FROM THE PREACHER'S LENSES

Sam AwedaTuesday, November 11, 2014
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USA

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THE ROLE OF SPIRITUAL LEADERS IN NATION BUILDING (1)


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promised in a past sermon that I will one day point out what the roles of Religious Leaders should be in the building of nations. I plan to do this today. So, the topic of this sermon is "The Role of Spiritual Leaders in Nation Building"

Let us pray.

Let us look at the Bible to see what roles, Religious leaders should assume in the building of a nation. It is a bug role but which they are not conscious of. Their role in shaping and giving godly direction to the country cannot be under estimated.

Let us look at the how the government was run in the Bible days.

The nation known as Israel today was at the beginning ruled by Theocracy. By Theocracy, we mean a government ruled by men who claim authority from God. So the commonwealth of Israel was ruled by Priests.

Prophet Samuel attained this position and at his old age, the people made a request to him that they no longer wanted to be governed by Priests but kings in order to conform with the other neighbouring nations. (1Sam. 8:1-5). So they started to have a monarchy system of government. But that did not imply that the man of God, Samuel was no longer relevant in government.

It was Prophet Samuel who sought the face of God for an appropriate leader, who will fulfill their aspirations. This is where the role of the men of God starts i.e. seeking the face of God for the election of leaders who will meet the aspirations of the citizens.

In the case of Israel at that time, the citizens wanted someone who would lead them to war, who will fight their battle (1Sam. 8: 20). This is understood because intertribal wars were rampant at the time.

So God led someone, Saul the son of Kish who had a full military stature (1King 9:2) to the man of God, Samuel and God told Samuel, that Saul was the person He was choosing as king for the nation (I king 9: 14-17).

What is the most needful in Nigeria today?

It is relief from poverty; poverty, which is brought about by corruption and corruption brought about by ungodliness.

It is however sad that some of those who God expects to have a say at how the government is run looks elsewhere. They say that is not their calling. They say their calling ends at leading people to Jesus Christ, whose blood cleanses us from all sins.

Yes, it is absolutely the correct thing to lead people to the Saviour but after the people accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour and the environment is hot i.e. life is hard for them, will they not be tempted to do some ungodly things? Would they not eventually lose the same salvation they claim they got?

Is that situation not similar to a mother cow, who is careless with its calves and wolves maul them; or a careless mother hen, who leaves its chicks at the mercy of a hungry hawk?

How can anyone, particularly Religious leaders ignore taking part in the system that decides how we live our lives knowing that if the Government is left to be run by the ungodly, in ungodliness, it may be very difficult for us to live according to our calling and fail to enter into rest?

So, what should occupy the attention of our Religious leaders today in Nigeria is seeking the face of God to give us leaders who are godly, who will fight corruption whereby the God given wealth will fairly reach all and sundry.

The Bible in the book of Proverbs 29: 1-2 says "When the godly are in authority, the people rejoice but when the wicked are in power, the people groan" because life will be difficult

To be contd

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