Galatians 5:16-18
While in Lagos, Nigeria with our host church Foundation of Truth, the senior Pastor of the church (Reverend Yomi Kasali) took a sermon on Sunday 18th April 2010 titled FALL DOWN AND DIE. Now one thing I have noticed about the Reverend is the gift God has given him in focusing on the important things in our walk with Christ and not necessarily the doctrine of worldly achievement that’s going round today.
Sitting in the congregation, I wondered what he meant by fall down and die, then after reading one of his core text from John 12:24-28, the understanding came clearly. Jesus said, “if a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abide alone: but if it die it bring forth much fruit. He that loves his life shall lose it; he that hate his life in this world shall keep it unto eternal.”
The reverend in his message said he heard his Sunday School Teacher talking about the battles a Child of God faces in the world today and they are devil, world and self. Now we know from the scriptures that Jesus has conquered the devil and the world so we should have no fear in that regard. This immediately reminded me of Galatians 5:16-18 and I realised that we are encouraged to be led by the spirit and not the flesh.
Fighting and winning the battle against the flesh is based on an individual walk with God and that is where we all fall short. After a message in church, no one really knows what the next person is up to and that is if you attend a church that reminds you hell and heaven are real. I say that because it’s a hidden subject in most churches today as they teach us flesh in the name of Jesus by encouraging us to acquire all that we can in this world; I really wonder what will happen to all our acquisitions when Jesus returns.
Encouragement today is fighting the flesh; fight it, so it may fall down and die. Please do not be fooled by flesh exciting talks, teachings and preaching. After a message, consider if you are fired up to achieve worldly and fleshy desires or you seek to know God more, not because of what you can get, but because He is a loving father who would give you all that you require anyway! MARANATHA
Led by the Spirit
Encouraging Video by Worship House Media
The Curious Case of In Betweens.
‘Take a decision and stick to it. If its God you want to follow, follow him with all your heart, if is the devil you want to follow, do the same,whatever direction you want to go, you will gain speed faster and accomplish whatever that chosen decision has for you. The funny thing is that we Christians are not that stupid, we know we don’t want to follow the devil completely but we don’t want to give in to God fully either’
This and some more where words that spoke to an audience at Jesus House midweek service.Pastor Adeaga (known to many as Doc), passionately and lovingly rebuked the crowd of listeners regarding our complete and loyal trust and dependence on God.
The curious case of the in betweens is conversant with us Christians. We find it challenging to stick to God wholeheartedly on ALL counts, giving up at the slightest opportunity when what we need isn’t coming when we need it.
In the case of Elijah versus the children of Israel, he spoke and challenged them to choose who they will worship and serve; God OR Baal.
This is the in between life Christians live today, we choose God in some situations and leave him out in others. Our lives rarely show the complete reliance on him. The time we show any reliance is when we see what God has done. Pastor Adeaga, with so much heaviness in his heart from the way he taught and prayed, reiterated our walk with God. He highlighted that our churches need to purify their hearts, ways, attitudes and mindsets and that is the ONLY way the power and fire of God will descend on her. We need to stop the foolishness of living ‘one leg in and one leg out’ with the things of God.
The curious case of in between has sadly but truly creeped in on us, the sacred and sanctified body of Christ and hence needs some major detoxification.
Stick to God once and for all, at whatever cost, if you want God that is. God can never be mocked.