Let the People of God Step Forward
By: Abraham Raymond Eli
Tags: Christianity, Intercession, The People Of God, Prosperity, Obedience

A pertinent question

While responding to Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple, God said:

When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:13–14, NKJV)

In saying “My people…,” God qualifies those whose prayers would move Him to reverse a famine, plague, or pestilence that He has unleashed upon a community, city, country, or indeed, the whole world, as it is today. One may take for granted that the people of God know themselves, yet the question must be asked:

“Who are the people of God?”

Some people are of the view that, regardless of religion, all human beings on the earth are the people of God. Others believe that the people of God are those who are regularly attending church meetings or mass. Some others have even suggested that only Jews qualify to be called the people of God.

It is, therefore, imperative that we identify who the people of God are so that they can step forward and intercede for the world because God is not going to listen to any other!

The people of God are not divided along lines defined by the world

The people of God are not grouped by nationality, ethnicity, skin colour, tribe, or tongue. Neither are they grouped by socio-economic status, nor by political affiliation. Indeed, the people of God cut across nationality, ethnicity, skin colour, tribe, tongue, socio-economic status, and political affiliation.

Anyone who believes in the living God enough to renounce their affiliation to and affinity with the world, and turn to Him in faith through the salvation that comes from the death of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary is one of God’s people, regardless of their nationality, ethnicity, skin colour, etc.

The people of God are always on the side of God

In truth, the people of God are always on the side of God! They do not take sides with anyone else. When God was angry with the people of Israel in the wilderness on account of the gold calf, Moses sought to separate those who were on God’s side from the rest, thus:

Whoever is on the LORD’s side — come to me! (Exodus 32:26, NKJV)

The Levites responded to Moses’ call, and then Moses told them to go throughout the camp and annihilate those who participated in the transgression of the gold calf.

Let us note that this was the camp of Israel, yet only those who chose the side of God — the Levites — were spared God’s judgment. Indeed, they were redeemed and became THE people of God, qualified to be His instrument of judgment and intercession! The others had the opportunity to be redeemed, but they were adamantly against Him!

The people of God are known to God

In qualifying “My people,” God further categorized them as:

… people who are called by My name… (2 Chronicles 7:13–14, NKJV)

God’s people are not necessarily those who merely call themselves so, neither are they those claiming to be born again without the evidence thereof. No! God’s people are called by His name, and it manifests in their lifestyle and conduct.

The Bible says:

Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His….” (2 Timothy 2:19, NKJV)

The people of God are known to God. Calling yourself a child of God will not cut it!

The issue is: Are you known by God? Are you known to God? Are you approved by God?

The people of God bear the name of God because He put His name upon them.

Speaking of Jesus, the Bible says:

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: (John 1:11–12, NKJV)

Some of the people we would have assumed to be God’s people rejected Jesus, but those who welcomed Him, He then gave the right to bear His name! Only when you receive Jesus into your heart by faith can you qualify to be called by His name!

The people of God are holy

The people who bear the name of God must depart from iniquity.

2 Timothy 2:19 continues:

… and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

If there is unrighteousness in a land, that should not be strange. But when we talk of the church — the supposed people of God — it should not be mentioned that there is iniquity in their midst!

The people of God are a people who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ, having repented before God, they have been sanctified and are being sanctified by the Holy Spirit (1 Peter 1:2–3). It is, therefore, not expected that iniquity would be found in their midst!

Unfortunately, unrighteousness among those attending church meetings makes a general classification of the church, as presently constituted, as the people of God impossible! Indeed, because of unrighteousness in the church, God is disparaged by the world (Romans 2:24)!

The people of God are holy and separated from the world and its corrupting influence.

God said:

Come out from among them and be separate, … Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. (2 Corinthians 6:17–18, NKJV)

We cannot lift our hands to heaven while iniquity resides in our hearts. The Bible says:

Be holy in everything you do, just as God is holy. He is the one who chose you. In the Scriptures God says, “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15–16, ERV)

Holiness is the true mark of the people of God!

The people of God do the will of God

The Lord Jesus said:

Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 7:21–23, NKJV)

“Lord, Lord” is merely a statement.

Singing in the choir or performing religious rituals of church attendance, note-taking, Bible reading, etc., are mere activities. So also are preaching, prophesying, casting out demons, and working miracles. Engaging in such activities does not confer upon the actors the status of holiness!

Calling on the name of Jesus when you are unwilling to obey Him is a travesty. The fruit of holiness is manifest when people subscribe to doing the will of God!

The Lord Jesus noted that many people will claim to have done things in His name (by His authority), but He would tell them on the Last Day that He neither knew them nor authorized their acts! To engage in acts without God’s consent and approval is dead works, and unacceptable to God!

And although people may use the name of Jesus to perform these acts to the admiration of many, what is crucial is whether God asked them to do what they are doing.

One may say:

“But the people are being blessed.”

Yes, but you will recall that when God asked Moses to speak to the rock to bring forth water for the children of Israel in the wilderness, Moses instead, in anger against the people, struck the rock twice. And even though Moses acted contrary to God’s instruction, God allowed water to gush out from the rock for the people, but Moses was barred from entering the Promised Land as punishment for his disobedience! (Numbers 20:2–12).

The people of God must walk in His ways, do His will, and fulfil all His desires.

We must recognize that if we are indeed the people of God, we must do His will no matter how inconvenient that may be! I bet the cross was not convenient for the Lord, but because it was the Father’s will He went to it anyway.

The people of God are not defined by their worldly possessions

The people of God are not defined by their means or wealth. The story of Lazarus and the rich man told by the Lord Jesus (Luke 16:19–31) is an appropriate lesson for today’s Christian to understand that what matters to God is a relationship, rather than rituals; spiritual prosperity, rather than material possessions, and eternity with God, rather than earthly acquisitions.

We must point out that people who do not know God also have means and wealth. Indeed, if means and wealth were the criteria for being the people of God, then, only those with means and wealth would qualify, regardless of their refusal to acknowledge God!

With God, it is not your worldly possessions that matter, but the life of holiness and obedience to God that you manifest.

The Lord Jesus said:

Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. (Luke 12:15, NKJV)

You are not a child of God just because you have acquired some worldly possessions. Acquisitions and being a child of God are not necessarily congruent. Indeed, the Lord warned about seeking acquisitions to the detriment of a relationship with God and losing everything in the end (Luke 12:16–21). See also 1 Timothy 6:17–19.

Let the true people of God step forward

Many of those attending church meetings today do not possess the marks of true prosperity — righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17) and the doing of the will of God (Joshua 1:8). A truly prosperous man is one who overcomes sin (righteousness), lives without fear before God (peace), is filled with joy by the Holy Ghost regardless of the situation they find themselves in, and lives in obedience to the word of God.

These are the true people of God. These are the people who can pray and ask God to forgive and heal their land, and God will heed. These are the people who can make God reverse His decision to annihilate an entire city — people like Noah, Daniel, and Job (see Ezekiel 14:13–21).

The people of God have a personal relationship with God and can approach Him without fear being holy and, therefore, having clout with Him — a requirement for intercession.

Isaiah spoke of a time when God:

wondered that there was no intercessor. (Isaiah 59:16, NKJV)

Where are the people of God? Are there any still left? Isn’t it time that they stood in the place of intercession for their land, and indeed, for the world in the light of the plagues, pestilences, and famines all around? Isn’t it time for those who are not living as God desires, among those who claim to be God’s people, to turn and change their ways so that He can heal them and their land?

It is time for the people of God to step into their closet in intercession on behalf of the ignorant and the oppressed, the arrogant and the brow-beaten, and the sinner and the ungodly.

God desires to reverse the situation in the world, but He will do nothing unless those who are called by His name will humble themselves and pray, and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways!

Can you be counted upon?