MONTHLY NEWSLETTER with Rev. Dr. C. A. ONITIRI September 2022 Edition.

Beloved of God, I welcome us all to this month of September, the 9th month in the year 2022. Do you know that the Biblical symbolism of the number 9 is considered to be very
important? It is used 49 times in the Bible. Indeed it is a symbol of completeness of God and also a symbol of finality.

It is written in the Bible that Jesus died at the 9th hour,which was actually 3p.m. After His resurrection He appeared 9 times to His Apostles.The number 9 is also a symbol of the fruits of the Holy Spirit of God.There are 9 fruits that are mentioned in the Bible.( Galatians 5v22&23).

Our Scripture for the month of September is taken from the Book of Isaiah: Isaiah 44v24-28 .
The Theme for the month is “PROMISE OF RESTORATION “
In this Scripture the Lord demonstrates that He is a true God by prophesying a future deliverer for Israel.
It is a message of hope.

It is a promise to rebuild our lives and our nation.
Wherever there is decay and desolation,He will help us to rebuild everything and restore it..Even in areas where there has been desolation for generations, He will help us to raise it up again. Isaiah 61v4
“AND THEY SHALL BUILD THE OLD WASTES,THEY SHALL RAISE UP THE FORMER DESOLATIONS, AND THEY SHALL REPAIR THE WASTE CITIES, THE DESOLATION OF MANY GENERATIONS.” (KJV)

It is a promise that He will restore our reputation.Whereever we have been mocked and despised,He will cause us to be honoured.He will prosper us and increase us.This will happen when we follow His ways and His thoughts which are higher than our ways and our thoughts. Isaiah 62v4.
“THOU SHALL NO MORE BE TERMED FORSAKEN,NEITHER SHALL THY LAND ANY MORE BE TERMED DESOLATE: BUT THOU SHALT BE CALLED HEPHZIBAH, AND THY LAND BEULAH: FOR THE LORD DELIGHTETH IN THEE, AND THY LAND SHALL BE MARRIED.”(KJV).

It is a promise that He would remove the hinderances that caused our lives to be desolate and decayed. All the negative factors that were causing wastage and destruction in our lives, in our nation,will be removed and once again God will give us freedom to grow and prosper. Isaiah 49v17
“THY CHILDREN SHALL MAKE HASTE; THY DESTROYERS AND THEY THAT MAKE THEE WASTE SHALL GO FORTH OF THEE.”
(KJV).

It is a promise that He would help us recover everything that belongs to us.He will contend with those who contend with us and will restore all that was taken captive from us.Every mighty and terrible foe will have to release the captives when the Mighty God contends with them.Isaiah 49v24, 25
“SHALL THE PREY BE TAKEN FROM THE MIGHTY, OR THE LAWFUL CAPTIVE DELIVERED? BUT THUS SAITH THE LORD ,EVEN THE CAPTIVES OF THE MIGHTY SHALL BE TAKEN AWAY, AND THE PREY OF THE TERRIBLE SHALL BE DELIVERED:FOR I WILL CONTEND WITH HIM THAT CONTENDETH WITH THEE, AND I WILL SAVE THY CHILDREN.” (KJV)

It is a promise that He will send us a deliverer like Cyrus who will be a special instrument in His Hands for His work.He will do the work of the Lord and open the door for the work of rebuilding our nation Nigeria and the temple after the Boko Haram Insurgents, ISIS and ISWAP destroyed them
Isaiah 45v1
“THUS SAITH THD LORD TO HIS ANOINTED TO CYRUS WHOSE RIGHT HAND I HAVE HOLDEN,TO SUBDUE NATIONS BEFORE HIM; AND I WILL LOOSE THE LOINS OF KINGS, TO OPEN BEFORE HIM THE TWO LEAVED GATES;AND THE GATES SHALL NOT BE SHUT” (KJV)

Cyrus was a Shepherd in the sense that God used him to do something good and helpful for Israel.May the Lord send us a Shepherd who will do something good and helpful for our nation Nigeria.Isaiah 44v28.
“AND SAITH OF CYRUS, HE IS MY SHEPHERD, AND SHALL PERFORM ALL MY PLEASURE: EVEN SAYING TO JERUSALEM, THOU SHALT BE BUILT; AND TO THE TEMPLE, THY FOUNDATION SHALL BE LAID.” (KJV)

Cyrus founded the Persian Empire which lasted for two centuries. He captured Babylon and allowed the Jews to return to their land.(You can read this in Ezra chapter 1)

Ponder over this:
ARE WE INDEED IN EXILE IN OUR OWN LAND?
MAY THE LORD SEND US A DELIVERER, A SHEPHERD LIKE CYRUS.HE WILL SET US FREE AND REBUILD ALL THE WASTELAND IN JESUS NAME.

SHALOM.
HAPPY NEW MONTH.