I am just in a room with 2 nigerians that verified that this is true. pray that nigeria has inroads to get the true Gospel of Jesus Christ!
[b]"POWER Without REPENTANCE in NIGERIA"[/b] -extracts by Terry Somerville.
Wow! Have I experienced some changes through the holiday season since my trip to Nigeria in December. As you will read in the report below, Nigeria has achieved what we are striving to become. Churches and ministries are everywhere. Preaching and praise on government transportation! Grounds for monthy prayer meetings of one million, seven hundred thousand people! Up to 70% of the government is filled by Christians. It is a nation filled with believers and "power" churches, what more could we want? Yet there is deep rooted unrighteousness - particularly among Christians! By far the biggest impact on me was looking in the mirror. The realization that we in the "power filled, Spirit anointed, apostolic, prophetic, miracle working church" have had spiritual power without repentance!
For over twenty five years, as a "Spirit filled" pastor I believed that when people encountered the glory, experienced miracles, received prophetically, and were touched by the Father's love, they would have changed lives... and we would see revival. But it hasn't happened! People have regular, real, power encounters with God, but never change their ways! In fact, some go deeper into sin! (I won't tell the stories here, but they are astonishing!) In the last few years I would go home from our "power church" utterly unsatisfied (and I was the preacher). I know many of you experience exactly the same thing! We've had it all! Miracles, prophetic worship, anointing, glory and signs! What is this deep disatisfaction, and even sorrow, in the midst of an awesome work of God?
Isaiah 1 gives us a clue: "Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and the calling of assemblies -- I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly.... Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes...."
Let's apply Isaiah 1 to us because "these things are written for us that we may not sin as they did". The Lord is growing weary of worship and iniquity mixed together.... It's time for a total change in the church! In the New Testament, healing, miracles and preaching the good news of the Kingdom always ended in a call to repentance.
WHAT I SAW in NIGERIA
In early December I was off to Nigeria for my first ministry experience in Africa. I had been given all kinds of warnings but of course I had also received hundreds of emails from Nigeria telling me that "Total Change Ministries" was being given millions of dollars! I wanted to meet all these generous widows of Sultans and Kings!
Once I passed through immigration and collected my luggage my first encounter with the reality of Nigeria occurred. I was informed by an official looking fellow that I needed to pay him forty pounds to exit customs. I soon realized this was a bribe and managed to get him down to twenty dollars. As I waited outside the airport I had a steady stream of demands for cash and questionable services, all of which I resisted. Soon my host Ebenezer Oke arrived and we headed off across Lagos to get the bus to Akure.
Across Lagos there were churches everywhere! Signs advertised power ministries, churches and meetings. In fact, everywhere I went there were more signs advertising Christian events than any product. Ebenezer said 50% of the people in this part of Nigeria are Christian, but they didn't live it. He said, it was likely the man in the airport who demanded the bribe was a Christian. Soon we began to discuss the purpose of my visit. To teach leaders in ministry and business about living their faith outside the church. As Ebenezer told me more about himself, I learned he had been a pastor for about ten years but the Lord called Him to start the Life Development Institute to train Christians to be salt and light outside the church.
Soon we transfered to a van and the demands for more money because of the Yu- bow (white man). Finally we paid for an extra seat for my suitcase. As we pulled away a man jumped in the space at the door and I soon realized He was a preacher - bible in hand! He began a full blown church service as we bombed down the highway! He called us to worship God, then announced a hymn and began to sing (and a few others with him) then he prayed and read from the bible. Soon there was a message, an invitation, another hynn and a prayer for safety on the road and protection from bandits. Finally, just as we were pulling into a gas station...an offering and blessing! Then he jumped out! A series of thoughts went through me. I wan't sure what to make of all this but Ebenzer said it was so needed given the harrowing trips on the highway! Down the highway I saw what he meant as we went through armed checkpoints dozens of times, and passed hundreds of broken down, burned or wrecked cars. We travelled for three hours with worship filling the van! Quite an experience (especially since it was a government service).
Finally in Akure we joined forces with Ebenezer's friend Gideon at his third floor Servant Leadership Institute.... After each session questions and answers would take place. Walking righteously in Nigeria is obviously a very difficult issue. One man told us he must become King of his people, but this involved making a blood covenant with the demons and the witch doctor. He said that he would never dedicate himself to these gods (even though other Christians had!) and asked how he could take his place in society as a righteous Christian. Ebenezer answered refering to another King who was a Christian. He had refused to take any oath or dedicate himself to the gods. He told his people he would be their King if they would renounce their gods and make Jesus Christ God of their land. The elders conferred and agreed, and the whole people came to the Lord! The man was greatly encouraged.
Ebenezer and Gideon impressed me again and again about the situation in Nigeria. Christians are everywhere, and corruption is everywhere. They said many times "the church of Nigeria is a power church" and "the people are not living as salt and light". Ebenezer also said that 70% of the government officials are Christian but it is filled with bribery and scandal. All this made a deep impact on me, because the need of the church is not more power, but honest repentance.
We think if we can enlarge our churches, have Christian is key marketplace positions, and experience more of the power of God we will have revival. We are wrong. We are in the same position as the church of Nigeria. ~[Source - www.totalchange.org ] _________________ SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
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