Not Another Plague??!!

It is a Bible study discussing the current situation in Nigeria, where there is severe flooding and displacement of people. The speaker believes that the flooding is a crisis beyond what people can cope with and compares it to the plagues that the children of Israel faced in the Bible. The speaker emphasizes the importance of looking to the Word of God for understanding and asks for God's help and guidance in times of disaster. The conversation also touches on the theology of sin and punishment, and the story of Noah and the flood is mentioned as an example of God's judgment and preservation of a remnant. The speaker suggests that the current situation in Nigeria may be a result of the nation's failure to recognize and honor God, but remains hopeful that God will show mercy. Welcome once again, Friday, October 28, to a Bible study held in several countries, mostly Nigeria. And we're appreciating this opportunity to share a message that I believe God has planted in our hearts. Before I even understood that there was flooding and that people were being displaced, I understand now 2.2 million people possibly displaced and moving to wherever they can move to. Hundreds and even thousands of people have died directly from the flooding and from the side effects of the flooding. I understand food prices have tripled in this short time. Many houses are underwater, and the farmlands which produce the food in the whole river delta have been underwater, and the crops destroyed. Already are people who are struggling to make ends meet, who are food insecure. On top of that now, we have the migration of people. We have the diseases that follow stagnant and standing water. May God help Nigeria, may God help the people of Nigeria, may God move even on this night. So even before I knew of these things, the Lord placed a message in my spirit, and the title is, what, not another plague? I don't know if it's a question or an exclamation, but it's the expression of the hearts of many people who have been inundated with challenges more than what they can manage. The definition of disaster is a crisis which brings people beyond what they can cope with. All right, a crisis is a crisis. It's difficult. You cope with it, you manage it. Now disaster reaches a point where you have no more resources, no more resilience, and no way to rebound. To lose resilience and to rebound or to restore normal to your life. That's a technical term, definition for a disaster, but it's not the first disaster in the world. There's been many, but I was led to the story of the children of Israel and the plagues. They didn't just have one plague, there were 10 of them. And there's a lot to see. I believe the only true understanding we can have of God's heart, God's mind, towards his people and towards this world, is to look into the Word of God and ask him for understanding. And always it's helped me to better understand God's heart in times of crisis. So we're looking to this evening and we're crying out to the Lord, God, help us to understand tonight. So let's pray together, our Heavenly Father, we come before you in the name of Jesus, together with favor tonight, just looking into these things that we're asking for insight, we're asking for the move of your Holy Spirit, we're asking for your compassion to touch our hearts where we're, Lord, even our humanness becomes overwhelmed and we have nothing more within us to give, but we're asking that you would give us something that would increase our depth and increase our understanding of your heart and that you could teach us how to flow together with you in times of disaster, in times of crisis. Lord, we wouldn't be among those who, like the children of Israel, murmured, complained and accused you, but God, we might be among those who believed you and could see where you were moving and why you were doing it. Oh, mighty God, help us as we look into these things tonight in the precious name of Jesus. Amen. Amen. Glory to God. So, Favor, what do you know of that story? You know, how would you relate this story of the children of Israel? First of all, how did they get in Egypt? They got into Egypt through Joseph, and when Joseph was sold, he had to, he became a prime minister. He had to request for his father to come, and he gave his father, his brethren, a place in Egypt, and then they began to multiply, they began to give birth to children, that's how they got in. What was the environmental condition at the time that Joseph became leader and his family came? Yeah, it was harsh, it was, the environmental condition was harsh, it was a period of famine, and so the economy plummeted, it was going down, it was really harsh. And God had to raise Joseph up, you know, give the children of Israel wisdom, give Joseph the wisdom, which he shared with the Pharaoh, as to how to manage the event, but then generally the situation was harsh before the... We don't know, did God cause the famine? We don't know, it's not stated. Was he angry with somebody that the famine gave? That's not stated either. Maybe it was... Why was there famine anyway? That's a good one, I don't know. It's a question many people are asked, and the answer is sometimes, well, people for many generations. What did they say when there was a blind man, or the lame man, the blind man, and they said why is this man blind, you know? So what did the... God maybe glorifies. But what did the Pharisees think was the reason? The sin of either the blind man or his parents. Somebody sinned here. Yeah. Yeah, and so to follow the logic, if somebody sinned, then why was he blind just because of sin? Follow it through. Hmm. Hmm. They feel, I think their feeling was like, was that if somebody sinned, then God's punishment, then maybe God judged the judgment for that sin, the judgment for that sin would result in the blindness. So it was a terrible curse upon that young man, trust me, the birth, a terrible curse. I mean, that's heavy consequences for sin. I wonder what kind of sin it could have been that would have reached that kind of consequences in their thinking. So who else in the Bible, Faber, do you remember that his friends thought that he was being afflicted because of his sin? Jews. Yes, sir. That's what I was thinking of too, Job. So the theology in Jesus' time was already there, probably the first book in the Bible written in Job's time. Interesting, isn't it? That sin caused, sin caused it, sin and God's wrath, you know, punishment. Surely Job, you have, you know, come clean, Job. Tell us honestly, you're hiding something, Job. And then they lay out the whole theology of how that judgment comes. And they go through great lengths and speeches and very eloquent, probably, and very, who were these people that were Job's friends? Well, they weren't ordinary people. You know, Job, one of the, one of the most significant people, probably one of the more wealthy people, probably sat among the wise in the world, you know. A man of influence, a man of wealth, a man who was blessed and well known, he was famous. His friends came from different areas in the world. So they weren't just random friends who came, perhaps they were all really looking for an answer as to why this was happening. And I think in this book of Job, and in the story of the blind man, that we can get some answers that are different than the simplicity that, well, God is judging because of the sin. Now, we have to note that the wrath of God is stored up for the doers of iniquity. There are many, many verses, which I have in my notes, but there are many of them, which say that God directly punishes the wicked and that his cup of wrath gets filled up as men ignore God, as men go against God. The greatest crisis, disaster, calamity the world has ever known is what, Favor? I think it's Noah. Noah and the flood, the greatest, yeah, I think I agree with you. And so what is the reason that God decided to destroy the whole world? Because of the faults of men, their faults were evil continually, weakness in their hearts continually. That's it. And so there had to be, there had to be a judgment, there had to be a reset, there had to be destruction of the evil. It's an interesting story how that evil came in the earth, but it was there and God had to bring a reset. But at the same time, at the same time that the judgment was there upon the whole earth, there was a people that got preserved. And it's a theme in the Bible of crisis and disaster. Many times there's a people who are preserved, a remnant that are saved. And that case, it was Noah and his family, eight members, am I correct, in the boat? Yeah. You're sure. Yes. Eight members. Thank you, David. There you are. Happy that you were able to connect with us. David, just keep your unmute and jump in where the three of us will have an interactive session and jump in. Don't be shy. And there's something about Noah that's interesting. And it says that Noah was a blameless man. God chose a blameless man, an upright man, who was afflicted by, troubled by what he saw. He has the heart of God. And so God chose him and used him. Go ahead, David. Good evening, everybody. Good evening. First of all, I am so happy to be here this night. I really give God thanks. It's been a long while. I know. We've missed you. We miss you badly. I miss you more. We miss you more. Thank you, David. Thank you, David. I was able to go through the topic of last week, Not Another Plane. And when I saw it again today, that it's still going to be the topic today, I was excited because I was thinking, the planes that God released on Egyptians, when Israelites were there, it was a result of that Pharaoh refuses to recognize God. You know, the affliction of Job was different from the plagues of Egypt in several contexts. Yes. Where Pharaoh refuses to recognize God. And I compared that scenario to what is happening now, especially in Nigeria, because most part of the country is submerged in heavy floods. And I came to understand that anybody or any nation that doesn't recognize God, God turns his back on them. And when God turns his back on them, certain things that are, that is abnormal begins to happen. So this, Yes, Not Another Plane, I was talking with some people and I told them that this is not normal. And believe me, there must be, there must be something, there must be an area or places that we've heard, we've heard from God's plan. And God allowed this kind of thing to fall on his people in this country. But I believe God, sooner or later, he will still show his mercy on us. Hallelujah. Yes. So David, to be clear of what you're saying, it, you, you think it's very possible that God is turned his back on Nigeria because of what, go ahead. It is very, very, sure, it's very possible because the high level of killing, the high level of immorality, the level of bloodshed and the rest of it is alarming, seriously. And I believe those things are angered for, believe this, if you look at the pictures. So what would be, so what would be God's focus and purpose then in your opinion, David, of allowing this kind of a disaster and calamities to come upon the people, the farmers and the local peoples living along the rivers, especially? Well, God wants the people to recognize him. God wants Nigeria to acknowledge him, to know that he exists. You know, when the children of Israel, one of the commandments that God gave to Moses, or after the commandment God gave to Moses, he told them that this commandment should be passed on from generation to generation. And if you study the Bible very well, you understand that whenever God turns his back on the children of Israel, or a particular generation in Israel, it means that those generations turn their back on God, deviated from God's plan, then God will not have to turn his back on them and certain things will happen to them, those things that doesn't happen to them when God is with them. Whenever God turns his back on them, certain things will happen. So I believe that God wants us in this country to acknowledge him, that he exists, to know that he is God, then he will take away this from us. I agree with you, that's always so key, and then one of the first things, we know the verse very well, if my people will humble themselves and seek my face, turn from their wicked ways, and they will pray, then I'll hear, and then I will restore, yeah, and heal their land and restore them. We know that verse so very well. But it's interesting, in the plans of God, it's not always that people have turned away, but in the plans of God, we see, just before you came on, Avra and I were discussing about what brought the children of Israel to Egypt, in the first place was a worldwide, or then known world, famine. But God sent Joseph, selected by God, into that land, he became the second ruler, because of a dream that God interpreted. But it was drought and famine that brought the children of Israel, 74 people, if I remember correctly. A family of 74 goes into Egypt, and now we look at it, 400 years later, a million or two, there's many different estimates. They were given the best of lands, they were basically put in, you know when you put a baby in an incubator, or you put plants into a greenhouse, they're so protected, and so nurtured, that the harshness is kept out, and they're kept in a beautiful place for 400 years. And that became a nation. Before, you cannot call 74 people a nation, barely a tribe, right, a family. So, it was a disaster that many died from, that drove Jacob into the land of Egypt. He didn't go easily, he didn't choose to go, it was his sons that brought him. And it was a crisis that directed them. So, here's a crisis and a disaster that moves a people into a place that they are obeying and following God, a place they would not have chosen. And yet, it's a crisis and a disaster of 10 plagues that take that same people who become a nation, and moves them out of that place. Here's the thing, my question is, would the children of Israel in Egypt, before the plagues, even though they're slaves, and their life is hard, would they have chosen to go back into that promised land? What do you think, Faber? Yeah, sorry about the network. Would the children of Israel in the land of Egypt, would they have willingly chosen to leave that land of Goshen, and go to the place God had promised for them? Absolutely not. I don't think they would. Well, why not? Because they were comfortable. They felt it was comfortable. And we also see it in their journey towards the promised land. They would occasionally make reference back to Egypt. So, you know... Let's read Exodus, David, read Exodus 16, verses 3 and 4. The children of Israel would have chosen the land of Canaan over Egypt, because back in Egypt, they were slaves. They don't own themselves. Because Bible said they worked stronger than Egyptians, and the Egyptians began to oppress them. So, they don't have liberty for themselves. But on the other hand, they want a land of Canaan that is flowing with milk and honey so easily, without recognizing God. So, that is why, during their journey through the wilderness, they keep making references of going back to Egypt. And once they make those references, God's anger upon their life increases. So, they want an easy journey, an easy way to the promised land, without recognizing God first. So, I think they would have chosen the promised land, but they want it an easy way. Okay, that's an interesting... I hadn't thought of that direction of thinking, and that's possible. It seems, though, that I can't find evidence for that. If you can find scriptural evidence to support that, I would be interested. But so far, what I've found is they were pretty much stuck there, and enjoying it there. Exodus 16, verse 3 and 4. Did you find it, favor? And then, David, if you could get Numbers 14, verse 3. Numbers 14, 3, David. Welcome, Garth. And the children of Israel said unto them, Woe to God, we have died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt. Where we sat at the flesh pots, and where we did eat bread to the full. For ye have brought us forth into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger. Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain weight every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law or no. That's good. So, yeah, go ahead, David, then. Numbers 14, 3 and 4. And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land to fall by the sword, that our wife and children be a prey? We live not better for us to return to Egypt, that's all. And they said to one another, Let us make captains, and let us return into Egypt. So, in the second one, they were expecting the worst. Their minds had developed the whole thing, that their wives, their little ones are going to become a prey, they're going to be destroyed. God brought us into this land, meaning the desert, to fall by the sword. They were expecting, in fear, to be destroyed by the sword. Somebody was going to come and take away their children, their wives. They were going to be killed. Let's find a leader and go back to Egypt. That was their mentality. They didn't have, Let's go on to the promise, and let's go back to Egypt. Expecting the worst in a time of crisis produces fear. The other one is in Exodus. What did they think about God's favor? Exodus chapter 16. Yeah. What was their thoughts toward God in the one that you read? Oh, yeah. One of the thoughts was probably like, Well, God should have allowed us to die in Egypt. Those were their thoughts. But he shouldn't have brought us out into the wilderness because now... It's even stronger than that favor. It's even stronger than that. Look at it again. Okay. And the children of Israel said unto them, Woe to God! We have died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, for we sat by the flesh, and we did eat bread to the food. Wow! For ye have brought us forth into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger. So they were saying that God would have preferred them. You know, God would have been more pleased. It would have been better to the Lord that they died in Egypt. So I think they were trying to make an assumption statement. They were trying to, how do I say this? You know, say something that I think the best thing is an assumption statement. But Lord, you know, saying something the Lord didn't say. You see? So what was their opinion of God? God, you're trying to kill us. I wish you would have killed us back there instead of out here. At least we'd eat good until you killed us. That was a huge accusation. And then they went after Moses. That's true. Moses, you brought us out. You see how important it is in a time of crisis and disaster that we correctly understand what is God trying to do? What is God about and what is he doing? So I know David's been really thinking about this since he saw the subject. And it's something many in Nigeria are thinking about. And every time there's disaster and crisis, I think it leads you to consider what is really going on here. That's why we're studying into it. Because we must understand the motive, the heart, the work of God in the world. And if we don't, we might end up like these people who expected to die in the wilderness by the sword, or thinking that God's hand itself was going to kill them. Neither one was an accurate understanding of what God was doing. You brought us out here. You're abandoning us out here in the wilderness to die. Probably some nation is going to come along. That was their opinion. Why did God have to teach them in the land of Egypt? Why did he have to bring those plagues? What was done in many of the hearts of people? Yes, I agree with you. He was bringing plagues on Pharaoh who refused to let the people go. But what was he doing in his people? That's my question. Do you understand my question? Yes, sir. I believe he was strengthening their faith by making them understand how powerful, how mighty he is as their God. So he was building their faith. And unfortunately, well, when they got out into the wilderness, they wouldn't remember all of those mighty works. And occasionally Moses would draw their minds back to all that they saw the Lord do back in Egypt. Yeah. And some of it was, they had gotten the right idea, but sometimes, some of it they lost because of certain people in their midst began to complain in that. Can we read Numbers, the 11th chapter, verse 4 to 6? And notice who it is that starts the complaining. Numbers 11, 4 to 6. Numbers 11, 4 to 6. And the mixed multitude that was among them, they lost them. What does that mean? The mixed... What is mixed multitude among them? Those people that don't know God. Yeah, maybe certain ones. New American Standard says the rabble who were among them had greedy desires. Okay, go ahead. Sorry to interrupt, but it's... The mixed multitude among them that was among them felt a loss to them. And the children of Israel also wept again and said, who shall give us flesh to eat? But remember the fish which we did eat in Egypt, really, the cucumbers and the melon and the leeks and onions and garlic. But now our soul is dried away. There is nothing at all beside this manna before our eyes. So it began, this complaining and this grumbling began, actually, in the hearts of some people who decided to go with what was really happening at the moment. They decided to go with, well, Egypt's having all these plagues. We're going with these guys. People who didn't know God began to complain in the midst of the crisis, not knowing what God was doing. So favor, one thing God was doing is building the faith of the children of Israel through the plagues that he sent. The plagues mainly did not fall on the land of Goshen, although they may have experienced some of them, because it doesn't say about each plague that they didn't experience it. The darkness, they didn't experience. Several others, I don't remember exactly. So what else was being done? They're building the faith. Why was it so much building the faith? Well, I would propose a list of the 10 plagues, and I'm going to paste it right now to the group, and you're welcome to look at it. But those 10 plagues were a direct slap in the face to the gods of Egypt. I mean, when you have a god of the Nile, and the Nile turns to blood, if you have a god of fertility, and each of the firstborn die, if you have a god that's a cow, shaped like a cow and idle, and all your cattle are dying, your god is not working. And so this is a very brief version of this. There's an entire study about it. And on your own time, you're welcome to look at it. But there was a tremendous spiritual war that would bring the confidence of the people back to the Lord. They could no longer believe in the gods of Egypt because they weren't working. But the God of Israel was working and did protect them and preserve them. Even a final plague. What was the final plague, David? And how did he protect them? The plague of the firstborn. And how did God protect them? God asked the children of Israel to kill the first animal and place their blood on their doorposts, so that whenever the sweet of death passes, when he sees the blood, he will pass over. So they killed the firstborn calf. Yeah. And placed the blood on their doorposts. And that was how God protected them from the sweet of death. Powerful story. At the same time, it's a beautiful picture of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, the firstborn, my only beloved son, that God allowed to pay for the sins and to protect us from God's wrath and God's judgment and the wages of sin. Amazing. So each of these plagues should have increased the faith of God's people. God was demonstrating his superiority, his superior power over these other gods. And even Pharaoh recognized it, but through his pride and his stubbornness, he refused to acknowledge. I think God had stored up that wrath against Pharaoh for so many years, and he was getting all of that judgment. And God would not let him do otherwise, because he must let the people go. And the people must acknowledge. God's people must see that they are solely dependent on God. So that's another thing. It built their faith. It confronted the spirits and the gods of Egypt, is number two. Number three, as David already said, it brings us to a place, and they were brought to a place where they must believe that they're solely dependent on a trustworthy God. That was God's attempt to bring them to that point. And I think, fourthly, they would not have wanted to leave the land of Goshen and comfort and the leeks and the onions and the fish and the flesh parts and all of that, despite being the slaves. And the power of a bowl of food is well documented in the Bible. Who was it who gave up their birthright for a bowl of porridge, a soup? A stew? Yeah, a bowl of soup. Any other comments before we just move on? So we've found four reasons, Godwood, four things he was working on. What are they, Faber? Can you remember? So we can just remind ourselves, see how many you can remember. Okay, so first off, he was working on building their faith, the faith of his children. Secondly, he was working on confronting the idols, the gods of Egypt, confronting them and bringing his judgment upon them. And then the third one he was working towards showing his people how they can put absolute trust, how they can put their faith in a trustworthy God. And then the fourth one, you just said it now. They would be ready to go. They would be ready to leave their comforts. Yeah, yes, sir. Yeah. David, any comments on that? So God was really building their faith to believe in him. Because for God, like we say, that whosoever that comes to God must first of all believe that he exists. So before God does things in extraordinary ways, you need to believe in him. And what moved God actually was the cry of the children of Israel. Because of the suffering they are passing through in the hands of the top masters of Egypt, Egyptians. So God decided to showcase himself in diverse ways to prove to Pharaoh that despite all he is, he is the creator of heaven and earth. Amen. And it was perfect, David, because that's the next point I was thinking about. Judges chapter 2, verse 18. Favor. David, if you get Judges 2.18, favor, if you get Exodus 6, verse 5 and 6. Judges 2.18. Correct. Judges 2.18. And when the Lord raised them up, judges, then the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hands of their enemy all the days of the judge. For it repented the Lord because of their groaning by raising up them that suppressed them and vexed them. In verse 19, it came to pass when the judges were there that they returned and corrupt themselves more than their father in following other gods to serve them and to bow down unto them. This is not from their own doing, no, from their sovereign will. Hallelujah. Good. Exodus 6. Just to read a few as an example, David, if you could take Isaiah 63.9. Next, after favor. Isaiah 63, verse 9. Go ahead, favor now, Exodus. Reverend, is that Exodus 6, verse 5 or from verse 1? Yes, 5 and 6. Okay, Exodus 6, 5 and 6. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage. And I have remembered my covenant. Wherefore, say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I'll rid you out of your bondage, and I'll redeem you with a stretched-out arm and with great judgments. Isaiah 63, verse 9. In all their afflictions he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. In his love and his pity he redeemed them, and he bade them and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled and begged his Holy Spirit. Therefore, he was torn to be their enemy, and he fought against them. Hallelujah. Wow. Which side of a loving God of justice would you like to be on? Verse 9 or verse 10? Verse 9. I think so. Let's stay in verse 9, please. Wow. Where his heart is afflicted when we're afflicted, and he pities us, and he lifts us up and carries us all the days. For we be those who fall under his judgment, and he becomes our enemy. Wow. We will learn on one side, or we will learn on the other side. And often judgment causes us to cry out for mercy, to acknowledge our God and cry out to him for mercy. It's your judgment that leads me to cry out for your mercy and your salvation. So is judgment such a terrible thing if it leads me to cry out for God's mercy, to acknowledge him? It's not all that terrible, after all, if it produces this result. So is God more concerned about our temporary earthly suffering, or our eternal glorious rejoicing? Our eternal glorious rejoicing, sir. For the momentary light affliction yields for us an eternal weight of glory. Momentary. He calls these things postulantivity. These things are momentary. They're light. They're producing in you. We have to keep an eternal perspective on the events that are happening around us. Otherwise, we lose focus, and we become overwhelmed because we don't understand the eternal purposes and methods of God. All right. Acts, the seventh chapter of Acts, verse 34, and then Exodus 2-23. Exodus 7-34. Who's going to get that one? Sorry. Go ahead, David. Acts 7-34, I have seen the afflictions of my people, and I have heard their groaning, and I come down to deliver them. I'm now come. I will send thee into Egypt. Who is he sending? Moses. Correct. So God says, I have surely seen those afflictions, and then I've heard their groaning. Groaning is a sign of extreme discomfort and pain. Yes, sir. And he said, I've come to deliver them. So now I'm sending you, Moses. I just want to say, often in times of disaster and crisis, God will put his words in the mouth of somebody who's a deliverer, somebody who speaks words of instruction and peace amongst his people. And I believe we can be those people, because we were studying a few weeks ago. Oh, if those prophets had only have stood in the counsel of the Lord, I would have given them words that would turn the hearts of the people back to the Lord. Sometimes it's not the disaster that turns the hearts of the people, David. Sometimes it's the words that have been put—oh, Jesus, I feel it—the words that have been put into the hearts of his people. Sometimes this is what turns them. And then he said—that's Jeremiah 23, if I recall—then he said, what has my word to compare? Like, what does hay have to do with grain? What does straw have to do with grain? And what does a hammer have to do? My word is like a hammer. I messed up quoting that, didn't I? It's all right, you know the verse, Jeremiah 23. And I believe that the—I don't want to get distracted from what the Lord is saying, though. He's saying that somebody needs to sit in his counsel and hear the word of the Lord and to speak to the people. Somebody needs to rightly discern the times and the seasons and hear the word of the Lord and speak it to the people. Because often it's not the disaster itself that will give people to turn their hearts, pardon me, but it is the word of the Lord that comes through the people of God, through a savior, through a prophet, through a judge. And while the judge was in the land, the people followed the word of God. But when the judge left and the people went back to their own ways, it seems like we are a forgetful people and we continually need to be reminded of the word of the Lord to keep our hearts right before God because we easily long for the better times, that old normal, rather than moving with God in this time and letting him use us in the midst of disaster. We don't understand why is God sending plagues, 10 of them, upon this people. You're a horrible, vengeful God. He's a loving God, full of mercy. He wants to forgive. But what is the message of God to the people in Nigeria? Will somebody sit in the council of the Lord and hear the townself of God and speak it to the people? Amen. Hallelujah. Exodus 2 and 23, Exodus chapter 2, verse 23. There's the same thing, only just a little extra in here. David, are you getting that? Yes, Exodus chapter 2, verse 23. Yes, sir. And it came to pass in the process of time that the king of Egypt died and the children of Israel signed by the reason of Pontius and they cried and their cry came unto God by the reason of the bondage. So what was it that brought them to cry out to the Lord? Because of the bondage. And God heard. I like verse 25. Verse 25. And God looked upon the children of Israel and God had respect unto them. How would you explain that, David? What does that mean? God had respect unto them. God decided to honor their cry. God decided to show his mercy on them. That's the respect that God paid to the children of Israel. Because it doesn't end at crying unto God and groaning. When the will of God to honor your crying and your groaning, that is when God starts acting on your behalf. That's good. How does that apply right now in your nation, would you say? Can you see any application? Can you see any application of this verse to your situation right now in Nigeria? Sure. Sure. Like you said, the Latter-day Saints 2nd Chronicles chapter 7, verse 14. My people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and turn from their evil ways. Then God in heaven will hear their cry and will heal their land. In this country, if we can turn from our ways, we'll free ourselves from evil and turn to God. I believe God, within the twinkling of an eye, can correct any wrong in our land. So it's applicable here. Amen. Amen. Amen. I'm looking for the verse that says, and it's not in King James, and God became impatient with what was happening to his people. I'm looking, and I'll find it in just a moment. I'll say Judges, the 10th chapter, verse 15 and 16. Judges 10, verse 15 and 16. I'll try to find which version it was that I found. Judges 10, verse 15 and 16. And the Spirit of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned. Do thou, do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Believe us only, we pray thee this day. That's a sin. And they put away the strange cause from among them, and served the Lord, and his soul was gripped for the misery of Israel. Whose soul was grieved? God's soul was grieved. When they put away their foreign gods and began to worship the Lord again, then the soul of God was grieved over that which they were going through. His soul was grieved. In one version, which I think is an international version, it says that the Lord's soul became impatient, disturbed. He was grieved. He was moved to action because of the misery of the children of Israel. I just believe that in the midst of this, another plague in Nigeria, if my people will cry out. You know, there came a time in Jesus' life that he prayed. But it says these words, and he prayed the more urgently. And there's only a few scriptures to back up this thought. But there's a level of praying where you pray. And there's another level where you reach the more urgently. And Jesus reached that point himself in the garden. That's when he prayed. He went to his disciples and said, can you wait with me one hour? And he went and he just cried such a deep cry that sweat drops of blood came from him. That's urgent prayer. That's a wrestling with God. Is it not during a time where we are overwhelmed by what's happening? Is that not a time? I believe it is a time to pray more urgently and to call the people of God together to pray, to cry out to God. You know, when the people of God do nothing during a crisis. You know, God's heart is moved. But we've seen in the scriptures, it's when they cried out. We can be grieved. We can be troubled by it. We don't like it. But have we reached the point of praying more urgently, crying from the depths of our soul to the Lord God that he would turn things. I don't think we're asking God to turn the plagues. Oh, come on now. Hear me. We're not asking God to turn the plagues. We're asking God to deliver us from the oppressive hands. So we're asking God to become serious enough. We've been in Egypt and we've been oppressed and we've been in bondage. I feel the word of the Lord. We've been oppressed. We've been in bondage. We've been controlled. We've been killed. But now these plagues have our attention and we're crying out unto the Lord. We're asking God to deliver us out from under the hands of these corrupt officials who don't have our interest in money. You know, money was released to build the dam to prevent this kind of flooding. Yes, yes. Where did the money go? Hmm. You know, money has been released to dredge canals and to do infrastructure work that would prevent blocked river canals and those things. Yes. The cry unto the Lord is deliver us from these leaders. When Paul told Timothy to pray for kings and for leaders and judges, I don't believe he was saying pray for President Biden. I believe he was saying, God, we're praying that you give us righteous leaders. God, we're praying for leaders who are not a Deuteronomy 28 curse. You know, Deuteronomy 28. If we walk in the ways of the Lord, he gives us excellent leaders and fair judges and proper justice in our land. When we're under the curse and we receive leaders who are corrupted, judges who sit at a table filled with vomit, they just love to drink and have a good time rather than take care of the people. They're selfish. Oh, this is the word from the Bible itself. I pray, God, give us, in man's favor, give us leaders who will honor your work and your name. God, deliver us from a system that has, this is the time for the people of God to cry out for not just deliverance from flooding and from plagues and from COVID and from lockdowns, so deliver us as a nation from this injustice. Hear the people of God. Who is it? Oh, Jesus, help me not to say too much. Who is it who is suffering from these floods? Is it the people in the north? Hello. Is there some intentionality about this? God, hear us and deliver us from those who would love to destroy every Christian. Oh, God, help us. I could be crucified upside down in Nigeria for what I'm saying. I'm not starting a fight with any leader. I'm crying out to my God. Yes, sir. God, deliver us and give us. We're praying for kings. We're praying for leaders. We're praying for those. I don't have to pray for good luck or whatever his name is. I only pray to my God that he would give us a leader with the backbone to stand up with the shifting of governments in that land so that God's people can be free and God's people can be delivered. Oh, Jesus, help us in the midst of this crisis. If it does nothing else, get your people started crying. Get your people started turning. Get the faith of your people increased. The last thing I just want to say before Father probably is going to duck out on us. The last thing I want to say is that God's people who are close to his heart will be busy acting in action during this time, both giving his word and assisting and helping others by the heart of God. I know many who have taken transients into their own house, those who've been displaced, those who can't make it in the situation where they're at. We are doing all that we can from here. I spread the word as Paul did. That was one of the ministries Paul had. He spread the word and he gathered and he would bring it and I would personally bring it, but that's not safe. If we could go there now, I'd rather send it. So, may God help us to be about a mindset of understanding God. Why? You know, the cup of wrath of God is not for God's people. It's for those who refuse. Romans 3.25 says that Christ has satisfied God's wrath against our sins. The blood of Jesus Christ, his body and his blood fully satisfied the wrath of God against our sins. It's time for us to put our faith and our trust in Jesus to save us from them. Amen. Hallelujah. God's wrath is usually not against his people, except to help his people wake up and to turn to him and to cry out. It's a time to cry out. Hallelujah. Amen. Oh, Jesus. Let's pray together. Just let's just pray. Each one of us is going to just cry out to the Lord. Hallelujah. We can just pray it all at the same time. It doesn't matter. God, we're crying out to you. We're crying out to you, God. Mighty King, we're calling upon you, God. Deliver this people. Help us to understand you. Rightly, God. God, may we be a Joseph. Oh, Jesus. I know you're praying for the people. We're praying for the people. We're praying for the right to understand it. And as we have the right to understand it, we'll see how long it takes to speak to you. Rightly, God. A mighty God. And then we'll pray for the deliverance. Help us, Jesus. We're going to pray, oh God, in this place. Oh, Lord, I thank you. Oh, Lord, I thank you. Oh, Lord, I thank you. Oh, Lord, I thank you. Oh, Lord, your hand of justice. Deliver us. This will prevail upon these nations. You deliver us. Raise up leaders in this hour, Jesus. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord. Lord, in the name of Jesus, Lord, we also pray according to the essence of the plea, according to the teaching tonight, that by this king of glory, you will execute judgment upon the gods and upon the wicked leaders of the land, just as it happened in the king of glory in the days of the Pharaoh, and while he made it, Lord, also, yes, Lord, you will execute judgment upon the wickedness in the land. Yes, Lord, you will show your children also how that we should put our trust in you who is trustworthy, trust in you who is trustworthy, and by the plague of king of glory, also, you will show us, you will cause that your word will burn in our hearts, because it is the time, just like your servant said, the essence of the plea was to show the children of Israel the time to break out of the comfort zone, the comfort zone. Now, thank you, Lord, that by this, by all of this, Lord, it is you are building your children to raise up their voices, to stand for truth, to stand for the declarations of your word in all truth, in all sincerity, in all righteousness, and I pray, oh, Lord, that by this plea, that your spirit be impacted upon your children at that time, at such a time as this, in the name of Jesus. Yes, and lastly, I want to read from Romans, the eighth chapter. I want to read from 18 to 26, and if we put this in the light of what we've been talking about, maybe it has a different slant of understanding for us. It certainly did for me while studying Romans 8, 18. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. The creation was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him that subjected the same in hope. Because the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty which the children of God experience. For we know that all of creation is groaning and travailing in pain, in floods, in disasters, earthquakes. Something is wrong, uh-huh, until now. And not only they, but ourselves also. We that have the firstfruits of the spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, within ourselves, crying out, expecting the adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not yet hope. But what a man seeth, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that which we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. And likewise, the spirit also helps our infirmities. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the spirit itself makes intercession for us and through us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Amen. In times of suffering, it seems the spirit of the Lord also groans and makes intercessions because things are not right. Justice is being thrown in the street. Corruption is everywhere, even in the churches, the people of God. There's things not right. They're teaching things that are misleading the people. Oh, it's hard to teach prosperity in the midst of a plague now, isn't it? Amen. May God help us. May God help us understand rightly, humbly, and with a groaning within us. God, teach us your word. Teach us about your heart during this time. What are you doing? Mighty God. So we haven't given a bunch of answers tonight. We've more asked questions and given some scriptures that help lead us to different understandings. I want to say something about Job. Job himself learned, but the effect of what Job and his friends learned spread through the entire world. Because those were leaders. Those were leaders that experienced that they were incorrect in their understanding. And they took that and they spread it amongst the wise men of the land where they lived. And their testimony, I believe, changed the understanding about God in the then known world. Until that time, most believed that every disaster was a result of sin and the wrath of God. After that time, I believe that God desired to bring a shift to the testimony of Job and that experience. Oh, the devil thought he won. No, he lost. He lost a whole lot of people who believed the way that the devil believed. And the devil wants man to believe that no one can be righteous. No one can be right with God. No one. No. Jesus, help us. God is looking for someone who will stand up and be right. Amen. As a Goliath, one of his friends actually got a visitation from a demonic spirit saying, no man can be righteous, be like his God, can he? Well, that's the same words that he spoke to Job. That a spirit visited me in the darkness of the night, a mist in the slope or whatever he said. Like, really, that's a demon. And that's a doctrine of demons. That is, oh, Jesus, help me. I'm preaching. A doctrine of demons that has pervaded Christian's understanding. And God desired to shift that, even in that hour. May we also believe that this thing is for the glory of God. Oh, it's not because somebody's in, necessarily. But you sure are getting our attention. We certainly are crying out, God, show us what it is that you are attempting to do. Bring your glory out of this situation. Oh, how could it be? How could it be that glory can come out of this? I don't know. But God does. We're crying out to a God who knows all things. Amen. Favor at one percent. You made it, buddy. Yes, sir. About one percent for all. Yes, sir. God would not allow it.