EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES
THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 5, No. 34 – Sunday 30th August, 2020
(Hos.4:17-19, Hos.5:3-9,11-15, Hos.6:1-11, Hos.7:8-16, Hos.8:9-14, Hos.9:1-17, Rev.7:)
THE POINT OF NO RETURN
The art and the act of grading sins is forbidden in Christianity. For did not the Apostle James rightly inform in James chapter 2:10 that should we break one of the laws, the spiritual law is that the breaking of one law is the same as breaking all the laws?
Although hierarchical prioritizing is unpermitted in the context of transgressions, nevertheless, it will appear that some actions of men cut so deep into the heart of the Almighty that one is tempted to think that such actions rank higher than others. Indeed, when one examines very closely the penalty meted out to those who commit such sinful actions, it is easy to conclude that such penalties are exceptionally severe.
So, I would contend that as far as the Bible is concerned, the sin of idolatry appears to be the only sin that causes the Almighty to sever relationship with a man even when that man is yet alive. Thus it can be rightly concluded that idolatry is the sin of “no return”.
Looking through the pages of the Holy Scriptures, one will find that the Patriarch, Jacob, had twelve sons which make up the twelve tribes of Israel. A simple glance at the list contained in the book reveals that Ephraim though not directly born by the Patriarch, Jacob, nonetheless, Ephraim was numbered among them. This was because the second and the third sons of Jacob in that hierarchical order grieved their father Jacob so deep that he cut them off from his lineage replacing them with the two sons of Joseph who were Ephraim and Manasseh.
Recall also that from the account of Genesis chapter 48, Manasseh was not the preferred son for blessing. But something else turned out in Revelation chapter 7. As the years wore on and men went through the travails and the triumphs of time, men began to be susceptible to wanton change. Oh! How so true are the words of Reverend Thomas R. Malthus. Malthus a Reverend and a political economist opined in one of his twelve theories on population that ‘human nature and impulse undergo change overtime’.
By the content of Revelation chapter 7, Manasseh who was not preferred in Genesis chapter 48 had become the one preferred and the one who was preferred back in time that is, Ephraim had become the rejected one. In fact, by the account of Revelation chapter 7, Ephraim was an outcast and not a member of the twelve tribes anymore.
O man! Understand that the circumstances of your travails and triumphs are well-intentioned by God, sometimes to bring out that which is truly contained in your innermost being. Circumstances of travails and triumphs trigger change; change that must effect the making of choices. But what choice that is eventually made is a function of man’s intentions and interests.
This is the reason why the consequences of any choice remains the burden of man himself. Oh dear brother, dear sister! Have you met that fellow so long ago? And having met now, you want to begin where you both stopped? Do you know what changes have taken place in his life?
That school mate who was supremely born-again back then in the university may no longer be the same person you used to know. Understand this: all men who are not fully grounded in God are always cheats. Who then is the man whom you would want to marry without first investigating him through and through. I decree in the name of the Lord Jesus that you will not experience the heartbreaks of marriage infidelity.
O man! Change is inevitable. When it comes your way ,when it comes finally -for it will surely come, just make sure that you give it the right response. In the process of time, Ephraim reacted to change very badly. As a result, Ephraim was deleted finally from the programme of the Almighty.
In the same process of time, in Exodus chapter 32:26-34, Levi responded to change through genuine repentance. As such Levi was re-engrafted back into firm relationship with the King of glory. Are you far from the kingdom or still in the kingdom?
Through out the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, there was a slogan common to the two. The two often made a common statement noting, ‘God before whom I stand’. Dear pastor, brother and dear sister, are you standing before the Almighty? When was the last time He spoke to you? Do you dream at all? Do you understand your dreams at all?
This is scary Sirs and Mas; that what fornication, stealing, cheating, adultery and other grievous sins could not achieve, idolatry accomplished it with effortless ease. One reason is idolatry is a containment of double sin: idolatry and covetousness ( God forbid; but someone once said, if I catch my wife in sexual sin with another under her consent and will, he will simply let her go with that man.
Why? Because she has become covetous; she has idolized that other man more than her husband. Further, it means that that adulterous woman no longer values her husband nor loves him.
The other reason is the fact that idolatry demeans God. Idolatry reduces God below those material things being used as idols, which are the material things created by God. What a way to belittle God!
Sister, if you love your husband more than the love you have for God, you are an idolater. Brother! Pastor! Do you love your spouse more than God? Then you are covetous and idolatrous. Expressions of love to God out of genuine heart expresses value of and about God, and that glorifies Him.
Remember Ruth, the great grandmother of Christ was a Moabitess. By law, no Moabite was to be allowed to join the congregation of God’s people even onto the tenth generation (Deut.23:3). But Ruth’s expression of love and reverence for the Almighty in Ruth chapter 1:14-19 accomplished two things.
First, her expression raised the Almighty above all the God’s of the gentiles. Second, that expression provoked God to break His own standing rule. Thus Ruth became a protocol breaker.
IN THE END, THE ALMIGHTY IS SEEKING NO TWO THINGS FROM MAN ONLY THE TOTALITY OF MAN’S HEART. LET US GIVE IT TO HIM WITHOUT LOOKING BACK, AND IN THIS PRESENT WORLD AND IN THAT WHICH IS TO COME, WE SHALL INHERIT SURPASSING PEACE.
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: Just As I Am Without One Plea
PRAY NOW:
1. Please I repent today from all my sin of idolatry and covetousness.
2. O God, fester my heart with unusual love for you.
3. Kind God, please give me the grace to respond to life’s travails and triumphs with divinely loving response and calmness.
4. I take my glory and beauty back by force.
5. Present your personal petitions.
