wanted to become lifetime President of S.Africa, no one would have denied him of it. Yet, he did just one term and left an example for others to follow in his footsteps. He understood what the Bible says that 'a good name is to be desired than riches' (Proverbs 22:1). Human beings forget that 'what a man sows, he will reap' (Galatians 6:7), and God will ‘visit the sins of the fathers on the children to their third and fourth generation’ (Numbers 14:18). I hate to think of the posterity of those who commit atrocities and think they'll get away with it.
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We also read the testimony of Job, as he recounted how he treated the poor around him. He said (Job 29:7-25) 'When I went out to the gate of the city, when I prepared my seat in the square, the young men saw me and withdrew, and the aged rose and stood; the princes refrained from talking and laid their hand on their mouth; the voice of the nobles was hushed,and their tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth. When the ear heard, it called me blessed,and when the eye saw, it approved, because I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him. The blessing of him who was about to perish came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;my justice was like a robe and a turban. I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know. I broke the fangs of the unrighteous and made him drop his prey from his teeth. Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand, my roots spread out to the waters,with the dew all night on my branches, my glory is fresh within me, and my bow ever new in my hand.’“Men listened to me and waited and kept silence for my counsel. After I spoke they did not speak again, and my word dropped upon them. They waited for me as for the rain,
and they opened their mouths as for the spring rain. I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and the light of my face they did not cast down. I chose their way and sat as chief,and I lived like a king among his troops, like one who comforts mourners.’
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I was also thrilled about the Bible’s account of Nehemiah’s governorship, and how he handled his affairs when he was in power. Here is his testimony (Nehemiah 5:14-19): ‘Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. Moreover, there were at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us. Now what was prepared at my expense for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people. Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people’.
Indeed, as God remembers the good we do, so also does He keep a record of the evil that we do, and it is only the fear of God that keeps people from evil (Proverbs 16:6b). That should be our prayer, that God will raise up leaders, not only in Africa, but all over the world, who have the fear of God.
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Father hear our cry, we pray, and deliver us from this evil and adulterous generation. Please raise up God fearing leaders who would carry out the assignment You entrust into their hands with reverence for You, in Jesus’ Name. Amen!!!
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You can also join me on Twitter @ngoziokike1.
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