Oil Spill | %post_title% | RecessionProofChristianLife.com

The news of the oil spill that has caused the worst environment disaster America has ever faced has led to rethink and fresh searches for divine insight on these and indeed other issues. Many have woken to spiritual realities that were hitherto obscured…days of prayer announced …

As I do not live in the US, I am more drawn to local news in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria where continued spills are reported to be almost a normal occurrence…a local reporter reports in the Daily Sun…

“In a third world country like Nigeria where democracy is at infancy hence people are afraid of government instead of government being afraid of the people which is the norm in a matured democracy like the USA, nobody is expecting President Jonathan to invite the families of oil disaster victims in the Niger Delta to Aso Rock for apologies or condolences as President Barrack Obama has done with the families of the eleven oil men who lost their lives in the Gulf of Mexico inferno. Nevertheless, as a country aspiring to be one of the twenty leading economies in the world by the year 2020, it is not utopian for the victims of oil spill in the Niger Delta to expect more empathy and positive response from the oil companies who are wreaking havoc on their lives and a government that derives 95% of its foreign revenue from oil sourced in the Niger Delta. What makes International Oil Companies, IOCs operating in Nigeria appear to be shying away from their responsibilities of keeping the environment in which they operate safe and secure for the sustenance of the inhabitants of the area while they are alive to their responsibility in the middle East, Europe and USA as reflected in the current efforts by BP in the Gulf of Mexico? …”

The Bible states in Ecclesiastes 9[16] Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.

Developing nations remain prayerful that offshore drilling bans in the US are lifted as this ban will only redirect more unsafe offshore activity to the poorer fiscally inept nations dependent on oil wealth…oil that will of course be exported eventually and refined to fuel the energy hungry west…

In business, personal life and ministry, the sin of selfishness can often be bewildering when exposed … Why should the failing of a brother in a far removed land bother me…especially as it does not come within my direct sphere of influence?

A favourite Christian writer in describing the Church’s most harmful transgressions listed Selfishness – the opposite of that love that seeketh not her own as one of the cardinal sins.

Recently, at the Methodist Church of Great Britain’s annual Conference, John Howard of the Joint Committee on the Ethics of Investment expressed concern, however, that environmental issues in some parts of the world were not receiving the attention they were due. He said: “The quantity of oil spilled every year in the Niger Delta is greater than the oil spilled in the Gulf of Mexico up until now and yet it doesn’t get the same publicity.”

As we pray for national healing and restoration, especially in these tough years of recession, do consider that the gains of irresponsible oil exploration over the years always revert largely to the oil-rich west…

Joshua 7 [6]And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads. [7] And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan! [8] O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! [9] For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it , and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name? [10] And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? [11] Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. [12] Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you. [13] Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.

Perhaps oil giants are innocent as poor desperate communities sabotage and engage in illegal tampering of facilities – and poor villagers exaggerate claims … actually causing spills that they may be compensated…perhaps corruption makes it impossible to help the aggrieved…only God truly knows.

As prayers concerning the spill in the Gulf Coast continue … remember the “Achan” that hinders answers – the injustice of potential wealth built on destroyed lives. Also, do intercede for peace, forgiveness and an end to bitterness in afflicted poor communities far from the lush beaches of the Gulf coast…communities that may have been hurt continually for decades …

Job 42[10] And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Originally published in The Christian post. For more insight on Oil Spill …read article on Oil Spill hits Louisiana Coastline.

Please also watch, for more context on this article, the video below. It provides more insight to the issues. (Views expressed in the video are not the author’s)

Missing Vimeo API Consumer Key.

Remember – Jesus wants to be Lord of our lives. God bless you.

Bode

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Exodus 7[19] And the LORD spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thine hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water, that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. [20] And Moses and Aaron did so, as the LORD commanded; and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants; and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. [21] And the fis h that was in the river died; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river; and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. [22] And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them; as the LORD had said. [23] And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also. [24] And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink; for they could not drink of the water of the river. [25] And seven days were fulfilled, after that the LORD had smitten the river.

Revelation [16:1] And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. [2] And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image. [3] And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man : and every living soul died in the sea.

When God promised to pollute the waters He did not say it would be with the help of BP, Halliburton or Schlumberger. This blog does not claim every disaster is the hand of God but only attempts to bring to the fore what these perhaps only vaguely related scriptures imply for present times.

The economy and ecosystem of Egypt was highly dependent on the Nile…a red fluid which was called blood(perhaps for want of a better term) in polluting the Nile would compel Pharaoh to releasing the Israelites to worship their God… we learn the court magicians could explain what happened and Pharaoh was unimpressed. God hardened Pharaoh for a greater judgment.

The other divine pollution in Revelation appears to be in the future when vials of the wrath of God are poured and the sea became as the blood of dead man …and all living souls died..no magicians here…Pharaoh is silent.

The events in Louisiana may at least only resemble a dress rehearsal or a mini-pilot …and you may well ask “Why should God be angry with anyone – after all we do to give Him pleasure ?” When I reflect on contemporary issues in Christianity…one observes a growing helplessness, a subtle voluntary captivity that imposes itself and moulds the Christian into whatever new shape the Pharaohs of modern society dictate. It is not just that the Christian is worldly but the bride is enslaved to labour tirelessly all day in the “rat-race” of striving, “competitive acquisition” and “career laddering ” – all for the interests of modern day Pharaohs…bricks must increasingly be made with less straw.

I wrote in my book “Wealth out of Ashes” in Chapter 9 (Rain from Heaven) of two dispensations of enterprise - Careers in Egypt and Canaan…and include in my blog site a page for Prayers for finding the right job. The Bible is no more permitted to be the word of God. Rather situational ethics direct the Bible as to what it must say and mean… and few who dare challenge the trend are isolated. Indeed, there is no greater slavery than the voluntary captivity of the mind.

Our modern day Pharaohs may have the technology and mobilisation to stop the leak … though admitting ” there is a lot of uncertainty and this is extremely difficult”…”every available resource” was to be used to stop the oil from coming ashore but it did …BP /Halliburton/Schlumberger will be spanked as “system failures” are highlighted and penalised…reforms will be introduced…etc.

How many more shocks, floods and quakes can a fragile society coming out of recession bear? Perhaps we can still go to God for mercy…perhaps more intercessors are needed and not social commentaries . When will we realise that tampering with God’s order and manipulating the captured minds of God’s children is also God’s problem and when He arises and pours His vials, maybe the debates, foolish and unlearned questions will cease and worship in spirit and in truth will begin.

2 Timothy 2 [22] Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. [23] But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. [24] And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men , apt to teach, patient, [25] In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; [26] And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

We remember the families of those that lost loved ones in the rig accident as well as many households affected by the spill and pray for grace to bear the loss.

Come to Jesus. Remain always blessed and safe in His secret place.

Originally published in The Christian Post .

Bode

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