What to do when all seems to be Dark?

The truth is that in life, one would have trying and challenging times, when all seems dark and nothing seems to be working. In other words to know what to do when we are in such a situation, we need to able to identify ‘’dark times’’ as it were. Dark times as earlier said are those times when nothing seems to be working, they are times where our faith is tested and the efficacy of our testimony is tried, they are the days of wilderness, when they will be no father, mother or friend so save or deliver. During this period, men may even condemn you and tell you ‘’It is because of your past sins that these darkness as come upon you’’, these times brings weariness in prayer and most people will tend to seek help in the land of ‘’Egypt’’, these times are times of great frustration, for some it may be a rough period in our relationships when we are used and dumped more often than normal, when house rent cannot paid, no job or calls from those who have promised us ‘’heaven and earth’’, difficulty in eating three square meals and proper clothing, intimidation at work, sexual harassment at work, bad habits, etc. for a student it may be a period when school fees is not paid by our parents, or no support from our parents/guardians, strange carry over’s even with much reading/studying, constant oppression /harassment by cult members, pressure from lecturers to sleep with you, pressure of settlement for the fear and embarrassment of extra year, addiction to drug and sexual sins etc.

In all, this, it will look as if there is no God and that he doesn’t answer prayers. It will look as if you are the greatest sinner on earth and that God has forsaken you. But in all these things a believer must gird himself with the keys below in other to stay on top of the situation or else the situation will be on top of us-God forbid.

Understanding of what God says

‘’…For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning...’’(Psa 30:5)

Understanding of what God says about you as regards a matter and ultimately understanding of Gods words will make a lot of difference .Surely a child of God must fully be persuaded that he is on the wining and stronger side of the battle. It is certain that joy must and will fully come to matter what.

Now the scriptures also say ‘’…and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose…’’ (Rom 8:28)

This means that even in the midst of dark situations, the situation will end up favoring and will always work to our advantage no matter what. So, if we can believe this and have this full understanding then we would be in control of our challenges and not them controlling us. This understanding is an act if simple faith in God.

·              Patience

This is a virtue most believers of this age do not possess. We always want every thing in a fast and snappy way, like instant noodles and fast food! We must understand that God will take you through that situation step by step in patience. We must learn to wait on God and hear from God as regard our dark moments. When we are patient enough, we will be able to hear Gods instructions. Sometimes what will terminate that challenge may be a simple instruction from God. For example, God may instruct you to sow a seed, stop going somewhere, see a particular person for counseling and that is it. But because of our impatience we will miss that instruction and end up wasting our time in one form of spiritual gymnastics or the other, when what would have solved the matter was a simple instruction. We must be patient enough to know that God does not work the way we work. Sometimes we expect him to do it in a particular manner and at a particular time. May I quickly tell you that, God will not work with your own calendar or timetable but will rather work with his own timetable. The virtue of patience helps us to key into Gods plan fully having the understood that this challenge will pass no matter what.

·              Look up then look in

The psalmist said A Song of degrees. ‘’…I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth…’’ (Psa 121:1-2)

The truth is that most believers tend to look up to God to solve their challenges, which is a very profitable venture, because he as said we should come to him and he shall give us rest. (Matt11:28) However in life, we should not only look up to God, but we should learn to look ‘’inwards’’. You know! In most cases when you look up with patience we would hear a voice saying look inside you. We need to learn to look inwards as children of God that is, learning to retrace our steps, asking genuine questions like, what am I doing wrong or what have I been doing wrong, what steps have I taken or that am still taking, what is it that I should change, In what new way can I do this thing. Looking inwards is not relying on the strength of man but working together with God for a probable solution for it is written ‘’… come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD…’’(Ish 1:18). For it is also written ’’…can two walk together, except they be agreed...’’  (Amo 3:3)

Most times we expect God to do magic not knowing that there is something in our life that we must change, work on or take steps towards. Gideon was hiding in is village not knowing he had what it took to save and deliver a whole nation. He kept on ‘’looking up’’ until and Angel visited him and caused him to start looking ‘’inwards’’. Looking up and not looking inwards is equals to mediocrity, it’s just like praying to pass your exams without reading. Choose to look inwards as from today!

·                    Great lesson

This is another act of looking inwards through patience. The truth is that there is always a lesson to learn. God doesn’t just want to save you, he also wants to teach you and educate you concerning the operation of the wicked, to make you see our own errors and how great his power is. Listen here! There is always something to learn in that challenge! All you need to do is to open your eyes. If you fail to learn a lesson then its is likely you have suffered in vain and will not be able to help others in the same challenge when you see them and by this you will be useless to heaven. ‘’… when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren…’’(Luk 22:32)

May we not be useless to heaven in the name of Jesus.

·                    Prayer and fasting

This is an important virtue that must not seize during our dark moments. Most times we stop this venture when we see that nothing is happening; Excuse me please! Who told you nothing is happening? Who told you Angels are not wining on your behalf or working over-time concerning you? That you are not seeing anything physically doesn’t mean something is not happening spiritually, or have you forgotten that you are on the winning side? Even Elijah had to pray again and again before rain could fall. (1Kings18:43-46)

Prayer and fasting simply provokes the supernatural. Let me say this categorically that God will not move or act on your behalf except you tell him to do so. He has given mankind the authority on earth and he doesn’t interfere in our matters except we provoke him to do so via fasting and prayer. Even Jesus had to pray because he understood that as a man his heavenly father will not operate until he prays….don’t stop praying…your answers are nearer than you think or believe.

·                    The anointing

Sometimes it may be that we need one who has a greater anointing to save and deliver us and we may need to locate them. However, this should be by instruction from the lord. You don’t enter into the house of a strong man and carry his goods except, he that has a stronger power comes in and bind him. (Mark 3:27)

One day while I was in school, I was battling with prayerlessness and heaviness in my spirit for weeks and I knew I had to be delivered from this wickedness of the enemy, suddenly I got an instruction from the Holy spirit saying ‘’go to this church and I will send my servant to you’’ while in that church, I was thinking someone was going to come and meet me to say thus says the lord…but unfortunately no one came. The pastor who preached in the service for that day was newly posted to that church and he spoke on the ‘’mercy of the Lord’’...that night I received deliverance from that wicked spirit and got back my prayer life back also in my dream that same night I saw my self in a cage and someone brought me out…since then t ill I left school, I connected with the man of God in per of Pastor Korede Komaiya.

Friends this is the place of the anointing and the anointed. We must seek them if they are around us to come out of dark times. Now in seeking them, we have to be careful as they are fakes amidst them. The work of the anointing and the anointed is spelt out in Isaiah 61:1-8.

·                    Positive confession

We must maintain a positive attitude and more importantly a positive confession. We can’t believe God for a breakthrough and be saying the contrary. Even in the midst of the heat, we must maintain a positive language. In the beginning (Gen1:1-4) when the earth was without shape and void, God never complained, he simply spoke what he wanted despite the deep darkness over the waters. Most believers never come out of their dark times all because they keep saying what they see. It is a biblical truth to never say out or confess what we see with out physical eyes but that which we see through the eyes of faith from the pages of the scriptures and that we God told us. (2Cor5:7)

·                    Wrong association

Wrong association can make us loose our testimony. During our dark moments, we must be careful of people we share our trying moments with, people who may discourage us and cause us to loose faith in God and his promises; rather we should seek brethren who will encourage us in the lord.

Gods’ Instrument of Revival: why revival tarry!

The church of God is a living entity, the place of prayer and an end-time ’’Principality and Power’’ on earth armed to champion and enforce the advancement of the kingdom of our God and his righteousness. Because the church is a living entity, it as a living Spirit that must inhabit living beings (men)…hence the church ‘’lives, breaths and moves’’, Just as man does.

The church is in no way an ‘’organization’’ and her running and administration should be far from near the running a circular organization. The principles that govern them do not govern us, for it is written

‘’…For their rock is not as our Rock…’’ (Deu32:31-32)

For example in the world the more you save the more it is said you have more, but in the kingdom the more we give and scatter the more we increase.

‘’…There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that with holdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty…’’  (Pro 11:24)

You don’t run a church or your life which is a living entity by ‘’ideas’’ or what I call the ‘’ideas of men’’ but by revelation and men of the Spirit must take charge and take their place in the army of God. Every thing about the church is Spiritual- a full fledged ’’Spirit entity’’. Am I saying the church should be dis –organized without order…No! God forbid…for God is not an author of confusion.

By spiritual men I do not mean spiritually gifted men with prophetic staff of office, or men of high title in Christendom…by Spiritual men I mean men who has understanding of what ’’Israel ought to do in season’’, men who have in them the true ‘Spirit of God, filled with the Spirit, men of good report, men who understands the move of God who will not at any instance compromise to please man at the moment. They are not men of letters who follow the books and constitutions which easily put men in a yoke.

Please may I state categorically that until men of the Spirit take their place in this army, the long awaited revival may continuously tarry!, because the devil understands the mystery and the havoc the revival of Gods people can do through the power of his church which ultimately will give birth to ‘’Gods Generals’ ’(Rom8:18-19), he constantly moves the ‘’goal post’’ through his agents strategically positioned in the churches. These are un-equipped men, religious men who are carnal and profess to zealously do Gods bidding; they may be learned and educated in the epistles of Paul the apostle but do not have the life of Paul and are mostly not called and if called, they have refused to pass through the school of the Spirit to get adequately nurtured in the secret place of the most high. In zeal they have zeal but not according to knowledge. (Rom10:1-3), they are easily manipulated by spirit of divination and witchcraft which is behind the scene manipulating them like a puppet because they do not abide in the vine and if they do, they choose to see their own vision and do their own will due to the hardness of their own mind- they will yet be pruned. The enemy’s agents are men of ‘’activity’’ which heaven know not and are not fit for the masters use. In the name of time management, time as now become their master and been enslaved to time not been able to enjoy the refreshing that his presence brings and empowerment that comes when we tarry long in his presence. (I talk not of long unproductive hours filled with religious garbage and nonsense) having no essence to tarry before the master for a little while longer for I reckon that time was made for the man and man not for the time.

Sure; the devil cannot stop the revival of God but he can delay it by capturing Gods instrument of revival which is basically the regenerated man and the Power of the church.

Below are a few reasons why revival tarries in ministry, in our lives and the church of God.

·                    When we do not know and understand the will, plan and purpose of God.

A man/ministry may end up doing what he is not sent to do and wasting a lot of resources when there is no clear cut understanding of what God wants to do and even when there is understanding, knowing how to achieve the task set before one is crucial for revival.

Many are called but not having understanding of where they should labor, when they should begin and how to go about actualizing their mission.

·                    When we do not know God and the scripture

‘’…and Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God…’’ (Mar 12:24)

Even devils know God, so it is not enough to know God but knowing what he as said in his word will have significant role to play in the reviving of Gods people. It is the ignorance of the word in the life of some that short circuit the fire of revival. Most of the time, if we can sit with the word, many mistakes that kills the fire of revival will be avoided.

·                    Failure to prepare and continuously equip ones self

Most times we fail to understand that God is an intelligent being and requires us to move with him when he moves. The scriptures says

‘’…grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord…’’ (2Pe 1:2)

This means that a man will grow in grace through the increase of knowledge and when sufficient knowledge is not acquired one may be starved of grace for a particular exploit. Paul also said unto Timothy

‘’…Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth...‘’ (2Ti 2:15)

In Gen 14:14…Abraham only armed (gave more grace) his trained servants and took them to battle talking about preparation because if they where not prepared he wouldn’t have been able to over come.

‘’…and when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan...’’(Gen 14:14)

·                    When there are too many leaders

Nature harbors no vacuum they say! So when the leader refuses to take charge and lead effectively, pseudo-leaders will rise up and take charge of things i.e. active and zealous people around, hijacking the intent of Gods revival since they where not given the mandate. In other words, this may also occur when the leader is trying to play the humility game not wanting people to say ‘’why is he the only one taking the decisions’’; there by relinquishing his authority to his followers (who may be members of his cabinet) who are meant to broaden his vision, expand it and run with it., hence killing revival by his inactivity.

One thing most people do not realize is that, there is no democracy in kingdom business, that is, making decisions’ by popular opinions or ‘’majority carry the vote style’’…”NO’’!...it will ultimately lead to error. Knowing fully well that the church/man is a ‘’Spiritual entity’’ which must be allowed to be run by the same Spirit that established it- the HOLY SPIRIT…he speaks so we should hear from him!

One must lead and the others must follow, one must hear from God and the others must confirm what he has heard, one must see and hear what God has in mind; bringing it to the open for the followers who are called helpers of the war to expand and take it to the next level.

·              Religious men filled with doctrines who do not realize God has moved on to the next level of encounter.

Such men where the ones who killed Jesus, those who knew the law and the prophets, teachers of the laws, rulers and head of the synagogues. As you know, Jesus was not killed by unbelievers but believers. When such men are in charge, they simply kill revival with their nature-mindset, not understanding when there is a ‘’paradigm shift’’ in the Spirit as regards the things and revelation of God. For example a senior Pastor may be caught in this drag net of the enemy, there by resisting any move from the Pastors under him or from the youth.

·                    When men are not led.

This is simply doing things out of routine and not consulting the driver of the move. It actually kills revival very fast’. Ideas may thrive in an organization but revelation is key to kingdom business. In other words we can see it from the angle of looking at faces before something is done. It is written

‘’…but the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart…’’  (1Sam 16:7)

·                    When Prayer is substituted for serving tables

‘’…and in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word…’’ (Act 6:1-4)

The apostles realized this quick and changed gear when they saw that another thing as taken away there time from prayer and fasting. These things are actually things that are praise worthy and to be applauded, but dangerous if not properly managed. Let me say here that what ever takes away the time of prayer and fasting from you is set to destroy you no matter how laudable it may be. This is the power house of revival.

·                    When the anointing is missing

One may have zeal and passion for a thing…but it is best if you are anointed for the purpose. The anointing will always see a man through stormy waters and all things the devil may want to throw at him to slow or stop him. The anointing brings ease and great results and amplifies what so ever that is in the hand of the anointed.

·                    Favoritism

Preferring the rich, those who have names, those who have been around for donkey years without anything to offer, relatives, those who are in position and influential at the expense of who God wants for the work of ministry is major killer.

·                    Offences

When there is offence within the ranks, and the leadership doesn’t like your face, possibly you have been courageous to speak up at misconduct or there was an argument between you and one who is to take a major decision then you are victimized, secluded, at the expense of the work of ministry. In addition, you find vibrant men and instrument of revival moving out from the place of their call due to unresolved or irreconcilable differences.  Further more, when matters/issues are not supposedly well addressed by leadership in love or when there is a welfare need which was not met by people in charge, etc, this may bring a heavy Spirit upon the individual who was initially all out for the lord. This is also a major killer of revival.

·                    Envy, Hate and Jealousy

When a man is filled with envy, hate or jealousy for another, he finds little excuses to accuse him or resist him anywhere the opportunity presents its self. For Instance a choir leader who does not exercise self control may find himself resisting a young vibrant singer in the choir and eventually makes sure he makes him useless in the choir just to make a ‘’devilish’’ point. Or sometimes one who is quick to give his opinion in sincerity may be hated, all because he always hits the ‘’nail on the head’’.

All of the above are killers of revival in a man life or ministry and will only strengthen the ministry of the Antichrist against the Plan of God.

As children of the most-high God let us rise up to bring and advance the kingdom of our God and desist from working against one another.

The awakening is in you!

The ''Unit Replacements''

 For most soldiers on active duty during war, depending on the country, a soldier is required to go on tour (at the war front) for about 12-18months. After the successful months of service on tour, they are required to rest and sent back to their family to recover from the trauma of war and to be able to blend back into the society. During each soldier’s tour, they are required to serve in a unit (Unit-defined as a group of military personnel organized as a subdivision of a larger body). It is the unit members that the soldier will relate and associate with until his tour is finished.

During those moments, he may have issues with others or quarrel or even fight with other ranking soldiers, but one thing is sure, when the enemy strikes their camp or when they attack the enemy, each unit member will put aside their differences and focus on taking the ground from the enemy or demobilizing them. Full focus and attention is required at this moment because their life depends on it and more so the integrity, image and advancement of the country they are representing will be at stake.

One thing is sure after 12months or more months of tour,  the soldiers will need to return home and they will be a need for replacements, that is new unit members will need to come and take over from the war ravaged unit presently serving. If they are not replaced, there is a high tendency they will be psychologically fatigued and weary from the war, hence low morale which may lead to loosing of grounds to the enemy and ultimately loosing the war.

In addition talking about replacements in a unit,  a soldier can be replaced when killed by enemy fire or attack by a new recruit or old hands who may have just finished  is rest period. The whole idea about a unit is that the work/mission must not lag due to the absence of one and must be quickly replaced for effective performance.

 The life of a man, his wife and family can be compared or likened to a soldier and the unit he serves in. In most cases, every unit in an Army is tasked with a mission which every unit member must understand and work towards accomplishing at every cost within the ‘’Books’’ because their entire life and the integrity and image of the mother country depends on it. The captain of the unit always makes it a point of responsibility to bring back his soldiers back home; he will normally plan with his officer in the unit so that every one can be abreast of what is at stake and how each one is to execute the mission. No matter how the unit fights or disagree or even when the commander does not like a face or two in his unit; one thing is sure they will stick together and fight together.

The man and woman must understand they have been charged with the responsibility of serving in Gods Army. This is not about Christianity here but about the way God established the family institution from the beginning. The man who is the commander must learn to work with his official to see to it that the Gods purpose on earth be fulfilled. Most families are damaged today because they are not working as a unit. The man is visionless, the wife is not cooperative and the children are out of order.

The family is designed by God to stick together and work together; we must share the same views and values. The man must understand clearly what he wants out of life, what he wants out of a woman and what he wants out of a marriage. You see, every unit in the Army knows and understands their mission and it is from this they strategize. Until men sit down to ask them selves the questions above; they will still continue to be issues and problems in our relationships. God does not fail and can never fail. It is mans responsibility to understand Gods purpose, work in it and manifest it.

The society has failed today because the family has failed. The family unit simply has nothing to offer the world which we must dominate. The man who cannot take dominion in his family life cannot effectively take dominion in the world today. To re-emphasize again, the man must know what his assignment is and strategize on how to accomplish it.

The bible says he that finds a wife finds a good thing. Sometimes most unit commanders have the privilege of handpicking officers they will like to work with. In most cases when given this privilege, they pick the most skilled, qualified and more importantly those with the field experience to get the mission done. In a similar way, the man as the advantage of hand picking the woman (officer) he would like to work with, he as the divine responsibility of helping himself with an officer who will help him carry out the mission successfully.

Our mission is to transform the society, our country, even the world using ourselves as sure examples. The bible calls us light of the world and salt of the earth; this means that we have value to give and service to render humanity. Man must choose right and discretely with the understanding of ultimate purpose and assignment an officer who must cooperate together with him the commander to serve the unit.

 The commander is a serving soldier himself and would also need to rest after finishing his tour of duty and hand over to the unit replacements. However the success of the unit replacements will be based on how much work those who they are taking over from has been able to do and how much information they have been able to pass down to them. For instance, if the commander experienced much attack from the enemy from a particular area over the months of service, he would be able to inform or debrief in military terms the replacements areas to focus on and how to tackle the enemy. This will simply bring cheap success over the enemy.

Our society has failed to day because fathers/mothers have not been able to hand over timeless and life transforming values to their children. We ignorantly set up our children to fail the society. Fathers have not been able to equip their replacements for the future; fathers have not been able to position their children for the next agenda and mighty wave of God. For it is written ‘’…the glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts’’ (Hag 2:9).

The glory of this present generation should be far higher and well spoken of if the scripture is to be made referenced to. If fathers were respectful in the old days then there children should be more respectful and not more ludicrous in their school of thoughts. The truth is that we make our replacement; that is our children, fight battles of life they shouldn’t be fighting. If the commander has defeated the enemy, they would be no reason for the replacements to fight the battle again.

Parents hardly take time to teach their children. In most cases we leave the training of our children to school teachers or Sunday teacher which cannot suffice for the vacuum of information they will need in this life to continually overcome.

Our children are our replacements, they must take over from us and as worthy commanders and officer we must pass over to them what it takes to survive those 12-18months of their tour, we must lay proper foundation for them and prepare them for the battle they must fight themselves and not us. God demand this from us.

’’ …And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up…’’  (Deu 6:7)

 A new replacement unit naturally assumes the glory of the previous unit, even though they may not have fought physically to defeat the enemy the former Army did. The bile says ‘’…Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate…’’  (Psa 127:3-5)

God understands the importance of replacements that was why he commanded that they should be thought in his way and he also understands how an arrow works in the hands of the mighty. For instance, a man can stand a long distance away and shoot an arrow into places where he is not standing; in the same understanding, our replacements are our projection in to the future and tool of impartation in the future. Just as an arrow that goes ahead of its shooter to wreck havoc or to do the purpose of its shooter.

The only hope of the society is in our replacements. Until we see them the way God sees them, then the future is not guaranteed.

We must make conscious efforts to sharpen our arrow heads so that the impact can be effective. Most children are not prepared for the future, hence when the future comes; they fail in a land slide fashion. We must give to out replacements timeless lesson, virtues and character that cannot be thought in schools. We must build them into personalities that are approved so that they would not be ashamed when the future comes knocking at the door.

‘’…Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it…’’  (Pro 22:6)