Author: joeachi

Galatians 1:6-7: “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
Which is not another; but there are some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.”

The Departure.
The opening lines in my prelude to this literature were a paraphrase inspired by the lyrics in the gospel song titled People Need The Lord, written by Greg Nelson and Phil McHugh in 1983. That song captures the essence of what I’m writing in this literature, and it will form the fulcrum on which it revolves.
Because we were created by a higher being (Almighty God), we have this innate desire to associate with Him; nothing else can truly replace that. People know that they need a Saviour to save them from their limitations; we all have limitations, but only those to whom it really matters seek God’s intervention. Do you?
Ps. 61:2 – “From the ends of the earth, I will cry to you for help, for my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
Ps. 61:3 – for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.” NLT

However, it is not everyone who responds to that natural need for God; some even ignore Him. Others deliberately move headlong into uncertainty, with their load of care, avoiding the very thought of finding help in the Saviour, Jesus Christ, because they view such a decision as weakness; they would rather figure out a plan for their self-help. But is depending on Jesus Christ really a weakness? Is it a shame to turn to one’s Maker for the very help they know is beyond their own reach? Why do people have such a mindset? Why do people view religion as a weakness? Why do some people have such an uncharitable view about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Why would anyone keep carrying the heavy load of sin and guilt they are not supposed to carry anymore? Is it because they disbelieve that the atonement for our sins paid by Jesus Christ’s blood is real? Who is working behind the scenes to rob mankind of their right to seek solace in a Saviour who’s willing to accept them as they are? Did I hear you say Satan?
Rev. 12:9: “And the huge dragon was cast down and out – that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him.” (AMP)

Yes, you’re right, but he’s just a deceiver whom anyone can resist unless they have found his deception too good to ignore for the reality that God loves and cares for them; and that’s the sad reality with most people! Mankind’s complacency is their own undoing!
Satan is guilty of deceiving mankind, but then mankind is also guilty of spreading that deception, too!
I listened in total shock as a very popular bishop of one of the Pentecostal churches in Nigeria publicly declared in a YouTube video that God has not called them to preach about heaven and hell. He said that even though they believed in the existence of those two spiritual dimensions, one of which is where a sinner or a saint must ultimately spend eternity, yet he insisted that God didn’t call them to preach that! So, in essence, he was saying that they don’t talk to people about that in their sermons because they’re not obligated to. What can be more proof of a departure from God’s way than that?! For the avoidance of any doubt it is imperative to note that the basic message in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that of reconciliation with God which leads to eternal life in Heaven for those who believe, and a warning of eternal condemnation to Hell for those who depart from God. The preaching of those basic truths of the Gospel is the duty of every child of God. It is unfortunate for anyone to want to hide under the facade of a specialized call in order to deny their unfortunate members the benefit of this very important truth. How else can they be warned of the consequences of a Christless life without mentioning Hell fire, or of the hope of eternal life with Jesus Christ without mentioning Heaven? In His Gospel Jesus Christ mentioned Hell 11 times and Heaven more than 50 times; should a wilful departure from His lead in this matter not be construed as a departure from the truth? Whose agenda is this really? Who are its targets? It is bad enough that Satan has a choke hold on man’s innate desire for God, but it is even more tragic that man himself supports the devil with their recklessness.
Jer. 2:12 – “The heavens are shocked at such a thing and shrink back in horror and dismay, says the LORD.
Jer. 2:13 – For my people have done two evil things: They have forsaken me–the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!” NLT

Complacency makes people keep forsaking the God whom their innermost being screams for! They think “I’m fine,” so they stop fighting to be free from Satan’s lies, stop seeking the true way to eternal light and life, and try to stop feeling the weight of a life without Jesus Christ. The innate need is still there, but they’ve numbed it. That’s the smoke screen doing its job!

Job 36:5 – “God is mighty, yet he does not despise anyone! He is mighty in both power and understanding.
Job 36:8 – If troubles come upon them and they are enslaved and afflicted,
Job 36:9 – he takes the trouble to show them the reason. He shows them their sins, for they have behaved proudly.
Job 36:10 – He gets their attention and says they must turn away from evil.
Job 36:11 – “If they listen and obey God, then they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant.
Job 36:12 – But if they refuse to listen to him, they will perish in battle and die from lack of understanding.
Job 36:13 – For the godless are full of resentment. Even when he punishes them, they refuse to cry out to him for help.” NLT

Programs keep running, songs keep playing, but nobody’s desperate for God anymore. We mistake our much involvement with church activity for being born again.
People drown their innate desire for God with work, vibes, hustle, and they call the forcefully silenced conscience “peace of mind” when it’s really just a temporal anesthesia. Jesus Christ warned about it in Revelation 3:17:
“You say, I am rich… and do not know that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.”
That’s complacency; a wrong diagnosis of one’s self, and it makes a man think he needs better circumstances. The truth is he needs a new birth, because the problem is innate. Only Jesus Christ can truly fill in the God-shaped vacuum in the lost sinner’s heart. But will they come to Him? Will you now?
Isa. 53:6: “All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God’s paths to follow our own…” NLT

To Be Continued.

John 12:24: “Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.” (MSG)

THE PRELUDE
I watch people walk past me every day. On the surface they look fine, but their eyes tell the truth: there’s emptiness there. They’re carrying worries, heading nowhere, battling private pain that nobody sees. They laugh so no one hears them crying inside. They move from one fear to the next, chasing broken dreams.
But at the end of all that emptiness, there’s still one open door that they seem not to see, or ignore: He is Jesus. That’s the real need!
People don’t need more religion or performance. People need the Lord Jesus Christ. And the question is, when will they actually see it and respond?

Today it is not out of place to find people sitting right beside us in church every fellowship day, looking like they belong, singing, praying, going through the motions of a Spirit-filled worship. But if you look closer, through the eyes of the Spirit, you’ll see it: they’re hurting, weighed down, acting like everything’s okay while slowly falling apart inside. They feel the emptiness inside but wonder why religion cannot fill it up. God’s heart breaks for them, and so must ours, too, because no amount of church activity can fix what only Jesus Christ can heal in their lives. The door to God’s heart is still open, but do they notice it? Jesus Christ still calls, but can they hear Him? Will they ever come to realize before it’s too late that they don’t need more programs, that all they need is the Lord?

Matt 11:28: “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.'” NLT
Matt 11:29: “Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls.” NLT

Sunday clothes, Sunday smiles, Sunday answers, but Monday morning the emptiness is still there. A prayer said over and over with a forced assurance, albeit without the new birth experience, is just another smoke screen. Only genuine regeneration removes the weight of Christlessness in the heart.
John 3:3: “Jesus replied, ‘I assure you, unless you are born again, you can never see the Kingdom of God.'” NLT

Looking fine on the outside is often a smoke screen for the emptiness on the inside. People are afraid to admit their emptiness and Christlessness. They want to belong where grace has not yet placed them; they want the peace of God but they will not have it at the prescribed price of death to self and alive to Christ!
Rom 6:11: “So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus.” NLT
Rom 6:12: “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to its lustful desires.” NLT

They may say the prayer, raise the hand, answer the altar call… but unless they’re ready to die to self, the emptiness will still be there because a smoke screen experience can’t fill what only the new birth can.

To Be Continued

A friend is anyone with whom you could share the intimate issues of your life without any fear of betrayal or disappointment.

From the texts above we see Jesus Christ as the perfect example of who a good friend is: to His disciples He said , “For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? But I am among you as he that serveth…” Luke 22:27.

To Mary and Martha, He was a dependable friend in the hour of their sorrow and grief when their brother Lazarus died. Although He knew He would bring Lazarus back to life yet He could not help crying along with the two sisters when He noticed their pains and deep anguish over their dead brother.

“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled, and said, where have ye laid him? They said unto Him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how He loved him!”
John 11: 33 – 36.

Similarly, to anyone who accepts Him as their Lord and personal Saviour today, He says with friendly assurance, “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you”. John 15:14.
His hand of friendship is still extended to whosoever is sincerely willing to accept and obey Him.
We will consider the teaching in the following sub-topics below:

1. The difference between a friend and a servant of Jesus
2. Why be friends of Jesus?
3. What does Jesus Demand from his friends?
4. The Difference Between A Friend And A Servant.
   Psalms 89: 20 – 37; Psalms 119:90; John 15: 14. “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John 15:15.

From the scripture above the Lord Himself defined who a friend is as against a servant. With regards to a servant He said, “For the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth ….” But for a friend He said, “But I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my father I have made known unto you.” And
By those words Jesus Christ meant that anyone who enjoys a position of trust in His heart is considered as his friend. That’s exactly how He wants to interact with you – as a friend with whom He could share His thoughts where it matters.

But looking out carefully at the beginning of this verse we will draw a very important lesson there. It says, “Henceforth I call you not servants ….” The understanding here is that before the Lord made that statement, He had called them His Servants. Their relationship with Him was in two Phases; first He called them as servants then, afterwards, He accepted them as His friends. This graduation was not unconnected with their steadfastness and consistency in serving Him faithfully. See John 15:14; Luke 22:28 – 30.
“Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
John 15:14.
The words of Proverbs 22:11 aptly fits the narrative above; it says: “He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend”.

Let’s consider the scriptures below and explore a similar trend between God and some Bible characters:
A. ABRAHAM: Genesis 12: 1 – 5; 17:1 – 13; 18:1 – 33.
At the first God called Abraham as a servant (Genesis 12: 1 – 5). Then afterwards, He admonished him to pursue a life of steadfastness and perfection in His presence (Genesis 17: 1 – 13). When Abraham’s obedience and steadfastness to God was proved then, in Genesis 18:1 – 33, God paid him and his household a literal visit and ate before him as a friend. From that time onward God treated Abraham as a friend, and He shared His thoughts about His mission to Sodom and Gomorrah with Abraham.
“And the Lord said, shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do…?” Genesis 18:17.
Apostle James would eventually write about that relationship in the glowing words below:
“And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called a friend of God.” James 2:23.

B.MOSES: Exodus 3:1 – 20; Exodus 34: 27 – 35; Numbers 12: 1 – 8; Deuteronomy 34:10 – 12

Moses’ relationship with God followed a similar pattern with that of Abraham. In Exodus 3:1 – 20 God called Moses and sent him to Egypt as a servant. In Exodus 34:27 – 35 we see Moses’ rise in his relationship with God and the attendant glory which was bestowed on him as a result. In Numbers 12: 1 – 8 we see God making a distinction between His relationship with Moses and other prophets.
Numbers 12:6-8: “And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold…”
At the end of Moses’ tenure on earth, the golden tribute below was written in honour of his friendship with God.
“And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.” Deuteronomy 34:10.

Primarily, all of God’s creations are His servants (Psalm 119:90 – 91) but for those who distinguish themselves and present their spirit, soul and body holy unto Him, He receives and elevates them into a secondary and much higher relationship with Him, and with much better privileges and authority than the ordinary believer enjoys.

“But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified and meet for the master’s use and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:20, 21.

2. Why Be Friend With Jesus?
   Luke 16:1-13; Matthew 25:31-46; Luke 9:23 – 26; Matthew 10:32-33; Mark 8:38.
   The scriptures above give a plethora of reasons why we must seek a lasting friendship with Jesus Christ while we still have the opportunity to do so; they set forth the benefits of being friends with Jesus and the woes that would befall those who turn down this gracious offer. For those who would continue as His friends, Jesus says:
   “Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel Luke 22:28-30.
   But to all those who refuse Him in favour of a friendship with this present sinful world, He warns:
   “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels”. Mark 8:28. Even though the words quoted above were, at first-hand value, spoken to the people of Jesus’ days on earth, nevertheless, the Holy Scriptures also make them relevant to us when it says that the inspired words of the Holy Bible are given for our admonition. See
   1 Corinthians 10:11:
   “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come”.
   So, therefore, the benefits of this friendship and the woes of its neglect still bear on all of mankind who ever lived up to the age of accountability for their actions or inaction. Each person must decide for themselves what they must do with God’s offer of His Son, Jesus Christ, to us. Some people, both in the past and now in the present, turned down Jesus Christ’s offer of friendship in favour of a fleeting romance with this dying world. See the following: John 6:66; Luke 4:28-30; Mark 5:14-17. “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world and is departed unto Thessalonica……” 2 Timothy 4:10.

However, and that happily, there are others who turned their backs on the world and its glamour in favour of friendship with Jesus Christ. See also the following: John 6:67-69; Luke 4:42-43; Mark 5:18-20; Mark 10:28.
“Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.” Mark 10:28.

Today we are each faced with this same decision and must make our choice for or against a friendship with Jesus Christ.
For those who are desirous to be friends with Him but are in need of some motivation to forsake the world and follow Him, I will raise some points and expound some scriptures that will help deliver this needed motivation. In doing so, let me ask you this salient question as a lead to this exposition : why should you be friends with Jesus Christ all through your life’s journey on earth?

1. Because as His friends you are assured of a place in the Kingdom of heaven. John 14:1-3; 17:24; Revelation 3:11-12.
   “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6.
2. Because as His friend, who does His will, He will hear you whenever you call upon His name. Read Psalm 91:14-16 . “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. But look at it the other way round, for those who despise the Lord, Jesus Christ: Proverbs 1:24-32; Isaiah 1:11-15; Jeremiah 11:10-11; Ezekiel 8:17-18; James 4:3. Proverbs 1:24-28: “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me… “

3.Because He will save you in the time of trials, temptations or dangers: Psalm 91:1-12; Revelation 3:10; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Isaiah 43:1-2; John 10:27-29; 6:39.
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand”. John 10:27-28. .

4.Because He will recognize and help you on the day of judgment: 2 Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 25:31-34; Revelation 20:4-6.
John 6:39-40: “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day”.
But, conversely, see how it will go on that day with those who will turn away from Jesus, the best of all friends! Luke 13:24-28; Matthew 7:21-23; Revelation 20:11-15.
2 Timothy 2:12: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us…”

A friendship with Jesus Christ is best if it lasts a lifetime because that’s the kind He recognizes and rewards.
“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end”. Hebrews 3:14.

“…the LORD is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you”.
2 Chronicles 15:2.

5.Because you will inherit God’s kingdom and live with Him and His Son Jesus Christ forever and ever, if you continue being friends with Him until the end of your life. Revelation 21:1-7; 22:12-15; Hebrews 10:35-39; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 John 3:1-3.

“He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son”. Revelation 21:7.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever”. Psalm 23:16.

3. What Does Jesus Demand From His Friends?
   John 15:14-16; John 14:21,23; John 15:4-9. “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
   John 15:14.
   The quoted verse above spells out the condition for friendship with Jesus Christ. Though brief and concise it, nevertheless, carries a weight of responsibility that can be discharged only with a deep sense of duty , and the two must be equally matched. To know our responsibilities towards this friendship and not be able to dutifully carry it out would make us unfaithful friends.
   John 14:24: “He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me”.
   On the other hand, to be zealous for the Lord Jesus Christ without knowing our responsibility towards Him would be serving Him in vain. “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46.

In both cases above knowledge is vital; that is, the knowledge of what Jesus expects from us and how to fulfill those expectations. It is on this basis (provided the will to serve is unforced) that a friendship with Jesus is made and maintained.
“And this is life eternal, that they might KNOW thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” John 17:3.

As earlier on pointed out, John 15:14 spells out the condition for friendship with Jesus Christ. Noteworthy is the fact that this is a covenant relationship between a perfect person (Jesus Christ) on the one hand and an imperfect person (you) on the other hand, and that it is based on the Bible principle found in Amos 3:3, which says: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
Now, the only way that a perfect person and an imperfect person could agree to walk together as friends is where a condition precedent had been met, and in this case the condition is in John 15:14, which says: ” Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.” The word “Whatsoever” in the context of that verse connotes absolute obedience, and it must needs be so because as the perfect person in this relationship our imperfection is taken care of if we follow His own ways and ideas in dealing with the issues of life in general, and as it affects our relationship with Him in particular.
Below are some of the very fundamental things Jesus expects or demands from all those who would continue with Him as friends.

1. He wants us to realize our imperfection so we could see more clearly and understand more deeply our need for Him in this relationship. John 15:1-5; Romans 7:14-25; 8:1-4; Philippians 4:13; Proverbs 3:5; Jeremiah 9:23,24; Psalm 37:3-7. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13.
2. He wants us to faithfully follow His exemplary life of obedience and service to His Father, Almighty God. This is the guarantee that we would be transformed into His image and likeness and therefore become fit to be citizens of His heavenly Kingdom forever. John 15:10; 1 Peter 2:21-23; Matthew 11:29; Luke 2:49; John 4:34,35; 9:4,5; Hebrews 5:7-9. “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world”. 1 John 4:17.
3. He wants us to be fruitful in all good things that we do, for to be otherwise would be contradictory to our relationship with Him because He is indeed fruitful in all His works. John 15:8,16; Philippians 1:9-11; Luke 3:7-9; Matthew 21:43; Galatians 5:22,23. “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth”. Genesis 1:28.

The fruitfulness of our friendship with Jesus Christ, should not only be restricted to spiritual things (even though it is by far that aspect which is most profitable to our relationship with Him) but it must also include the works and labours of our hands.
A look at the wonders of creation will help us see the beauty with which God, through Jesus Christ, made the earth and its set ordinances, which cannot be altered. Such creativity and wisdom can also be imparted to us in the everyday life activities and business endeavours that we lay our hands on, if we are united in true friendship with Jesus Christ.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, 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.

CONCLUSION .
Dear friend, having read all of the foregoing, wouldn’t you agree that the prospects of a friendship with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, far outweighs and outshines that of a friendship with this sinful and dying world? Wouldn’t you now gadly accept his forgiveness and mercy for your sins, with a personal commitment to love and obey Him as His grace enables you, so that you can activate this friendship while you still have the chance?
I believe that you should because there’s no higher calling, no greater honour and, certainly, no better deal than being in a friendship with Jesus Christ!
Why not take the initiative, right now, to invite Jesus Christ into your life as your personal Lord and Saviour? You can bet that He’s already waiting with arms open wide to receive you.

John 6:37: “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”.

Luke 13:22-23:
“And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem .
Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved?… “

There will always be something to fight for, or against, as we strive to be found worthy to enter the Kingdom of heaven at the end of our earthly tenure. It could be that we are either fighting to overcome some lapses in our relationship with God and man, or else fighting to maintain our victory over those lapses. This fight is bound to continue in order to prove our resolve to strive to enter God’s Kingdom; God will let it run through the course of our years until the end of our earthly lives, when we shall exit this world either as losers or conquerors. 1 Timothy 6:11-12; 2 Timothy 4:5-8.

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a profession before many witnesses”. 2 Timothy 4:12

In our opening text, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in answering the question put to Him about the number of people likely to successfully enter His heavenly Kingdom, made the following comments, which we shall build upon in admonishing ourselves to greater commitment and consecration in serving God.

1.Jesus Christ admonished all people to Strive to enter God’s Kingdom.
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able”.
In replying the enquirer, our Lord first admonished to strive to enter the Kingdom of God. This gives us the understanding that heaven will not be won on a platter of gold—we will need to fight hard to be admitted into it. This answer is quite different from what some preachers want their congregation to believe; they have indoctrinated them to believe that becoming a Christian frees one from any further battle, except to wait for the return of Jesus Christ to take them to heaven. However, we can see that the Lord Himself said that many people will be unsuccessful in their attempt at entering into the heavenly Kingdom, and that is not because God wants only a few people in His Kingdom, but rather because most people would be ill-prepared for the challenges which lie between them and God’s Kingdom. There’d be trials, temptations and persecutions to overcome! Only a consistent striving against those forces of evil, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Conqueror of Satan and sin, can guarantee total victory to anyone. John 16:33: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. “

2. Jesus Christ said that the master of the house will shut the door at the appropriate time.
   “once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:”
   Luke 13:25.
   Here we get the understanding that there will not always be time available for anyone to prepare for heaven. Now is the accepted time!
   2 Corinthians 6:2 :
   “(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”
   Most people die unprepared for God’s Kingdom simply because they thought that they could be better prepared for that journey someday, and that day never came!
   Knowing the grave consequence of missing the Kingdom of heaven, and the fact that we do not even know how many days, months or years we have left to live, should make us treat the subject of repentance and reconciliation with God with wisdom and promptness.
   Isaiah 55:6-7 says:
   “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
   Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. “

3.Jesus Christ said that people who missed heaven at last will seek to make excuses, but belatedly.
Luke 13:26-27: ” Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”
This is a clear warning for Christian procrastinators; don’t delay for another day or time whatever you have to do to make heaven right now. Those set of people whom the Lord turned away from the gate of His Kingdom were, most likely, people who were familiar with the ways of God: they had eaten with Him and had attended His meetings. But it would seem that they kept putting away for another time the issue of total surrender of their life to His will, in order to actually work out the salvation of their soul.
Philippians 2:12: “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”.

Obviously, those things they casually put away until another time may have included some issues like neglecting to live a holy and righteous life after repentance, or refusing to practice the restitution of stolen or mismanaged assets entrusted to them.
Luke 19:8-9: “And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold .
And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham”.
Unless we do not have the means to do it, and God bears us witness, putting away for tomorrow what can be conveniently done today might turn out to be a regrettable gamble!
James 4:14: “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

4.Finally, Jesus Christ said that some will lose their places in heaven to others.
Luke 13:28-30: “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.
And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last”.
This is a wakeup call! God is not partial; anyone who becomes careless and unserious with serving Him may lose their place in heaven to those who are more earnest and determined to enter in.
God has given all of mankind equal opportunity to share in His glorious Kingdom. Whatever anyone choses to do with that opportunity is their business, but they must understand that God is impartial in His administering of justice: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons”. Colossians 3:23-25. Read also the following scriptures: Revelation 3:11; 2:25; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13.

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall”. 1 Corinthians 10:13.

There has never been any time in human history, as now, that the signs of the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ are more clearly seen being revealed, since the time that He prophesied about them in Matthew 24:4-8, 36-39. In the face of these glaring facts of the imminent return of Jesus Christ for His bride, the church, the clarion call for all true Christians is that of prompt readiness for His return: every Christian must cast away the cares of this temporal world and be prepared for their next life in God’s eternal Kingdom, which shall soon be revealed in glory!
“Therefore, be ye also ready: for in such an hour as you think not the son of man cometh… Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when he cometh shall find so doing” Matthew 24:44, 46

LOOKING INWARDS, OUTWARDS AND UPWARDS.
2 Corinthians 13:5; John 4:35; Hebrews 12:2
In preparing ourselves for the Lord’s return, we are to adopt a threefold strategy to make our preparations thorough and successful. They are as follows:

1. Looking Inwards: Psalm 139:23-24; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Jude 1:20-21; Mark 7:20-23; Proverbs 4:23
“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” 2 Corinthians 7:1
All Christian brethren must be wary of the stratagem employed by Satan to keep them so occupied with the daily running of the affairs of their lives, so much that the inward condition of their hearts suffers neglect. We must learn to acquire the discipline of constant self-examination (2 Corinthians 13:5). We must assure ourselves, by the witness of the Holy Spirit of God, that we are still walking in the narrow path to eternal life in heaven.
We must avoid being biased in our own favour when it comes to the issue of self examination because that cannot change what’s settled in God’s record about us. I say this because some Christians like to think of themselves as being already half way into heaven even when the clear evidence proves otherwise! This bias could be as a result of a limited knowledge of the standard God demands of us, or as a result of a wilfull self-deception just for man’s applause.
“Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” Proverbs 20:6

If we are sincerely aware of the existence of such moral weakness in our lives we would each do well to ask the Lord to search us Himself; to help search the deepest places of our hearts where our personal and limited probes dare not go.
“Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” Psalm 139:23-24

Looking inwards of our hearts, by the help of God’s Spirit, helps us to control the flow of emotional traffic in and out of it, which in turn helps us to live a life worthy of our profession of faith in Christ. Jude 1:20-21; Proverbs 4:23
If we can successfully guard our hearts from satanic invasion and defilement, then, we can also live a life of holiness unto God.
“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” Proverbs 4:23

We must understand that Jesus Christ is returning to rapture a holy church without spot or wrinkle, so our hearts should match His expectation: there should be no room for such vices as malice, bitterness, unforgiveness, immoral thoughts and lusts within it. Mark 7:20-23.
“… That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” Ephesians 5:27.

2. Looking Outward: Matthew 9:34-36; John 4:34-38; Jude 1:22-23; Philippians 2:4
“But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherds” Matthew 9:36
One of the most common mistakes we make as Christians is the over-concentration of spiritual care on ourselves, leaving others around us out in the cold hands of a bleak fate, and the danger of a Christ-less eternity, with no hope of salvation. We may claim that because they attend church meetings, they may not be ignorant of the truth that can save them; but, then, we also fail to realize that some of us were also in the same shoes before Christ eventually saved us by His grace. As religious persons, before we got saved, we might have had a form of godliness but, certainly, not the power of a transformed life, just like must people we are out there. We must help them find Christ, too, now that God has saved us from the clutches of a vain religious life without salvation.
“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” Philippians 2:4

The world around us needs to be saved. Jesus saw the multitudes of lost sinners, knowing full well where they would end up at death, unless they were saved, and He had compassion on them. If we count ourselves fortunate to be saved and destined for heaven at last, then let us look outwards towards others around us and help them share in this our glorious hope: let us win them for Christ before the opportunity is forever lost!
Proverbs 24:11-12:
“If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works? “

The world is ripe for harvest, but the harvesters are more engrossed in their personal and temporal pursuit, which is of no eternal value, than for the souls moving headlong towards the pit of hell. Let’s be careful not to lose our own place in heaven because of a willful neglect of God’s call to soul winning. The fields are so ripe for harvest that we could easily gather in many souls for Christ if only we are as mindful of soul winning as we are of our personal businesses and family matters. John 4:34-38.
As we wait for the Lord’s return, let us engage ourselves in earnest evangelism and following up of new converts. Let us pick an interest in the lives of our neighbors and create an opportunity to witness Christ the Saviour to them.
“And of some have compassion, making a difference: and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
Jude 1:22-23.

3. Looking Upward: Hebrews 12:1-3; Luke 21:25-28; Philippians 3:20-21.
“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” Luke 21:28.

There are so many things in the world with which anyone might be distracted and thrown off focus at any given time! Such things might come from within or around us. The song writer wrote: “My foes are ever near me, around me and within, but Jesus draw thou nearer, and shield my soul from sin”.
“…Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” Hebrews 12:2.

As the signs of the end are manifested every day, we are admonished to look up towards heaven for our redemption, not on the happenings around. Why? The answer is simply because the happening around us are capable of causing us to be discouraged (Matthew 24:10-12), afraid and, thus, lose faith in God (Luke 21:25-26).
The barbaric and demonic activities people do today without so much of a thought for the plight of their victims are all in an attempt to provoke hatred, revenge and unforgiveness in the heart. The Christian should be careful!!! Many Christians’ hearts have been defiled already by such emotions. Let’s quickly repent, refocus and look away from the happenings around us. God has promised to take care of all who would endure all these evils without a compromise. Let’s, therefore, brace up for the worst, but with our eyes looking upwards to heaven.
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls” Luke 21:17-19

Making heaven is not meant to be as easy as eating a piece of cake; we must enter there “… through much tribulation”, and the earlier we start preparing to make sacrifices and learn to place obedience to God above our personal wishes and/or desires, the better.
“For yet a little while and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:37-39.

Having previously taught on the above subject matter, in Part One, today I am continuing with the second part under two sub-topics, the first of which is:
SELFLESS SERVICES: THE HALLMARK OF A FAITHFUL STEWARD HERE ON EARTH
Luke 17:7-10; 1 Corinthians 9:1-23.

The watchword for any responsible steward should be faithfulness. This is so because as a person employed to manage another’s assests, the steward’s primary focus should be on prompt service delivery; personal interest, or self gratification, must be shelved and not allowed to interfere with that goal!

“So, likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do”. Luke 17:10.

The statement by our Lord Jesus Christ, which is quoted above, has aptly defined how the Christian steward’s attitude towards ministry should be:

1. The steward should do “… all those things which are commanded…” them in their area of service by the Lord, or by whomsoever He delegates His authority to so command. See Hebrews 13:17.
2. The steward should also carry out such services as “… unprofitable servants…” as though they have no rewards to gain from it. See 1 Corinthians 9:1-23.
3. The steward should view such services they render in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ as an obligation they owed to Him, and not as a volunteer work that must await their convenience. They should see it as “…that which was our duty to do…” 1 Corinthians 9:16-17.

When we bear in mind that Christian stewardship refers to the responsibility that the Christian has in maintaining and using wisely the gifts that God has bestowed on them, (be they financial, intellectual or spiritual gifts) for the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every living soul, and to the world at large, then we would be more careful to deploy those gifts solely for that purpose, instead of consuming it on ourselves. For this to be possible, we must do the following:

1. Live An Examined Life: _2 Corinthians 13:5-6; Lamentations 3:40

By constantly taking stock of our lives we can be sure that we are still yielded and surrendered to doing the will of God. This is very important because it is our continued obedience to, and dependence on, Jesus Christ that gives us more grace, strength and renewed zeal for the fulfilment of our stewardship in line with His will.

If something goes wrong with our relationship with Jesus Christ, we can be sure that it will affect our ability to continue to be faithful stewards of the gifts which God has bestowed on us for the services of His Kingdom.
“Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5.

It is possible to gradually drift away from the Lord until all that is left for us to hold unto in ministry are the memories of our past relationship with Him, whereas we do no longer receive further instructions from Him anymore. If this describes our present relationship with Him, we would do well to humbly admit it and seek reconciliation with Him once again.
“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord”. Lamentations 3:40.
However, if anyone fails to return to the Lord, upon discovery that their relationship with Him has been compromised, that action could open them up to demonic manipulation, as seen in the scripture below.
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron…” 1 Timothy 4:1-2.
This is the sad case with most self-professed servants of God today, but their undoing actually began when they failed to constantly examine themselves to see whether they were in a right standing with God, or not.

2. Live A Controlled Life:
Titus 2:1-8; 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; Proverbs 25:28; Galatians 5:22-26.
If by God’s grace we have passed the test of self-examination, then we must also strive to possess the virtue of self-control, which is one of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, if at all we are to render a selfless service to mankind as Christ’s faithful stewards.
It usually takes a great deal of self-restraint, coupled with constant prayer, fasting and trust in God’s power, to be able to serve others selflessly. This is so, because man is instinctively self-centered, and this self-elevation needs to be broken down before he can be able to serve as a truly faithful steward of Christ.
A lack of control over our 5 basic emotions of joy, fear, sadness, disgust and anger would certainly leave our lives open to the forces influencing self-centeredness.
“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without a wall”. Proverbs 25:28.

The joy of success at achieving our aims, the fear of losing the things or people we cherish, the sadness we experience when things don’t work out the way we’d wanted, the disgust we feel for things or people who don’t measure up to our expectations, and the anger we express when we feel belittled or taken for granted; all have a profound effect in driving up the human instinct to give their self-interest top priority. While this may be applauded in the secular world, the Christian faith, on the other hand, frowns at self-centeredness or selfishness and views it as a vice which can impair a Christian’s stewardship.
The Bible teaches that the Christian should put other people’s interest above their own as a mark of true humility and love, which are key in the rendering of selfless services. To be self-controlled means much for the Christian steward; it means that they can effectively cast a restraint, rather than gratify any desire of their heart, which will not glorify God, or enable them to serve others as Jesus Christ would have done. Matthew 25:31-40.

“Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” Philippians 2:3-4.

Below are some areas of our lives where we need to be self-controlled in order to render a selfless service to others in Christ’s stead:

i. When we control our appetite for food so we can:
a. Fast more often and, thus, be spiritually strong and sensitive to effectively minister as Christ’s stewards. Mark 9:28-29.
b. Share our food with those who are not privileged to have as much, or as little, as we do. Matthew 25:35

ii. When we control our spending habit so we can give more to support the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the needy persons around us. Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 6:19-21; Deuteronomy 15:7-11

iii. When we control our fleshly desires. We can be a model of Christian purity to the world around us and, thus, be able to lay a good example for them to follow. 1 Corinthians 9:27; Titus 2:11-12; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; 1 Peter 2:11-12.

iv. When we control our temper or desire for revenge and, thus, choose to suffer wrong patiently that we may be a silent witness of the beauty of the Christian life to our offenders and to the world at large. Romans 12:17-21; Matthew 5:38-45; 1 Peter 2:21-23.

v. When we control our success or achievements in life so that we do not unnecessarily direct attention to ourselves rather than on the gospel we have been called to preach for the salvation of lost souls. Romans 12:3, 16; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; 4:6-7.

3. LIVE A SACRIFICIAL LIFE
Romans 12:1; Luke 9:23-24; Matthew 10:38-39; 19:27-29; Galatians 2:20
Christianity is based on the principle of self-sacrifice, which is symbolized by the cross upon which Jesus Christ sacrificed His life in order that those who believe and accept Him in faith as their Lord and Savior may be saved. John 3:16.
Following this same principle, the Christian steward is expected to offer a sacrificial service to God and humanity. For this to be possible, we must daily put to death all conflicting personal interests for the greater good of God’s Kingdom so as to effectively preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. This is what Jesus Christ meant when He said we must deny ourselves, carry our cross daily and follow after Him.

“And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me” Matthew 10:38.

Below are some areas of our lives which we are required to sacrificially give up in order to offer selfless services to the world around us as God’s faithful stewards:

1. OUR TIME: _Mark 6:30-34; Acts 20:17-21; 2:46-47.
It is interesting how much time Jesus Christ committed to carrying out His earthly ministry. He sacrificialy committed the whole of His last 3 ½ years to doing nothing else but His heavenly Father’s work, while taking no thoughts for leisure or respite from the harsh elements of nature, namely: the heat by day and the cold by night. He had no home to call His own.

“And Jesus saith unto him, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head” Matthew 8:20.

We can say the same thing about His disciples, that they went through all of that trouble with Jesus Christ ministering to the lost and hurting without a murmur. They truly understood what it meant to sacrifice their time for the salvation of others.

“And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And he said unto them, come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat” Mark 6:31.

When Paul the apostle came to believe in and serve the Lord Jesus Christ, he also imbibed that same virtue of self-sacrifice. He served the people, “…from the first day…” that he came into Asia, and “…at all seasons…” He served and taught them “Publicly, and from house to house…” leaving no one within his reach unattended to with the gospel of Jesus Christ, for the duration of those three years which he spent in Asia. Such commitment and sacrifice deserve our commendation.

Since God is the giver of time, we must use the time He has given to us more for Him and less for ourselves. Like John the Baptist, we should be able to say that “… He must increase, but I must decrease”. John 3:30.

2. OUR TALENT: Ephesians 4:7-13; 2 Timothy 1:6-9; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Corinthians 7:7.

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” 1 Peter 4:10.

There is not a soul that ever lived whom God has not properly fitted with some abilities by which they could render services to His Kingdom if they so wish. But, in reality, that is not what we see the majority of mankind doing; most people fend only for themselves by use of those divine abilities but would hardly honour the Lord, who gave it to them, by the use of it.

“For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner and another after that” 1 Corinthians 7:7.

Paul, who made the statement above, lived a life worthy of emulation for those who want to render a selfless service to mankind in Christ’s stead, because as an Apostle richly endowed with spiritual gifts (Romans 15:17-19; Acts 19:11-17), scholastical honours (Acts 22:3) and entrepreneurial skills (Acts 18:1-3; Acts 20:33-35), he never used any of those personal endowments to enrich himself, although it was easy for him to have done so as the sole Apostle to the gentile converts. He, rather, chose to live an austere life and would not utilize any of the benefits attached to his offices, which were his to enjoy and to do with as he pleased.
1 Corinthians 9:1-12:
“Am I not an apostle? Am I not free? Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? Are ye not my work in the Lord? … Have we not power to eat or to drink…? If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? And they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so, hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void”. 1 Corinthians 9:1, 4, 11-15

Such selfless and sacrificial services should be the identifying mark of God’s true and holy stewards today. But what we see, instead, is a selfish and greedy horde of unholy and self-proclaimed “men of God” who devour the helpless and poor souls they claim to be serving. Ezekiel 34:1-16.

Pastors today use their spiritual gifts as money-making machines to enrich themselves rather than to advance the cause of the Gospel. Most evangelists will not accept an invitation to minister unless they are guaranteed financial rewards; in fact, some insist that the money be paid upfront before they honour any invitation. Today Gospel Artists sing for money, not for God’s glory anymore. Christian authors see Christian literature as an investment to fall back on, and not as a tool to reach the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No doubt God wants us to also benefit from the talents and gifts which He has bestowed upon us, but it must be with such moderation and discipline that clearly demonstrates selflessness. 1 Timothy 6:6-12.

3. OUR MONEY/RESOURCES: Haggai 2:8
Perhaps one of the most difficult sacrifices, which most people struggle to make for God’s work, is that which involves their finances, or assets. This difficulty stems from the fact that we tend to see our financial and material resources as the fruit of our labour and, therefore, see no reason why we should not do with them as we please. This kind of reasoning is wrong for the Christian steward, for it is like a child who refuses to give his father a piece of biscuit from a whole pack that he had given to him simply because there has been a change of ownership.

“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? Now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” 1 Corinthians 4:7.

If only we would reason that we are the work of God’s own hands, and that all the blessings that come upon our lives are also by the work of His own hands, then we would have no trouble sacrificially giving our finances and/or resources for His work here on earth.

Since God is the giver of life and every good thing, and since He has chosen us to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, may we sacrificially discharge those duties with the conviction that “… We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do”.
Luke 17:10.

This brings us to the last Sub-topic titles: HEAVENLY STEWARDSHIP: THE EXCLUSIVE PRESERVE OF THE HOLY AND FAITHFUL STEWARD
Matthew 25:14-46

In this last sub-topic under this series, we are going to look at the study from the following points of view:

1. CHRIST’S RETURN TO EXAMINE OUR STEWARDSHIP
Matthew 25:14-19; 25:31-33; 2 Corinthians 5:10

“So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God” Romans 14:12.

Our earthly stewardship would come to an end at the moment we die; but whether we die or remain alive until when our Lord Jesus Christ returns to earth, we His stewards shall be gathered to Him to give account of our stewardship. 1 Corinthians 3:9-15. Each Christian steward will be required by Jesus Christ to account for how they have employed their talents and spiritual gifts, and how they have utilized all the opportunities which God gave to them in the advancement of His cause here on earth.

2. GOD’S REWARD FOR FAITHFUL AND HOLY STEWARDS
Matthew 25:20-23; 25:34-40; 19:27-30; Galatians 6:9-10

The striking thing to observe here is that God is more interested in our faithfulness to carry on with our stewardship than He is in the success of our mission, but it is we who must determine to be faithful to it or not.

Don’t build your hope on the number of persons you are reaching out to in ministry because God adds to His Church with or without your input; strive, rather, to be faithful in your walk with God, no matter how small your labour field is or how few the flock you oversee there. Remember, your attitude to God’s work is more important than the work itself because He can go ahead and do it even without you.

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, write, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” Revelation 14:13.

Our eventual admittance into heaven would not be based only on the fact that we have won souls for Christ or have achieved great success in His Kingdom business. There are great preachers and evangelists, with much souls won and great works done to their credit, who are presently languishing in hell because they were not truly faithful to God. God can use anyone either as a holy vessel (2 Timothy 2:19-21) or as just an ordinary channel (Romans 9:14-18; James 7:11-12) to fulfill His will; but the choice as to which way He uses us is always ours: you can choose to either be a faithful and holy vessel in which He dwells to do His work here on earth, or else become an unfaithful steward that He would, nevertheless, use as a sign-post to direct the lost to Himself. Whatever we choose to be, God’s will must still be done!

3. THE REPROOF AND CONDEMNATION OF THE UNFAITHFUL STEWARD
Matthew 25:24-30; 25:41-46; 24:45-51

“But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart my Lord delays His coming and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for Him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” Matthew 24:48-51.

God is more interested in showing mercy to the unfaithful stewards than He is in punishing them. 1 Timothy 1:15-16; 2:3-4.

God is longsuffering and merciful; He would only pass judgment on the unrepentant after He has exhausted all other avenues to get them to repent and turn away from their unfaithfulness.

“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn you, turn you from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel” Ezekiel 33:11

In Matthew 25:24-30, the Lord did not punish the unprofitable servant only because he failed in his stewardship, but more because he was arrogant and unremorseful. He knew of his failure but did nothing to obtain the mercy that should freely have been shown to him by the Lord who keeps “… mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…” Exodus 34:5-7.

We should strive to be the faithful stewards whom the Lord has called and commissioned us to be; but in the event that we find our works to be falling short of His standards at any given time, we must approach Him at His throne of Mercy and Grace and seek for His forgiveness and renewal of our strength to offer that acceptable service which He desires from His faithful stewards.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” Hebrews 4:16.

The End

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” 1 Peter 4:10

As the church age draws closer to its end, we the body of Christ would do well to admonish ourselves to strive to be found faithful and good stewards of the grace which God has richly bestowed upon us at that time when we each believed in and continued in fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

God, who chose us to serve Him as stewards of His “manifold” (or various manifestations of) grace, did it so as to give us the chance to prove here on earth that we can be trusted with greater and nobler services in our next life in His heavenly kingdom. Our faithfulness to Him now is the proof that we can be so trusted to serve Him and His Christ forever in the coming ages of His everlasting kingdom.

“Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
1 Corinthians 4:1-2.

We were not saved and commissioned to serve God because we were found faithful in the first place, no, but because God wants to give us the chance to prove we can be trusted with eternal riches through our faithfulness with the temporal ones which He has bestowed upon us through grace. Matthew 25:14-30

“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.” Matthew 25:14-15

Consequently, therefore, our future with God in Heaven is heavily reliant upon our present life as we serve Him here on earth.

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21

We shall be considering this study under the following sub-topics below:

1. Genuine Conversion: The Most Basic Requirement for God’s Stewards
2. Selfless Service: The Hallmark of a Faithful Steward Here on Earth
3. Heavenly Stewardship: The Exclusive Preserve of Holy and Fruitful Stewards

1.GENUINE CONVERSION: THE MOST BASIC REQUIREMENT FOR GOD’S STEWARDS
Matthew 18:1-4; 2 Timothy 2:19-21; Luke 22:31-32

“And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3

Just as our admittance into the kingdom of heaven (Hebrews 12:22-23) is basically based on genuine conversion of the heart, so also is our suitability as a steward in the service of God’s kingdom. What, though, does the word “conversion” actually mean?
In ordinary language, to convert anything would mean to alter its physical or chemical properties from one form to another. The same thing also is true about the spiritual conversion of lives; it is a complete change (as Acts 26:18 puts it) from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God. See also 1 Peter 2:9; Colossians 1:12-13.
Spiritual conversion (or being born again) must not be taken to be the same thing as repentance or the forgiveness of one’s sins; for while repentance and the forgiveness of sins are experiences which happen instantaneously, conversion, on the other hand (which is the actual goal of repentance and forgiveness of sins), is a process of change which can take place in as short a time as within minutes, or for as long as within years, all depending on how earnest and true the penitent sinner’s response is toward the grace of God (2 Corinthians 5:17) which has been made available to them through Jesus Christ for a new life.
Although the grace and mercy of God is made available to all who turn to God through Jesus Christ in repentance, its workings, or benefits, are manifested differently in them, depending on how each person responds to that call. This is basically the reason why Christians manifest some differences in their spiritual growth and/or experiences. See 1 Timothy 4:13-15; Philippians 2:12-16; Acts 17:10-12; 1 Peter 2:1-3.

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12

As to the reasons for the discrepancy in the spiritual growth of different Christians, the Holy Bible in Hebrews 5:12-14 has this to say:
“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”
The substance of what we are trying to establish here is simply this: that God tries the heart for spiritual maturity, which is the evidence of genuine conversion, before He bestows the grace of stewardship (1 Corinthians 4:1-2) on anyone. That we have repented of our sins and have received forgiveness from God through Jesus Christ does not automatically mean that we are deemed suited to be ministers or stewards of the mysteries of God’s kingdom; we would be deemed to have attained to this status when we, by the means of God’s own grace made available to us in Christ, work on our character until it reflects that of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:17-32; Colossians 2:6-7.

In concluding this first sub-topic, we would like to reflect on two of our pilot scriptures, namely Matthew 18:1-4 and Luke 22:31-32, and to learn some valuable truths from them with regards to genuine conversion.
From the accounts of those Scriptures, we understand that even though Jesus Christ’s disciples had repented of and received forgiveness for their sins, yet they were not genuinely converted until at some later points in their walk with Christ, thus buttressing the earlier point raised that conversion of the heart is a process achieved over time; not because that is how God wants it to be, but because that’s what His longsuffering can achieve with mankind’s inconsistency, just as Galatians 4:19 says below:
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.”
This errant attitude of the disciples of Jesus Christ is also evident in the following accounts of the Holy Scriptures:

1. They were obsessed with their personal worth. Luke 22:24-27; Matthew 18:1; Mark 9:33-35
2. There was selfish ambition and strife among them. Matthew 20:20-24
3. There was murmuring among them. Mark 14:3-9
4. There was love of money and betrayal, at least in one known case. Mark 14:10-11
5. There were unreasonable promises made by the disciples (Mark 14:26-31) but which they could not keep in the end. (Mark 14:44-52)

It was for the reasons above that Jesus Christ addressed Peter concerning their future thus:

“…But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Luke 22:32

It is praiseworthy to note that those disciples (except for Judas Iscariot the betrayer of Jesus Christ, who would eventually commit suicide) came out of their initial dismal experiences and proceeded to do great exploits for God’s Kingdom (Mark 16:20) because they did not give up, but rather waited on God (Acts 1:12-14) for cleansing and renewal until they were converted, as Christ had said earlier, and were also filled with the power of the Holy Ghost as He had earlier promised to them. Luke 24:49
The same condition must apply to anyone whose desire is to meet the basic requirement for stewardship in God’s vineyard; they must be disciplined enough to wait on the Lord, and to work on their own weaknesses, until they are converted and made ready for stewardship in God’s Kingdom now on earth and, hereafter, forever in heaven.

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21.

    To be continued...

True Christianity is a practical way of life, and the resultant life of the practicing Christian is a godly life. We can, therefore, say that godliness is the essence of true faith in Jesus Christ. We could be all we want to be for Christ in the church, at home, or anywhere for that matter, but if our lives do not reflect His godly virtues, then we are anything but true Christians. This is so because true Christianity is the practice of the heavenly life here on earth; “…Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven…” Matthew 6:10. “But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33.

The word seek in the context of the scripture above is an active word. It could be defined as looking out for, searching for, yearning for, etc., which are all practical words. In Christianity, you practice here and now on earth the life you would forever live in heaven with God, His Son Jesus Christ and all their subject. To the extent that this aim is daily achieved in your life, the better your chances of making heaven your eternal home with God.

How can a mortal sinful man live a godly life in this sinful world? Is it even possible? Well, we shall find out as the teaching unfolds. Consider the scripture below:

“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” Psalm 15:1-2.

From the scripture above we can make out the three essential ingredients that make up a godly life to be as follows:

1. UPRIGHTNESS OF HEART: Psalm 15:1-3
To be upright in heart is the same as being holy in your heart. Verse three mentions three vices of the defiled heart, the absence of which is sufficient proof that a person’s heart is upright. They are namely:
A. He That Backbiteth Not With His Tongue: Gossiping, backbiting, and malicious whispering are evidence of a wicked sin-defiled heart. See Matthew 12:34-37; Psalm 41:5-9; Proverbs 16:28; Job 1:1, 8; 2:3; 1 Samuel 29:6; 2 Samuel 22:22-24.

2. TRUTHFULNESS AT WHATEVER COST: Psalm 15:1,2,4.
To be truthful is to be able, at all times, to speak, agree with, or make representation of people, things, or situations the way that they actually are, with no regard to personal opinion or self-interest. Some sterling qualities of people who walk in the truth are:
A. They have no fear for or show respect to those who are evil and dishonor God by their life style. Esther 3:1-2; Matthew 10:22-31.
B. They hold their conscience bound to what is right and consistent with the truth, whether it is in their favor or not. Judges 11:30-40; Genesis 14:14-24.

3. RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CONDUCT: Psalm 15:1,2,5.
To be righteous means to be consistent in doing the right things or making the right decisions. This requires a great deal of discipline and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The following are some of the attributes of righteous persons:
A. They have a good sense of justice; they are impartial and will give to everyone their dues. Proverbs 17:15; 24:24; Isaiah 5:23; Jeremiah 5:28; Ezekiel 33:12-16; 34:17,20-22; Galatians 6:7; Revelation 20:11-15.
B. They do not exploit or take advantage of anyone for their own benefit. Proverbs 14:31; 22:16; Exodus 22:21; 1 Samuel 12:1-5.
C. They are selfless and generous to all alike. Matthew 5:44-48; Genesis 18:1-8; 1 Timothy 6:17-19; Acts 4:32-37; Hebrews 13:1-3.

From the foregoing, therefore, we can conclude that godliness is the consistent practice of the virtues of holiness, truth, and righteousness. And because they are action-based, a Christian cannot sit idle and attain to these virtues: a Christian must diligently seek for them.

“But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” 1 Timothy 6:11,12.

Jesus Christ came into this world to make it possible for sinners, as we all were/are, to receive God’s transforming grace and be born again. It is only when we believe in Him and unconditionally accept Him into our heart that He can work from within us to give us the new life – the born again life!

2 Corinthians 5:17:
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. “

We spend our time in the pursuit of so many temporal things which cannot guarantee any satisfaction beyond this temporal fleeting life that we are living, while all that time Jesus Christ is waiting for anyone who would call upon Him for the gift of eternal life, filled with all the goodness of God, both here on earth and for eternity in heaven. If this does not sound like a good deal I wonder what else will! So, are you in?
Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled”.

1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

As humans we are by our nature inclined to make decisions, express opinions and pass judgments, all in a bid to align our thoughts with the reality we face in order to place our selves in a position of advantage.
While this may be a necessary way of life, if it’s done with truth and empathy as guiding principles, nevertheless experience has proved that due to mankind’s imperfection they seldom follow those principles; they’re mostly biased, choosing self above others in the matter of justice, even where the scales tilt against them. It is with this inherent weakness in view that God counsels us to relinquish our rights to judge others to Him so that we do not bring our selves under condemnation.
Matthew 7:1-2 gives a solemn charge to this effect when it says: “Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again”.
There is, however, a limited exception to the charge above as we shall consider in the following sub -topics below.

Judging Others As An Appointed Duty
Exodus 18:13-26; Deuteronomy 16:12-20; Judges 2:8-18; 2 Chronicles 19:4-7; Ezra 7:25-26; 1 Corinthians 6:1-5; Luke 22:28-30

The word Judge can be defined in two ways, namely;

1. In its noun form, it means a public officer appointed to decide disputes in a law Court. In ancient Israel it means a leader having power and authority to lead.
2. In its verb form, it means to form an opinion or conclusion about a person or a thing.

We are, however going to focus on the noun definition of the word, Judge , in the first of three sub-topics in this series.

God’s commandment to “Judge not” does not apply to persons appointed by a lawfully constituted government authority to administer justice to the people governed under that authority, provided their judicial activities are carried out within the scope of that constituted authority by which that people have pledged allegiance to be governed. This is so in this case because that appointed person judges the people not by his personal opinion, but by using legislation generally accepted by the people and thus he is free of the charge to “Judge not” as commanded in God’s word.

In secular a country this legislation by which citizens are governed is called the constitution, but in the Biblical era the people were governed by the laws of God. Let us consider some instances below:

1. Exodus 18:13-26; Ezra 7:25-26.
“Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, Judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.” Exodus 18:21-22.

In the scripture above, Moses was counseled by his father in-law, Jethro, to teach the people of Israel God’s ordinances and laws, and to instruct them how they might walk in those statutes. Further more he was to appoint Judges who would hold the people accountable for any breach of those laws and ordinances.

2. Deuteronomy 16:18-20; 2 Chronicles 19:4-7.
Here in Deuteronomy, the scope of a judge’s duty is spelt out for him to follow; any wilful departure from this, and a resort to personal opinion, would bring him under God’s wrath.
“Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons; neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.” Deuteronomy 16:19.

3. Judges 2:8-18
The Bible book of Judges chronicles the accounts and lives of several Judges who judged Israel before their first King was enthroned.
“Nevertheless the LORD raised up Judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them… and when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the Judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the Judge…” Judges 2:16-18

4. 1 Corinthians 6:1-5, Luke 22:28-30
In this church age, however, we are taught that in the future Kingdom of God, through Jesus Christ, we shall be Judges, too. Whereas God remains the eternal Judge over His everlasting Kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:28), here on earth during the millennial reign of Jesus Christ the resurrected and glorified Christians will rule and reign with Jesus for a thousand years. See Revelation 20:1-6. At that time the Lord Jesus Christ will bestow on those who would be found worthy the authority to bear rule upon the peoples of the earth who survived the great tribulation and witnessed His second coming.

This authority to rule over the nations is what is termed as “Judging the world” in scripture.
“Do you not know that the saints shall judge the world? … Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more the things that pertain to this life?” 1 Corinthians 6:2-3.

We would also “judge” angels in the sense that as heirs of salvation and as joint heirs with Jesus Christ over the riches and inheritance of God’s Kingdom, the angels of God shall wait on (Minister to) us Hebrews 1:13,14

“Are they not all ministering Spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
Hebrews 1:14

In conclusion, therefore, we must hold that a person under an appointment to act as a Judge, whether by religious or secular powers, provided the enabling laws are right before God, and that the duty is carried out strictly under the scope of that law, shall not be guilty of having expressed a prejudicial opinion in judging others, which is what God’s word prohibited when the Lord commanded to “Judge not”.

Judgmental Personal Opinion And Its Dangers.
Matthew 7:1-5; Luke 6:37; James 2:12-13; 4:11-12; Romans 14:1-13.

There is a good reason why God forbids us to sit in judgment or to condemn any other person, and that reason is simply because mortal man is imperfect and therefore, unfit to condemn or judge any form of imperfection in others, except where (as we saw in the last sub-topic) he is authorized to do so either by God’s Word or the civil authority sanctioned by God. See Romans 13:1-7.

Romans 13:1-2: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation”.

We can see an example of this in the account of the woman accused of Committing adultery (John 8:1-11) The mob had sought the maximum penalty of death by stoning against her, but Jesus had answered them in this way:
“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her”. John 8:7.

The following scriptural reasoning below will help us to know more about why it is dangerous to judge or to condemn anyone based on a personal human opinion.

1. Mankind is plague with imperfection and, therefore, cannot judge the imperfect conduct of others without coming under self-condemnation. Romans 2:1-6.
   “…for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things”. Romans 2:1.
2. Even where our lives are blameless before God, we would still be unfit to express a personal opinion in condemning any one because we did not come to be free of sin by our power, but through God’s grace and mercy therefore, we must also desire for others to obtain such mercy from God, instead of condemning them for their misconducts.

“or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” Romans 2:4

3. Another reason why it is dangerous for us to judge others is because our personal opinions for such judgment would be based on the limited knowledge available to us through physical observation: only God sees the motives in a person’s heart. 1 Samuel 16:7.

Having considered some reasons why God forbids us to sit in judgment over other people’s short-comings, we would now set forth to consider the dangers that we expose ourselves to when we do that.

1. We risk bringing ourselves under God’s swift judgment when we judge other people’s faults.
   “Judge not and ye shall not be judged: condemn not and ye shall not be condemned” Luke 6:37; Romans 14:10-12.
2. We risk being denied God’s mercy any further if we become habitually judgmental towards others. James 2:12-13.
   “For he shall have judgment without mercy that hath shown no mercy and mercy rejoiceth against judgment” James 2:13.
3. When we wickedly begin to dig into the past lives of people so as to bring accusation against them, we would also risk having our own sinful past searched out and exposed by God.
   “They searched out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow: suddenly shall they be wounded. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away” God As The Ultimate Judge And His Word As The Basis For All Judgments .
   Psalms 50:1-6
   From the previous sub-topics of this study, we have made out a case of innocence for appointed judges, provided that in sitting in judgment over other men’s faults they do so strictly based on the laws which enables them to so act. We also fault any judgment based on a personal opinion as wrong and offensive to God’s commandment on the grounds that no man is perfect enough to assume that role on personal merits.

In this final sub-topic, we are going to be looking at God as the ultimate Judge and His Word as basis for judgments. We shall further divide this last point into three namely:

1. God’s Holiness as Basis for determining what is right. 1 Samuel 2:2-3; Psalms 45:6-7. Our understanding of what is right and what is wrong comes entirely from our knowledge of God’s holy nature; because He is absolutely holy, we know that whatsoever does not conform to His holiness is not right and must therefore be judged if not repented of. See 1 John 1:5-6 Psalms 36:9.
   “… God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all…” 1 John 1:5.

Therefore to not conform to God’s nature of holiness is what makes anyone susceptible to judgment.
Mankind, however, do not have God’s kind of inherent holiness and, therefore, cannot judge the failures and sins of others without they themselves coming under the same condemnation.
“for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things”. Romans 2:1

2. God’s Sovereignty As Basis for His Power to Judge or Show Mercy. Psalms 62:11-12.
   God is sovereign: He is the highest and final authority; all other authorities are delegated by Him. Because of this sovereignty, God has the power to judge or show mercy on any one solely by His own discretion alone.

“God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God” Psalms 62:11.

No man possesses the power to forgive or to punish another’s sin, which they have committed against God or man except where God delegates such power.
At His trial before Pontius Pilate, Jesus Christ plainly told the Roman governor:
“Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above…” John 19:11.

3. God’s word as Basis for All Judgments Here on the Earth and in Heaven. John 12:46-50; Romans 2:11-16; 2 Timothy 4:1-2.
   All rules and regulations for the administration of Justice must conform to the truth of God’s holy word or else they would be condemnable before Him.

When we use God’s word as the basis for judgment, then it is no longer our opinion or judgment, but God’s own, as revealed in His Holy word. This is what a delegated authority is all about. 1 Corinthians 2:12-16.
“But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man” 1 Corinthians 2:15.

As long as we judge or condemn sin and all unrighteousness solely on the basis of God’s revealed word alone (our Personal opinion not playing any active role in this) we are using a delegated authority similar to the one seen in 2 Timothy 4:2-5 and Isaiah 54:17.
“… reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine” 2 Timothy 4:2
“… every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the Servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD” Isaiah 54:17.

There is no doubt that we are at the very brink of that prophetic era which the Holy Bible variously refers to as the Last Days, The Day of the Lord, or The End of the World. See 2 Timothy 3:1-5; 2 Peter 3:1-4, 10; Matthew 24:29-31; Joel 2:30-32; 1 Corinthians 10:11.

This era, according to the scriptures, will begin with a universal departure from the truth of God’s word by mankind. This is what Paul’s epistle termed as the falling away in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:3, 4.

After the falling away, or the departure from the truth, comes the day of the Lord or the return of Jesus Christ to salvage what would be left of the Church, which is the faithful few that held to their faith in Jesus Christ, and also to smite the world and all ungodly sinners with His wrath. Jude 14, 15; Joel 2:1-32; Revelation 19:11-21; 20:1-6.

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound the alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand… And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?… Then will the LORD be jealous for his land and pity his people.” Joel 2:1, 11, 18.

The last event in the prophetic era of the last days would be the destruction of the heavens and the earth and all ungodly persons and their works, so as to usher in everlasting righteousness for the saints in God’s Kingdom, and to condemn all sinners to everlasting shame and eternal torment in the lake of fire at the great white throne judgment. Revelation 20:7-10, 11-15; 21:1-7.

“But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up… Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:10, 13.

Today’s teaching, however, deals with the first event of the last days, and we shall consider it in the following sub topics:

---

1. BACKSLIDING AND APOSTASY DEFINED.

Backsliding and apostasy are two different stages of one phenomenon which we can define as the cessation of the practice of truth, righteousness and holiness; or, in three words, cessation of godliness .

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death… The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways.” Proverbs 14:12, 14.

The first sign of backsliding is self-will, with little or no regard for the word of God. Even where that person’s character is manifestly sinful and opposed to the truth of God’s word, they’d still proclaim their righteousness. See Jeremiah 3:6-11; 8:4-6. But even at this early stage of backsliding there is still hope of reconciliation with God upon genuine repentance.

“…Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger forever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 3:12, 13.

Apostasy, on the other hand, is the finished work of backsliding, where the conscience is finally seared and does not feel the guilt of sin or the reproof of God’s Spirit, until grace is eventually denied and judgment looms over the apostate soul. Proverbs 1:23-32; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; Hebrews 6:4-8; 10:26-31.
“He, that being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” Proverbs 29:1.

To an apostate king of Judah, the LORD declared:
“As I live, saith the LORD, though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah were the signet upon my right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence;…” Jeremiah 22:24.

2. BACKSLIDING AND APOSTASY IN THE CHURCH TODAY
Jeremiah 2:1-19; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition… even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 9, 10.

The church, today, is filled with both backsliders and apostates who make up the vast number of so-called believers professing faith in Jesus Christ. However, it is easy to identify those who really are the true representatives of Jesus Christ in the world today.

“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk even as he walked.” 1 John 2:6.

Every doctrine of a church and the conduct of its ministers and their followers which contradicts the life of Christ, as portrayed in the Gospels and Epistles, is a falling away from the truth delivered to the church by Jesus Christ Himself. This, however, is becoming the normal order of affairs in Christendom today. See Jeremiah 23:9-17; Jude 3-16; Matthew 15:1-9.

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD. They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto everyone that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.” Jeremiah 23:16, 17.

3. GOD’S WARNING FOR BELIEVERS IN THESE LAST DAYS.
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
Jude 3.

The symptoms of a backsliding church, or an individual Christian, would be easy to see and to understand if we are sincerely willing to abide by the Word of God given to us in its simplicity. At whatever time we discover in a church, or in any one person, the tendency to wrest scripture in support of what is manifestly un-Christ-like, then backsliding has set in. At such a time it would be wise to abandon self-will and personal interests in favor of God’s will and the interest of the true Christian faith, which we pledged allegiance to defend when we were graciously saved by Jesus Christ.

The following are some signs of backsliding which could lead to apostasy if left unchecked:

1. Lukewarmness in our relationship and devotion to God. Revelation 3:14-19.
2. Loss of interest in the things of God. 2 Timothy 4:3, 4, 9, 10.
3. Assertion of self-will over God’s will. Proverbs 14:14; James 4:13-16; Luke 12:47.
4. Worldliness. 1 John 2:15-17; James 4:1-4; James 5:1–6.
5. Nonchalant attitude towards the work of God’s Kingdom. Judges 5:23; Jeremiah 23:1-2.

God warns all backsliders to repent and be restored back to Him or risk the doom of apostates; many of whom are prominent leaders of churches and ministries today. If we would be healed, restored, and be made ready as the bride of Christ, awaiting His imminent return, then we must cast aside all interests that conflict with the call of God unto holiness and return unconditionally to Him in repentance. Joel 2:12-17.

“Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning… Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach…” Joel 2:12, 17.