By John Abiola
“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” Romans 11:29
“And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.” Judges 16:20
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works.” Revelation 2:4–5
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 1:24
This message is prayerfully released with the burden that it will bring transformation to lives, just as it first brought deep conviction and change to mine.
It was birthed during our daily family night prayer time, where we consistently pray for ourselves, friends, partners, revival, awakening in the Church, and for leaders,salvation of lost souls and nations.
During one of these prayer sessions, a member of my family raised concern about a young minister who is gifted in prayer and fasting. He engages in long fasts of seven days without food or water and operates in gifts of prophecy and other spiritual manifestations, yet there is evidence of hidden sin in his life.
We prayed earnestly for him and for many ministers and believers facing similar struggles.
After the prayer, a serious question arose among us: How would I know if I have fallen spiritually, especially since I still pray daily and can spend hours in ministry activity?
This question became a burden. A deep concern arose within us: What if I am still active in ministry but have lost true fellowship with God? What if I think I am standing, while in reality I have fallen?
Out of this burden, we began to examine ourselves before God. We prayed for divine exposure of our hearts, thoughts, and inner motives. We cried for mercy, forgiveness, deliverance from sin, and true restoration.
Even up to the time of writing this message, this remains our prayer, day and night, for ourselves and for others.
We are reminded that revival and spiritual awakening often begin with one heart that is fully yielded to God and then spreads outward to others—family, church, community, and nation.
May this fire that has begun not stop with us, but spread to you, your family, your church, your community, and your nation.
The Bible declares that the iniquity of a nation can be forgiven, and a nation can experience change even in a single day.
Therefore, I encourage you: do not only read this message, but prayerfully reflect on it, respond to it, and share it with others.
Let it become a tool of awakening in your hands.
Be that one person through whom God begins a greater work of restoration.
The gifts, calling, and anointing of God are precious privileges entrusted to His people. A person may possess the gift of preaching, teaching, leadership, prophecy, singing, worship leading, evangelism, or the burden of intercession, and yet his relationship with God may no longer be what it once was.
This is why a pastor may still preach powerful sermons, a singer may still minister effectively, an intercessor may still pray for hours, and a believer may still be active in church while spiritually declining inwardly.
The presence of a gift is not always proof of spiritual health. Miracles, signs, and wonders are not necessarily proofs of walking closely with Jesus Christ. Gifts and character are not the same thing. Ministry activity and intimacy with God are not the same thing.
A person may still possess gifts, calling, and anointing, yet if the eyes, ears, heart, mind, and thoughts become polluted, his work and activities may no longer be acceptable before God.
The eyes may become attracted to worldly things rather than heavenly realities. The ears may become more attentive to the voices of men than to the voice of God. The mind may become occupied with earthly ambitions rather than the will and purpose of God. Thoughts may become filled with pride, self-promotion, jealousy, bitterness, lust, fear, unbelief, and worldly desires. The heart itself may gradually drift away from its first love and devotion to Christ.
When this happens, spiritual sensitivity begins to decline. A person may find it increasingly difficult to hear God’s voice clearly. Fellowship with God becomes weak. The fear of the Lord diminishes. Secret sin may be tolerated and justified. Pride may quietly take root. Satan and demons may craftily present visions, dreams, and voices in order to deceive those who are no longer walking closely with God. The burden for lost souls, the needy, and the advancement of God’s kingdom begins to fade.
One of the clearest evidences of spiritual decline is the loss of compassion. Souls become statistics rather than eternal beings. Ministry becomes a profession rather than a calling. Service becomes centered upon personal success rather than God’s glory.
Many who once burned with holy passion gradually begin to seek liberty from a holy lifestyle. The pursuit of God’s presence is replaced by the pursuit of worldly comfort. Wealth, applause, fame, influence, recognition, popularity, and personal security begin to occupy a place that belongs to God alone.
A minister may still preach, a singer may still sing, an intercessor may still pray, and a leader may still serve, yet inwardly the heart may be drifting away from God.
A minister of the gospel may still claim to hear God, see visions, and have dreams, yet God may not be the one behind them.
Outward activity can continue long after inward fellowship has weakened.
One of the greatest dangers in ministry is continuing to function through experience, habit, reputation, natural ability, and the lingering effects of former anointing while intimacy with God is being lost.
A gift can remain while fellowship with God declines. A person may still preach while no longer walking closely with God. A singer may still sing beautifully while neglecting personal devotion. An intercessor may still spend hours in prayer while losing sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. A believer may still attend church faithfully while drifting away in heart.
God desires more than activity. Jesus desires more than works. He desires a living relationship with His people.
The greatest danger is not losing the gift. The greatest danger is losing fellowship with God while continuing to operate in the gift.
Daily prayer is important, but prayer alone is not always proof of spiritual health. A person can maintain the habit of prayer while losing the fire of fellowship. The question is not only, “Am I praying?” but also, “Am I walking closely with God?”
Signs of spiritual decline often include loss of first love, prayer becoming a duty rather than communion, tolerance of secret sin, pride, loss of brokenness, mechanical prayer, little hunger for God’s presence, resistance to correction, dependence on past experiences, loss of compassion, jealousy, unforgiveness, envy, and competition.
Not every fallen minister is involved in public scandal. Sometimes the fall is hidden. Common signs include loss of humility, spiritual dryness, compromise, love of praise and recognition, bitterness, jealousy of other ministries, lack of compassion for souls, dependence on gifts rather than God, neglect of personal holiness, lack of hunger for God’s Word, and declining love for Christ.
The difference between those who remain down and those who are restored is often their response to correction. A repentant heart always has a path back to God.
King Saul hardened his heart and continued in self-will, while David humbled himself, repented, and sought God’s mercy. The difference was not that one sinned and the other did not, but how they responded to God’s correction.
Healthy spiritual life is marked by a growing love for Jesus Christ, quick repentance when convicted, compassion for souls, joy in God’s presence, humility, teachability, hunger for God’s Word, dependence upon the Holy Spirit, sensitivity to sin, prompt obedience, and a desire for God’s glory rather than personal recognition.
Every believer should occasionally ask: Am I serving God from fellowship or merely from habit? Is my love for Christ increasing or decreasing? Do I still welcome correction? Am I more concerned about God’s presence or ministry results? Is there any area of disobedience I have not surrendered? Do I still tremble at God’s Word? Do I still repent quickly when convicted?
The good news is that restoration is always possible through Jesus Christ.
Be honest before God. Stop defending yourself. Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the true condition of your heart.
Return to your first love. Do not merely return to ministry activity. Return to Christ Himself.
Repent deeply. Call sin by its proper name. Confess it honestly without excuses.
Restore the secret place. Spend time with God not merely to prepare sermons, songs, messages, or prayer points. Spend time with Him because you desire Him.
Embrace humility. Acknowledge your need for God’s mercy every day. Remain teachable and dependent upon Him.
Obey immediately. Restoration often begins with obedience to what God has already spoken. Delayed obedience often prolongs spiritual decline.
The most important question is not: “Am I still preaching?” “Am I still singing?” “Am I still praying?” or “Am I still ministering?”
The most important question is: “Am I still walking closely with God?”
A true minister’s greatest danger is not losing the gift. It is losing fellowship with God while still operating in the gift.
Our confidence is not in our strength, discipline, years of service, or spiritual experiences. Our confidence is in the Lord who is able to keep us.
May every pastor, singer, intercessor, ministry leader, and believer remain close to Christ, walk humbly before Him, maintain a pure heart, and finish well.
NIGERIA: A PRACTICAL EXAMPLE OF SPIRITUAL DECLINE AND THE NEED FOR RESTORATION
The reality of spiritual decline is not merely a personal issue. It affects families, churches, communities, institutions, and entire nations.
One of the greatest tragedies in Scripture is that a person can occupy a position of influence, exercise authority, possess gifts and anointing, and yet no longer maintain a living relationship with God.
King Saul is a sobering example. Though he reigned over Israel for forty years, it appears that only the early years of his reign reflected the humility, obedience, and fellowship with God that marked his beginning. As time passed, pride, self-will, fear of men, and disobedience gradually replaced wholehearted devotion to the Lord. Saul remained on the throne, but he drifted from the God who had placed him there. He became more concerned about preserving his position than pleasing God.
Samson is another example. He was chosen by God, empowered by God, and used mightily by God. Yet he gradually allowed worldly attractions and fleshly desires to weaken his spiritual life. He assumed that the power of God would always remain upon him regardless of how he lived. Eventually, he discovered that gifts, calling, and anointing cannot replace obedience and fellowship with God.
These examples remind us that God’s greatest concern is not position, title, influence, gifts, miracles, achievements, or popularity. His greatest concern is the condition of the heart.
Today, Nigeria has millions who profess faith in Christ. Churches are numerous. Christian activities abound. Conferences, crusades, vigils, prayer meetings, ministries, and religious gatherings are everywhere. Yet the question remains: How many are truly walking in righteousness, holiness, integrity, humility, and intimate fellowship with God?
If God could find even a small percentage of truly righteous and godly men and women throughout our families, homes, churches, communities, businesses, institutions, and government, the transformation would be remarkable.
The problems of insecurity, corruption, injustice, bribery, bloodshed, kidnappings, ransom payments, immorality, ritual killings, idolatry, materialism, oppression, and wickedness would begin to lose their grip upon the nation. The light of righteousness would expose darkness. Integrity would replace corruption. Justice would overcome oppression. The fear of God would replace the fear of men.
Nigeria is not suffering primarily from a lack of religion. It is suffering from a shortage of men and women whose hearts are fully surrendered to God.
When Jesus ascended into heaven, He did not leave behind political power, military strength, economic influence, or worldly institutions. Rather, He left a small company of devoted disciples whose hearts were wholly committed to Him. Through their lives, prayers, obedience, holiness, sacrifice, and bold witness, communities were transformed, nations were reached, and the light of the Gospel spread throughout the world.
History repeatedly shows that God does not need the majority to begin a revival. He looks for men and women whose hearts are fully His. He seeks believers who will obey Him regardless of the cost, walk in holiness, love righteousness, hate evil, and shine as lights in a dark generation.
The future of a nation is not determined merely by its resources, population, technology, or political strength. It is profoundly influenced by the spiritual condition of its people and especially by the character of its leaders.
A nation blessed with righteous and godly leaders experiences peace, justice, stability, and progress. A nation led by selfish, corrupt, ungodly, and compromised leaders experiences confusion, oppression, division, and decline.
Therefore, the greatest need of Nigeria is not merely economic reform, political restructuring, or social programs. The greatest need is genuine repentance, spiritual awakening, righteous leadership, and a return to God.
May God raise men and women of integrity in the family, the church, the marketplace, education, business, media, and government.
May He raise leaders who fear God more than men, who seek righteousness more than wealth, and who desire God’s glory more than personal gain.
When righteous men and women arise, light shines in darkness, lives are transformed, communities are changed, and nations experience the blessing of God.
HEARTFELT PRAYER FOR GIFTING, CALLING, ANOINTING, SPIRITUAL DECLINE, AND RESTORATION
Heavenly Father,
I come before You in humility and holy reverence. I thank You for Your mercy, grace, and faithfulness. I thank You for every gift, calling, burden, ministry, opportunity, and privilege You have entrusted to me. I acknowledge that everything I have and everything I am comes from You.
Lord, I confess that gifts, calling, anointing, knowledge, experience, position, and ministry activities cannot take the place of a living relationship with You. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Test me and know my thoughts. Reveal every hidden sin, every secret compromise, every wrong motive, every idol, every root of pride, bitterness, unbelief, jealousy, unforgiveness, self-deception, and spiritual blindness that may be lurking within me.
Father, do not allow me to mistake activity for spirituality, ministry success for Your approval, or spiritual gifts for true intimacy with You. Save me from the tragedy of having a reputation of being alive while being spiritually cold within. Deliver me from the danger of operating in gifts while losing fellowship with You.
Lord, if I have drifted from my first love, bring me back. If my heart has become cold, warm it again with the fire of Your Spirit. If I have become proud, humble me. If I have become self-reliant, teach me again to depend completely upon You. If I have tolerated sin, grant me genuine repentance. If I have resisted correction, make my heart tender and teachable.
Forgive me for the times I have sought applause more than Your presence, recognition more than righteousness, success more than obedience, and ministry more than Christ Himself. Wash me thoroughly in the precious blood of Jesus Christ.
Cleanse my eyes, my ears, my heart, my mind, my thoughts, my motives, and my desires.
Lord, restore the joy of my salvation. Restore my hunger for Your Word.
Restore my burden for souls. Restore compassion for the lost, the needy, and the broken. Restore holiness, purity, integrity, and the fear of the Lord within me.
Keep me from deception. Let me not be led astray by false visions, false voices, false revelations, or the subtle workings of the enemy. Give me discernment through Your Word and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Help me to test everything and hold fast to that which is true.
Revive me, O Lord. Let revival begin in me before it spreads to others. Let the fire of Your Spirit burn away everything that does not please You. Break every stronghold of sin, compromise, materialism, pride, worldliness, and spiritual complacency in my life.
Make me a vessel of honour fit for the Master’s use. Let my life, character, conduct, words, and ministry reflect Jesus Christ. Let me love You more than gifts, more than success, more than influence, more than recognition, and more than anything this world can offer.
Keep me from falling. Keep me faithful in private and in public. Keep me faithful in abundance and in lack. Keep me faithful in success and in adversity. Keep me faithful until the very end.
May I never lose my first love.
May I never become satisfied with outward activity while inward fellowship is fading.
May I walk closely with You every day of my life.
And when my earthly race is finished, may I stand before You with joy, having remained faithful to Your call, dependent upon Your grace, and devoted to Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Father, raise up a generation of believers whose hearts belong completely to You. Raise up pastors who love Christ more than ministry. Raise up evangelists who love souls more than fame. Raise up intercessors who seek Your face more than spiritual experiences. Raise up teachers who walk in truth. Raise up missionaries who endure faithfully. Raise up leaders who fear God more than they fear men.
Revive Your Church, O Lord. Let revival begin in us before it spreads to others. Let it begin in our hearts, our homes, our families, our churches, and our communities. Break every stronghold of sin, compromise, materialism, pride, worldliness, and spiritual complacency.
Remember our nation and the nations of the earth. Have mercy where there is corruption. Bring justice where there is oppression. Bring peace where there is violence. Bring truth where there is deception. Bring righteousness where there is wickedness. Raise up godly men and women who will stand in the gap and become instruments of transformation.
To You alone be all glory, honour, dominion, power, worship, and praise forever and ever.
In the mighty and precious name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.
For further reflection and deeper understanding of this burden, you may also read:
From my prayer room: Jesus’ message to the Church.
https://www.churchtimesnigeria.net/prayer-jesus-message-church/
America: Passion and Prayer for a Nation in need of Revival. https://churchtimesnigeria.net/america-passion-and-prayer-for-a-nation-in-need-of-revival/
Britain rise, fall and only remedy by John Abiola https://churchtimesnigeria.net/britains-rise-fall-and-only-remedy-by-john-abio
The vision about Nigeria and the impending doom -The way out.
https://www.churchtimesnigeria.net/nigeria-vision-doom/
(Available as free online reading materials)
Revive US Again series 137.
Revive Us Again — A Global Prayer Movement for Worldwide Revival
By John Abiola
Intercessor | Revival Voice
Nigeria Global Intercessors.
For collaboration, publication, prayer alignment, or partnership, and if the Lord lays it on your heart to partner with this work in any way, please respond as He leads you:
globalintercessors7@gmail.com.
nigeriaglobalintercessorsngi@gmail.com.
prophetjohnabiola97@gmail.com.