THE CHURCH, THE NATION, THE LEADERS, THE CITIZENRY – Part 1

“But Jesus answered them “you are wrong, because you know neither the scriptures nor the power of God’’ –Mathew 22:29.
“Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit” – Mathew 15:14. 

The above scriptures is the truth about most people in our society and the world today, including the Church of God.
If the word of God will be our guide we will avoid many pitfalls and errors.
Knowing the word of God does not actually mean, ability to quote scriptures, rather it means being able to quote and have an understanding of the word of God as it relates to the situation at any given time.
Why do we pray for our corrupt, wicked and diabolical leaders in churches, in the several camps and in our homes, thus giving them, what I call” Spiritual Immunity” and making the conditions more favourable for them to perpetuate their dastard acts.
By implication we are telling God “We can still tolerate them, just do some “acadabra” and change them”.
We forget that God will never override man’s power of choice – men must repent and come to God willingly. God that I know coerces no one.
Rather, why don’t we pray them out of office and positions of authority?
Why don’t we pray that God should raise upright and forthright leaders amongst us?
And then we back up our prayers with actions by taking steps to bring about a fulfillment of our prayers.
We must participate effectively, constructively and strategically. We must participate! Take it or leave it.
All it takes is for good people to be silent and inactive for evil to take over.
Understand this clearly, if God has given you a wife, it is your duty to sleep with your wife and get her pregnant.
Our God is a faithful God. His part is to raise men and women, make a way where there seems to be none by removing the obstacles and oppositions, knock down the odds against His own people and make them emerge to the consternation and admiration of all.
Man has his part and God certainly will play His role and not man’s.
The Israelites in Egypt groaned under wickedness and oppression, they cried to God for deliverance and God heard and raised a family: Moses, Aaron and Miriam for their deliverance. God has done it severally.
Prayers for Our Leaders
Those Christians and Christian leaders in defense of prayers for our leaders will often quote 1Timothy Chapter 2 verse 1 to 3.
I am at loss if they lack an understanding of that scripture and that is why they often leave out verse 4 of that chapter.
When “praying for leaders and men in high position for them to do right so that the citizenry should lead a quiet life and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way” (1 Timothy 2:1 -2, RSV); And yet wicked and corrupt regime after regime pauperize the people, milk the resources of the country, rundown the country and set the country back ward in the committee of nations.
Then something is wrong somewhere and somehow. And this is definitely not good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour (as we are told and is expected in 1Timothy 2:3).
When praying for our leaders and men in high positions, yet they are not allowing the citizenry (by their action and inactions) lead a quiet and peaceable life godly and respectful in everyway, such “Leaders are not saved, and if they are saved they have (certainly) not come to the knowledge of truth’’ (1 Timothy 2:4, RSV).
A diligent study of the Bible will help you discover, that it is certainly more scriptural to pray for good and righteous leaders than wicked and diabolical leaders.
This calls for 3 things, which is wisdom and of course the solution.
1. Look Inwards:
The followers must change their wicked ways -2 chronicles 7:14, Isaiah 1:19-20.
And assuming they have already or long changed; then they must:
2. Change Their Prayers:
The followers should pray correctly and pray wicked leaders out of office and power and pray in Gods choice and persons into leadership positions.
3. Engage Wholeheartedly and Strategically:
Finally the followers should take participatory civil and legal actions to effect the desired change.
I am reminded of what I occasionally read on the rear of some Lagos “Molue’’ buses. ‘A good master deserves prayer”.
It again reminds me of Psalm 72; there wondrous and beautiful prayers are uttered on behalf of a wonderful leader.
Read Psalm 72 whole-heartedly and diligently to know who is a good leader, what a good leader does and the blessings of God upon the head of a good Leader.
It speaks volume. God’s word will do you good! 31/12/09

Bro. Yusuf Rufa’i,
Is your Brother and Servant in the Lord
www.ambassadoryusufrufai.blogspot.com
www.redeemedpeople.blogspot.com
Email: yusufrufai2@gmail.com
Tel: +234 80 28 78 28 91