Every "beautiful" and well-packaged thing you see is a combination of other related things. There is a grave danger when we mix unrelated things (wrong mixture) out of a desperation for what we define as "success in life and ministry." It is so common today to find several emerging leaders unconsciously giving themselves to the above error. And, the consequence is what we see today everywhere, ministries and churches without any real identity and sense of direction.

PONDER!

There is a system of "popular ministry," which I and many others have refused to fit into, it may be popular, but it isn't for the remnant. It has been "built" through the years by religious "craftsmen, " and it is very profitable financially and materially speaking. It looks flashy to the carnal eyes but empty when viewed from a high spiritual vantage point.

It is glamorous in its appearance that's why many people flock to it, but it is bankrupt in God's kingdom character, vision, and agenda. It is self-driven, not Spirit-led. It acquires whatever and goes wherever its money and wealth can afford, not necessarily what is of strategic interest to God's heartbeat. Its leadership style resembles the secular system of elite politics, where "giants" rule in countries of "midgets."

The power of the church is Christ, and Christ is the Truth. I'm still wondering and pondering why there is so much disdain for the truth among people who claim to be part of the church of Jesus Christ. Why has the truth gradually become "foreign" to many gospel ministers and Christians alike? Who are we representing? The fall of Ahab in the Old Testament was due to his displeasure for the truth and love for lies. He preferred his 400 lying Prophets to Micaiah who was a voice of truth. (1 Kings 22) and unfortunately, that led to his demise.

The spirit of religion is the real "wahala" on earth today, not Satan as most people presume. The forces of darkness employ religion in carrying out their heinous plans and agenda more than they use demons. To move a people forward, you have to liberate them from the spirit of religion.The reason the spirit of religion is so dangerous is that it always appears as an exponent of God's kingdom, but actually, it is an opponent of it. It wasn't the devil that crucified Christ, nor persecuted the early church, but the spirit of religion.

What is the spirit of religion?

The spirit of religion constitutes all the "things" we do in God's name, but not based on truth and far from what bothers God's heart. The spirit of religion builds churches, ordained ministers, organize gospel crusades and conferences, baptize people, and do many things in God's name as long as the truth is not part of the agenda.

For instance, the spirit of religion may say, "let's come together and pray for revival," I still dey laugh! However, when the truth about revival is presented, it opposes it. "Let's train ministers," but when the truth about training and ordaining ministers according to the truth is revealed, it opposes it. The spirit of religion loves church activities, in fact, it sponsors them as long as the truth is not part of the agenda.

Why do you think some ministers of God face real opposition while others are literally unopposed?

Listen! It isn't a matter of anointing or grace, but of truth. Those with the truth are targets anywhere not those with money, fame or whatever.

Christ said to those who believed in him, " Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31-32.

Get this, in the above biblical text; Christ wasn't speaking to some unbelievers, but to Jews who already believed in him. He was pointing them to what really matters. Why? The reason is that merely believing in Christ does not set anyone free. You don't have to look far, just look at most Christian nations you know or the multitudes sitting in most churches, are they free? Do you know why they are not free? Most of them are being protected from the truth. 90% of people within churches and denominations are ignorant of the truth. Some of their "leaders" spiritually are like prison wardens employed by the spirit of religion to keep them in religious cells of spiritual ignorance.

When you are a carrier of the truth, such religious Synagogues will have nothing to do with you because they are scared of an upset in their private detention camps.The devil is a liar; we will fight and resist them with the truth until most of their captives are free.

The spirit of religion is not against people believing in Jesus, in fact, it patronizes that, but its greatest battle is to prevent them from knowing the truth because that is what brings freedom. Some of you may be sincerely mistaken in your religious zeal, which may be void of true knowledge. Such religious zeal empowers the spirit of religion. Some of you sow into the spirit of religion unconsciously, but the last thing you would do is to transfer the same commitment to support the cause of truth. Do you know why? The forces of darkness know that as long as millions of good people ignorantly support and propagate blind religion, humanity will remain in bondage.

The United States of America, Nigeria, South Africa, India, etc are presently overburdened by the spirit of religion, but God is raising a generation of Christ revolutionaries to liberate the nations from the spirit of religion and their greatest weapon is the truth. Would you join this revolution? If interested, in box me! DrBenard Etta

To the Pharisees and Sadducees, every day in the temple was business as usual as long as the people mark present and the temple bureaucracy keeps running as a smooth piece of machine. The rot inside and outside the temple meant nothing to them. In fact, it was none of their business. After all, that wasn't why they were there and worrying about changing the status quo doesn't increase the weekly offerings, but may diminish it. But when Christ walked into the temple, he caused an upset and started flogging the status quo. That's what a real spiritual revolution brings. It causes an upset and brings a transformation of the status quo. Is the Pentecostal and charismatic movement ready for a shake up? I'm asking because an inevitable shake up is going to hit the movement and there is going to be a serious shake up. Get ready! The tables of the dove sellers and money changers are being over turned. I see a rude awakening coming to the backslidden bureaucracy of the Pentecostal and charismatic movement. It is going to be too unpleasant to those who are feeding fat from the present status quo. Get ready! Get ready! Get ready for a spiritual revolution. DrBenard Etta

The sin of sister Sodom (pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness) Ezekiel 16: 49.

It is gross irresponsibility to be indifferent to the plight of the dying world and such irresponsibility is a sin. Everyone wants to go to heaven, but Christ left heaven to earth to bring salvation, redemption, and restoration. That is the true character of the Christian faith and the spirit of Christ revolution (Leaving your "heaven" to the "earth" of humanity).

When Christianity is reduced to materialism for self-aggrandisement, and the church loses the message capable of inspiring people to leave their "paradise on earth" to reach billions of people in the valley of decision or to support those doing so wholeheartedly, you will have ISIS, Boka-haram, Gross immorality and atrocities of all sorts as we see today.

Irresponsibility is the opposite of responsibility. Responsibility is taking advantage of whatever ability God has given you to invest towards the salvation of your generation, while irresponsibility is simply indifference, complacency, and passivity in the face of gross decadence. When we come together in our church and ministry strongholds, seeing what our world is fast becoming, the multi million dollar question is, what do we discuss? What preoccupies us? What is keeping us awake at night?

A gang leader once revealed why he left his church after accepting Christ and went back to the street. He said, during his days in the gang, every day was purpose driven, and their meetings were designed to discuss strategy, but when he became part of a church, he learned nothing that gave him the commitment to something serious and worth dying for. In fact, all they were telling him was how he could get rich quick when he already had riches but was seeking for meaning and purpose for his life. Isn't this true of most of our gatherings today?

I know your house is not on fire and so, you are busy having fun. My friend, I'm not anti-enjoyment, but for your information, if your neighbor's house is on fire and you are indifferent, don't be surprised if the fire gets to your house. I'm speaking in parables. Some of you just want to acquire and acquire to look fat or to join the club of the who, who's. The question is, what happens when your city or nation go up in flames? Hahahaha! I know most of you are not thinking about that and some of you are saying God forbid. I laugh! God forbid is not going to be the solution because it isn't God who is the problem but us. And, what is going to happen soon in most nations where Christianity has been reduced to something else, will be a rebuke from above. If "words" don't wake us in this generation, then "war" is what we are inviting to awaken us.

The world is on fire, where are the "fire fighters?" Greetings from Dar es Salaam Tanzania!

Meditate on the text below and find time to read the entire 22 Samuel 11:

And Uriah said unto David, The ark, and Israel, and Judah, abide in tents; and my lord Joab, and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields; shall I then go into mine house, to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As thou livest, and as thy soul liveth, I will not do this thing. 2 Sam 11:11

Ponder! 
DrBenard Etta

That's All You Need!

Why rely on an armor that didn't help King Saul to face Goliath? What is really wrong with this generation? Why rely on methods, which are not working? David put on Saul's Armor out of respect but realized later that facing Goliath didn't require the sophistication of Saul's armor, but simple faith in what God gave him. He returned Saul's armor and took up what God gave him and that brought Goliath down. Forget the sophistication, stopped being pushed around. Spend time with God and intimate yourself with what he has given you, then step out in simple faith and see God work wonders. Let David's Example Inspire You!

But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth my armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. Ex 7:4.

Take note of the phrase " and bring forth my armies." Who were these armies? The children of Israel (his people) as stated in the same scripture. So, why did God call an entire nation his armies? That's the key to unlocking God's idea of his people. What is it?

God's idea is to have a nation where every individual citizen is a soldier. In the Old Testament, God's nation was Israel, but in the New Testament, God's people are called a holy nation, not "a holy denomination." 1 Pet 2:9. God's idea is not denominations full of civilian believers, I'm talking about what we have and celebrate today, but a nation of armies.

What if I tell you that God doesn't celebrate what we celebrate, he isn't applauding the latest cathedral in town with 10.000 members, but without a handful of soldiers. In God's perspective, a Gideon 300 member assembly is of more consequence than a 32.000 member church with unprepared people for the Lord's battle.

Most churches today are desperate to spread their branches everywhere in the world even if the people under their roofs are unregenerated. What could be the motivation? If it were about God, then his standard would have been taken into consideration. Most of the time, it is for vainglory, boastfulness, pride, and materialism.

If we are truly God's representatives, then his idea will become our model, but when we careless about what he thinks, desire and plans, then we are on our own although using his name to get to our ends. It is unfortunate but true of most churches today.

There was a time in my life and ministry when I was everywhere as the invitations come, but when God opened my eyes to the fact that many are simply building their "church," not His, but using his name for their purposes, I stopped going to help them build their human empires. If I don't discern that someone is involved in actual kingdom work, I can't honor their invitation.

Ministry is not all about preaching from place to place, helping to keep alive things which were supposed to die, but moving as led by the Lord to strengthen what God is doing in one's generation and setting the right path for present and future generations.

If a minister is on every poster or billboard in his city, it may not necessarily be an indication that he is in demand as a father, but may as well be a sign that he may not know what he is doing. The last thing a true father gives is not money, but his endorsement. We are not supposed to support in any way any work in the name of Christ that isn't after what God is after. Did you get that? I once met a preacher who told me he goes wherever he is invited, I left his presence without saying a word but downloaded an entire book about his perception of God's work.

Apostle, Bishop, Pastor, Prophet, etc., if you aren't raising armies for Christ, what you have is a playground, not a church. If no one told you, hear it today, don't say on the day of reckoning that you were not told. We have a lot of playgrounds today with the sign board of the church, may God help us. God's idea is a nation where every citizen is a soldier. Ex 7:4, Ex 6:26, Ex 12:51. Go forth and raise armies for the Lord! It is the mandate for every generation of men and women sent by God. It is time! DrBenard Etta

And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cure today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. Lk 13:32

(But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.) 1Tim 6:11. (That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works). 2Tim 3:17.

The appellation man of God appears in scripture 73 times in both Old and New Testament. But who really is a man or woman of God? I would like to encourage all students of the word to carry out a personal study of the lives of those who were recognized by the appellation "Man of God." You will find the study fascinating and revealing.

(Psalm 138:2)

How I wish I could say a prayer right now and change your life and solve all your problems. It would have been my delight to do so if it was possible. I realized that even God does not work that way when doing things of value. He took his time through seven different time periods to create the heavens and the earth. If someone tells you he can offer a prayer, give you something or help you meet someone who can wave his hands and change your life, you are being deceived. The question is, can we change our lives and circumstances? The answer is yes, but it would be an illusion to think it can happen by a quick fix. We need to learn and understand the principles of God's word and then apply them in season and out of season while progressively reaping the harvest they produce.

This is the responsibility many are wishing shouldn't be there, but it isn't going away. If this rule were to change, then even the universe would collapse because it is sustained not by a giant miracle, but by the principles of God's word. Heb 1:3

God made life so simple and predictable, but we have mystified so many things, which are considerably simple and practical. If we understand the principles God put in place to determine cause and effects, input and output, income and outcome, etc., we can achieve the changes we need progressively. The reason most people don't talk about principles is that it demands responsibility and most people want privileges without responsibility, welfare without being in the workforce, success without work, gain without pains, etc. Our generation's blind quest for the mysterious is the result of the mischevious atrocities we see today both in church and the world.

I believe in miracles, and I love miracles, and I experience miracles, but for several years, I had to struggle with what to tell those who didn't have their needs met through miracles. I saw the frustrations of many as they walked away from crusade grounds and miracle meetings feeling that their faith wasn't active enough or somehow it wasn't their day. It has taken great dealings for me to get to where I am today in my understanding of life by the word.

It isn't just a fact, but a truism that we can't solve the world's problems by miracles., but most people would rather hide the truth from people. Even during the days of Christ earthly ministry, there were people whose conditions didn't change because Christ passed through their city. So, why is God not solving all human needs by miracles? Why do some miracle workers still have to struggle with personal challenges and problems without miraculous answers? Nigeria is notable as a destination for miracles in Africa, but why has Nigeria not experienced a miraculous transformation?

The continent of Africa is full of miracle believing and confessing Pentecostal and charismatic churches, but why hasn't the poverty quagmire in African and the numerous diseases and woes solved by miracles? We have billboards everywhere in most of our cities announcing the coming of Mega preachers with promises for great miracles, but why do thousands of people who attend these events still walk home to face their wahala? Well, some would say, let's not talk about that, let's focus on those who testified. Really! Then we may be selfishly using the predicaments of people to gain fame and other things and not focusing on providing real answers.

It takes courage for a minister to tell the truth to people and to let them know that not every need of life can be met through miracles. And, it isn't God's plan for anyone to pack his or her life waiting for a miracle when God has put in place principles we can work on to create our world.

Now listen, you can quote me anywhere. I believe in miracles, but we have taken it too far in our Pentecostal and charismatic circles. It seems we are still ignorant of God's master plan and his design for life. Miracles will always be part of the experience of God's people, but miracles are not absolute. God, the miracle worker, didn't ordain life's result to be an absolute function of miracles, but principles. When we understand the principles of God's word and apply them, we can experience results in all areas of our lives. The problem is our "now, now, now or never mentality," We don't want to work on anything and arrive at real solutions. To some Christians, 20 years is too much, but most of the things we are enjoying in different fields took several years to arrive at what we see today.

We celebrate stars in different works of life. I saw a photo of a church celebrating the victory of Chelsea and others celebrating my team's victory, Real Madrid, but the question is, why are we not raising the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo in diverse fields of life in our churches? You don't have to look far for answers, just listen to our pulpit rhetorics, and you will know why. In most quarters of Christendom, those who believe in hard work are considered as individuals toiling without God's grace. It is like, all you need to succeed in life is to sow a financial seed. Really! Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't wake up every morning, confessing and believing to score goals, he has to work on his skills.

Beloved, I'll always be proud of my Christian heritage, but I firmly believe that the Pentecostal and charismatic movement is in a deep crisis that requires courageous leadership to address it. Multitudes under our different denominational roofs are so ignorant of God's ways of doing things, and the effects are what we are reaping. A populace that is not creative, imaginative, productive and representing their maker, Almighty God. Some look like refugees in crusade grounds, beaten by the storms of life, with no insight on how to ride above their storms. They have bought all the oil, water, candle, bracelets, and others we told them to buy, yet, they look worse than they came. It is time to point people to the Word and to teach them.

The cry of the Ethiopian Enoch is the cry of this generation. "“How can I, he said, “unless someone guides me?” Acts 8:31. May you be that "someone" to provide the leadership and guidance this generation desperately needs. If we teach the word of God, unraveling the principles of life hidden in the scriptures, we can birth a new era of civilization known as the kingdom of God on earth. Be inspired to aspire to acquire what is required to respond to the desires of the multitudes in the valley of decision. Cheers! DrBenard Etta

(And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:5)

There is no coexistence between light and darkness. If one is to surrender to the other, definitely it has to be darkness. You are either light or darkness; both can't coexist.

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels. Proverbs 1:5

The Lord told Elijah, "Hide," and later said to him, "show yourself to Ahab" (1Kgs 17:3, and 1Kgs 18:1). May God give you the humility to allow him to hide you for as long as it is necessary before bringing you to the open.

"Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh."2 Cor 5:16

Uncle Methuselah lived for 969 years as the Bible says, but his entire life's biography was summarized in two Bible verses, and his only achievement was that he begat sons and daughters. Gen 5:26-27. Very shocking! 969 years, Hmmmmmmm

You don't have to be a Prophet to see the greatness and influence some individuals will command in the future. Sometimes, you just have to look at their values, attitude, and priorities to know where they are heading to with their lives.

I don't usually share my personal experiences and encounters with people on Facebook, but I felt I should share this one. Peradventure, someone may learn from it. Yesterday, one of my youth followers on Facebook, who lives in Abidjan the capital city of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) ordered for ten of my books and paid for them. Well, you may think it is that easy for a young person in Sub-Sahara Africa to ignore other things to invest in books, but it isn't the culture in most parts of the world.

There is an adage that goes thus, "If you want to hide something from some individuals, put it in a book." Why? They won't open it even after a year or more. Some years back, I thought it was an African cultural problem until I traveled to the United States.

You can have affluence without influence, but you can't have influence without attracting affluence. What's the difference? When it comes to affluence, all you need is money, but when it comes to influence, you need something upstairs. Influential people defer from one another in different ways, but there is one thing common about them, they invest in building themselves via personal studies and research from various sources. 
Leave a person in the desert with books and come back after some few years, he will transform the desert into a destination for many people.

PONDER!
-You can't eat death and give life.

-You can't eat your future and have one.

- An empty head is a heavy load to the neck.

-An empty spirit can't sustain a person in the days of adversity.

-Where a person's treasure is that is where his or her heart will be.

Knowledge is not transferred genetically or by anointing someone with oil or bathing with so-called blessed soap or staying all night with a lighted prayer candle, etc. Knowledge is acquired through the art of learning and learners are readers. They invest in books!

Some years ago, my school mates were looking at me funny for investing the little pocket allowance given to me for food and other things for books and correspondence programs. Today, they don't look at me funny anymore. I'm inspiring, mentoring, preparing, activating, challenging and transforming lives in more than 50 countries of the world. Some of the people I am impacting, we have never met, but they are taking their inferences from me. That is the 21st-century definition of being influential.

The scripture says, " Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." 2 Peter 1:2. Grace answers to the knowledge of Christ. Not by carrying the earth in the premise of a church building for superficial religious practices at home.

I have read more than 1000 books and followed more than 500 distinguished personalities in the world to learn from them. And, I have not started, the journey is ongoing.

It is time to reevaluate your priorities, attitude, and values. If you refuse to learn, you can't escape the victimization prayers collectors are facing these days in the hands of false prophets the world over. It is time to wake-up.

In conclusion, interestingly, this young man who ordered for these books is not a citizen of Ivory Coast, but a Nigerian living in Abidjan. Can someone celebrate Nigerians for me! I would have been surprised if he was an Ivorian citizen. Why? There is something about the cultural values of French Africans that only God can cure. Greatness is not a function of size, but sight. And, sight is a product of quality knowledge. Read! Learn! DrBenard Etta

I'm not talking about the kind of warfare we are used to, of binding principalities and powers, but a different kind of war. I call it the ideological war. It is a battle we must put in all to understand the nature of warfare, so as to fight a good fight individually and collectively, with light, against the enemy of our souls working so hard to derail God's people.

It takes hyper-Divine illumination from the world of the Word to win this ideological war. That's why; it is crucial to have a firm grip on God and to grow progressively in the knowledge of the truth. You become a victim of what you don't know. You only became a victim of this war if you are merely religious, but lacking in divine illumination, which unfortunately is the state of millions of Christians.