Christian unity week 30, 2013

“You should have told me of this zeal for missions. We need a vibrant representative at the mission board about to be formed.” How come a board is just coming up? Are you nominating me because you have a vision for new fields or because you want to stop their move? “Did I say I want to stop them from their outreach? Not at all! They can go on with whatever programs they wish; it is the welfare of your soul I am concerned about. I must give account on that day for you. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account Heb 13:17(ESV).” Thanks a lot. Is there a specific problem I need to be aware of?  “Well you know these people copy us even though they criticize us. They have no structure and tend to be autocratic. In fact some of them use dark arts to fake their miracles!” Did someone tell you this about these brethren or are you just generalizing? We should not be indifferent when brethren in other ministries fall or gloat over them. But do not gloat over the day of your brother in the day of his misfortune; do not rejoice over the people of Judah in the day of their ruin; do not boast in the day of distress Obad 1:12(ESV).  Remember we were once labelled dead by others because our ministers also indulged in dark arts and many did not know the Lord outright. In the spirit of brotherhood shouldn't we be praying for and exhorting each other?

“Can I really call them brethren?”  What? Listen: when we were in error how many of them prayed for us publicly and privately? Now we are experiencing renewal we deride and criticize them. This is the enemy’s divide and rule tactics. For wherever jealousy and rivalry exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil Jas 3:16(ISV). Beware lest the worm of error eat again like a canker into our fold. Are we not guilty as they are in many respects especially in financial matters?  “There is no envy or strife between us” Is that so? For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human? 1Cor 3:3, 4(ESV). This division in heart shows it... “The way you speak I should bring them right into the altar and make them signatories to our account!”  That is not what I am saying. You know bombings, killings and persecutions know no denominational barriers.  In these last days we need to stand as one body. Above all else, you must live in a way that brings honour to the good news … working together and that you are struggling side by side to get others to believe the good news Phil 1:27(CEV)  . Let’s pray for one another, encourage each other, and love as brothers. 

The denominational spirit week 29, 2013

“I haven’t been seeing you in church weekly programmes; and your tithes have been reducing lately too. What has been happening?” Actually I have been busy  with the outreach. “Which? I don’t remember any such announcement in church.” Don’t you remember the End Time Revival Outreach brethren who are organising monthly missions to unreached people around us?

“Is it the man that came to us 3 months ago? They are not in our church; why are you hob-knobbing with them? I hope that is not where your tithes have been going? You are backsliding.” Take it easy now. I am still very much in the faith and have found meaning in service. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling 1Jn 2:10(ESV).  I am not backsliding. “Of course you are. You should bring all the tithes into the storehouse...” I thought tithes belonged to God.

“Don’t lecture me! I was in the faith before you. Did you get born again under their ministry? Were you filled with the Holy Spirit under them? Was your break through as a result of their fasting and prayers? You belong to us and all your resources should be spent here. Are you planning to leave your brethren?” Correction please: I belong to God, not to a ministry or denomination. What sin, heresy or foundational mistake is in them that I should not partner with them? Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God... If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works 2Jn 1:9-11(ESV). Are we reaching the people they are? Have we programmes closer to God’s heart competing for my attention? You know very well I am still in this church. I never miss service once I am in town; and I still give in this place. You benefit frequently. “I just told you the error: they shouldn’t fish in other men’s waters.”

I am sorry but you have a denominational spirit. You are out of line. Anyone who urges souls to come to Jesus works for the kingdom and deserves our support. For they set out on their trip in the service of Christ without accepting any help from unbelievers. We… must help these people, so that we may share in their work for the truth 3Jn 1:7-8(GNB). You should be championing networking with them rather than making them out to be rivals. "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us." But Jesus said to him, "Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you." Lk 9:49(ESV).  

Another Elijah week 28, 2013

“Send another Elijah to bring the power down, send the fire also send the rain: to heal the sick, raise the dead and glorify your name. Lord I want to be another Elijah here.”  Won’t you sing with me?

I am reluctant to.

Why? Don’t you want to serve God in the spirit of Elijah?

That is not the point. Your song misses the point of Elijah’s ministry.

How? Did he not call fire down several times, heal the sick, and was he not first to raise the dead?

All that he did, but, let me ask you: who went about in the spirit and power of Elijah?

Elisha! He had a double portion of the anointing too.

Perhaps I did not phrase the question well. Which New Testament figure operated in the spirit of Elijah?

Oh, John the Baptist: and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, Lk 1:17(ESV). Jesus himself confirmed that. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come Mat 11:13(ESV) 

Very good. Now what fire, rain withholding , or dead raising did John the Baptist perform? Many people came to him. "John performed no miracles," they said, "but everything he said about this man was true."  And many people there believed in him Jn 10:41, 42(GNB).

Are you among those who believe miracles have passed, that because the bible books are completed we don’t have prophets and apostles anymore?

Take it easy. I believe in miracles like you do. But the ministry of Elijah which I also seek is contained in the scripture you quoted. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God…to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared Lk 1:16, 17(ESV). The spirit and power of Elijah is one of renewal and revival in bringing souls to the kingdom and preparing for Jesus’ return.

You don’t want miracles huh?

My dear, I do want miracles, but only so that people will believe. For if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago Mat 11:21(ISV).  There is no miracle greater than the new birth. A sin loving individual becoming a holy one is the greatest of all miracles. We tend to forget that. Put in a line in that song about bringing souls into the kingdom and I will be happy to sing it. Seek the repentance of souls above all.

Instant healing Week 27, 2013

Gloria had been experiencing severe waist pains for upwards of 3 months and could not find relief. She could not stand straight was bent from the waist up, with the trunk twisted to the right side. Yet she smiled as she and her husband thanked the doctor assisting them at the National Orthopaedic Hospital Enugu. Her case could be likened to the woman in the bible: And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself Lk 13:11(ESV).  She had been to the University of Nigeria Medical centre for the ailment where she works as a nurse, had been attended to by many a doctor, and commenced on drugs and physiotherapy. The Diclofenac sodium and Robinax^(R) she was on brought no real relief. Indeed symptoms of peptic ulcer arose and she stopped taking the drugs. She then continued on physiotherapy for weeks on end. There was no relief in sight. Finally she decided to see the Orthopaedic surgeons in Enugu. When she came on the 11th of June this year, after the evaluation drugs less likely to aggravate the ulcer symptoms were prescribed for her and she was placed on a lumbar corset which she was to wear all the time. She procured them and went back to Nsukka with them. Yet the pain was disabling. Was that not like the woman in Mk 5:26(ESV)  who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse?

There was a Healthcare Christian fellowship zonal meeting scheduled at the University of Nigeria Medical Centre that Saturday 15^th June. Despite the pain Gloria decided to go. “Even if only for one hour” she said. For her it would be worth it. A team from Enugu ministered and the preacher Deacon Chinenye Nwekpe was so tired he sat down for the period of speaking the word. At prayer time the brethren worshipped God whilst the preacher spoke in other tongues, and His presence came down. The preacher did not touch her or know about her situation but a voice told her to remove the corset. She argued with it. “I will remove it when I get home” she said within her, but the voice was insistent that she should remove it immediately. Like blind Bartemaeus she did so: And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus Mk 10:50(ESV).   She tore it off and threw it away. To her joy and elation the pain instantly went away. She shouted and rejoiced and rolled on the floor in God’s presence. When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, "Woman, you are free from your illness." Then he placed his hands on her, and immediately she stood up straight and began praising God Lk 13:12, 13(ISV). It was then what happened became clear to those around. From then no need for drugs, no need for the corset, and no pains either. It is now the third week since this miracle and she remains pain free and limber! Praise the Lord.

The mark of the beast Week 26, 2013

“Have you heard? America is demanding that those who want health insurance must have an implanted mark on their hands to be eligible. The mark of the beast!” Calm down; I have not read such yet. The mark of the beast is compulsory for all peoples and nations not just in America. Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name Rev 13:16, 17(ESV). “But this is how it all starts; from a compulsory requirement in an optional matter...”

That is not how it starts at all. Do you think the mark of the beast is physical primarily? “What do you mean?” When God’s people are marked in Rev 7:3(ESV)  "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads." do you think it is a physical mark seen by people on their heads? “But Paul talked of bearings marks in his own body: From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus  Gal 6:17(ESV). Yes, my dear. Those were marks made by the beatings and persecutions he bore. This issue of the mark of the beast is first of all spiritual. This teaching will lull people into hell o! No one who takes the mark of the beast will enter into eternal life. "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath… and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. Rev 14:9, 10(ESV).  Mark that.”

See, the verse you have quoted clearly states where it all starts: worship Rev 13:4, 8. People become what they worship. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves Jer 2:5(GNB).  It is those who refuse to worship Jesus that are marked by the beast. Those who worship pleasure are marked for destruction. When God asked the Israelites to mark their foreheads with his words: have them fixed on your hand for a sign and marked on your brow Dt 11:18(BBE) was he referring to the physical? Is it not that you see the word, meditate on the word (referring to forehead), and that you act and live by the word (referring to the right hand) Josh1:8? Those with the mark of the beast first of all think and act like him. At the end of the day everyone is marked; either by the angels of God or by the beast. I may not know what the mark is but I know who marks me. What or who do you worship? “So you don’t believe in a physical mark huh?” That’s not what I said. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear Mk 4:23(ESV).