This is the year of the Lord’s attention to his people. God’s wish is for the church to work in unity for us to see the hand of God. While the power of the enemy lies in division, the power of men is in unity When Peter was in prison,the whole church came together to pray and The Lord rescued the imprisoned apostle.
In that same spirit, as we are experiencing revival, this month is meant as a season for us to repent and lay down our lives to God. He is going to do amazing works in our lives.
Word of God from Apostle Dr. Paul Gitwaza.
One locust alone cannot cause destruction. Except they work in unity, they can’t operate. Locusts are a symbol of the devil’s hand. They normally torment and hurt men while they leave them in hunger. Man survives by eating, that is one of the ways God set for man to be sustained because God is a God of systems.
In the time Noah after the great floods, God recognized before Noah that there will be seasons. God did so for the son of man to have subsistence. Hunger in of itself was a way for people to come back to God. In the time of Elijah, He stopped the rain from falling so that when people have been famished, they might turn back to God. In Judea where Joel was, their calamity was not drought but locusts. The scriptures tell us that they would come stample and destroy their yields.
The king Abadon and his armies of locusts have a mission of attacking all that do not have the seal of God. Now, there are those that God has chosen to eat and conquer locusts. In a time where there is no unity, no people with the seal, He has appointed these ones to maintain the purposes of God. They are a peculiar people whose role is to conquer and swallow the power and attacks of locusts.
Reference scriptures
Mark 1:6, “And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;”
Leviticus 11:22, “Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.”
The case of John the Baptist as the locust eater.
John the Baptist was a man born out of prayer. While some are born out of joy, accidents or ill intent. In Luke 1:13A, the bible shows Zachariah who was a priest in the house of Abiah interceding for Israel. Him and his wife were righteous in their ways anticipating the coming of the Messiah. When he was serving, the angel came and gave him a promise of a son and gave him the name of the child in Luke 1:13B.
In the times of the Mosaic law, few people were named John (full name in Hebrew: Yehochanan). The name had a theophoric meaning, embedding the equivalence of the name of God. It is in two parts Yhwh (God) –Hanan (Grace). At such a time, it was shocking that a child is called “The God who is gracious” or “The gift of grace’. The angel was communicating that the time of God’s grace has come! Hallelujah!
The ministry of John had four missions;
- Turning the hearts of many to their God just like Joel in his time.
- The second was to turn the children to their parents.
- The third mission is to lead the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. People like John have an outstanding wisdom that when they use it, many are turned to God.
- The fourth was to make ready A people prepared for God.
Why did Zachariah, John’s father, become dumb? Is it just because he doubted? Not so! It was also because there would be no chance of external influence to bring about such a purpose of God. With that trial, they had to pray and be in the spirit. In time to name the child, Zachariah spoke.
In Luke 1:15-17, The bible professes that what position he had that he was great before The Lord. It goes on to say that he has not tested any alcohol and that he will be filled with the Holy Ghost from his mother’s womb. He is a Nazarite. But now that we are in Jesus who is a Narazite, we are called today to enter that reality. Hence, those who say that it is not a law that we should abstain from alcohol are not part of that category of Nazarites. There is in fact a lot of documentation that proves that Jews did not drink fermented wine before the time of Romans. So Jesus did not turn water into fermented wine.
John’s hometown was a town abundant in vineyards and wines. It required a good amount of discipline to see others eat of the fruits and drink of the vineyards. One thing that can train you in character is to overcome and control appetite. If you can control it, you can control every other thing. The other Nazarite, Samson, refused to use the short path since it had fields of vineyards but instead passed by the forests to not fall in temptation.
In Luke 1:80; the scriptures reveal to us that John grew up in the wilderness and became strong in spirit until he was revealed. Today, we can raise our children in the desert of restrictions. Restrict leisures, TV, and phones. When Satan is aware that there is a locust eater among your children, he will attack your home with locusts that will affect them prematurely and weaken that power in them.
John was clothed with camel hair. He was a loaded camel carrying the loads of many people and the nation of Israel on him. When you are around such people, you might think they care about the whole world and forget you. He had a leather belt around his waist showing that he was an authentic person who was truthful in all his ways.
His diet was wild honey and locusts. Wild honey showed that he was mature as milk is for babies. In Ezekiel 3:3 the bible shows that this honey is the authentic Word; it states; And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.”. In Revelation 10:10; John the apostle had a similar experience, “And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.”. Such are not biased, scared or influenced by any materialistic needs or people. They have swallowed the book. They come in 3 stages;
- They are turning people’s hearts to God.
- In time for a great revival.
- Before the coming of the Messiah to prepare the way.
These ones have no other ceremonies apart from a life of discipline and the absolute favor of God. They are enemies of the world of darkness
Prayer led by our father.
That we are locust eaters. That we may know locust eaters in our families and in the name of Jesus, they are eating locusts. No remnants of locusts are present or alive.
What’s next?
We are ushered into the sixth day of prayer and fasting, there won’t be a revival evening service. Instead, it is a delightful opportunity that the Lord has made to fellowship with him personally. May God bless you as you pray and strengthen your altar and intimacy with God.
Sunday is our closing day, we will be having our last revival service with our father, Apostle Dr. Paul Gitwaza. It will also be our first holy communion in the year of the Lord’s attention to his people. The service will start at 4PM sharp.