TIME FOR MASS DEPARTURE FROM THE FAITH Preached On Friday, 27th November, 2020 By Brother Lucky Chikezie At Pastor wisdom’s house, Enugu
THERE IS A LEVEL OF DISCIPLINE THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE MANIFESTED BY SOMEBODY WHO OCCUPIES A POSITION. IF THAT THING IS NOT SEEN, THERE MAY BE TROUBLE ALONG THE WAY. IF YOU CAN IMBIBE THESE TEACHINGS, THE WORLD WILL STAND UP FOR ALL OF YOU. THIS PRESENT WORLD FILLED WITH ROTTEN SPIRIT MUST SURELY STAND UP FOR YOU.
OPEN YOUR EYES TO SPIRITUAL DANGER [THE GREATNESS OF SIMPLICITY EXPALINED]; Preached on Sunday 31st January 2016;
Pg. 48 vs. 29 – 30
CHAPTER 1
WE ARE THE SOLDIERS OF CHRIST
Worshipping God is not merry making. We really thank God who in His infinite mercy has gathered us in His presence once again. There is no other better place we can find ourselves if not in the presence of God.
2. God said that as we see the day approaching, we should continue in the already established truth to which God has already espoused us, if we must survive, for we have arrived at that prophetic time which the Scriptures called, “Perilous times”, where it will be very difficult for anyone to retain his status as a child of God.
3. It can only take God [the spirit of God in the heart of man] for one to remain steadfast in the Faith wherein we are called. And there is no way one can be serious with the Faith; there is no way one can remain steadfast except when he has the fear of God in him. IT CAN ONLY TAKE A SEED OF GOD TO OBEY GOD NO MATTER THE SITUATION.
4. So, this evening, without wasting much of our time, I want to encourage us with the already established truth which God has given to us, seeing that the days are full of evil.
5. It is very expedient that we keep on encouraging ourselves more especially, we the youths, so that we do not fall by the wayside like many have fallen already, for many have fallen.
6. As many that are still spiritually alive will know that many have fallen. And I want us to understand that the revival that is still in our heart for which cause we are always beclouded by the things of God, is not the same in the life of everybody. Many are out of the way of truth.
7. When we go through the Messages, we will know that this is the predicted hour which God predicted from the very beginning, and that when we shall come to this stage, the Word of God will only be found in the hearts of the Elect, for many will now depart from the truth.
8. They will be engulfed by worldly things; material things; things that have no eternal value. There and then, they will forget what the hour calls for.
9. However, as many as are within the few God has selected, and decided to co-opt into His family, they are still blossoming in the Faith of Christ.
10. Follow me to the scriptures. I will try to make this Message brief to enable us get what God has in stock for us today. I want to lay a little background.
11. 2 Timothy 2:1-7. Living Bible: So you, my son, be strong (strengthened inwardly) in the grace (spiritual blessing) that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus.
12. I repeat: So you, my son,… This is Saint Paul encouraging Timothy just like THE SON OF MAN is encouraging the youths of today, telling us that He wants to see the Timothy of our day; the Titus of our day; the Silvanus of our day; and the Samuel of our day.
13. Hence, it is now left for us to follow the footstep of those youths recommended by God. What is more? They met God’s standard for which course they had good testimony before God.
14. The same way we could see those who went astray being x-rayed in the scriptures.
15. Saint Paul said, “So you, my son, be strong (strengthened inwardly) in the grace (spiritual blessing) that is [to be found only] in Christ Jesus.
16. And the instructions which you have heard from me along with many witnesses, transmit and entrust [as a deposit] to reliable and faithful men who will be competent and qualified to teach others also.
17. In other words, you have no right to handle the Word of God if you are not faithful and qualified by God. Let us forget about married people in this Faith for now.
18. There is something I want us to understand. When you come to the Messages of THE SON OF MAN (Almighty God), if you are a child, there is a standard; there are qualities meant and required of you.
19. There is a standard God has placed for all the children. We have a standard for sisters. We have a standard for brothers. And we have a standard for youths.
20. God placed a standard for judging those we call mentally retarded people. Hence, He (God) said that on that day, He will judge including the mentally deranged people with His own standard which He has placed for them.
21. To whom much is given, much is expected. So, to all the youths in the Bridal Faith, I am concentrating my Message on us.
22. We are the youths, and we are the pillars of this Faith. God has handed the mantle of this Ministry into the hands of the youths, but it is quite unfortunate that many of the youths have worked away from the truth.
23. Instead of holding firm to the Message which God has handed down to us, they have gone astray. They have followed the footsteps of their parents.
24. As we continue in this Message, we will know why many have gone astray, for God said, “If you do not teach them; if you do not set a standard; if you have not soaked yourself with the Word of God, how do you expect your children to work perfect before God.
25. This is because it is that which you have, that you will give to your children. If you do not have the fear of God in you as a parent, how do you expect to have children that will fear God?
26. Verse 3: Take with me your share of hardship. This is where I want to emphasize. Take with me your share of hardship and suffering which you are called to endure.
27. THE REASON WHY MANY HAVE GONE ASTRAY IS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT READY TO ENDURE THE HARDSHIP WITH GOD.
28. WORSHIPPING GOD IS NOT MERRY-MAKING. YOU HAVE TO BE READY TO ENDURE THE HARD SUFFERING WITH GOD.
29. Check all the messengers of God in all the dispensation. They have always passed through rigorous ways in one way or the other.
30. THE WAY TO PARADISE HAS NEVER BEEN A ROSY PATH. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A HARD WAY, AND IT IS ONLY THE VIOLENT THAT CAN MAKE IT.
31. The Scripture made us to understand that it can only take the violent to make it. In other words, it is not an easy road. So, you must come out and face whatever that will come out of it.
32. HENCE, WHEN YOU ARE NOT READY TO ENDURE THE HARD SUFFERINGS WITH GOD, DEFINITELY YOU MUST MAKE A SHIPWRECK. THAT IS JUST THE TRUTH ABOUT IT.
33. Take with me your share of hardship and suffering which you are called to endure as a good first class soldier of Christ Jesus.
34. Are we getting the Message? God said that we should be ready to endure the hardship with God.
35. WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO SERVE GOD, YOU ARE CALLED TO SHARE IN HIS SUFFERING. THIS HAS BEEN THE PATH OF ALL THAT WALKED WITH GOD.
36. THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN BE WALKING WITH GOD AND EXPECT EVERYTHING TO WALK OUT VERY SMOOTH FOR YOU. IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED. AND IT WILL NOT START IN OUR OWN DAY.
37. Check all who left the Faith. These are the people that engulfed themselves with worldly affairs, because they are not ready to walk with God. Amen.
38. Verse 4: No soldier when in service gets entangled with the enterprises of civilian life. When you read it from Living Bible, it says that no true soldier of Christ entangles himself with the affairs of this world.
39. No soldier when in service gets entangled with the enterprises of civilian life. His aim is to satisfy and please the one who enlisted him.
40. There is no way you can ever succeed in this Faith without having an icon you will look up to. All who succeeded and has been succeeding are those who placed God as their example; those who have been patterning after God.
41. But as many who think they can make it out of their own reasoning, look at where they have landed themselves, for which cause it is only few that is still remaining in this Faith. I want us to know this fact.
42. What is more? The number is narrowing down every day. Let us never lose sight of this.
43. And if anyone enters competitive games,…Look at the illustrations being given to us in this Scripture for us to know it is never an easy way. You must be a soldier for you to make it.
44. A true soldier respects himself. Hence, he works in accordance to the training he received. A true soldier does not mess himself up like other paramilitary personnel. For us to succeed in this Faith, we must be true soldiers of Christ.
45. Verse 5: And if anyone enters competitive games, he is not crowned unless he competes lawfully (fairly according to the rules laid down). Brethren, is it not true?
46. It is a hardworking farmer,…Another illustration. It is a hardworking farmer [who labours to produce] who must be the first partaker of the fruits.
47. Can we see it? If you do not labour, how can you reap the rich benefit[s]? It is at the point when you have successfully patterned yourself after God, that the spirit of Christ can be found in you.
48. Think over these things I am saying [understand them and grasp their application], for the Lord will grant you full insight and understanding in everything. AMP. Amen.
49. Follow me to 2nd Timothy chapter 4 verse 1. I want us to understand something. This is just the background. I am yet to enter the main message. I am reading from Amplified:
50. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus. Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom:
51. Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems favourable or unfavourable.
52. I read from New International Version. In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
53. Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; Be what? …be prepared in season and out of season.
54. GOD EXPECTS US TO REMAIN OBEYING. GOD SAID THAT WE MUST BE CONSISTENT AND CONSTANT FOR US TO MAKE IT. CONSISTENCY AND CONSTANCY.
55. God does not want us to be erratic in nature. Today you obey; And tomorrow, you are found disobeying. It is not what God demands from us.
56. …be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
57. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
58. Brethren, is it not what is happening? God said that a day is coming when there will be famine of the Word of God, for which cause we are glorifying God everyday Who in His infinite love and mercy deemed it fit and necessary to preserve His Word so that in due course as many are the Elect can have something to lay hold on.
59. Watch all who are not taking these Messages serious. They are the people that have fallen by the wayside. How can you remain steadfast in this Faith without equipping yourself with these Messages that God has given to us?
60. Even when God has made it available to us, nobody is interested over the things of God again. And it should not be so to us. Amen.
61. As many as are sincere; as many as are desirous of eternal life, we should strive to make sure that this spirit that has possessed many will not be mentioned around us.
62. Hence, this is what causes second spiritual captivity of the devil. What provoked this Scripture was the Message that went forth recently where names of Elders flashed.
63. What is more? At the mention of any, God was replying, “Once upon a time.” Why was it tagged on their names? They fell from their estates. They never upheld their past commendations.
64. Please, as many as are still standing, let us strive that such remark should not be mentioned around us. Let us be conscious of this, Brethren.
65. Many have fallen away from the Faith. They have become good-for- nothing. Nominal worshippers.
66. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
67. Did we not hear this statement in the first Scripture that was read? God said that we should endure hardship. There is no country in the world that is not passing through hard times now.
68. This is the time when many in the bid to meet up, will be caught up with the world, thereby going out of the way of truth. They will lose sight of the fact that what we are seeing now had already been predicted.
69. We should learn to endure with Christ. The Almighty Himself, THE SON OF MAN, is He getting things easily now? No. No matter the squeeze, He has maintained His stand. He has remained faithful. He has remained gallant.
70. Verse 9: Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica.
71. Because he loved this world, he has done what? Deserted me. I was going through a Message titled, “THINGS YOU MUST WATCH OUT FOR O YOUTH MINISTER.” This Message was handled in the year 2019.
72. There, God was saying that all the ancient ministers have fallen by the wayside. Hardly can you hear from any of them that he has a Message.
73. This is because they have encumbered themselves with material possessions and with material affairs. Hence, they have no spirit of God in them again.
74. Why am I rehearsing all these things? It is so that we will not be numbered among such people, for it is a spirit. And there is no way you can be captured the second time by the devil until you have lost sight of all these indices, for these are cankerworms that eat a man of God (A child of God).
75. Seeing that God has handed this Faith into the hands of youths, we should not be a tool in the hand of the devil like our fathers, for which cause they have been dropped from the heavenly race.
76. From Amplified verse 10: 10 For Demas has deserted me for love of this present world and has gone to Thessalonica; YOU CANNOT DENY THIS FAITH UNTIL YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS PRESENT WORLD.
77. Crescens [has gone] to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very helpful to me for the ministry.
78. Let us take side with God and never allow our names to be mentioned for evil as we could see here. Let us not bask on our past glory.
79. Rather, be that one man who will always take side with God, upholding this Faith and looking up to Him who has called us unto glory, for He is more than able to preserve us if ONLY we shall remain faithful to Him. Amen.
CHAPTER 2
KNOWING YOUR STATUS IN CHRIST
THE LAST MINUTE REVOLUTION IS IN THE HANDS OF THE YOUTHS. This is still the background. This message was preached on 21st of July, 2019. Vol. 1, chapter 1 verse 40 through 44.
2. You are a solder of Christ, recruited by Christ and for that reason you do not entangle yourself in the affairs of civilians.
3. A gallant soldier has nothing to do with civilian; We must be gallant soldiers for us to succeed.
4. …and you are trained to overcome the devil and all his agents because it takes courage. It takes vision. It takes [I mean] strength, both inner strength and physical strength.
5. WHAT IS MORE? ONCE YOU ARE PHYSICALLY DEAD, YOU MUST BE SPIRITUALLY DEAD. THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN BE SPIRITUALLY DEAD AND PHYSICALLY AGILE. IMPOSSIBLE.
6. Watch all who because of worldly affairs left God Are they making any headway over there? No.
7. THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN MAKE ANY HEADWAY WITHOUT GOD. YOU HAVE NO FUTURE OUTSIDE GOD, FOR IT TAKES GOD TO ESTABLISH YOUR PLAN. IF YOU MAKE ANY PLAN WITHOUT GOD ESTABLISHING IT, YOU ARE GOING NOWHERE.
8. Check! At that point when you commit your life to God, everything around you will be moving to your favour.
9. THE REASON WHY WE ARE MAKING SHIPWRECK, NOT BEING FAITHFUL IS BECAUSE WE HAVE NEVER FOR ONE DAY COMMITTED OUR WHOLE LIFE TO GOD OR SURRENDER OUR WHOLE LIFE TO CHRIST.
10. IT IS AT THE POINT WHERE YOU COMMIT YOUR LIFE TO CHRIST, THAT THINGS WILL BEGIN TO MOVE TO YOUR FAVOUR.
11. THE REASON WHY WE ARE NOT MAKING ANY HEADWAY IN THIS FAITH IS BECAUSE WE HAVE NEVER FOR ONE DAY SUBMITTED OUR ENTIRE BEING TO GOD.
12. You can imagine God coming down to the point of challenging us to try Him and see; “Obey Me and see how your life will look like.” How many of us have made the effort, let it be that God disappointed you?
13. Check all who submitted to God’s leadership, their testimonies have been glorious.
14. If you are a seed of God and you are a Minister of the gospel, and you are weak physically, you are also weak spiritually.
15. Once you are strong in the spirit, you are strong physically. That is why nobody answers an old man while serving the LORD. The older you are, the stronger you become.
16. That is why the Bible enjoins us to be strong in the LORD and in the power of His resurrection.
17. Many are now fallen soldiers. God said that a hero is one that survived the war. How can you relax when your enemy is still waging war?
18. Brethren! I am saying that there is no man of God, even in the time of old, who served God in spirit and in truth, who had it light. Trace the Scriptures.
19. Even the man called Job. A time came when his faith was tested. He lost all that he had just for this same gospel. It was after the testing that his faith was confirmed.
20. So there is no way you can make it when your eye is still fixed on worldly things. You must take your eyes away from the world for you to succeed.
21. When God was commending our Bishop Joe Ukpong, He said that the Bishop endured hardship. And that in all hardship and suffering, the bishop remained faithful.
22. ARE YOU A SOLDIER OF CHRIST OR A SPECTATOR OF CHRIST? Preached on 2ndFebruary, 2003. Page 31 verses 9-11. Who is a physical soldier? A soldier is one that enrolled in the Army. A soldier is one that is a member of the Army.
23. A soldier may forget everything but there is one that he cannot forget. What is that thing that he cannot forget? He cannot forget how to handle riffle.
24. What is our armour today? The Word of God. And once the Word of God is not found in you, definitely, you are an empty barrel.
25. And there is no way you will not fall by the wayside. You must be captured by the affairs of this world and by so doing, you are spiritually dead.
26. He cannot forget how to shoot with riffle. What am I saying? If you said that you are a seed of God and you forget the Word, you are not a member of the army of Christ.
27. You are not a soldier because you cannot shoot with your riffle. You cannot handle the riffle accordingly. I am still describing a physical soldier.
28. Who is a physical soldier? A physical soldier always opens his ears to hear from his commander, in order to obey him.
29. Who is our commander today? The Almighty God. So if we the youths whom God has co-opted into this Ministry to drive this Ministry unto a successful end now remove our ears and eyes from the Commander who is the standard for judgment in this dispensation, definitely we must fall like our fathers. Hence, we must be forgotten.
30. What is more? It is only very few that is still standing even among the youths. Let us forget about whatever that is happening among our parents; ancient men.
31. God is already done with many of them. They have disappointed themselves, thinking they have disappointed God. Why should we disappoint God? How are the mighty fallen?
32. Upon all the confidence that God reposed on us the youths, look at what is happening today. Many are no longer desirous of eternal life. Many are no longer desirous of the Messages.
33. Many are no longer desirous of whatever that is happening in this Bridal Faith. Their ears and their eyes are now outside in the world. They now prefer worldly life for which cause it is now very few that is standing.
34. A physical soldier always open his ears to hear from his commander, in order to obey him. What is more? His eyes are always open to receive a sign or call from his Commander so as not to disobey him.
35. Any day he disobeys him, maybe as a result of not being attentive to hear or maybe sleeping when he is supposed to be awake to receive a sign from his Commander, he is gone.
36. He is what? Gone and gone forever. These Messages are for our learning. Brethren, let us pay strict attention.
37. “YOU ARE NOT TOO FAR FROM THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; VOL.1; Preached on 15thDecember, 2019. Chapter 1 verse 54 through 58.
38. Please I am still laying a background. Once I strike the message, I will come down.
39. I will use everything to make you understand Me. I hope I am making sense. These are earthly Generals, but I am a Heavenly General. I say, I AM THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF OF THE HOSTS OF THE ARMY OF HEAVEN.
40. Then, if you are destined to be in heaven, you must pass through the rigours of My training as a soldier of Christ.
41. Brethren, is it not what we have been hearing? The necessity for us to be soldiers of Christ. For you to be a soldier of Christ, you must pass through rigorous training, hardship and sufferings with God, especially now that we are at the time of waiting.
42. Remember that there is no way we can make it if not by giving ear to our Commander. Once you remove your eyes from the Commander; once you remove your eyes from the Head, definitely, the world must consume you.
43. You must be enticed by worldly things. Your life will be in danger. In the last Message we read, it said that once you remove your eyes either because of sleep or any other thing, at that point you are gone. You must be captured the second time by the devil and there is no remedy.
44. Then, if you are destined to be in heaven, you must pass through the rigours of My training as a soldier of Christ.
45. [1] You must be recruited into the Army of Christ. [2] Receive the requisite training as a soldier, like saint Paul received as a soldier of Christ,…for which cause he was advising Timothy to be strong both in season and out of season.
46. YOU MUST BE GALLANT, MAINTAINING THE STRICTNESS, FOR THERE ARE TOO MANY THINGS THAT WILL COME TO DISTRACT YOUR ATTENTION FROM THE CROWN.
47. [2] Receive the requisite training as a soldier, like saint Paul received as a soldier of Christ, so that you will know how you should comport yourself by putting on the whole armour.
48. [3] By day or by night, you must be clad in the military uniform. What is that military uniform? The Word of God. We must wear it as our breastplate; as our armour.
49. When you go to the Message HARD TRUTH, you will see the Bride being dressed with the Word of God.
50. [3] By day or by night, you must be clad in the military uniform. And the uniform is incomplete without the breastplate, without the helmet, without the boot and without the rifle, and always ready to combat all oppositions.
51. This is what the hour calls for. This is the reason why many have wandered away. They removed their uniform. They dosed off spiritually. They lost sight of the hour we are in.
52. What is more? Many stories are being told around them.
53. [4] And after fighting, you still remain resolute without losing your ground. That is a soldier. A soldier must be ready at all times to combat the devil.
54. I am looking forward to seeing the Teacher who will type it to the Scriptures of how you should wage a warfare in the Faith you are in. You are soldiers of Christ marching to Zion where the greatest battle is raging continually.
55. That is why you must know who you are and then know what is ahead of you, that you may know how to comport yourselves at all times. Otherwise, the enemy may take you captive.
56. They may capture you alive. And that is the worst thing that happens to a soldier who allows his opponents to capture him alive.
57. There is no other armour with which we have to combat the devil if not the Word of God, more especially now that we have come to the end of all things.
58. Remember that the period we are living in is the period that was prophesied by God. This is that time of waiting.
59. What is more? Between the time of promise and the time of its fulfillment, there must be a time of waiting. And it has been at the period of waiting that many will wander away.
60. For that reason, I have decided this evening to handle a topic which says, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN THE PERIOD OF WAITING THAT THE GREATEST UNBELIEF MANIFESTS.
61. I go straight to the message for which I have been laying the background.
62. The book of exodus chapter 32 verse 1. It has always been in the period of waiting that the greatest unbelief manifests. I will use only Amplified and Living Bible.
63. Let us pay strict attention here. I want to bring out accounts of people who could not wait upon the promise, for which cause they made shipwreck and fell into a disastrous ending. They failed before their target.
64. When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain,…
65. Note the word, “delayed”. To them, they saw that the promise is now overdue. It has taken much time.
66. Hence, “Every day you see God saying, “We have come to the end of all things”, yet nothing is happening.” They fail to know that we are at the time of waiting.
67. When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, [they] gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, Up, make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. AMP
68. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT THE TIME OF WAITING THAT THE GREATEST REBELLION MANIFESTS. The reason why we must be very, very careful.
69. What am I trying to say? It was at that point of worshipping foreign gods that Moses appeared. Why we must know the hour we are living in.
70. YOU CANNOT MAKE SHIPWRECK NOW UNTIL YOU FORGET THE HOUR YOU ARE IN. EVERY TRUE SEED OF GOD FOLLOWS THE MOVE OF GOD AND APPLIES THE NECESSARY THINGS NEEDED TO SURVIVE.
71. That is the difference between a true believer and a non-elect. Are we getting the message?
72. Mathew 25 verses 1 through 6. Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Another set of people who could not wait for the promise.
73. 2 Five of them were foolish (thoughtless, without forethought) and five were wise (sensible, intelligent, and prudent).
74. 3For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them;4But the wise took flasks of oil along with them… What is that oil? The Word of God.
75. It is only when you are empty that you will begin to desire the world. Once you lack oil (Word of God) you must fall prey into the hand of the devil.
76. But as long as you equip yourself on a daily basis with these Messages, standing gallantly before God as a true soldier of Christ, having the breastplate which is the Word of God around you, there is no way you can be captured by the devil.
77. But the wise took flasks of oil along with them [also] with their lamps.5 While the bridegroom lingered and was slow in coming,…This is where I want to strike.
78. Verse 5: While the bridegroom lingered and was slow in coming,…Time of waiting. …they all began nodding their heads, and they fell asleep.
79. The danger of removing your eyes from He Who has called you to honour and glory. They thought that the promise is no longer coming through.
80. They went into slumber. They went into captivity. They went into worldliness. They went into possessing material things. Then, what happened?
81. Verse 6: 6 But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him! AMP
82. To the foolish, they were already asleep. God told us to be awake for the night is far spent. This is no longer the time to sleep away your time.
83. God expects us to be spiritually alert and gallant. It takes one who is spiritually alert to know when the devil is trying to lure him out from the way of truth.
84. But one who is weak spiritually, he is a tool in the hand of the devil at all times. This is why many are falling away from the Faith on a daily basis. The number is reducing. Amen.
CHAPTER 3
FAILURE BEFORE TARGET
1st Samuel 13 verses 1 through 10. Amplified: I want us to see what befell all who could not wait upon the promises of God; who lost sight of the fact that between the time of promise and its fulfilment, there must be a time of waiting.
2. Let us see their fate, for when the history is forgotten, definitely the mistake[s]of the past must be repeated.
3. Saul was [forty] years old when he began to reign; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,2 Saul chose 3,000 men of Israel; 2,000 were with [him] in Michmash and the hill country of Bethel, and 1,000 with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent away, each one to his home.
4. 3 Jonathan smote the Philistine garrison at Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear!
5. 4All Israel heard that Saul had defeated the Philistine garrison and also that Israel had become an abomination to the Philistines. And the people were called out to join Saul at Gilgal.
6. 5 And the Philistines gathered to fight with Israel, 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen and troops like sand on the seashore in multitude. They came up and encamped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.
7. 6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a tight situation—for their troops were hard pressed—they hid in caves, holes, rocks, tombs, and pits or cisterns.
8. 7Some Hebrews had gone over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.
9. 8 Saul waited seven days,…Let us underline this point. …according to the set time Samuel had appointed.
10. Who appointed the time? Samuel the prophet; The God of that day. Saul could no longer wait for the promise, because he has waited for seven days. Let us see what happened.
11. Saul waited seven days, according to the set time Samuel had appointed But Samuel had not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from Saul.
12. 9So Saul said, Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering [which he was forbidden to do].
13. He went ahead to do that which he was forbidden to do because he was impatient.
14. FOR YOU TO EVER SUCCEED, YOU MUST BE PATIENT. YOU MUST HAVE LONGSUFFERING WITH GOD AS A TRUE SOLDIER DOES.
15. In a battle field, no soldier shoots a bullet out without the command of the Captain. Though he may see an opponent, he does nothing but follows the command and the instruction of the leader, for he knows the right time to attack. Hence, that is the spirit that God expects from us.
16. 10And just as he finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came! Saul went out to meet and greet him. AMP
17. This is the point I want to strike. Look at all we have read, of both Aaron and the golden calf. Was it not at that point when Aaron molded the strange god that Moses appeared?
18. Was it not after the foolish virgins left that the bridegroom appeared? Was it not at the point when Saul has waited thinking that the promise is no longer sure, and that the promise will no longer come to pass that Samuel appeared? Why we must be careful at this point in time.
19. Then what happened to Saul? Did he survive it? No! He paid dearly for it, for not hearkening to instruction. Why we must behave like soldiers who do nothing without their leader.
20. There is no way you can succeed as a soldier of Christ when you remove your eyes from the Leader just like we read it from the Scriptures and our Messages.
21. The book of Mathew chapter 26 verses 36 through 41. This is an account of Jesus and His disciples.
22. Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He told His disciples, Sit down here while I go over yonder and pray.
23. Do what? Sit down here. Is it an instruction? Just like we heard it from God saying, “I am going to ease the lockdown a little, but remain where you are. I am easing it to watch you from afar.”
24. Just like He ordered us to go home and then continue worshipping from there. Some continued as instructed, while many have left the Faith, behaving the way they like. They are mere observers.
25. What is more? As far as God liveth, they are all spiritually dead. They have departed from the Faith.
26. I am trying to say that ninety percent of the people in this Faith; brethren in this Faith are no longer a part of what God is doing. They have fallen away.
27. It can only take God to number the few that are still spiritually alive, and who are still maintaining the standard He has placed; and who are still following Him.
28. Let us pay attention. Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He told His disciples, Sit down here while I go over yonder and pray.
29. 37And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to show grief and distress of mind and was deeply depressed.
30. 38Then He said to them, My soul is very sad and deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and keep awake and keep watch with Me.
31. It was an instruction to keep awake with him. Stop sleeping for the night is far spent. Be awake with God, for the enemy is still fighting. Why should we sleep when the Master is still standing? Why sitting when He is still standing?
32. 39And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire.
33. 40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping,…
34. Was it the instruction? So to them he has overstayed. That is why they went into sleeping. Why we must be careful and know the hour we are living in.
35. If these things do not come to pass, how can the scripture be fulfilled? These things are written afar off that we might be zealous and avoid repeating them.
36. If there be any who fails to take God serious, he must be numbered among these people whose fate we can see from the Scriptures. They must depart from the truth as we can see many departed already.
37. Why is this Message coming to us this hour? It is so that we will know the hour we are living in and then quit ourselves as gallant soldiers, for it has always been in the time of waiting that the greatest unbelief manifests.
38. It has always been in the time of waiting that the greatest rebellion manifests. You see Ministers departing from the truth. Nobody is alive again. They have all died. Only few are alive. We are receiving Messages from God on a daily basis.
39. All those notable Ministers, where are they? Where are their Messages? All of them are dead. Why we must be spiritually alive and make sure that we are not numbered among such people who have lost sight of their calling in Christ, thinking that they are doing it for God.
40. And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, What! Are you so utterly unable to stay awake and keep watch with Me for one hour?41 All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. AMP
41. Why must we be weak spiritually? Remember what God said, “There is no way you can be spiritually weak and physically strong. Once you are spiritually weak, it must manifest physically.” Amen.
CHAPTER 4
AS WE SEE THE DAYS APPROACHING
KNOWING YOUR STATUS IN CHRIST page 39 verses 47 through 60. It is a lengthy reading. This Message was preached on 9th September, 2010.
2. It is a combination of two messages, “[1] KNOWING YOUR STATUS IN CHRIST AND [2] THE RESURRECTED BODY EXPLAINED.”
3. Note it. I am using these illustrations to confirm the Message. All we have been hearing this evening, this is the summary.
4. Your days are numbered. Your days are numbered. Whatever that has a beginning must have an end. I am the One that placed all of you in the waiting condition.
5. Brethren, are we hearing it? Is it not God that placed us in the waiting condition where we are today? Then how many are still waiting with God? Many have left the Faith. Many have fallen by the wayside.
6. I am the One that placed all of you in the waiting condition. I told you to wait: “This is where you will wait.” I have brought you where He said I should bring you and then ask you to wait for further instruction.
7. THERE IS ALWAYS A PERIOD OF WAITING.IN ADDITION, I WARNED YOU SERIOUSLY TO BE VERY CAREFUL WHILE YOU ARE WAITING BECAUSE IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DURING THE PERIOD OF WAITING THAT THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE STRAY AWAY.
8. IT IS IN THIS PERIOD OF WAITING THAT MANY LEADERS EMERGE. IT IS THIS PERIOD OF WAITING THAT EVEN, GRAVEN IMAGES ARE MOULDED; FALSE DOCTRINES EMERGE BECAUSE THAT PERIOD OF WAITING IS A TESTING TIME.
9. God must test the faith of the faithful. The faith of Abraham was tested before he received the promise. What is more? Before the promise came to Abraham, there was a time of waiting.
10. God promised Abraham and between the time of the promise and its fulfilment, there was a time of waiting. Abraham remained faithful even at the time of waiting.
11. A TRIAL OF YOUR OBEDIENCE. YOU THINK GOD IS SOMEWHERE, NO! HE IS ALSO WAITING WITH YOU.
12. Brethren, is it not true? God is here waiting with us. Why should we now be in haste? Why should we not wait with God? Why should we remove our eyes from the leader especially when we know that He is passing through the same condition with us?
13. Remember it was during the period of waiting that Aaron looked round with the people that do not know what was become of evil.
14. It was when they fumbled, when they went into idolatry, immediately, Moses appeared; the damage has been done.
15. It was during the period of waiting of seven days that Saul performed the work of the priest leaving his own country. Immediately he fumbled, Samuel appeared.
16. WHY WE MUST BE CAREFUL. WHEN HISTORY IS FORGOTTEN, THE MISTAKE[S] OF THE PAST MUST BE REPEATED.
17. It was during the time of waiting that people began to think that the promise was of non-effect, simply because they were given the opportunity to marry and be given in to marriage, make money, build mansions if they like, buy aeroplane if they want; they now think that the end of the journey was just eating, drinking, die and go away. They think that the essence of God labouring means man die go.
18. They do not know that God is ever mindful of His promise. That He that made the promise is more than able to keep His promise. That God made the promise with an oath and it is a perpetual promise.
19. Watch what was happening in the Bride of Christ. From the year 2002, I asked you to wait till today. I placed you on hold since 2002 at His command. I had been watching on all of you. All that abandoned the Faith, abandoned from 2003, up till today.
20. Even many that are still in our midst, they are still in our midst because they have no other place to go.
21. Is it not what is happening today? Many are just answering members of the Bride of Christ Ministries because they do not know where else to go.
22. It is only those who are courageous enough that come out fully to showcase their stand, just like we heard from God. Many are now following their friends to attend other churches. That is what is happening.
23. Why? They have forgotten the promise. They have forgotten that this promise was made with an oath. Hence, He that made the promise is still waiting with us. We will know the essence of waiting.
24. Even many that are still in our midst, they are still in our midst because they have no other place to go.
25. They do not know what to do anymore. They do not know that God Who placed them on hold was supervising their activities, and every move. The essence of placing you on hold was to trim down the crowd.
26. Can we see it Brethren? God is indeed the wisest Being. He said that the essence of placing us on hold is to trim down the crowd. Why? Because it has always been in the time of waiting that the greatest unbelief manifests.
27. And within this period, almost all your ministers had become idolaters. Almost all your Elders have made themselves idolaters by creating many things before God.
28. Almost all of them had indulged in slander, blasphemy and every kind of wild profligacy. Without restraint, many had even challenged God’s words. Many had mingled with God’s greatest enemies.
29. Can we now see why, each one whose name is mentioned, we hear God saying, “Once upon a time! That was before.”
30. Pastor this. “That was before.” Evangelist this. “That was before.” Apostle this. “That was before.” How many is still standing? Why? Because they have wandered away.
31. Many had even indulged in practices capable of destabilizing the Faith. If not for the solid foundation where the Faith is standing, they would have destabilized it.
32. Among them are Pastors, Apostles, Teachers, Deacons, Evangelists, Bishops and the likes.
33. Who is then free? If you can go back to the Message titled, GOD TAKES RECORD OF INIQUITIES, you search it in the library or in your jotters, you will get it.
34. If you ever recorded such a thing, who is then free? Who has not blasphemed? Who has not ridiculed this Faith and ridiculed even THE SON OF MAN?
35. Who has not joined hands even with God’s greatest enemy to speak words of blasphemy? Let him speak and face THE SON OF MAN.
36. Were you not told ahead of time: “I am sending my Angel before you, He is bearing My Name. Follow Him wherever He will lead you, for I am the One that is going before Him.
37. Do not go to the right; do not go to the left Fix your eyes on Him for you had never gone this way before. Be careful that you do not provoke Him to anger, for He will never, never pardon your transgression.”
38. When Jesus appeared, He said, “If you sin against the Father, you will be forgiven. You sin against the Son, you will be forgiven.
39. But when He the (Holy Spirit) the Spirit of Truth shall come, you speak against Him, sin against Him, you will never, never be forgiven in this world nor in the world to come.” Is it not scriptural?
40. Jesus Christ said, “I have many things I would have told you but you cannot bear them now, nevertheless, when He, the Spirit of Truth shall come, He shall lead you to all truths for He shall not speak of Himself but whatsoever He heareth from me that He will declare unto you.”
41. Remember, “I will declare!” If you had known that what is allotted to you to bring you home is the Holy Ghost; what is a Ghost? Is a Ghost not visible? What is allotted to you is the Holy Ghost, to bring you home. What will wrap the programme up is the Holy Ghost. What God promised to bring you home is the Holy Ghost.
42. Moreover, He knew ahead of time that the tendency is there that when He shall appear many are likely to offend Him, He warned ahead of time. Who is free? Because when we talk about people ridiculing, blaspheming the Faith, we have our eyes on some people.
43. From 2002 He placed you on waiting place to hold on, you think the promise is of non-effect? What is more, God went ahead of time to tell you that between the promise and the fulfilment, there is always a period of waiting. Let us never forget this fact.
44. GOD SAID THAT THIS TRANSLATION WILL NEVER HAPPEN UNTIL IT IS RIDICULED TO OBLIVION.
45. From the Scriptures we read earlier, all who could not wait for the promise, what happened to them? They suffered for it. They paid dearly. Why we must be careful.
46. I will not persuade you anymore. St. Paul in his day persuaded all men to believe him. I don’t persuade you to believe so as to escape the wrath of God for you are already living in the wrath of God.
47. Brethren, is it not true? We are already living judgment of God. Is the wrath of God not upon the earth? The judgement is already here.
48. For the judgement of God must finish with you before it will extend to the world. For God’s judgement will start in His house, among those that said that they believe Him. Amen.
CHAPTER 5
THE FAITH OF AN OVERCOMER
Having known this, brethren, what then is expected of us? In conclusion, follow me to the book of 2nd Peter 3 verse 9, Amplified.
2. The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness,…
3. Can we see why nobody worships God based on his or her feelings and conception? Once you follow God using your sense, you must crash-land.
4. The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance. AMP
5. Will God continue to wait? We have come to the end of all things.
6. Hebrews chapter 6 verses 13 through 15. Amplified. for when God made His promise to Abraham, He swore by Himself, since He had no one greater by whom to swear, Saying, Blessing I certainly will bless you and multiplying I will multiply you.
7. AND SO IT WAS THAT HE [ABRAHAM], HAVING WAITED LONG AND ENDURED PATIENTLY,…Brethren, underline this place.
8. Abraham did what? Waited long, L.O.N.G. Did God not tell us that we are going to stay long at the gate? God said it. Then why getting tired when the journey is still on?
9. And so it was that he [Abraham], having waited long and endured patiently, realized and obtained [in the birth of Isaac as a pledge of what was to come] what God had promised him.
10. We must be patient with God. The faith of Abraham was tested before the promise was made manifest. Testing from God can come in many ways.
11. James 1 verses 2 through 4. Amplified: Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.
12. God cannot try us outside what we have been taught. When a student is prepared, he does not fear any question. What is more? He knows that the question must definitely come from what he was taught. That is why he receives it with joy. Why? Because he is prepared. He is fortified.
13. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.
14. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed with no defects, lacking in nothing.
15. God said that we should have a word bank in our heart so that at all times, we will be combat-ready to wage war with the devil. Fortify yourself with the Word of God. Amen.
16. Hebrews chapter 12 verses 1 through 3. Living Bible and Amplified. What is expected of us now.
17. Living bible: Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us from the grandstands, let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; and let us run with patience…
18. Let us run with what? Patience. …the particular race that God has set before us. Let us never forget that this race is about to be terminated. This is the time that we need to exercise the greatest patience; longsuffering.
19. 2 Keep your eyes on Jesus, our leader and instructor. He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy he knew would be his afterwards; and now he sits in the place of honor by the throne of God.
20. 3 If you want to keep from becoming fainthearted and weary, What? If you want to keep from becoming fainthearted and weary, think about his patience as sinful men did such terrible things to him. LB
21. Brethren, this is what we need at this point in time. Longsuffering and patience. We must be true soldiers of Christ for us to succeed. We must be ready to suffer with God, for the road to Paradise has never been an easy way. It has been a rough and hard way. This is why it takes the violent to make it. Amen.
22. The book of Isaiah chapter 40 verse 31. Amplified: But those who wait for the Lord [Who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
23. SONG: [They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as an eagle. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. Teach me Lord; Teach Lord to wait.]
24. Brethren! Finally, follow me to the book of Psalm chapter 37 verses 7 through 9. Living Bible: Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for him to act. Do what?
25. Wait patiently for Him to act, for by and by, the long-awaited promise must definitely come to pass. Has He promised? Yes!
26. Wait for it, for it shall not overstay even a single day. There is a day that has been allotted for it. Let us keep waiting, watching and obeying for He who has promised is more than able to bring it to pass.
27. Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for him to act. Don’t be envious of evil men who prosper. Stop your anger! Turn off your wrath. Don’t fret and worry. It only leads to harm.
28. For the wicked shall be destroyed, but those who trust the Lord shall be given every blessing.
29. Amplified version: Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him; Do what? Wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him;…
30. Lean yourself upon Him for He is more than able to keep that which is committed into His hands against that day.…fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.
31. When we remember the glory that awaits us, there would not be any need to join the world.
32. 8Cease from anger and forsake wrath; fret not yourself—it tends only to evildoing.
33. 9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord For they who do what?…but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord[in the end] shall inherit the earth. AMP
34. This is the much I want to share with us this evening. As we wait, lean and look up to God. He will never never disappoint us. To God be the glory.