The Theory of Nations

We are grateful for the opportunity and the privilege that we have had as a nation to

transit from military regimes to becoming a democracy. Democracy is beautiful, if and

when a State achieves nationhood. Until and unless a State has transited from statehood to nationhood, the gains of democracy if at all present, will be minimal. And this is the dilemma of many African countries who have embraced democracy. Many in their bid to salvage their situation championed nationalism instead of pursuing nationhood. It is made clear that nationhood and nationalism are neither synonymous nor do they serve the same purpose. 

Though nationalism in its true and positive sense is laudable, it is important for us to realize that in our world today, savage nationalism is the same spirit of racism, resulting in such despicable acts of the American black history, South African Apartheid, and ethnic cleansing of Eastern Europe, and [Central] Africa’s Rwanda. These evil are the result of nationalism where it is defined by blood, language, culture, and history. We have to realize that nationalism, where it is so defined by our relationship through language, or culture or blood, has only led men to their untimely graves and fractured societies. Our nation will not escape such fractures if we define ourselves according to our historical origins rather than our purpose, our vision. This perversion of Nationalism is the absence of national purpose; in many nations today, through Nationalism, we have a disguised resurgence of medieval tribal wars. Nationhood is different. In Nationhood, there’s mutual respect and respect for citizens’ rights. 

We must remember that democracy is borne of the idea that citizens have a right to choose by whom and how they should be governed. And at this particular time in our country, it has become so important that we realize what democracy has granted us: the right to decide who governs us and how we shall be governed. Of course, it has been a slow journey, a slow process, because most of us are children and grand-children of military officers, and we were brought up to be militant in nature. But the time has come for us to settle for the change that has come upon us, the change that we have all embraced. And by that change our language must change; our perceptions must change; our respect for law and order must change; and of course, the law must change to favour its citizens. 

Democracy comes with a citizens’ Bill of Rights, even though ours remains largely undeclared. But I call on every smart thinking person to study the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, so at least you understand what your rights are; what you can do and what you may be forbidden to do. Democracy thrives in informed and educated and enlightened societies. Dictatorship thrives in ignorant societies. We must, therefore, embrace education. We cannot wait until we have the best of situations. We cannot wait to have the best of conditions to read a book. We must choose to be informed; we must choose to open our minds and get educated. There is the ‘do-it-yourself’ attitude that we must have. Each one of us must be willing to educate himself, only that way can we be involved in nation building. No one else will build Nigeria for us; Nigeria will be built by Nigerians. To build a nation, we must recognize the concomitant sub-nations; these are the micro-ethno systems that function within the sovereign nation. It is the development of these micro-ethno systems that increases a nation’s gross national product, its per-capita income, and therefore its citizens’ standard of life. Micro-ethno systems are usually frustrated in States that are yet to understand, much less metamorphose into, nationhood.

To Be Continued...

Be Sensitive To The Time Of Change

"Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard..." (Daniel 10:12).

Sometimes, you just know in your spirit that something needs to change in your life, and if you don't take advantage of that intuition, you could lose the moment. When you know inside you that the time has come for a change or for something to happen, don't take it lightly; start praying about it, and if, after sometime, you still haven't seen the desired results, you add fasting to it. If the change still doesn't occur after a while, keep praying and fasting about it, because the delay could be by Satan.

This was what happened to Daniel as he prayed for the deliverance of God's people. He had read in the Book of Jeremiah that the deliverance of Israel would come after seventy years in exile, so he knew the time had come and thus began to pray. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia detained the angel that was to bring Daniel the message. Daniel, nonetheless, was faithful and kept praying.

After twenty-one days, the angel of the Lord finally came with the answer and explained what had happened (Read Daniel 10:13-14). The angel that God sent to Daniel was delayed in the spirit realm, until Michael, one of the chief angels, came to help him.

Perhaps you perceive that it's time for a transformation in your family, business, academics, finances, health, or ministry. Take it up; fast, and pray! On the other hand, maybe you sense that there's a certain level of operation of God's Spirit that should be at work in your life, but you're not experiencing it; give it attention. Fast and pray about it, because if you don't, you may lose the timing, as well as the opportunity. So, like Daniel, set your face "...to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting..." (Daniel 9:3-4 AMP).

THE EFFECTS OF GRACE.

Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord (Acts 11:23).

Luke, by the inspiration of the Spirit, explains in the verse above, how Barnabas and Paul went to visit the brethren, and they saw the grace of God. What does it mean to “See the grace of God?”

“Grace” is from the Greek word “charis”; it refers to the divine influence on the heart reflected in the life of a man.

It’s the outward expression, or the outworking of an inward divine influence in your heart. Simply put, it’s the inner working of the glory and the power of God in your life that radiates, shines, and reflects on the outside. So, what these Apostles saw was an outer reflection of the inner working of the power, and life, and nature of God in them—they saw the effects of that grace.

You only see the outworking of the grace of God. It’s like saying “We saw the winds blowing.” You really don’t see the wind; what you see are the effects of the wind. The effects could be moving objects, or the branches of a tree moving to and fro; then you can immediately decipher that it’s a strong wind. You don’t see the wind; what you see are the effects!

It’s the same way with the description in the opening verse.
The grace of God on its own can’t be seen until you see what it produces. So, the Lord impresses on your heart, through His Word and the Holy Spirit, and whatever is deposited by that influence, is seen on the outside; it shows or reveals itself on the outside. Then we can say, just like the early Church, “We saw the grace of God on them.”

That’s why it’s important to grow in grace. 2 Peter 3:18 tells us, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ….” The word “grow” is taken from the Greek word “auxano”; it means “to give increase to.” To grow in grace is to increase in the workings of the power of God in your life. And as you grow in grace, more of the glory of God shines, radiates, and is seen through you. Halleluiah!

PRAYER
Dear Father, I thank you for the knowledge of your Word that causes me to walk in an overflow of grace. That grace which is the power of promotion, reflects on the outside,
producing favour, beauty, goodwill, loveliness, perfections, glory and ability in my life, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

AFFIRMATIONTRAIN

I affirm that the Word of God in my mouth is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, filled with divine energy to turn any situation around for my good. God's Word is in my mouth today, and with it I prevail over circumstances. I'm sufficient in Christ's sufficiency, and nothing is impossible to me. The Lord has set me on high; glory and honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in His dwelling! Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for He's my shield and eternal protection. I’m born of the Word and filled with the Holy Spirit, I’m impregnable to anything that hurts or binds, because I hail from God! I'm blessed and fortified in Christ Jesus with everything I need for life, and godliness, Halleluiah!

I affirm that I was born for a reason and my life is for the glory of God! I was born to give Him honour, and show forth His virtues and perfection in this world. God's wisdom, grace, and righteousness are revealed, as He make manifest the savour of His knowledge through me in every place. This is my destiny: living for the One who loved me and gave Himself for me! God's spirit is manifesting Himself in all facets of my life, causing me to display the many-sided wisdom and excellence of God in all that I do. God is the source of my supply! I'm not afraid of anything because He hasn’t given me the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind! He's my help and my ability. He’s my strength and my sufficiency; and I can do all things by His power that works in me mightily. I'm moving forward by the power of the Holy Spirit, making progress with giant strides, and waxing stronger every day, in health, prosperity, and success. Blessed be God!

If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth. Don't stop talking! Get your clouds fill with the right words. You can start out today. God bless you.

YOUR HARVEST IS IN YOUR MOUTH

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17).
Some people wonder why things aren’t working out right in their finances in spite of the fact that they pay their tithes and give their offerings. Jesus said in Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom….” This already indicates that when you give, there’s an increase of grace for you to receive. So when you pay your tithes, give your offerings, or sow special seeds, you’re actually opening up your capacity to receive.

However, you have to water the seeds you’ve sown with the Word of God and prayer and then call forth your harvest with your faith-filled confessions. So in sowing your seeds, send them forth by the anointing, by speaking the Word over them, and begin to call forth your harvest. You can call forth your harvest anytime, for harvest is anytime: “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease” (Genesis 8:22).

Your harvest is in your mouth; you can call it forth today. Jesus, teaching in Mark 11:24 said, “Therefore I say unto you, what things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Meaning that to receive a bountiful harvest of your seeds sown, you must activate the law of faith by calling forth your harvest. Just as nothing hindered you from sowing that seed, you ought to also declare that nothing would hinder your harvest.

God already promised a multiplied harvest for you when you give, and His Word cannot be broken (Luke 6:38). 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 says “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”
Therefore when you give, declare your harvest! Don’t speak unbelief or sit idly with the mentality that “whatever will be, will be.” Rather, keep speaking words of faith until the harvest of the seeds you’ve sown come pouring down on you. Ecclesiastes 11:3 says “If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth….”

EFFECT THE CHANGE WITH YOUR WORDS!

“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak” (2 Corinthians 4:13)

The Lord Jesus displayed absolute mastery over the circumstances of life, including the forces of nature. One time He was hungry and walked to a fig tree, hoping to find some fruit to eat. But the tree was fruitless, as it was not yet the season for figs. Jesus then spoke to the tree saying, “…No man eat fruit of thee hereafter forever. And his disciples heard it” (Mark 11:14).

The next day, Peter, called the Master’s attention to the fig tree, saying, “Master, behold the fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away” (Mark 11:21). Here’s His response, “For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith” (Mark 11:23).

The Lord Jesus, showing the power and efficacy of words, made us understand that we can talk to anything, influence anything, and effect any change we desire. Your faith-filled words determine the quality of life you’ll live! It doesn’t matter the situation or circumstance in which you’ve found yourself, you can effect changes with your faith filled words!