Repentance as key to realignment of leadership

By John Abiola

1Pet.5.2 – Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers–not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;

1Pet.5.3 – not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

Ezek. 34.2 – “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?

Ezek. 34.3 – You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.

Ezek. 34.4 – You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

Ezek. 34.5 – So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered, they became food for all the wild animals.

Ezek. 34.6 – My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.

Ezek. 34.8 – As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock,

Ezek . 34.9 – therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD:

The first set of people God is always ready to deal with, work with, or demand a report from regarding His divine purpose are the leaders of His people.

They are those specially called to direct, guide, and feed the people. God’s intentional focus on leadership, whether in society, politics, or especially the Church, is rooted in this principle:

“It flows from the head.” The moral and spiritual depth of a people depends on the leaders over them.

In 2 Kings, we saw how Israel gradually declined from a life of consecration once idolatrous kings began to rule. The nation departed from the ways of God because its leaders turned away from Him.

Yet, when young King Josiah arose, he repented and moved in the spirit of reformation. He destroyed idol shrines, dismissed corrupt priests, restored true worship, and reestablished the covenant with God. Scripture records, “

No king like him turned to the Lord with all his heart.” 2 Kings 23

This confirms that the people realign with God only when their leaders first do so. It is a spiritual principle that remains true even today.

If leaders are impure, self-seeking, or spiritually blind, the people will reflect that same corruption. King Manasseh’s reign illustrates this:

“Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin.” 2 Kings 21:16

Nigeria’s Example

Nigeria today reflects this same principle. Reports worldwide reveal that Nigeria is among the most corrupt nations and one that sheds innocent blood at alarming rates. This reality has drawn global concern.

In October 2025, former U.S. President Donald J. Trump re-designated Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)” due to the ongoing genocide and persecution of Christians. He cited shocking statistics: over 3,100 Nigerian Christians killed, compared to 4,476 globally, making Nigeria the epicentre of anti-Christian violence.

The U.S. Congress, along with lawmakers like Rep. Riley Moore and Sen. Ted Cruz, is urging global action and sanctions against officials complicit in these atrocities. Trump emphasised that “The United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening in Nigeria.”

This renewed international attention should serve as a wake-up call for Nigerians, particularly the Church and national leaders, to repent and turn back to God genuinely. If repentance and salvation begin from the pulpits to the pews, and from political leaders to the people, righteousness will fill the land again. Only then can Nigeria be delivered from darkness, captivity, and divine judgment, as written in Jeremiah 36:3:

“It may be that the house… will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”
Proverbs 14:34: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people”.

The Weight of Leadership

The destiny of any nation or Church depends largely on its leaders. The early Church in Acts grew strong because its leaders were selfless and Spirit-led. In contrast, when leaders become idolatrous or worldly, the people soon follow.

If Church leaders love money, fame, and materialism, their members will mirror the same spirit. If leaders are prayerless, their congregations will be powerless. But if leaders live holy, mission-minded lives focused on repentance and salvation, the people will walk in righteousness, and revival will break forth. The society will change.

Also read God’s judgment on Nigeria and the coming revival: https://churchtimesnigeria.net/gods-judgement-on-nigeria-and-the-coming-revival/amp/

Until leaders repent of the idols in their hearts and deeds, there can be no true deliverance or restoration.
“The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones.” — Ezekiel 37:1

Many leaders today have lost touch with God in their lives. Even in the valley of dry bones, they no longer hear God’s voice saying, “Prophesy!” There is no burden for souls, no compassion for the poor, and no understanding of Christ’s death and resurrection. Secret sins and worldly desires have grieved the Holy Spirit, making His presence scarce.

Israel’s decay began when kings lost their consecration, and so it is today. The Church’s weakness is not mainly because of the people, but because of the shepherds guiding them.
“Shepherd the flock of God among you… not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not lording it over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.” 1 Peter 5:2–4

If leaders will return to God in contrite repentance, the Lord will once again move in power.

The Charge

God’s first concern is with leaders because He knows that the people are in danger when leadership has fallen. But His help is still available if leaders are willing to realign with Him.
In Ezekiel 34:5–6, God laments:
“So they were scattered because there was no shepherd… and no one searched or looked for them.”
When leaders lose sight and focus, the people become vulnerable to satanic attacks. This message is a call to illumination and restoration, that leaders, both spiritual and political, might repent and realign with God so His Spirit can flow freely again.

“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come quickly and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.” Revelation 2:5

Repentance is the key to restoration and divine synchronisation. The depth of God’s move in our generation still rests on the shoulders of His leaders. Let us humble ourselves before God, renounce pride, greed, and worldliness, and let the Holy Spirit flow again through us—reviving His Church, saving souls, and preparing the Bride for Christ’s return.

Under the Leadership of Evans Roberts, a repentance revival broke out that significantly brought results to the people in the Church and outside the Church.

According to historical records, it both affected the community spectrum, even as far as nationwide. Effects like widespread repentance and salvation, mass conversions, dramatic crime rate reduction, decrease in alcoholic consumption, stealing, public pubs and taverns empty, improvement in social immorality, restoration of relationships, restitution of debts and stolen goods, decline in sporting events, increased productivity in workforces, etc., were achieved. The effects spread globally.

That’s the power of effective spiritual leadership.
If the leaders are right with God, the people would feel the effect and enjoy the flow.
The charge is to repent now!

By John Abiola.
Revive Us Again series 112.

Contact Information:
For access to previous Revive Us Again messages or John Abiola’s book Stirring an Awakening, available online for free reading, contact: prophetjohnabiola97@gmail.com or globalintercessors7@gmail.com.

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