THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 3, No. 41 – Monday, 8th October, 2018
(Phil.4:10-20, 1 Cor.9:11-15, Luke 8:2-3)
FOR GOODNESS’ SAKE! WHY DID MY WIFE DO THIS?
It was less than a month after our marriage, my wife’s pastor at the time came visiting. After praying with us for about two hours or slightly less, the pastor was on his way. My wife packed virtually every raw food item in the house for him as a mark of appreciation.
She equally gave him about 3000 Naira leaving us with about 2000 Naira in the house to manage. For goodness’ sake! Did not this woman understand that I married her whilst being without my first job? How do we manage now? Doesn’t this woman remember that all I had in my account as at the day of our marriage was just twenty thousand Naira? Where is the next going to come from?
Many of such-like questions raced through my mind. Perhaps considering my countenance and quiet exclamation, my wife simply said quietly: ‘don’t worry …. Looking back today, I thank God very greatly that my wife took that step that day. Why?
Unknown to both of us, that pastor had come to visit us in Mowe (a densely populated, slum-town located in one of the western provinces of Nigeria) having walked all the way from Shagamu. Sadly, that pastor was going to walk back to Shagamu after praying with us that day.
Ah! my God! What an odd experience some Men of God go through. It was a story I read somewhere. The story said, whilst the pastor was busy preaching his heart out on the pulpit to the church congregation, his daughter was in the church-gents weeping with her mother, the pastor’s wife busy consoling her. As she wept, this pastor’s daughter said: “when I grow up, I will never marry a pastor’.
A church member who came close-by to use the same church-gents heard the pastor’s daughter’s bitter sobbing and complaining and decided to find out what the problem was. The girl’s mother that is the pastor’s wife wouldn’t open up. But the girl did. ‘We have not eaten since yesterday’. She said.
Hmmm! his family had not eaten since yesterday yet he was in church the following day to carry out his divinely-ordained assignment. Ah! my heart bleeds. I repeat, what an ordeal some Men of God go through.
Is it that the God who called them has failed to remember them and bless them? No!!! It is because you and I have failed to perform our duty. Whether you are the senior pastor or a junior one under another in any church or ministry, I hold very strongly the view that you have no right to church money. But I concede to the fact that pastors have a right to be encouraged. How?
In many senses including but not limited to: being interceded for, appreciated, given to in monetary terms, etc. This is confirmed in all of today’s scriptures. (A further directive of the Holy Scriptures confirms this also in 1 Sam.9:6-8).
Is the act of giving to Men of God limited to members and workers in the church only? No! It is a divine rule for which pastors too are not exempted (see the action of Melchizedek in Gen.14:18-20).
Why should we be of blessing to servants of God? First, it is always for our own good (Matt.10:42). Second, that done to a servant of God whether good or evil, is done onto the One who called and sent that servant of God. And, you can be sure that there will always be a response from God for such divine gesture.
Why am I being told this? Understand dearly beloved, you are being told not because of the interest of receiving from you but because this Ministry claims that it is the house of knowledge—dispensing the whole truth as contained in the Bible. So then, why should the teaching about giving to pastors be exempted perhaps because one does not want to be labelled as a begging pastor?
You don’t want to be labelled Mr Pastor by men. But by holding back the whole truth, would you not hinder the blessings of God’s people? Would God not label you as a teller of half-truth? But understand that whilst blessing Men of God attracts the blessings of God, righteous living is nevertheless most prevalent. How?
A sister living in Dudley, England sent a whatsapp message to me requesting me to forward my account details to her. However, about two months earlier, the Lord revealed to me that she was not faithful in the payment of her tithes. I confronted her, and she admitted noting further that indeed she was owing three months’ tithes.
So when she requested for my account details, I reminded her about her tithes to God. Apparently, from her response, she was yet to pay the tithes. And so, by the grace of God, I declined her gift to me.
Why? There is no point blessing a Man of God when you have failed to bless first the God who made the man and called him. Such is an act of attempting to bribe God and showcase yourself to man as being good. The result will always be no blessing at all.
Is it not written that: ‘seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and every other thing shall be added unto you’? (Matt.6:33). Obey God. Fear Him in reverent fear too. Be a blessing to His ministers and to His work. Support missionaries and uplift the vision of evangelism and soul-winning with prayer, with finance and with/in every other way. Your speed of success shall be loud and uncommon, in Jesus name. Shalom.
IN THE END, IT IS THROUGH THAT FOR WHICH YOU ARE A BLESSING THAT YOU WILL BE BLESSED IN RETURN.
Question and Answer Session:
Question: How many cities were allocated to Levitical priests?
Answer: 48.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Counselling, Prayers and Appointments: Please contact contactus@expressimageglory.com or 08098198155.
Donations and Financial Supports – Please support the Kingdom of God through Christ Jesus 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 account is counterfeit. The pastor 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 namee. 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: O Spread The Tidings Round
PRAY NOW:
1. Ask the arm of the Lord to visit that situation in your life.
2. Pray fervently for pastors and ministers of God.
3. Pray for missions and missionaries.
4. Pray fervently for Express Image Glory Ministries.
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