Prayer Points for the month of December 2024 given by Apostle George Akalonu, Visionary & International President of International Ministers Fellowship
December is a month of greater dimensions of GRACE, and greater levels of prayer that will draw down more grace.
1. Pray that all sinners appointed to salvation will be saved: true regeneration of the Spirit (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5-7).
2. Pray that all believers will become disciples of Yeshua, who move from believing in Him and become followers of His principles, and continue on to function as sons of Elohim (Mark 3:13-14; John 1:12; 14:12; 15:14-16).
3. Pray that all disciples will become active members the Royal Priesthood and function after the order of Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 6:20; 7:1-3; I Peter 2:9).
4. Pray that all saints will submit to and obey the leading of Holy Spirit in all things (John 16:8-13; Romans 8:14-18).
5. Pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Remnant Church (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4, 17).
6. Pray for an outpouring of prevailing prayers of GRACE and SUPPLICATION (Leviticus 6:12-13; Isaiah 32:15-18; Zechariah 12:10; Luke 18:1; I Thessalonians 5:17).
7. Pray that the saints will seek first the Kingdom of Elohim and His RIGHTEOUSNESS, and everything else will be added to them (Matthew 6:19-34). Pray that there will be a greater demonstration of te power and grace of God upon all saints (Mark 16:17-20).
8. Pray that all saints will discover their gifts and callings and fulfill their earthly and Kingdom assignment. All saints are called to take their rightful place and become functional members of the Body of Yeshua, Jesus and the Kingdom of God.
9. Pray that the compassion of the Lord will be poured out through the saints so that every need will be met (Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 2:41-47; 4:32-37).
10. PRAY that all the Brethren will be faithful and committed to serve wherever they are planted , and be accountable to delegated authority in their congregations and communities; walking in love, faith, and unity (Psalm 33; I Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Revelatuon 2:10).
11. Pray that the Lord will grant the saints the grace to number their days, redeeming the time because the days are evil (Psalm 90:10-12; Ephesians 5:15-20). After death or the Rapture comes “The Judgment Seat of Christ, where motives, misssed opportunities, etc, will be judged (2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27).
12. Pray that all saints, ministries, congregations will become catalysts for transformation, and be the salt of the earth and light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16; 24:14; 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20).
13. Pray that all Brethren will embrace the attitude of a servant of the Lord as Yeshua taught and demonstrated (Matthew 20:20-28; John 13).
14. Pray that Kingdom leaders will spend quality time waiting upon the Lord for revelation and fresh oil of the anointing poured out through the Holy Spirit and released upon the people for breakthroughs (Matthew 25:1-13; Acts 1:8; 6:3-7; Galatians 4:19).
15. Pray that Elohim will give His people an understanding of the times and seasons that we’re living in and know what to do; discerning truth from error, the spirit of deception, the spirit of the antichrist and falsehood (I Chronicles 12:32; Ephesians 5:15-20; I Timothy 3:1-7; 4:1-3; 2 Peter 2 &3).
16. Pray that Elohim will provide revelation of His redemptive plan and purpose for all the nations of the world. Pray for all leaders over the nations. Pray over all the thrones. The thrones are greater than the persons who sits on them (Proverbs 21:1-2; Romans 13:1; I Timothy 2:1-4).
17. Pray that Elohim will give us grace and wisdom to receive and appropriate the free gift of JUSTIFICATION and RIGHTEOUSNESS and become righteousness conscious rathan than being sin conscious.
The Lord is reminding the remnant of its purpose. We’re seeing it in the broader church, and we’re seeing it in our local assemblies. Relative to our geographical and historical counterparts, the western church presently sits in a place of great comfort, and there is a discernible complacency in the way many saints gather and live. With regularity, we assemble for reasons that aren’t necessarily sinful but often lack the thoughtfulness of first-century saints and their awareness of the importance of the body.
Purpose is easily lost in repetition.
Therefore, questions like the one above are very important for us to continue asking. Why do we gather? What is the purpose of a repeated program or some ‘order of service?’ What informs the structure of our gatherings or any other thing we do? What are the true signs and wonders of God’s power, and are we desiring them for the right reasons? If we ever get so comfortable that we stop asking questions like these, we have entered a very precarious position.
Restoring The Identity and Purpose of the Church
After Christ’s death and resurrection, he visited with His disciples. They had some questions of their own….
Acts 1:6-11 6When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
United by their shared love for Christ, the disciples had questions. Today, at minimum the shared love for Jesus should also be why we gather together. Still, we must remember that our love FOR Him is qualified by our obedience TO Him (John 14:15-16). Thus, the question of WHAT we, disciples of today, are supposed to be doing is vitally important.
It is common—and not inappropriate—for us to ask when Jesus will return, given our observation of this fallen world. Additionally, we also frequently and eagerly ask the Lord when our various times of exaltation will come. Jesus’ answer remains just as relevant today as it was then. The times and seasons for certain things are privy to the Father alone, and it is more critical that you desire the Holy Spirit to endure in the meantime.
The disciples were united by their questions. These weren’t necessarily intellectual questions about doctrine, but questions of the heart. They desired answers less related to theological debate and interpretation and more related to life, love, and survival. Pressure and persecution from the outside world have a way of bringing people together in search of the things that matter most. It was a shared anticipation of the Lord’s answer to these questions that brought them together at Pentecost.
Acts 2:1, 22-24, 36-38 1And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. …… 22Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. …… 36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Three Thousand Believe 37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
On the day of Pentecost, the Lord gave His answer in the form of the Holy Spirit, and Peter began to preach the gospel. He stood with boldness and declared to every witness of the Lord’s power that they had committed the ultimate sin against God by killing His only begotten son.
Consider, for a moment, the weight of guilt that comes with such a realization. By this time, it was undeniable who Jesus was, and therefore, it must have been incredibly fearful to consider what God would and should do to them as a result. So they asked the obvious question, “What shall we do?”
Every believer’s conversion should begin with this very question. When we truly understand the penalty we deserve for our sins, we understand the role we play in crucifying the Lord of Glory. When the reality of our depravity is revealed to us, the burden of consequence should overwhelm us, leading us to the position and question—Lord, what must I do to be saved?
Peter’s answer was clear then and it is clear today. Repent.
Acts 16:25-30 25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. 27And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 28But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 29Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, 30And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
How the Gospel Works
This is the Gospel 101.
1.) It exposes sin and its eternal danger.
One of the great issues of the church, especially in the Western world, is that people aren’t asking enough questions about eternity. A big part of the problem is that the church isn’t reminding people that this is important! This is because the church, by its actions, is demonstrating that its current possessions are more important, instead.
2.) It presents Jesus and the acceptance of the Holy Spirit as the only resolution for that sin.
Another great issue of the church is that instead of preaching the preservation of the soul through a relationship with Jesus, it focuses too much on the preservation of temporal things through relationships with powerful men.
3.) It guides the church through to the completion of salvation at the return of the Lord.
The church must keep its greatest hope in Jesus.
These are the things that informed the shaping of the church.
Acts 2:42-47 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Why did the early church assemble?
Everything they did was driven by what/who they desired, against the forces that opposed them.
They discussed doctrine because there were pure questions about the word now that Jesus had given new meaning and revelation.
They broke bread, because there were genuine questions about how they would survive in a world that hated their savior and by extension His followers.
They prayed because they knew the answers to all of their questions could only come from their Father in heaven.
As they did this and sought answers to these questions:
Signs and wonders were done among them.
They were compelled to be helpers one to another
They remained in one accord
The Lord added to the church!
So, it is evident that these questions of the heart united them. Put another way…
When the collective purpose of the remnant is purified, the power of God is revealed.
The early church went from house to house, broke bread, and fellowshipped together out of a desire to understand how to see the return of Jesus, and the Lord added to the church those who had the same questions and needed the same answers—the Holy Spirit. Today, the Lord adds to our fellowship those who ask the same questions that we do. Our collective journey in life is driven by our desire to see Jesus.
Peace and Safety
As time went on, it was comfort that led to misinterpretations of scripture. Strife and contention came as a result of complacency. When you get comfortable, you stop asking the RIGHT questions.
You have fewer questions about the word and what it means because you’re more concerned about the cares of this life.
You have fewer questions about how you’re going to eat because of the deceitfulness of money and its power.
You have fewer questions about eternity because culture is constantly reminding you that this world and its issues are more important.
Mark 4:19 19And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
Everything you would normally see as a manifestation of the early church has diminished because, in our hearts, people aren’t asking the right questions.
Again, the question must be asked, Why do you go to church?
1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 The Day of the Lord 1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
If nothing else, this season should have revealed the seriousness of our calling and inspired in us, the same questions that the early church asked. The great danger is that a political victory, a recovering economy, a new job, and any number of comfortable temporal win may do just the opposite.
Lamentations 3:23-26 22It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. 25The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. 26It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
Hebrews 9:27-28 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
The question now is the same as the disciples once had. Lord, when will you return, and how can we make sure we are ready when you do? Let us consider, now, why we we gather as individuals, families, and church communities. Why does God have us exactly where He has us, where we live, who we’re with, what we have/earn, and where we worship?
Press in when there’s no pressure.
1 Timothy 6:3-12, 17-21 Reject False Doctrines 3If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. Contentment in Godliness 6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Fight the Good Fight 11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. …… A Charge to the Rich 17Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. Final Guidance 20O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called: 21Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’? Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:28-33, NKJV).
The word, Christian, as used today is an amorphous term. It once described a people who hold and espouse a set of values that are wholesomely godly. The writers of the New Testament used it originally to describe people who are like Christ in character and deeds. For a long period of time, the term remained synonymous with goodness, honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness. When you say someone is a Christian, it is taken as a public testimony that the person is good and dependable; someone you can trust and rely upon. One stands to wonder if that is still the same today with so many among those who parade themselves as Christians. In our days, Christianity now describes a motley assemblage, many of whom have no meaningful relationship with Christ. They are Christians only because they use Christ as a brand name to pursue their vested interests. I once confronted a young man, a banker, who switched denominations wanting to know the reason behind his move, he told me in clear terms that the new church offers greater potential for getting customers. For such people as the one I just described personal commitment to the person and ideals of Christ do not feature among the reasons they are Christians.
A Christian is simply a disciple of Christ. A disciple is a learner who practices what he has learned. A disciple of Christ is therefore someone who is committed to learning from Him and living according to what he has learnt. Being like Christ and following His example has never been easy at any time, more so in the twenty-first century world of today. It is for this reason that Jesus demands that those who would wish to follow Him should first and foremost carefully consider the implications of doing so. He therefore requires each of us to count the cost of being His disciple and make a decision to come on board or not based on factual data. He told the two striking parables in our text to drive His point home. A man who wants to build a house should work hard at creating a good budget for the project. A budget is a spending plan based on income and expenses. He must know how much he needs to execute his project and how to raise the needed funds. A lot of planning goes into building projects ranging from preparing the cite, drawing the plan, purchasing the building materials, engaging the workers and so on. All these details are usually worked out before embarking on the building. Where this is not done, it could lead to having an abandoned project. Our Lord’s argument is that following Him demands such meticulous planning. It demands an effective use of our commonsense.
The popular maxim has it that when you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Being a Christian is like going to war against a powerful enemy. You need to be sure that you have what it would take to engage the enemy and come out victorious. Recognising that this going to be hard task for everyone, our Lord made provisions for grace. Grace avails us with adequate resources to be like Christ and live like Him on earth. Our bold testimony on the day of judgement is that all that Jesus is now, is what we are in this world (1 John 4:17). And who is sufficient for these things? None of us except one armed and propped by His grace. Hardship and difficulty abounds to those who would live like Christ on earth, but the promise of God is sure, “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…”(2 Corinthians 12:9). Again, He declared, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”(John 16:33). It certainly pays to follow Jesus at whatever cost. But you must make a deliberate common-sense decision to do so. Take the leap! Let’s run with Christ in Jesus name.
“Do your utmost to come before winter. Eubulus greets you, as well as Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brethren.” (2 Timothy 4:21, NKJV).
The first time I visited the United States of America was in a winter season. It was early in January right in the middle of winter. I recalled sending a text to my wife describing my first impression of life in America as people living right inside deep freezers. I later learnt to my dismay that all the clothes I brought from Nigeria to America would be of no practical use to me in the face of the freezing winter weather. I had to buy new clothes to be able to survive under the freezing cold I was experiencing. What frightened me the more was that my ears suddenly went numb and until a friend loaned a winter cap and advised me to cover my ears properly. The objective lesson I learnt quickly was that winter, as a season, has a set of protocols that one must observe if one is not courting for problem. Winter affects everything in the temperate regions of the earth. Apart from its unique demands for clothing, vehicles are required to use special tyres designed for the winter roads. Air travels are disrupted and navigations, whether through the air, land or sea are more problematic. It makes sense therefore when Paul advised Timothy, his protegee, to do his utmost to undertake his impending trans-Mediterranean trip before winter.
Paul’s advice to Timothy: “Do your utmost to come before winter,” was in cognisance of the fact that the harsh conditions of the winter weather made travel by sea difficult and sometimes impossible. Paul had had his fair share of hazardous experiences on sea travels. He testifies, “… three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep”(2Corinthians 11:25). Therefore, he was drawing from his wealth of experience to advise Timothy. Paul understood that winter storms generate high wind, large waves and rough sea that makes navigation precarious. He was clearly aware that fog, snow and freezing spray can reduce visibility in the seas and thus increasing the chances of collusion or grounding of ships. Based on verifiable information at his disposal, he advised Timothy to endeavour to make his trip before winter. He did not advise him to fast for seven days and bind the demon of winter and come anytime. This is a typical example of commonsense Christianity. Commonsense Christianity acknowledges the unique roles of faith and reason in balanced Christian living. It would be totally a very different scenario if an emergency arose that would compel Timothy to travel in winter. This was not the case. This was a planned journey probably on the invitation of Paul, who had earlier directed, “Bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas when you come—and the books, especially the parchments”(2Timothy 4:13).
Doing things at their proper times is simply a matter of commonsense. The Bible affirms, “Everything has its time to everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). When you miss the proper time of doing a particular thing, you disrupt the rhythm of nature and cause avoidable problems. For example, when a farmer fails to plant his seed at the appropriate times, he stands the chance of reaping diminished harvest or no harvest at all. Hence, the Bible affirms that there is a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted. When you do anything at its God-appointed time, things go on seamlessly without much difficulties. But when you do things off seasons, you create problems because you will be required to put in more effort to achieve the required results. There is time to work hard and a time to pray. When you refuse to work hard when you should but rather decide to pray, you are creating problem for yourselves. On the other hand, when you refuse to pray when you should, you may end up discounting on God. Commonsense Christianity demands that everything must be done as and when due to maintain the rhythm of nature. The combination of faith and reason is a winning pair any time any day. Run with the combo and be forever blessed in Jesus’ name.
Being A Keynote Address to The OPEN GATE 2024, An International Gathering of International Ministers Fellowship (IMF) Holding in The United Kingdom, January 11-14, 2024.
The word, wrath, evokes fear in the minds of people. It paints the picture of a rampaging angry force trampling and destroying every person on its course, resulting in vehement brutality, horrendous affliction, and tormenting fear. Wrath is the extreme opposite of pleasure and comfort. According to Dictionary.com, wrath is “strong or fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation; ire. Vengeance or punishment as the consequence of anger.” Wrath is used in reference to God, as well as to man, and Satan. In reference to God, the Bible observes “the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience” (Colossians 3:6). In reference to man, the Bible affirms that “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). In reference to Satan the Scripture bemoans, “…Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time” (Revelation 12:12).
The Bible uses the word wrath in three distinct ways: Firstly, it is used to express physical anger as the fierce anger of a king against his subjects. Example, “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). Paul warned the Ephesian believers – “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath”(Ephesians 4:26). Paul also admonished the fathers on godly parenting saying – “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). King Solomon offered this practical wisdom to live by saying, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).
Secondly, wrath is used in scripture as an expression of human’s sinful and Satan’s inspired anger. Example, Jacob decried the wrath of Simeon and Levi his sons – “Simeon and Levi are brothers; Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. Let not my soul enter their council; Let not my honour be united to their assembly; for in their anger, they slew a man, and in their self-will, they hamstrung an ox. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel” (Genesis 49:5-7). James underscored the futility of human anger serving as a means to any godly end – “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).
Thirdly, wrath is used to express God’s righteous anger – God threatened to pour his wrath against the children of Israel for their stubbornness – “And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them, and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation” (Exodus 32:9-10). God will ultimately unleash His wrath to judge human sinfulness – “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15).
WHAT IS THE WRATH OF GOD?
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).
The wrath of God is His loving action against evil, which basically consists of the “ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” God’s holy nature forbids Him to be indifferent to sin but demands that He actively punishes it. His wrath is therefore His righteous judgment against sin. Paul explained detailly “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honour, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honour, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:53-11). Notice that people are treasuring up wrath for themselves as a result of the hardness and impenitence of their hearts. The clear implication of this is that the wrath of God against sinners is duly earned; God will only let each person reap what he or she sowed. He is only giving back to each person whatever the person deserves –“For there is no partiality with God.”
Therefore, God’s wrath as His judging action against sin, manifests in surrendering people to the consequences of their actions. Romans 1: 24,26,28 support this conclusion. Let us see what those verses say:
· Romans 1:24 – “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonour their bodies among themselves.”
· Romans 1:26 – “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.”
· Romans 1:28 – “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.”
Notice the phrases, “God gave them up” and “God gave them over.” These phrases depict God’s indifference instigated by human mulishness. God’s wrath is expressed in leaving people to their own desires. His wrath makes people follow their own way, which often leads to harm and destruction because without Jesus we are slaves to sin, and sin is intrinsically always destructive. Recall the wisdom of God which states, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).
God’s wrath differs from human wrath in that it is not retribution against those who had offended Him. Its goal is not to get back on someone but rather it is to uphold His justice. Every system of justice must uphold and extant law. The law upon which the wrath of God operates states, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20). Only as a sinner lays the burden of His sin on Christ and receives His righteousness can he escape the wrath to come. This means that in reference to God, wrath does not mean vengeance, because it is not aimed at exacting revenge on people. It is rather a holy display of His justice. J.I. Packer observed in his seminal book, “Knowing God”: “God’s wrath in the Bible is never the capricious, self-indulgent, irritable, morally ignoble thing that human anger so often is. It is, instead, a right and necessary reaction to objective moral evil.” God’s wrath is His love in action against sin. It is simply God’s love responding to godlessness, wickedness, stubbornness, unrepentant hearts, and rejection of Jesus as Saviour and Master.
THE LOVE OF GOD VERSUS THE WRATH OF GOD
It is a strange paradox that wrath can be found in a God who is love. This paradox is made more incomprehensible in the face of such claims by God as He proclaimed through Isaiah saying, “Fury is not in Me. Who would set briers and thorns against Me in battle? I would go through them; I would burn them together” (Isaiah 27:4). Here God declared that He has no wrath because He has the capacity to overcome every opposition in battle. My understanding is that wrath, when applied to God takes up a different meaning and goal than when it is applied to man. Wrath is an essential attribute of God as love is. As God cannot be truly what the Bible claims He is without love, so can He not be truly God without wrath. The infinite worth of God’s purity demands and justifies His wrath. God’s wrath is the proportionate display of His unsoiled holiness in judgment of those who reject His love in Christ.
In God, wrath is as much a virtue as love or holiness. The God who is love (1 John 4:8) is at once holy (1 Peter 1:16), righteous (Daniel 9:14), as well as a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:28-29). There is no hierarchy of attributes with God. Each of these attributes is indispensable in attaining an accurate understanding of God. Take away any and you have a strange god of your own making. The God, who is love, is at the same time, holy, righteous and a consuming fire. In God, severity and goodness find perfect accommodation as Paul explained in Romans – “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off” (Romans 11:22). Focusing on God’s goodness at the expense of His severity create a truncated view of Him, much as focussing on His severity at the expense of His goodness. One fosters licentiousness and the other legalism. The God of the Bible is at the same time good in His severity and severe in His goodness.
On the Cross we see a clear demonstration of the love and the wrath of God in the sacrifice of Christ. There we see God’s utter hatred for sin and His love for sinners. God unleashed the totality of His wrath against sin on Christ while He hung on the cross. Isaiah prophesied about His suffering saying, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him…And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5-6). In Paul’s words, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Our Lord suffered both physical and emotional pain that can hardly be imagined by the human mind. The worst part of our Lord’s experience of the wrath of God while on the cross was His father’s apparent indifference to Him in His suffering. Having taken responsibility for the sins of the whole world, past, present, and future, the Father could not but distance Himself from His Son. The weight of His sense of abandonment is spelt clearly in His lamentation: “…My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). Ladened with the sin of humanity, the Father, who cannot countenance even a fleeting fellowship with sin turned His face from His dear Son, letting Him bear the fulness of His wrath.
The effect of God’s wrath on Christ is summarized in Scripture as follows: “But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man” (Isaiah 52:14, NLT). Through such gruesome brutality as Christ went through to atone for our sins, shines forth the love of God for us. His pain becomes our joy. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:8-9).
THE WRATH TO COME
“And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).
The wrath to come is the Day of the Lord’s Judgement, when He will judge everyone according to their deed, whether good or bad. Paul reminds the Corinthians – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).
God promised to judge everyone according to their deeds. Those who are found to be righteous will be blessed while those who are guilty even of one single sin, will be damned. “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law” (James 2:10-11). The wrath to come will occasion the unveiling of God’s terror against sin and His righteous indignation against those who choose their self-righteousness over the righteousness of Christ.
THE TARGET OF THE WRATH TO COME
According to the testimony of the Bible, humanity as the progenies of Adam and Eve, “…were by nature children of wrath…” (Ephesians 2:3). This means that our nature as human qualifies us for the wrath to come. The only way of escape available to us is through the intervention of Christ. The following are some specific targets of the wrath to come.
· “Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD Goes forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind; It will fall violently on the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD will not return until He has done it, and until He has performed the intents of His heart. In the latter days you will consider it” (Jeremiah 30:23-24).
· “God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; the LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies” (Nahum 1:2).
· “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:6).
Notice in the three passages above, the description of the target of the wrath of God. The whirlwind of God’s wrath is programmed for the head of the wicked, who are otherwise identified as the enemies of God and sons of disobedience. The wrath of God, which is described by Spurgeon as “the tremendous peril,” dangles over every ungodly person who stubbornly rejects Christ. the Bible makes us understand without any equivocation that “God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11). Failure to believe in Christ, and by implication to obey Him, qualifies one for the wrath of God. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). With reference to Christ, believe and obedience mean the same thing.
Those who make empty confession of their faith in Christ but do not support that with practical holy living will attract the wrath of God upon themselves. Paul calls them sons of disobedience. The context of Ephesian chapter 5 shows that Paul was addressing believers. He began by challenging them to become imitators of Christ as His dear children and to lead a lifestyle “as is fitting for saints” (Ephesians 5:3). Here is the text of Paul’s admonition: “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:3-11). A believer who does not obey Christ and live consistent with the leading of the Holy Spirit but is a partaker of the pollutions and immorality that is rife in the world, is a son of disobedience who will certainly be visited with the wrath of God.
HOW TO ESCAPE FROM THE WRATH TO COME
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7).
John the Baptist used the word “flee” as the appropriate method to escape from the wrath to come. To flee is to run away as from danger. It is to run so ferociously as not to be overtaken by a life-threatening danger. Escaping the coming wrath calls for vigilance and sober lifestyle. Soberness is a virtue we have almost entirely lost in the church today. Believers now compete with the worldlings in their macabre pursuit for worldly pleasures and applause. One cannot escape the coming wrath while wallowing in unruly living. Paul warned that the day of wrath will come unexpectedly like a thief in the night. “For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). The wrath to come will come upon the world like labour pain comes upon a pregnant woman. I had a relation whose labour began while we were working in the farm. Before we could get her to the hospital, her baby was born. The wrath to come will arrive unannounced at the hour least expected. The only option open for believers is to remain spiritually alert and stay connected with Christ. Paul advises believers, “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:5-8).
Only by trusting Jesus and Him alone can one escape the coming wrath. Our Lord Himself assured us, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). The wrath of God and judgement of God will come upon those who rejected Jesus and followed the path of evil. Those who refuse to submit themselves to the righteousness of God in Christ but are rather going about establishing their own systems of righteousness will certainly be damned. Those who trade the grace of God for self-righteousness will end up on that day like a stubborn king who danced naked in the marketplace. The Scripture affirms ever so vehemently, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). God’s wrath is satisfied completely in Christ. At calvary, Christ became the target of God’s unrestrained wrath, consequently, those who put their trust in Him will be delivered from the wrath to come. On the strength of that reality, Paul argued, “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9). Faith in Christ is God’s eternal antidote to the wrath to Come. Believers must ever find solace in the good intentions of God towards them in Christ. The scripture assures us that “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). This is good news worthy of our limitless celebration. All true believers are destined for salvation and not for the wrath to come. To God be all the glory.
CONCLUSION
The keynote of out text is that there is a great day of God’s judgment coming upon all people. That day is the day of wrath when God will unleash His wrath against the godlessness and ungodliness of humanity. The wrath of God, which means His angry response to human disobedience is a function of His love. A God who would not punish sin cannot be love. Hence, the wrath to come is a day of God’s righteous judgement against those who persist in evil in defiance to Christ’s invitation to abundant life in Him. Here is a vivid description of the day of God’s wrath and its concomitant cataclysmic events:
“Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:14-17).
Only those who are anchored and rooted in Christ can stand and that, only by His grace.
It is truly a privilege to serve the Body of Christ, and it is particularly special to do so alongside those who the Lord has used to sow into your life. The positive impact that the International Ministers Fellowship (IMF) has had on me and my family can not be overstated, and that is largely why I’m thankful and excited for my upcoming tenure as IMF, USA president.
I distinctly remember my early experiences with IMF and the impact they had on my life. Before those moments, I had never seen the Body of Christ from such a global perspective, and it forever changed my view of the Kingdom and my own ministry within it. Through the teaching and leadership of Apostle George, various encounters with the brethren, and growth through programs like Masters Class, I experienced a significant period of spiritual maturation and embraced a prophetic calling that I had nearly abandoned.
When I was a child, a man named John Nelson, a prophet himself, asked me a question. He said, “Young man, do you know who Jeremiah was in the bible?” After timidly responding no, he looked at me intently and said, “He was a prophet, and so are you.” Although I had no frame of reference for what I heard, I never forgot those words, and they resonated within my spirit throughout my entire life. It was seed watered at an early age, and I never imagined the extent to which God would manifest those words in my life. More than twenty years later, after dreams, visions, tests, trials, and divine preservation from a life-changing, near-death experience, I have learned to embrace and cherish the Lord’s will for my life.
God has indeed shown himself faithful. My wife, Brittney, is more than I could have ever imagined, and my children are gifts from the Lord of immeasurable value, especially considering the fact that I literally would not be alive if it were not for Him. So, to say I owe the Lord my life is not cliche nor is it just a figure of speech. It is a reality.
As I look ahead at my upcoming tenure as IMF USA President, I have learned better than to prescribe excessive detail to a future that belongs to the Lord. However, with faithful expectation, my prayer is that the loving bond that holds the IMF community together will only increase. My hope is that the pressures of a corrupt, wayward world would not dissuade the intensity of our ministry and fellowship, but draw us closer with an ever increasing appreciation of true communion. May every vessel within the IMF community realize the value of their part and contribute to the edification of the body.
As I look ahead to the times and seasons that approach this nation and our world, my heart is for our Kingdom family to endure to the end and see Yeshua. Throughout biblical history, it was the prophetic voice that gave clarity and direction to the Lord’s children, and the same remains true today. Sadly, however, prophecy within the church has, by and large, lacked depth by catering to the whims of manipulative men and temporal outcomes when the Lord’s greater desire is to prepare and preserve His children. The word of God, which was written thousands of years ago, still has a practical connection to our modern world, and we are wise to discern the ways. From the pervasive and perverted agendas of pop culture and entertainment to consequential, political and global governmental shifts, our world is not operating beyond the revelation that is already declared in scripture. But, everything is happening as expected by our Sovereign God. So, my heart is that our fellowship sees the world through a prophetic lens to remain a step ahead of the enemy and be effective to reach the souls assigned to us.
