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WEDNESDAY 5TH FEBRUARY, 2020
Day 3
Repent for defilement of sanctuary (Matt 21:12-14; 1 Kings 18:19; Ezr 9:1-15)
Jeremiah 7: 9-12 Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and burn incense unto Baal, and walk after other gods whom ye know not; 10And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? 11Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD. 12But go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.
- 21: 13 - And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Let us repent of greed, covetousness, theft, corruption prevalent in the Church, and especially its defilement of the sanctuary through the leadership. - Ezekiel 8: 6 - He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? eventhe great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, andthou shalt see greater abominations.
May we repent of the conspiracies, strife, contentions, and evil associations in the Church and the struggle for wealth, influence and recognition. - Nehemiah 13: 28 – 29 And oneof the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, wasson in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. 29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
Despite the devastations inflicted upon Christians in Nigeria, some of us, like Sanballat and Tobias, have sworn allegiance to the persecutors and enemies of Christ. This also is defilement of the sanctuary. - Nahum 3: 4 – 6 Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts. 5Behold, I amagainst thee, saith the LORD of hosts; and I will discover thy skirts upon thy face, and I will shew the nations thy nakedness, and the kingdoms thy shame. 6And I will cast abominable filth upon thee, and make thee vile, and will set thee as a gazingstock.
May we repent of the witchcraft, occult, and other works of Satan that have been brought into the Church by religious leaders seeking to draw people after them. May we dissociate the Nigeria Church from these workers of darkness and pray that God will uncover their skirts and expose all of them. - 26: 14 – 15 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15And said unto them,What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
There have been reported cases of church leaders receiving money from the Islamists to compromise the Church. It is the spirit of Judas. May God forgive us also for this defilement of the sanctuary. - 2 Cor. 11: 13 – 15 For such arefalse apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it isno great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
We have had ministers of the gospel openly working for and defending the Islamists. They in turn have been defended by other Christians and ministers who canvass prayers for them. For this reproach also, may we request God’s mercy upon His people. - Malachi 2: 7 – 9 For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he isthe messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 9Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.
As leaders, some of us have not stood for the truth and for righteousness, which has contributed greatly to the problems of Christianity in Nigeria. For this defilement of the sanctuary also, may God be merciful. - Any other prayer point as led by the Spirit.