GREEDINESS IN THE LAND

'Job 24: Some remove landmarks; they seize flocks violently...They push the needy off the road, all the poor of the land are forced to hide.'

The excessive desire to never be poor in life, live in opulence, save enough for the children and grand children etc have push many to do the unimaginable. The story is the same from Darfur, to Nigeria and most countries of the world especially in Africa. The poor bears the brunt of the excesses of the rich and criminally minded individuals and governments allover the world.

Richer governments and individuals grab lands or properties (especially when it contains something they considered valuable) that's not theirs and would kill the people if they dire ask questions or challenge them. They would lie, kill or destroy any one or anything that stands in the way of their greediness. Covetousness is in their DNA. Every thing good that they sited, they must have, and if they cannot afford it, they would steal or kill to get it.

Isaiah 56:11 has this to say concerning those that are greedy; 'Yes, they are all greedy dogs which never have enough. And they are shepherds who cannot understand; they all look to their own way, every one for his own gain...' In Isaiah above, the bible liking greedy men to dogs and shepherds without knowledge understanding of his roles. Why do you want everything for yourself and family? Why steal when your heavenly father told you not to worry about tomorrow? You just need to ask Him. 

Moneys meant for road constructions, provision of health care facilities and other infrastructural developments are been stolen in Africa by few men, just to satisfy their greed, while their accomplices in the churches collects 10% bribes and call it tithes. God does not accept stolen money as tithes and paying 10% out of the stolen money to a church does not in any save anyone from the coming wrath of God. 

Repent today, and like zacchaeus the tax collector, return that which you have stolen. Your heavenly Father is able to provide all your needs according to His riches in glory.

SEEK GOD 2

‘Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God…1 Chronicles 22:19a.’ As kingdom citizens, you are to set your heart and soul to seek God daily, in all things giving Him praises. Joshua advised the children of Israel to meditate in the law of the Lord day and night. God told us in Jeremiah that in the latter days, he will write His laws in our hearts, enabling us to serve and worship Him without confusion.

Why then do we have confusions everywhere in the body of Christ? This is as result of the people not seeking God but miracles and wealth. In order words, they are not motivated by eternal life in Christ to worship God but a brand of Jesus that keep witch craft at bay, provide government jobs without interviews and create avenues for stealing the collective wealth of the nation. This misplaced priority has resulted in Christians losing the vital gift of the Holy Spirit that should ordinarily be at work in them, to discern which prophet and prophetic message is of God. Consequently, my brethren can no longer hear God or have never heard God, and therefore have to depend on a pastor for all things pertaining to the scripture and God’s will concerning their lives.

‘Deuteronomy 4:29…Seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.’ You have a responsibility to seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul while He can still be found. Eternity with Jesus as King should be what matters to you not wealth and miracles.  The Psalmist say ‘I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.’ Why are you then so concerned about your future in the world to the detriment of your eternity with Christ? Jesus said you should not concern yourself with what you would eat or wear or drink for your heavenly father already knows your needs. Yet you don’t trust Him but go to church and visit prophets in His name to solve your financial and health issues without a thought for the Kingdom.

Look at it this way; imagine telling a member of your family, say your uncle that you don’t trust Him, yet you go to Him to beg for money for your school fee or to pay your house rent. Would your uncle oblige you? I doubt. The same applies with God. Jesus told you in the Gospel to seek the Kingdom (God), and once in, every other thing shall be added unto you. Why are you disobeying Him? Why look for shortcut when the actual process to legally obtain from the Kingdom is not much longer than the shortcut you are using that is not yielding any fruitful results? 

WALKING IN THE LIGHT OF THE LORD

'...come let us walk in the light of the LORD Isaiah 2:5'. It is time to work in the light of the Lord. When the children of Israel left the land of Egypt, the Lord provided physical lights to guide them both day and night. In our days, God has provided the Holy Spirit to be our guide. The bible says, 'God is spirit' and those that worship must do so 'in the Spirit'. The question therefore is how do you walk in His light?

Galatians 4:6 says; 'And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba Father". You can only work in the light of the Lord when you have the Holy Spirit in you, and you can only have the Holy Spirit when have entered the Kingdom, further, you can only enter the Kingdom when you have repented of your sins and 'put on Christ' through baptism.

What it means to work in the light of the Lord as Christians:

1. Let people know you by your good fruit: You must consistently live a good life, showing good examples worthy of Christ. You are the 'salt of the earth' and must show others the righteous path.

2. Obedience: You must live life in obedience to the Words of God, whether or not it conforms with what others expects.

3. Give to those in need: The bible says, it better to give than to receive. Don't just receive, form the habit of giving.

4. Prayers: Pray ceaselessly for the expansion of the Kingdom, for your brethren, and for yourself, and in all things giving thanks to the Lord.

5. Love your neighbors: As commanded by God, you must love your neighbors as yourself, for as apostle Paul said '...Have fervent love for one another, for, "love will cover a multitude of sins".

We pray that you walk in the light of Jesus this day and forever. Amen!

SEEK GOD

Some scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign and He answered them saying 'an evil and adulterous generation seek after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of prophet Jonah. Matt 12:38-38'

The bane of today’s Christianity is the seek for powers and signs, ignoring the gift and power of the Holy Spirit in us. A lot of Christians have conveniently forgotten His sacrifice for mankind on the cross and would rather seek a sign before they would believe. Well, Jesus said in the above passage that the only sign you will get is His death and resurrection. The bible says in Isaiah 'unto us a child is given...' God gave Him to us as a sign that all who believes in Him may have eternal life. He died that we may be saved, He defeated the powers that held us capture and set us free from the power of sin and death.

Do you then still need to seek more signs? Seek the Lord and you will find Him. If you seek signs, you are likely to miss the Kingdom as those miracles you seek as signs may likely become an idol to you; an item you preferred to God. We all have already been blessed in Christ Jesus in the heavenly realms, we therefore no-longer need proof but must work in the Holy Spirit to discern His intentions for us, His powers that works in us, His grace for us, His purpose for our lives, His undying love for us, His faithfulness toward us, His unmerited favors for us, His mercies that surpasses all understanding for us.

Don't you know that you are sign unto the world? God uses your redemption through the sacrifice of Jesus, and your daily living as you rise with Him through baptism as a sign that the world may see your righteous works and repent of its evil ways. Learn of him therefore, and you sure can use His powers which He has freely given unto to you to exercise on planet earth, rather than seek after signs and powers that you already have in you.

A KING ON EARTH-GET INVOLVED

We discussed before that you are King on earth, sent by Jesus to fulfilled His purpose for your life. We all became sons of God by adoption and therefore are 'joint heirs' with the Lord. This makes us Kings and Queens on earth.

Having become heaven's citizens on earth with our kingly roles, are we suppose to seek political office on planet earth? Is it a sin to occupy political office if you are a true believer? Why do the true believers stay away from politics? we can go on and on with these question. However, let us provide some answers:

1. Are we suppose to seek political office on planet earth? The answer is yes. While it is impossible for all to become president, senator etc, God did not forbid us from seeking political office on earth. As a matter of fact, some of God's chosen leaders in the biblical time were both political and very religious men starting from Moses who was engaged in several political discussions and demands with the king of Egypt, to Joshua who was deceived into negotiating with a neighboring country during the fights to conquer the land of Israel and  to King David and some of his sons.

2. Is it a sin for the righteous to occupy political office? The answer is No. The bibles say 'when the righteous are in authority the people rejoice.' You cannot be in position of authority if you don't seek political office. Ever wonder why things keep going wrong despite the huge effort by the government? Because most people in government today are not righteous. Until the righteous people with the right skills begin to seek positions of authority things are likely to remain the same. The lies will continue, many will continue to die in hunger while few amass more wealth, corruption in government will continue unhindered and 'the people' will continue to suffer.

3. Why do true believers stay away from politics? Because Christians are scared of death. Even in overwhelming Christians' majority nations, the true believers usually chicken out for the gangsters to rule. The church needs to pray, unit behind righteous people, and give them the necessary support to be elected into positions of real authority. Its not a question of whether or not the person is Catholic or Baptist or Pentecostal. So long as he or she has the fear of God and has the record of righteous living coupled with the right training, should be supported to take up political positions in order for the masses to rejoice.

Nigeria would be the test case come 2015. Who would you support? A righteous man with the requisite skills and training minus money to bribe delegates, who when voted into office, the people will enjoy better life, or an unrighteous man who is most likely going to steal, kill and destroy? Make a choice and speak out!

WORKERS OF INIQUITY 2

There is a difference between condemnation and judgement. While judgement has been reserved for the King of Kings in the end. What is obviously bad should be criticized and condemn by all Christians. The essence of this is to shame them when private counselling has yielded no results.  For Instance, would you wait for God to judge a homosexual when you are sent to tell him the truth in love? What is your work then as a christian if you are going to leave him to be judged and sent to hell? But the dubious ones would have us believe that when you condemn evil you are judging. 

Yes the bible says we should not judge, but does not in any way say we should be quiet when we noticed some one doing things or involved in acts capable of tarnishing the image of Christianity, or condemning them to eternity in hell

The question we are asking this morning is: are you involved in an act of injustice towards your neighbors or society as a Christian? If the follow is true then you are:

1. Stole and or stealing moneys and or properties meant for the public good.

2. Knowingly collecting 10% of stolen monies as tithe and offering that would further encourage and emboldens those involved to carry on with the stealing of the collective wealth.

3. Cheating and malicious lies in order to obtain something that is not yours.

4. Bribes and inducements to buy the silence of others when a wrong have been committed.

5. Refusal to condemn evil when others look to you to lead and chastise those that have deviated from the purpose of their calling, whether in politics or religious organisations.

You must therefore determine to ensure justice for all, support no evil and speak out against those trying to destroy the foundation.

WORKERS OF INIQUITY

'Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have I not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.-Mathew 7:22-23'

What is obvious from the above passage of the bible is that, some Christians will not make heaven. Although, today they go to church and attend every bible classes and religious seminars, they will still not be allowed into the kingdom for their refusal to love Jesus. Jesus said, 'if you love, obey my commands'. If you are a christian, it therefore means that you must live your life in accordance with the principles and values taught by Jesus. 

How can the world know that you are living in accordance with the principles and values Jesus or not? lets look at them below: Each individual could be described in two ways. Either as a worker of iniquity or worker of goodness. 

A worker of goodness:

1. Kindness: A worker of goodness is a kind person, always willing to share what he has with others

2. Loves God and his neighbors: will not be involved in an act capable of affecting others negatively.

3. Selfless: Put others ahead of himself

4. Act as servant to all: Will rather serve than to be served.

5. Work to ensure others enters the Kingdom of God

What defines workers of iniquities are as followers:

1. Selfish & greedy: They want everything for themselves. Even when its glaring that they have enough, they would want more to the detriment of others

2. Love for self & idols: They only love themselves, material things they own and people that help them achieve their aims.

3. Slavers: They would enslave their fellow men solely for their personal gain.

4. They are liars/killers/thieves: They would lie, thief and kill any body that gets in their way.

5. Worship of Idols: They worship whatever gives them pleasure . 

You are chosen, sent with gifts to bring about changes in the society and bring God’s children to the Kingdom of God. Some of these gifts include your offices on planet earth and must be used to ensure social justice for all. Iniquity could mean any of these words: Wickedness, Evil, Sin, vice, injustice and crime. These words all could also be summarized as great injustice. So, if you are a worker of iniquity, then you are actually someone who has done or that is doing great injustice to his neighbour or the society at large.

The world needs the people with goodness in them that would bring about divine ordained changes in their lives. Chose today to be one of those with goodness of heart!