The NATIONAL PRAYER ALTAR *MARATHON PRAYERS* Monday 7th - Sunday 13th October 2024 *THE TRAGEDY OF A REVIVAL* *_I see a crowd_* *_I see cash_* *_I see cars_* *_But I do not see Christ_* - Pastor S. G. Elton A group of foreign intercessors visited Nigeria some years ago to assess the internationally acclaimed revival going on in the country. After their exercise, they wrote a short report as follows: “The Nigerian Church is five miles wide, but one inch deep.” Undeniably, there was a revival in Nigeria from the ‘70s and it culminated in a massive conversion of souls and the birth of many 'new generation' churches, most of them evangelical. The orthodox denominations also witnessed a huge expansion. Nationwide, the population of Christians increased. Unfortunately, the population increase did not translate into national transformation. As the churches multiplied, darkness rather than light covered Nigeria. All manner of vices assailed the country until bloodshed became a daily occurrence and genocide unfortunately became part of the national identity. Churches were not spared, as scandal upon scandal rocked many churches and their ministers. Churches became known for greed, covetousness, and compromise. To worsen matters, allegations of occult practices, mocked as "charismatic witchcraft," plagued the Church. What polluted the revival that should have transformed the country and launch it into its assignment as a missionary nation? The answer lay in the desire of some preachers to be famous, wealthy, and influential. The consequence of that evil desire was what God lamented to Pastor Elton as the proliferation of crowds, cash, and cars, without Christ. Of course, any obsession with those items indicates a separation from Christ. While there is nothing wrong with a crowd gathering to worship, or cash and cars in the church, the problem starts when the motive for acquiring them is personal lust rather than the Kingdom of God. The first indication that a minister of the gospel has missed the mark is the desire to be celebrated. Some want to be famous, influential, and adored. That inordinate ambition has driven them into seeking 'powers' from the dark world. They appear to have forgotten that Christ did not call anyone to be a superstar or a celebrity in His Church, but to be servants. It is an anomaly when servants seek to be famous and be treated like celebrities. A bishop shared an impactful vision of a valedictory program in Heaven. In the revelation, men were being sent off to the earth to serve God. As each one was departing, a party was thrown to usher him out of Heaven, with the expectation that he was going into the world to do the will of the King of kings and Lord of Lords. It was like the send-forth of a country’s ambassador into a foreign country. What the bishop witnessed in that heavenly realm was lavish and glamorous. However, when it came to his turn, instead of a lavish party, an angel handed him the equivalent of a packet of Cabin Biscuits. There was no trumpet sound, no music, no wine, no rich food, and of course, no rejoicing. Stunned at the “shabby” treatment, he approached the angel who was the Master of Ceremony to protest. As he opened his mouth to complain, the angel’s face turned into fury. His eyes blazed like liquid fire, and he roared in wrath, “That is how all of you are. When heaven sends you to the earth, you are celebrated in the hope that you are going to serve God. When you get there you mess up your assignment. Henceforth, there shall be no celebration for any of you again in heaven. If you complete your assignment and return successfully, you shall be celebrated!” The bishop said he woke up fearing he was dead. The fury he saw on the face of the angel and the force of the words he heard made him conclude that he was dead. He woke up sweating and shaking in fear. He said he did not know how he managed to survive that encounter. The Nigerian revival was messed up by men who loved the crowd, the cars, and the cash, more than they loved Jesus Christ, if they did at all. They were servants of Christ all right, but their affection shifted from their Master to the mundane things of the earth. Today, some of them head denominations and ministries, and they are living in luxury like superstars and celebrities. They are celebrated in the Church and in the world, while Heaven mourns their lifestyle. One day, they will return home to render their account. That angel would be waiting. The condition of Nigeria today is sufficient to make any servant of God sober and mournful. Unfortunately, many ministers of the gospel are carried away with the adulation of men. Some behave as if the church were their private property, and the people of God were gathered to serve them. In fact, many of them refer to the Church of Jesus Christ as “my church," their billboards and banners blazing with the grandiose photograph of 'the man of God' and his wife, their faces digitally edited to be 'without spot or wrinkles.' How could there be so many churches in Nigeria with the darkness of corruption, bloodshed, poverty, sexual perversion, and other vices persisting? Jesus Christ described His followers as _“the light of the world”_. If indeed Christians are the _“light of the world”_, how come darkness is covering Nigeria? The answer is, the light is not shinning. Jesus warned, _“take heed that the light in you be not darkness”_ (Luke 11: 35). Children of light can be covered with darkness if they are not careful. That is the tragedy of the Nigerian 'revival.' Fortunately, the Lord does not give up. Another revival shall come upon Nigeria. Then, the leaders of the revival must be ready to practise Christianity according to the command of the Master. The first example that Jesus gave His disciples was the example of servanthood (Jn. 13:15) while the second was that of enduring suffering (1 Pet. 2: 21). The Lord also taught them that in His Kingdom, the leader was the servant of all. He made it clear that there was only one “Father” of His Church, and that Father is in heaven. (Matt. 23: 9). In verse 8 of the same chapter, He stated, _“all ye are brethren”_. In John 20:17, He included Himself in that structure of brothers and sisters. No one called Jesus Christ “daddy” as a religious honour, or “Brother Jesus.” He was and is still called by his first name, yet He does not mind. Such is the humility of Christ. It is His servants who believe that, unless they are called “Daddy” or "Papa," they have been disrespected. The practice of calling ministers of the gospel “Daddy” and “Father” is not Christianity but syncretism, the mixture of Christianity and tradition. The oft repeated example of Paul calling himself “father” is not tenable because no one in the New Testament called Paul “father”. Neither did anyone call Peter, James, John, or any other New Testament saints “father”. The Scriptures cannot be broken. The Lord issued a clear command to _“call no man on earth your father.”_ It is time to return to the simplicity and humility of Christ so that our honour can come from God. In John 5:41, the Lord says, _I receive not honour from men_. Thus He chided those who sought honour from men:_"How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?"_ (John 5:44). Another revival is coming. The Church must prepare and learn from the mistakes of the last revival polluted by men. It is time to return to the narrow path. *PRAYER POINTS* *1. Isaiah 42:18-20* Pray and repent for the blindness and rebellion of ministers of the gospel whose actions polluted the revival which God sent to Nigeria. *2. Rom. 16:17–18* Pray and dissociate the Nigeria Church from the actions and choices of men who place their personal interest above the interest of Jesus Christ in the Church. Declare before God that their actions do not represent the Nigeria Church. *3. Ezekiel. 34:7–12* Pray that the Lord shall seek and regather His people who were offended by the lawlessness in the Church and stopped associating with Christianity. *4. Mal. 3:2–4* Pray that God will purge the Church and uproot all those who pollute the work of the Holy Spirit. *5. Jer. 3:15* Pray that God will give the Nigeria Church pastors after His heart, who will teach and guide the people of God aright. *6. Ps. 85:4–7* Pray for fresh outpouring of the spirit of revival in Nigeria. *7. Hab. 2:14* Pray that Nigeria shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the seas. *JOIN US AT THE DAILY PRAYERS FOR NIGERIA* which started since 18th April 2022 *TIME:* 9.00 – 10.00pm daily (Nigeria time) *VENUE:* ZOOM ZOOM link: https://zoom.us/j/96806190505?pwd=K2RqcUN3YjRwQzEzRDZaMUt2N1ZsUT09 *Meeting ID.* 968 0619 0505 *Passcode:* 024184 *PLEASE SHARE*

EDO ELECTION: The evil called political structure; a lesson for Nigeria. By Bolaji O. Akinyemi. Buhari was the most popular individual candidate in all his failed attempts at becoming the President. He possibly would have won any of those elections had he competed with his competitors as independent candidate. Not until Buhari merged his structure with Tinubu's to create the political party named APC was he able to ferry his ambition to his desired destination; the presidency. That election was won by the Structure not the party. The success of any election is determined in Nigeria by an invincible movement of rigging enablers called political structure. Unfortunately our hope to build a counter structure of Nation Builders who will stand their ground to spend and be spent is neither encouraged by Nigerians and Politicians. This is what is playing out in Edo, Obaseki showed no concern to the structure that gave him his 2nd shot at it in 2020, though some of us could look beyond the smaller picture, because we are inspired by the Larger, of building our nation. But how do we motivate our field men to keep the game going under a government they worked for; only to lose their means of livelihood. Community Ambassador for Peaceful Election, CAPE was led by a woman who gave her all and contributed in no small measures to what made Obaseki the Governor of Edo State in 2020, she was then a senior admin officer of Ekiadolor College of Education. Her influence as one-time student affairs officer was deployed to our mobilisation strategy. Past and present students signed on. I came in from Lagos with a male and female team, she housed our Director of Organisations who led the female team, and got one of her former students to house me when a notorious individual came to the house of a father who was hosting me and Abayomi Agbede Daniels who left his family in Lagos to work in Benin on the CAPE project for almost 4 months. The said woman got rewarded for working for Obaseki by being thrown into the job market. Abayomi couldn't even get a thank you. It didn't matter that I led our team to seat and deal with the SSG who was also the DG of his campaign. The strength of structure over intellectualism is what is before us in Edo. Kogi Election followed our historical political pattern, Ajaka was the best in campaign rhetoric, but Ododo was fortunate to belong not just to APC, but the structure that wanted power within APC and invested heavily in the same. No Election has ever been won on the shores of Nigeria by a good political party with the best candidate. Politics in Nigeria is about the structure, funding, mobilising the machineries of rigging across all the interested communities of gain, in the value chain; electorate, media, security agencies, the umpire and even the Judiciary. This structure extends into the military, to create political stability. Let me amaze you, there are prophets in this next work who in days of the military were to prophesy that there will be change of Government in the beginning of the year, just to create a soft landing to missions they were very much part of. Many are still in this business. Unfortunately, those who don't understand how this things run are jumping on the bandwagon. This is our reality! A very difficult situation to overcome, reason hunger is strengthened by successive governments to sustain the practice. We know how the only free, fair and credible election in Nigeria ended in 1993. As we approach 2027, let's reflect on the lesson of 2023. In no particular order, Sowore, Obi and Adewole were the best candidates in 2023 election for us to choose from, they had political parties, great manifestos but unfortunately none of them had money to invest in building structure nor could they oil the existing structure. Obi for example was the most popular of all the candidates but was ditched by the invincible movement at work that enables vote buying by the electorate, publicity shunning by mainstream Media, cover from arrest of political thugs by security agencies and cooperation by the umpire and of course ultimately the currying of the judiciary to do the needful of carrying the spoils home to be shared. Politics, someone said, is war without blood and war, he said, is politics with blood but the defining line of victory about politics is who is counting the votes and how he is counting those votes that will determine the outcome of politics. In our case INEC is the umpire counting our votes. The question is how are they counting it? The role of INEC is the nucleus of the structure we were told in the last election will snare the noise on the social media. The food for thought for all of us living in hope of a better and greater Nigeria is are will going into the next election with INEC whose Chairman the President will soon appoint? If will must protest, then substance that will interest the international community must be on the front burner of issues for which we must protest. European Union was disappointed with our last election, that should be the basis of calling out Nigerians to press for electoral reform, we must particularly demand for the need for appointment of INEC Chairman to be reviewed for election. Truth be told, Nigerians are not ready for either the war with blood or the one without blood. Tinubu remains the biggest investor in politics in Nigeria and if the bigger the investment, then the greater the gain will be. The only way to beat BAT in the 2027 game is for we as a people to find the synergy to structure ourselves to make bigger investment in politics for greater gain than he and his cohorts; except this is done, we may be daydreaming of our desire to see a better and greater Nigeria. Let me congratulate the President for making good his promise to gift the office of the Governor of Edo State to his party. I also congratulate a man not deserving of it, Mr Monday Okpebholo the announced winner of Edo Governorship election by INEC. Let nobody who hasn't built the dynamics of influence in the judiciary waste his time by going to court. Fadahunsi was the toast of the people in 2015 election, winning with 6 local government of the 10 Local Government areas and his party producing 2 of the 3 Reps in the Senatorial District. The Tribunal confirmed the election was not credible hence the deductions by their lordship which still gave the APC the victory in which the winner lost all the 4 Local governments in his Federal Constituency. The confirmation of Fadahunsi as the people’s choice have reflected in his landslide victory at the polls in 2019 and 2023. Fadahunsi, led the opposition to win the Governorship as the only Senator and leader of the party in 2022 after an unprecedented empowerment program where he distributed 200 minibuses and over 500 motorbikes among other empowerment tools to constituents, which led to the fall of the APC at the polls a month later and his performance has led to Osun voting out all APC national lawmakers, replacing all Senators and Reps member with PDP candidates in the 10th Assembly. People like Fadahunsi and not Wike or Makinde who were trading in 2023 should be the custodian of the future of the party. He has a lesson learnt to teach PDP, hopefully may they be humble enough to sit down and learn. LP is presently a season film and I can promise you that is what it will be till 2027. If paid moles are in charge of PDP and are delivering, we can be rest assured that LP is taken already. The people alone are the hope of Nigeria as it stands, not just by trusting that protest will deliver us from our political abductors. We need to tinker with how we can free ourselves. For we the people, I would like to ask us, have we learnt our lessons from Obaseki's sophistication and corporate political dealing? May I congratulate APC ahead of Ondo State Governorship Election, that one is a walk over. I will write about my role and experience in the PDP primary that produced Ajayi as the Candidate of PDP and the Aspirant I worked for. For us, it is a better and greater Nigeria or nothing.

My vision of a new Nigeria with strategic policy direction based on these values: wisdom, justice, compassion, integrity, competence, capacity and character. What a wonderful vision for Nigeria: *Vision:* A Nigeria where Wisdom guides our decisions, Justice ensures equality and fairness, Compassion drives our actions, Integrity is the foundation of our leadership, Competence and Capacity are the hallmarks of our institutions, and Character is the bedrock of our society. *Strategic Policy Direction:* 1. *Education*: Emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, and value-based learning to cultivate Wisdom. 2. *Judicial Reform*: Strengthen the justice system to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability, upholding Justice. 3. *Social Welfare*: Implement policies that demonstrate Compassion, such as universal healthcare, social security, and support for vulnerable populations. 4. *Leadership Development*: Foster Integrity through leadership training programs, accountability mechanisms, and anti-corruption initiatives. 5. *Institutional Capacity Building*: Invest in Competence and Capacity development for public institutions, ensuring effective service delivery. 6. *Civic Engagement*: Promote Character through community engagement, volunteerism, and moral education initiatives. 7. *Economic Development*: Encourage sustainable economic growth, driven by innovation, entrepreneurship, and social responsibility. 8. *Security and Rule of Law*: Ensure safety and security for all citizens, while upholding the rule of law and protecting human rights. *Implementation Roadmap:* - Short-term (2025-2030): Establish a Values-Based Leadership Academy, launch a National Integrity Campaign, and introduce Wisdom-Based Education reforms. - Medium-term (2030-2040): Implement Judicial Reforms, expand Social Welfare programs, and strengthen Institutional Capacity. - Long-term (2040-2050): Achieve universal Competence and Capacity in public institutions, and embed Character Development into national culture. This vision and strategic policy direction can guide Nigeria towards a brighter future, where values drive progress and prosperity for the delivery of our commonwealth to all citizens. *By Kingsley Ayinde

Commonwealth of Heaven Philippians 3:20-21 But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself. How should Christians bring our commonwealth which is in heaven to bless the political economy of our nation? Christians can bring their heavenly commonwealth to bless their nation's political economy by: 1. Praying for leaders and the nation (1 Timothy 2:1-2). 2. Advocating for justice, compassion, and righteousness (Micah 6:8). 3. Engaging in politics through voting, campaigning, and public service. 4. Promoting biblical values and principles in public policy. 5. Supporting Christian-led initiatives and organizations. 6. Encouraging ethical business practices and entrepreneurship. 7. Fostering community development and social responsibility. 8. Modeling integrity, honesty, and transparency. 9. Educating themselves and others on biblical citizenship. 10. Seeking divine wisdom and guidance in decision-making. 11. Building bridges between faith and politics. 12. Championing religious freedom and tolerance. 13. Addressing poverty, inequality, and social injustices. 14. Encouraging environmental stewardship. 15. Supporting missions and outreach initiatives. By doing so, Christians can: 1. Demonstrate God's love and care for the nation. 2. Bring spiritual transformation. 3. Promote moral and ethical governance. 4. Enhance national prosperity. 5. Showcase the relevance of faith in public life. Remember, "Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3:20)

To build an egalitarian economy and a thriving nation in Nigeria, consider the following: Egalitarian Economy: 1. _Progressive taxation_: Implement a fair tax system where the wealthy are taxed more. 2. _Social welfare programs_: Establish programs like healthcare, education, and unemployment benefits. 3. _Labor rights_: Enforce fair labor laws, including minimum wage and workers' protection. 4. _Cooperative ownership_: Encourage cooperative businesses and community land trusts. 5. _Reduced income inequality_: Implement policies to reduce the wealth gap. Thriving Nation: 1. _Good governance_: Ensure transparent, accountable, and effective leadership. 2. _Education and skills development_: Invest in quality education and vocational training. 3. _Infrastructure development_: Build modern infrastructure, including roads, power, and water. 4. _Economic diversification_: Diversify the economy beyond oil exports. 5. _Innovation and entrepreneurship_: Encourage innovation, entrepreneurship, and small business growth. 6. _Security and rule of law_: Ensure safety and security, and uphold the rule of law. 7. _Environmental sustainability_: Promote sustainable practices and environmental protection. 8. _Social cohesion and inclusivity_: Foster a sense of national unity and inclusivity. 9. _Healthcare and wellness_: Invest in quality healthcare and promote wellness. 10. _International partnerships_: Foster beneficial international relationships and partnerships. Additionally, address corruption, promote transparency, and encourage citizen participation in governance to build a thriving nation.

Here are some biblical principles of civil government and their application to the Nigerian case: 1. *Submission to authority* (Romans 13:1-7): Christians are called to submit to governing authorities, including those in Nigeria. 2. *Rendering unto Caesar* (Matthew 22:15-22): Paying taxes and respecting the state's authority are essential. 3. *Promoting justice and righteousness* (Micah 6:8): Nigerian Christians should advocate for justice, equality, and righteousness in governance. 4. *Loving neighbors* (Mark 12:30-31): Christians should prioritize the well-being of fellow Nigerians, regardless of tribe or religion. 5. *Seeking wisdom and discernment* (James 1:5-8): Christians should pray for wisdom and discernment in governance and decision-making. 6. *Addressing corruption* (Exodus 23:8): Nigerian Christians should speak out against corruption and promote transparency and accountability. 7. *Promoting peace and unity* (Psalm 133:1-3): Christians should work towards national unity and peaceful coexistence. 8. *Respecting the rule of law* (1 Peter 2:13-17): Christians should respect and obey the laws of the land, even when challenging unjust systems. 9. *Advocating for the vulnerable* (Proverbs 31:8-9): Nigerian Christians should speak out for the rights of the marginalized and oppressed. 10. *Praying for leaders* (1 Timothy 2:1-4): Christians should pray for Nigerian leaders, seeking God's guidance and wisdom for them. By reflecting on these biblical principles, Nigerian Christians can engage with their civil government in a way that honors God and promotes the well-being of their nation.

Casuistry can use authoritative means to develop political party bylaws by: 1. Referencing constitutional documents: Casuists can analyze the party's constitution, charter, or founding documents to identify core values and principles that should guide bylaw development. 2. Consulting legal frameworks: Casuists can examine relevant laws and regulations that govern political parties and their operations, ensuring bylaws comply with legal requirements. 3. Citing party history and tradition: Casuists can draw on the party's past practices, customs, and decisions to inform bylaw development and maintain continuity. 4. Invoking expert opinion: Casuists can consult with experts in relevant fields (e.g., law, ethics, governance) to ensure bylaws reflect best practices and authoritative guidance. 5. Conducting thorough analysis: Casuists can meticulously analyze various scenarios, cases, and hypotheticals to develop bylaws that address potential issues and conflicts. 6. Seeking input from stakeholders: Casuists can engage with party members, leaders, and other stakeholders to ensure bylaws reflect the party's values, needs, and concerns. 7. Evaluating ethical implications: Casuists can assess the ethical implications of different bylaw provisions, ensuring they align with the party's moral principles and values. 8. Considering precedent: Casuists can examine how similar political parties or organizations have addressed similar issues in their bylaws. 9. Using logical reasoning: Casuists can apply logical reasoning and argumentation to develop clear, consistent, and coherent bylaws. 10. Documenting the process: Casuists can maintain a record of the bylaw development process, including the reasoning, analysis, and authorities relied upon. By employing these authoritative means, casuistry can help political parties develop comprehensive, ethical, and effective bylaws that reflect their values and principles.

Casuistry can be used to arrange and sort cases to create a taxonomy for a political party by: 1. Identifying key issues and themes: Casuists can analyze various cases and identify common themes and issues that are relevant to the political party's platform. 2. Categorizing cases: Casuists can group similar cases together based on their characteristics, such as economic, social, or environmental issues. 3. Developing subcategories: Casuists can create subcategories within each main category to further refine and specify the types of cases. 4. Analyzing relationships between cases: Casuists can examine how different cases relate to each other and identify patterns, contradictions, and areas of tension. 5. Evaluating ethical implications: Casuists can assess the ethical implications of each case and category, considering the political party's values and principles. 6. Creating a hierarchical structure: Casuists can organize the categories and subcategories into a hierarchical structure, creating a taxonomy that is easy to navigate. 7. Refining and updating: Casuists can continually refine and update the taxonomy as new cases emerge and circumstances change. The resulting taxonomy can serve as a valuable resource for the political party, providing: 1. A clear and organized framework for understanding complex issues 2. A basis for developing nuanced and informed policies 3. A tool for communicating effectively with constituents and stakeholders 4. A means of identifying areas of consensus and disagreement within the party 5. A foundation for building a coherent and principled political platform By using casuistry to develop a taxonomy, a political party can create a robust and ethical framework for addressing the complex issues that arise in politics.

Casuistry is a method of reasoning and problem-solving that involves analyzing specific cases and circumstances to develop moral and ethical guidelines. In the context of developing political manifestos, casuistry can be a useful approach to: 1. Identify key issues and concerns 2. Analyze complex situations and their ethical implications 3. Develop nuanced and context-specific policy solutions 4. Consider multiple perspectives and stakeholders 5. Evaluate the potential consequences of different courses of action By using casuistry as a basis for developing political manifestos, political parties or candidates can: 1. Create more informed and thoughtful policies 2. Address the specific needs and concerns of different constituencies 3. Develop a more nuanced and pragmatic approach to governance 4. Demonstrate a commitment to ethical and moral reasoning 5. Enhance their credibility and trustworthiness with voters Some potential applications of casuistry in developing political manifestos include: 1. Case studies of specific social or economic issues 2. Analysis of historical precedents and their relevance to current policy debates 3. Examination of different cultural or religious perspectives on key issues 4. Evaluation of the ethical implications of different policy options 5. Development of scenario-based planning and contingency strategies By incorporating casuistry into the manifesto development process, political parties or candidates can create more robust, informed, and ethical policies that better serve the needs of their constituents.

Political capital refers to the accumulation of goodwill, trust, and influence that a political leader or organization possesses, which can be used to achieve their goals, pass legislation, or implement policies. It's a metaphorical "currency" that can be earned, spent, and invested to advance their agenda. Political capital can be built through: 1. Popularity and public approval 2. Successful policy initiatives 3. Strong leadership and decision-making 4. Building coalitions and alliances 5. Effective communication and messaging 6. Crisis management and response 7. Delivering on campaign promises 8. Demonstrating empathy and understanding Political capital can be spent by: 1. Advocating for controversial policies 2. Making tough decisions 3. Taking risks and facing challenges 4. Confronting opposition and criticism 5. Implementing unpopular but necessary reforms 6. Supporting other politicians or causes 7. Addressing national or international crises When political capital is high, leaders can: 1. Pass significant legislation 2. Build broad coalitions 3. Influence public opinion 4. Overcome opposition 5. Achieve their policy objectives Conversely, when political capital is low, leaders may struggle to: 1. Advance their agenda 2. Build support 3. Overcome obstacles 4. Maintain public trust Political capital is a vital asset for effective governance, but it can be fragile and fleeting, requiring careful management and replenishment.