This is a peculiar year in the history of our nation. Never in the history of this nation have we been given an opportunity to free ourselves from the bondage of the devil and his agents who have vowed against the progress of this nation. If we miss this window of opportunity that God has given, it will be disastrous.  This is because they will tighten their holds on the nation so that never again will there be any window of opportunity. Therefore, we need to take this opportunity we have very seriously and act decisively so that against all odds, Nigeria will rise and fulfill her destiny under God.

Nigeria is one of the most richly blessed nations in the world. Many so called advanced nations do not possess a fraction of the resources this nation is endowed with.   But why are we still in a spot?  Sadly, this is due to the fact that there is criminality amongst certain people at the herm of affairs. They vehemently are opposed to the advancement of the nation for their selfish gain. But God is saying their time is up. Remember the message God gave to Moses to deliver to Pharaoh? “Let my people go.”  After God dealt with Pharaoh, his people acknowledged that indeed that was the finger of God.

Just like the days of old, Nigeria will encounter the “Egyptian experience.” From the account in our text, when the news of the invading army reached Jehoshaphat the Bible said he became frightened. But who wouldn’t be frightened in such a situation where three nations joined forces to destroy you and your people? But Jehoshaphat did not allow his fear to drive him away from God rather he was determined to ask for help from God. He gathered the whole nation and asked the people to fast and pray.

The battle for the soul of Nigeria is more spiritual than physical. If we don’t win it in the spiritual realm we will go nowhere. You don’t underestimate the power of your enemy especially these evil men and women.  They have their roots in occultism and all manner of diabolical things.  That is why I said the fasting and prayers this year would be like no other if we want to experience liberation.  So, if you are serious about being free, you have to take this fasting and prayer more seriously than you have ever done because, you have to defeat the adversaries in the spirit realm. If we defeat them in the spirit, it will manifest in the physical – in the economy, political sphere and every other areas that need God’s intervention.

Ephesians 6: 10 – 13 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of ^[a]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” [NKJV]. 2 Corinthians 10: 3 – 5 further stresses the importance of spiritual warfare: “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.  For the weapons of our warfare are not ^[a]carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” [NKJV].  See also Zechariah 4: 6 – 7].

The moment we defeat our enemies in the spirit realm every other thing will open up. This fasting and prayer exercise is the key to whatever turnaround we are trusting God for.  In verse 12 of our text, Jehoshaphat acknowledged that his enemies were stronger and they were helpless and needed God’s help – “O our God, wilt thou not judge them? For we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee” [2 Chronicles 20: 12 KJV]. This is the kind of disposition God wants us to maintain so that He can intervene in our nation. In verse 13 we see God’s response to Jehoshaphat’s heart cry. “Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.  Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you” [2 Chronicles 20: 13 -17 KJV].

The battle is not ours it is of the Lord.  We see Jehoshaphat’s response to God’s message in verse 18 – 21. He accepted God’s assurances and matched on to war against their enemies with praises unto God as their weapon of warfare. God in His sovereignty gave them resounding victory. This is the kind of victory we are trusting God for Nigeria.  It’s going to be a challenging year but we have a God who is equal to the task. He is the God of all impossibilities. Many of us will experience God in ways we have never experienced before.  This is our year of witnessing God’s power and interventions in every dimension.

Our work as leaders is to encourage the faith of people and ourselves to believe God;  So that regardless of what challenge we face spiritually, economically, politically, as individuals or at family levels, we will see God in action. It is when things are impossible you really know who God is; He specializes in making impossible situations possible. So, in praying we have to table all the situations going on around the world for God to address and establish the rule of His kingdom over the nations of the world. This is the challenge before us. This calls for committing us to be disciplined and hardworking, knowing God in a deep and personal way, fellowshipping with Him and resolving to obey Him at all cost.  When we keep doing our own part, God will never fail us.  That’s why the Bible warns us not to fear because the battle is not ours but the Lord’s. No matter what the devil and his agents are cooking up, God will see us through and we will witness His mighty power like never before to the glory of God.

QUOTE:

“Our work as leaders is to encourage the faith of people and ourselves to believe God; So that regardless of what challenge we face spiritually, economically, politically, as individuals or at family levels, we will see God in action.”