Title: The 'Here I Am' Company
Preacher: Dr. 'Tunde Bakare
Main Texts: Isaiah 50:4-11; 2 Timothy 2:1-14; 1 Samuel 3:1-10
This message is dedicated to all men of faith and women of deep conviction who understand that they are sojourners on the face of the earth and that their staying on this part of the world is ephemeral, and thus determine to do their best for humanity and all that is required from them, in order to leave this planet better than they met it.
"Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit not knowing why. Yet, some signs seemingly to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, there is one thing we do know however, that we are here for the sake of others; for the countless unknown souls whose fate we are connected to by bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realised how my outer and inner life is built upon the labours of people both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received." – Albert Einstein.
It is unfortunate that believers are quick to express and demonstrate obedience to the things of God and the instruction given to us that are easy and simple to execute. But when it comes to seemingly difficult and uneasy tasks or assignment, we sing a new song. Brethren, Jesus did not die a cheap death—it cost Him all of heaven. Our life and time are beyond riches and material mesmerism. Until you fulfill the purpose for which God created you, you are part of a wasted generation. Let nothing derail, deter, or detract you from fulfilling your purpose on the face of the earth because you never can tell the time of your exit. Brethren, it is not how long you live on earth that matters to God but how well you live a meaningful life—a life that is fulfilled in God.
There is always the time in the life of everyone when he or she is yet to know the Lord. It is called the time of ignorance. However, from the moment you know the Lord but refuse to hearken to His voice, it is no more ignorance but rebellion (1 Samuel 3:7; Acts 17:30, 31). The encounter in 1 Samuel 3 centers around a period in the history of God’s people when there was no frequent vision or widespread revelation. Pointedly, this was a time when there were no leaders with courageous integrity in the land. Eli and his sons had perverted their ways and the way of the Lord in Israel (1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25, 27-36). Thus God called a boy because there was no man of God hearing His voice or that could pick the vibration of His voice with the urgency required and the promptness to obey. Hence the perverse leadership brought about the dearth of widespread revelation in Israel.
Furthermore, when a nation lacks courageous and men of integrity in leadership, the dream of getting better will become stronger as a nation or that of writing and setting new goals of helping people and changing lives for good would be forgotten for decades. Additionally, no one saw the big picture, and as at that time, no one was brave enough to do something about the desperate situation the nation of Israel was in. This is exactly the situation of our nation today. Many of our organizations, including churches, have lost their vision. Hence they are stagnant and dying. What is it that is producing lawlessness and carnage in our nation such as we witnessed in Jos? What is the root cause of the perpetual epileptic power outage in spite of the billions that have been invested in power sector by past and present administration? What is the cause of the snail speed of our development? Vision 2020 is nothing but a lie and false hope from the pit of hell put together by soothsayers! The snail speed approach to executing any agenda will land us nowhere in 2020 but at the bottom of developing nations again! Because there is no courageous leaders of integrity who will take the bull by the horn and bring out a master plan and stage-by stage execution of agenda that would bring a turn around in the lives of our people. At present, Nigeria is a nation where there is no widespread revelation and quality visionary leadership. Nonetheless, God will raise a company of people to deliver Nigeria from the hand of cruel and tyrant leaders that are eating her up. He will raise authentic, fireproof and ‘bribe-proof’ leaders who are ready to lay down their lives for what they believe, and thus bring the expected change in our country.
Unfortunately, the Church that is supposed to demonstrate what visionary and quality leadership entails has also lost her vision and mission. The leaders in the Church have forgotten that the real purpose why God called them is to change and transform the people by bringing them to a place of conviction and understanding that they are called to be agents of change. The greatest problem of Nigeria is the hypocritical churches that are nothing but whoredom in the name of faith. Hence, there is no burning vision and energetic wide spreading revelation that would result into transformation of communities, local governments, states, and our nation at large. Invariably, we have nothing but dying and dead churches. The peculiarity of our nation is that we have golden lampstands that should be burning but there are no lamps on them. Therefore there is no wide spread revelation. The churches are dead!
Brethren, God is about to turn around the situation of our great nation, Nigeria. He is raising men and women, boys and gilrs, old and young that will do His will and pleasure on earth. May you be part of the ‘here I am’ company that would bring about God’s reign into every sector of our economy and our nation at large. May it begin with you. The Lamb is not in the market place or the political arena; the Lamb is in the Church. May God give you the tongue of the learned so that you may know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. That is the way widespread revelation would be birthed in the souls and hearts of men. (Exodus 27:20, 21; Leviticus 24:1-4; Zechariah 4:14; Revelation 9:1-13, 20; 1:4; 3:1; 4:4).
This message is dedicated to all men of faith and women of deep conviction who understand that they are sojourners on the face of the earth and that their staying on this part of the world is ephemeral, and thus determine to do their best for humanity and all that is required from them, in order to leave this planet better than they met it.
"Strange is our situation here upon earth. Each of us comes for a short visit not knowing why. Yet, some signs seemingly to a divine purpose. From the standpoint of daily life, there is one thing we do know however, that we are here for the sake of others; for the countless unknown souls whose fate we are connected to by bond of sympathy. Many times a day, I realised how my outer and inner life is built upon the labours of people both living and dead, and how earnestly I must exert myself in order to give in return as much as I have received." – Albert Einstein.
It is unfortunate that believers are quick to express and demonstrate obedience to the things of God and the instruction given to us that are easy and simple to execute. But when it comes to seemingly difficult and uneasy tasks or assignment, we sing a new song. Brethren, Jesus did not die a cheap death—it cost Him all of heaven. Our life and time are beyond riches and material mesmerism. Until you fulfill the purpose for which God created you, you are part of a wasted generation. Let nothing derail, deter, or detract you from fulfilling your purpose on the face of the earth because you never can tell the time of your exit. Brethren, it is not how long you live on earth that matters to God but how well you live a meaningful life—a life that is fulfilled in God.
There is always the time in the life of everyone when he or she is yet to know the Lord. It is called the time of ignorance. However, from the moment you know the Lord but refuse to hearken to His voice, it is no more ignorance but rebellion (1 Samuel 3:7; Acts 17:30, 31). The encounter in 1 Samuel 3 centers around a period in the history of God’s people when there was no frequent vision or widespread revelation. Pointedly, this was a time when there were no leaders with courageous integrity in the land. Eli and his sons had perverted their ways and the way of the Lord in Israel (1 Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25, 27-36). Thus God called a boy because there was no man of God hearing His voice or that could pick the vibration of His voice with the urgency required and the promptness to obey. Hence the perverse leadership brought about the dearth of widespread revelation in Israel.
Furthermore, when a nation lacks courageous and men of integrity in leadership, the dream of getting better will become stronger as a nation or that of writing and setting new goals of helping people and changing lives for good would be forgotten for decades. Additionally, no one saw the big picture, and as at that time, no one was brave enough to do something about the desperate situation the nation of Israel was in. This is exactly the situation of our nation today. Many of our organizations, including churches, have lost their vision. Hence they are stagnant and dying. What is it that is producing lawlessness and carnage in our nation such as we witnessed in Jos? What is the root cause of the perpetual epileptic power outage in spite of the billions that have been invested in power sector by past and present administration? What is the cause of the snail speed of our development? Vision 2020 is nothing but a lie and false hope from the pit of hell put together by soothsayers! The snail speed approach to executing any agenda will land us nowhere in 2020 but at the bottom of developing nations again! Because there is no courageous leaders of integrity who will take the bull by the horn and bring out a master plan and stage-by stage execution of agenda that would bring a turn around in the lives of our people. At present, Nigeria is a nation where there is no widespread revelation and quality visionary leadership. Nonetheless, God will raise a company of people to deliver Nigeria from the hand of cruel and tyrant leaders that are eating her up. He will raise authentic, fireproof and ‘bribe-proof’ leaders who are ready to lay down their lives for what they believe, and thus bring the expected change in our country.
Unfortunately, the Church that is supposed to demonstrate what visionary and quality leadership entails has also lost her vision and mission. The leaders in the Church have forgotten that the real purpose why God called them is to change and transform the people by bringing them to a place of conviction and understanding that they are called to be agents of change. The greatest problem of Nigeria is the hypocritical churches that are nothing but whoredom in the name of faith. Hence, there is no burning vision and energetic wide spreading revelation that would result into transformation of communities, local governments, states, and our nation at large. Invariably, we have nothing but dying and dead churches. The peculiarity of our nation is that we have golden lampstands that should be burning but there are no lamps on them. Therefore there is no wide spread revelation. The churches are dead!
Brethren, God is about to turn around the situation of our great nation, Nigeria. He is raising men and women, boys and gilrs, old and young that will do His will and pleasure on earth. May you be part of the ‘here I am’ company that would bring about God’s reign into every sector of our economy and our nation at large. May it begin with you. The Lamb is not in the market place or the political arena; the Lamb is in the Church. May God give you the tongue of the learned so that you may know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. That is the way widespread revelation would be birthed in the souls and hearts of men. (Exodus 27:20, 21; Leviticus 24:1-4; Zechariah 4:14; Revelation 9:1-13, 20; 1:4; 3:1; 4:4).
For the complete message, please contact the Latter Rain Assembly Tape Ministry or Bookshop Tel : +234(01)7739143-4; 7739140; 4968552-3; 4933684 Fax: +234(01)4922687 Email : lra@latterrainassemly.org
