Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow. Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law (Zeph. 3:3-4).
This week’s prayer call shall commence with a reference to five excerpts from a communique entitled “Abuja Declarations 1989”. That communique was produced at a conference of the Islam in Africa Organization (IAO), a subsidiary of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The conference took place in Abuja in November 1989, and the communique detailed the plans of the Islamists to transform Africa into an Islamic continent, starting from their members nations. The five excerpts are as follows:
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 21st – Sunday 27th September 2026
THE LANGUAGE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction. (Job. 33:14-16).
Humans communicate the most in words, written or spoken. God, however, is not limited to words. One common means by which the Holy Spirit communicates serious matters is dreams and visions. In these channels, symbols and images are more common than spoken words. For example, snakes, in a revelations, could depict a dangerous enemy about to attack; a flood could symbolize an impending disaster, and a deep pit could mean that one is about to get into a dangerous situation. Holy Spirit is omnipresent. When forces of darkness are conspiring against a child of God, He sees their plans and exposes their secret to the person concerned. Jesus said in John 16:13 "he will shew you things to come."
Because humans are often distracted and agitated while awake, the Holy Spirit sometimes waits for when they are asleep, then present the scenario as symbols in their dream. Depending on the severity of the situation, when Holy Spirit gives such a revelation, He wakes up the person at once, even in the middle of the night, or at such a time in the morning when it would be difficult to go to sleep. This may be to ensure that they do not forget what had been shown them. The purpose is not to panic but to alert them to the oncoming danger, while heaven waits for them to confront the situation through prayers. God has assured us: "whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt. 16:19). Unfortunately, some would fret rather than pray after a nightmare, then when it comes to pass, they lament that their dreams always came to pass. It was not meant to come to pass. It was revealed so that it could be averted through prayers.
Many events in real life were concluded in the spirit realm before their physical manifestation. There are two days: the day in the spirit realm when a matter was decided, and the day on Earth when it was manifested (Job 1:6,13):
v. 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and Satan came also among them. v. 13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
The first “day” (v. 6) was the day in the spirit realm when decisions were taken about Job, but he was not there to contribute to the discussion. The second “day” (v. 13) was when that decision was implemented on the earth. If Job knew what had been discussed about him, he might have been able to plead with God to not permit it. In the New Testament dispensation of grace, saints have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, Who shows them things to come. Yet they need to understand the language of the Holy Spirit, to enable them respond appropriately.
This scriptural reference is provided against the backdrop of revelations and visions that many Christians are receiving about a massive destruction coming upon Nigeria, targeted at churches and Christians. These revelations are increasing, and they are saying the same thing. A pastor narrated in Yoruba what he was shown, about an attack at night, a coordinated bombing of church buildings all over the South West of Nigeria. Another Sister narrated how she saw terrorists take over the seat of government in Nigeria, and the entire country consumed by fire. Others have reported similar worrisome revelations of jihadists taking over the land and all the citizens fled.
God is not trying to panic His children or throw them into despair. He is calling them to speak to the situation to prevent what has been concluded in the spirit realm by the forces of darkness. What was shown to those brethren is what Satan plans to do. Heaven is waiting for Christians to exercise their God-given authority, declaring what they want. Should it come to pass, or be averted?
Satan is desperate to supplant the throne of Christ in Nigeria and replace it with his throne. He has planned for this a long time ago and has gone far in his conspiracy to take over Nigeria, which he did not create. One of the strategic moves of Satan was to establish a political party which would use subterfuge, violence, and corruption to hand over the throne of Nigeria to him perpetually. It is becoming clear to Satan and his forces that if Nigeria should have a successful free and fair election in 2027, both his political party and his candidates would be thrown out of the office. Therefore, if he cannot have Nigeria, he is prepared to burn it to the ground. Whatever they have planned, they would seek to execute before power should slip out of the hand of their political machinery.
In the Marathon Prayer Call of 29th June – 5th July 2026, entitled “The Coalition of the Antichrist”, it was reported that the Islamists held a Conference in London in 1983 and strategized on how to transform Africa into an Islamic continent. In that agenda, seven countries were to be Islamized first, and Nigeria was first on that list of seven countries. The object of turning Africa into an Islamic continent is to include it in the coalition of the forces of the antichrist that would fight against Jesus Christ in the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16). That Prayer Call showed that the ancient tribes of the desert that opposed Israel are the present Islamic nations, and they have sustained their enmity against the people of God. The nations that will fight Christ at Armageddon are mostly Muslim nations. The antichrist himself would be a Muslim from the Grecian empire of Alexander the Great, according to Daniel 8. The purpose of Satan is to supplant the prophetic mandate of God for Nigeria as a missionary nation, and convert it to an Islamic nation that would join Lucifer to fight Jesus Christ in the Battle of Armageddon. Therefore, when a political party consistently pursues an Islamist bias, the direction in which it is taking the country should be clear.
Christians should be reminded that in this conflict, the primary foes are neither the politicians nor the Islamists. Our contention should be against Satan and the hosts of evil spirits in the "heavenly places." The corrupt politicians, their collaborators, and the Islamists are the unfortunate human beings that the devil has taken captive to do his will. While it is normal to be aggrieved against the human collaborators with the devil, the focus should not shift from Lucifer - the principal foe that the Church must contend with and defeat. Only the Church has the power in Christ Jesus to confront Satan, defeat him, destroy his works, and deliver Nigeria from his grip. The political office holders who parade themselves as power brokers in the land are nothing but puny little men in the celestial conflict between God and Lucifer. They are pawns in the hands of the devil. As far as Satan is concerned, they are dispensable once their relevance to his agenda is exhausted. Once the power of darkness behind those human collaborators is destroyed through Christ, they shall become as mere men.
It is time for Christians to focus on intercession and warfare prayers for Nigeria, so that those visions and revelations of devastation in the land shall not come to pass. "... whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt. 16:19). Christians are advised to suspend activities in the Church and concentrate on pleading with heaven to avert every attack, or disaster that is programmed for Nigeria by the forces of darkness.
At this dicey point, Christians should not wait for Church leaders to join or lead in this call. They should stand in the gap and intercede for Nigeria. They also should not wait for a multitude of other Christians to join them in this warfare. God is looking for “a man” in the gap for the land (Ezek. 22:30). Daniel was one man in Babylon. He interceded for the restoration of Israel. In like manner, this call for Nigeria does not demand a crowd.
Christians can no longer act as if they have not heard the voice of the Holy Spirit. Neither can they claim that they do not understand His language. The Holy Spirit has spoken loud and clear - that is the “day” in heaven. The other “day” on the earth must be averted with concerted and consistent intercession. Watchmen on the walls of Nigeria should redouble their efforts and engage Satan and his forces for the deliverance of Nigeria. The evil that they have conceived against Nigeria in the spirit realm shall be aborted before it matures. The kingdom of Nigeria shall become the kingdom of our God and of His Christ, and He shall reign for ever, and ever. Amen.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lam. 3:22-23 Thank the Almighty for His mercy upon Nigeria. It is because of His mercy that Nigeria is not consumed.
2. Is.59:19 (KJV) Lift the standard of the Holy Spirit against every flood of darkness planning evil for Nigeria.
3. Luke 10:19 Take authority over Satan and all his forces, and cast them out of Nigeria. Cancel every attack that they have planned for Nigeria.
4. Isaiah 29:6-8 Execute the judgment written in the word of God over all the forces of the antichrist that are fighting against God’s purpose for Nigeria.
5. Isaiah 8:9-10 Pray and dismantle the international coalition of nations behind the violence and terrorism in Nigeria.
6. Jer. 10:11 Decree that every false religion that Satan is promoting to counter the true worship of the Almighty God shall perish in Nigeria.
7. Rev. 11:15 Proclaim that the kingdom of Nigeria has become the kingdom of our God and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever. AMEN
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 24th – Sunday 30th August 2026
THE IMPERATIVE OF CHRISTIAN POLITICAL CONSENSUS
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).
As Nigeria approaches another election cycle, it is expedient to evaluate the preparedness of Christians. Undoubtedly, the Christian community constitutes the highest risk sector in the country in the face of the unbridled aggression of Sharia sponsors manifesting as Islamist terrorists in the country. It would be naïve of Christians to continue to assume that because they bear no ill-will towards other religions in the country, that same goodwill would be reciprocated. The sponsors of Sharia have proven without equivocation that they are determined to “eradicate in all its forms and ramifications” Christianity in Nigeria, according to their communique - “Abuja Declarations 1989”. Sheikh Yahaya Jingir gave voice to this conspiracy when he announced publicly that whoever was not pleased with the Muslim-Muslim ticket should leave the country. The battleline has been drawn. The Islamists are determined to transform Nigeria into an Islamic theocratic state governed by Sharia.
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 17th – Sunday 23rd August 2026
WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD
Hear, ye deaf; and look, ye blind, that ye may see. Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord's servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not (Isaiah 42:18-20).
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 10th – Sunday 16th August 2026
CAN AT 50: WHAT NEXT?
Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart (Jer. 12:10-11).
The Marathon Prayer call of 27th April – 3rd May 2026, entitled “CAN AT 50: WHAT IS TO BE CELEBRATED?” reviewed the performance of the apex body of Christianity in Nigeria, fifty years after being established. Because leadership is everything, as it is commonly said, a further attempt shall be made to preview what leadership the Church in Nigeria requires. This should not be taken as hounding the umbrella body of Christianity in Nigeria; it is a sincere effort to ensure that the Church continues to thrive and flourish to fulfil God's purpose and remain relevant to the country.
In the past few weeks, God has been giving indications that there is leadership vacuum in the Nigeria Church. Christian leadership has been silent over certain matters. Thankfully, a former president of CAN, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, lately stepped up to speak to the government and make intervention for Nigerians. He was on national TV stating that the Tinubu government was a failure. He was followed a few weeks later by Cardinal John Onaiyekan, another former president of CAN, on national TV. These are not coincidences but acts of divine intervention. If former presidents of CAN could speak out, what about the incumbent president? Why has he not spoken against the failures of government? If he did, former presidents would have had no cause to speak.
If it is recalled that the current president of CAN joined Muslims at a Mosque in Abuja to break their Ramadan fast in 2025, and his other CAN officials joined President Tinubu at Aso Villa in 2026 to break another Ramadan fast. Christians should be circumspect about the direction of the leadership of a Church faced with a jihad. Islamic jihadists are murdering Christians in thousands, while Christian leaders are snacking with Muslims at Ramadan feasts. Not only is such fraternization repulsive, it is outright rebellion against God’s express command in 1 Cor. 10:20-22: "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?"
God usually relates to His people through their leaders. Whatever a leader does is sometimes charged to the account of the followers. The consequence of every action or inaction of the leader is visited on the followers. It was David who conducted an illegal census, but it was 70,000 Israelites that died. None died in David’s family, not even a headache. If Nigeria Christians are comfortable with their continued anguish under the APC while their leaders continue to use the spiritual authority of the Church to keep APC in power, since 2015, well and good. However, if the agony of Christians under Islamists is unwelcome, then Christians should take a serious look at leadership performance in the Church. It should be reiterated that “leadership is everything”. If the leadership of the Church demonstrates allegiance to God, the people will prosper and have peace, but if the leadership lacks commitment to God, the people will suffer the judgement of God. Examples abound in the Scriptures.
The northern kingdom of Israel existed for 290 years and had 19 kings all of whom were opposed to God. Consequently, that kingdom went into exile under the Assyrians and has not returned, to date. In the southern kingdom of Israel, when David was on the throne, the kingdom prospered. Solomon succeeded David and started well. Silver was aa common as stones in Israel. The nation was healthy and prosperous, until Solomon strayed into idolatry and the entire kingdom was split in two. Similarly, when wicked kings like Ahaz and Manasseh ruled, the nation of Judah suffered consequences; consequences not essentially because of the sins of the people but mainly because of the iniquity of their kings. When righteous rulers like Jehoshaphat and Hezekiah were on the throne, prosperity and peace returned to the land. When King Josiah arrived on the throne, God had become so incensed against the back-and-forth of the people that the revivals under King Josiah could not quench the wrath that heaven had kindled against the land.
It is against this Scriptural background that Nigeria Christians are being called upon to review the performance of their leaders and set standards for result-oriented leadership, to prevent avoidable suffering in the land. The present sufferings are not merely the consequence of the corruption of the citizens, but primarily due to leadership failures at all levels, which became worse with Church leaders implicated in moral failures.
After endorsing Tinubu and Shettima at the National Christian Centre before the 2023 election and giving them an 11-point agenda to implement, one would have thought that Church officials would have been bold to query the Tinubu administration. Strangely, those Christian leaders who endorsed a Muslim- Muslim ticket did not endorse any of the eleven Christian presidential candidates during that election. Their 11-point agenda should have served as a veritable parameter for measuring the performance of the Tinubu administration. No such performance assessment has been done since the first year of Tinubu. The impression has thus been created that their 11-point agenda was a charade, to justify receiving those politicians at the National Christian Centre.
The 11-point agenda is summarized below for Christians to review and determine if Tinubu implemented their demands, or ignored them.
1. Creation of state police or a fully decentralized police system. 2. Clear and unambiguous religious neutrality of the Nigerian state. 3. Enforcement of the fundamental rights of all Christians and other citizens, including economic and social rights. 4. Restructuring of Nigeria to decentralize governmental powers. 5. Equitable and enforceable sharing of executive political positions. 6. Ethnic and religious balance in military and security agency appointments. 7. Recognition of the right of self-determination for all Nigerian peoples within constitutional limits. 8. Rejection of RUGA (Rural Grazing Area) policy and support for ranching instead. 9. Provision of education and healthcare for all Nigerians, including Almajiri children. 10. Rejection of open grazing and modernization of animal husbandry. 11. Greater local control of local economic resources, including waters, rivers, forests, and related assets.
A conscientious Christian leadership should have constituted a standing committee to monitor the compliance of the Tinubu administration with those parameters. At each anniversary of his government, his report card should have been presented, drawing attention to areas not implemented.
On 26th August 2026, the Christian Association of Nigeria shall be 50 years. It started well, but has been floundering lately, with devastating calamity to the Christian community and the country. Rather than be an asset to the Church, mismanagement and loss of focus has turned the apex body into a liability. Its primary function of uniting the Body of Christ has been abandoned. Under CAN, the Church has become more divided than united, with officials at war with one another. The fiftieth year of CAN should be a time for sober reflection for the Church on the opportunities it missed.
Going forward, what next for the Church? The National Prayer Altar would counsel as follows:
1. The bold and incisive intervention of the former presidents of CAN is appreciated and commendable. However, the former leaders should not stop there. They should urgently convene a meeting of like-minded Christian leaders and collectively express righteous indignation against the impunity and lawlessness of this administration. It is righteousness to reject a second term for President Tinubu. 2. The conscientious Church leaders should review the structure of the apex body in view of global jihad seeking to use Nigeria as its base. The current structure of CAN was built at a time of peace. It should be restructured to cope with this time of war. 3. The Church must take a firm stand against the commercialization of Christian leadership, and build structures to expose and sanction erring leaders. In Matt. 4:19, the Lord said, ."Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." He did not say He would make them rich if they followed Him. 4. The Church must revisit its funding trust, which was deliberately compromised a few years ago. The Church requires a dedicated pool of resources to fund effective Christian advocacies. 5. The primary reason for the establishment of CAN is to build Christian unity. Sacrificial and strong spiritual leadership must be cultivated, to build Church unity. There must be adequate background checks before anyone is accepted to lead the Church.
The Lord promised that the gates of hell would not prevail against His Church. The children of the Kingdom of God should not open the gates to hell. God bless Nigeria.
PRAYER POINTS
1. Lam. 5:7-11 Repent on behalf of the Church for the leadership failures that have provoked God to wrath against the land.
2. Jer. 31:29-30 Remind God that the teeth of Nigerians Christians should not be set on edge because of the sour grapes eaten by some leaders in the Church and in the country.
3. Acts 15:6 Pray that the Spirit of God shall stir righteous leaders and elders in the Church to come together to deliberate on crucial issues in the Church.
4. Jn 17:21-23 Pray that the prayer of Jesus for the unity of His people shall be answered by God in the Nigeria Church.
5. Nah. 1:9 Pray that every conspiracy and satanic manipulation to impose an unrighteous government upon Nigeria against the will of the people shall not stand, in the name of Jesus.
6. Eph. 6:12 Take authority over the spirits of darkness ravaging the land.
7. Ps. 85:4-7 Pray that God shall grant the Nigeria Church a fresh fire of revival. AMEN
For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies (Lam. 3:31-32).
The worst form of slavery is to be enslaved on one's own land. The distressing slavery imposed on Nigerians is exemplified by the post below, of the situation in Kajuru Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State. It should be noted that Kajuru LGA is not unique in this experience. It is now the common situation in many parts of northern Nigeria. Other categories of Nigerians experience slavery in various forms. The emerging truth is that Nigerians are becoming enslaved on their ancestral lands; killed or kidnapped at will, without consequence to the assailants.
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 27th July – Sunday 2nd August 2026
LEADERSHIP IS EVERYTHING
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn (Prov. 29:2).
On 15th May 2024, Singapore swore a new Prime Minister into office. A commentator noted, “After four years of strict, tedious filtering and performance index review applied on four outstanding candidates, finally, Mr. Lawrence Wong was chosen to take the responsibility as the 4th PM of Singapore. Mr. Wong, a Double Degree and PhD. holder from Harvard University in Economics, was selected after he received the highest score in Character, Performance, Integrity, Quality and job Key Performance Index (KPI). Mr. Lawrence Wong scored ZERO in the following: 1. Public Complaints 2. Police Traffic Summons 3. Public Summon 4. Racial hatred statements 5. Corruption and Bribery 6. Legal Court cases 7. Tax fraud 8. Abuse of Power 9. FBI, CIA, Interpol checks.” Singapore pays premium attention to the election of its leaders, because leadership is everything in the life of a country. How does Nigeria choose its leaders?
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 20th – Sunday 26th July 2026
UNITED WE STAND
And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do (Gen. 11:6).
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 13th – Sunday 19th July 2026
BREAKING THE EVIL SIEGE OVER THE CHURCH IN NIGERIA
The Ministers Prayer Network International organized a Mighty Men Continental Summit in Lagos in July 2026 to “awaken Christian men to understand, recover, and to fulfil God’s mandate for their lives.” One of the teachings during the Summit was entitled “Breaking the Evil Siege Over the Church in Nigeria.” The assumption in many places was that the “evil siege” over the Church were the terrorists, like Boko Haram, Fulani 'herdsmen,' ‘bandits’, and so on. However, a deeper examination of the situation of the Church reveals that the “siege” is not outside the Church, but inside it. If the siege inside the Church can be broken, terrorism in Nigeria will die a natural death.
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 15th – Sunday 21st June 2026
NO KING IN ISRAEL
In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes (Judg. 17:6).
There is one nagging question that should disturb every conscientious Nigerian in 2026: “How did we get to this point?” The Nigerian society has become one defined by lawlessness and impunity, at all levels. The worst expression of impunity is amongst those in government, closely followed by the terrorists. Because government officials no longer conduct the affairs of the state according to laid down procedures, terrorists are exploiting the loopholes to wreak havoc all over the country.
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 8th – Sunday 14th June 2026
LET THE SAINTS NOT RETURN TO FOLLY
I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. (Ps. 85:8).
The Marathon Prayer call of 23rd to 29th March 2026, entitled "The Season Has Changed" delivered a message, namely that Nigeria has transited from the season of indignation to that of restoration. Surprisingly, some were not pleased with the message, maybe because they profit from the chaos and calamity in the land. Fortunately, God is not man, "For the Lord will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies. For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men" (Lam. 3:31-33). Nigeria has received mercy.
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment (Heb. 6:1-2).
In last week’s Marathon Prayer call, entitled “‘RE’ & ‘PENT,’” the matter of genuine repentance as prerequisite for a successful Christian life was examined. The crucial missing link between man and God is repentance. Man seems willing to offer God everything but genuine repentance. Christians are skilful and abundant in praises, worship, preaching, giving, loving, as well as caring, but the fundamental requirement of God is rarely met. The controversy between God and Christians is repentance.
Nigeria is going through the throes of death because the Church has been unable to offer God genuine repentance. Repeatedly, God warns that unless His requirements are met, worse evil shall be unleashed on the land. Fortunately, some are heeding the warning and convening prayer and repentance initiatives. The expectation is high that God will hear and heal Nigeria. That notwithstanding, the emphasis on the need for genuine repentance must not wane. Rather, it should dominate conversations in Christian assemblies, and believers should begin to consciously ensure for signs of true repentance.
Genuine repentance is not merely abstinence from adultery, lies, or other common vices. There are moralists who abstain from such vices yet are not saved. For example, Buddhists abstain from such misconducts yet are not part of the Kingdom of God. There are others who do not indulge in sexual immorality or party spirit, yet could harbour malice, hatred, and express arrogance. Genuine Biblical repentance is demonstrated by a renewed mind, a new mindset that rejects the patterns and order of this world, and is solely committed to compliance with the commandments of God. In other words, a truly repentant Christian will subscribe to a Biblical worldview. He sees the world and relates to it through the pages of the New Testament. That individual obeys “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” (1 John 2:15); and “be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2). A mind that is transformed to think like Jesus, is the mind that will produce the fruit of repentance that God demands. ”As a man thinks, so is he” (Prov. 23:7).
God demands two levels of repentance from every Christian. The first level is when an unbeliever comes to the Lord. At that level, the call is for repentance from sin and from worldliness. “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).
The second level of repentance comes after conversion, and it says, “repent from dead works.” It urges us to depart from “the principles of the doctrine of Christ” and to “go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God” (Heb. 6:1). A careful reading of Heb. 5:12 will reveal that there are certain doctrines considered elementary. They are the six doctrines of Christianity in Heb. 6:1-2, described as a “foundation.” They are the foundational doctrines of Christianity. In effect, while the unbeliever is called to repent from sin, the believer is commanded to repent from “dead works”.
The first “foundation” of Christian doctrines is repentance from dead works. Without it, every other doctrine is null and void. What are “dead works”? Whatever a Christian does that Holy Spirit did not assign him/her to do, is dead works. This is so, for two reasons:
1. “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom. 8:14). 2. “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63).
Whatever is not initiated by the Holy Spirit has no life. It does not matter how grandiose it is, if Holy Spirit did not initiate it, it is dead work. There are two categories of dead works.
a. Whatever a man does before coming to the Lord, is dead work. It has no record in heaven because the doer of the “good deed” has no “file” there. At the most, it will be rewarded on the earth, according to Gen. 8:22. That is what makes it dead work. b. The second category is, whatever a Christian does, after coming to the Lord, but which Holy Spirit did not initiate. It is also not recorded in heaven, and it has no eternal reward. It does not matter how extensive the work might be, if Holy Spirit did not initiate it, heaven does not recognize it. Whatever Holy Spirit did not initiate comes from the flesh (Gal. 5:17), and God will not reward what the flesh inspired. It is strange fire.
There are many Christian workers who labour diligently and with great passion, but whose labours are not inspired by the Holy Spirit. Whatever does not come by the Holy Spirit cannot carry the life of God, and it will neither have temporal nor eternal value. It is the Spirit that gives life (John 6:63). The Bible says in Ecc. 3:14, “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” It is what God does that endures for eternity.
Ministry is not someone running from pillar to post, “labouring” for the Lord. Ministry is God working through them. Anyone is capable of using human determination and intelligence to build a global “ministry” that will thrive, which many might applaud, yet if the fire that sparked that “ministry” was not the fire of the Holy Spirit, that person has no ministry. That is the reason every ministry must start with a “call” of God. Ministry is not someone working for God, it is God working through them, otherwise it is dead works. The Master says,
• The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise (John 5:19). • I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me (John 5:30). • Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works (John. 14:10). • My Father worketh hitherto, and I work (John 5:17).
If the Master could do “nothing” without God, how can anyone conduct ministry without the express leading of the Holy Spirit? The greatest tragedy of Christianity in this generation is self-willed men who do ministry in the spirit of competition, rivalry, self-promotion, and selfish motives. Many activities in the Church classified as “special programs,” such as crusades, outreaches, conventions, seminars, including prayer and fasting, could fall into that category. If only a small percentage of the activities in the Church were initiated by the Holy Spirit, the fruit and impact of Christianity in Nigeria would have been tremendous. Alas, the motive for many ministry works is self-promotion. In some extreme cases, when Holy Spirit refuses to move, some pastors have resorted to seeking powers from Satan to work what the Bible calls “lying wonders.” It is dead works. If the Church is filled with dead works, how can it give life to a dying country? It is time to repent from dead works.
All sins are classified into two categories. 1. Not doing what God has said. 2. Doing what God has not said.
The first category is rebellion, and the second is presumption. Many Christians might be sensitive to rebellion, but very few are sensitive to presumption. If God instructs a man to relocate a pulpit, and he refuses, that is rebellion. If God did not tell a man to relocate a pulpit and he does, that is presumption. Both are deadly sins. Rebellion killed Saul; presumption killed Uzzah (2 Sam. 6:6-8). Many activities in the Church are based on presumption. One might ask, “Should I then fold my hands and do nothing?” There is wisdom in waiting on the Lord, and “they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31).
Spiritual maturity is not measured by how long one has been a Christian, or how many gifts of the Spirit one manifests. Watchman Nee provided a succinct definition of spiritual maturity as follows: “if a man will not move unless God moves, if a man will not work unless God works, and if a man will not speak unless God speaks, then, such a man can be said to be spiritually matured.” If a man goes to a work that God did not send him, the people might get blessed, but he would score zero. After all, when Uzzah prevented the Ark from falling, the Ark remained intact, but Uzzah died.
There is no excuse for dead works in the Church. Every Christian has access to the Holy Spirit, and all can receive fresh fire from heaven. Unfortunately, some desire what God has not purposed for them, so they chart their own course. Such folks might labour, but when that work shall pass through the fire, they shall suffer loss (1 Cor. 3:13-15), that is assuming they even make it to heaven, since “rebellion is as witchcraft” (1 Samuel 15:23).
As Nigeria prepares to enter the phase of righteousness, the saints must learn contentment. The spirit of envy and competition that drives people to want to be better than others, or to replicate the achievements of others merely to prove that they also have anointing, must be condemned. Christians are called to do different things. Not everyone will be an Apostle Paul. Some are called to play other roles. The Scriptures say, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5). Shun dead works. It carries eternal consequences.
May God bless Nigeria.
PRAYER POINTS
1. 2 Chro. 7:14 Thank God for raising watchmen to stand in the gap for Nigeria.
2. Lam. 3:31-33 Thank God for showing Nigeria compassion by ending His indignation against the land.
3. Ps. 85:8-9 Pray for the discipline of the Holy Spirit to rest upon the Church so that the saints shall not return to folly.
4. 2 Pet. 2:1-3 Pray that the judgment written shall be speedily executed upon false teachers in the Nigeria Church.
5. Mt. 28:19-20 Pray that discipleship shall replace ‘prosperity’ teachings in Nigeria Church.
6. 2 Kgs 19:35-37 Intercede for all who have been kidnapped in Nigeria, and those in life-threatening situations. Pray that God will release His angels to execute judgment on the terrorists and their enablers.
7. Ps. 94:19-23 Pray that God shall cast down every throne of iniquity in Nigeria. Amen
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 25th – Sunday 31st May 2026
“RE” & “PENT”
He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy (Prov. 28:13).
The 400 years between the book of Malachi in the Old Testament and that of Matthew in the New Testament are referred to by Bible scholars as the “400 silent years”. During that entire period, there was no message from God to humanity. For 400 years, God was silent. There was no prophecy, no vision, and no revelation. God broke the silence, after 400 years, with a command: “repent”.
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 18th – Sunday 24th May 2026
SELECTIVE BLINDNESS
Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel (Gen. 49:5-7).
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 11th – Sunday 17th May 2026
GO TO SHILOH
But 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 (Jer. 7:12).
In the Marathon Prayer Call of 5th – 11th January 2026, entitled "Joy Cometh," it was pointed out that Nigeria was standing at the threshold of breakthrough into an era of righteousness. That was not a false assumption. That prayer call referenced the prophecy of Pastor S. G. Elton in 1986, that Nigeria would go through a phase of corruption in which the country would stink all over the world, and later, it would transit into an era of righteousness. A latter prophecy revealed that the era of corruption would last forty years. By April 2026, Nigeria entered the fortieth year of Pastor Elton’s prophecy. Hence, the optimism that “joy cometh”.
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 4th – Sunday 10th May 2026
DO NOT CURSE THE DARKNESS, SWITCH ON THE LIGHT
Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them (Ez. 34:10).
Some years ago, at Ibi town in present day Taraba State of Nigeria, a miraculous phenomenon occurred. Some Islamic fundamentalists had desecrated the graves of missionaries who had brought the gospel to that area. The dead missionaries could not fight back, but God stepped in for them. Suddenly, fire fell from heaven. The fire was intentional. It targeted the houses of the fundamentalists who had been involved in the desecration. The fire fell upon one house, consumed it, rolled itself into a ball, leapt across the street to the house of the next terrorist, consumed it, and went on burning house after house. After that sign of divine vengeance, none tampered anymore with the graves of the missionaries. That was many years ago. Why is that fire not falling anymore?
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 27th April – Sunday 3rd May 2026
CAN AT 50: WHAT IS TO BE CELEBRATED?
Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil (Joel 2:12-13).
Last week, a test was conducted at an interdenominational Christian gathering for an appraisal of the leadership of the Nigeria Church under intense jihadist attacks. Following a brief deliberation on the subject of Christian leadership, some Christians were invited to rate the performance of the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on a scale of 0 – 10. Most of the respondents rated their performance at level 1, a poor mark on the scale.
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 13th – Sunday 19th April 2026
THE LAW OF DOUBLE REFERENCE
Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created (Ezekiel 28:12-13).
Bible scholars apply various laws in the interpretation and understanding of sacred texts. They include: the law of double reference, the law of first mention, the law of context, the law of covenant, and the law of progressive revelations. In this prayer call, focus shall be on the law of double reference. In Ezekiel 28:12-13, God directly mentions the king of Tyre, but it is evident that He was speaking to another entity. While a physical human was on the throne of Tyre, there was another entity on the throne with him, whom the naked eyes could not see. That same entity had been in Eden the garden of God, and was created with all manners of precious stones and musical instruments. In those few words, God described the beauty of Lucifer and his ministry of praises and worship. Whereas the primary and apparent reference was to a physical King of Tyre, the secondary and ultimate reference was to a spiritual personality.
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 6th – Sunday 12th April 2026
THE UNWILLING WITNESSES
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8).
Before ascending into heaven, the Lord gave His disciples a final instruction: they would be “witnesses” unto Him. To many Christians, “witness” means soul winning. To the Lord, it implied much more. The word “witness” is the Greek “martus,” which is an analogy of the word “martyr”. That being the case, Acts 1:8 can be read thus, "...and ye shall be MARTYRS unto me." In other words, that passage could be read as follows: “... Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and YE SHALL DIE FOR ME both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” The invitation to follow Jesus implies consecration unto death. As if to confirm that the Lord had physical death in mind, all the early apostles, except John, were martyred. They were "witnesses."
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 30th March – Sunday 5th April 2026
WE HAVE RECEIVED MERCY, WE FAINT NOT
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins (Isaiah 40:1-2).
God is mysterious, but in many ways, predictable. Because of His immutable principles of righteousness, one can predict what He might do in many situations. What cannot be predicted is, when and how He would do it. Those who understand this nature of God are careful how they live. God will usually punish sin. It is His immutable character. Whether it is individual sin or that of an entire country, God will punish sin.
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 23rd – Sunday 29th March 2026
THE SEASON HAS CHANGED
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert (Isaiah 43:18-19).
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 16th – Sunday 22nd March 2026
TOWARDS 2027 – WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?
Thus, saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken. Jer. 6:16-17
It would be tragic if Nigerians, either by commission or omission, permit the current set of politicians to administer the affairs of the country for another term of four years. Of course, those who merchandise and profit from the sleaze which APC calls governance will disagree, but the choice is left for Nigerians to decide. APC could only be considered an electoral option if Nigerians believe that they have not suffered enough, or if Nigerians have learnt nothing from all that they have suffered since APC came into power in 2015.
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 9th – Sunday 15th March 2026
ANOTHER WAKE-UP CALL
For 47 years, since 1979, Iran has been under the stranglehold of Islamist rulership. The people have lost their culture, and their identity has been redefined by Arabic culture. Iranians are not Arabs, they are Persians. Their language is not Arabic, it is Farsi. The Persian empire predates Islam by over one thousand years. Yet, it is one of four countries in the world named after Islam, the others being Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Mauritania. While some nations in the world condemn the joint attacks of USA and Israel against Iran, Iranians in some foreign countries have been going to Israeli embassies to drop flowers in appreciation for what Israel is doing in their country. They proclaim loudly, “Thank you, Bibi”, “Thank you, Israel”, and “Shalom, Israel”. In one video, a woman who claimed her life might end after posting the clip, because she produced it from within Iran, told everyone condemning Israel and USA to “shut up”. Their country was bombed by external forces, and the people are happy. The Islamist government killed over 40,000 Iranians; the people started retaliating by setting mosques on fire.
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints (Jude 1:3).
The matter of effective Christian leadership in a period of national Christian crisis shall be examined again in this prayer call. The attention being given to this matter is neither to promote strife in the Church nor to condemn fellow Christians but merely to alert everyone to deal with the impending dangers. Wherever the Islamists succeed in entrenching themselves, to uproot them has been almost impossible. There are many Christian countries Islamized, but no record of one Islamic country Christianized. Therefore, the Islamists must not be permitted to entrench themselves in Nigeria. For the resistance to be successful, Christian leadership must be completely on the side of the Church. Christian leadership is crucial to the outcome of this conflict.
MARATHON PRAYERS Monday 23rd Feb. – Sunday 1st March 2026
CHRISTIANITY IN NIGERIA: WHAT WENT WRONG?
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them (Eph. 5:11, ESV).
From 20th – 22nd February 2026, the National Prayer Altar organized a prayer conference with the theme, “Christianity in Nigeria: What Went Wrong?” The conference examined the history of Christianity in Nigeria and the condition of the Church in Northern Nigeria, then sought to propose a way forward for the Church. Two questions for consideration stood out from the conference:
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set (Prov. 22:28).
In 1999, Judge Stephen Johnson sentenced the legendary boxer, Mike Tyson, to a one-year jail term for assaulting two motorists in Maryland, USA, following a traffic incident in August 1998. Mike Tyson had made a name for himself, with millions of dollars in his account, by throwing punches at opponents in the boxing ring. When he threw the same punches at someone on the road, he was thrown into jail. Why? Tyson fought an illegal battle. If he had thrown those same punches in the ring, he would have gone home with millions of dollars and lots of accolade. For his punches outside the boxing ring, he lost honour. Not all fights are legitimate
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness (Ecc. 10:16-17).
In Sophocles' “Oedipus Rex,” fate is offered as a force that none can escape. Many try to present themselves as someone other than they truly are. Villains have sought the honour of heroes, and others who have sought claims to nobility have turned out to be base fellows. It does not matter how long one pretends, true character shows up in the end. In Sophocles' play, King Oedipus' life was summarized as follows: “Learn, then, that mortal man must look to his own end, / And none can be called happy till the day they carry / Their happiness down to the grave in peace." Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe added a pungent quote to that maxim when he said, “Never call a man fortunate until you see his end.”
Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men. They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak. The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us? (Psalm 12:1-4).
That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten (Joel 1:4).
So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found. (1 Sam. 13:22).
The House of Karis is a Christian publishing house focused on providing pure and truthful information that shall enable Christians live in righteousness and in the fear of God.
