STRANGE AND LOST VOICES

Do not be lost in the crowd. Let your voice be heard. Do not allow your job to conceal your voice and identity. Do not allow the crowd, the noise and the hustles of this world silence or kill your voice. Do not allow what you eat, earn and are being given swallow your voice. There is nothing worse in a man’s life like going through life without a voice.

Elijah’s voice was a problem to the enemies and Jezebel was mandated to silence that voice. She succeeded to a point as Elijah ran away. Remember that Jezebel had two sides: beauty and evil. It was the evil part that Elijah succumbed to. It was the beauty part she wanted to use to seduce Jehu in order to silence his voice, but it didn’t work. Jezebel may come in the form of a job, opportunity, relationship, etc, and the aim is to silence the voice of a hitherto vibrant child of God. Is it not true how firebrand brothers cooled off in the air conditioner of an executive office and all the passion for revival, soul-winning, and prayers gradually taper off? The devil replaces their voice with a job. For some, it was relationship that stole their voice. When was the last time your voice was heard in Heaven (as you prayed, fasted and interceded), in Hell (as you minister to a perishing soul), in your office? What has silenced your voice oh brother!

The move of God is often preceded by the voice of His children. If God must move, He listens first to whose voice it is. Sadly, some voices are no longer recognized in Heaven...they have become coarse by the affairs of this world so much so that they now sound different and worst still, corrupted. Some voices that use to make heavy reverberations in Heaven have been lost to the financial markets, and locked up in the oil industries and banks. The search for Daily bread has choked many voices. But God is giving another chance to as many that will cry for Him to re-amplify their voices in a world full of noise.

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live” (John 5:25).

God has made you a voice to a dying and dead world so that by your voice many lost will hear and find eternal life. Do not allow fear, frustration, money, food, job, friends, family, relationship and the devil choke your voice or make your voice sound strange in Heaven. This was what happened to Jacob when his voice sounded strangely to his father, but he resorted to deception. This is what many that have lost their voices and lifting strange voices do...they make up their Christian lives and live in deception.

If you chose to be silent here, there is no way your voice can be among the triumphant in Heaven. “And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in Heaven, saying Alleluia...” (Revelation 19:1). Will your voice be there? If it is dead here, it cannot be there then.

Can you pray with me, “Lord, restore my voice and let it be heard for you even in the uttermost in Jesus’ name”.

Have a lifted weekend.

YOUR PLANS VERSUS GOD’S PLANS

You have your plans, but do not forget that God has His own plans for you. The best comes out of your life when His plans form the core of the projects you pursue and the dreams you live for. No matter how nice your plans are, and no matter how commendable they are, be sure the 'lead' priority remains God's plans for your life.

There is a future the devil is helpless about, and that is your future in God...any other one is porous to destiny killers. Always strive to be the man in God's dream. Avoid the temptation of making out your own (usually selfish) plans and bringing them to God to rubber-stamp for you. Take time to find out what He really wants you to do...and be willing to cancel any of your plans that either conflict or not in line with what you perceive Him to be telling you. He is the manufacturer, He knows best why He made you. God is not a scientist that formed you to see whether you will stand a chance. Your life is not a divine experiment of sort. He formed you for His own good purpose because He knows it is not about you standing a chance; it is about you bringing a change in you family, generation and dispensation.

Above all, remember that "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure" (Php. 2:13).

You cannot become great...God becomes great in you!

NATIONAL REPENTANCE WILL BRING HEALING TO NIGERIA

“By righteousness a nation is lifted up, but sin is a cause of shame to the peoples” (Proverbs 14:34, Bible in Basic English, BBE)”.

The challenges we face as a nation are not unconnected to the truth that the land is defiled and filled with corruption and blood. Yes, the sins and errors of our fathers past have been forgiven, but every sin carries its consequence, and what have confronted this nation hitherto may not be far from the consequences of some of those iniquities. And to know that iniquity still abound only tells us that we are not ready for the dawn of restoration that we seek and pray for.

But God’s solution to a hurting nation has not changed. He says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

The way to healing still remains in the light of a nation that will seek God. The Bible says that any nation that forgets God shall be down. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver” (Psalm 50:22, Psalm 9:17). This is the end of any nation that forgets God, including Nigeria, except there is repentance. God will not change His standard because of Nigeria...He is no respecter of persons.

The land is filled with so much wickedness by terrorists and the military alike. There is so much bloodshed in the land. Corruption thrives in the land. Rituals, murders, occultism, homosexuality, lesbianism, drunkenness, etc...These are heavy sins in the land. I tell you the truth; we are miles away from peace unless the wind of repentance blows through the land. Truth!

The problems of this country will not be solved by all the national prayer and fasting rallies...the problem will only be overcome when we are ready to repent, both leaders and followers, for “we cannot continue in sin and be praying for grace to abound; God Himself forbids” (Romans 6:1).

And who should lead the national repentance? The number one citizen of the country should take the leading role, for until it starts from the head it cannot flow down the body. Daniel prayed and confessed his sins and the sins of the people. The leader that will champion the cause of national repentance in Nigeria is the one that can lay the platform for the much needed peace in the land. But unfortunately, the President of Nigeria is yet to accept that there is corruption going on in his government talk more of championing a restoration cause. He has not shown the potentials and desire to fight corruption the same way he is unable to do anything about the continued slaughtering of human beings by Boko Haram and allies.

Then the other time he stopped saying amen to a fiery prayer session because the Pastor was praying fire against corruption and corrupt leadership. Later when quizzed, his aides claimed there is a number of times the President can say “Amen” and that Mr. President already exhausted that. What a Constitutional and National Blasphemy!!!

I read how the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni led the country in a prayer of national repentance as Uganda celebrated 50th anniversary of independence from Britain. Below is an excerpt of the prayers said by the Uganda president:

 “I stand here today to close the evil past, and especially in the last 50 years of our national leadership history and at the threshold of a new dispensation in the life of this nation. I stand here on my own behalf and on behalf of my predecessors to repent. We ask for your forgiveness,” Museveni prayed.

“We confess these sins, which have greatly hampered our national cohesion and delayed our political, social and economic transformation. We confess sins of idolatry and witchcraft which are rampant in our land. We confess sins of shedding innocent blood, sins of political hypocrisy, dishonesty, intrigue and betrayal,” Museveni said.

“Forgive us of sins of pride, tribalism and sectarianism; sins of laziness, indifference and irresponsibility; sins of corruption and bribery that have eroded our national resources; sins of sexual immorality, drunkenness and debauchery; sins of unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred and revenge; sins of injustice, oppression and exploitation; sins of rebellion, insubordination, strife and conflict,” Museveni prayed.

Next, the president dedicated Uganda to God.

“We want to dedicate this nation to you so that you will be our God and guide. We want Uganda to be known as a nation that fears God and as a nation whose foundations are firmly rooted in righteousness and justice to fulfill what the Bible says in Psalm 33:12: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. A people you have chosen as your own,” Museveni prayed.

This should be a model for Presidents and leaders in government, and I hope President Jonathan sees this and admits that like in Uganda, the sins of tribalism and sectarianism; sins of laziness, indifference and irresponsibility; sins of corruption and bribery that have eroded our national resources; sins of sexual immorality, drunkenness and debauchery; sins of unforgiveness, bitterness, hatred and revenge; sins of injustice, oppression and exploitation; sins of rebellion, insubordination, strife and conflict abound in Nigeria also if not even more. And then, he should take the path of national repentance as the panacea to national healing and restoration.

National prayer rallies are good, but until there is national repentance, the healing streams Nigeria needs will remain flowing underground.

(Dr. Bukola Williams, www.drwilliamsbukola.blogspot.com)

BREAKING NEWS! TATTOO IS A SIN!!

They call it Tattoo. The dictionary describes it as pictures and/or marks made on the skin. It has become popular among worldly celebrities including footballers, wrestlers, musicians, and then many young people who delight in copying what they know little or nothing about. Some people Tattoo as a symbol of their allegiance to the devil and occultism, while some have seen it as a fashionable trend and a way to seek attention. But unknown to this latter group, Tattoo being a symbol of Satanism attracts the atmosphere of satan to your life and your life becomes accessible to demons. And the work of demons is to oppress and keep their preys on the way to Hell.

And I wish to also let you know that Tattooing is a sin. Here is what God himself said in the Bible about Tattoos:

“Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:28).

This is not a suggestion, but a command, and it is God speaking. Therefore, anyone who makes Tattoo is disobeying God, and disobedience is a sin...and all sinners are headed for Hell fire except they repent. TATTOOING IS A SIN!

It does not matter who you are, be you a celebrity, once you do not know God, you are a nonentity! Your name may be in the Guinness book of records, but if your name is not in the book of Life, you have no place in Heaven. Your fans in flames would turn out your fans in flames. Your celebrity status will neither open the gate of Heaven to you nor shut the gate of Hell against you. It is an eternal error to continue to make name here on earth whereas your name is not known in Heaven.

It is never too late to turn to God for mercy, but this is as long as it is not yet eternity. But once it is eternity, it becomes too late. And eternity could just be a moment away for somebody.

(By God’s grace, part of the mandate which God has given me is to ‘warn celebrities about Hell and tell them about God’)

For counselling and spiritual help, please reach me:

Dr. Bukola Williams

TreasuredHouse International

www.treasuredhouse.org

www.drwilliamsbukola.blogspot.com

info@treasuredhouse.org, drwilliams4j@yahoo.com

+234 803 574 4063

WHEN THE POOR MAKES HEADLINE NEWS

“60-year-old cab driver accused of causing accident”...“Woman, 45, sentenced to 6 months imprisonment for stealing N50, 000”. ETC.

These are typical headlines on the pages of Nigerian newspapers. And if you go on to find out, many of those who are accused and ultimately sentenced to prisons whether short or long terms are poor people who have no money to buy their way through and no godfathers to grant them the kind of amnesty that the rich and powerful enjoy.

When you hear that someone in Nigeria has been sentenced to jail for stealing, then find out and it will interest you that majority (say 99%) of those sentenced are among the poor (I did not say they are innocent). But, one keeps wondering when a top shot, polluted and corrupted Nigerian (the ruling class, politicians, etc) will ever be caught stealing (they are always stealing anyway), truly tried and then sent to the prison so as to serve as deterrent to others.

Bode George perhaps fell out with the powers that be and was “punished” with imprisonment. He came out and there was a reception and thanksgiving in honour of him. That shows how fashionable and glorious it is to be a high-profile “thief” in Nigeria...whether you fall or rise, you will be celebrated. Please, where is Farouq and Otedola today? Where are the tapes that Otedola released? What has happened to the case? I published back then that the dust will clear and what do we have now? This is typical ‘Solomon Grandy’...Started on Monday and ended on Sunday!

How about that pension chief who stole billions so much that 2 billion naira was found in his house? He stole so much that lawyers and SANs were jostling to defend him in court. What would they say? ‘That the man did not steal money’...after all, in Nigeria, money falls from Heaven. Smh. A country where we celebrate thieves and emergency billionaires like Ubah, Chairman of Capital Oil who has been implicated among the fuel subsidy syndicates and oil cabals.

Corruption is so much that the funds raised for victims of the flood disaster are being diverted and stolen by officials saddled with the responsibility of providing relief. Why do people not fear God? And the President was also unable to provide answer to the question of why no top shot has been convicted despite widespread corruption in high places.

While the poor and presumably helpless continue to go to make headlines and go to jail for stealing 100, 000 naira and sometimes laptop, the rich steals millions and billions and walks away as king. And the same judge and court that gave amnesty to a “big thief” will sentence and imprison the “poor thief”. The only time you will hear that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man is when a politician gets victory at the election tribunal. Nigerian judiciary has become an accomplice and the hope of the powerful and rich Nigerian and an enemy of the common man. Judges take bribes, so the poor man only hopes in God. Was Mr. James Ibori not acquitted by a Nigerian judge and court only to be sentenced and imprisoned in UK?

Am I saying that the poor man should not be punished for his sins and crimes? NO! God does not discriminate in His judgement, and poverty is not an excuse to sin. God judges the rich and the poor alike without respect. So, it may be possible for those stealing now to be getting away with it, but a time is going to come when God will judge. “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Revelation 21:12).

Every day may be for the thief now, but eternity is surely for God...the owner of all things!

SUBSTITUTIONS AND DELETIONS IN HEAVEN

One of the greatest heights of heresy is the erroneous teaching and belief by some denominations that once saved is forever saved and that there is no possibility of a man falling from grace. Some even teach that once you become born again, even when you continue in sin God won’t be angry because He (God) has forgiven both your past sins and future sins, and so you are “licensed” sin. Some people use this as the reason they fornicate because according to them, God has forgiven them in advance. Pitifully, these are the types of doctrines that people want to be taught. However and sadly, these doctrines have taken many people to hell and still do take many there.

The Bible says “He that committed sin is of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Sin naturally attracts the atmosphere of satan. He that is born of God does not sin (1 John 5:8). You cannot continue in sin and ask grace to abide...God forbid! (Romans 6:1, 2). If you are born again and you continue in sin, the Bible says the soul that sinneth shall die! (Ezekiel 18:4, 20). This is spiritual death.

There is nowhere in the Bible that God says you can continue in sin after you have accepted Him as Lord and Saviour. That you became Born Again implies that your name moved from being in the book of death and entered into the book of life. That is the point that Heaven rejoiced over you with gladness. The moment you go back to sin, there is a deletion of that name from the book of life and back to the book of death. This is deletion in heaven! If that person dies in that state, he is headed for hell. Now, was he ever born again? Yes! But, the Bible says “without Holiness, no man shall see God”. This is the reason many Christians still go to hell, because of secret sins, and those lifestyles they ignored.

There is a story about a young man who died and got to the judgement seat only to be told that 3 hours earlier his name was in the  book of life, but he went on to fall to the sin of lust and fornication. He died moments later while he slept off. This is why, for us as Christians in this race, it is heaven at last we seek. Apostle Paul was a great man of God; he had the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit; wrote the highest number of epistles in the Bible, but the man was fervently always praying, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

At judgement, God will not arrange people into denominations and judge them based on the doctrines they were taught in their Churches...No! He will judge everyone according to His (God’s) own standard. Whether or not you were thought that alcohol, smoking, masturbation, etc are sins or not...God will judge every man. He won’t have to ask your pastor what he preached to you in order that he can use it to judge you. No! Even the pastors will be judged by what they preached and how they lived. Many preachers and pastors are guilty of heresies; many are guilty of not preaching to their congregations about the realities of Hell and Rapture. Many preachers are only preaching the “loving” and “good” side of God, they never tell their members about the other side of God; a God who hates sin, who is a consuming fire, whose anger (at judgment) will burn like an oven. These pastors and preachers will be judged for failing to prepare their church for rapture.

Judas Iscariot was one man whose name was once in Heaven. He had his name inscribed against 1 of the 12 pillars. He also had a throne among the 12 thrones in Heaven for the apostles among others. But he fell from grace and lost his place.  His place was substituted. I imagine how the angels felt cancelling his name from among the 12 pillars, from the throne, etc. This is a typical substitution in Heaven!

There are many names that entered the book of life but are no more there. This is the reason Heaven declared a state of emergency in Heaven because many names, including prominent names here on earth in the Church are not in the book of life. Beloved, there is active deletion going on in Heaven. One of the wonders when we get to heaven is that, those we expect to see won’t be there. Where is your name at the moment? Do you need to make some things right with God? Please, now is the time, tomorrow might be too late...eternity might just be a moment away.