Bible Research: Facts & Figures

23/10/2025

*Ezra: The Scribe Who Rebuilt a Nation with Words*

The name Ezra means help—a fitting title for the man whose quiet strength lifted a broken nation back to its covenant roots. In the long shadow of exile, when the songs of Zion had faded and the scrolls of the Law lay forgotten, God raised a scholar to rebuild what swords and stones could not: the soul of His people.

*The Call of the Scribe*

It was the reign of Artaxerxes I, King of Persia. Babylon’s streets still echoed with the laments of the displaced, but amid its libraries of clay and scroll, one man pored over ancient words with unshakable devotion. Ezra, son of Seraiah, priest and descendant of Aaron himself, traced his lineage through sixteen generations—a line steeped in worship and duty. But pedigree alone did not define him; purpose did.

Ezra had set his heart—utterly and irrevocably—to study the Law of the LORD, to live by it, and to teach it. In a world adrift from covenant truth, that decision would change history.

*The Royal Commission*

When Artaxerxes read Ezra’s request to return to Jerusalem, something divine stirred. The king granted “all he asked,” though it was no mere political favor. Scripture whispers the secret: “For the hand of the LORD his God was upon him.”
With royal decree in hand, Ezra was entrusted with silver and gold for temple worship, authority to appoint judges, and power to enforce divine law. The heart of a mighty king had become a channel for heaven’s purpose—just as Proverbs had said.

*The Journey of Faith*

From Babylon’s gates emerged a caravan unlike any other—priests, Levites, singers, and temple servants, marching beneath the desert sun. Before they set out, they halted at the river Ahava. There, Ezra called for fasting and prayer. No guards, no soldiers—only faith. They sought not the protection of Persia but the favor of God.

And when they reached Jerusalem safely, Ezra could only say, “The hand of our God was upon us.”

*The Broken Covenant*

But peace was short-lived. News came like a storm—God’s people had again intermarried with idolaters. Ezra fell to his knees, garments torn, heart trembling. His prayer rose from the dust like incense: “O my God, we are ashamed… for our sins have risen higher than our heads.”
His tears became the spark of national repentance. Before a trembling assembly, he called the people to confession and renewal. And they obeyed. Israel once again stood apart, holy unto the LORD—guarding the lineage through which the Messiah would one day come.

*The Reading of the Law*

Once more the people gathered—men, women, and children—before the Water Gate. As dawn’s light broke over the city, Ezra climbed a wooden platform. Unrolling the ancient scroll, he began to read.
From morning until noon, the sound of God’s Word filled the air. The Levites moved among the crowd, explaining the meaning, and understanding broke open like a floodgate. Hands lifted, faces bowed, and tears flowed freely. It was not a mere reading—it was revival.

*The Two Builders*

Ezra and Nehemiah—scribe and governor, priest and statesman—stood side by side. One built the walls of stone; the other rebuilt the walls of faith. Together they led a covenant renewal and a grand dedication, choirs marching around the city with joy, led by Ezra the scribe. The nation had found its heartbeat again.

*The Legacy of the Word*

Though the Scriptures do not detail it fully, tradition remembers Ezra as the father of the Great Synagogue, the one who helped preserve and arrange the holy writings. He may have touched the Psalms, structured the canon, and shaped the rhythms of synagogue worship that endure to this day.

But beyond the records and rituals, Ezra’s true legacy was this: a heart steadfast in study, obedience, and teaching. His life became a living sermon—proof that revival begins not with noise, but with Scripture rightly handled and hearts humbly yielded.

*Lessons from a Faithful Servant*

Ezra teaches us that true leadership starts in the secret place.
He reminds every believer to:

Study the Word with discipline.

Live the truth before teaching it.

Seek God’s help through fasting and prayer.

Confront sin with humility and courage.

Work in harmony with others for the sake of God’s kingdom.

*Epilogue: A Name Fulfilled*

Ezra—the helper. Through his life, God helped a shattered people remember who they were. His quill became as mighty as Nehemiah’s trowel, his tears as weighty as any decree. By his hand, Israel rediscovered its covenant identity, and hope began to breathe again.

*What, and how, are you building for God's kingdom? Take a cue from Ezra*

*Stay crucified!*

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22/10/2025

*Strange Sacrifice...?*

Offering a sacrifice with strange fire before God is dangerous (that's what killed Nadab and Abihu - two sons of Aaron, the first high priest of Israel - Num. 3:4). In the same way, *offering strange sacrifices is suicidal* (just an attempt to do so cost Saul, the first king of Israel, his crown before the LORD! - 1 Sam. 15:20-26)

In getting a sacrifice for God, *follow Abraham's wisdom; let God Himself provide the lamb for a sacrifice.*

And Abraham said, “My son, *God will provide for Himself* the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. (Gen. 22:8)

If none was provided, follow Apostle Paul's instruction, "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" (Rom. 12:1). *Don't allow natural zeal to push you into fetching sacrifices for God outside His will!* Take heed!

For if there is first a willing mind, *it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have*. (1 Cor. 8:12)

You do NOT have to borrow to give to (or sacrifice to or worship) God. You do NOT need to seek gain where He hasn't led you either. *God is more interested in you than in your giving! His love for you doesn't depend on your sacrifices;* He has loved you with an everlasting love even before you're born (Jer. 31:3).

Don't bring strange fire (strange desires, intentions, and motives) to the altar. Make sure they're crucified and quenched at Golgotha. It's only one fire that's legitimate for your burning in His presence - the fire (desire, passion, motive, and zeal) ignited by the Holy Ghost!

Don't bring strange sacrifices (sacrifices from means alien to God's will for your life) either; *there's only one legitimate sacrifice before Him - the one He has provided* (and both your heart and body are foremost)!

Stay Crucified!

~S. G.

P.S.: Some people need this urgently so that they will not make the wrong decision. Kindly share to save them.

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03/10/2025

*What Left?* (Improved)

Psalms 6:8-10 BSB
[8] *Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the Lord has heard my weeping.*

[9] The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.

[10] All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

Whenever the favor of God locates a man, the first thing that happens is an inner desire to be alone with God, to get every sin and distraction out of his way. *Before grace enables dominion, it first severes from the government of unrighteousness!*

On October 1, 1960, there was a leaving - a departure! The colonial masters left the governance of Nigeria. That's what brought about independence. If they didn't leave, there wouldn't have been any national sovereignty for Nigeria: *Freedom, like bo***ge, always starts with a "leaving!"*

Before Adam became a slave to sin, he left his position in the spirit; that's why God's first question was, "Adam, where are you?" He left his position of headship when he acquiesced to his wife's ungodly offer (Gen. 3:9).

Before Jesus Christ commenced His earthly ministry, it was noted, "Then *the devil left Him,* and look, angels came and served Him." (Matt. 4:11)

*Before Simon could be transformed into Peter, the apostle, something left him - his desire to catch fish!* That was the separation Christ Jesus painstakingly caused by His threefold piercing question, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these [fishes]?” - John 21:15-17.

Before Isaac, the business apostle of his time, became very great (Gen. 26:13), his *desire to seek greener pasture in Egypt had to die* (Gen. 26:1-6).

You can't fully enjoy divine freedom without making sure some things leave your heart:

*The desire to be the first* (Phi 2:3 ISV: Do not act out of selfish ambition or conceit, but *with humility think of others as being better than yourselves*.);

*The desire to be rich* (1Ti 6:9-10 ISV: But *people who want to get rich keep toppling into temptation and are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires that plunge them into destruction and ruin.* For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, in their eagerness to get rich, have wandered away from the faith and caused themselves a lot of pain.)

*The desire for the honor of men rather than that of God* (Joh 12:42-43 ISV: Yet many people, even some of the authorities, believed in him, but because of the Pharisees *they did not admit it so they would not be thrown out of the synagogue. For they loved the praise of human beings more than the praise of God*.)

*The desire to pamper/please yourself* (Mat 16:24-26 ISV: Then Jesus told his disciples, “*If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself,* pick up his cross, and follow me continuously. Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it, because what profit will a person have if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what can a person give in exchange for his life?)

As we celebrated Nigeria's 65th Independence Anniversary on Wednesday, I heard the Holy Spirit asking, *"What left?"*

Dear General, *this oil of grace on your spirit man is meant only to fuel divine passions and to power divine purposes; using it to pursue self-generated desires is what makes your spiritual dominion asthmatic!*

Remember the time you first embraced the freedom offered by Christ: What left you, then? *Have they not returned?*

Dear Soldier, *before God's covenant became effectual in the life of Abraham, something left him - the flesh of his fo****in; that's what we called circumcision!* Before the Israelites started possessing the land promised to Abraham after crossing Jordan, their fo****ins had to leave too - that's what happened in Gilgal! *It's a divine protocol: Nothing left means nothing gained!* (Gen. 17:9ff)

The higher you go in grace, the more things and desires that must leave your heart and life! When Jesus was about to pay the ultimate sacrifice, He had to part with everything called self-will; that's what happened at Gethsemane:

Going on a little farther, he fell on his face and prayed, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. *Yet not what I want* but what You want.” (Matt. 26:39)

In the same way that the children of Abraham who eventually possessed the promised land parted with their fo****ins like Abraham, their father, we, the children of Light, must part with everything called self-will for us to fully possess all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places which Christ acquired for us with His blood after parting with His self-will in Gethsemane!

Gal 5:24 ISV: *Now those who belong to the Messiah Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.*

So, before you embark on the efforts to possess that "land," may I ask you, "What left?" *"What left?" needs to be considered before venturing into "what's next to be possessed."*

*Stay crucified!*

2Co 5:17 ISV
Therefore, if anyone is in the Messiah, he is a new creation. *Old things have disappeared,* and—look!—all things have become new!

Rev. 2:5 NIV
Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

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17/08/2024

*Enoch"
Hebrew: chănôk
Interestingly, there were four people in scriptures by the Hebrew name, chănôk. However, in two cases (a son of Reuben - Gen. 46:9; and, a son of Midian - Gen. 25:4), the English transliteration was spelt Hanoch.

Meanwhile, the firstborn of Cain was the first human to bear the name (spelled Enoch), he seldom comes to mind at the mention of the name. So, being the first in a matter doesn't necessarily imply being the most prominent in it. Being first doesn't make you the best!

A city was built by Cain and named Enoch in honor of Enoch, his son. Yet, that doesn't establish the memory of Mr Enoch Cain on earth. Building monuments for your name is a good idea but not enough to etch your name on the canvas of eternity.

Enoch comes from an Hebrew root meaning "dedicated", "trained", and " disciplined". The name has a good meaning but the life of the bearer of the name seems not to reflect its virtue. Nothing was even said of the life Enoch, the son of Cain. He had no significant eternal impact that is worth including in God's book. Moreover, he was the seed of a cursed man - a man bearing the curse of God on his head! That could have affected him too! Foundational curse can affect the character of a person, and as a result, set a limitation on his destiny.

In another perspective, if the hand that raised you (train you up) is cursed, you would indeed have battles to fight before you can come into alignment with blessings. Cain, a man cursed from the earth, raised a son, Enoch, a man whose voice was forever cut off from the sounds of the eternal melody. Before raising a kid, make sure you're free from curses. An accursed hand can only produce an accursed fruit!

Enoch Cain must have heard about the wicked deed of his father because there's a record later in Genesis of one of his great grandsons referring to it, yet we never had any record of him condemning it. Perhaps, he even silently agreed with his father that God's judgment for his sin was too harsh, thereby aligning himself with a wicked lineage.

Proverbs 10:7 KJV
The memory of the just is blessed: But the name of the wicked shall rot.

Exodus 20:5
[5]Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

The focus of our study is actually on the righteous Enoch - Enoch, the son of Jared, and the father of Methuselah (Gen. 5:18). God will grant us grace to glean lessons from his life in the next episode in Jesus name. But, for now, kindly pray the following prayers with me:

*Prayers*
1. Father, thank You for the revelation of Your word today. Thank You because You know all the secrets of my lifelife and You have the power to control them.

2. Lord, I bring my life to You in faith. Every foundational curse affecting my character in order disrupt my future, let the blood of Jesus blot them out in Jesus name (Col. 2:13-15).

3. Father, in any way that I might have subconsciously align myself with the generation of the wicked, forgive me and lead me in the right way in Jesus name (Ps.139:24).

4. Father, by Your mercy, deliver me from every curse affecting my work and my fruits in Jesus name. (Gal. 3:13-14).

5. Father, grant me all grace required to align with Your blessings in Jesus name (John 1:16).

*Scriptures:*
Genesis 46:9
[9]And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.

Genesis 25:4
[4]And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.

Colossians 2:13-14
[13]And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
[14]Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Psalms 139:24
[24]And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Galatians 3:13-14 KJV
[13] Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: [14] that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

John 1:16
[16]And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

God bless you.

02/08/2024

*What is August, 2024?*
*1. August is the month of kingdom seekers.*

Messianic Jews (Heb) 11:13-16 CJB
[13] All these people kept on trusting until they died, without receiving what had been promised. They had only seen it and welcomed it from a distance, while acknowledging that they were aliens and temporary residents on the earth. [14] For people who speak this way make it clear that they are looking for a fatherland. [15] Now if they were to keep recalling the one they left, they would have an opportunity to return; [16] but as it is, they aspire to a better fatherland, a heavenly one. This is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

2. *This is a month in which it is paramount to see yourself as an alien and temporary resident on earth, and to get your mind fixed on heavenly things. Looking unto earthly things can cause the overthrow of your faith this month!*

Colossians 3:1-3 KJV
[1] If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. [2] Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. [3] For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

3. *This is a month of new beginnings: Beginnings of a fresh walk with a newly discovered dimension of God.*

Ephesians 3:10 KJV
[10] to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

May you receive grace to access and effectively explore new portals of God's grace in Jesus name, Amen.

Welcome to August, your month of deeper kingdom exploration!

07/05/2024

*Baal had prophets... And they did prophesy!*

1Ki 18:26-29 KJV
And they took the bullock which was given to them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

And it came to pass, when midday was past, *and they prophesied* until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

What prophecy? Baal is anti-God; the prophecies of his prophets are always anti-church and anti-Christ! That is why Apostle Paul encouraged us to *judge prophecies* - because even genuine prophets could be inspired by Baal to give anti-God prophecies if they're careless with their lifestyle.

1Co 14:29 KJV
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

Some time ago, I was planning to attend an international conference. As I prayed, the Holy Spirit whispered into my heart, *"Builders of Babylon"*. The fact that it was a conference taking place inside a church, organized by a globally renowned pastor, and attended by thousands of leaders doesn't prevent it from being hijacked by the devil!

Recently, a prophecy is circulating about church attendance dwindling, and that pastors should connect with para-church ministries. The second part looks good especially to those of us in the para-church ministries but when that prophecy in its entirety is weighed in the scale of God's word, it is found wanting!

Check the scriptures, every time a true para-church ministry rises, the church as a whole becomes stronger, the same obtains in church history! If the success of your ministry is resulting in the weakening of the church, I don't care who you are, you're already inadvertently working for the growth of Babylon!

Dear youth, just imagine that you're given a beautiful house by your wealthy father. Then, after months of living in the house, you notice that it is being infected by rats. Rats are everywhere. Will you leave the house to live with the agent selling rat poison? If you did, what good would it do?

Friend, your local church is your Heavenly Father's house given to you to manage. It is an act of irresponsibility for you to vacate the house in the name of consecration! You must stay and fight for your Father's house. Rats (corruption) shouldn't become the landlord of the church while you're sitting at home!

Submission to church authority is needed for your healthy growth. Stop aligning with the prophecy of Baal. You can't relinquish God's house to rats and expect God to rejoice over you. You may buy rat poison from the para-church ministries (in case you can't make one by yourself) and use them to free your abode from the hands of the sons of Greece (Zech. 9:13)! Get back to church now!!!

Then, dear general, don't allow the king of rats (Beelzebub) to use you to weaken God's household. Philip's para-church ministry at Samaria led to the strengthening of the church. Apostle Paul's missionary work multiplied churches. Why will your case be different? You're not called to steal sheep, you're appointed to feed them. Beware!

Act 2:41-42 KJV
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

*And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship*, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

To be continued...

God bless you!

Gabriel

24/04/2024

Ours is a generation that romances God's goodness so much that we lose sense of His instructions. We lost our grip on the baton of responsibility; all we prefer is to celebrate our enjoyment of His favors, and then, in the midst of our feast, few of us discovered that the wine is finished while many others are still in deep slumber under the effects of past drink.

Shall we ever wake up? Shall we regain our sanity before the enemy of our soul assassinates us? O LORD, please, awaken us fully!

Dearest, here, we are not just getting informed: God is birthing in us the next newness our destiny requires, pouring into us the fresh wine we desire. Join us this Saturday; you will be glad you came!

17/04/2024

10/03/2024

*The Greatest Man of God in Lagos*

Sometimes in the year 2022, as I journeyed with the LORD in a personal covenant walk, the Lord came to me in a night vision saying, "Come, let me show you the greatest man of God in Lagos." I was excited but the more we journeyed, the less my excitement became. It happens that, as far as the LORD is concerned, the greatest minister of His in Lagos at the time was an unpopular fellow on an unpopular street with an unpopular ministry!

It was a humbling experience for my rather haughty mind, at the time, which thought that greatness with God is always accompanied with fame in the natural! I realized that human metrics of greatness are completely different from that of the divine scale!

Ohh, I may not be great in the sight of men, but, friend, I passionately seek to be great in the sight of the LORD. So, the LORD reminded me of this scripture 👇

Matthew 18:4
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Greatness before God stands on two legs - faithfulness and humility!

Stay faithful to your call whether it's behind the scene or on the stage. The One who sees in the secret is watching, and no matter how great God has elevated you, always remember that all you have was a gift from Him, so celebrate the Giver and Lifter only and stay small in your own eyes!

Luk 19:17 KJV
And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

I don't want earthly media to name me the Greatest Minister, but I sincerely desire both the heavenly and eternal media to tag my name with the comment:

*Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.*

How about you? You can't pursue both at the same time. The pursuit of greatness with men is on a track diametrically opposite to the pathway of greatness with God. Choose wisely!

God bless you, and, Happy Sunday!

Author: Samuel Gabriel.

13/02/2024

*FGO*

Some people love food so much we tag them FFO (For Food Only). In the same vein, there are also the FSO's (For Self Only) - those who love themselves more than anything else - and the FPO's (For Pleasure Only). Meanwhile, the Holy Spirit is looking for the FGO's - For God Only!

If you're an FGO,
All your gaze will be on the Lord,
All your expectations will be from Him,
Your life isn't so dear to you that you can't lose it for the Lord's sake,
You value God's presence rather than men's praises,
You prefer to die rather than deny the Lord!

In the Babylonian empire, four men stood out - Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah! Among all the royal jews selected for training in King Nebuchadnezzar's institute, they were the only FGO's! Some were trying to be so politically correct that they ate foods sacrificed to idols - the King's meat and his drink! Others loved themselves too much to deny their flesh of such delicacies. Then, there were those too scared to stand their ground - they could lose their heads in the process!

Friend, which one are you - an FFO, FSO, FPO or FGO?

Obadiah, like Elijah, was an FGO. While Elijah was the voice publicly calling down the fire of judgment on the idolatrous government of King Ahab, Obadiah was the hand that secretly protected 100 prophets of God from the sword of evil Jezebel. He risked his life for God's purposes, an FGO indeed!

FGO's are ever God-conscious!
FGO's are Spirit-driven, not gain-driven!
FGO's are God lovers, not lovers of money!
FGO's pray to expand the kingdom, not to create their own kingdom!
FGO's dress to please God, not to impress men!
FGO's are the driving forces behind all meaningful kingdom advancements!

They're not many, but they are effective!
They're scattered everywhere, coordinated by the General Commander of the Kingdom - the Holy Spirit Himself!
They don't envy others; they are sure of their own destiny lane!
They don't intrude into other men's assignments; they don't break ranks!

Money doesn't move them. Fame isn't their aim. Their goals aren't self-made. Their visions aren't from personal ambitions. They're voices, not noises; they're not copycats, neither are they echoes. They only take steps as ordered by the Lord, not by greed! The Lord's "yes" is their command! They have learned to place their ears close to the chest of the Almighty to hear His heartbeats!

Their cry is always "Thine kingdom come! Thine will, not mine, be done!" And their voices always command utmost respect in the heavenlies! Have you joined the FGO's or you're still playing in the little leagues of the FFO's, FSO's and FPO's? Think, act and join the league of the champions now - the FGO's! The Holy Spirit is waiting for you with open arms!

2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him....

God bless you!

09/02/2024

Malachi 3:10-12 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

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Do I still believe in tithing?

Of course, yes, with all the fiber of my being - no doubt at all!

Anyone may doubt theoretical facts but only a fool doubts proofs.

When you have experience with God on certain things, thousands of eloquent preachers cannot confuse you to opt out of it.

My counsel: Never stop doing what is working for you in Christ!

God bless you!