FIRST BIBLE LESSON: MATTHEW:10:7-9:
" And as ye go, preach, saying,the kingdom of heaven is at
hand Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devil; freely
ye have received, freely give."
SECOND BIBLE LESSON: LUKE 4:18-19:
" The spirit if the Lord is upon me, because he He hath
annointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the
broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight
to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable
year of the Lord."
GOLDEN TEXT: 2 TIMOTHY 4:1-2
"I Charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus
Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort
with all long-suffering and doctrine."
Brethren, the texts above have proved that there is no
justification for to answer such names as Christ's Servant, Christ's Student,
Christ's Practical Student, Christ Witness, Elder, Prophet, Deaconess, or any
other name for that matter if you cannot go out and preach the gospel.
If you build a Cathedral and offer it unto God, but do not go out
and preach the gospel, of what usefulness is your Cathedral unto Him? If you
open a trunk road from here to America, but fail to go out and preach the word
of God, of what benefit is that road to God? There is no usefulness in donating
cartons of money or fleet of cars to people but fail to preach the gospel. In
fact, whatever a man does, if he cannot preach the gospel to others he is an
empty vessel.
All over the world, people are stealing, fighting, quarrelling,
deceiving, hating, killing one another, and commiting other vices. You should
be aware that the world is filled with vices. It is, therefore your position to
reach them and disseminate the gospel to them.
Preaching the everlasting gospel to the entire world is a
necessity,(Revelation 14:6) and as such must be done properly without leaving
any stone unturned. It should be noted that the work of God implies preaching
the word of God.
Do you know that you are purified and sanctified only by preaching
the gospel? It is the word of God that changes man, gives man peace, heals your
infirmities and bestow wisdom on you. The gospel gives you the ability to
regard every person as equal.
The word of God is the light shines everywhere. Therefore every
person upon whom the Spirit of God has fallen, has a duty to preach the word of
God. All the children of this kingdom are, therefore, commmissioned to go out
and preach the gospel.
Do you remember that young man who was born blind?( JOHN 9:1-8).
If Our Lord Jesus Christ did not make mud out of his spittle to rub on the
man's eyes, he would not have known and believed Our Lord Jesus Christ really
desired that he should see. Moreover, if Our Lord Jesus Christ only asked him
to go and wash in the pool of Siloam without rubbing the mud on the man's eyes,
the man would not have taken Him seriously.
Everything in the kingdom is done according to its designed
purposes. Preaching the gospel for instance, had been designed to heal the
sick, sanctify the world, bring civilization to the world, and enable man
refrain from all manner of sins and give mankind everlasting life.
As man is of a dual nature, that is in flesh and in spirit, so
also are his problems. A man could be blind and sick in the flesh, but in
spirit, he is hale and hearty; and vice versa. On this note therefore, the
second lesson emphasises that you should go and set the people free, heal them
and deliver them from that captivity.
Acts 20:35 states that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Similarly, it is more blessed to preach to people, that is give them spiritual
gift than to bestow any material gifts on them. The Golden Text has confirmed
the second lesson by charging all - both young and old, male and female- to
preach the word, in and out of season. This in other words, means all the time,
day and night; from January to December. This equally is the charge, the laid-down
principle, in this kingdom. Whatever your position, age or race, your charge
and duty is to preach the gospel,through out the world.
If you are sick or you encounter any problem, once you preach you
shall be free. However, if you fail to preach the gospel, you are invariably
inviting problems unto yourself. While preaching your duty is to point out to
people their wrong doings and reprove, rebuke and exhort them with all
long-suffering, meekness, patience, love, and peace. Tell the fornicator,
adulterer, drunkard, snuffer, murderer, deceiver, etc. to refrain from all
these vices.
Teach them that man is the temple of God and so he should keep
himself holy. Stress that God has no other temple than man. Preach the gospel
of deliverance to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind and to set at
liberty those that are bruised.
That is what the Holy Spirit has come to reveal unto mankind in
the kingdom of God.The city of God does not mean a city built by man and
dedicated to or named after God. Man is the city of God. Therefore there is no
need to tell somebody to come with you to the City of God. Where is such city?
That city is you. You are God's city, you are God's vineyard. This the wisdom
you have to disclose to the world.
Preach to the world the need for everyman to live in harmony and
oneness. Let them know that Chruch denominations, clubs, and other
organizations which they group themselves into, should not be a barrier or
prevent them from practising the unique gospel of love of one another. Tell the
church goers the need to grow above church names and unite and live together in
love and in peace. Tell them that God does not recognise any church
denomination other than the individual himself for the individual who is the
temple of God.
Brethren, for purposes of proximity and fellowship, it is
necessary for the children of God to come together to frequently and charge
evil doers to refrain from their ways. You should be free to worship with the
Muslims, Bhudist, Sadists, drunkards, sooth-sayers, believers and non
believers, so that you can reprove, rebuke,and exhort them and bring them to
the path of righteousness
If you tell these people that man is the temple of God and that
man is himself a product of that same word which is God, they will desire no
more to harm, cheat, hate, injure or do any other evil to a fellow brother.
They will realise that all men are from the same stock: Adam and Eve. Let them
know that no church denomination should condemn the other and no person should
plan evil against the other.
Brethren, when you hear of stories where animals and birds were
used as characters, e.g. the lion and the tortise, the hawk and the hen,
etc.,do not think that these stories are fictitious. However, these stories
mostly refer to human beings and not those represented characters. These
stories were used as a way of emphasising the need for actual harmony and peace
in human existance.
Right now these stories are told openly in clear terms because,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost and all the heavenly hosts are all
dwelling with man. On this note therefore herald to the entire world to cease
struggling for land, money, titles, and other ephemeral things.
The power and authority has been given to man to go into the world
to preach the gospel of repentance to people and baptise them. In the book of
Joel 2:28-29 there is a prophesy concerning the end of time, the good Lord
shall...pour out his spirit upon all flesh.... " This prophesy has been
fulfilled now.
That is why we do not have to consult oracles, patronise native
doctors nor do with our bodies whatever pleases us. The power of God is
abundant everywhere. The bark of trees, stones, leaves and clay no longer have
power. The native doctors have no power, there is no power in talisman and
juju.
Do not try to convince somebody to leave his church and come to
yours. Do not condemn anybody. Only preach this truth unto mankind; that God is
the source and custodian of power; that all those who are afflicted should
kneel down, confess their sins and repent and then be baptised.
Tell them that God is all-knowing, is everywhere and in everything
and is immortal. Teach, do not forget to feed the hungry, clothe the naked,
soothe the broken hearted, be generous to the needy and the poor. By so doing,
you are revealing the truth to them.
Do not be angry with anybody-(your parents, spouse, brethren,
friends, etc.) over any arguements. Rather spend time and teach them for a
proper understanding of the word of God. That is where the longsuffering and
endurance required of you come into use. The process of teaching should be
gradual and systematic.
The word of God is like sickness which affects one gradually and
systematically unto maturity. In the same way, the process of departure of the
sickness is often gradual and systematic too. Until it finally terminates and
leaves you, you may not know. That is the same process sins got into the world
and established their roots. Sin stated singularly from Adam and Eve and then,
passed unto their descendants until this day. In the same vein, the process of
refraining from sin has to be gradual and systematic. The preaching has to be
persuasive and with longsuffering, love, peace, patience, kindness, and
humility.
Interact with all classes of people- with juju priest,
necromancers, fornicators, swindlers, murderers,etc. Your interaction with
them, initially, should not focus on their transgressions and evil acts. Tell
them that they are the children of God and that God loves them and does not
want them to perish. Preach to them to accept and believe in Our Lord Jesus
Christ. Let them confess their sins, repent and be baptised. You could
programme and deliver your teaching through a tale, taking into consideration
the weakness and afflictions of your audience.
When you came into Brotherhood newly, I did not introduce you to
the charge of preaching tghe gospel. I rather fed you with "milk and
honey" until now that you are mature enough to go out into the world and
preach the gospel. If therefore you delve into a person's wrong doings and
vices constantly, without surveying the background, and solving his problems
from the roots, he will be scared of you and your gospel.
It is unwise to ask somebody to come with you to the market naked
so that you can buy him a new dress. Nobody will accept such an offer. He has
to come with you in his old dress to the market for the new ones. When the new
dress ids given to him out of joy, he will remove and throw away the old one.
The first lesson below clarifies this fact.
First Bible Lesson: Matthew 10:7-8
And as ye go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye
have received, freely give.
If you have opened ut a discussion (Bible Teachings) with
somebody, each time or day you go back to him, you have to start from where you
stopped the previous day. If you introduce a new topic or repeat what you
talked about and which your audience had agreed with, he will not regard you as
a serious minded fellow. since they are in darkness, do not take the light to
them in its full flame. Bringing up the flame little by little helps a lot.
In John 3:19, Our Lord Jesus Christ said, "...Light is come
into the world and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil." Somebody who is an evil doer and who knows that there is a
certain fellow who abhors sins, and any day such a person gets information that
the righteous man is approaching his premises, he will close his gate and go
into hiding. But if by chance he allows you in, you dare not mention anything
about his transgressions initially. Rather, skillfully and diligently establish
a cordial and friendly relationship first, by giving him soothing words. This
is how great the wisdom of God is, and is confirmed in Isaiah 55:9 which
states, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways
higher that your thoughts."
If your listener or host is a soothsayer or priest, when you get
to him do not mention the things he does. After establishing a friendly
relationship, you can then go ahead and tell him befitting and implied story
using two animals as illustration for convenience's sake. If you use a lion to
represent a Juju-priest and a goat to represent his victims, that story will
immediately strike his mind and his conscience will be pricked. In the interim,
you will realize that, he will feel guilty. A local adage has it that,
"when you mention dry bones old women begin to shiver." Brethren, you
have to be very skillful and intelligent in preaching the good news to those
that have never heard of it before.
All the inhabitants of the world are not ready and willing to
receive the word of God. The juju- priests, the necromancer, the fornicator,
the drunkard, the harlot, the politicians, members of secret societies etc.,
all claim they have their own gods. Yet these people need to be enriched with
the words of God, otherwise they cannot be changed and be saved.
In this regard, Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is the only hope
of the world. We are therefore practising the policy of social integration and
reaching out into all nooks and corners of the world, and to all persons to
disseminate the gospel. This is why I cannot turn down any invitation from the
public.
Along with the preaching Brotherhood is fully equipped with other
gifts like the gospel, prayer, songs of praise, and the envelope which to the
organizers is the main thing. As the envelope is presented with one hand, the
word of God is presented with the other. Before the occasion commences, you
have to request them to join you and pray to God then give them the word of God
and follow it up with an inspiring song. The parcel you went out with will then
conclude and end the session.
The inhabitants of the world are plagued with problems and they
also need to repent and change. Yet there is no other thing that can solve all
their problems and get them changed unto God than the word of God. The
preliminary thing to do to them is to reach out with solutions to their problems
and afflictions. Many are sick, many are poor, some are naked, others are
without solutions to their various problems and afflictions. Many are without
shelter and food. In order to win their attention, as a preacher, you need to
solve their problems first, and then they will surrender their hearts and ears
to you. But if you go and preach to such afflicted persons, and at the end you
tell them, "May God be with you," they will only be imagining your
mission John the Baptist said in Luke 3:11,....He that hath two coats let him
impart to him that hath none, and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. If
you cannot do this, you could be likened to a person who gets into the forest,
and without first clearing the ground and felling some trees, attempts to set
fire into the forest to burn it for cultivation. And if the ground clearing has
not been done but you begin with the felling of trees and then attempt to burn
the bush, such an endeavor cannot be fruitful. This confirms the local adage
which states that a hungry person cannot hear the word of God. Thus your
assignment is to start solving the problems. This explains why it is said that
the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom. (1 Corinthians1:22).
The Brotherhood Apostles and Evangelist have a maxim which is
that, "To make the whole world one is a task that must be done."Also
Our Lord Jesus Christ charged His disciples (and I am also charging you) to Go
ye therefore and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father,
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever
I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always , even unto the end of the
world.
(Matthew28:19-20). Go and teach a child to obey and honour his
parents, teach a wife to submit to her husband, and tell a husband to love his
wife and children, and so on. Teach the entire world gradually and
systematically until the awareness is brought unto all. If the inhabitant of
the world do not receive the word of God, how will they unite? How will they
love one another? How will there be equality? How will their problems be solved
and how can they accept God? It is not an assignment that has to be approached
in a hurry. If the Holy Spirit has not come by Himself, no person, NOT EVEN THE
SON WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISHED THIS TASK. If you are a Reverend or a
Bishop without the Holy Spirit, how will you be able to take care of the sheep?
How will you be able to preach the gospel, love one another and posess the
virtues of longsuffering, mercy,humility, meekness, truth, kindness, power,
etc.? The ability to be a good shepherd, to be able to preach, love, unite and
do anything good comes from the Holy Spirit. The word is God and God is a
spirit. Therefore you cannot preach, and practise it except you are endowed
with the Holy Spirit. With the absence of the Holy Spirit, the world is thus
witnessing all types of problems, disunity and even death. The Holy Spirit is
like the mustard seed. It is indeed the smallest seed, but when it germinates and
grows, it matures into the biggest tree that provides shelter to all birds.
(Matthew 13:31-32). Therefore, wherever a child of God who is endowed with the
Holy Spirit is, his light will always shine for others to see.
God Himself knows that the world has gone bad. He knows that the
things in vogue are vengence, hatred, division, tribalism, insincerity,
fighting among other sins. How can the world be brought together, disciplined,
and redeemed except it be guided by the Holy Spirit, with love, longsuffering,
peace, mercy, meekness, and all godly virtues? The Holy Spirit is the only one
who can lead the world alright; for it is said that the blind cannot lead the
blind, least they both fall into a ditch(Matthew 15:14). How can you preach
righteousness when you cannot practise it? How can you preach patience when you
are not patient? Our utterances, looks, footsteps, attitude and all other
actions should serve as a lesson for others to learn from. Our Lord Jesus
Christ had said in Matthew 15:25 that every kingdom that is divided against
itself cannot stand, for it is brought to desolation, and every city or house
divided against itself shall not stand. We are invariably the house of God. If
therefore we do not come together as one , prosperity, peace, salvation and
eternal life will continue to elude man. THE COMING TOGETHER OF HUMAN BEINGS OR
CHURCHES DOES NOT IMPLY THAT PEOPLE FROM ALL CHURCHES SHOULD GATHER AT A SQUARE
RATHER, IT IMPLIES THAT WHATEVER WE MAY BELIEVE IN IF WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER, WE
HAVE BECOME ONE. All creations seek the company of man and even God finds
pleasure in associating with man. But ironically man detests his fellow man to
the core. However, the second lesson below is reminding you once again about
what is required of you.
Second Bible Lesson: LUKE 4: 18-19
The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath annointed me to
preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to
preach deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set
at liberty them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Brethren, you have to go out and preach love; preach peace;
humility, patience, and the abundant presence and unlimited wisdom and eternity
of the Holy Spirit. TELL THE WORLD THAT PRAYER TAKES AWAY ALL PROBLEMS, AND
BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO GOD. Tell them to refrain from drinking, smoking,
snuffing, mediction, and other vices. Preach the truth. Going out to tell
people that Leader Olumba Olumba Obu is God- the Father, the Son and the Holy
Spirit does not constitute preaching. This however is the source of
provocation. A local adage has it that'Every dog is a leopard in its home.' As
you may regard me as God, others may have other things or persons they refer to
as their gods. Instead of sowing any seeds of discord, PREACH THE GOSPEL AS
DIRECTED BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. PREACH TO THE WORLD ALL THAT YOU HAVE IN THE
BIBLE AND ALL THAT YOU CAN SUPPORT FROM THE BIBLE. Do not substract or add
anything from the scripture.
God in the first place created a man later joined to him a woman.
The first pregnancy of Eve brought about twins, a male and a female. The second
pregnancy also brought about a male and a female. The lesson here is that God
made everything in pairs. The reason is so that those creations that are in
pairs should unite for the purpose of peace and prosperity. Even if you have a
hundred children, only one is yours. If you have a thousand relations and
brethren, only one of them is yours. Likewise, if you have a hundred wives,
only one of them is yours. To request for too much, conveys the meaning that
you desire nothing. For instance, if you own dozens of spoons, plates and other
cutlery, you cannot use more than one of each cutlery at a time, thus rendering
the rest redundant. With this development, you have to engage the services of a
night watchman and a day watch man to keep watch over your unused properties.
That is why thieves will come to your house so that you may be relieved of your
problems. This is because your posessions of too much property or money becomes
a problem to you. Note that you came into this world with nothing and you will
depart with nothing. (JOB:1:21). If you can have your daily bread and clothing
be satisfied with that. 11 Corithians 8:5 states that "....He that had
gathered much had nothing over and he that gathered little had no lack."
There is only one head and leader who is, and has been, and continues to be. He
is the Father and the creator of all things.
People quarrel and fight over a piece of land, and kill one
another, leaving the land untouched. If you claim to own the land and because
of that you fight and get killed and burried in the land, are you the owner of
the land or does the land own you? This explains man's folly with regards to
material things.
Despite the fact that professors, lawyers, engineers,
adminstrator, scientist and other professionals have existed in the world, yet
ignorance, slavery, hatred, disunity, division, and other vices still persists
in the world. Man, after all, was the last thing to be created after the
creation of all things. Wherever you live and feel comfortable, that is your
home and the people there are your people.
People attend higher institutions of learning to acquire knowledge
in religion yet they cannot reveal the wisdom of God to the world. This is
because they do not have the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit alone who can
teach, restore sight to the blind, heal the afflicted and set the captives
free. Go ye therefore and reveal this Holy Spirit to the world so that they may
have salvation. Let them realize that the long expected Holy Spirit has since
been living with man.
The whole world is in sin because they do not have Holy Spirit.
This gospel vehemently upholds the truth that without the Holy Spirit, one
certainly wallows in sin. Once you have the Holy Spirit, you will know that to
drink, fornicate, backbite, hate, murder, etc., is sinful. Those that have the
spirit will abhor these and other vices and then rebuke others authoritatively
against such acts. John 3:34 states: For whom God hath sent speaketh the words
of God; for God giveth not the spirit by measure unto Him... Such a person
preaches the words of God in the market, in the offices, in the farm, in the
streets and everywhere. Such a child is begotten through the word of God. The
moment the Holy Spirit enters into somebody, be he a juju priest or what, he
will discard his evil practises and surrender himself to God. The golden text
is thus, reminding you of your charge so that the will of God may be made
manifest.
Man will be knowledgable only if he practises the injunctions of
the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is capable of doing everything. He is all in
all. He is omnipresent. The illustration below vividly explains the point.
Illustration:
A certain millionaire was afflicted with various illnesses. He
thus travelled far and wide, consulting oracles, native and medical doctors and
spent a fortune, yet his sickness could not be cured. At the end, he a
physician from Kaduna who is a Brotherhood member. The brother carried out a
diagnostic test and discoverd nothing. The sick man's sorrows finally gave way
to dispair. The brethren then advised him to kneel down and confess his sins,
repent and be baptised. He was told to refrain from eating flesh and was
assured that all his problems will be solved. The millionaire complied and he
eventually became whole. That work was solely done by the Holy Spirit. Just
surrender yourself wholly to God and refrain from all vices, so that the Holy
Spirit may take control of you. It is not true that if one does not eat flesh
he will emaciate. He will not be deficient in protein and will not be anaemic.
A person who does not eat flesh, a vegetarian , has more blood than a hundred
persons combined who eat flesh. God is blood, water, power, air, and life. if
you allow Him to dwell in you, you cannot lack, you cannot fall sick and you
cannot be troubled. Your great grand parents did eat flesh and drank but they
died in their millions. You stand to gain more if you refrain from these vices.
John the Baptist ate no other food than locust beans and honey, yet he was not
at anytime reported sick or deficient. The people of the world also postulate
the theory that any man or woman who is not intimate with the opposite sex runs
short of blood and shall become sick. Such allegation is false and misleading.
What about the woman in the bible who lost her husband after only seven years
of marriage and was a widow for eighty- four years? What happened to her? Such
things even defile you and drive God away from you and you thus die. Take
another look at the Golden Text below:
GOLDEN TEXT: 2 TIMOTHTY 4:1-2
I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who
shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom, Preach the
word; be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
longsuffering and doctrine.
THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS IS NO OTHER PERSON THAN THE
WORD OF GOD. The one you are expecting from the sky is the rain, and the sun.
The word of God leads us, teaches us, takes care of us and sustains us.
Therefore, whenever you are singing, you are inviting God to commune with you.
Also when you are praying, that becomes a direct invitation for God's presence
with you and for Him to harken to your request. When God, thus, descends, He
arrives with all the good things to answer your prayers and grant your request.
It is the Father that teaches, instructs, and reveals even the most secret
knowledge unto you. The entire world is impatient and all are doubting
Thomases. People want to see with their eyes before they can believe. Our Lord
Jesus Christ said, "Blessed is he that seeth not but believes," (John
20:29). The meat that eat, the wine and liquor that you drink, the fornication,
that you commit, the anger and deceit that you engage in, and the rest of the
vices that you commit, defile you and lead you to suffering and eventual death.
That is the source of problems of the whole world. People uphold that heaven
helps those who help themselves.
Because of this they indulge in the preparation of charms and juju
to protect themselves. These charms and juju so concocted turn out to serve as
man's downfall, thus, man is separated from God. Moreover, whatever sin you
commit separates you from God. Once you are separated from God you become
subjected to problems and tribulations, thus you shall die and be destroyed in
the lake which burns with fire and brimstone(Revelation 21:8). You are
therefore charged to into the world and redeem mankind from this destruction.
If you can read and recite the verses of the Bible from Genesis to
Revelation, without the Holy Spirit, you cannot understand anything, neither
can you preach the truth. A person without the Holy Spirit will be quick in
telling people that Our Lord Jesus Christ turned water into wine for people to
drink. He will also tell you that Our Lord Jesus Christ also commanded and
multiplied two fishes and bread for people to eat. However the Holy Spirit has
come to reveal all that was hidden from the world to mankind.
A woman who is married to a drunkard need not be annoyed,
otherwise she will lose her husband. All she has to do is to persuade him to
always be at home. That you will do by purchasing what he likes to drink and
storing it in the house. Then any time he wants to go out and drink, you
pleasantly call his attention to the drink you purchased for him, and be even
ready to serve him. That is the only way you can pin him down to the house and
subsequently, check his drinking habit. By the power of the Holy Spirit, he
will eventually change. With your persuasive method, the perishing world will
be saved.
Our Lord Jesus Christ had stated emphatically in Matthew 13:41-42
that the Son of Man shall send forth his angels and they shall out of his
kingdom all things that offend and them that do iniquity, and shall cast them
into a furnace of fire; there shall be wailling and gnashing of teeth. Go
therefore into all the nook and corners of the world and preach the gospel of
deliverance. That is what is lacking in the world today. The charge is given to
everybody in the name of God and in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Preach
the word of God in and out of season (i.e. under any kind of condition). If you
fail to do that then pray fervently for yourself.
May the Lord bless His Holy Words. Amen.
THANK YOU FATHER.
No comments:
Post a Comment