AFTER FASTING WHAT NEXT?

In Matthew 17:21, Christ told us to fast and pray as we expect miraculous things by faith. The Redeemed Christian Church of God under the leadership of Pastor E. A Adeboye just finished 100 days of fasting. Other Bible-believing churches like Winners Chapel, Mountain of Fire, and Miracles Ministries amongst others also observe some periods of fasting and prayers. After fasting, another thing I have come to discover in a nation like Nigeria is that we Christians also pray fervently. This reminds me of something I saw on a television station. It showed how we pray at our various churches, using The Redeemed Christian Church of God as a case study. This shows how much we love God and believe in Him, either sincerely or not. This is my point; it is good to fast and pray. But after fasting, what next? Do we start feasting all through, remembering that the devil is still like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour either directly or indirectly? I'm not saying it is wrong to feast. I even lost my appetite for food after the 100 days of fasting. We should feast, but we must be aware that there are certain steps we need to take to bring all we have prayed for into manifestation. For example, if a youth who believes God for a job just sits at home, saying all help comes from the Lord, without checking the internet for vacancies, and keeps lamenting that the internet is corrupt so he would like to guard his heart diligently. Such a person will remain jobless and redundant because he has refused to take some needed steps to get the job he has been praying for. The Bible says faith without works is dead. In the same way, fasting and praying without taking the necessary steps is assisting the devil to carry out some evil mission in our lives. May the devil never have his way in our lives in Jesus' name. We are praying for good governance and that God should influence government policies to benefit the masses and not just some selected wealthy men. We want good governance but real Christians have refused to contest to be voted into government positions at all levels. Why do we deceive ourselves? We watch the news to criticize the government and what the leaders do. By the way, who is the government? We are the government. Without us, there would be no government or nation called Nigeria. The Bible says righteousness exalts a nation. Righteousness can only exalt a nation when the righteous lead and not the unrighteous. It is never written in the Holy Bible that it is a sin for a genuine believer to contest for political positions. But we must be an example of believers in our character, manners, conversation, and every other thing we do. Let there be a big difference between when an unbeliever leads and when a genuine believer rules our nation. I have been emphasizing genuine believers because not all so-called believers are genuine. The only way to prove you are genuine is through your conduct, that’s all. As the Lord helps us, if you are led to contest for any position as a genuine believer, please go and do just that, believing that God will back you up. We cannot all be Pastors, Ministers of God, Managing Directors, Chief Executive Officers, etc. Some of us need to still lead in the capacity of President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker, Minister, Governor, Commissioner, Local Government Area Chairman, and Councillor amongst others. We are not limited by what we don’t have, but by not knowing how to use what we have. When we accept the life of Jesus Christ, we are promoted to sit in heavenly places with Jesus. This simply means every genuine believer is a potential leader. This gives us access to spiritual blessings, the gifts and fruit of the spirit to help us lead right. An unbeliever needs to consult an oracle or smaller gods to get answers to some situations but a believer already has the gift and the fruit of the Spirit which makes him discern, direct well, prophesy, see visions, etc. I see a new Nigeria where our swearing-in ceremony will become an impartation service. Where governors, ministers, and commissioners serve in the ushering department, sanitation department, music department, and so on in their various Bible-believing churches. I see a new Nigeria where anytime a leader in the government at any level is visiting the hospital, patients will be discharged, due to the healing power God bestowed upon them. Yes, we need Christian leaders, but are we ready to take up the challenge? We keep coming up with excuses like politics in Nigeria is corrupt and dirty. If they have not been doing it well, how will they do it well when you have refused to show them how to do it well? All I am saying is that let’s stop talking about change. Instead, be the change your country, nation, society, community, and home needs. If you don’t like the way the streets are always dirty, then you need to stop littering the ground. Find a refuse bin to dispose of dirt. I am saying it again emphatically, be the change you want around you. Start it and I promise you others will follow you. It’s just a matter of time. When you say a nation where you reside is bad or corrupt, you are indirectly describing yourself. So speak well about your country, believing that things will change, as you also contribute your quota. For everything you have prayed for, you need to take a step of faith too. If you need a job, check the internet for opportunities, and submit your Curriculum Vitae to different organizations, believing that God will work wonders. If you have a company and you have prayed to make more profit, you need to keep telling everyone around you about what you do. Someone around you might need your products or services. If you have prayed to God for a future partner, try to be nice and friendly, and become the kind of person you want to marry. The bottom line is, add works to your faith after fasting and praying. The reason most of us don’t see answers to our prayers is that we have turned God to a magician. When you play your part and leave God to do what He can do, it is called a miracle. But when you sit, waiting for God to do everything for you, you have certainly turned God to a magician. Unfortunately, He’s not a magician. He’s a Miracle Worker. Finally, we must not be carried away by feasting after fasting, knowing that we still have a lot of work ahead. The promised land is not too far. If we can do the necessary things we will surely get to our desired future. Let’s continue fasting, praying, feasting, and acting in faith for those things we believe God for. God bless me! God bless you! God bless Nigeria! God bless the church of God! God bless the whole world! AYODEJI ANIFOWOSE Twitter: @gfatherghusband Instagram: @gfather_ghusband, @ayodeji.anifowose Facebook: www.facebook.com/greatfathergreathusband, www.facebook.com/ayodeji.anifowose E-mail: ayollc.company@gmail.com www.ayodejianifowose.com