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These clergymen and many others loitering in the nation and claiming to speak on behalf of God are a total disgrace to society and absolute failure to their calling and priesthood.
“The prophets prophesy lies, and the priests rule by their own power; and my people love to have it so” (Jeremiah 5:31).
As the 2015 draws to a close, all kinds of selfish prophetic utterances and false claims are being made by the Nigerian clergymen. This has become a yearly dose of trick to seek fame, prestige, power, popularity, and prosperity. However, a closer look of these prophetic utterances do not line-up with biblical prophecies. In fact, the prophecies being promulgated today by these so-called men and women of God in Nigeria and across Africa are not prophecies at all but psychic telling.
When I read some of the 2016 prophecies of Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church and host of others; most of their predictions are very political but not prophetic or apocalyptic. Any serious student of the social, economic, political, religious climate of Nigeria can predict even more accurately the same things these men are making and claiming to be hearing from God. In fact, those who believe in psychics can get far better predictions than most of the prophecies by these prominent men of Cloth.
Millions of Christians especially in Africa misunderstand the gift of prophecy to be the ability to predict the future. While knowing something about the future may sometimes have been an aspect of the gift of prophecy, it was primarily a gift of proclamation or forth-telling, not necessarily prediction or fore-telling. For instance, the prophets of Scripture (e.g. Malachi, Habakkuk, Micah, Amos, Jonah, etc.) seem to be prophesying something totally different from what we commonly hear today from modern day prophets. Making explicit predictions about the future of the nation seems to be a small part of their function as a “prophet.”
Biblical prophecies are far-fetched from what is commonly known as prophetic messages being promulgated in Nigeria and most of Africa today. A prophecy must measure-up with the Word of God. For instance, the gift of prophecy is listed among the gifts of the Spirit in First Corinthians 12:10 and Romans 12:6. The Greek word translated “prophesying” or “prophecy” in both passages properly means to “speak forth” or declare the divine will, to interpret the purposes of God, or to make known in any way the truth of God which is designed to influence people.
The point is I’m trying to make here is that a true prophet is a messenger of God. And the prophetic message of God is always about the future, about repentance, about judgment, and about consequences.
The Call of a Prophet
If the Bible is studied very carefully, you will notice that God called different people to various activities and assignments – some to be Wise Counselors (Daniel), as Leaders (Joseph, Moses, Joshua), as Kings (David, Solomon), as Military Warriors (Joshua, Samson, Deborah, Jehoshaphat), as Missionaries (Abraham, Paul), as Judges (Deborah, Gideon), as kingdom Builders (Jesus), as Revolutionaries (Jesus), as Pro-creators (Adam &Eve ), and off-course many were called to be Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Bible Teachers.
According to the Ephesians 4:11, Prophets were next to the Apostles. God does not do anything on planet earth without revealing it first to His true prophets. Why, because God is intimately involved in all of our lives. God cares and loves us too much. This incomprehensible quality of God, theologians call “Divine Pathos” which simply means divine passion. Despite His self-sufficiency, God passionately seeks and desires a relationship with His creatures and mankind is the most loved of all God’s creation. That is why He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to suffer agony; pain and excruciating death on the Cross in-order to repair the damaged relationship caused by Adam’s sin. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. He continues to speak to His people through His prophets. He continues to find willing hearts to deliver His prophetic messages to mankind. His compassion, love and faithfulness for His people have not ceased.
Therefore, since the beginning of redemptive history, God has always sought for a man or woman to deliver His message of care and love to His creatures. Theologians call this mouthpiece of God – a Prophet. It is derived from two Hebrew Words: (1) Ro’eh – which is translated “Seer” in English. It indicates a special ability to see in the spiritual realm and foresee future events as given by God through dreams, visions, revelations or spoken words. The second Hebrew Word is: (2) Nabi – which is translated Prophet. It literally means to prophesy, to put forth words abundantly from God’s mind and by God’s spirit. A Nabi is a spokesperson that poured out words under the impelling power of God’s spirit. And so throughout human history such men and women have arisen and spoken courageously and compassionately the Words of God to His people and nations. In addition to being the mouthpiece that reveals the message of God, a prophet is also a preacher, a poet, a patriot, a diplomat, a moralist and a social critic and reformer. He is a moral being who speaks to the social, political, religious and moral issues of the day. Therefore he or she is sort of an adviser and consultant on moral and social issues to society at large.
What are Prophetic Messages?
Prophetic messages are not only central to our faith and beliefs system but also to our personal life, social life, business life, and political life as well. Throughout biblical history, the men and women who God towered spiritually to speak on God’s behalf such as Moses, Deborah, Samuel, Elijah, Isaiah, Daniel, Hosea, Amos, Jeremiah, and Jesus; just to mention a few, received divine knowledge and spoke courageously the messages of God. These prophets spoke not only in religious places but also in every area of peoples’ lives.
They spoke against sin, idolatry, immorality, and all kinds of evil in the society. They warned against corruption, greed, unrighteousness and injustice especially in the lives of Kings and Priests. They warned people of God’s judgment and therefore called them to change and follow God’s instruction. They encouraged people to remain faithful to God and his covenant. The prophets loved people, cared for them and sought the highest good for them. In a nutshell, biblical prophets were the social and moral activists in their era.
Since God is the source of prophetic messages, people are called to obey the words spoken by the prophets. Even in recent times, we are reminded of the prophetic messages of Mandela, Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and John Paul II and off course Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Their prophetic words and insights have saved mankind from slavery, apartheid, poverty, destruction and death. Today, we need such prophets to arise and speak to the monumental challenges facing Nigeria/Africa and our planet earth.
Throughout the history of mankind and even in our present time, true prophets of God and genuine spiritual leaders had always denounced sin, wickedness, and injustice – not per say by political activism but by calling the political leaders of nations to rule in the fear of God and work to provide a just and fair society.
During the prophetic ministry of Isaiah who reigned during the time of Kings Uzziah, Jotham and Hezekiah, you will read that those kings were extremely wicked kings with exception of King Hezekiah, who ruled with the fear of God. Kings Uzziah and Jotham abused the power of their office and led the people astray. They crushed the poor for their own profit.
Prophet Isaiah challenged the rebellious people of Jerusalem and gullible Judah to repent of their sins and turn to God. He called on the people to clean up their acts. Isaiah denounced Judah for her idolatry and immorality and called for national repentance, prayer, and fasting. He also rebuked the kings and rulers for their social injustice and called on the politicians to restore a just and fair society otherwise God’s judgment and destruction would come suddenly. Finally, he believed that God has something to say about Judah’s foreign policy and as God’s representative and ambassador to the Kings of Judah – Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah; he warned them about entering into an unholy alliance with Assyria.
Jesus was called and sent to bring light to the dying world and to lay down his life for Kingdom’s sake. Jesus ministry was whole – teaching, preaching, healing, social, economic and political. Jesus spoke to the political (Sadducees) and religious elites (Pharisees) of his day more than he preached and taught the Scriptures. Prophet Isaiah prophesized 750 years before Jesus was born, “For to us a son is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace, there is will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this” – Isaiah 6:6-7.
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Nehemiah left gave up his comfortable and wealthy position in Persia, and returned to his fractured nation and rallied against all forces of opposition to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. This is what some of us in Diaspora should be doing now before Nigeria disintegrates and falls apart.
Micaiah, a valiant and solitary prophet was not intimidated, but challenged the established religious and political order of his time. Without favor or fear, he delivered unpalatable messages to the nation when all the prophets during his time were lying to King Ahab to seek his favor. Prophet Micaiah spoke truth to power without caring whose ox was gored.
Rev. Billy Graham did not pastor or erect any Church, yet he spread the gospel message around the world and became the greatest evangelist of our time. He met and advised many world leaders challenging them to do what is right during his spectacular years of evangelistic ministry.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. could have sat comfortably as a pastor of any Church in America during the 1960’s, but gave that up to answer the ‘Call of God,’ the ‘Call of his People,’ and of their unfortunate ‘Circumstances’ and through his prophetic ministry, his powerful oratory and courageous leadership, he freed an entire nation from hate, bigotry and self-destruction that gave millions freedom and hope around the world. His messages against segregation in the United States was prophetic. Most of what he said have come to pass – including the prediction that a black man would be president of the United States of America within 50 years from the time he made the prophetic statement, although, it happened few years short of his divine prediction. Today, he is studied as one of the true 21st century prophet in church history at various seminaries and universities in America. The world has totally acknowledged him as a prophet period!
The Rise of False Prophets
One of the clearest statements of Jesus Christ in the gospels was His caution to be “Beware of false Prophets” who will arise in the last days. In the gospel of Mark 13:22, He said, “False Christ’s and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive many.”
As the prophets gain a place of influence in their ministry and success in society, counterfeits and imposters disguised themselves and began to act as God ministers and ambassadors of righteousness. Satan, who before the fall was an Angel of Light and now number one and chief enemy of God, began to plant false prophets in the church and society. These prophets who claim to speak on behalf of God quickly began to enjoy some degree of popularity, influence and success among the people. While their lives are full of hypocrisy, wickedness, lust, immorality, adultery, greed and self-centered indulgence, they manipulated the people with their ability and charisma.
In Oliver Discourse, Jesus warned, “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name. And will deceive many” (Matthew 24:4-5). Jesus answering the disciple’s question: what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of age – gives the signs that will characterize the whole course of the last days that will intensify as the end draws nearer.
The first major sign, he gives in an answer to the disciples question, was that age of religious deception will be rampant on earth. False prophets and religious establishments within the visible church will increase and deceive many (Matthew 24:4-5, 11).
Today we are witnesses of the increase of church planting and establishment of ungodly religious organizations in the world. In the United States alone, there are about thirteen thousand satanic churches. Today the Nigerian society is saturated with all kinds of churches and ungodly religious leaders; yet, the headlines are full of horrible news of atrocities, rape and murder being committed by these so-called prophets and pastors against those who are entrusted into their spiritual care, while murder, killings, sorcery, rituals, witchcraft and all manners of evil and wickedness run rampant in the society.
The second sign, Jesus tells his disciples is the increase of wars, famines and earthquakes will be the beginning of birth pains of the new Messianic age (vs. 6-8).
Since the beginning of this century, there has been an unprecedented catastrophic event of unimaginable proportions. Many of us have vivid memories of the unprecedented disasters and rash of tragedies that have occurred since 2001, natural disasters, ethnic strife; religious wars, nuclear threat and violence have been more frequent than ever. In addition to many conflicts and challenges going in our planet, the United Nations and several nations are currently working day and night to contain ISIS, a radical jihadist Islamic terrorism organization that have established a Caliphate in the conquered territories between Syria and Iraq. Many are praying that it does not erupt and escalate into Holy War.
In Nigeria, Boko Haram jihadists have continued to mayhem and massacre Christians. In addition to that, we are witnesses of the brutal massacres of innocent civilians by the Nigerian Army against Shia Muslims and pro-Biafra protesters, who are peacefully protesting against oppression and marginalization of Easterners. Today, we have a brutal dictator in power and ironically, his VP is a former Pastor of Redeemed Church, and yet, these men: our clergymen, elders, political leaders, intellectuals, etc. do not have the temerity to speak out against such horrifying atrocities. To add salt to injury, none of these Nigerian prophets saw this coming or even speaking out against it now – including the so-called SE/SS political leaders and journalists. True prophets of God do not seem to be politically correct or tolerant of sin, greed, corruption, injustice, marginalization, repression, and oppression. They condemn and rebuke it whenever and where ever they see it.
And so, Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church in Lagos did not see the horrifying times in which Nigeria is in right currently. Rather, his prophecies seem to be advising and encouraging APC to fortify themselves for the challenges ahead. He’s colluding with the democratic dictator and APC in power.
Pastor T. B. Joshua of All Nations Church heals all manners of sicknesses yet disease, sickness and death pervade the Nigerian and African societies. He prophesizes about plane crashes and disasters that occur in other nations, but will not prophesy about the atrocities and tragedies that occur daily in his own country. He did not see or predict the killings of Pro-Biafra peaceful protesters and Shia Muslims by the Nigerian Army and the bloody Christmas massacres by Boko Haram, but did fabricate a video prediction of massacres of French people in Paris by ISIS.
Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka of Adoration Ministries in Enugu, who received a prophetic message from God and publicly asked ex-president Goodluck Jonathan to resign and vacate his office, has not received any vision about the brutal dictator – President Buhari who’s now in power. Rather, he quickly went to Aso Rock, rather than speak and condemn the evil, wickedness and injustices we read and see today in Nigeria – especially the systemic marginalization of SE where he came from, he went to receive bribe from the President.
These clergymen and many others loitering in the nation and claiming to speak on behalf of God are a total disgrace to society and absolute failure to their calling and priesthood.
–Part 2 continues next week.
C. K. Ekeke, PhD., M.Div. ., is an author, consultant & leadership lecturer. He is the president of Leadership Wisdom Institute.
