EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES

THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 5, No. 16 – Sunday, 26th April, 2020
(Dan.2:29-45, Rev.4:1-3, 1 Pet.2:5, Lk.19:40)
A MEAGRE MYSTERY ABOUT THE FORMATION AND THE REALITY OF THE GREAT GOD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH PART 1

The words improbable and impossible are near-end answers or outright end-answers to many questions at varying times. A research into how the Almighty was formed is just one of those questions with perhaps impossibility as the end-answer. For how is it possible for the one formed to explain the manner or the medium through which his Maker was formed?
But the content of Deuteronomy chapter 29:29 informs that: ‘the secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of His law’.
In similar semblance, Proverbs chapter 25:2 clarifies: ‘it is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search a matter’.

Put together, By revelation born out of His passionate mercy and unconditional love, God endows humanity with the grace to search into spiritual archives with an interest to unravel deep mysteries even the mystery of how God was formed. At all times, such is done with a divine intention in order to accomplish a divine purpose.
Separate and distinct from God’s supply of grace to man in order to search out the understanding of mysteries, the great God of heaven and earth often unilaterally gives divine instructions and independently supplies the understanding of such instructions to man by dreams and visions without man’s prior requests (Job.33:14-15).

Indeed and in fact, with the presence of the Holy Spirit in the heart and the life of man, no research is now impossible. Therefore the word impossible is no more an end-answer. Perhaps the word improbable may doubtfully suffice as an end-answer in extremely limited circumstances.

So, with a limited sense of improbability, let us examine the composition and the reality of our God. Rev.4:1-3 informs:
‘1 After this, I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
2 And immediately I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.
3 And He that sat was to look upon like a jasper and sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald’.

Whether the book of Revelation is written in a sense of its vision being figurative or not may be a fact but not a fact in issue. What is the fact in issue is that the Bible states that God is seen in the semblance of a jasper and sardine-like stone.
According to the MerriamWebster dictionary, a jasper is ‘an opaque cryptocrystalline quartz of any of several colours especially: green chalcedony; coloured stoneware with raised white decoration’.
So, without being a patient suffering from that psychological disorder which I would like to refer to as argumentative plus-plus (a phrase invented by my secondary school English teacher), the pinpointing fact is simply and strictly this: God, in the best human comprehensible description, is, in appearance, like a stone of a most special kind.

It is a statement of fact that every tree produces after its own kind except in circumstances where there has been an interference with nature through scientific means or by some sinister media. Otherwise, it is impossible for a woman to give birth to a cow, duck or kitten. So, as like a stone, God can only produce a stone-like personalty as His offspring.
Dan.2:45 puts this conclusion in brighter light. It reads: ‘inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold’’’’’’…
Understand that the foregoing Scripture states that: ‘the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands’. Impossible or improbable?! Remember: ‘for with God, nothing shall be impossible’ (Lk.1:37). How can a stone be cut out of a mountain without human hands?
What this simply means is that the greater mountain reproduced itself by itself and delivered of a perfect replica of itself in the form of the stone without human assistance. Put more apt, God reproduced God. For sameness cannot reproduces opposites but sameness. And do we not yet understand that the Almighty God reproduced himself by the raw power of the Holy Ghost into the womb of a woman who had never known a man but was yet in the pure state as a virgin?
And by so Doing, God reproduced God in the form of human flesh called Jesus without the mix of human semen and the ovum. Because He had no mix right from His formation, although born as human, yet as an original hard stone-like-rock cannot be broken nor mix but simply attach, So, the Lord Jesus as a spiritual-like-stone could not mix with sins but could attach Himself to sinful man for the purpose of salvation.

For as a special stone in the appearance of jasper and sardine-like-stone (precious stone of distinct colour) mixing will smeer unpolishable stain. Mixing as a result of stain will of course make Him of no difference from all others. And if He is of no difference, then He, too is like the sinful world that He came to save.
John Chapter 1:12 states: ‘He came unto His own but His own knew Him not except those unto whom He has given the power to become the sons of God’.
Only spiritual-like-stones like Him can know Him. For at that level when salvation has been gained by man, forms of spiritual appearance have attained the status of sameness. And as same personalties have no diference from each other, so forms of the same form cannot differ.

Let us understand this better from a nearer perspective of a rock both in scientific and spiritual terms. How?! God is a rock, a spiritual rock with tangible effects and with physical outcomes (Ps.18:2, 1 Cor.10:4).
A rock is essentially a large stone. Rocks are composed of certain elements present in sand which forms stone-like-rocks. These elements include: silicon, oxygen and molten magma. Molten magma which condense into rock(s) after its cool is basically liquid fire.
The Holy Scripture states that ‘our God is a consuming fire (Heb.12:29). In one sense then, our God is a fiery rock. But God cannot just be a rock, He is a most special and a most dignified kind of rock. How and why?
1 Peter chapter 2:5 informs that: ‘ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ’.
If the formed/the created are ‘lively’/living stones as Apostle Peter informs us through the Holy Spirit, what can the creator be?
The natural law of man states that: ‘nemo dat quod non habet’ meaning (you cannot give what you do not have). The Holy Scripture informs that: ‘God breathe into man the breath of life and man became a living being’ (Gen.2:7).

The entire human race was made out of dust (e.g. silicon oxide, sand). But as yet, he remained dead object until breath came into him from God. In the most correct sense then, God, the giver of the breath of life, cannot just be a most special and a most dignified rock, He is most importantly a living rock who is the sole giver of life because He contains life in Himself and He is forever living (Rev.1:18).
No wonder, the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to his audience at the time that if they fail to offer praises to God, stones will perform that assignment with the greatest ease (Lk.19:40). Why? Stones are dust that have hardened up. So, stones in their natural forms are in essence dead human matter. As soon as the breath of God enters them, they will automatically be transformed into living human beings (that is, living stones). And why won’t they praise the one who has given them opportunity to become humans?

Dearly beloved, are you a ‘lively stone?’ Are you offering worthy sacrifices to God? More spiritually deep and frankly speaking too, dearly beloved, do you know that as a Christian (a transformed living stone out of the greatest Living Stone) that you are a god under the Most High God?
Psalm 82:6 states: ‘I have said, ye are gods; all of you are the children of the Most High’. If then, you are a God under the Most High God, understand also that you are a God over that situation of life confronting you.

Now that you have understood by the Spirit that you are a God, why will you not take authority over that situation. Don’t wait for your prophet to exercise that authority. As a God, don’t you know that you are an authority over any global pandemic even corona-virus, evil patterns, personal delays, non-achievements, yokes, curses and evil covenants?
But before assuming this role and position of authority, you must need to answer the question: is your spiritual house so clean dearly beloved? Is God’s Spirit dwelling truly in you? What divine exploits are you doing for our God?

Last Sunday, I heard the great Man of God, Apostle E.A. Adeboye preaching about the power of God, and how much Christians need this power. That is so true. But we must understand that we cannot be indwelt with the power of God except the Holy Spirit is first and foremost dwelling in our hearts. For Acts chapter 1:8 states that: ‘but ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you’’’’…… Isn’t it a good business to take time out to obtain the genuine baptism of the Holy Ghost? But in reiteration, is our heart clean to even receive the Holy Spirit?
Ah! Understand dearly beloved that every spiritually-good thing is always perverted by the forces of the dark realm. Our God who dwells on the throne is a fiery stone from whose throne emerges ‘lightnings, ‘peals of thunder and voices’ etc (Rev.5:6).
But for the dark realm, ordinary stones are converted to gods and in their blindness they decorate such stones by pouring libation, oil, etc on them and even bow down to them. Men of God are to be honoured and respected. But has your pastor become the stone that you worship and give God’s glory to dearly beloved? Remember the words of the Lord Jesus. ‘Apart from me, ye can do nothing’ (Jn.15:5).
Your pastor is a mere chaff without the Lord Jesus. Him Christ alone deserves your worship and glorification.

IN THE END, ARE YOU THAT STONE ISOLATED FROM THE WORLD OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OR ARE YOU THAT STONE WHO IS SELF INSULATED AGAINST THE TRUTH AND SPIRIT-LED CONTROL? THERE IS A REWARD WAITING IN THE WINGS FOR EVERY KIND OF THE TWO STONES. IT IS A SPIRITUAL PARADOX THAT NON-MIXING STONE IS SOFT AND SUBMISSIVE TO GOD. WHEREAS THE MIXING STONE IS HARD AGAINST GOD. I PRAY EXTREMELY SO HARD THAT YOU WILL NOT MISS THE MAJOR THING IN LIFE. AMEN.

Question and Answer Section
Question: The great questions again! Do you serve God with joyful heart or with reluctance? How much hurt is in your soul against that fellow? Won’t rather forgive them and forget their mischief so that you can rightly serve your loving Father? When was the last time you smiled genuinely and truly from your heart about yourself bearing in mind the bright days to come? when was the last time you heard a force praying within your belly without your consciousness? When was the last time you gave some thing to support God’s work apart from your tithes and offerings? When was the last time you supported any man to fulfill a divine or a personal agenda? When was the last time you put smile on the face of someone?
Answer: Hmmm!.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Counseling, Prayers and Appointments: Please contact contactus@expressimageglory.com Alternatively, meet us every Sunday at the address below:
Suit 26, 2nd Floor, Nikky Africana Plaza, 70C Allen Avenue, Opposite UBA/MTN Office, Ikeja, Lagos.

Donations and Financial Supports – Please support the Kingdom of God through Christ Jesus in this Ministry by paying your hard-earned money to only this one account and no other: Express Image Glory Ministry, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Account number – 0020881228.

Further information: Be informed that this Ministry has only one Facebook page and no other. Any other Facebook page or bank account is counterfeit. Any Concerns or questions about this facebook page or bank account should be directed to: contactus@expressimageglory.com The General Superintendent Minister of this Ministry therefore pleads and urges you to desist from all such fake and ungodly Facebook pages or accounts. Be informed also that there is only one medium for soliciting donations and that medium is via our weekly magazine – The Message Now through our Facebook page or website: www.expressimageglory.com

ALTAR CALL:
Backslidden – living in sin – needing fresh recommitment (say):
Christ Jesus, You are the Anointed One of the Most High. I come to you today as I am. In your mercy, help me out of my situation. Heal my soul, my spirit, my body, my life and my destiny. I acknowledge you as the only true lover of my soul. Please, deliver me on every side and save me through and through. I promise from the depth of my soul to be yours from henceforth, in Jesus name. Help me now O God. Be my Lord, my Saviour and my all in all from this day. Thank you Lord (read Ps.54 in closing and pray more).

HYMN: The Great Physician
PRAY NOW:
1. I repent O Lord for giving your glory to something or someone else.
2. Idols of my father’s household and the evil covenants backing you up, I bury you today by the power in the blood of Jesus.
3. Evil words that have kept me down at a single spot, let the word of God and the voice of the Lord nullify you all today, in the name of the Lord Jesus.
4. Wicked spirit and terrible family strongman that have refused to let me go, I poison you today with the blood of Jesus.
5. O God, make me your battle ax and weapons of war.
6. Visit every member and worker of Express Image Glory Ministries so that Covid 19 turns to be a blessing and not a pandemic curse.
7. Deliver the Superintendent Pastor of Express Image Glory Ministries from conspirators and gang planning falsehood.
Present your personal petitions.

EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES

THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 5, No. 15 – Sunday, 19th April, 2020
(1 Sam.23:1-12, 1 Sam.25:23-28)
COMMITMENT AND FOCUS IS ONE SURE ANSWER TO BEING FULFILLED

The content of 1 Samuel chapter 23:1-12 states:
1 Then they told David, saying, look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah, and they are robbing the threshing floors.
2 Therefore, David inquired of the Lord, saying, shall I Go and attack these Philistines? And the Lord said to David, go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.
3 But David’s men said to him, look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
4 Then David inquired of the Lord once again. And the Lord answered him and said, arise, go down to Keilah. For I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.
5 And David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines, struck them with a mighty blow, and took away their livestock. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
6 Now it happened, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, that he went down with an ephod in his hand.
7 And Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. So Saul said, God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering a town that has gates and bars.
8 Then Saul called all the people together for war, to go down to Keilah to besiege David and his men.
9 When David knew that Saul plotted evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, bring the ephod here.
10 Then David said, O Lord God of Israel, your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake.
11 Will the men of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O Lord God of Israel, I pray, tell your servant. And the Lord said, he will come down.
12 Then David said, will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the Lord said, they will deliver you’.
Consider the foregoing text and the three preceding chapters before this with meditative and deep reflective toleration. There is but one thing so certain in the most perfect exactitude. Careful scholars of the Holy Bible will no doubt be alarmed at the courage and audacity of the man David. Why?
Imagine a man who is being pursued about by a whole king with the forces of the entire kingdom driving hard at him; and yet such a man left off caring for his own life but rather chose to go after the enemies of the same kingdom that was after him for the sole reason of destroying him.
If such a man is not rather queer, then he must be a man of some sort of specialty in avowed focus and unusual commitment. The story was told about Martin Luther (the reformer and revivalist)who revived the doctrine of justification by faith in the 16th Century.
Whilst working on one of his many Christian theses, suddenly, satan appeared by the wall not far from where he was. Rather than resign to the option of fear, instead Martin Luther threw the bottle of ink from where he drew his writing ink at satan and he, satan vanished immediately in great fear of the great reformer and revivalist.

Less courageous men would have thought that Martin Luther ought to have gasped with fear. But the reverse was the case. In similar opinion, is it not expected that the natural man ought to have been severely damaged at least emotionally, seeing that he was serving God in the kingdom and yet both the kingdom and the king presiding over the kingdom were all against him?
In David’s case, the fact that he was under an unusual harassment of death from king Saul; the fact that his comrades were soaked down in the mire of fear and despondency; The fact that many towns and cities in Israel which he was fighting for were sycophants who were ready to spy on him and hand him over to his enemy, were all sufficient reasons for him to resign from service to the course of the Almighty and the course of God’s people.
But David had a strong propeller as a sure armoury ensuring his focus. David knew that so long as God’s obituary will not one day be found some where at any point, then it was certain that his vision will be fulfilled and his life was firmly secured.

This is always the case with the people who have discovered their life’s vision; who have resolutely decided to keep such vision in view and who are constantly working on that vision to see it blossom in the realm of fulfillment. The all-important question is do you have a vision worth pursuing?
Focused commitment towards serving God births the impossible and the incredible. But it is always, triggered and pungently propelled by vision. Again, I ask, do you have a vision worth pursuing? Where do you hope to be in the next five years? Resigned to grandmotherhood, housewife, solitary husband or one simply being rolled around by the wind of life?
Understand the power and profits of focused commitment to service. Is it not shocking to know that even spiritual laws can be broken in one’s favour all by dint of committed wholehearted service to God?
The question is how? The content of Genesis chapter 9:6 states: ‘whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made He man’.
Understand that in the course of divine service, so much blood was shed by David but his own blood was shed by no one (1Kings.2:10). Service to God makes man a protocol breaker and one who must enjoy favour and effortless ease through God on time and with time. By implication, are you genuinely saved and now committed to serving God with a pure heart? I hand over to you the truth that like David, Genesis chapter 9:6 will be fulfilled over your life also irrespective of the sin of murder through abortion or direct offences of bloodshed that you have committed. So don’t let satan weigh you down with the guilt of your past. It is worth noting that commitment to divine service holds man in eternal rememberance ‘for God is never unjust to forget man’s labour of love (Heb.6:10). Is king David not very much still in our thoughts till this day?

I cannot but conclude with all assurance of faith that commitment drives profound prophecies made on our lives to the corridors of fulfillment. I must conclude also that there is an inseparable bond between focus and commitment. The one is the husband whilst the other is the wife. Their association is ever unbroken. Whoso has this couple in his/her company in the journey of life will boundlessly succeed.
Finally, there are several lessons contained in our texts:
Commitment to the course of the Almighty will always attract God into one’s case.
Any man who is given to divine sacrificial actions will never become the sacrificial lamb on the altar of his enemy.
It is always a man’s diligent service onto God that recommends him onto greatness.
The author of the book ‘The Determiner Of Today And Tomorrow Before Yesterday’ stated: ‘starve yourself and feed your dreams and upcoming career. For your dreams and eventual career will turn around to feed you tomorrow’. By implication, whosoever fulfills divine agenda here on earth invites divinity to activate his purpose for being on earth and the Almighty God will surely see that purpose to a fulfilling end.
When the undergirding driver of any committed focus is vision, there is but only one result; it is always the outcome of happiness and fulfilling achievements.
Your troubles can never be greater than the grace available to you. Just activate that grace through prayer in that time of need.
How spiritual strong you will ever become; how great you will ever grow to become in secular life will all be determined by your attitude during those times of troubles.
For all you care, you can do your best to avoid being great in life and you can succeed. But you can never avoid troublous times so long as you are a Christian. And the choice to pass or fail is entirely your own decision.

IN THE END, IN ALL SITUATIONS OF LIFE, GOD IS ALWAYS ONE STEP AHEAD OF MAN. THEREFORE, THE ONE WHO MAKES GOD THE FIRST AND THE ONLY DIRECTOR OF HIS STEPS WILL GO CAREFULLY, MOVE SAFELY AND WILL GET VERY FAR.

Question and Answer Section
Question: The great questions again! Do you serve God with joyful heart or with reluctance? How much hurt is in your soul against that fellow? Won’t you rather forgive them and forget their mischief so that you can rightly serve your loving Father? When was the last time you smiled genuinely and truly from your heart about yourself bearing in mind the bright days to come? when was the last time you heard a force praying within your belly without your consciousness? When was the last time you gave some thing to support God’s work apart from your tithes and offerings? When was the last time you supported any man to fulfill a divine or a personal agenda? When was the last time you put smile on the face of someone?
Answer: Hmmm!.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Counseling, Prayers and Appointments: Please contact contactus@expressimageglory.com Alternatively, meet us every Sunday at the address below:
Suit 26, 2nd Floor, Nikky Africana Plaza, 70C Allen Avenue, Opposite UBA/MTN Office, Ikeja, Lagos.

Donations and Financial Supports – Please support the Kingdom of God through Christ Jesus in this Ministry by paying your hard-earned money to only this one account and no other: Express Image Glory Ministry, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Account number – 0020881228.

Further information: Be informed that this Ministry has only one Facebook page and no other. Any other Facebook page or bank account is counterfeit. Any Concerns or questions about this facebook page or bank account should be directed to: contactus@expressimageglory.com The General Superintendent Minister of this Ministry therefore pleads and urges you to desist from all such fake and ungodly Facebook pages or accounts. Be informed also that there is only one medium for soliciting donations and that medium is via our weekly magazine – The Message Now through our Facebook page or website: www.expressimageglory.com

ALTAR CALL:
Backslidden – living in sin – needing fresh recommitment (say):
Christ Jesus, You are the Anointed One of the Most High. I come to you today as I am. In your mercy, help me out of my situation. Heal my soul, my spirit, my body, my life and my destiny. I acknowledge you as the only true lover of my soul. Please, deliver me on every side and save me through and through. I promise from the depth of my soul to be yours from henceforth, in Jesus name. Help me now O God. Be my Lord, my Saviour and my all in all from this day. Thank you Lord (read Ps.54 in closing and pray more).

HYMN: I’m Pressing On The Upward Way

PRAY NOW:
1. Please find and read the book ‘Pilgrims’ Progress’ by John Bunyan.

2. I sack all enemies of progress in me and around me.

3. O God, reveal to me that which is holding me back from truly serving you.

4. O God, onto whom has my life been dedicated apart from you? Reveal and deliver me today.

5. Lord, release the rain of focus and commitment upon me now and from henceforth.

6. I shall no longer occupy the backseat from now on. I am a front man/woman in the service of my Messiah.

Present your personal petitions.

EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES

THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 5, No. 14 – Sunday, 12th April, 2020
(1 Sam.16:1-13, 18-23, 17:1-58, 18:1-13, Jn.3:14-15)
WHAT IS BEFORE IS ALWAYS GREATER THAN WHAT IS BEHIND

There can be only few results about any man whose past experiences remain undetached from him. If those past experiences are good, then they remain the spring-board upon which his elevation and successful grasp of the future stands.
If the experiences were negative, then the man and his future can be imprisoned in a vortex of impertinence. Worse still, the man’s vision and mind’s eye will remain blurred towards the bright side of life.
In summary, if any great future will become a reality, the frequency of any man’s psychy must be tuned towards the possibility belief system that today though already at its dusk will yet be better than yesterday; that no matter what there will always be a better tomorrow.
Who else could ever believe that a better day awaited David the king, the prophet and the priest other than himself? First, he was the last of eight children. Whilst it can be argued that it does not lie within our power to choose our positions in the family we are born into, and sometimes that choice goes even beyond our parents too, but to be forgotten at the backside of the desert by the same parents was not a characteristic choice that most children would envy.
Whilst one may argue that David was not forgotten but left to carry out his own assignment for the family, it is also arguable that such assignment should not be so enigmatic to such extent that David should have been left out of the family circle and family meeting when a most respected divine emissary was visiting.
By the way, part of the reason for the family meeting was to conduct a divinely-instructed sacrifice with the sons of Jesse in attendance. Was David not one of the sons of Jesse? Why was he forgotten and not informed about the coming of a most senior national prophet?
The truth is, not much was expected from him and about him. David was simply of no or less worth to and by his family circle. In Israel, only the valiant and wise were considered as part of the military. Whilst David’s three eldest brothers-Eliab, Abinadab and Shammah met those criteria, David was viewed as noncontributory, nonentity and inconsequential.
Besides, Was the man David ever seen around town except when on errands? His primary place of solace was with animals in the bush where the prospect of being killed by bear or lion was not just highly probable but which became a possibility in the end.
The man David was equally the easily condemned one. Although he had brought food supplies and welfare greetings from their father Jesse to his brothers who were at the warfront, the best he could get from one of his brothers for his diligent service was condemnation and accusation of ‘pride’.
One who is ever bitter with his past experiences or his present problems cannot see opportunities though they may be so near. One who responds to every criticism and to every yelling cannot get his goals accomplished. One who is constantly distracted by his past will easily be imprisoned by it. Forgiveness and focus are the sole keys that turn-on the ignition of the engines of progress and eventual success.
Consider that having inquired at the first from a man about the reward from the king for killing Goliath, and the rebuke which followed from Eliab his eldest brother, the man David simply remained undeterred and unresigning to depression. Rather, he pressed on with inquiry until the answer for his elevation was gained. What point does this attitude of David score?
By his unrelenting attitude, the attitude of a goal getter and one who had his eyes constantly affixed towards his target was evidently manifested by David. The driving force for the top though left to run errands and to tend animals in the bush remained an instinctive feature in him that could not be frustrated by any externalities.
So, to David at this point, his dream for the palace was about to be hatched into reality. What made David to ascend the throne eventually? First, David used his downturn moment of being forgotten at the backside of the desert wisely by reflecting positively on the bright days to come and not being depressed by the present predicament. Second, David viewed what was before him with the eyes of prominence and pre-eminence more than his provisional past and his present which was merely transitional.
Was the ‘Son of David by the flesh’ any less different? The unequivocal answer is NO. Whilst in the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ considered the ‘cup’ being presented to him of great cost. It was a cost that was soon to become history and be replaced by a much greater glory that will remain in everlasting reckon, record and remembrance.
Christ therefore forsook the cost and pain and earned eternal glory that was before Him at the time. This is the reason the resurrection of Christ remains at the cornerstone of Christianity. This is the reason the celebration of Easter remains unforgotten till this day.
In what mood and condition is this edition of The Message Now meeting you? Happy, dandy and gay! Very well, keep on the firing line and keep your mind’s eyes firmly fixed to the fact that the sun will certainly shine on your path at some point.
On the other hand, is this edition meeting you gloomy and on the low? Remember that to submit to discouragement and depression is to sink oneself deeper into that dark, slimmy and deep ocean where satan wishes one to be where the one sent by God can neither see one nor find one.

IN THE END, LIFE IS A CONDIMENT OF CHOICES WHERE ONE CHOICE TAKES ONE ONBOARD FLIGHT ELEVATION TO GREATNESS AND BLISS OR THE OTHER CHOICE TAKES ONE DOWN TO THE ABYSS OF STAGNATION AND NON-ACHIEVEMENT. WHAT NOW IS YOUR CHOICE? ASK DAVID FOR HIS ANSWER. WHILST ASKING DAVID AND PONDERING ON HIS ANSWER, REMEMBER THAT HIS CHOICE TOOK HIM FROM BEING A MERE UNRECOGNISED SHEPHERD BOY TO BECOMING AN ICONIC KING OF ALL ISRAEL.

Question and Answer Section
Question: The great questions again! When was the last time you smiled genuinely and truly from your heart about yourself bearing in mind the bright days to come? when was the last time you heard a force praying within your belly without your consciousness? When was the last time you gave some thing to support God’s work apart from your tithes and offerings? When was the last time you supported any man to fulfill a divine or a personal agenda? When was the last time you put smile on the face of someone?
Answer: Hmmm!.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Counseling, Prayers and Appointments: Please contact contactus@expressimageglory.com Alternatively, meet us every Sunday at the address below:
Suit 26, 2nd Floor, Nikky Africana Plaza, 70C Allen Avenue, Opposite UBA/MTN Office, Ikeja, Lagos.

Donations and Financial Supports – Please support the Kingdom of God through Christ Jesus in this Ministry by paying your hard-earned money to only this one account and no other: Express Image Glory Ministry, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Account number – 0020881228.

Further information: Be informed that this Ministry has only one Facebook page and no other. Any other Facebook page or bank account is counterfeit. Any Concerns or questions about this facebook page or bank account should be directed to: contactus@expressimageglory.com The General Superintendent Minister of this Ministry therefore pleads and urges you to desist from all such fake and ungodly Facebook pages or accounts. Be informed also that there is only one medium for soliciting donations and that medium is via our weekly magazine – The Message Now through our Facebook page or website: www.expressimageglory.com

ALTAR CALL:
Backslidden – living in sin – needing fresh recommitment (say):
Christ Jesus, You are the Anointed One of the Most High. I come to you today as I am. In your mercy, help me out of my situation. Heal my soul, my spirit, my body, my life and my destiny. I acknowledge you as the only true lover of my soul. Please, deliver me on every side and save me through and through. I promise from the depth of my soul to be yours from henceforth, in Jesus name. Help me now O God. Be my Lord, my Saviour and my all in all from this day. Thank you Lord (read Ps.54 in closing and pray more).

HYMN: Sweet Is The Promise
PRAY NOW:
1. O God, I give you thanks for your word and for the one whom you have used to deliver this word.
2. O God, I repent for holding onto any negative past.
3. O God, I repent sincerely for failing to look forward to a brighter day with faith in You.
4. O mighty God, please give faith again to trust you.
5. I sack all management committee of darkness inflicting me with discouragement and depression.
6. All invisible wicked forces living in my abode with me and monitoring me about, I sack you with tongues of heavenly fire.
7. I proclaim by the strength of God that my elevation shall happen no matter what.
8. I recall back by mercy and by the right hand of God all destiny-helpers that have left me.
9. O mighty hand of God, connect me to the hand that shall lift me up to the top.
10. My father and my God, give me the grace to think positively always.
Present your personal petitions.

EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES

THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 5, No. 13 – Sunday, 5th April, 2020
(Amos 7:7-17, Jeremiah 20:1-6)
FEARLESSNESS: THE TWIN SISTER OF FAITHFULNESS

If sin produces fear, then fearlessness is the functioning product of faithfulness. The account of man’s experience in the Garden of Eden teaches an eternal lesson that so long as man remains faithful to his calling and to the instructions of his Great Master, man will live in no fear but in the atmosphere of reverent worship.
But as soon as man forgoes faithfulness, sense of shame and the torment of fear replaces all confidence. Was this not the situation when Adam failed God? For as long as Adam was faithful, the relationship between him and his Maker was that of glorious worship in an atmosphere of reverent confidence.
But what happened next? Adam flouted God’s instruction: lost his confidence, became empty and was surrounded by nothing else but shame and nakedness. What is the implication and the application of the foregoing?
If any thing, sin and its product called fear makes man unworthy. Fear reminds the sinful man that he is nothing but a slave. The perfect point scored by faithfulness is that faithfulness builds in man the realization and the authority of sonship.
The summation of all this is that faithfulness always births fearlessness. By the directives of the Lord, both prophets Jeremiah and Amos prophesied against the nations of Judah and Israel respectively. Because of these prophecies, Pashur the priest in Judah and Amaziah the priest in Bethel turned evil minds against the prophecies and blind eyes towards the word and the will of the Lord.
What could be the reason behind these differential attitudes of these spiritual entities and emblems? For why should priests become enemies of prophets?
Ah! What a wicked world! A world where men of God antagonize one another because of fame and the gathering of crowd to themselves. It is a world not led and guided by the Spirit of God but by flesh. It is a world where priests who love lies and fantasies make it a duty to oppose those who are genuine carriers of the word of truth.
Unfortunately, the sons of men prefer such lying priests, prophets and pastors (Jer.5:31). Like Pashur and Amaziah who are well-known priests with financial and public influence who find it easy to raise the dust of wanton accusations against holy children of God, so are their like-kinsmen in ministries, organizations and churches today.
And why is it that God seems to be too quiet when these men of God do these things? I can but find only two reasons for this divine silence.
First, It is the lot of every child of God living in righteousness to suffer persecution (2 Tim.3:12). Second, it is undoubtedly within the knowledge and the agenda of the Almighty that such pastors, prophets and priests of falsity and fallacy are left by God in ‘slippery places for an eventual disastrous end if they will not repent (Ps.73:18).
Both Pashur and Amaziah harmed and threatened prophet Jeremiah and Amos with the probable interest to instill fear into these two genuine men of God, but the shield of faithfulness securely affixed to the Hearts of these men of God were spiritual anti-missiles which easily detonated the satanic ballistic missile of wickedness and fear fired by Pashur and Amaziah.
O dear Christian, in what area of life are you facing your own salvos of attacks, opposition, falsities and fallacies? I do not care to say this: are you aware that delay in marriage, troubled homes, financial lack and losses are all part of satanic persecution? Their mission is to make you backtrack on God and seek them for help.
O dear Christian, do not lose hope. Neither ‘go down to Egypt for help’ (Is.31:1). The day is coming and very soon when the cup of your faithfulness will become full. The result is that such fullness will stir God into righteous anger. God’s righteous anger will produce two results: (1) your instant deliverance, and (2) the enemy’s instant destruction.
Only those who have accepted the fruit called truth, eaten of that fruit and allowed the seed of truth to be richly sown in them can appreciate the truth, love it and speak it always. It is only such people of truth who are always battle ready knowing truth has an enemy called falsehood.
Those in whom truth reside do know that man design this present life only in the complexions which celebrate mondanity, lies and fallacies and the defamation and the downgrading of the truth. So when you are maligned O Christian for standing up for the truth, keep your balance and cool. Rather, keep speaking the truth boldly with wisdom where necessary and always without fear or favour.

IN THE END, WHATEVER SITUATION STRIKES A MAN DOES NOT REALLY MATTER. WHETHER THAT STRIKING SITUATION DEFEATS THE MAN OR THE MAN REMAINS UNCONQUERED IS A CONCERN. WHAT IS RATHER MOST CONCERNING IS THE DETERMINING FACTORS FOR THE DEFEAT OR THE VICTORY. SO, BE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATE OF YOUR HEART ALWAYS. IS IT FILLED WITH FEAR OR FAITHFULNESS?

Question and Answer Section
Question: The great question again! when was the last time you heard a force praying within your belly without your consciousness? When was the last time you gave some thing to support God’s work apart from your tithes and offerings? When was the last time you supported any man to fulfill a purpose? When was the last time you put smile on the face of someone?
Answer: Hmmm!.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Counseling, Prayers and Appointments: Please contact contactus@expressimageglory.com Alternatively, meet us every Sunday at the address below:
Suit 26, 2nd Floor, Nikky Africana Plaza, 70C Allen Avenue, Opposite UBA/MTN Office, Ikeja, Lagos.

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ALTAR CALL:
Backslidden – living in sin – needing fresh recommitment (say):
Christ Jesus, You are the Anointed One of the Most High. I come to you today as I am. In your mercy, help me out of my situation. Heal my soul, my spirit, my body, my life and my destiny. I acknowledge you as the only true lover of my soul. Please, deliver me on every side and save me through and through. I promise from the depth of my soul to be yours from henceforth, in Jesus name. Help me now O God. Be my Lord, my Saviour and my all in all from this day. Thank you Lord (read Ps.54 in closing and pray more).

HYMN: Faith Of Our Fathers Living Still

PRAY NOW:
1. O God, I give you thanks for your word and for the one whom you have used to deliver this word.
2. O God, sanctify my heart today.
3. Mighty God, sow the seed of faithfulness in the soil of my heart today.
4. Cause the seed of faithfulness to germinate, grow and become a fruitful vine in me till Christ comes.
5. I austracise fear from my heart from hence forth.
6. O faithful God, bring your covenant and divine promises to reality in my life and destiny.
7. Present your personal petitions.