The Nigerian spirit of greed and the equating of everything with money knows no bound. Yes, it is true that money answers to all things according to the preacher in Ecclesiastes 10: 19 and its power can make the impossible possible. Whether it is real or a myth, I was made to understand that a certain Nigerian rich man once asked a Pastor if he could buy the Holy Spirit. Just like his alter ego Simon, the former sorcerer, who asked Peter how much was the purchase price of the Holy Spirit in Acts 8:18-19. Apostle Peter rebuked him hotly and rubbished his money.
If the Holy Spirit could not be purchased, why do we think we could buy power with money? Why do we think we could purchase miracle, signs and wonder with money? Why an educated, intelligent and reasonable Christian would purchase prayed-on pure water, handkerchief and anointing oil from a pastor still amuses me endlessly. Even T-shirt, Bibles and other memorabilia from a supposed anointed man of God. Why? There are still many Christians who walk in deep ignorance. Many who are still falling captive to the trap of Hosea 4:6 where God mournfully announced that his people are dying for lack of knowledge.
The Holy Spirit is the third man in the trinity. That is, the Father, the son and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a life and blood human who cannot be purchased but God can empower, fill, anoint and equip his children with the Holy Spirit. He is the still small voice that chastises you when you want to commit sin. He is the spirit that pours raw grief and guilt in you when you have committed sin and desert the path of righteousness as a Christian. He is the voice of correction, the voice of reproach; the counsellor, the teacher, the moral police, the Guardian angel and the encourager.
We live in a world of moral bankruptcy. A world where the father is now against the son, the mother against the daughter and sister against his brother. A somersaulting universe where nations are now against one another for economic, political and military supremacy of all kinds. Look at the ongoing war of dominance between the US and Europe against Russia. It is time to return to the leading of the Spirit of God in a world that has forged a pact with demon of materialism and prosperity.
We have to retrace our steps back like the prodigal son and return to the warm and safety bosom of the Holy Spirit who possesses the solutions to all earthly sorrows and problems. In Luke 11: 11-13, Jesus himself stresses the desire of the Father to pour his Holy Spirit to those who ask of him: “If you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” The Lord gives the Spirit without limit (John 3:34) and showers it on us through Jesus Christ (Titus 3:5-6).
The cry of majority of Nigerians is the desire to know the truth concerning how they are governed. They want to know how much their senators take home. How much is the salary of their governors. They want to know the inner workings of governance through transparency and truth telling. That is a tall dream. Man cannot be truthful in a world that is being controlled by the children of demons. Jesus is the only way, the truth and the life. It is the Holy Spirit that can guide us into all truth (John 16:13). It is only the Holy Spirit inside you that can reveal any hidden truth.
He is the Spirit of life and gives spiritual life to God’s children. The presence of the Holy Spirit produces the life of God in us and this is manifested in the following fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The reason why there is no peace, abundance and prosperity in Nigeria is because the Spirit is not flowing in the veins of our leaders or rulers, if you prefer. This is why our political experimentation follows one disaster after another.
Even in our churches, there are divisions and the desire for prosperity more than ever more. Miracles, signs and wonders are no longer done through the operation of the Holy Spirit, but through demonic intervention from the coven of darkness. However, the only power God recognizes in his church is the power of his Spirit. But today in our churches the only power we recognize is the power of man. Power of abracadabra!!! We prefer to live a lie under demonic anointing rather than the power of God through his Holy Spirit.
Hey Mr. Pastor…hey Mr. Politician….hey Mr. Moneybag…you cannot buy the Holy Spirit. The divine impartation of the Holy Spirit cannot be realized through the intellect but he has to be imparted by the Father through prayer, fasting, meditation on the word, repentance, righteous lifestyle and holy living.
And because the pastors, politicians and the moneybags do things in their own flesh, all their efforts turned to wood, hay and straw according to 1 Corinthians 3:9-15. We cannot achieve anything of global worth without the operation of the Holy Spirit. Consider the works of the apostles of the first century. Well, they all had to tarry and wait at Jerusalem for the promise of the Father or else all their efforts will be futile. They were manned up on the day of the Pentecost when each of them became filled with the Holy Spirit (Act 2:4).
It is God who makes rich and puts no sorrow in it (Proverbs 10:22). It is God who supplies richly all things for us to enjoy. Politicians who steal money meant for the upliftment and betterment of the greatest majority only invite curse on their destiny. There is a divine wrath on them and their children up to the fourth generation. The law of God is clear on this. Thou shall not steal (Exodus 20:15). Yes, In Nigeria our god of men can purchase private jets and rumble the skies from Malaysia to Miami or from Dublin to Dubai, thank God, they cannot purchase the Holy Spirit which is the most deficient Spirit in their spiritual hypocrisy.
. Deacon Oladeji writes from [email protected].
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