by Ven. Dr B.U. Okafor | “Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. And rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.”
As the election draws nearer, I want to dwell on the dangerous situation into which Nigeria is sliding, especially the church. If care is not taken the church will soon slide into similar situation like that of the children of ancient Israel in the days of Pharaoh in Egypt; when they were dangerously and mightily oppressed by Pharaoh and his chariots, to the point where they even had to cast their male children into the rivers. In those days, it was dangerous to be called an Israelite or a Jew.
The church in Nigeria is sliding dangerously into such days as the days of Pharaoh, the days of Herod, and the days of the Antichrist. But God has promised us, the church and the whole nation, deliverance. This promise is in 2 Chron. 7:14: where God says, “if my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, I the Lord will hear from heaven and forgive their sins, and heal their land.”
God will hear and heal Nigeria and His people if:
- They humble themselves. Don’t be so proud. Many Nigerians are living in one sin or another: fornication, adultery, covetousness, greed, worldliness, etc. Why not humble thyself?
- They pray for the poor and needies instead of for themselves for more worldly treasures.
- Nigerians need to sought the face of the Lord, to know what pleases Him. They have not sought His kingdom-enlargement on earth, nor His righteousness. Rather, self-interest has consumed many of them.
- They turn away from their wicked ways. Instead they have oppressed the poor, prayed for the death of their enemies, and have not preached the gospel of Christ like the Apostles. They have not shone the light of God’s righteousness and mercy in this world. Rather they have been bitter, hard at work competing with the rest of the world. There is barely any difference between Christians and non-Christians these days.
Now Nigeria is heating up right and left with the persecution of the church; and it looks as if things are going to get worse. The devil has really come down to persecute the nation at large and especially churches in Nigeria. But the worst thing is the attitude of the children of God at a time like this. I am troubled that many children of God have neither curbed their extravagant life-style nor diminish their preaching of material prosperity and breakthrough messages, which have made many of the saints covetous and worldly. Even many of the great leaders have not sobered down their life-styles to reflect the doctrine of Christ, which is soberness and righteousness and truth which leads to godliness.
Many Believers have not preached the message that will bring true repentance to unbelievers and to the flock of God. Many have not diminished the flamboyance of their tempestuous life-styles, nor humbled themselves with sober living as true servants of Christ.
Many believers do not live in peace with their fellow saints and christians, and have not forgiven one another, and have set themselves on the war-path with other Christians. And because of this, at this critical hour, the church of God cannot come together to pray and humble ourselves, and corporately repent before God. Therefore, how can we fulfill 2 Chron 7:14 in our days?
Dear Brethren, this is an urgent appeal to the children of God. Do you not see the handwriting on the wall? Do you not see the days of Pharaoh are here? Do you not see that Herod is arising to oppress the church? Do you think it is impossible that you might be compelled to renounce your faith, or go into hiding to preserve your life? You may be saying “God forbid”, and I also say so. But do you know that God expects us to do something now to avert that disgrace and disaster?
We are appealing to all the ministers from various congregations to examine their ways. Times like this call for reflecting, soberness, and repentance. Preach righteousness, truth and soberness. Preach the word of God as well as hellfire. Turn your people back to God through Holy sober preaching and living a life of righteousness and truth. These are not the times for prosperity preaching and celebration. These are the days to actively seeking the Lord God and His Son, until He comes to deliver His people!
Fear God, all you congregations of God. Turn your lives to Christ. Don’t be boastful and flamboyant in your sinful lives. Repent now, and seek God’s help in these perilous times. Be sober, be just, be humble, and repent from your sins…..for the Lord is patiently waiting to show you mercy even in these evil days. Remember we are living in the prophesied perilous times of 2 Tim 3:1-17.
Let us go back to 2 Chron 7:14. Let us humble ourselves and pray. Let us seek the face of the Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit of God to show us our sins, and as He shows us, let us also ask Him to grant us repentance. Let us repent from all our diverse sins, and as we seek God’s forgiveness, let us also forgive those who have offended us in any way. As you forgive others, you will also receive forgiveness and healing.
Beloved, if you are in Nigeria at this time and you are discerning, you don’t need prophet Jonah or Isaiah or Jeremiah to tell you that we are in evil times. Unless we earnestly seek the Lord now, we are all in danger of being devoured by the devourer. Critical times requires critical measures.
Therefore, I am inviting you to join us in one week prayer and fasting for repentance and revival for the church and for the nation of Nigeria:
Date: Saturday, February 9th to Friday, February 15th 2019
Time: 6:00 am to 6:00 pm daily
If you love the Lord Jesus and cherish your faith, and I know you do, we appeal to you to join us in this fasting and prayer. It is a nation-wide event.
You will pray with your family anywhere around the world in the peaceful surrounding of your home. Do it earnestly with sincerity, as unto the Lord. Please, whenever possible, involve your churches as well.
The prayers are for repentance for all our sins, for faith towards God, to seek God’s help and His intervention for the church and for the nation; for peaceful elections on Saturday, February 16, 2019, and that God will deliver the Nigeria from Satan’s desires and schemes from bloodshed and violence.
Pray also for our leaders that God will deliver them from evil, that they will only do God’s will, and have the interests of the masses at heart. Pray that from 2019 elections will emerge a God fearing individual with interest of the church and nation at heart, a man of righteousness.
Pray for the ministers of God to arise to do righteousness and to preach the whole truth of the gospel, not a white-washed superficial gospel of material prosperity without holiness. And pray that righteousness and peace shall cover Nigeria (Prov. 14:34). And remember to pray for yourself and your household that God will preserve you from all evil and unto His everlasting kingdom.
This is an appeal to the entire Body of Christ (the church) in Nigeria. Let us all corporately, fervently and earnestly seek the Lord’s help, and see what He will do for the church, and for the nation of Nigeria. Please do not wait to be reminded because there may not be reminders. But we shall all fast and pray. Pray as if everything depended on your personal prayers. Above all, do not forget to register and vote.
This is non-denominational. It is God speaking to you to do the right thing now for the Christians in Nigeria and for a peaceful nation. These are perilous times, indeed!
Let us arise and do the right thing. You will never regret that you sought the help of the Lord at such a critical time in the history of Nigeria. Pray without ceasing.
Let us now all take up the admonition of prophet Joel in Joel 2:12-20:
“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. And rend your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.
Who knoweth if he will return and repent…?
Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly; gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and those that suck the breasts; let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.
Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, “Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thy heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them; wherefore should they say among the people, where is their God?’
Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people…”
Thank you for arising to pray, fast and vote during the General elections on February 16, 2019 to elect the President and the National Assembly. It is very necessary and urgent now!
Ven. Dr B.U. Okafor, National Evangelism Christian Outreach (NECO) Inc. – 15 Emenike Street, Mile One, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. Connect via necoportcity@yahoo.com.
