United Kingdom of Great Britain

Memory Verse: 

John 9: 4-5 - I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

Bible Passage:

John 9 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. 6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, 7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. 8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? 9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. 10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? 11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. 12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. 13 They brought to the Pharisees him that a foretime was blind. 14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet. 18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? 20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: 21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. 22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him. 24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. 25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. 26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? 27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? 28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. 29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. 30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. 32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. 33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. 34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? 36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? 37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. 38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. 39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind. 40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? 41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

Brief: 

I imagine you are wondering what has this part of scripture is got to do with praying for nations - UK of GB but allow us go through the events and see how you fit in to this. This bible passage actually expresses the present state of the UK.

In the passage we see Jesus was passing by. Accordingly, every day we pass by things in life, we see something, sometimes we act on sight and sometimes we do nothing, yet we saw. I’m sure we have genuine excuses for doing so but Jesus as he passed by saw something that caught His attention, a man born blind.

This year, there is a greater task ahead of us, Arise therefore and through Devine advancement go forward - Psalm 18: 28-29 & Sam 22:29-30 (NIV) – “You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. 29 With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall..”

Now, God has sent us here to win souls but as we come in contact with these individuals on our life journey, we should not simply look the other way, excuse the matter away due to our individual life challenges whether financial or not, or apportion blames or try to figure out the source of anyone’s

condition or suffering. Rather, our mind-set should be that this is a man whom God’s work can be made manifest in.

Most of us on this platform are migrants to the United Kingdom, most of us can also attest that it was circumstance that originally drew us hither, some of us actually originally came on holiday or further studies and remain here to date. Whatever is your reason, the fact is God orchestrated your being here even if your parents travelled from Africa to give birth to you here. You are here for a purpose and God is now saying to you “I have a greater task for you, my servant. Not only will you restore to greatness the people of Israel who have survived but I will mak e you a light to the nations” Isaiah 49:6 (GNT).

Further in my study I learnt from 1 Chron 22: 19 “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord.”

Our bible passage is indeed an analogy of the present state of United Kingdom and how the Lord is able to make us beacon of light to save UK.

UK is blind, there is darkness and gross darkness everywhere and every day the people of this land excuse and explain the gospel away as nothing and having no power to save and to deliver. Yet darkness thrives. Young children are slaughtered, mostly boys who do not reach adulthood, mothers wailing at cemeteries, older men struggle with unemployment and seek the food banks and these are the strength of a nation. Prisons are filled with men and certainly women alike both young and old. Marriage is not respected but seen as just an item of jewellery on your finger, young people would rather operate as live-in partners. People are committing suicide to seek an exit as they do not know Jesus and we are carrying on business as usual calling ourselves Christians. Can you see that there is a greater task?

Today UK is expected to leave the EU, who knows how this will impact people? Will the base rate go up or down? Will food prices increase or fall? Will businesses cope? Will it affect employment? Rising cost of living? How will all these changes impact the citizens of this country? There are many questions but little answers, but Christ certainly has the answers. Our mission then is to advance the word of God at this time to cover UK and let blind see!

A testimony of a blind man to others is powerful when he gains sight. He is better placed to tell the great story no one else, nothing can stop him because the message is clear, once I was blind but now I see!. Surely, there will be doubters and arguments but that is not for us to worry about, bible says in verse 41 “...but now ye say, We see; therefore, your sin remaineth”.

Your faith will even be put to the test in your bid to accomplish this task similar to the blind man’s parents but do not be afraid like they were for fear of losing status and position, stand up for Jesus. Consider how this man stood firm throughout his encounter with the Pharisees, he remained steadfast and in control.

We desire to see a man embrace Christ as this man did after his encounter with Jesus but this can only happen if we ourselves allow Christ to MAKE us his light as he has promised. And when we are made we can do exploits like this in the UK. Christ promised us that even greater works we will do.

The nations need us Brethren to bring Light to the darkness and we need to shine that light to the nations and not shout, shouting cannot open blind eyes but shinning can as we can see, the blind man met the Light life (Jesus) and his life transformed from darkness to light. How about you? What are you carrying? Can it make the blind to see?

Prayer:

1. Lord, give me light that I might see and help me shine it in every facet of darkness so the blind see too! - Is there some good I should have done? Is there some soul I should have won? Have I hurt someone thoughtlessly? Lord, give me light, that I might see. If someone's failure has not wrought concern and care within my heart; If I've judged others inwardly, Lord, give me light, that I might see.

2. Lord, make me a light to the nations just as you have promised – Isaiah 49:6

3. Lord make me compassionate towards a sinner, don’t let me simply pass by

4. 1 Chron 22: 19 “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the Lord.”

5. Let us pray for the Queen and entire Royal family, she is head of the Church of England. That she will see and know Jesus more and despite this era of decadence she will pass down this gospel to her younger generations within the Royal family, they will not trample on it.

6. Let us pray for the church, the body of Christ, that it will be a light to this nation, the Lord has built his church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

7. Let us pray for the prime minister that he will see clearly and make correct decisions that affect this new UK following BREXIT after 47 years. British papers – Daily Mail refers to it as a New Dawn, indeed it shall be a new dawn and Christ will be seen this nation again, this nation will be great again and once again be a vessel to take the gospel to nations of the world.

8. Let us pray against any disease of the Egyptians plaguing China - Coronavirus will not have its way in the UK, the Lord shall arrest it. It has now become a Global emergency.

9. Let us pray for the Unity of United Kingdom, it will not disintegrate because of BREXIT

10. Pray for the TAF Retreat taking place in Feb 14 to 16 that indeed the Lord will Arise on our behalf and help us this year 2020. Let us pray that all our invitees will see Jesus and cleave to the cross of Calvary.

11. Pray for Pastor Tayo & Pastor Yetunde Ayodele; Remember all minister’s wives and female ministers.

12. Let us pray for the sick amongst us, the widows and widowers, waiting parents, the orphaned and the broken hearted – Bible says hope deferred makes heart sick but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life (Prov 13:12), Psalm147: 3 – The Lord healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds.