Scripture Text: Psalm 137

There was a place and there's still a place called Babylon. Babylon is a place of captivity and rebellion.

There's a condition and operation called Babylon. It's a condition of rebellion. Though the physical Babylon doesn't exist now but there's a spiritual entity known as Babylon.

When you're in Babylon, you are in a strange land. You're labouring in cages, you're in a place of punishment, a place of reproach, you've lost the Fire of God like children of Israel, a place of crying and singing the Lord's song in a strange land.

In Babylon, we have people without vision; those who have no sense of direction; a person without conviction of the Holy Spirit; those who are helpless, powerless and oppressed by their enemies; those who are arrogant, foolish and have no respect for elders; those who don't like to take responsibilities for their wrong actions; the ones who have lost their glory; those in a state of sadness and melancholy; those are being mocked by their enemies; and whose lives are full of problems and rebellion.

The Babylonian churches and pastors have lost touch with God. They have lost their integrity. They scream at unbelievers but their messages is not effective enough to bring people to repentance to God. There's is no Power and unbelievers are not feeling the Power of God. The Babylonian pastors are those who have not received the Power and Baptism of the Holy Ghost; they are men of God who seeks worldly things before God and believe that they are not blessed by God by until they have their 12 or more cars or jeeps and private jets; their hearing from God and fire has died; God Doesn't trust them enough to commit Himself to them for they have rebelled again Him.

Babylon is a place where genuine love for God and His Power have gone down the drain; a place of spiritual dryness; where people are not filled with heavenly visions but dark visions; where people are not filled with Holy Spirit; where people have suspended God's programme to pursue their personal programme, an act of rebellion.

Babylon is a place of full of rebellions. God is no longer their Shepherd, rebellion is their shepherd. These people don't give the Message of Christ to unbelievers around their communities, churches, places of work, families, and environment. They are always afraid of how people will percieve them if they preach or pray in public.

Babylon produces witchcraft rebellion. A place of plenty efforts but with little results. A place of pronounced physical and spiritual famine. It's full of believers who have not turned the world upside down for Christ. People seek leadership role to control others but God Has not controlled them because they are rebels.

Symptoms of Babylon/Rebellion
1. Doing things God Has not ask you to do, even if it looks right (Proverbs 14:12-16).
2. Fear. Fear is rebellion to God. It simply telling God that you don't trust Him and He's not capable enough to save you ( Revelations 21:. When you care about what people will say more than God's will and purpose for your life, it's simply fear of man. You fear and live your life according to the prescription of people rather than the Fear of God (Proverbs 29:25). The 12 spies saw themselves as grasshoppers before their enemies and they missed entering the Promised Land because of fear (Numbers 13). Fear has hindered many from sharing their testimonies, evangelism, praying in public, speaking the truth and so on. If you don't trust God enough then you have no fear of God but man.
3. Independent Spirit. These are rebels who love to do things only in their own way. They have no regards for church principles and the work of God. They are not team players and believe no one can question them the way they want to live their lives. In marriages, they are too independent to obey or submit to their spouse and feel they don't have to depend on anyone. Jesus Christ chose His discipline to work with Him so He wouldn't have to work alone. If Jesus was not a lone ranger, then who are you?
4. Sick Tongue. Having a sick tongue is a symptom of Babylon. Sick tongues are rebellious, full of lies, gossiping, talkativeness, and gambling tongue.
5. Disobedience to God is also a symptom of Babylon

What is the Solution?
The Bible solution is to get out of your Babylon and return to your first love... Obedience and submission to God are the fundamental requirements to get you out of the rebellious and arrogant Babylon.
Here are the things to do:
1. Search your heart and examine if God is in the centre of your heart. Are you fearful and disobedient? Are you doing what God did not ask you to do? Are you too independent for God? Thes are the questions you must answer.
2. Confess the truth about your rebellion to God by being specific about the area you have taken control of your own life rather than in God.
3. Make a clear choice and submit totally to God (James 4:7).
4. Decide to walk in obedience with God so as to avoid the situation where God will cut you off like He did to King Saul (1 Samuel 15: 22-31).

God bless you in the Mighty Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

If you would like to give your life to Christ, just say this short prayer:
"Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You now. Come into my life. Take control of my life and change my world. I say bye bye to the devil. I enter into the Kingdom of Light. Thank You Jesus Christ. In Jesus Mighty Name I pray, amen".

Congratulations!!!

Peace!

Culled from Dr. D.K Olukoya sermon.

We need mental exploits now

Only the blind from birth says the world is dark... What we (the living) knows is the sun shines to every eye that sees the light.