When Believers Cease to Believe in the Supernatural

As the pastor of a Primitive Baptist church, my friend Charles Carrin was an ardent cessationist and entrenched five-point Calvinist for many years. He subscribed—as all cessationists do—to what I believe to be an unbiblical view: that God by His own will "ceased" long ago to deal with His people in a direct manner supernaturally. No more supernatural healings. No visions. No direct revelation. None of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in operation.

Cessationists do believe in the supernatural occurrences in Scripture, of course, but they have no expectation that God will intervene supernaturally today except, perhaps, through providence. But the notion of the gifts of the Spirit being in operation today, as in 1 Corinthians 12:10-12, is out of the question.

Even so, one day my Baptist friend prayed something like this: "Lord, I want to be filled with Your Holy Spirit, but I have three conditions: I don't want to shout, I don't want to be spectacular and I don't want to speak in tongues. Now, with that in mind, You may proceed."

Nothing happened.

As it turns out, he was also a chaplain at the federal prison in Atlanta. He was assigned to a man who had been converted and filled with the Holy Spirit after being imprisoned. Whereas Charles went weekly to minister to this man, the prisoner began to minister to Charles. It is one of the most amazing reversals of role I have come across.

Little by little Charles became hungry for God in a fresh way. After a long while he became willing to ask this prisoner to lay hands on him—with the prison guards watching. He invited the Holy Spirit to fall on him without any preconditions. He was filled with the Holy Spirit that day and was never to be the same again. He was eventually forced to resign his church.

Let's Be Fair With Cessationists

One should never underestimate our cessationist friends' love for God, Scripture, sound teaching and holy living. They are the salt of the earth. Some of them are among the greatest vanguards of Christian orthodoxy.

I repeat: They certainly do accept the miraculous in the Bible. They simply do not believe that God reveals Himself immediately and directly by revelation anymore. God, of course, could do it, they argue; He has simply and sovereignly chosen not to show His power as He did in the earliest church.

The absence of power, therefore, to the cessationist is not owing to our unbelief, lack of faith or expectancy. God Himself decided that kind of power was for the earliest church. Any amount of praying, fasting, intercession and waiting on God will not bring about His power. You cannot twist God's arm to do what He decreed isn't going to happen.

Cessationists do not want to appear smug or unreachable; they simply don't believe the claims of charismatics and Pentecostals who have reportedly seen the miraculous. They are not questioning our honesty; they feel we have been either too optimistic, perhaps gullible, if not actually deceived.

Furthermore, cessationists understandably get turned off by flamboyant healing evangelists who make their extravagant claims. What causes some cessationists to dig in their heels is not only the lack of hard evidence, but also that the claims to healing miracles are so often surrounded with Hollywood-style showmanship and questionable teaching. These television evangelists sometimes appear like move stars who love the attention.

What's more, those people who are said to be slain in the Spirit and fall backward are also supposedly healed. That is certainly the impression that is given. But when honest skeptics who want to get to the bottom of the claims go back to these same people to interview them, the results are often rather sobering. It often turns out that very few, if any, were actually healed. This scenario has been repeated again and again.

I can truly sympathize with cessationism. It seems to me the extravagant claims and lifestyles of many healing evangelists are far removed from the humility of the early apostles. I also find it disquieting when prominent healing evangelists absolutely forbid people in wheelchairs from being pushed to the front of the auditorium before the services. Ushers are positively told not to let people in wheelchairs be positioned near the stage; it draws attention to them, especially when the handicapped people are not called out to be prayed for.

It wasn't always this way. In the years between 1949 to 1951, it was very different. I have good reason to believe that healings of crippled people actually took place then. People in wheelchairs were welcomed—and often healed. They often carried their own wheelchairs back to their cars. And they stayed healed.

I will tell you why I believe this. I have personally talked with three men (and others who knew them well) who were very prominent in the healing ministry in the 1950s. They have shown me photographs, letters and testimonies of people who wrote to them. I got close enough to some of these men to know they were not making things up.

What convinced me further is when they also admitted that the healings came to a halt. They were vulnerable to admit to this. It made me feel that the photographs and letters were genuine. But for some reason the miraculous healings diminished in the 1950s, although some of the evangelists did their best to keep praying for people as they had previously done—but with fewer results.

It's a Hypothesis, Not Dogma

Here is the ultimate truth about all this: Cessationism is a hypothesis. It is not a teaching grounded in Holy Scripture—like the virgin birth, the deity of Christ, the resurrection of Jesus and salvation by the blood of God's Son. Cessationists have chosen to believe God does not reveal Himself directly and immediately today.

I do think, however, that many cessationists would sincerely welcome supernatural healing if they actually saw a person healed or if they themselves were healed (should they become willing to be prayed for) and remained healed. Most cessationists would be thrilled with a miracle, if indeed it was genuine and they had the undisputed facts before the healing and after the healing.

I know some cessationists become open to the miraculous when one of their own loved ones becomes seriously ill. God sometimes uses a critical illness to get our attention. I don't mean to be unfair, but there is nothing that changes the mindset of a cessationist like one's own fatal illness or the serious sickness of a loved one. That often makes them open in a way they would not have been before. General Douglas MacArthur used to say, "There are no atheists in foxholes." So, too, desperation is something God may use to give us a wake-up call.

But what would worry me is this: if cessationists would be disappointed if the irrefutable evidence of genuine healings came forth. It is surely not good if they turned the hypothesis of cessationism into a dogma and then would resent it if a person were miraculously healed. If only such people would uphold cessationism as plan B in the event God might intervene and show His undoubted power.

Perhaps It's for Our Good

Sometimes it actually happens—a cessationist is convinced of a miracle and changes his or her views. But not often. Why? I cannot be sure.

But I have my own hypothesis: to test the faith of those who actually see the miraculous but have to enjoy it in relative solitude without their friends being convinced. That solitude can become downright painful—when one's integrity is questioned and yet one knows for a fact what God did. It's like the earliest church being convinced of Jesus' resurrection, whether they saw the resurrected Christ or because of the immediate and direct witness of the Spirit. It was so real to them and so foreign to others.

But what if God in some cases keeps some skeptics from seeing the miraculous even though it actually takes place? What if miracles are largely for those believers in God's family who have accepted the stigma of being "outside the camp" (Heb. 13:13)?

After all, why didn't the resurrected Christ appear to everybody on Easter Sunday? One might choose to argue that this would have been a reasonable thing to do if God truly wanted everybody to believe in His Son. Why did Jesus reveal Himself only to a few? Why didn't Jesus knock on Pontius Pilate's door on Easter morning and say, "Surprise!"? Why didn't Jesus go straight from the empty tomb to Herod's palace and say, "Bet you weren't expecting Me!" He appeared only to a few—those who were His faithful followers.

I also suspect that God sometimes allows just a little bit of doubt when it comes to the objective proof of the miraculous. This keeps us humbled. And sobered. Pastor Colin Dye of London's Kensington Temple has put it like this: "Miracles always leave room for doubt, as they were not intended to replace faith, only to reveal the heart. Also, the fact that Jesus' miracles in Galilee were not believed shows that the very best of them were not knock-down proofs for those who are hard of heart and unbelieving, and to reject their testimony is to bring greater judgment on those who witness them. Perhaps it is out of God's mercy that God is pleased sometimes to withhold them, at least until the time is right to bring to light the true state of people's hearts—to bring in the elect and to reveal the apostates."

Perhaps you and I need patience while our friends or loved ones are totally convinced "there's nothing to it" when it comes to the miraculous. After all, how could Peter prove that Jesus had ascended to the right hand of God on the Day of Pentecost? He couldn't. But he believed it. And all the rest could do was to believe his word—or reject it.

Let the Spirit Vindicate Us

Jesus was "vindicated by the Spirit" (1 Tim. 3:16, NIV) in the days of His earthly ministry. This meant He got His approval through the Holy Spirit from the Father alone—not from people's approval. It also referred to His followers who were drawn to Him in faith by the Holy Spirit.

Faith is a gift of God (Acts 13:48; Eph. 2:8-9). This means those who believed in Jesus had been drawn to Him by the Spirit (John 6:44). And Jesus' vindication by the Holy Spirit continues to this day. Even though He is at the right hand of God and is highly exalted in heaven, the only ones who believe this are those whose hearts have been drawn to Him by the Holy Spirit.

My hypothesis, then, is that the principle of vindication by the Spirit is at stake when it comes to the miraculous. Vindication by the Spirit is an internal vindication. The Holy Spirit witnesses in our hearts.

Furthermore, those who are faithful believers in Jesus' power today are more likely to see His healing miracles than those who say, "I will believe it when I see it." In other words, as Jesus appeared to those who were previously drawn to Him, it may be that God shows His manifest power to those who have previously believed He is willing to show His glory.

Could it be, then, that God withholds the lack of hard evidence to skeptical people for our sakes? If so, it becomes a rather huge testing for us. The issue is this: Will you and I still be faithful if our cessationist friends never see God's manifest power for themselves? Many of us would so love to be openly vindicated. But what if God is behind the withholding of His manifest power to our critics in order that we get our vindication not from people's approval but from the Father alone? This would mean that we, too, are vindicated by the Spirit—His internal witness—and not by the external, visible and tangible proofs of His power.

God could show His healing power at any moment. For instance, a few years ago I received a curt letter from a very close friend. He lovingly chided me for my associations with Pentecostals and charismatics. But since he wrote me that letter, his own daughter became critically ill and was expected to die. The very charismatics he would not normally turn to prayed for his beloved daughter. She was gloriously healed. And stayed healed. My friend made a 180-degree turn. He announced to his friends, "I am a Baptist charismatic."

But why doesn't God do that all the time? You tell me.

My point is simply this. Let us not live for the vindication of our theological views. God wants us to receive the praise that comes from Him alone (John 5:44). If we became openly vindicated of our position that God manifests His power and glory today through the gifts of the Spirit, we might succumb to the praise of people. We could. We all have fragile egos. God forbid that this should happen to us—that we would start saying, "I told you so."

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R.T. Kendall was the pastor of Westminster Chapel in London from 1977 to 2002. He now lives in Nashville, Tenn. He is a well-known speaker and the author of many books, including his newest release, Holy Fire: A Balanced, Biblical Look at the Holy Spirit's Work in Our Lives, from which this article was excerpted.

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/spirit/supernatural/19567-when-believers-cease-to-believe-in-the-supernatural

Aturu, others kick against taxes for religious bodies

Some prominent lawyers in Lagos State on Thursday kicked against the payment of taxes by religious organisations in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the delegates at the ongoing National Conference in Abuja had on Wednesday voted in support of taxing both churches and mosques.

The lawyers told NAN that the move by the conference was a clear misplacement of priorities.

A human rights lawyer, Mr Bamidele Aturu, said the delegates should focus on important issues that would foster the unity and development of Nigeria.

Aturu said it was the duty of the National Assembly to promulgate such laws, adding that the non-payment of taxes by religious organisations was not an issue in Nigeria.

"For me, it is a misplacement of their priorities and they are only going to create more controversies which may make their report unacceptable at the end of the day," he said.

Another lawyer, Mr Wale Ogunade, said the conference should address issues such as unemployment, poverty, corruption and national unity.

Ogunade said, "This is just a diversion because there are more pressing issues. The government has not exhausted the money being generated from oil and other mineral resources.

"The delegates should be concerned with how to make the government accountable to Nigerians on how our resources are being spent.

"By doing this, many Nigerians, including churches and mosques, will voluntarily start paying their taxes."

On his part, Mr Uche Edeh, a Lagos-based lawyer, said taxing religious organisations could lead to crisis because it would be difficult to enforce.

Edeh advised Nigerians to exercise caution on the issue in order not to heat up the polity.

A former Chairman of the Ikeja branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr Adebamigbe Omole, however, supported the recommendation of the conference.

"I am in total support because some of the religious centres have been commercialised.

"They are making so much money and I think the best thing for us to do is to make them to pay taxes because the government needs money," he said.

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Original Page: http://www.punchng.com/news/aturu-others-kick-against-taxes-for-religious-bodies/

Would Your Child Say You Are a Good Parent?

Most engaged parents want to know that they have a good relationship with their son or daughter. But sometimes it's tough to tell just how solid that relationship really is.

You might think things are going great, but your child might think otherwise. Or your child might feel like things are fine but you feel like you've fallen short as a mom or dad.

Well, the best way to evaluate your relationship with your child isn't to take an exam or ask someone else. The best way is to ask your child.

So, here are 20 questions to ask your child to help evaluate where your relationship needs improvement and where it's thriving. You don't have to formally ask them all these questions in one sitting. You can just casually ask as many as you'd like when the timing is right.

1. How do you know I love you?
2. Would you say I'm a bad, OK or good listener when you talk to me?
3. Do I make your mom/dad happy or sad? Do we fight too much?
4. What are some areas where I can improve as your mom/dad?
5. How often do we spend time together? Do you wish we spent more time together?
6. Would you say I'm better at giving compliments or at criticizing?
7. Am I fair when I discipline you?
8. How often do I hug you? Do I hug you enough?
9. On a scale of 1-10, do I do a good job getting to know your friends?
10. Do you trust me in everything?
11. Have I broken any promises to you? If so, which ones?
12. Do I treat you and your brothers/sisters equally?
13. What's the most fun thing we've ever done together?
14. What is one thing you wish I would stop doing?
15. What is one thing you would like me to keep doing?
16. What things would you like to learn from me that I have not taught you?
17. If you could change our relationship in any way, how would you?
18. How have I helped you over the last couple of months? How can I help you more?
19. What do you want most from me?
20. What do you wish I would say more often?

If you have more than one child, I encourage you to pull each of them aside separately and ask them this series of questions. For more ways to communicate with your child, check out "The Best Conversation Starters for Teenagers."

What are some other questions you plan to ask your child to evaluate how your relationship is doing? Leave a comment below.

Mark Merrill is the president of Family First. For the original article, visit markmerrill.com.

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/life/men/20462-would-your-child-say-you-are-a-good-parent

Virgin Teenage Boy Blows Open Casual Sex Myth With 'Glue' Argument

An 18-year-old schoolboy has criticized the culture of casual sex, saying it brings unhappiness rather than satisfaction.

Phin Lyman told his school magazine why he is abstaining from sex and described his concern over the level of peer pressure on young people regarding casual sex.

He rejects the idea that he is missing out: "I really believe I am not. The people sleeping around are the unhappy ones."

Lyman studies at Wellington College, a co-educational day and boarding school in the United Kingdom's Berkshire.

He notes, "I would say 90 percent of people are drunk when they lose their virginity.

"It doesn't make them happy and it upsets me to see it."

According to The Times, which reported the story, he said, "I believe that sex is an incredibly strong symbol of love between two people.

"Think of it as glue. Once you have sex with someone, you're connected to them emotionally and physically.

"If you tear that bond the rip leaves open scars where the glue once was.

"That's why 'casual sex' never works in the long term."

Lyman explains there have been occasions when he struggled to maintain his position on the issue: "There have been times I have been in a position where I could have gone and had sex with someone. I have had to step back and say 'No, I am going to regret it.'"

He comments, "One of the reasons I decided to go public is I am at the top of the school now and I can look down and see there is so much pressure on younger pupils to have sex."

He also remarks that many boys are educated about sex through online pornography.

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/life/culture/20477-virgin-teenage-boy-blows-open-casual-sex-myth-with-glue-argument

We Are At The Verge Of A Break Up–Complete Interview With Bishop Oyedepo

We Are At The Verge Of A Break Up–Complete Interview With Bishop Oyedepo

Founder, Living Faith Church aka Winners Chapel, Bishop David Oyedepo, in this interview with Olabisi Deji-Folutile, GBENRO ADEOYE and TUNDE AJAJA,talks about the church and sundry issues

You preach as if you have committed the entire Bible to your memory. How many times have you read the Bible?

The Bible is an unfinishable book, you keep reading. A student once met me after a meeting and said that I quoted 68 scriptures verbatim. He asked if I memorised the scriptures, I said no, I eat them. No matter how unintelligent you are, you can't forget the food you ate last night, except you are mentally derailed. If you are given three seconds, you could tell what you ate about five days ago, if you truly ate it. So, the Bible is just not for reading, it's actually for eating. I'm not among the people that have read the Bible three or five times, I don't know how many times I have read the Bible and I'm not planning to know how many times. I just know it's my delight to feed on it daily, and I can't claim to have finished reading it.

The Living Faith church is 33 years old, how has it been pastoring this one church for the past years?

The ministry is 33 years, the church is now in its 31st year. It started as an itinerant ministry before we were called into the church ministry. It has always been interesting. These things work when you have the right perspective on them. Every pastor is ordained to serve the congregation, not to be served by the congregation. When that understanding dawns on any pastor, and he embraces it, then, pasturing becomes a sweet adventure. I've never looked towards what I can get from any member since inception. But I've always longed for what I can give to the people. I must say I'm jealous over them, I don't want anyone to take advantage of them or play games on them. I want them to just be the children of God that they are, serving God without duress or pressure.

Is it true that church members here pray for the dead and they wake up, even in the mortuary, how do they do it?

(Cuts in..) By tapping them and saying wake up (laughs). We must know the source of everything that we experienced or observed. No man has the power to raise the dead. Jesus is the only one that has the keys of resurrection and death in his hands. So, we rely on him to do those things and he quickens whosoever he wills; he determines who to bring back and who not to. We only believe in God to bring back whosoever he wishes, if we have the key, we would be delighted to bring back everybody, and even open a clinic for bringing back the dead.

Why are there so many rich people in Winners?

Because they know better than their contemporaries. If you don't know what you have, you won't know if you are deprived of it. The Bible is an open chequebook, it is by revelation we access what belongs to us; by faith we take delivery of it. Someone had access to our empowerment programme and she is a pepper seller, while others sell one basket a day, she sells six, seven. I learnt she had become the envy of all the pepper sellers in her area. Such person has an understanding that whatever she does, she prospers and she knows that when she pays her tithe, she experiences open heavens. But in case people don't know, they perish for lack of knowledge, and in case they think when you are rich you miss heaven, then they perish for lack of knowledge.

So, it's right when people claim that this church is only for the rich?

It's for all the people who believe that Jesus already paid for them to be rich. And those who don't believe, when they come they start believing when they see it happen in a lot of people's lives. And we are not ashamed to be called the church of the rich. If they call your family poor, will you be excited? Nobody would be excited. Even when a family is poor, they hate to be called poor. No man in his right mind enjoys being called poor, and nobody truly wants to be poor, people may pretend. Which is more honourable between being a giver and a beggar? Most of us came in very poor, but the light of God's word came on us and we walked out of poverty in grand style into wealth and riches.

How come there is such wealth in the church despite the poverty in the nation?

The kingdom of God is funded by God's resources. We are not funded by the economy of the world, but by the economy of the kingdom, which has a budget for all of its agenda on earth. We've been here since 1999 and we have never had power outage or water shortage. The main players are Nigerians, the builders are Nigerians. There is no building here that any foreign expert took part in. There is no foreign company's presence here, including the tabernacle. Some of the revered foreign companies here in Nigeria are technicians in Germany, and they are all political contractors, not that they have something special to offer.

Is there any way we can translate this into the Nigerian system?

It is possible by believing in the capability and capacity of Nigerians to do whatever they need to do. This is the largest church auditorium in the world. It's 104m free span wide. Even one of the reputed foreign construction companies came here to take pictures. Nigerians have unusual capacity to match any expertise in the world in any field they are involved in. Most of us go to school in foreign lands and we beat them, is it that when they get here, they become smarter? It's just for the authorities at the various levels to believe that we cannot develop ourselves seeking foreign aides for everything. We must take advantage of the opportunities around us to develop the capacity of our men and women. This office was built in 2001 and it's neat and there is no crack on the wall, so, what is the problem? But if we want to do anything, we must give it to people from foreign countries so that those who award the contract can have a deal and share the money and at the end of the day, they are still poorer than poverty because any money stolen never enhances a man's value.

We learnt your church members once donated about 700 cars as seed and that the cars were given to the pastors?

It's important to mention that there was no time that I know in the history of this church where there were 700 cars. There is no such story. People can make anything out of anything. There was a time they said we had six planes, and I said they didn't count them well, they should be up to 30 so that we use one each day of the month. Those are things that make news in the social media even when they are lies. People give here because they are taught to give, because we understand from the scriptures that it is the only way to increase. Every normal Winner takes good care of his parents. We also give to the poor. My family has sponsored close to 150 people out of university and others at Landmark University are on scholarship on our own ticket because of our commitment to agriculture. It is a lifestyle; it didn't start yesterday or two days ago. Since 1992, I have been consciously sponsoring students in various universities in Nigeria. The church is blessed because the church is a giving church. Just today (before you came), I signed millions for people who have health needs from the welfare account. And that continues. For instance, the church gives scholarships annually, not N100m or N150m. And it's not in the news. And that we have been doing for years.

How do you feel when people accuse you of flying in jets and spending church money to maintain the jets?

I feel very good. It's an opinion. Let me tell you what my understanding of persecution is; it's simply an opinion harshly expressed. And everybody has a right to his opinion. People who are walking in the truth are hardly bothered when things are said negatively about them because they have nothing to hide. The truth is I have never felt it, some say it's not human, but I have not. I can't be wasting my time trying to reply lies because I have too many things to do. They are doing their work, let me be doing my work too and before they wake up in the morning, I've done the next one, so, it doesn't matter. My idea of it is that, in a football match, you have only 22 people playing with thousands of spectators. And that is the way it is in the journey of life. In every field, you find just few players and many spectators, multitudes.

If we don't know where to place opinions, they will displace us. When we started Convenant University, so many people said it would not work, now, we hosted two Nobel Laureates this week, whereas no Nigerian university has ever hosted one in the history of university education in Nigeria. Now, it is the most pronounced and preferred private university in Nigeria. In fact, they say this is the university of the future; that is what they say in the university community. Those who said it could not work now have their children here because they have changed their mind. Some people say how can you tell children how to dress? We have to do that so they won't behave like mad people on the street. They say how can you tell them they can't use phone? We tell them so they would be disconnected from cultism.

Ask me anything, I can tell you why we did it. Where are you going to find the President of a nation with a woven hair? I can tell you that in the next 100 years, you won't find a male president using earring because they would count you as irresponsible, even in the secular world, they won't see anything in you. As free as America is, have you ever seen any minister there with earrings? The person may be qualified, but he will be termed irresponsible. But if you train these children how to carry themselves, it will open up their future. Everywhere you get to in this world, people are looking for responsible people, who don't only say so, but prove so. So, all the opinions on Covenant University have died now because we didn't stop pursuing what we believe was right and now it has become a standard.

Is that why the CU had the highest number of first class graduates that won the Federal Government's scholarship twice now?

What we do first is to package the man to suit the future that he is dreaming of. And that we do by injecting our seven core values into them, and we used SIM CARDS as the acronym for it: Spirituality, Integrity, Posssibility Mentality, Capacity Building, Responsibility, Diligence and Sacrifice. We package that into them so that right from here, they have two things; character and capacity working for them. With those two, you can go to any level in life. Here, there is time for everything.

We learnt the university wants to be one of the top 10 universities in the world in 2020. Don't you think this is a tall dream?

Where we are today, Harvard was not there 100 years after it took off. I studied the world class universities in depth. So, we are closest to it. The two Nobel Laureates that came signed up as visiting professors at Covenant University, we have about five of them in different areas. That somebody has never done it does not mean it cannot be done. We are believing God for it, not by using strength and power. There is a particular university in the US that never takes anybody from outside North America for postgraduate studies, but we have 19 Covenant University graduates there. Prof. Okebukola shared that with me at the conference last week. A Covenant University graduate is the overall best graduating student in a school in Britain. So there is increasing expression in the quality of training that they receive in their respective areas. Except the dream is taller than God; if it's not taller than God, it's a cheap possibility.

We even learnt the church is planning to establish two more universities?

It is actually seven in our vision plan.

Are universities now secondary schools that you establish here and there?

We are trying to avoid having too many students on one campus so that we will not lose the quality of the training programme. Otherwise, the quality would wear down gradually. But because of the present security challenge that the nation is facing, it's normal for us to review our approach in a manner that does not create tension for workers and anybody else. We believe God to help us out of the crisis. So if there are no adequate mentioning of our programmes, it is to create adequate room to see these security issues overturned.

Some people believe faith-based universities charge high tuition that some of their members can't even afford…

They should bring the comparison. You know people talk all kinds of things. Compare what they pay here and there and what those payments cover. The rate of power consumption in the hostels alone is out of this world. All we need to juxtapose this is that they should rent the room and pay for electricity and they would pay ten times the amount. People should just sit down and find out what exactly they are paying for. The church has not drawn anything from Covenant University since inception in 12 years. But this year, the church reserves about N1.6bn stakes in its development. So, it's not a business, it's a service platform. In every nation of the world, the government subsidises education to all the stakeholders, not in this country, not a dime has ever crossed from government to any private university in Nigeria. And ask those who are in it how much profit they are making, they would explain to you how it has been wonderful to pay staff salaries and keep the system running. Move to the next country where people rush to study, look at how much they pay and what they get for it. Whether they have teachers or not doesn't matter. But every visiting professor here takes more than N1m. We are not talking about top individuals, Nobel Laureates and others. So, it's where we find ourselves and we want to make a difference, and we must make a difference. I want to believe that the private universities are doing the best they can. Ask the federal universities how they get their allocations, what they calculate to train a child out of the university. Ask them what it is and ask them who subsidises for private universities. Most of them don't have any equipment whatsoever. There is no engineering equipment you are looking for that you won't find here, bought brand new. If the government is not accepting responsibility, all we can do is to do the best we can to get these children trained, but at a cheaper cost than they do and with greater quality than they have. Those who cannot afford it can go to government institutions and if they are committed, they will still come out with good results.

The attention of the whole world has turned to Nigeria because of Boko Haram. What is your take on this?

I hope that we are willing to find solution to it. I would be the last person in this world to believe that government has not discovered those who are behind Boko Haram. Otherwise, we don't have any intelligence service in our country. Are they sacred cows that cannot be brought to book? Until we cut the source of their supplies and get those who are involved, we cannot stop them. But the danger is this, and I must say it here, we are at the verge of a break up. That is the truth. It's unfortunate. The Nigerian nation is too intelligent to claim not to have discovered those who are behind this. So, I really believe it's all in the hands of the authorities to decide whether they want to confront the issue headlong or to keep watching it until Nigeria breaks up.

Does it mean there is nothing the church or other religious organisations can do?

All that the church can do is to pray. The church is not in power, it has no political power. And when invited, we give advice, when required or called upon. You can't call someone and say can I advise you?

But people also criticise men of God like you for honouring the President's invitations?

A president is a president, whether it is Jonathan or not, It would be stupid not to honour your President's invitation. So, what is wrong with honouring the president? This is the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He's our President, not that he made himself President. It's all nonsense. We are not politicians. We are men and women of God who are pursuing a divine call. I honour President Jonathan as our President as a nation and as my president as a citizen, and so I have no regret and I would never regret being there at anytime he calls. My understanding is that anyone who is the President of this country requires the honour of the citizens and no matter your political view, it doesn't change it. If he is doing thanksgiving or marriage, he is doing it in the church, who would be with him if the men of God are not with him? If I were in Canada or Australia, and I knew that my President was having an occasion that I thought I had to be there with him to honour him, I would fly down here. Whether it is President Jonathan or somebody else, as long as it is the president, and he says please can I see you, it is an honour.

Apart from insecurity, corruption is another problem in Nigeria. We have looting here and there which is also capable of causing unrest. What is your take on the corruption in the country?

That comes down to the kind of education that we offer. This is nothing but the expression of the content of the men. For instance, I have never given a bribe and I would be the last to give a bribe. I would rather die than give one. And those who collect bribe know that they can't collect from me. Corruption has stayed with us for too long and I think it is a breeding ground for revolution. There is nothing happening in any private university today that would not have happened more in public universities, but for leakages here and there. But my understanding is that the church has a place of intense prayers because only God can change the hearts of men. People seek for appointment today not because of what they want to contribute but what they would have to share. Everybody is bothered, I am bothered. The rate of corruption in our society as Nigerians and Africans is enormous. But the church needs to be the example of what it wants to see in the society as far as corruption is concerned. Be that example; be able to say no and stand with it like Daniel. Right now, unlike in the time past, there are many Christians occupying sensitive positions at all strata of both public and private sectors. If the church people really come to a point of taking a stand against corruption, it would affect and impact Nigeria and the citizens positively.

Some people think there are too many churches in Nigeria and the best way to make money is to establish a church…

Let them go and start one. Almost every house in some parts of Nigeria is a mosque. So what is the complaint about? Multitudes still flock the roads on Sunday mornings going nowhere. Are churches enough? No. Until everybody is saved and everybody is off the street on Sunday mornings, we don't have enough churches. So for those who are angry, they would be angry for too long because we haven't seen churches yet. A time is coming on Sunday morning that we won't see anybody on the street, because they would be in church. And those who go to church to make money go bankrupt before they start. Church is not a money-making platform; it is a life-raising platform.

There are many men and women who are coming out to start stronger ministries than the ones we are doing. So, you can't say enough. Enough of what? Why don't you say people in the market are enough? Somebody else is starting shoe or wrist watch business today in spite of the millions that are in it in Nigeria. Some barbers are just graduating today to join the company of barbers in the country already, yet we didn't say they are enough. So, what's the headache? My submission is that we don't have near enough churches in Nigeria yet and the ones we have are doing well. I can tell you that there are hundreds and thousands of vibrant and Bible-believing, heaven-focused and life-changing churches, founded by genuine people who are called by God and are pursuing their callings and ours is just only a little thing out of too many, and many more would still rise, so anybody that wants to be angry can just get ready to be more angry. Church is not a money-making venture, those who are saying it is should open one and they would make a lot of money.

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Original Page: http://www.osundefender.org/?p=167414

12 Ways to Make Marriage Fun Again

I previously posted this several years ago, before we were empty-nesters. I believe more in it today than I did then. Sadly, as someone who studies marriages, I see more and more marriages that are just going through the routines of marriage without really enjoying the journey. At the same time, I do know couples who have learned how to make their marriage work for the good of both spouses and are truly enjoying life together. My wife and I want to be included in the latter group.

What does it take to put or keep fun in a marriage?

I first shared these tips at a pastor's retreat, so that was the original audience, but I believe they work for all of us.

Here are a 12 ways to make marriage fun again:

Prioritize your marriage – If you want to have fun in your marriage, you have to make your marriage a priority in your life; above your hobbies, work and even your children. All of us would say that our marriage is a priority, but do we practice what we say we believe? Our marriage should take precedence over every other human relationship and every other activity. My wife knows when I am putting her first and when something else has my greatest attention.

Schedule time for fun – We should schedule time to simply enjoy life with our spouse. Everyone I know is busy, but we should make sure our schedule never gets so crowded that we cannot enjoy time with the love of our life. As a pastor, I am never really off work, but I try to be home when I am home. Still, I will often hear my wife, when by boys when they were home, ask me something like, "Are you really listening to me or are you thinking about your next appointment?" We must set boundaries between our home and our work or other activities. Add to your calendar opportunities to have fun together. When is the last time you and your wife went on a date? You can be wise with your expenses and still plan for date nights. (Read the comments on my Cheap Date Ideas post for suggestions.)

Let worry go – Struggles will never completely disappear, so we should learn how to balance the need for control in our lives and the desire to live at peace and trust God through the hard times of life. It is important that we not allow struggles that come into the marriage to tear the marriage apart, but instead we should let our trials draw us closer to each other.

Expect surprises – Stuff happens! We know that; we see bad things happen everyday, but for some reason we are caught off guard when they happen to us. We should not be surprised when our marriage needs a little extra help because of the struggles of life. Cheryl and I have discovered the tough times bring us closer together if we allow them to work for us rather than against us.

Celebrate along the way – I have been told that it takes three or four positive life occurrences to offset every negative. If this is true then each of us need to look for opportunities to celebrate the good things of life. When times are especially stressful, Cheryl and I try to make sure we are remembering the positives in life. They are always there, but we have to sometimes look for them. Have you ever just taken time to reflect together how many things you have for which you are thankful? You may even have a better life than you thought you did; once you take time to celebrate.

Enjoy each others interests – It's okay to have outside interests, but one of the goals of marriage is to enjoy life together. That usually involves enjoying each others activities together. I don't like to shop necessarily, and there are certain stores where I refuse to shop, but I go shopping regularly with Cheryl because I love her and she loves shopping. It has always amazed me that when I invest the time to shop with Cheryl she always tries to give back to me by allowing me to enjoy one of my interests.

Get away – We all need time away from all the demands of life. On a pastor's income, I can't always take fancy vacations, but I am not afraid to invest in my marriage. My wife and I love to travel. One of our more fun things to do together is to plan an inexpensive day trips. There is something about physically leaving the environment in which we are comfortable that pushes us closer to the ones we love. For years, while my boys were younger, I gave Cheryl a trip for Christmas to be used sometime during the year. She looked forward to the gift and the trip every year. On bad days during the year, the thoughts of the gift or trip to come fueled her positive emotions.

Serve Together – We have discovered that the more we serve other people together the more fun we have in our marriage. It gives us more common ground with each other. Taking mission trips have become a fun way to spend time together. Serving our church together brings us closer to each other. Sharing ministry stories and experiences helps us draw from each others strength.

Little things matter – Moments in a marriage that may seem to be minor details have the potential for major impact on the marriage relationship. It is important to handle little issues or conflict before they become big things. If a husband and wife have a minor disagreement it can easily escalate into a major division in the relationship if left unattended. Keep the relationship fresh and free from minor drama.

We should also allow little pleasures to bring happiness to the marriage. One of my favorite times of day is the walk Cheryl and I take downtown at night. That few minutes each day keeps us close relationally, allows us to catch up from our day away from each other, and helps me to enjoy Cheryl in a fun setting.

Laugh at life – I read a statistic once that preschoolers laugh an average of 300 times a laugh an average of 17 times a day. The older we get the less we laugh. Laughter is good for our health and laughing together builds stronger relationships. Couples need to learn to laugh through life together. Cheryl and I laugh much!

Dream together – When couples are dating they seem to have fun discussing their future plans. Once we get married we tend to lose the art of dreaming. Dreaming inspires and encourages the heart. Dreaming together as a couple keeps the relationship fueled with new passions and desires. (I wrote a whole post about that HERE.)

Spread the pain – I am trying to model my pastoral responsibilities like the Acts 6 model in the Bible. I am learning that I cannot do everything. I must be a good at delegation. Don't be afraid to say "no" in order to protect your marriage. (I wrote about the this in THIS POST recently.) Many couples I know are so busy they never have time just for the two of them.

It is also important, however, to have some close friends with whom we can share life's burdens. None of us were meant to live on an island to ourselves and the same is true for married couples. Cheryl and I intentionally build relationships with other couples we can trust. (Yes, pastors, you can do this too. I wrote some tips on that HERE.)

Try these steps and see if the fun comes back into your marriage. Marriage is supposed to be fun!

What tips do you have for making marriage fun again?

Related posts:

1. One Simple, Genius Way I Strengthen My Marriage
2. Marriage Couple Dreaming
3. Do You Really Want This Marriage To Work?
4. Cheap Date Night Ideas

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9 Ways Worship Has Changed in 10 Years

If you were attending a church worship service in 1955 and then returned to the same church in 1975, the changes would be noticeable but not dramatic. Churches were slow to change over that 20-year period.

If you, however, attended a church worship service in 2000 and then returned to that same church in 2010, there is a high likelihood you would see dramatic changes had taken place in only 10 years.

What, then, are some of the most significant changes? Please allow me to offer some trends from anecdotal information, church consultations and objective research.

As a caveat, some of the data-based research comes from an excellent study, "The National Congregations Study" by Duke University. This study, fortunately, is longitudinal, so it is able to look at changes over many years. But the study is also dated, with the latest data reported in 2007.

From these multiple sources, I have assembled nine changes that have come at a rapid pace in many churches. Please note my perspective. I am offering these from the perspective of a researcher; I am not making qualitative assessments. Also, with every trend there will be thousands of churches that are exceptions to the norm. But these are the changes in the majority of churches in North America:

1. Choirs are disappearing. From 1998 to 2007, the percentage of churches with choirs decreased from 54 percent to 44 percent. If that pace holds to this year, the percentage of churches with choirs is only 37 percent.

2. Dress is more casual. In many churches, a man wearing a tie in a worship service is now among the few rather than the majority. While the degree of casual dress is contextual, the trend is crossing all geographic and demographic lines.

3. Screens are pervasive. Some of you remember the days when putting a projection screen in a worship center was considered a sacrilege. Now most churches have screens. And if they have hymnals, the hymnals are largely ignored and the congregants follow along on the screens.

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4. Preaching is longer. I will soon be in the process of gathering this data to make certain the objective research confirms the anecdotal information.

5. "Multi" is normative. Most congregants 20 years ago attended a Sunday morning worship service where no other Sunday morning alternatives were available. Today, most congregants attend a service that is part of numerous alternatives: multiservices, multicampuses, multisites and multivenues.

6. Attendees are more diverse. The Duke study noted the trend of the decrease in the number of all-white congregations.

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7. Conflict is not increasing. In a recent post, I noted the decreasing frequency of worship wars. The Duke study noted that overall church conflict has not increased over a 20-year period.

8. More worship attendees are attending larger churches. Churches with an attendance of 400 and up now account for 90 percent of all worship attendees. Inversely, those churches with an attendance of under 400 only account for 10 percent of worship attendees.

9. Sunday evening services are disappearing. This issue has stirred quite a bit of discussion the past few years. I plan to expand upon it in one of my next posts on my blog. Stay tuned.

I have tried to present these changes from a research perspective instead of injecting my opinions or preferences. Obviously, I have my own, but I would rather hear from you. 

Do you see these trends in your local congregation? What would you add?

Thom S. Rainer is the president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Previously, he served the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for 12 years, where he was a founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism.

For the original article, visit thomrainer.com.

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/2-uncategorised/20395-9-rapid-changes-in-church-worship-services

What TD Jakes Hates Most About Megachurch Culture

Megachurches have plenty of critics—including the pastor of one of the most popular megachurches in America.

Indeed, Bishop T.D. Jakes, senior pastor of the Potter's House in Dallas, says he has one issue with megachurch culture. Oddly enough, it has to do with how pastors fit into the mix.

"There are pastors whose ego demands that type of adulation. ... It's the part of ministry that I hate," said Jakes while promoting his book Instinct. "I hate it because from the inside out I see myself as quite normal. The pressure to live up to all of your expectations frustrates me."

That's right, he doesn't like how pastors are exalted as demigods—or pastors who demand to be exalted like some idol.

"I'm the same guy that pastored 50 people on Easter Sunday," he said. "I didn't turn into some kind of creature when they became 5,000."

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/2-uncategorised/20396-what-t-d-jakes-hates-most-about-megachurch-culture

Sudanese woman gets death sentence for marrying a Christian man

Pregnant 27 year old Sudanese woman, Mariam Yahia Ibrahim Ishag has been sentenced to death by hanging by a Sudanese court for apostasy, (that is, renouncing ones faith or religion) after marrying a Christian man

Mariam, whose father is Muslim but raised orthodox Christian by her mother, was earlier sentenced to death by hanging on Sunday May 11th but was given till today May 15th to have a rethink and convert back to Islam before the verdict would be enforced. However during a court appearance today, Mariam maintained that she's a Christian and there's no going back. 

"We gave you three days to recant but you insist on not returning to Islam. I sentence you to be hanged to death." Judge Abbas Mohammed Al-Khalifa told the woman in court today, AFP reports  Continue...

Khalifa also sentenced Ishag to 100 lashes for "adultery".

"I am a Christian and I never committed apostasy," she said in court.

Defending the judgement of the Sudanese judge, Ahmed Bilal Osman, Sudan's information Minister, said such judgement is not only delivered in Sudan but also in other Islamic countries

"It's not only Sudan. In Saudi Arabia, in all the Muslim countries, it is not allowed at all for a Muslim to change his/her religion." he told AFP

The death sentence will reportedly be carried out after Ibrahim gives birth.

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Original Page: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/OqshX/~3/XmVmfvjP08A/sudanese-woman-gets-death-sentence-for.html

THE JIHAD AGAINST BOKO! Villagers Kill 200 Boko Haram Terrorists In Borno Attack

The rise of the civilians against terror took the Boko Haram saga to a new turn in the early hours of Tuesday morning when citizens of Rann, headquarters of Kala-Balge local government area, Borno northeast, who had fore-knowledge of an impending Boko Haram attack, decided not to remain sitting ducks but prepared for battle.

On the account of Civilian sources in Borno, over 400 Boko Haram terrorists stormed Rann and neighboring villages in the early hours of Tuesday, with their usual convoy of hilux trucks, motorcycles and APC (Armored Personnel Carriers) only to meet villagers ready for them this time. The civilian villagers pounced on the terrorists with mere rocks, bows and arrows, local Dane guns, swords and "charms," but as we have earlier reported, Boko Haram are more frightened of Civilian-JTF than they are of the Nigerian army, and run from the civilians even if they—the civilians—only have knives. The battle raged till the sun came up and ended with the civilians killing over 200 Boko Haram terrorists, capturing several prisoners and recovering several of their vehicles.

A civilian who participated in defending the neighborhoods, as earlier reported that Locally Armed Villagers Kill 200 Boko Haram Members in Borno, "Our people also recovered over 70 motorcycles that the attackers came with. They also collected 2 Hilux vehicles and an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) while some of the attackers were captured alive."

This amazing victory of good over evil, promises a new direction in the war against terror that has wrecked hundreds of farming villages in the north of Nigeria in the last four years, largely unchecked by State security. Civilians determined to arrest a situation they believe the Nigerian security services has permitted to destroy their farming villages in various towns in the north east, have apparently decided take up a fighting posture against Boko Haram terrorists; no longer waiting for a military response that hardly ever comes.

Last week, Boko Haram terrorists ravaged Gondura Ngala town, freely without any hindrance from the Nigerian military drafted to the north, and decimated the entire town, killing over 300 residents. On April 14^th, Boko Haram stormed Chibok and abducted over 200 girls. In that episode, Amnesty International reported that the Nigerian security services were fully informed of the impending attack, by civilian vigilantes and other Intel, several hours prior, yet did not alert or defend the village nor engage the terrorists for a full eight hours of the abduction, looting and destruction of the village.

Civilian-JTF, youth civilian self defense army

A mother from Chibok reportedly told CNN, that "if the army is not ready to fight Boko Haram, then we will fight them ourselves." Apparently that day has come.

The Civilian-JTF and ENDS.ng civil rights group is pressing the Nigerian government for the civilians to have the right and government support, to bear arms, to end the terror scourge once and for all. The government is yet to officially respond to this urgent request as villagers remain at the mercy of Boko Haram terrorists.

The Shehu of Bama is said to have ordered his citizens to go get guns, after his town was completely decimated twice by Boko Haram terrorists with no military response for the full eight hours of carnage. More towns are expected to follow suit as the nations leadership sleeps and permits terrorists the largely unhindered freedom to operate, massacre and destroy Nigeria's farmers and northern farming villages.

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Original Page: http://www.osundefender.org/?p=164765

Dads, Do You Honestly Have a Close Bond With Your Children?

In a recent blog post, I highlighted some recent research about the most important factor when it comes to passing our faith and values on to our children. It isn't regular teaching sessions or setting the right example or involving kids in larger communities that promote those values, like a church.

All those things are important, but the biggest key is a warm, close connection between the child and father. I have kept thinking about this groundbreaking insight, and I believe there's more I can do to help you apply this in practical ways with your children.

For example, what is a warm relationship with your child? What does it look like? How can you tell if you have one?

I was talking with another dad on our staff about this, and our discussion led to questions like, "What's the atmosphere when you're together? Are you approachable as a dad? Is there a general feeling of easiness and acceptance, or tension and distance?"

All relationships go through seasons where we feel more distant or more comfortable being together. But I think you probably know the overriding mood between you and your kids.

I think this is a real challenge for dads, based on my own experiences as a father and conversations I've had with other guys. We too easily get caught up in the daily schedule and the challenges of life, we get distracted by our gadgets, or there's some other factor that makes us impatient or snippy with our kids. Or we get into negative patterns that we don't think we can change and so we settle in and just get through the days. If our children aren't getting our very best, well, at least we're providing the basic things they need.

That's understandable, but it isn't our best as fathers, and it isn't ideal for children as they go through life. They need us to be fully engaged, creating the kind of bond that gives them confidence and security. They don't need to be worrying with questions like, "What's up with Dad?" Or, "Why can't I ever do enough to please him?"

So, how do we create the kind of warmth that brings the other great benefits? Every relationship is different, and I'd be foolish if I said there was a four-step formula. But I also want to share what seems to work for me, and I hope these will be helpful for you:

1. Make your kids a high priority, and let it show. I know you love your kids, but I also know they can tell when you'd rather be doing something besides hanging out with them.

Just imagine what they're thinking and feeling when you're willing to put aside what you're doing because you really do enjoy being with them. That's when they start trusting you more, opening up about what's going on in their lives and seeking you out to do things. Sure, it takes a lot of effort and energy, but it's worth it.

2. Enter their world. Your children probably have hobbies and interests that are not what you naturally enjoy. The kids can do things for hours that would bore you in five minutes.

This is a real challenge for me, but the times when I really invest myself in finding out more about what my son enjoys and why he enjoys it, pretty soon it becomes interesting and fun for me too. And I often see a side of him that I hadn't noticed before. I can tell that my effort to enter his world is affirming for him, and it adds a sense of greater understanding and comfort to our friendship. I'm less likely to talk down to him as a silly, immature kid, and I'm more likely to show respect for who he is.

3. Push things deeper and risk discomfort. There are some situations that are easier to avoid or let someone else handle. But if you're going to have that close connection with your children, you can't sit on the sidelines or assume they will get the wisdom they need on their own. You have to be willing to push beyond the everyday, ordinary interactions and address the tough issues.

Maybe it's having an involved discussion about your beliefs or about dangerous behaviors that other kids are getting into. Maybe it's taking a stand and holding your child accountable with hard consequences.

On the other side, maybe it means expressing love and appreciation for your children from your heart, even though, based on your personality or your upbringing, it might feel unnatural or "unmanly" to say, "I love you," or give your kids hugs and kisses. Don't assume they know how much you love them! Go deeper and speak those words they need to hear. Or start with fist bumps and squeezes on the shoulder as you work up to bear hugs.

4. Maintain a steady demeanor—not too high or low. My dad really had this one down. He didn't get overly excited when I did something well, and he didn't go crazy when I messed up. I definitely knew when he was happy or disappointed with me, but nothing really changed the overall mood of our relationship.

This is also important because your kids will go through a lot of changes and adjustments. Your 5-year-old might think you're the coolest guy on the planet, and then your teenager might want nothing to do with you. Stay consistent and keep doing what you know is best through all the ups and downs. The relationship may change through the years, and it will probably feel different, but your child doesn't need you any less.

Dads, what's have I missed here? What is your secret for building that close bond with your kids? Please let us hear your feedback.

Action Points for Dads on the Journey

• Take genuine interest in something your child enjoys, especially if it isn't something that naturally appeals to you. Spend a good half-hour checking it out and asking your child about it, what appeals to her, etc.
• Ask someone who knows your family well—your child's mom or another close friend—"Would you say my kids and I are close? What makes you say that?"
• Make plans for a one-on-one outing with each of your kids in the next few weeks—something they enjoy, where you can just have fun and laugh together.
• Initiate a discussion with your child—in terms appropriate for his/her age—about a topic that's important to you or a lesson you learned the hard way.
• Get feedback on 13 specific areas of your fathering—and action plans for the ones you may need to address—using our Championship Fathering Profile (CFP).

Carey Casey is the CEO of the National Center for Fathering, a nonprofit organization dedicated to changing the culture of fathering in America by enlisting 6.5 million fathers to make the Championship Fathering Commitment. NCF believes that every child needs a dad they can count on, and uses its resources to inspire and equip men to be the involved fathers, grandfathers and father figures their children need. Subscribe to his weekly email tip by clicking here: "Yes! I want tips on how to be a great dad who lives out loving, coaching and modeling for my children.

For the original article visit fathers.com.

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Original Page: http://www.charismamag.com/life/men/20278-dads-do-you-honestly-have-a-close-bond-with-your-child

3 Reasons You Might Be in the Wilderness Right Now

We all walk through peaks and valleys—and we all have our wilderness experiences. But there's a big difference between being a voice crying in the wilderness in obedience to God and finding yourself stuck in the wilderness, going around the same mountain over and over (and over).

I've experienced both realities, and I can tell you the former is liberating because you know you are smack-dab in the center of God's will. The latter is frustrating because you know you're absolutely missing it somewhere.

Of course, if you don't have a revelation of why you are in the wilderness—if you are antsy for your big ministry debut, even though it's not God's timing—then you could be frustrated even in the will of God.

So, how do we interpret our wilderness experiences? With the help of the Word of God and the Spirit of God. I'm offering up a few possibilities here. There may be others. The important thing is not to play guessing games about the season you find yourself in. You need revelation and understanding that you can hang your faith on while you go through the wilderness so you don't faint and give up.

1. Unbelief and Rebellion Will Leave You Wandering in the Wilderness

Sometimes you find yourself wandering in the wilderness year after year after year. It feels like you are going around the same mountain over and over (and over). That may be because you are. Remember, it was a three-day journey from the Red Sea to the Promised Land, but the Israelites wandered around in the wilderness, circling Mount Seir, for 40 years.

Why did it take so long? One reason was unbelief. The Father was prepared to take them into the Promised Land after two years, but 10 of the 12 spies Moses sent into the Promised Land brought back an evil report of unbelief (Num. 14). God waited until all the unbelieving men of war died, just like He said He would (Deut. 2:14).

Psalm 78:17 also notes that the Israelites rebelled against God in the wilderness. And Hebrews warns readers, "Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years" (Heb. 3:8-9). If you have been in the wilderness for years, ask the Holy Spirit if there is unbelief or rebellion in your heart.

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2. God Is Waiting for His Perfect Time to Reveal You

John the Baptist seemingly spent much of his life in the wilderness. Luke records this about John: "So the child grew and became strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his manifestation to Israel" (Luke 1:80).

John was the one Isaiah prophesied about: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God'" (Is. 40:3). We know John did just that, as Mark pulled out Isaiah's words when introducing John, who "came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins" (Mark 1:4-5).

John's public ministry lasted only months after the day of his manifestation to Israel. Herod murdered him, but not before he fulfilled his ministry as a forerunner of Christ. Now, John was not in the wilderness because of anything he was doing wrong. John's manifestation to Israel was a matter of God's timing.

Think about it: John was prepared in the wilderness. He received revelation in the wilderness. He learned humility and obedience in the wilderness. He built a strong relationship with God in the wilderness.

If you find yourself in the wilderness right now, take heart—it may be that God is preparing you for something marvelous. Take the time to get to know Him because that relationship will serve you well after your revealing.

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3. God Is Positioning You for Greater Power

The Holy Spirit Himself may drive you into the wilderness for a season. That's what happened to Jesus. Matthew records, "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil" (Matt. 4:1).

Satan offered Jesus three temptations that are common to man today. Jesus did not bite on the devil's bait. He wielded the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, to send the enemy packing. He resisted the devil's temptation, and the devil fled. But look what happened next: "Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region" (Luke 4:14).

Jesus was already baptized in the Holy Spirit, but he gained power through His wilderness experience. He went into the synagogue and essentially declared His public ministry. When He left there, the first thing He did was cast out a devil. The next thing was healing people, followed by preaching.

If you find yourself in a period of temptation, use the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to resist the devil, and know that God wants to take you to a higher place.

David spent much of his life in the wilderness, either tending sheep or running from Saul. David did what other wise men have done during wilderness times: He got closer to God. When you land in the wilderness, check your heart and take joy in fellowshipping with God like David did in Psalm 63 when he was in the wilderness of Judah: "O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory" (vv. 1-2). Amen.

Jennifer LeClaire is news editor at Charisma. She is also the author of several books, including The Making of a Prophet. You can email Jennifer at jennifer.leclaire@charismamedia.com or visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

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