How to test, know, and differentiate a true man of God who is still in alignment with God from a false agent

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13 October, 2023

In Matthew 24 where Jesus narrated the signs of the end time, He started by saying, “Do not be deceived”. And in the eleventh verse, He said, “For many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many”.

The above scripture is explaining to us the impact of the ministry of false ‘men of God’ otherwise called false prophets/teachers in the church. Their ministry will cause many to be deceived; and they shall lead many astray.

With the priestly and prophetic ministry full of many men and women claiming to speak for God, one of the ways we can surely avoid being deceived is by figuring out who these men and women truly are. We must know how to ascertain if they truly are from God, or part of the deceptive tools of Satan.

Is it biblical to test and know the alignment and positioning of the pastors, apostles, prophets, and teachers who minister to us in the name of God? Is it acceptable to prove them true or false? O yes!!! Look at these scriptures.

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore, many of them believed; also, of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. Acts 17:11

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars… Revelation 2:2

Also, we must never forget the very words of Jesus, ‘they will arise and will deceive many’. This means that the deceivers will truly have success in their trade. But thanks be to God who has provided us with truth and wisdom which is able to steer us away from the deceptions of Satan. Therefore, it is up to us to decide if we will be part of the many who would end up being deceived.

I must say, these days it has become tough to figure out who is true and who is false, however, it is not impossible to know them.

One of the sure ways to survive on a battlefield is to be conscious of the enemy. The consciousness that an enemy can strike anytime, launch from anywhere, and is at close range will take away many foolishness, and set the mind on defensive and survival mode; this is true.

Similarly, in this Christian warfare and journey to heaven, we must be fully conscious that the deceivers are with us already. False teachers, fake men of God, old prophets are already with us; and they are many, very many.

This consciousness keeps me vigilant and in survival mode. And whenever I listen to those who claim to speak for God, instead of jumping up and down, I stay watchful, testing every utterance, trying every word, testing every spirit whether it be from God or of the enemy. I do this lest I be deceived and caused to lose my footing by those who are true apostles of darkness.

I was in a service in which a deceiver wanted to do his trade. A certain woman was there, and this fake man of God called her out as if she was in need of a Child. But just before he started his full trade, a toddler, the child of this same woman came out and held onto her mother.

And when he saw the toddler holding onto the woman, he asked if he was her child. And when she said yes, he instantly started another narrative. In that same gathering, the false man of God asked a family to bring 200 thousand Nigerian Naria for God to give them a male child.

It was crazy how that day went. But my pastor and many of the members were blind to the great error practiced by this false minister. In his next meeting, some women brought him gifts, and some knelt in honour of him.

Thinking about the event of that Sunday service, and how blinded those whom Jesus commanded to watch have become to the antics of Satan. I now realize the depth at which many believers have been deceived.

The church of Christ as it stands today has become blinded by empty godless deceptive and worthless charismatic activities. And because these things are empty and lack the support of God, the lives of men are not changed by them.

Christian, let no one mislead you by saying that you don’t need your senses in the worship of God. This is how they cause men to turn a blind eye to their wicked ways. If our brain is not needful, it would not be given to us by God.

The only area in which rationality must be kept aside is when God gives us a word of direction or an instruction. We must do it without putting it into second thought. But in every other thing we do in religion, be ye wise as the serpent, and be gentle as the dove; be on your guard always, lest you lose your crown and your reward.

Having built sufficient background for this discourse, we shall now look into how we can know the true servants of God.

1. know what is real and unreal

If you want to quickly know the source and alignment of preachers and acclaimed servants of God; you must first know and be acquainted with what is real and unreal. You must know what is true and false, what is genuine and ingenuine, and what Satan’s trade and the trade of God is.

When the heart and mind are calibrated on what is true and what is not, on what is of God and what is not; when we know what the bible says and what is erroneous to biblical truth, then we shall be quick to detect that which is not of the truth and is not an act God. Our minds and senses will work like an intelligent security system, detecting the presence of error.

If one desires to be a master in this test principle, one must show dedication and diligence in God’s word. Diligence in the word of God makes one exceptionally wise. And when you observe that what is been traded is not according to the word of God, or has been spoken against in God’s word, or is against the proven biblical doctrine and the sure ways of God, and if the psychology of the scriptures does condemn it, then most likely he is a deceiver who trades it.

2. By their FRUITS, you shall know them

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:14-20

Jesus in this teaching was helping us not to get deceived. He reminded us that the fruit of the wicked is wickedness, and the fruit of the righteous is righteousness.

When the deeds of a man are unrighteous and unholy, he cannot be the seed of God who is holy and righteous. When he is an ardent sinner, a vile man, a reviler, a homosexual, a thieve, a fighter, an abuser, a worker of iniquity, a liar, a corrupt man, immoral and wicked, he cannot be a branch of God. For these things are not seen in God, they are the true works of Satan. we must not be afraid to question the alignment of any acclaimed man of God whose fruits are of Satan.

Another way we can look at this testing by fruits is by observing the ministerial fruits of the man of God. Look at his congregation, look at his ministerial work. If is he producing saints instead of rebels, if he is building a righteous house instead of a wicked house, then he could be true.

But if he is raising a den of thieves and agents of darkness, whose hearts wander far from the Lord, his ministerial fruits attest that he is not of God. If he was ever called, then he has lost alignment, he is serving himself and running his ministry without God.

3. By His teachings and preaching

Catching them through their teaching or preaching requires that you must have solid knowledge of the scripture and the doctrines of faith. And I am not talking about what you were taught, I mean the knowledge gathered when you took time to read and study the bible over the years, and what you have learnt in following the Lord.

A great man of God once said, ‘Take the bible and read it on your own, then you will learn the unadulterated truth that is devoid of the deceptiveness of men’s heart, then you can form your own philosophy of what is the truth.’

It is hard to deceive someone who is thoroughly acquainted with the truth. It is just like a menu or dish. If you have thoroughly mastered the menu, when a new item is added to it, it will instantly taste strange. Even if the new item is sweetened, yet one will take notice and say, ‘this is strange to me’.

So, I study the scripture from Revelations to Genesis every year since God instructed me to take my bible study serious, to study it every day. I have read the bible over 5 times, I’m on my sixth read as I write this.

It is extremely hard to misinterpret a scripture in order to manipulate and deceive someone like me. It is hard to quote strange scripture to me, it is hard to dish me doctrinous or dogmatic meal from hell, it is hard to feed me from the wells of a lying spirit. For my eyes have seen the truth, my heart is forged by it, and my ears are calibrated to tests it. I know instantly when a Decepticon speaks.

I have not seen a story like this, so I said to myself when a preacher explained a bible passage during his ministration in our church. Like the Christians of Thessalonica, I went home to search the scripture to know if his words were true. And just like I first thought, it was a strange meal after all. He was indeed misinterpreting the scripture to suit his message.

I have heard sacrilegious things from preachers and those who claim to be men of God. I have proved some as ignorant, proved some as unaligned, and proved some as false. The Holy Spirit immediately takes me to the passages that prove that they are liars.

Thus, I know for sure that believers who do not make quality time to know the Word of Truth and to find out the way of God through the scriptures will surely fall cheaply to the deceivers.

4. Where is his appetite, what is his zeal?

Missions is the sole aim of all Christian ministry, and all that God does on earth. Whether the Lord does Good or Bad, it is because He has set a day when all men shall stand before Him.

If any man claims to have been sent from God, the very desire of God has to be printed upon his heart and shown outwardly through his ministry and life, this is the sign that he ever met with God.

Thus observe, if eternity of the souls of men is not his first appetite, if doing the work of God is not his first zeal, question his alignment; he could be false, he could be old and backslidden.

If you see someone claim to be a servant whose appetite is money, pleasures of life, worldly gain, fame, and every other thing minus the soul of the dead, take great caution he is not representing the person of God and Christ.

5. Where does his Loyalty lie?

I was once invited to help officiate a church board election. Later I was informed that the assistant pastor who was originally part of the conducting team, was working hard to remove the financial secretary of the church. The reason for this mischief was that his senior wanted the financial secretary gone.

This is an example of a pastor who has loyalty towards his pastor and leader but has no fear and loyalty towards God. He decided to enter into iniquity and wickedness in the church to find favour before man.

Do you see a man who has loyalty towards men, but does not care about how God views his actions? Do you see a servant whose respect for men is so high that he has no respect for God’s word? He is not a man of God; reject him.

6. Does he have the backing of God?

God will always back His work; He will surely make proof of His anointed servants. When God stops backing a man, there will be so much mechanical energy put into ministry but very little visible result. This is one of the reasons prophetic declarations fail; God is not backing the prophet.

Thus, if you have noticed that God is not backing the ministry of a man, if it is full of many mechanical efforts, but little manifestation and signs from God, question his alignment.

It is the Lord that confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem. Isaiah 44:26

Also, when a man of God says, ‘Thus says the Lord, this will happen and it does not happen or it turns out a lie’, he is not a man of God. When he says, I have this dream from the Lord or this vision and thus has the Lord spoken to me, be careful to observe if it comes to pass or not.

This is what I would do when men claim to be speaking from the Lord. I would pray to God and say, “Lord if You said this, prove it; if this is not from You, then prove it a lie.” When the church of today opens its eyes, it will begin to see those who truly speak from God and those who have come to deceive us.

I still vividly recall a pastor who claimed God spoke to Him. Then I lifted my hands and prayed, “Lord if it is You Who has said this, prove it true, else prove it a lie.” After 2 weeks the opposite event happened. He is a Liar and a false prophet.

If the prophet speaks in the LORD’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the LORD did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared. Deuteronomy 18:22

7. A true man of God is of light and not of darkness.

God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). The Lord who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light (I Timothy 6:16) is not of darkness, neither does He dwell therein. Therefore, any acclaimed man of God who is of darkness or whose soul dwells therein is not a man of God.

Those who are of darkness are agents of darkness. And their true master is Satan -the prince of the dark world. He is the bastardizer of the souls of men, and he rules the hearts of those whom he separates unto darkness, filling their hearts with utter evil. Be not deceived!

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. 1 John 1:5

8. You can enquire from God if you are confused

It is not in God’s interest for His people to be deceived and to dwell in the deceptions of His enemies. Therefore the Lord often comes to the rescue of His elects and to the salvation of those whom He delights in, to preserve them from destruction and damnation.

One of the things I have learned about God is that He answers the prayers of those who have the right motive, and more especially if they truly belong to Him. Therefore, if by all other means we cannot prove the alignment of these men, then let us come boldly into his presence to ask of Him. This method never fails.

The Lord will quickly respond, but to those who fear and trust in Him. For the secret things of God are for those who fear Him (Psalm 25:14).

If the Lord says the subject of our inquisition is a true servant of His or gives us a sign that shows it, then the man is of God. But if the response of the Lord is otherwise, be ye watchful, for it is impossible for God to lie.

I am from a denomination in which set-up churches are often allowed to elect and choose their pastors. It is good for Churches to enter into prayers to test and prove their choices, and to know if their choices are true men of God.

Finally, dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

God can reject a man of God; this is why God rejects His own chosen servants. Part 2

By

Ogba Victor

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30 August, 2023

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Read part one!

5. Diminishing the word of God

God’s instruction to Prophet Jeremiah when he had been prepared as an instrument of ministry to a people void of knowledge, led astray by iniquity was, ‘Do not diminish a word‘ (Jeremiah 26:2).

Teachings that could not cause pain to the soul of the wicked, and thoroughly detach dirt from their hearts; smokey sermons that could not destroy the way of the vile; softened preaching that would not offend the unrighteous; teachings harmonized to achieve gifts and the goodwill of men. This was what characterized the ministry of the wicked prophets and priests of the Jews.

By this erroneous ministry pattern, they made the law of God soft and less fierce. Thus, the people departed from the counsel of God for those who will or will not follow the law. The result was that the righteous stumbled, and the wicked did not repent but delved into greater error.

With softened or diminished word, they healed the people slightly (Jeremiah 6:14). They could not tell them their sins boldly.

My Dad once spoke of a fellow invitee minister who approached him and said, ‘If you want to get the crowd, do not preach this kind of message.’ We all know the kind of sermon he was suggesting to my dad. The word which promises blessings to the wicked, and speaks peace to the perishing. The killer motivational Pentecostal sermon that is backed with thunderous amen shouts. Yeah! The kind that kills slowly, although the dead and dying absolutely love it.

Some church people once tried to push me into the dark corner of abandoning the fierceness of my message, but they failed woefully.

Indeed, I thank God that all through my dad’s over 35 years of ministry, he has not stopped preaching the raw gospel of the Kingdom, nor has he diminished the message of fire.

Since the beginning of Missions, the true prophets of God have always told the people their sins. Moses did, Isaiah did, Samuel did, Jeremiah did, Jesus did, and Paul did. But never has a sinful generation loved the word of God.

Jesus’ lifestyle and ministry were to be a sign spoken against, a sword piercing through the hearts of men, revealing the inner thoughts of men. If we claim to speak for Christ in a generation more wicked than the Jews of old, shall we then begin to crave the gifts and love of men, instead of daggering the hearts with truth and grace? God forbid it! For it is written;

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. – Isaiah 58:1

When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. Yet, if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered your soul. -Ezekiel 3:18-19

We know that the wicked do not like to hear the truth, neither do they like it when their sins are exposed and the judgments of God against them proclaimed. Nonetheless, any preacher or minister who waters down the fierceness of the word of God for the wicked to find a soft ground is a wicked and a false prophet. Have nothing to do with him.

6. De-sanctifying God before men

The de-sanctification of God is the act of making God look vile, unholy and unrighteous, instead of pure, holy, righteous, mighty, worthy of honour, and hallowed. This is an act of great wickedness against God.

Then Moses said unto Aaron, this is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. –Leviticus 10:3

Nadab and Abihu disobeyed God by burning strange fire upon the altar of God, and the Lord of armies smote them instantly.

And the Lord, in answer to Moses and the generations that may ask why they were met with such harsh judgment said, “I must be sanctified by those whom I draw close unto me.” ‘Those’ here include all people of God, but more especially the priests and prophets of God.

This response from the Lord can be paraphrased thus, ‘My ministers must show fort that I am a great God, Who is holy, Who accepts pure sacrifices, and who is to be obeyed.’ We can also interpret it this way, ‘No priest must make Me look small and contemptuous before My people.’

This sacred ministerial code of conduct is why the Lord reprimanded the Israelites for offering Him unclean and unworthy sacrifices as if He were a nobody. And the Lord was deeply angry with the priests for receiving and presenting such sacrifices to Him.

Many are yet to understand God’s anger against Moses; and why Moses wasn’t allowed to enter Canaan. It was not just because of his disobedience; God could have easily pardoned that sin.

But Moses, for the position he stood in the achieve of times, being Israel’s foremost prophet, and first among men who knew God one on one; for he saw God, lived with the unseen King, and experienced things beyond human utterance. If God had not punished him, his disobedience would have echoed through times, and the Lord would have lost His honour and fear a long time ago.

And if he wasn’t punished severely, these days when men pride in their sins, citing David as an example of a man who fell into sin, Moses also would have been a bigger icon of gross disobedience, dishonour and negligence to the commands of God.

So, God wanting to send a fierce warning to Israel, and unto the generations of those who would be instructed by him, He slew Moses.

The Lord said to Moses, “Because you have not honoured me in the eyes of my people; you have not esteemed me before them.” (Numbers 20:12)

By this divine truth did God also slay Ananias and Sapphire. If He had allowed that error to go unpunished. The early Church would begin to learn the ways of deceit, lying, and contemptuous giving. And the Scripture says, ‘Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.’ Acts 5:11

Indeed, those to whom it is chiefly given, to make God appear holy, great, worthy of fear and obedience are His ministers. Today, He may not slay us for shaming His Glory, but He will dim our lights, shut our eyes, block our ears, and then drop us as He did to Nadab, Abihu and His great servant Moses- the Man of God.

7. Rebellion and disobedience

Rebellion and gross negligence to instruction was the sin of King Saul. Rebellion is outrightly doing your own will against the will of an authority. It is when you know the demands of a leader, but stubbornly refuse to submit to them.

God, after testing Saul, noted that Saul was a servant of his own will and mind. Israel’s first king was unwilling, unyielding, and lacking respect for the wishes and instructions of God. The Lord was quick to dispose him off; then found Himself a man who delights in pleasing Him, a man after His own heart.

What then do we think will happen to ministers who know what God wants but prefer to do something else, according to their selfish purposes and desires? And worse are those who have received an instruction from God and will hesitate in doing it.

God may not reject a man for delay in doing His work. But we must remember that there is time for everything under the sun. There is a time mapped out for the work of God; our God works with time. He will not continue to wait for anyone unwilling and unyielding. The task and office will be handed over to another person who understands the urgency of missions- the priceless soul of men.

Those who for one reason or another have delayed their calling, have already lost those things that were attached to early response.

There is also great error in doing God’s work without His instructions and counsel. This is to say, a man of God who wants to get it right should seek God to give him a plan and knowledge of how He wants the work to be done. And if the Lord tells us what He delights in, we must respond with timely obedience.

“Woe to the rebellious children,” says the LORD, “Who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin…” Isaiah 30:1

8. Unrighteousness and Unholiness

Without mincing words, the first demand of the Holy Spirit from all followers of Christ is holiness and righteousness. It is the first consecration of all genuine servants of God. The gift and calling of God may be without repentance, but to carry and sustain the gift and call of God we must be righteous and holy.

Sin, iniquity, and wickedness are the weights that beset believers from reaching their maximal potential in Christ. This potential is based on the presence of the Holy Spirit in us. But if we begin to soil our hearts in the displeasure of God and His Christ, the Water of Life will be diminished, and the Holy Ghost will depart from our hearts.

How do we think to ourselves that a man who has lost the sanctifying Spirit of God is still a servant of God? The Holy Spirit departing from Saul was a sign of His rejection.

Indeed, one of the quickest ways to lose the move of God is by losing the God of the move. When God is lost, the move is over, the assignment is done, the calling is called off, and the anointings for the ministry will be stripped. God will no more back the saying of the prophet- a sign that the glory is no more.

Christian, nothing scares away the Spirit like unrighteousness, unholiness, evil, wickedness, and sin. Therefore, let all who mention the name of the Lord depart from iniquity, let them pursue righteousness.

“Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19

Our God is a Holy God, He is too Holy to behold iniquity. Not even His servants are spared when He avenges wickedness and sin against the law. For the soul that sinneth (be it the soul of a priest, or that of a prophet), he shall die.

9. Exercising ministerial gifts for money or gain

Ministry will feed the minister of God. God has strategized ministry in such a way that a faithful servant, with patience, will enter into divine abundance.

There are men of God who see ministry as their business venture, where they have to strategize on how to meet up with personal financial demands. No one who has this thought still has the light of Christian ministry.

Not that it is wrong to strategize on how to increase the financial capability of a ministry or a church, it is only wrong when garnering money is behind the programs, and churching we do. The intent and will of God must take center stage, it must be first.

Ministry is God’s business, not yours oh ye derailing servants. We must work hand in hand with the Master to fulfill His will and purpose. If we find a way to build and run a successful ministry devoid of the intent of Christ, we shall become big failures in His eyes. And although men may celebrate us, there shall be no reward for us.

No master rewards a servant who does his own will. He will not be settled, neither will he be praised. After many years, he would have done a lot, but he is still unprofitable to the master.

In the past, Rev. Umah Ukpai was known to collect money before he would pray for anyone. According to him, the Lord warned him to desist from such evil acts.

Apostle Arome was cautioned by God not to sell his sermons. According to God, the truth needs to saturate the space, so that the intent of God can come upon men.

Again, the only time a man of God will think that the gifts of God upon him are to increase his pocket and attain financial stability is when he has forgotten that the poor also have a huge stake in the ministry of the saints.

Today, some ministers demand to know their envelope size before they come to exercise the gift of God in them. This also is evil; it is wickedness against God.

Some check out the size of the congregation before accepting to minister in a gathering. Some pastors go through the financial books of the church before agreeing to pastor them. I would think that a pastor needs to inquire first if it is God’s will for him to lead that congregation. But the will of God is not the chief concern of many pastors. Having been close to the pulpit for years, I have solid proof of this.

Demanding money for deliverance is wrong. Selling messages is wrong unless on special request. I am one of those who strongly opine that the exorbitant sale price of Christian books at a rate that the poor and believing cannot buy them is also wrong.

For the Gospel was first preached to the poor, and the poor received it gladly. If it were sold, only the rich would buy it, but the rich would never have the humility and decency to go about spreading the good news. They would then have taken the message of life to their graves.

This is why Jesus started with the poor and uneducated; He ministered to those who could not pay Him. And in return, they carried His teaching about being the only thing they have, but ever hoping for a better place where they can have it all. And today we have become beneficiaries of the gracious labour of many poor men who prayed and laboured for our salvation. But today, many unwise preachers prefer to minister to the rich.

One day Jesus told me that His gifts are for His honour. Honouring God and making His praise and name visible in the land is the end product of a Christian ministry. Faithfully doing this, whether it pays or not is how you will know a man who still has the light and passion of Christian ministry. For freely you have received it, freely ye shall give saith the lord.

Man of God, flee from covetousness. All who engage in covetous ministry stand to be rejected by God, for their true God is money.

God can reject a man of God; this is why God rejects His own chosen servants. Part 1

By

Ogba Victor

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4 April, 2023

0

One may ask, ‘Can God do away with a vessel of His choice? Or can a man of God stand rejected, and his priestly garment revoked or stripped?’ In this teaching, we shall look into the answer to this question.

Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”

1Samuel 16:1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

The most neglected area in pastoral training is the part that installs into the mind of the vessel of God, that he can be rejected for the same office for which he was sanctified, anointed, and ordained to occupy.

In Bible school, we were very often encouraged to fan into flames the gifts of God in us, which is according to Paul’s instruction to Timothy. Very rarely did they tell us that we must be careful not to become a God reject.

In the pastoral training camp, I saw men of God lose their burning lamps, but I hardly saw those who became burning wonders. The untold truth is that we stand a better chance of losing the gifts and calling of God faster than actually fanning them into flames. Again, it is easier to lose your call and anointing than to fan them into flames.

Here is the truth: Anointings dry up. A man of God can be rejected and divorced by God. God can choose another man to run that ministry; we can be stripped of the garment of ministry.

The Holy Spirit can depart from a man of God, and the gifts, power and authority can be given to another. Man of God, you can lose your calling without the possibility of retrieving it ever again.

I can still recall the day the Lord warned me and said, “If you are not serious, I will take away your calling and give it to your brother.“

When God rejects a man, he is not called a false prophet, but rather an old prophet. He is called an old prophet because the workings of God through him, and the light of ministry, have become a thing of old.

You normally would see them talking about the acts of God through them, but they can no longer produce the workings of God they speak of. Their gifts are gone, the anointing oil is clogged, the iron is corroded, and the mantle is stripped and given to another that will produce the demands of God.

“He always tells us of big things God used him to do in the past, but he cannot do it here for us to see.” This was the report of a friend concerning his pastor.

A fake prophet is better than an old prophet. He is a sinner suffering from a lack of the grace of God that brings salvation. But a man who has known God, and has tested of the grace of Jesus Christ, if he has turned in great rebel against God, he suffers from darkness and death. For Satan has poisoned his soul; therefore, have nothing to do with such a man.

Howbeit, by the calling I have received from God, I announce that there is healing for all who will turn back to God. For He said, “I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, For My anger has turned away from him.” – Hosea 14:4

I would like us to learn as I am always learning, that the gifts and calling of God may not be stripped all at once when a man is rejected. Example: When Saul lost his kingship, he wasn’t exactly removed from kingship.

A reject of God could still be on the pulpit pulling crowds, raising big money, and having big titles. Sometimes, he may produce the former workings of God. This is true. The manifestations will gradually die until he completely is cut off from the wealth of the ministerial graces God.

There are great preachers everywhere, why are we still heavily bedeviled? Why are we still yearning for the manifestations of the sons of God, and it is as if there is no balm in Gilead? A thing that was very easy for the apostles and prophets of old has become as hard as rocket science for us. Indeed, one man has become stronger than a million men. But the reason is very simple, many of the priests and prophets of today have become rejects. In that state men cannot become flames that can shake the world.

Is it that God is withholding His power from us? Or is it that he hasn’t given men mantles of greatness? No! Not at all! But before He would begin to unravel the mysteries of His callings in the lives of those He has chosen, many of them become rejects.

God doesn’t tell His servants all He has for them. He only gives them a little view of the script He wrote about them. Then He begins to test them continually for worthiness to carry the power and glory. Unfortunately, many fail before their calling and gifts could light up the world. They write themselves out of the things written about them. This is true! For the Spirit of Christ has caused me to decern great matters such as this.

Now we shall examine exactly the things that can make God reject a servant of God.

1. Not being on the lord’s side

A true man of God is a man under fierce allegiance to God, to please him always in the face of all men, and to be on His side as it concerns all issues of life. If he breaks this unscripted creed, he becomes unworthy to be a disciple of Christ. For if we choose to please men, religious leaders, church members, family, father, mother, wife, children, or society over God, it is a sign that our allegiance is not with God.

One of the early things God told me about a certain minister is that he loves his own more than God. He was very eager to please his family, and to look good in the eyes of men. But was not careful to obtain true honour which comes from the God who calls men into service.

In Matthew 10:37-39, Jesus said, “Any man who loves his wife, mother, father, or children more than Me is not worthy of Me”.

As ministers, I want to state clearly, that from time to time, we will be tested for allegiance to God. In that time, God will test us for whose side we truly belong, and He will know what truly is in our hearts.

Prophet Moses said to the Jews, “Who is on the Lord’s side, separate yourself and come unto me.“(Exodus 32:26) And the tribe of Levi separated and joined themselves to Moses as a sign of allegiance unto God. The brotherhood of the twelve tribes was not enough to change the heart of the Levites.

And when God saw that the hearts of the Levites were for Him, He ordained them as His Ministers, with an everlasting covenant. Thus, the Levites entered into the priestly ordination with proof of allegiance to God. The other tribes became the laity of God’s people.

By this, we know that only those on the Lord’s side amidst all pressures, situations, relationships, cases, and at all times can truly belong to the service of the Great God.

2. Utter misuse and abuse of the anointing and Grace of God

A prophet abuses his calling and gift by using the prophetic and ministerial grace granted to him by God for self-service.

The gifts and callings of God are for His honour and for the edification of the saints of God. It is not for self-honour, self-aggrandisement, self-projection, cursing and hurting men, extorting people, making money, intimidating people and satisfying our pleasures and lust.

Another way you can misuse a gift and calling is not fulfilling it, or not putting it into use. If we cannot labour to fulfil the ministry handed down to us, God will simply find another man who will match heaven’s zeal with zeal.

“Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.” Matthew 25:28

3. Desecration of the anointing and calling of grace

Consecration is all about keeping to the demands of a calling or an anointing. Whether it is the general calling of God, or the special ministerial call of grace, there are ordinances and laws that guide the called by God.

Violence against these demands is called desecration, and this causes the spirit of the anointing to depart from any man, both clergy and laity.

The consecrations of a prophet and a priest includes, Holiness and righteousness, diligence in the Word, obedience, prayer and seeking God. By these consecrations, they may be able to implement the judgments of God and teach others to do likewise.

A priest or prophet cannot drink alcohol. It is a direct insult on the prophetic, priestly and teaching anointing. The Lord of Israel cautioned those who stand before Him, and those who teach His people, to depart from drinking strong drink. Lack of consecration will dry any anointing, and if the anointing is dried, of what use are we in ministering grace and word?

4. Forgetting and neglecting the law of God

God did not choose prophets because He was looking to bless or prosper men. Job, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jabez, and David needed no prophetic juggernaut to cause them to prosper in wealth, fame and honour.

The generation of old believed that as long as they were following the God of Israel, and keeping to His ways, that He will cause them to prosper. For it is written:

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1:1-3

Prophets were chosen to establish the people of God in the knowledge of who God is. Without the knowledge of God, calamity, curse, desolation, and plundering would be the lot of the people. Any other thing that comes with the prophetic ministry, and also, other ministerial callings, is a secondary function.

The people of Israel were unfortunate to have priest and prophets who did not seek out God like Moses and Samuel. Instead of great seekers of God and His law, they became great seers, great dreamers, and great in prophesying peace and prosperity.

They dished out things that God did not say, expecting their words to come to pass. But true prophecies should come from God. The people we are prophesying riches to, might not be in the good books of God. And God might be saying another thing to that congregation we are turning up with “If I be a man of God.” This is why prophets ought to seek and know what God is saying and must stay on His counsel.

Satisfying the people with prophetic declarations is not the reason for ministry. And we know that God sometimes fulfils the word of His servants, but not those outside His will and what He is saying. The God of Israel is a Great King; He will not abandon His word and ordinances for the word of a mere servant.

“You have not gone up to the breaks in the wall to repair it for the house of Israel so that it will stand firm in the battle on the day of the LORD. Their visions are false and their divinations a lie. They say, “The LORD declares,” when the LORD has not sent them; yet they expect their words to be fulfilled.” – Ezekiel 13:5-6

One false prophet on the radio said that as a prophet, he has the right to change the word of God on a matter. He is merely overrating himself and overbloating the prophetic office. All true Children of God can intercede and bring about change, but only in some cases. Nothing can change the ordinances of God according to the scriptures. And you cannot change the mind of God by prophecy.

One minister said to his congregation, “…If what you are passing through is because of what you have done, I prophesy, you will not suffer it anymore…” This is wickedness! This is abuse!

Causing the people to ignore the sure counsels and judgments of God. To portray prophecy as a way into wellness instead of fulfilling the law of righteousness. And as for mercy, it is obtained by pleading with God, and by turning away from wickedness.

The prophets of Israel rejected the law and the judgments of God, thereby ministering error to the people of God. They prophesied peace when God was saying disaster and plunder.

By this error, the sinners did not turn back to God, the hands of the wicked were strengthened as they gladly received word of blessings and favour from these traders who call themselves prophets. Israel knew their prophets and their words, but did not know their God and His law.

“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Proverbs 28:9

In the later days, instead of the sayings of the wicked prophets coming to pass, the judgments of God according to his ordinances overtook the people. Because of a lack of Knowledge of the rules, ordinances, highways and judgments of their God, the people perished.

And as for the wicked priests and prophets, they were rejected by God.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. **Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.** Hosea 4:6

Today, we can see that many servants of God are practising the same erroneous approach to ministry. Forgetting the law and biblical judgments of God, they have become fine prophesiers of peace, riches, favour, graces and securities. And while they are at it, many have lost their faith, thinking that God is a liar. But not knowing that these prophecies were never approved by Him. We must turn away from this prophetic wickedness!

Read part two!..

Exposed! The real truth concerning the blessings, and prosperity of a Christian Part 2

By

Ogba Victor

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11 January, 2023

0

Open Bible laying on table with highlighted passage. II Corinthians 10 — Bible laying open with teal colored book marks. Passage highlighted in yellow. Yellow coffee mug, notebook and pen in background

From part one of this series, I told us that there are other highly important things we must consider if we want to be truly blessed by God. In this article is another top requirement from God if you want to prosper.

Now let us see a scripture passage that can aid us in digesting the truth I share.

“And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18

I pulled out a bible passage which can help us understand this message better.

Moses in Deuteronomy 8:18, re-installed into the minds of the Israelites, that wealth, and God given riches are as a result of God establishing a covenant He had made with the fathers, which also applies unto them.

So, paraphrasing the text can read, ‘you shall remember the Lord your God, He giveth thee power to get wealth. And this is based on an agreement or a covenant made with your fathers, that he may establish it.’

Covenant is an agreement between two parties. When God enters into a covenant or agreement with man, He gives us instructions of what He wants from us. When we have done what He has said, in-turn, He will fulfill his own part of the agreement. This is called establishing a covenant. And a covenant cannot be established in the face of unfaithfulness and rebellion to agreement.

From the first part of this series, we traced the covenant that yields blessings back to the Abrahamic covenant. God’s word unto Abraham was that he would be blessed, and his generations will be blessed through him, if they will pursue after righteousness before God.

Carefully searching out the scriptures, we will find another word from God on what we must do to make our way prosperous. The word of God does not fail. When God tells us, ‘do this, and I will do this’, it becomes a sure agreement, a covenant word. And as long as men align to it, it will always prove itself true.

In Joshua 1:8, God gave out to Joshua a code, on how he (Joshua) can attain a prosperous rule, and achieve good success. Thus He entered into an agreement or a covenant with Joshua.

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8

Now, there is the factor of preparing for God’s blessings, or maturing to receive divine allotted wealth. This is the hidden word in the instruction which God delivered unto Joshua.

One may ask, ‘How does studying and meditating on God’s word, plus doing it, aid in prosperity and divine blessings and good success’? It is simple! But the answer has two parts.

The Law of God is all about righteousness and Holiness. And we cannot forget the covenant of Abraham. So, by doing the requirements of the Law, Joshua would key into the Abrahamic covenant. And for Joshua to know the righteous requirements of the law, and have it in his heart always, he had to meditate on the word of God daily.
The other part of the answer is the need for Joshua to grow in the knowledge of God. And this is the area we will touch in this article.

Knowing God is the principle of exploring and exploiting His divine graces. One truth preachers whose God is money will find hard to say is that ‘God desires us to know Him more than he desires sacrifice, money and gifts from us.’

“I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6

And after we have grown in the knowledge of God we can then do exploits with what we know. Put in another way, we need to exploit the knowledge of God for the betterment of our lives.

“But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” Daniel 11:32

In the knowing of God is;

Knowing His Judgments.
Knowing His dislikes and what turns Him off.
Knowing how He thinks.
Knowing what He truly desires from us.
Knowing how to relate with Him.
Knowing how to obtain His favour, and His help in time of need.
Knowing the righteous and holy ways of God.
Knowing how God blesses and prospers His people.
Knowing what He can do, and what He cannot do.
Knowing the zeal of God, and what drives His walk with man.
Knowing His word, His power, and His glory.

One of the reasons God does not bless us is because we are not yet grown-up in our affairs with Him; we are not matured enough to handle the wealth and riches that come from Him; we are still babes at heart and mind.

Riches can lead astray, but not for a man who has had a good and solid knowledge of God, and has become matured at heart by the things he knows. This was the second thing God was trying to achieve with Joshua.

There was a man whom I knew in his earlier days. He was a Church pianist and a brother in fellowship, until wealth surrounded him. Then his heart was led astray by the never-ending lust that comes with riches. He then began to sleep around with ladies in the church, and he impregnated some. He lost all fear for God, and started to engage in many fraudulent and deceitful means of increasing wealth. For whatever reason it was, he couldn’t be suspended by the Church. With his wealth he bought his way out of disfellowship.

This is a case of a man who obtained wealth without first washing his mind with God’s word, and preparing for it by His knowledge.

Now, God uses some things around us, to show and make us have knowledge of the deepest thoughts of His. This wicked man was the man through whom God opened my blind eyes to the fact that riches can derail men easily. Hence the need to prepare ourselves if we truly desire to prosper by the hand of God.

This brother who fell in the time of riches, could have been saved from destruction if he had good knowledge of God and His word, which has the power to change our hearts and mature it unto godliness. If he had known what he was supposed to know, he would not have stumbled.

The word of God sanctifies us; it prepares us for the blessings of God. Let us take lessons from this – No parent will give his or her child a gift which he or she does not know how to handle. No father will buy a car for a babe in age and mind. No man will give his children what will kill or destroy them. The process of preparing the mind to effectively put to good use the blessings, riches, and gifts we receive comes with growth; and growth is about amassing knowledge. It is not all about age, but maturing in mind.

Thus you can find a full grown adult with a baby’s mindset in handling riches. He cries to God daily to bless the works of his hands, and to enlarge his coast. But he knows not the Lord richly, so earthly riches will destroy his soul.

But knowledge matures the mind. The knowledge of God matures a believer in Christ. Without knowing the ‘whats’, ‘hows’, ‘wheres’, ‘whens’, ‘whys’ concerning our walk with God, we are bound to harm ourselves, and stumble into many great errors. But studying and meditating on the Bible will help us.

I know of a family for which I stood before God, earnestly praying for them to be blessed. One day God spoke to me, saying, “If I will bless this family, this woman (the wife and mother) will act in folly. She will cause her husband to leave the Church.” And as the Lord spoke, He played unto my eyes the vision of this word of truth.

This case unravels the deepest thoughts of the Great Monarch of all ages. He sees the future! And He acts to bring about a good end for those whom He has loved.

For this family, what hindered their prosperity was the lack of growth, the lack of preparation, and the lack of godly maturity. The woman could not handle the wealth they yearn for. This was a family of God, a pastors family. But the wife of the priest knows not the Lord as she ought to know Him; so, God couldn’t open the windows of blessings and prosperity. He has seen that it will bring destruction to them.

Again, a woman was sent by God to instruct a church where I worshiped sometime ago. This church was stricken by great hardship, and they direly asked that the God who blessed Jabez would come and open the doors of blessings and prosperity unto them. But God, instead of blessings, sent a woman of God with the word “Are you prepared for what you are asking for?”

Hence, brethren, there is a preparation and what we must do in order to convince God that we are ready to be blessed and given kingdom wealth. And it is done by growing and maturing in the knowledge of God. And we grow by studying it, meditating on it, and doing what is written in the book of the law. This is more pleasing to God than the seeds and sacrifices we give for God to prosper us.

Now, I do not say that we should seek to know God and stop giving. You do not yet know God if you do not serve Him with your wealth. Giving sacrificially is biblical, and it is required by God. But the corruption is the way giving out money has overshadowed the more important matters of faith, Christian maturity and Christian prosperity. The error is that greed ‘spined’ sermons and empty prophecies have overshadowed the truth of God.

Less than a month after I turned 29, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, ”You have served Me, and from now you will know that serving Me brings wealth.” That soon? Yes that soon and that young!

In the past 4 years I have read the Bible more than 4 times. I now have solid knowledge of God, His judgments, and His word. Riches would not easily cause me to stumble if I continue to grow in His knowledge and graces. Like David, I can also say, ‘Thine word have I hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against You.’

I remember some years ago when Jesus said to me, ‘you should read your bible everyday.’ May God bless that Sunday afternoon. It was the beginning of my journey of richly knowing God. And in my frequent study of this Book of the Law, I have gotten good knowledge of;

Why I am a Christian
The covenant of a Christian
The power of righteousness
The power of holiness
Why God blesses us
How God blesses us
Things we must do for God to bless us
Riches and Wealth are part of the great test. Read: Tested by Fire
How to overcome temptations rising from wealth
Seeing life beyond riches
Giving is necessary, but money and seed is not the firsts things concerning God’s divine blessings. You cannot pursue giving while neglecting other weightier matters.
You cannot claim to love and serve God without giving.

“Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first-fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10
Giving that moves God does not start and end with giving in the church or church project. There are those who are put down by conditions of life, we must give them too. As an evangelist I have great need for support and partnership for my crusades and other projects; yet I cannot keep the truth from you God’s people. Even as you give to support God’s work, do not turn blind eyes on the less privileged. The poor and the hungry. If we turn our eyes away from them and only give into Church work or to men of God, we are deceiving ourselves.
How to stay strong in the presence of great riches

Knowing these things and more can enable one to prepare and become ready for seasons of divine blessings and open doors. Not knowing them will make it hard for God to bless us. He cannot afford the error of stumbling because of His providence.

Finally, we must acknowledge that the eternal destination of man’s soul is more precious to God than temporal happiness on earth. That is to say that the soul of man is priceless to God. For this, the Eternal God wants us to enter His kingdom more than He wants to give us riches. If He can secure our eternity with Him, and foresee that we can be trusted with wealth, there is nothing good He will withhold from us in the right season. This truth is also sure!

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8

Exposed! The real truth concerning the blessings, and prosperity of a Christian Part 1

By

Ogba Victor

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4 December, 2022

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In the Christian church of today, there is an established leprous teaching about the blessings of God. It is a teaching that has corrupted the heart of God’s people, turning them away from God and His word, and leading them into trusting in lies and prophecies that are meaningless.

When there is a way which God has chosen to prosper His people, what is the benefit of prophesying blessings to them? Especially unto those who do not follow the sure ways of God?

In one of our Pastor’s meetings, a leader spoke and said, “These things we prophesy to them are just to make them happy. The only way they can become millionaires is if they work for it.” And then another pastor jestingly said, “it is to avoid heart panic.” Some of the available pastors laughed; but I was stunned that some knew this half-truth, but it is hidden from my people. It is half-truth because indeed, God can scale up the productivity of our labour.

The people of God are largely being manipulated and deceived by many preachers. The holistic truth concerning the way to prosperity is hidden from God’s people. What we have instead of truth is blessings, riches, and prosperity, dished through prophetic utterances; then money is collected, yet we do not ever get blessed.

There is a way that leads to the sure blessings of God. God can enlarge the coast of a man, and give him customers and connections that can scale up his divine provisions. But it is only when we follow His own way, and not the way of preachers, nor our own self-taught ideas.

Deuteronomy 8:18 “But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth.”

The teaching that money, seeding and giving is the way to obtain the blessings of Abraham is greatly over-exaggerated. This is where the major problem is.

There are matters that outweigh seeding and giving when it comes to divine blessings. And just as knowing the contents of the last pages of a book is not enough to pass an exam on the book, so is how pursuing after one truth of God’s blessings, and ignoring the main matters will lead to failed efforts to walk into divine blessings. This is principally why we sow and do not reap the blessings of God. We have not been told the wholesome truth, and so we don’t know the high ways of God.

And because we lack knowledge, we have acted in folly, and have imagined that God is what He is actually not. Many have backslidden because of the thoughts that God is unfaithful. But it is because we lack knowledge of the workings of God.

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…” -Hosea 4:6

“The folly of a man spoils his ways: and he blames God in his heart.” – Proverbs 19:3

I therefore beg, that my readers will follow this series until the end. Because their knowledge of the truth will make or mar their blessings in the God of Abraham, King David, and Jesus Christ.

1. RIGHTEOUSNESS OUR REGISTRATION

Righteousness is the bush clearer; it fertilizes the ground; it breaks the fallow ground for God to begin the act of blessing a man. This is an untold truth. Righteousness is the FIRST requirement by God from anyone who would be prosperous, and be blessed by Him.

Before we get into proving the truth above, let me state clearly why you may not hear this truth from the pulpit.

Number one reason is ignorance. The ignorance of teachers and preachers of God’s word who do not eat the Holy Book before they teach, has cost the Lord Jesus much sorrow. They have taught God’s people from their own great ideas, and have ignored sound doctrine built on God’s word and principles. This is why I maintain that anyone who has not read the entire bible at least twice, is not qualified to teach in a Sunday school class.

The second reason is that very many church people live in wickedness and sin, both clergy and laity. Many of the rich in church are truly unrighteous and wicked.

If one maintains the massage, and teaches that righteousness is the number one requirement to be prospered by God, there is the fear that many who should have given money will draw back. Because men may not delight to sow where they will not reap. So, to keep the income and money flowing in the Church of Jesus Christ, the truth is shielded, and diminished by men who preach to us.

Meanwhile, if the truth were spoken to the people, the unrighteous would suffer momentary hurt, but they would have known the truth that could save them forever. Then, in the long run, they will increase in the fear of God. And in the fear of God, they will pursue after righteousness; turning their hearts to God. In righteousness, men will delight in knowing that God prospers the righteous; and they will no more shrink from giving to God when the truth is preached.

And if the Holy Spirit settles in the heart of the righteous, He will put the love and fear of God in their hearts. And this love of God will overshadow all acts of self, causing them to be willing and obedient in the service of God. By this godly transformation, a believer can give all he has to God whom he now loves, by the Spirit of righteousness.

“… the righteous give without restraint.” – Proverbs 21-26b

Giving to God out of pure love and fear was the mindset of the early church. This mindset made them sell their belongings, and brought it to God. It was this same spirit that drove the spread of the gospel of Christ by many preachers. Righteous men and women who loved God, gave and sacrificed much for His work, including their own lives.

When someone loves, he naturally wants to give, to prove his love. No one, no sermon, can teach us to love God; but by His Spirit of covenant this is made possible. And the only way the presence of His Spirit is established in a man is when we pursue after righteousness (plus holiness and obedience).

And when the Spirit sows the seed of the Love of God in a man’s heart, he becomes a natural investor into God’s affairs.

I give because of the strong relationship I have with God. I love the Lord Jesus, and I want to see His work succeed; I delight in His praise; this is why I give much.

If men of God had known the secret to having members who support God’s kingdom with their resource, they would seek first the kingdom of God, and work to establish His righteousness in the lives of God’s people. This would be his number one task, not prosperity, riches, seeding, or money-compelling sermons. It is God who will bless His people; it is He that gives us the power to get wealth. And the Lord would add every other godly spice into the congregation, including the heart to give to God. Then God’s blessings will multiply much unto any people. For when they sow, they will reap in joy; and one who sows sparingly will reap sparingly. “For God accepts the sacrifice of the righteous, but hates the sacrifice of the wicked.” Proverbs 15:8

And when God begins to prosper His church which has returned to Him in righteousness and sacrificial spirit, the income of the church which shrank before, will once again blossom in increasing value.

Again, if they who were appointed by God to oversee the flock knew the powerful effect of having a Church that fears the Lord, they would invest all their strength in channeling the hearts of their membership towards the God who demands righteousness FIRST, from His people.

But today many men of God only think of the present, and the urgent need to increase the monetary value of the Church and their pockets. When a man of God has this mindset, his God is nothing but mammon. He has become a slave to the lust for riches. But a true man of God is dead to money.

Many pastors and church leaders are not willing to suffer a little loss for the people of God to be saved, and repositioned by the hand of God. They do not want a little downturn in finances, that better days will be put in place for the congregation, which will in-turn prosper them also.

Because we have deserted God’s truth; because we have not preached that God hates the sacrifices of the wicked, and that blessings is on the head of the righteous (Proverbs 10:6); because we have fronted giving money and seed as the principal need of the generous God of Abraham, the people of God has waxed strong in their wickedness, and have not turned from it. Rebellion and unrighteousness has filled the church of God, and many have lost absolute fear for God. And how shall they prosper in wickedness and grave sin against God?

He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

Today we have members who do what is unlawful to make unrighteous gains. And because they are not told the whole truth, they think that the gains of their increased unrighteousness which will take them to everlasting burnings are the blessings of God; they call it grace when sin yields riches.

And when some have made vile money by deceit and evil ways, they return tithes and seeds to the Church. And although many pulpit merchants may know that wickedness is involved, they gladly accept it, and pray for it to be well with the unrighteous. But it shall be ill with the wicked, says the Lord.

God has prepared a day of recompense for the wicked; a day of sorrow, and and day of mourning. Here and hereafter, he shall reap the gains of his wickedness. The eyes of God is set to do them evil; “For God is a righteous God, and He is angry with the wicked everyday.” – Psalm 7:11

Whether he is sleeping, or eating, or driving, or singing, or dancing in church, or lifting up unrighteous hands, or preaching, or giving seeds and tithes, whatever, wherever, whenever, the anger of God burns against the wicked and the unrighteous.

The fewer faithful men must warn the Church of Christ concerning this.

For if all unrighteousness will lead to damnation, then it is not grace, or the hand of God that enriches the wicked at heart and deed.

The blessings of Jehovah, it makes rich; and He adds no sorrow to it. It will not lead you to destruction, nor will it separate you from God. That riches and open doors that will separate you from God is not a blessing; it is not grace. It is meant to cement your eternal destruction.

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death(even the second death). Proverbs 10:6

A. Abrahamic blessings

I have seen those who teach that God called us out of the world to bless us like Abraham. This is untrue! Abraham was not called out to be blessed. God has the power to bless him right in his fathers house. Just as Job was blessed right there in his own town of Uz.

With Abraham, God wanted a nation, a people, a generation that would fear His name, and to show forth His praises among the nations who knew other gods, that all men many see and know the one true God and His judgments. And Abraham was called out to be the father of that generation that would serve this purpose of God.

God was also going to give Abraham the Holy Spirit by which he shall know his God. So Abraham became a prophet. And Abraham was commanded to teach his offspring the knowledge of God. By this knowledge, the sons, if they will abide in it, will also attain to the blessings and covenants of Abraham. For it is written;

For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” – Genesis 18:19

When God spoke the above to His angel, Abraham was already blessed. What remained was the promise of a great nation that would come from Him. But the number one rule was that Abraham will instruct his posterity according to the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice.

It is my belief, according to the spirit of teaching, that God delayed His promise to Abraham in order to teach His ways to Him first; for Abraham was a pagan before He was found by God.

So, because God was direly looking for a righteous generation, He made their greatness and blessings depend on righteousness and justice. And without righteousness there would be no Abraham’s blessings or any greatness for His offsprings.

All covenants have stipulations, and rules. Abraham’s covenant relied on righteousness.

The Lord’s anger with Israel, for which He allowed them to be plundered and destroyed by the enemies, famine, plagues, and wars, was based on this fact and truth.

And whenever the sons of Abraham failed in righteousness and justice, Abraham’s blessings were held back. Then they were plundered until they lost all they gathered.

At one instance, they imagined that God would accept the sacrifice of goats and sheep, and relieve them of their troubles. But the Lord rebuffed them, saying:

“I desire mercy and not sacrifice, And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6

“He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:8

“For Righteousness shall exalt a nation; But sin is a reproach to any people.” Proverbs 14:34

These, my people, are the true words of our God. This truth is very consistent all over the Old testament. God cannot change from loving righteousness to mongering sacrifice and seed.

Therefore, if anyone wants to connect into the sure blessings of the Abrahamic covenant, tell him that he must register his interest with righteousness. It is God’s first demand.

B. Davidic Blessings

Now the days of David drew near that he should die, and he charged Solomon his son, saying: “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man. And keep the charge of the Lord your God: to walk in His ways, to keep His statutes, His commandments, His judgments, and His testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn; that the Lord may fulfill His word which He spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons take heed to their way, to walk before Me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul,’ He said, ‘you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’ – 1 Kings 2

Again, here was a man whom the Lord promised to make his generations great and established. But the terms were that his posterity must walk before the Lord God, in truth, and with all their hearts, keeping the judgments of God and obeying His laws. According to King David, by following these instructions, Solomon will be established into the Davidic covenant. David was also a son of Abraham, who prospered because He followed His God in righteousness.

“For a throne is established on righteousness.” – Proverbs 16:12

In his early years, King Solomon followed the God of His father David, and served Him in obedience and righteousness according to the ways of David, and God greatly blessed Him. In the later part of his life, he abandoned God. This evil was instrumental to the division of the Kingdom of Israel. For whenever a covenant is broken, the opposite of the agreement becomes the case.

Throughout the Lineage of David, righteous rulers like Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah, who led the nation into righteousness prospered in their reign. Even if they became kings at a hard and cruel time, the hand of God would eventually turn the fortune of the nation around, and their kingdoms were greatly established.

But the kings who did evil in the eyes of God received plundering, famines, wars, and plagues until hard times befell the nation. So it was said in Proverbs 14:34.

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people(even people of God).”

The inability of the descendants of David to keep to the Davidic covenant in righteousness and justice brought about the destruction and exile of Israel. The human dynasty of David ended with Zerubbabel. Right now Israel has no King, and no Davidic dynasty to rule. But God had already raised for Himself an everlasting arm in Christ Jesus, the righteous King whom He shall cause to inherit the throne of His father- David; and to His Kingdom shall be no end; for He shall reign in righteousness, equity, and Justice.

C. The Blessings in Christ

When God saw that the sons of Abraham had failed in righteousness and justice, God raised up another Father of Covenant, through whom a new generation of God seekers and God pleasers would be blessed and established. Again, that is, if they will follow the way of Him Who is the Father of the new covenant.

Jesus Christ was this father – the Father of those who worship God through Him. We know that Christ Himself is also a seed of Abraham, and that all Abrahams seeds are to be blessed by following the way of righteousness, justice, and mercy. Therefore, though we are in Christ, nothing has changed concerning our divine blessings from God. It must be tethered by righteousness.

And because the Lord Jesus who was before Abraham, who also established a covenant with him, knows what the Lord needs from all who want to be prospered by the hand of God, He said to His followers;

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

By doing this simple instruction, the promises of father Abraham remains for all the people of God. This is why I said that nothing has changed in how God blesses His people, both Jews and Christians; righteousness is our registration.

Let us cease all these motivational prophecies; for prophecy is overrated! When God has an oracle and instructions concerning His blessings, when He has told us what to do in order to attract riches, prophesying instead of declaring the oracle becomes deceit, and shouting amen to these prophesies instead of doing the word of God is foolishness. “For God is no respecter of persons.” -Acts 10:34. “He has exalted His word above all His name.”- Psalm 138:2.

There was no one prophesying to Abraham when God was blessing Him. There was no one prophesying to David, Solomon, Job, or Joshua when God was blessing them. But by doing what was right in the eyes of God, and by inclining to the judgments of God, the Lord prospered them in whatever they did, and blessed them wherever they turned.

It is the Church of today that has turned blind eyes on the scriptural issues of God’s blessings, and have pursued after prophetic declarations that do not work. Yes! We would all have been millionaires judging from the many prophetic declarations we receive at almost every Church gathering.

Corrupted by the lie that blessings are obtained by giving money, we have neglected the full oracle of divine blessings and prosperity.

True, it is more blessed to give that to receive. But the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to God; we must first preach to them. We must teach the wholesome truth of God. By this, the flock of Christ will attain their true blessings and remain sanctified.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11

“The righteous will flourish like the date palm; They will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” –

“The Lord knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.” -Psalm 92:12

“Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, For they shall eat the fruit of their righteous labour.” Isaiah 3:10

Proverbs 10:6 “Blessings are on the head of the righteous.”

I hope to have convinced us beyond doubt that the FIRST, and most powerful instrument of our blessings as Christians is our righteousness before God. Therefore, let us seek FIRST the kingdom of God and its righteousness; that all other things shall be added unto us.

what is righteousness? — Picture links to a post on What righteousness is

Tested by fire; narrow is the path that leads to the kingdom of God

By

Ogba Victor

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30 July, 2022

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“Gold and silver are tested by fire, and a person’s heart is tested by the Lord.” – Proverbs 17:3-13

“Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart” – Deuteronomy 8:2

“So that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” – 1 Peter 1:7

I have figured out a secret that I would love to share with God’s people. I saw this secret in the bible, and by the anointing, the light shined on me. And now I understand the world we live in and how it was set up by God to test and proof men who will enter into the Kingdom of God. I have seen the true issues of the eternal destiny of a believer and the unbeliever. I have seen that all our years on earth, we are being tested by fire.

**“Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart.” – Deuteronomy 8:2**

The truth is that, all through ages, all through times, this earth and stage has been a field of great test. It was established so by the wisdom of God. Our test is so great that it is likened to fire. And as fire consumes impurities, and refines precious metals, that is how the great test of all mankind consumes many, and condemns them to destruction, while refining others, and preparing them for their future inheritance in God’s Kingdom.

If you care about eternity, you must not be carried away by circumstances which surround you, whether good or bad, it is all a test. Put in another way, you must not allow the good you own, or your ill situation(s) make you rebel, or become lawless, God is testing you.

Those whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life since the foundation of the world will be carried away by the fire protocols of this present age. They will forget that all creation is in fire-groaning, moving towards eternity, and waiting for God to reveal His tested and trusted sons.

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:10

Look at this scripture above. Jesus was telling the Philadelphian church that an hour of trial is coming upon mankind, but He was going to keep them out of it. For this promise to be possible, it means that that Church must cease to exist.

We might think that it is the Antichrist tribulation, but it is not. If the time of trial which Jesus spoke of was the antichrist’s lawless days, there will be no need to promise a Church that stopped existing like over 1600 years ago that He would preserve them from the antichrist tribulation that is yet to come up till now. For God already knew that the Philadelphian Church would not see the Antichrist years. Unless the test He meant was close to them, and that He was going to push it beyond their span of existence.

Now, let us look at the Old Testament and see how Israel was tested by God in their journey to the promise land, and how God continued to test them in Canaan. Take a look at these scriptures.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. Exodus 16:4

“And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.” Deuteronomy 8:2

“Who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do you good in the end.” -Deuteronomy 8:16

“I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died, ²²so that through them I may test Israel, whether they will keep the ways of the Lord, to walk in them as their fathers kept them, or not.” Judges 2:22-22

“And they were left, that He might test Israel by them, to know whether they would obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses.” Judges 3:4

The scriptures above will ring huge bells in the mind of those who devote time to know the word of God firsthand. It will also help us understand the trueness of the message of this post.

God began to test the Jews right from the beginning of their walk with Him. He tested them for faithfulness, and for trust. He tested their obedience, and willingness. He tested their ways, and knew what was in their hearts.

In some cases, He used good times to test if they will become carried away by the blessings and providence of God; if they still will be willing to humble and obey Him. In other cases, He tested them with lack and want. He willfully allowed them be in want, just to see if they will be faithful and trust in Him till the end. God also tested if they will decide to turn away from Him, His word, and His ways in times of difficulty and confusion.

In all these tests, Israel continued to show that they were not worthy of being called God’s people, and that they were not deserving of the rest of God.

Let the situation of ancient Israel echo also for the times we live in. In our days, situations and conditions of life still floor many in this field of test. The gracious blessings of the rich has cause many to stumble into pride, haughtiness, wickedness, and destruction. The low level of many has led them into prostitution, stealing, and other diabolical means of survival. But it was all a test.

For very light reasons, Christians fail the test that was put before them by Go. Many have done great evil in the sight of God, thereby sealing our eternal destiny by our failing to stand firm for Christ. We have forgotten that this place is not a permanent home.

From the scriptures, Job showed that he understood this mystery when he said:

“What is man, that You should exalt him, That You should set Your heart on him, That You should visit him every morning, And test him every moment?” – Job 7:17-18

Apostle Paul knew this mysterious truth also. In 1 Corinthians 3:13, he wrote to builders of God’s people, reminding them that their work- the sheepfold of God which they labour to build, will be tested by fire. And we know that we are all the work of one builder or the other. Therefore, Paul is saying that God will test us all with fire. Not in heaven, but right here on earth is the test.

Peter, the apostle was not ignorant of the testing of a Christian man. For he said: “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” – 1 Peter 1:7

Faithfulness is the test. God will test if we will be faithful, no matter what, till the end, or even until death.

God will test us with hunger and lack. He will test us with riches and times of plenty. He will test our deeds when others have more than us. God would want to know if we will follow after envy, jealousy, strife or maliciousness.

God will test our reaction when the world and society is against us, against our faith, and against our beliefs. In that time, are we going to remain faithful to the pilgrim’s cause, and stand up for Jesus and His word, or are we going to become cowards and choose the world?

In America and many societies, very many, even men of God has failed to stand up for the truth of God when their beliefs are questioned by the godless society. Thus, many have been defeated by the testing that was meant to establish them as elects of God.

Priesthood is all a test; a very great proofing. When God calls a man, He begins to tests if he will sell his soul to the corruption that seeks money and wealth. The corruption that masters deceitful ways of turning the gospel into a money making scheme. Those who would rather make the people happy instead of daggering their hearts with the word of God. The corruption that lays aside the truth that saves and washes God’s sheep, and those who tell lies on the pulpit for gains, who also carry the message of Christ in covetousness. God will test them.

Many priests were tested, and they proved why their names were never written in the Book of Life from the foundations of the world.

Yes! God has saved you oh priest. But why would He not take you up to heaven? He first wants to test if you are worthy. Then He called you into in vineyard to test what was in your heart, and it didn’t take long before you proved Him right for testing your ways o priest.

As a Christian, our loved ones many have abandoned Christ. Then God will use them to test if we will love them more than Him. If we will desert Him for the sake of our children, parents or loved ones. It is all a big fire test. And very many are failing! Many believers in America and other nations have already failed.

Parents of LGBTQ Children Who support their children

If God gives you a wife or husband, He begins to test your faithfulness to His judgments on marital relationship. When He gives you a child, He tests your willingness to bring up the child in the fear of God and according to His righteous ways. He gives you a parent, He will also test your obedience and regard for his word on parental/child relationship. If we fail in His test, we have also proven not worthy of his kingdom.

If as a parent, having done your best, yet the child rejects wisdom, God will not judge you. But if you contribute to the wickedness God sees in your child, by not bringing them up according to the ways of God, to fear Him and do what is right in his eyes, then you have failed the test.

When God gives you a leader, He will test your heart, to know if you will be a faithful follower, or one who is a rebel. If He makes you a leader, a religious leader or secular leader, He will test if you will put on pride, if you will mistreat those you lead, or if you will humble yourself before Him and His judgments. He will test if you will be fair, if you will lead in equity, if you will show mercy, and if you will do justice.

In your days of testing as a leader or head, God will purposefully cause you to see funds, and He will test if you will steal church funds, project funds, or public funds.

Leadership is a big test; it has cost many the kingdom of God. Many become leaders and forget the God of their humble beginnings. But God was only testing them with leadership. He already knew that they would fail, but He needed to prove why their names where not written in His Book of life, so He tested them, and they proved Him the God who knows all things from the beginning.

If God should give you wealth, He will also test your loyalty to Him with your wealth. He will know if you will be supportive of the work of God, and lend to those who are in need of help. Or if you will watch His work crumble, and the less privilege suffer, while you live in a tall castle. God will test what is in your heart; do not fail!

If you are a ‘faithful and blameless Christian’ and God allows you to become sick and sorrowed by oppressions, He is trying if you will depart and seek help where there is no help. He will see if you will wait for Him no matter what, even if he delays and death comes. He will be proved right for writing your name in His Book or not writing it.

There could be many unanswered prayers and reason to backslide. But for what reason? It is a test of patience and trust. This is the time God will test what you will do. If you will continue to obey, if we will continue to pray, if you will continue to seek and wait for Him.

Finally Christian, remember that these things are fire-protocol tests. If fire is easy to pass through, it will be easy to pass through these great tests. We are tested in every stage and level of our lives on earth. And you will hardly figure it out that God you are being tested, and that you are already failing. But be ye firm, and do not fail your God!

For narrow is the way that leads into eternal life, and a few will enter into it. It is not because many will not see the way, it is because, when they will face the tests of the narrow way, they will fail.

There is a Book in heaven containing the names of those who will be saved at the end of all times. Even those who will be born tomorrow, those who will make it through the narrow way, and pass the tests, their names are already printed on that great Book. God has foreknown that they would be relentless in the struggle to enter into God’s kingdom, and that they would pass all the tests they would face. So He wrote their names on His Book.

If we have already failed God, it simply means that our names were never written in that book. God already foreknew that we would not submit to Him.

But today, if we read this post, and will decide to turn back to God, pursue after Him, and hold on till the end; if we will decide to pass all our remaining tests, it means that our names were written in the Book. God also foresaw us making a U-turn and deciding to stand for Him till the end. The choice is yours!

“And he who stands firm to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13

“Do not be afraid of what you will suffer. Listen! The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will be in trouble for ten days. Be faithful even to death. Then I will give you the crown of life.” Revelations 2:10

We have already been judged by God, We that have received and heard the law

By

Ogba Victor

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4 May, 2022

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Text: 1 Corinthians 11:31. “For if we would judge ourselves [using scripture to recognize our shortcomings and correcting our behavior], we should not be judged.”

Text 2: Revelation 13:8. “And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

Very many of us would ignorantly say: “Do not Judge me, you are not God, let God be the judge”. It is a saying that looks to ward off possible godly counsel, correction and instruction against the ways we have chosen that is against the ways of God.

But there is a truth we must know. The truth is that we that have obtained the law have also been judged by God. Both sinners and the righteous have been booked for death and life respectively.

Revelation 13:8 “And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

The names of those who will pass the judgment of God and enter into eternal life are in the Book of Life. Heaven rejoices in anticipation of their glorious home-coming and their future reign with Christ. They are the saved who are living a holy (Isaiah 35:8) and righteous (Matthew 13:43) life unto God. They are remarked for having the fear of God; they have also kept themselves clean (Psalm 24:3). These people will undoubtedly inherit the kingdom of God. This is what the Bible teaches, right from the beginning to the end of it.

We know that the word of God is where the idea of heaven, hell and judgement comes from. And if these are true as we have already believed (for we have seen and tasted that our God is the almighty), then we must also open our eyes to see that the word of God has mapped out certain kind of persons as those who will inherit the kingdom promised by God.

Again; ‘if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.’

If the Book of Life means condemnation for those whose name are not found in it, our main aim as Christians must be -to live in a way worthy of this Book. This is the only way to pass the judgment of God. If we are not living in a way worthy of it, our names cannot be written in it. It means that we are already perishing. Do not wait for God’s judgement to know this. Turn back while you can!

Those who say they belong to God must stop resisting godly reprimand and preachers of truth, heaven and hell, waiting for God to judge them. Open the bible and see how God judges the works of men, that is how we all will be judged on the last day.

Test your deeds using the written word of God and know if your will escape eternal damnation. For the Judgments of God and how he will judge sinners, the wicked and those who corrupt the earth are not hidden from us. They are bold in the scriptures. For this, no one would be of any excuse.

If the bible says that those who practice what we do shall enter into heaven, it means that we shall live. But if the bible says that those who practice what we do will not enter into the kingdom of God, let it be known that on that day when men shall stand to give account before the great God, we shall likewise perish without mercy. Because mercy ends when we die!

It will not matter if we are of the Church or of the world. For by the word of God, all men shall be judged. If we already know what the word says, then we have known the outcome of the judgement of Christ.

“Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of iniquity!’” – Matthew 7:23

“He that rejects me, and receives not my words, hath one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:48

Jesus said it Himself. The very words He preached, the words of the prophets and apostles, the word of God is our sure judgement. It is inevitable!

Let us not think that there is a different handbook by which God will judge us on the last day, let us not think that God will bring new judgements to the judgment seat of Christ. It is the bible, the law we already know and have refused to be corrected by it, same words, same law, same judgements will be used to judge us on the last day.

What then should we do today? We must first judge ourselves truthfully, for God is not a partial Judge. Today we must allow ourselves to be told the truth that hurts so that we can be saved for tomorrow. Our main text says, ‘if you judge yourselves today and turn from that for which you are judged by God’s word, you will not be judged on that day.’

Turn! People of God, turn this day! Turn from sin and iniquity; turn from wickedness and all unrighteousness. For there is no other judgment apart that that which you have heard before, – ‘that the wages of sin is death (even to the second death).’

Some truths we must not dismis about the judgements of God

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18

“For unless a man is born again, he shall not see the kingdom of God.” John 3:5

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” – Revelation 21:8

“No, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do these things to your brethren! Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:8

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” – Hebrews 12:14

In conclusion, do not come into judgment hoping to pass it. Open the bible and know if you will pass it or not. If the bible condemns you today, you will be condemned on judgment day. We have already been judged by God, we who have received and heard the law.

The harvest is passed, the summer is ended, and we are yet to be saved

By

Ogba Victor

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21 April, 2022

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Many years are gone from when Jeremiah the man of God prophesied to Judah. Many centuries are gone since he made a remarkable prayer and lamentation. He made a strong statement which echoes through many generations of the people, even the Christian Church. And we cannot afford not to understand this lamentation against the people of God.

Text: Jeremiah 8:18-21: “When I would comfort myself against sorrow, my heart is faint in me.

“Behold the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people because of them that dwell in a far country: Is not the LORD in Zion? Is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and with strange vanities?

“Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?”

God sent Jeremiah on a rescue mission to his own people. Israel had already been removed, and destruction was not far from Judah. Because God did not desire that Judah should also perish like Ephraim, He sent Jeremiah to do a Back to God evangelistic outreach.

Jeremiah worked in many tears and in great pain which earned him ‘the weeping prophet’. His calling denied him of many privileges of his youthful years, yet he was full of great distress. Many times, he was threatened and conspired against. At a time, He tried to shut his mouth, but he could not resist God for long. For he was a watchman in Judah; seeing destruction like a tide coming upon Judah, warning the sons of men to turn back to God and be saved was his duty.

Howbeit, after many years of outreaching his people and trying to convince his people of the need to return to God, Jeremiah wept and wrote a lamentation in Chapter 8:18-21. But for the sake of this article, our major concern is verse 20.

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jeremiah 8:20

This is to say, from the first day of his outing was a time set. A time of expectancy and mercy; a time for forgiveness, healing, salvation, and a returning. God was waiting, judgement was coming, and time was ticking fast. The last days, the day of the Lord’s anger were not too far.

But for many years the Jews ignored the call to turn from their wicked ways and return to God. Then at a time, grace and mercy elapsed and judgment became inevitable. God had decided that He would neither relent nor forgive, but utterly destroy Judah.

The appointed times later came to an end; the summer time allocated for Judah to be redeemed from destruction also ended, but Judah did not return, Judah was not saved.

Babylonians invaded Jerusalem in 597 BC. And in about ten more years they totally destroyed Judah, Jerusalem and the temple. The destruction closed the chapter of Israel and Judah just as Jeremiah warned them would happen should they continue to be stiff necked and not turned back to God.

This powerful saying of Jeremiah still echoes strong for the people of the nations and the Church of God.

From the first day we came to Christ was a time also set for us. Some of us grew up in the church. From the first day we were dedicated before God was a time allocated, and the clock started to tick on us.

In that time is an expectation; in that time is a demand. For us to be born again, for us to find God, for us to know Him and have a vital contact with Him. In that time, we are supposed to be formed into the image of God in holiness and righteousness. In that time, God expects us to rack up spiritual might and knowledge to enable us face the challenges of the night and dark days that will come upon the earth and cause many to fall. In that time, we are supposed to experience God beyond the letter and what the pastor is saying. In that time, we are supposed to have our names eternally stamped in the book of life.

Yet! From that first day till now, many of us are still unsaved. For the Holy Spirit has revealed, and still reveals that many of those who belong to the Church are going to hell. For the summer is ended, the harvest is past, time is running out, yet we are not saved.

Having spent years in the Church, many of us do not even understand what it means to be born again. Many do not know God; many have not experienced Him. Many still do not know ‘the tellings’ of the Spirit. The knowledge and power of the Kingdom to come we still lack. The life of Christ is yet to be formed in us, so we are still being defeated by sin and darkness. But darkness should not have conquered us if we pursued after what we were called to pursue.

For we have sought after many things, pursued many frivolities like titles and positions, appointment and role, singing and dancing plus other secondary matters which has little or zero weight in the light of eternity with God. But that which is most important for why we are in the Church, we are yet to have. The summer is passing, the clock is ticking, eternity beckons, judgment approaches, hell rejoices, but many of us are still not saved.

Very many Church goers have died in the condition of not being saved. I cried bitterly when God caused me to know that many of us are perishing. Oh! How I cried deeply that noon.

Our Churchiness and everything we chase after means nothing if we do not find God while we are still in that time frame appointed to us. But how can we find Whom we are yet to seek with all our hearts? How can we know Whom we do not draw close to?

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” -Jeremiah 29:13

Now, to those who are dead and cannot come back to listen and seek Him, the harvest is past, and the summer is ended.

But for us that live, the summer end also approaches very fast. Time is ticking, many are dying every day, and the question is, ‘Are you are saved?’ Church goer, have you found Jesus Christ or are you just whiling away your time in many religiosities that do not matter? Are you born again? Have you experienced God beyond the letter? Is the nature of Christ formed in you? And is your name in the Book of Life? We must tremble much if we cannot answer a bold yes to all these questions.

For many, the summer has ended. For others, it will take some more time, then comes the end of the time allocated to them. Let us endeavor to be certain of our salvation. We must not delay in doing the things that is required of us, and we cannot afford to pursue what is not vital while we are still in the summer. Lest, we shall cry that the harvest is past, the summer is ended and we were not saved.

How to replicate the victorious life of Christ and access total freedom and dominion

By

Ogba Victor

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31 March, 2022

0

Text: Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The life Jesus promised us His people is one that is abundant in freedom, peace and joy. The promises of God are overwhelmingly rich and magnanimous that when resounded, we shall think to ourselves that all should be well with a Christian. The opposite is actually the case most times. The reason is because many do not yet understand how we can enter into the victorious nature of Christ.

The will of God from creation is for man to replicate His abilities and nature. For this, man was made in the image of God. And God said to Adam and Eve: “Be fruitful and dominate.”

Howbeit, God’s people find it hard to produce the very nature of God and His Christ which characterized by dominion and victory over –

Sin and Flesh
Evil
Darkness
The world

Over all these, Jesus our Lord who is also our Father had victory and dominion.

Over sin: Jesus Christ was declared sinless by Isaiah’s prophecy and the New Testament (2 Corinthians 5:21). His human nature couldn’t overcome Him.

Over evil: Christ had supreme dominion over evil. He cast out demons by command; they bowed, listened and obeyed. No power could withstand Him in His days. And although there were evil and evil people in the world, evil could not conquer His goodness. And Himself said, “Whoever believes in me will do greater than these, because I am going to the Father (John 14:12).”

The sad reality is that many of our Churches, Pastors and Christians cannot overpower small evil Spirits. And as for evil, it has long conquered many among us.

Over darkness, Jesus is the Light of the world. For Light shines in darkness and darkness cannot not comprehend, nor defeat His Light. When Satan approached, Jesus said: “For the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. (John 14:30)”

Over the world, Jesus lived in dominion. The world here is all organized forces that fights against the knowledge and worship of God. This includes Satan, Demons, agents of darkness, the wickedness of men, sin and death. For He said: “In the world you will have tribulations/trouble, but fear not! For I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)”

If Christ had all this dominion and victory, then the following questions may be rightly asked:-

Why do many believers find it hard to overcome sin after coming to Christ? Twice have I been asked a similar question.
Truly there are many testimonies of those who believed with their heart, and power for sonship came upon in them. But it is also true that many believers still live under the bondage of sin.

One of the questions came from my cousin. He asked why it is hard to become whom he wants to be despite numerous times of surrendering to Christ. The other question was from a stranger. He asked, “Why do we still sin?” That is to say he is finding it hard to stop sinning despite his belief. There is an answer to this question.
Why are many of us still very much plagued much by insurmountable troubles despite the promise of abundant life? Today we see that many Church people suffering mental health challenges and depression. Why do many not have dominion over these things? Surely joy and peace are part of the abundant life package!
Why are many believers still in bondage? For the captives of the mighty and preys of the strong men were supposed to be set free by the power of the Cross.
Do we not know that many Church people dwell in darkness? Jesus is the Light of men, I’ve tasted and seen that He truly saves from darkness. But there are very man of us who still soul travel, astral project, and are bound in various spiritual societies. Yes! Many Church people have become Children of the night. It is not supposed to be this way, but many of us are ignorant of the truth, so we remain bound. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:32)”
The summary of these questions is, why are we not able to be victorious like Jesus our Father and Lord? Sin, flesh, evil, troubles, darkness and the world still have many of us by the neck, leading many of us into eternal damnation.

The answer to these questions is gotten from the text Matthew 11:28-30

Firstly, Jesus said to the people: “Come unto me all ye that are heavy ladened and I will give you rest.” This call is likened to the initial call unto Christ; for men to come and receive rest and freedom from sin, evil, darkness, depression, life billows and eternal damnation.

This message is for those who have passed this level. That is to say, I write to the Church of God; to those who have answered the call to come and follow the Lord Jesus.

But one could visit a barber’s shop and leave without shaving. For him to get a haircut, he needs to reason with the barber on the cost of getting a haircut. He needs to pay for it and then sit on the barber’s chair to show readiness, and then he can be saved. Similarly, one can be in the Church, have many titles, do many good works, but is yet to be saved.

A Man of God visited a good Churcher. While preparing to leave, the Holy spirit spoke to this man of God concerning the very soul of the good Churcher. The Spirit said: “He is not saved; preach to him.” The Man of God was very hesitant because this was a good Churcher who should have been saved. Unfortunately, he finally left without doing what he was told to do.

In the morning, the man of God got a message that the man he refused to minster to has died. It was late, but he cried much anyway.

Here is the wisdom of God in Jeremiah 8:20

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!”

When we go to Church, we are like those in a barber’s shop. The true expectation is that we will be shaved and made clean. But the harvest is coming, the end of time is almost here, many of us are still on the pursuit of many things that matter not, without seeking genuine salvation which is what truly matters. Therefore, many are not saved; and very many have died yet unsaved.

The call of Christ is only the first step. Those who stop in the first level of this call cannot experience total freedom and victory in the areas of their lives. Even if the yoke if sin is broken at instant sanctification, there needs to be progressive work of God in a man life until he is made like our God and Christ.

Hence, Jesus gave us the second command: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am meek and lowly at heart; and you will find rest for your souls.”

Thus, the rest Jesus promised was only possible to those who do the second command. Those who only come to become Churchers or church people will miss the main package.

TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU (Part 2) | Heralds of Revival — A Farm Animal Yoke

The yoke of Christ is the teachings of Christ. To take them up and bind it on our necks is the second command of Jesus Christ. A farm yoke is not meant to restrict freedom, but to direct an animal according to wishes of the farmer. He wants to Lord us, and the proof that He Lords and directs us is that we do His word and practice His teachings.

Then Jesus continued: “Learn from Me; for I am meek and lowly at heart; then you will find rest for your souls.” This means that it is not just the teachings of Jesus, we also have to learn from Him. That is to say, we must observe, study, learn and imitate His ways.

Apostle Paul had a secret to his victorious Christian life. For He said: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)”

Therefore, if a believer truly wants to come to true dominion and victorious nature of Christ, he also has to know and live by the teachings of Christ as it is in the Bible. “Do not be hearers or readers only, but also doers of the word. (James 1:22)” Secondly, He must replicate the life which Christ lived. By His ways the Apostles of Christ lived in victory. The early Church also lived by this way and they had dominion.

What we learn from the life of Jesus Christ

His Holy life
We have to live a holy Life unto God. Holiness is separating ourselves from sin and consecration unto God. Holiness is the nature of the Victorious God. The Victorious nature of God is therefore made possible for men if they will also put on Holiness like God. From this post you can see what Holiness is about.

When a man is Holy, he shows faithfulness to the covenant of God. Therefore, God will supply more of His Spirit of might, of Wisdom, of Grace, of knowledge, and of Power. By this Spirit we shall conquer many deficiencies of our mortal flesh and human nature.

Likewise, if we are found wanting, we shall also lack His Spirit. By this, it will be very difficult to overcome sin and to replicate the dominion made possible by the Spirit of the covenant. It is written; “Be Holy as I am Holy.” 1 Peter 1:16

His Prayer Life
If there ever was a man who should not pray, it was Jesus Christ. But Jesus was a prayer warrior. He spent nights on top of the mountains praying. The bible says He interceded for the men. Apostle Paul learnt this and he wrote: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17).

Nobody is greater than his prayer life, no church can ever be greater than their prayer life. God cannot work mightily and be glorified among the gentiles until men begin to burn incense of prayer and praise. (Malachi 1:11) The Holy spirit said to me, “God’s power comes when men pray and praise.”

So, imagine a prayerless Christian and a dead Church wishing to become victorious and to dominate the powers of the world of evil, sin and darkness, it is impossible. “Men always ought to pray and not faint.” Luke 18:1

His Knowledge of God’s word
Jesus Christ was a man of the letter and of the Spirit. The Sanhedrin asked themselves, “How does He know the law when he never received training for it?” When Satan came to tempt Jesus, He didn’t speak in tongues, he didn’t pray, He only said “It is written…”

The knowledge of God’s word is a killer weapon for a victorious Christian life. Jesus used it to conquer Satan. David used it to overcome. The word of God guided Joshua to become a prosperous and great leader. It helped Hezekiah align to God. It also sustained the kingdom of Josiah in righteousness.

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You.” -Psalm 119:11

“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” – Psalms 119:105

There is no Christian who desires victory over sin and the world who jokes with his bible. There is no one who desires a perfect communion with God who does not make the word of God (both to read and to listen) a priority. Because God relates with us based on His word and not our emotions.

Myself was born again while I was reading the bible. The Spirit of God illuminated me and I broke out from the bondage of the flesh.

I did get to the point- ‘The things I don’t want to do, I see myself doing theme.’ In those days the Spirit caused me to read the letters of Paul with great openness. Then I stumbled upon the text “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Then, with great joy I died to flesh. For something instantly happened to me and I knew it.

The word of God sanctifies a man; it heals us from our inability to know God. It heals us from our inability to replicate His very nature. If we Joke with it, we will never become victorious Christians.

“For He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them out of their destructions.” -Psalm 107:20

I’ve also come to learn that many believers don’t have victory and dominion because they don’t know the word of God. They don’t know the provisions of God for them, and they are highly ignorant on how to access the free gift of God. So, they remain in bondage and chains of sin, Satan and darkness.

A generation of believers who don’t strive to have personal knowledge of the scripture cannot live and walk in dominion like Christ. Likewise, a generation of Pastors who only know to preach money, seed, sacrifice, destiny helpers and prophetic declarations cannot lead victorious men. The teachings of Christ must come before all these. In those plain bible truths lies the power of God made available for the victory of His people. “For you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.“ John 8:32

His Missional living
Missional living is to live in a way that our life speaks to others about God. Like doing the work of a missionary with your way of life. Such a life glorifies God before those who don’t know God.

Our Christianity must speak and shine before others. Men must see us and know Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16: “You are the light of the word, a city built on a hilltop (by God).” That is what we are!

The Apostles and the early Church were observed by the gentiles, and because of the kind of life they lived, the gentiles gave them the name ‘Christians’; meaning people like Christ.

Meanwhile, some Churchers need to convince the world that they are for Christ Jesus. It is because from the judgment of men they are nothing like Christ; but instead, they are like those to whom they were supposed to be a light unto. These Church goers talk like unbelievers, act like them, dress seductively and sultry like them, sing their kind of songs, fight, curse like them, lie and cheat like them. These are those group of Church people who deceive themselves saying: “Christianity is a thing of the heart.” For this, they put on a sinful lifestyle which glorifies the world of sin and Satan the lord of it.

But, from the beginning of times to the revelation of the end, the people whom God calls his own, He has also told, to live in a way worthy of Him. To live in righteousness and in the fear of God- which is to depart from everything that is sinful. To put on holiness and not to copy or become like the word.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.(Romans 12:2)” So, God is not only interested in our hearts. Our works, deeds and acts are very much part of our service to God.

If we are like them(unbelievers), why and what do we preach to them? Why should they take us and our God serious? Thus, we have those who bring shame and disgrace to God and the gospel. No difference between the perishing and them. Instead of being like Christ in missional living and being a light to those who don’t know God, they share in Satan’s agenda to destroy the word with sin.

I remember my years in the Higher Institution. Surrounded by people whose life dishonor God, yet my light shined out to them. I ensured they knew for real that I was different.

One day, some persons decided to try and see if I was genuine by tempting me with a beautiful lady, but I passed!
One of the reasons I was victorious over sin and flesh like Christ was because I lived a missional life. For it became very difficult for me to begin to fall for what I lived against. I couldn’t become a hypocrite before them. I couldn’t bare to disgrace and disregard my God after shining light for so long.

And because I lived for God before those who don’t know Him, God gave me grace and strength not to fall before them. “For He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” -Psalm 23:3 “For He who has more will be given.” -Matthew 25:29

Finally, we must know that as people of God,
“…You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” 1 Peter 2:9

He Set His heart on Pilgrimage
When the heart is set unto pilgrimage, one desires nothing but what is worth eternal life. To set our hearts on pilgrimage is to live as pilgrims on earth, ever longing for the end of our cause, and looking forward to be united with our eternal Father in a better home. It will help a believer to be careful of deeds that can cause him to lose the crown of life. It will also help him to be faithful and devoted.

Jesus had this mindset when He said to Peter, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. (John 4:33-)” Again Jesus said: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. (John 9:4)” No one who has this kind of mindset entangles himself with worthless things but with things that are of eternal value. Thus, he shall have victory over the lust of the eyes and cravings of men.

Paul also had this mindset when he wrote in Hebrews 12:1 saying;
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

We will beat envy, strife, jealousy, in-fightings, hatred, covetousness, the love of money, malice, and many other sins when we set our hearts on pilgrimage. For we are eternal vessels moving on to eternity. This earthly journey, no matter how sweet or bitter, is a temporal one. Some have just 20 years to spend here; some 30; many won’t see 40; 50 is enough for some; if God favors a man, he may see 70. Nonetheless, eternity is an endless stay. One cannot afford to end up in hell pursuing things that are eternally meaningless. Therefore, we must set our hearts on pilgrimage like Christ.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3

He was meek and lowly hearted
Meekness is a rare quality such that even the finest of men may not be able to produce it, but by God. Meekness is a quality that includes – gentleness, long-suffering, humility, mildness, submissiveness, yielding, patience, poor in spirit, not willing to get vengeance for yourself etc.

By meekness can the peace of Christ become our portion. Shabby attitude believers are always liable to sin and be made to sin. but in meekness we will learn to leave a quiet and peaceful life, serving God and loving one another.

1 Thessalonians 4:11: “Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.”

My yoke is easy; my burden is light

The yoke or burden God puts on a man is to be aided by the power of the Spirit. It is not meant to restrict but meant to guide to full usefulness unto God. No man can please God unless the Spirit empowers Him. And we know that God is willing and benevolent in giving his Spirit to His faithful ones, who takes his yoke and binds it on their neck. When we have done this and allowed the Sprit to be our guide, we will come to realize that His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

sin kills, sin destroys. Darkness kills, darkness destroys. The word is full of things that bring men down to depression and mental health issues. “… But I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

By saying His yoke is easy, it does not mean that the Christian journey is a roller coaster and fun packed journey. But if we allow Him, if we will be willing and obedient to Him, if we will put on the garment of faithfulness, we will be helped much by the Spirit.

I have seen how much the Spirit can help us if we are willing and obedient. Yes! I have tested of the power of that helps a Christian achieve victory. For it is “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,‘ says the LORD Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6)” “For by strength shall no man prevail. (1 Samuel 2:9)”

Let us be careful to learn that we cannot be helped by God until God sees willingness and obedience to take His yoke upon us and to learn from Him.

Again;

“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Let Us Return to Righteousness; God is a righteous Judge

By

Ogba Victor

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13 March, 2022

0

“I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the plumb line.” -Isaiah 28:17

Righteousness is the plumbline of God, it is his measuring tool with which he measures those he will accept their worship, service or sacrifice. This is why it is written: “The prayers of the righteous avails much”. But for the wicked it is written: “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD.”

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17

Let us consider that Paul first mentioned righteousness as what God’s kingdom is about. Righteousness is the quality of being right or justifiable by God’s standard in our works and deeds. It is the quality of aligning our works according to God’s judgements. The bible agrees that the judgements of God is righteous in Psalms 119:7.

Many dictionaries define righteousness as what is morally right, but that definition is half baked as long as God is concerned. The ways of God and that of man are not the same. “That which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” Luke 16:15. Thus, the Bible defines righteousness as what is right in the eyes of God. It doesn’t matter if men approve of it or speak evil of it; the word of God and His judgements are the standard for Christian righteousness.

I’ve seen believers who don’t want to hear about righteousness and producing works that align with God’s standards, but want to be part of God’s kingdom. Nonetheless, it is impossible for the unrighteous man to find God; his prayers are an abomination to God.

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright is His delight. The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but He loves those who pursue righteousness.

It is impossible for the ungodly and immoral to ever have a relationship with Jesus who is called the King of Righteousness. If He is called the King of righteousness then let us acknowledge that He cannot Lord the unrighteous.

This is how we know that all our works that doesn’t align to the person and judgments of God concerning how we must live is evil no matter how men see it; and that by doing those works we shall not be acceptable by God. “For God is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.” -Psalm 145:17

The righteous judgments of God are put in two rules:

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”, is known as the “Golden Rule”.

“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”, is called the “royal law”

Test for righteousness:

Since

The way you treat your husband or wife, is it right in the eyes of God?

How we talk to our wives or husbands is a test of righteousness. We cannot continue to beat-up and mistreat our wives and expect to be acceptable unto God before whom we made an oath of faithfulness. It is a sign of the lack of fear of God. God cannot tolerate such wickedness from any believer. The wives themselves who do not submit to their husbands but treat them with contempt do not have fear for God. God hates violence and he cannot support divorce. He said “I hate divorce.” Why not we allow peace to reign by being submissive and having the fear of God?

A husband ought to ask himself, ‘this thing I do to my wife’, if she does it to me, how will I feel? And a wife should say, ‘this way I treat and talk to my husband’, is it approved of God? And if I were to be a man, will I be kind to such deeds? This is how the righteous think.

A family at war, God hardly answers their prayers because He sees wickedness in them. Only the prayer of the righteous (Those who do what is right to others) avails much – James 5:16. God did not look light on the Israelites when they violated their wives in unrighteousness. He shut the heavens against them, and accused them of doing what is wrong to their wives.

Malachi 2:14 “Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant.”

Malachi 2:15 “But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore, take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth.

The way you treat your Children, is right before God?

Can a parent offend and do unrighteousness to the Child? Yes! I have seen a young boy vexed with his mother because she curses him all the time. Let her place herself in the boy’s shoe and see if she would gladly receive cures from her own parents.

A child was reportedly found in the night hawking at night. Not minding her age and security situation, her parents sent her to hawk at night. This is unrighteousness. Children should not be provoked or abused. They should be protected and handled with utter care, knowing that what they see adults do, they will also do.

This is in no way standing against disciplining and correcting a child even with strong measures. There is always a limit that when crossed, can become unrighteousness. By this, starving Children to discipline them is wickedness.

But this is not limited to young Children, but also adults. Parents should not provoke them or push them into sin and evil or cause them harm and great unhappiness as many parents do today. If you wouldn’t want your own parents and God our heavenly father to treat you likewise, do not do it.

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Colossians 3:21.

The way you treat your parents, is it right before God?

Similarly, Children must obey, respect, honour and regard their parents. If as a young man or young woman, you wouldn’t like your own children to treat you in same manner, do not do it to your mother or father.

Another truth in this matter is that God will not be displeased if as a Child, you disobey your father or mother to do wickedness, sin or evil in His sight. As long as the judgments of God disapproves of it, do not obey that godless instruction, do not honour it.

The way you treat your workers, is it right before God and his judgements? If you were and employee and treated in same way, would you like it? If God treats you same way, will you be pleased?

Why should a Christian employer remove part of the money he should pay a labourer? Why should you cheat a worker of his pay? Do to others as you want others to do unto you!

The way you treat your daughter in-law, son in-law or their families, is it right before God? If your own Child is treated in a like manner by his/her in-law, will you be happy? Or if you were treated that way by your own in-laws, how would you feel?

The way you treat other people’s Children, is it right?

What about your house help, the way you treat him/her is it right? Will you be glad if someone treats your own child in like manner?

Many who maltreat their house helps are very much part of the Church of God. It is wickedness to treat a Child with contempt and heartlessness because the child is less privileged. God will remember, He is on the side of the downtrodden, He will soon bring his judgement on the wicked master. ‘There is no peace for the wicked’ says the Lord. Return, turn from this evil!

How you treat your servants and apprentice, is it good? It is wickedness not to settle someone who has put in sweat for you; it is evil to work against the good of your servants. God is our master and we expect him to do us good, but why do we do our servants evil?

Any curse laid on you by anyone who has sacrificed sweat and blood for you, and you mistreat him, is highly potent. But why would a Church goer do this wickedness? If another did it to you or your children, how would you feel?

The way you treat your brother, sister and brethren from same parents and relatives, how does it reflect the nature of God?

Very many households and families are in infightings and disputes. Many at times, it is those who claim to belong to God that is the cause of the trouble and disputes in the family. Selfish gain, foolish pride and pursuit, plus lack of the fear of God is the cause of family disputes. But before you treat your own blood in wickedness, ask yourself, this thing I do to my own blood, is it right before God? You grew up together, shared memorable times together why the strife and evil heart?

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” Psalm 133

Member, what you are doing to your pastor, is it right? We see those who rebel against the Pastor’s authority and work against the success of the pastor in the Church. How would you feel if you were a Pastor and another begins to fight your progress?

Many at times we see those who speak to their pastors with contempt and arrogance. ‘Why were you not afraid to speak to Moses my servant in this manner’ God asked Mariam and Aaron before striking Mariam with Leprosy. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram also challenged the authority of Moses and was struck by God. They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. God does not enjoy rebellion against the Pastor or Church leadership.

Righteousness is that we respect and honour the servants of God especially our direct pastors; But do not worship them. With proper channelling of complaints, we can express our grievances and get desired justice. For God does not delight in a place of infighting and quarrelling.

Pastor, Church leader, the way you treat your members is it right? If your leader treats you same way, how will you feel? Why should a Pastor be the reason why the Church of God scatters and the membership join other Churches? But God will remember this great unrighteousness against Him and His Church!

“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore, thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 23

Pastor, the way you are treating your fellow minister and pastor is it right?

At a time when senior ministers mistreat the junior ones. But the senior was once a junior, how would you feel if you were treated that way in the early years? And if you faced same treatment and did not like it, why do you also treat another with so much disregard and contempt? Thereby filling the Church with violence and division. It is evil; it is unrighteousness against God who has appointed you both as servants.

If we have no regard for the person of men, shall we also despise the person of God? But it is those who call themselves men of God that will do this act of wickedness.

Leader, how do you treat your subordinates, is it right? How will you feel if your own leader or God treats you likewise?

Follower, how you treat your leader is it right? If God makes you a leader tomorrow and you face same show of disrespect, rebellion and wickedness, will you like it?

How you treat the less privileged, widows, fatherless and motherless is it right? Do you mistreat and subject them to oppression because you know they have no voice and cannot to fight for themselves?

‘I will repay’ says the Lord. Proverbs 11: “God will not let the wicked go unpunished.” Whether he be in the Church or out of the Church; as the scripture says, “There is no peace for the wicked.” Indeed, He has appointed a day to repay the wicked who will not ask for the ways of the righteous and walk in it.

Proverbs 22:22-23 “Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate; For the Lord will plead their case and take the life of those who rob them.”

What about the rich who oppress the poor with their money and do wickedness to them? Zechariah 7:10 “And do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise evil in your hearts against one another.’

There cannot be a return to God unless we also return to righteousness towards God and to our neighbours. Without righteousness our prayers and sacrifices of praise and offerings will become abominable to God, and God hardly answers it. Fir the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much –James 5:16. For God is far from the ungodly; but he hearkens to the prayers of the righteous -Proverbs 15:29.

Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not – Psalm 15:1-4.

“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” Psalm 92:12

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1. know what is real and unreal

2. By their FRUITS, you shall know them

3. By His teachings and preaching

4. Where is his appetite, what is his zeal?

5. Where does his Loyalty lie?

6. Does he have the backing of God?

It is the Lord that confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem. Isaiah 44:26

If the prophet speaks in the LORD’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the LORD did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared. Deuteronomy 18:22

7. A true man of God is of light and not of darkness.

Finally, dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

5. Diminishing the word of God

Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. – Isaiah 58:1

6. De-sanctifying God before men

Then Moses said unto Aaron, this is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. –Leviticus 10:3

The Lord said to Moses, “Because you have not honoured me in the eyes of my people; you have not esteemed me before them.” (Numbers 20:12)

7. Rebellion and disobedience

“Woe to the rebellious children,” says the LORD, “Who take counsel, but not of Me, and who devise plans, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin…” Isaiah 30:1

8. Unrighteousness and Unholiness

“Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:19

9. Exercising ministerial gifts for money or gain

Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”

1Samuel 16:1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king.”

“He always tells us of big things God used him to do in the past, but he cannot do it here for us to see.” This was the report of a friend concerning his pastor.

Now we shall examine exactly the things that can make God reject a servant of God.

1. Not being on the lord’s side

In Matthew 10:37-39, Jesus said, “Any man who loves his wife, mother, father, or children more than Me is not worthy of Me”.

2. Utter misuse and abuse of the anointing and Grace of God

3. Desecration of the anointing and calling of grace

4. Forgetting and neglecting the law of God

“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” Proverbs 28:9

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Hosea 4:6

“And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8

Knowing God is the principle of exploring and exploiting His divine graces. One truth preachers whose God is money will find hard to say is that ‘God desires us to know Him more than he desires sacrifice, money and gifts from us.’

“I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6

“But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” Daniel 11:32

“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8

1. RIGHTEOUSNESS OUR REGISTRATION

Again, if they who were appointed by God to oversee the flock knew the powerful effect of having a Church that fears the Lord, they would invest all their strength in channeling the hearts of their membership towards the God who demands righteousness FIRST, from His people.

He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13

A. Abrahamic blessings

B. Davidic Blessings

“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people(even people of God).”

C. The Blessings in Christ

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

“Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart.” – Deuteronomy 8:2

“Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” Revelation 3:10

“And he who stands firm to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13

“Do not be afraid of what you will suffer. Listen! The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will be in trouble for ten days. Be faithful even to death. Then I will give you the crown of life.” Revelations 2:10

Again; ‘if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.’

Some truths we must not dismis about the judgements of God

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jeremiah 8:20

Babylonians invaded Jerusalem in 597 BC. And in about ten more years they totally destroyed Judah, Jerusalem and the temple. The destruction closed the chapter of Israel and Judah just as Jeremiah warned them would happen should they continue to be stiff necked and not turned back to God.

What we learn from the life of Jesus Christ

My yoke is easy; my burden is light

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. **Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.** Hosea 4:6

**“Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart.” – Deuteronomy 8:2**