EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES
THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 5, No. 31 – Sunday, 9th August, 2020
(2 Sam.16:5-14)
ENVY AND DECEITFUL PRAISE OF MEN
It was at some point in 2009, newsweek Magazine reported a list of twelve greatest men on the face of the earth who have had positive impacts on a large variety of people. The list included the Pope and of course, Apostle Enoch Adejare Adeboye. In addition, Apostle Enoch Adebare Adeboye equally doubled as the lone black man on that list.
This cannot be shocking to anyone. He is the world wide General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God. He sits as the presiding minister and the number one person over the largest human congregation of Christians on earth. He is a global prophet, a mentor of too many, an author, a Ph.D holder in mathematics and amidst many other qualifications, he is a child of God.
What an array of achievements! But achievements, we must understand are always accompanied by greatness, glory and of course envious persecutions which could come in diverse forms. Ah! Are you shocked this time by the mention of ‘persecution?’ Have you forgotten the words of the Master in Mark chapter 10:29-30?
For quite sometime now, pastors, politicians, opinion speakers and leaders have taken out turns to speak ill about this admirable Man of God, Apostle E.A. Adeboye. The same envious affront was suffered by king David in the hands of Shimei of the household of Saul. But consider the response from king David.
King David, a prophet, a priest, a chief choir master, a conquer many territories, a Man of God and a man after God’s heart, simply responded in perfect humility.
Wow! Destructive criticisms, false accusations and contemptuous opinions are like swords digged deep into the hearts of men. They inflict pain and cause grief to the soul, especially when one is whole heartedly carrying on the service of the Almighty in perfect purity. But the state of the human heart is always the heart of the matter. King David’s response simply evidenced the state of his humble heart.
Understand dearly beloved that the ultimate intention of ill-driven criticism and false accusation is but one: to make you talk in order to hold on to your words and have an occasion to accuse you before God. Accusing you before God is tantamount to stuffing up the pumps springing forth the waters of mercy into your life and hinder your anointing from freely flowing.
No one, dearly beloved can institute action against a man whose anger is unexpressed. Did not Shimei know that it was God Himself who took the kingdom of Israel away from Saul? Didn’t Shimei know that Saul forsook his kingly assignment and rather went lake and land after little young man David. Was Shimei on holiday out of the world when king David was extending mercy to the undeserved Mephibosheth the grandson of Saul?
There is another thing the enemy wants to acheve when he comes around with envious provocation. It is always to derail us- to make us lose focus on the major thing. O Man of God, why respond to criticisms? O Man of God, understand that there is a lesson God wants to pull out of every storm that comes your way.
O Man of God, O brother, O sister, if you can respond to criticisms no matter how so painful or how so mild, then it means you can respond and be carried away when men begin to praise you. If you are still dancing to the praise of men, if you can have the time to respond to criticism, then the flesh is not totally dead in you. You have not fully destroyed the old man.
It means then that the door of the kingdom of God is not yet fully opened onto you. Criticisms and even the praise of men are like flying birds. Birds must fly in the sky but must you allow them to perch on you? Both material, spiritual or career success and false accusations are tools of tests. Would you pass their tests when they come?
King David passed his own test and his mark and name are left in everlasting remembrance. The demonized damsel in Acts chapter 16:16-18 went about shouting after Paul the Apostle and his team saying: ‘these men are the servants of the Most High God who proclaim to us the way of salvation’.
Without an iota of doubt, this was a worthwhile truth and worthy praise. But it was from the wrong source. How then do we conquer envy and the deceitful praise of men? Always leave a room for disappointment. Love all and trust none. There are many Man of God who can disappoint. There is only one God of Man who cannot fail and who cannot disappoint. Your best friend is your Maker. Stop evil and envious people through prevailing prayers before they stop you with perveting and envy and lips of empty praises.
Love anyone who criticizes you before you alone and with love. Take every praise of men with pinch of salt. Correct those who love you genuinely when they are wrong. Certainly, you will not miss your reward for so doing. In the end before the end, remember always the words of the great Apostle Paul admonishing us and mankind to ‘look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith’.
IN THE END OF THE VERY END, KNOW FOR A CERTAINTY THAT ENVY AND ENVIOUS PEOPLE LACK ONE THING; IT IS THE ONE THING CALLED LOVE. THE END OF THE ENVIOUS ONE IS NON-ACHIEVEMENT. HE/SHE CANNOT EVER BECOME A MENTOR OF ANY THING THAT WILL END IN ANY GOOD. WHEN MEN PRAISE YOU, ALWAYS LET IT FLY AWAY WITH THE WIND. RATHER, LET YOUR MAKER COMMEND YOU AND ALWAYS RUN VERY FAST WITH HIS COMMENDING REVELATION TO THE FINISH LINE OF DESTINY CONTINUALLY.
Question and Answer Section
Question: The great questions again! When was the last time that you preached to any soul? 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.
Further information: Be informed that this Ministry has only one Facebook page and no other. Any other Facebook page is counterfeit. Any Concerns or questions about this facebook page 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. Our website is: 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: Christian Seek Not Yet Repose
PRAY NOW:
1. O repulsive spirit of envy always deriding me, I flush you out of my life with the fire of God.
2. O spirit of Goliath and Pharaoh, I paralyse you not for a season but forever.
3. Marks on me and my destiny that are attracting envy towards me, I erase you with the blood of Jesus.
4. My glory which is lying in any previous accommodation, school or with anyone anywhere, I recover you through the right hand of the Almighty.
5. O God, give my glory’s oppressors assignments that will never and for which they will never return to me.
6. Revealer of secrets, expose all unfriendly friends to me.
7. Please give me O God the Spirit of discernment.
8. Present your personal petitions.
