By The National Prayer Altar
I see a crowd
I see cash
I see cars
But I do not see Christ
– Pastor S. G. Elton
A group of foreign intercessors visited Nigeria some years ago to assess the internationally-acclaimed revival going on in the country. After their exercise, they wrote a short report as follows: “The Nigerian Church is five miles wide, but one inch deep.”
Undeniably, there was a revival in Nigeria from the ‘70s and it culminated in a massive conversion of souls and the birth of many ‘new generation’ churches, most of them evangelical. The orthodox denominations also witnessed a huge expansion. Nationwide, the population of Christians increased.
Unfortunately, the population increase did not translate into national transformation. As the churches multiplied, darkness rather than light covered Nigeria. All manner of vices assailed the country until bloodshed became a daily occurrence and genocide, unfortunately, became part of the national identity. Churches were not spared, as scandal upon scandal rocked many churches and their ministers. Churches became known for greed, covetousness, and compromise. To worsen matters, allegations of occult practices, mocked as “charismatic witchcraft,” plagued the Church.
What polluted the revival that should have transformed the country and launch it into its assignment as a missionary nation? The answer lies in the desire of some preachers to be famous, wealthy, and influential. The consequence of that evil desire was what God lamented to Pastor Elton as the proliferation of crowds, cash, and cars, without Christ. Of course, any obsession with those items indicates a separation from Christ. While there is nothing wrong with a crowd gathering to worship, or cash and cars in the church, the problem starts when the motive for acquiring them is personal lust rather than the Kingdom of God.
The first indication that a minister of the gospel has missed the mark is the desire to be celebrated. Some want to be famous, influential, and adored. That inordinate ambition has driven them into seeking ‘powers’ from the dark world. They appear to have forgotten that Christ did not call anyone to be a superstar or a celebrity in His Church, but to be servants. It is an anomaly when servants seek to be famous and be treated like celebrities.
A bishop shared an impactful vision of a valedictory programme in Heaven. In the revelation, men were being sent off to the earth to serve God. As each one was departing, a party was thrown to usher him out of Heaven, with the expectation that he was going into the world to do the will of the King of kings and Lord of Lords. It was like the send-forth of a country’s ambassador into a foreign country. What the bishop witnessed in that heavenly realm was lavish and glamorous. However, when it came to his turn, instead of a lavish party, an angel handed him the equivalent of a packet of Cabin Biscuits. There was no trumpet sound, no music, no wine, no rich food, and of course, no rejoicing. Stunned at the “shabby” treatment, he approached the angel who was the Master of Ceremony to protest. As he opened his mouth to complain, the angel’s face turned into fury. His eyes blazed like liquid fire, and he roared in wrath, “That is how all of you are. When heaven sends you to the earth, you are celebrated in the hope that you are going to serve God. When you get there you mess up your assignment. Henceforth, there shall be no celebration for any of you again in heaven. If you complete your assignment and return successfully, you shall be celebrated!”
The bishop said he woke up fearing he was dead. The fury he saw on the face of the angel and the force of the words he heard made him conclude that he was dead. He woke up sweating and shaking in fear. He said he did not know how he managed to survive that encounter.
The Nigerian revival was messed up by men who loved the crowd, the cars, and the cash, more than they loved Jesus Christ, if they did at all. They were servants of Christ all right, but their affection shifted from their Master to the mundane things of the earth. Today, some of them head denominations and ministries, and they are living in luxury like superstars and celebrities. They are celebrated in the Church and in the world, while Heaven mourns their lifestyle. One day, they will return home to render their account. That angel would be waiting.
The condition of Nigeria today is sufficient to make any servant of God sober and mournful. Unfortunately, many ministers of the gospel are carried away with the adulation of men. Some behave as if the church were their private property, and the people of God were gathered to serve them. In fact, many of them refer to the Church of Jesus Christ as “my church,” their billboards and banners blazing with the grandiose photograph of ‘the man of God’ and his wife, their faces digitally edited to be ‘without spot or wrinkles.’
How could there be so many churches in Nigeria with the darkness of corruption, bloodshed, poverty, sexual perversion, and other vices persisting? Jesus Christ described His followers as “the light of the world”. If indeed Christians are the _“light of the world”, how come darkness is covering Nigeria? The answer is, the light is not shinning. Jesus warned, “take heed that the light in you be not darkness” (Luke 11: 35). Children of light can be covered with darkness if they are not careful. That is the tragedy of the Nigerian ‘revival.’
Fortunately, the Lord does not give up. Another revival shall come upon Nigeria. Then, the leaders of the revival must be ready to practise Christianity according to the command of the Master. The first example that Jesus gave His disciples was the example of servanthood (Jn. 13:15) while the second was that of enduring suffering (1 Pet. 2: 21). The Lord also taught them that in His Kingdom, the leader was the servant of all. He made it clear that there was only one “Father” of His Church, and that Father is in heaven. (Matt. 23: 9). In verse 8 of the same chapter, He stated, “all ye are brethren”. In John 20:17, He included Himself in that structure of brothers and sisters. No one called Jesus Christ “daddy” as a religious honour, or “Brother Jesus.” He was and is still called by his first name, yet He does not mind. Such is the humility of Christ. It is His servants who believe that, unless they are called “Daddy” or “Papa,” they have been disrespected.
The practice of calling ministers of the gospel “Daddy” and “Father” is not Christianity but syncretism, the mixture of Christianity and tradition. The oft-repeated example of Paul calling himself “father” is not tenable because no one in the New Testament called Paul “father”. Neither did anyone call Peter, James, John, or any other New Testament saints “father”. The Scriptures cannot be broken. The Lord issued a clear command to “call no man on earth your father.”
It is time to return to the simplicity and humility of Christ so that our honour can come from God. In John 5:41, the Lord says, “I receive not honour from men.” Thus He chided those who sought honour from men:”How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” (John 5:44). Another revival is coming. The Church must prepare and learn from the mistakes of the last revival polluted by men. It is time to return to the narrow path.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Isaiah 42:18-20
Pray and repent for the blindness and rebellion of ministers of the gospel whose actions polluted the revival which God sent to Nigeria.
2. Rom. 16:17–18
Pray and dissociate the Nigeria Church from the actions and choices of men who place their personal interest above the interest of Jesus Christ in the Church. Declare before God that their actions do not represent the Nigeria Church.
3. Ezekiel. 34:7–12
Pray that the Lord shall seek and regather His people who were offended by the lawlessness in the Church and stopped associating with Christianity.
4. Mal. 3:2–4
Pray that God will purge the Church and uproot all those who pollute the work of the Holy Spirit.
5. Jer. 3:15
Pray that God will give the Nigeria Church pastors after His heart, who will teach and guide the people of God aright.
6. Ps. 85:4–7
Pray for fresh outpouring of the spirit of revival in Nigeria.
7. Hab. 2:14
Pray that Nigeria shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the seas.
● The National Prayer Altar, co-ordinated by Pastor Bosun Emmanuel and Prof. Trinya Kontein, meets daily between 9.00 – 10.00 p.m via ZOOM link:
https://zoom.us/j/96806190505?pwd=K2RqcUN3YjRwQzEzRDZaMUt2N1ZsUT09
▪︎Meeting ID: 968 0619 0505
▪︎Passcode: 024184
