TOPIC: DO YOU LIVE BY APPEARANCES?

-WHAT THE WORD SAYS ABOUT THIS MATTER-
“There were present at that season some that told of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices, and Jesus answering said unto them, suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things?

I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, are sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”…LUKE 13:1-5.

-WHAT I RECEIVED OF THE LORD CONCERNING THIS MATTER-
Just as our Lord cautioned in the above scripture, so I am persuaded to also caution in today’s message – warning all those who base their relationship with God upon what they perceive through their natural senses. Yes, the Bible demands that the just shall live by faith. But it is very clear that many amongst us are living by sight – judging others and judging themselves by what they see, touch, hear or even perceive with their worldly minds.

Men and brethren, 2014 has come and gone. Many have taken stock. Many in the body of Christ must have taken the decision to even press closer to the Lord. And as it is with the beginning of every year, many in Church will embark on long periods of fasting and praying - desiring the face of the Lord concerning their lives this 2015. Many will even dare to make resolutions concerning the way forward for their lives this year. All these are worthy courses: and I pray that the good Lord will help all of us to attain all our expectations that are according to His perfect will in Jesus name. Amen.

But what we do also know is this: that some of us may have looked around themselves, counted their numerous material acquisitions last year, compared themselves with others, and then come to a conclusion that God is indeed with them. They must have judged that since God gave them good health, prospered them financially, and even blessed their marriages with children, that they were truly worthy before the Lord. Their conclusions about their Christian life are entirely based on what they can assess through their natural senses. But they may be terribly wrong- and the consequences of such miscalculations are far reaching.

Men and brethren, we that are saved do not live by sight but by faith. Christianity is essentially a spiritual movement. Physical manifestations in Christianity are often not indications of an equivalent spiritual well-being. Some in Church that are truly live right are found to walk in all manners of afflictions – which are necessarily the afflictions of the righteous. And only believers who live by faith can discern which is which.  While some, even in the Church, may be reeling in sin and still be walking in health. Some will even be living in bribery and corruption, and even out rightly stealing, and yet be prospering financially. Many indeed who live in all manners of wickedness, even in the very body of Christ, are still prospering both in body and in pocket. Such is the journey of faith, and only those who are truly of God will understand these things.

Men and brethren, many are prospering in Church while still living in deep iniquity. There are many in Church of today who  are living in lies, masturbation, harlotry, jesting, nakedness, fornication and adultery, some have idols in their hearts, some are fearful, some are unbelieving, some are cheats, even some do abort unborn babies, consuming alcohol and smoking, and some are gays and lesbians, while some discriminate even against their fellow human beings, some abuse children. There are also preachers who live in ungodly pleasure and preach for their bellies. But the truth is that most of these folks are prospering both materially and even in health. Yet we know that all that are involved in all these vices are all candidates of eternal damnation if they fail to repent. Yet while certain and fearful judgment of God awaits them, they are busy “prospering” on earth and enjoying the gains of unrighteousness..

Let me sound this note of warning: if you are a Christian, and you are living in one sin or the other, and in that same state you are prospering in health and in your pocket: beware, you are just living on the mercy of God. The earlier you repent the better for you. If you refuse to repent you will perish and find yourself in hell – just as those who died in such state in the past. What the Lord is doing to you is giving you opportunity upon opportunity for you to repent from your evil ways and means. And it is a terrible thing for any man or woman to weary God. The earlier you repent the better. You must repent or be ready to perish. This is a timely warning.

It is indeed futile for a believer who is walking in sin and all manners of compromise to try to compare him or herself with true believers who are walking in true righteousness. Such comparison is share satanic deception, designed to keep that erring believer in perpetual bondage of sin. It is a terrible thing for a believer to assess his or her spiritual state based on material and perishable things – very dangerous indeed. If you are living in sin, prosperity or no prosperity, you are hell bound – except you retrace your steps before it is too late. When a believer is living in sin his or her testimonies are an abomination before our holy God.  The pulpits of our Lord are daily polluted by erring and wayward preachers of this gospel.

But for those who are walking tirelessly to please the Lord in all their ways,  and yet they are struggling with their health and are poor financially, let them persevere. They must not be discouraged, they must not murmur, they must not complain. In all circumstances they must rejoice, and keep rejoicing – for the singular truth that they are marching to heaven. They must encourage themselves in this: that our God created us just for His pleasure. If therefore it pleases Him that we will live with one infirmity or the other, we must not complain. Our fathers of old lived in all manners of deprivation; some were even murdered in cold blood for the sake of this gospel. But today they are enjoying with Christ in heaven. Our sole desire must be to make heaven at last: every other thing is secondary and fleeting.

Men and brethren, there is nothing unrighteous about the prosperity of the true righteous – if it be the perfect will of God. But let me also remind the truly righteous, that satan does resist the prosperity of those who live godly - whose lives will cause others to do the same. Therefore, if you have chosen to serve the Lord with all your heart and you are doing just that, know it also that the enemy will also choose to oppose you all the way.

 And that is why we must pray – in season and out of season. Do not fold your hands and allow the enemy to steal what belongs to you. All that unbelievers and the wicked in Church are enjoying truly belongs to you. The whole earth belongs to your Father in heaven. And all things are yours. So rise up in prayer, and fasting if necessary, and possess your possession in Jesus name. Know you not that the wealth in the hands of true believers is the only wealth that is acceptable in heaven to finance the true gospel? The offerings and tithes of the wicked, both in Church and outside the Church, remain forever abominations to our holy God.

For those walking in daily righteousness and are suffering in this life, and being mocked, derided and cajoled daily by the wicked, and even by enemies of righteousness in the very body of Christ, I have some words from the Lord for you. Continue, even in season and out of season. Do not be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. At the appointed time and season, Our God, Who is a righteous Judge, will open His book of remembrance for you. And when He does you will receive HEAVENLY blessings – the blessings that come without sorrow. Yes when Daddy arrives He will blessed you with a type of blessing that will also help you to make heaven at last. Keep running – our Lord is coming back sooner than we all can ever expect.