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.

EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES
THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 5, No. 33 – Sunday 23rd August, 2020
(Acts.15:1-41, 1 Cor.3:1-17)
THE POWER OF DIVISION AND SATAN’S SECOND RETURN

If there is any chapter of the Bible that one is permitted to refer to as the chapter of division, then it just cannot be any other but Acts chapter 15. As far as record is concerned, satan began his attack of division right from the opening verse.
If there is any weapon potent enough to break the strongest fortress asunder, it is the weapon of division. The question is why is it so easily the case? The simple answer is that division is often subtle and is often countenanced as no sin. Certainly, men are so oblivious of it, and as such, men do not perceive it in the nature of men’s ordinary considerations of sin generally.
But it is the perfect antithesis of unity. The weapon of division is so strong that even the weapon of the unity of faith cannot stand before it. Satan’s weapon of division and division of every kind respects and bows only before the power of the unity of love. Here is the blunt truth; dissension otherwise called argumentation or discord is always the trigger point of all division.
Everything is present in every dissension or argumentation except one thing which is always absent. That one thing which is ever absent in every dissension, argumentation or discord is God. One lone and foremost reason why satan has a field day during every dissension is the atmosphere of malice which it promotes.

Unfortunately, the arena of malice is satan’s thriving point. On the contrary, God cannot thrive in an atmosphere of malice. The moment the seed of malice is sown through dissension, discord or argument, peace, love, joy, faith, miracles and indeed God Almighty flees out of that environment. Then the duo of dissension and malice merge in satanic union and end up with the birth of division.

It was reported about a church in the U.S. in 1999 where there arose a dissention between a pastor and his assistant. When the church service began, the church was so divided that the praise-worship was done by two different groups at the same time within the same church hall springing up two choir masters and two group of choristers at the same time. Then the two pastors started preaching at the same time. And, in the end, the two pastors got themselves into fist exchange (boxing ring) before the church congregation.
What a shame you will say! But such is the power of division. When a church has lost its foresight and foremost mandate and vision, then what is left is simply fleshly. And when the flesh has taken over, you can be sure of one thing, the Holy Spirit is already out of the window. I have said and will reiterate again. Why is it that when people want to form their church, they must first of all scatter their present church? Couldn’t things be done with peace and order? Must you go with your original church’s congregation?
If God truly called you, is He not able to give you your own congregation? Wicked and immature brother claiming the Call of God; are you truly called of God? If God truly called you why is it that your selling and trigger point is discord?
Ah! I cannot disagree with the fact that division founds it root and comfort in the flesh. Let us educate ourselves for once. I agree that sometimes differences in church convictions, doctrines and beliefs can raise certain questions. But should these divide the body of the Lord? Any action which divides the body of the Lord is an action which lacks love. What lacks love lacks God because ‘God is love and in Him is no darkness’(1John 4:8).
But besides this, let us ask ourselves simply academic question. Even if there is no unity of belief because of our human frailties and limited understanding, can’t there be the unity of love? Must I hate the RCCG brother or the MFM sister or the Deeper Life woman or the Elim Pentecostal man because of the difference in church style of worship or belief? Is Christ divided?

Satan’s power of division has made us to forsake the original and common cause. Our enemy is satan, self and sin not ourselves. There is yet one more spiritual truism about satanically-ochestrated division.
When satan afflicts a friend, a congregation or organization of any sort with division and that friendship, congregation or organization succeeded in warding off that satanic onslaught, be at serious alert through travailing prayers with a heart well festered with love. Why? Because he, satan is returning with fiercer attack on the same course.
Watch out! In Acts chapter 15, the church at Antioch was initially divided over the issue of circumcision. Thankfully, the Apostles (in the church at Jerusalem) resolved the contention and dissension by the help of the Holy Spirit. The question is, did satan relax? Check the sad event between two Apostles – Paul and Barnabas from verses 35-41 of the same chapter of the book of Acts.
Notice the following facts that:
(1) both Paul and Barnabas were Apostles (Acts.14:4, 14).
(2) These two apostles were men who hazarded their lives because of the cause of the gospel.
(3) What ignited the fire of division was a simple matter which, in fact, goes to no issue at all.
(4) Following the above facts, one must conclude that the power of division has no regard for even the height of spiritual hierarchy, authority and position.
(5) Satanic division is a destroyer of both individual and collective destiny.

Please permit me to mention a great Man of God, Pastor Falore. This awesome Man of God was one of the founding fathers of the Deeper Life Bible Church. In fact, he was the great Man of God who took Deeper Life Bible Church to the nation of Togo. He was so great a Man of God that Yasingbe Iyadema (the then President of Togo) tried his best to kill him.
But he was such a super Man of God – a type of Apostle Paul in that nation of Togo at the time. With great respect to this awesome Man of God, one of his fundamental problems in words and in approach was that he had little regard for the presiding Man of God, Apostle William Folorunsho Kumuyi. Pastor Falore finally left the church in certain circumstances that could have been better. And that marked the end of his thriving ministry and glory.
Returning, then, to the dissension between Apostles Paul and Barnabas. Recall that that division between the two marked the end of Barnabas’ ministry. Ah! Alas! The spirit and satanic power of division is a foremost destroyer of destiny. Recall also that this same Apostle Barnabas was a mentor to Apostle Paul shortly after his conversion (Acts.9:27-30). Recall also that Apostle Barnabas was a Man of God described by the Bible as being ‘a good man, full of the Holy Spirit’ and of faith (Acts.11:22-26).
How then could the power of division lead him astray? Have you done a deep research into academic spirituality? And did you find out that there is a book titled ‘the gospel according to Saint Barnabas?’ Oh! It is true. The enemy cashed on the division that took place then at Antioch to formulate a false gospel. It is believed that that false gospel was written by the moslems at some point.
Do you see what division can cause? It introduced falsehood, heresy and fallacy into spirituality of a manifest divine kind. Notice that satan does not just target a-nobody with the spirit of division. No! his key targets are always specific pillars of any given friendship, group, congregation or organization who occupy key positions in that friendship, group, congregation or organization.

Have you equally noticed that the most influential and the most spiritual are often his target? Watch it brother! Spirituality does not always mean being infested with Christ-like love. Consider the divine instructions contained in 1 Cor.13:1-13. The most fervent prayer is not the start point for defeating the wicked satanic power of division. The start point is always a heart regenerated by sanctification/genuine holiness and such a heart so rich in the love of Christ. The question today is where do you stand in all these?
Will God mark you as the one who divided His body at any point? Or will you be that brother or that sister demonstrating the love of God? It is time to unite more. It is time to love more. It is time to pray more. Help that brother in the church or even else where who is always attired in the same clothing, not your pastor all the time.
Take care of your pastor (1 Cor.9:11); he stands before God on your behalf. Pastor! Feed the church with the good word of God. Wrestle in the place of prayer for the flock. Spend Christ’s money and love and even your own self for the flock over which you have been made an overseer. Let everyone mind the same thing and seek unity of purpose, propelled by love, exuberating in diversity.

IN THE END, A DIVISIVE MAN IS A WELL OF WICKED DIVIDING SCHEMES. SUCH A MAN IS A PERFECT ENEMY OF GOD. A DIVIDED CONGREGATION IS A DEFEATED ASSEMBLY. IT IS THE SATANIC WATERS OF EVIL SPEAKING AND HATRED THAT WILL HARVEST THAT CONGREGATION IN THE END.

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: By And By When The Morning Comes
PRAY NOW:
1. O God, forgive me for anything I have done which follows the path of division.
2. O God, in mercy recover for me any part of my destiny that I have lost, that has been derailed or that has been gravely affected.
3. O God, put in me divine hatred for talebearing, discord, dissension and division.
4. Please, release yourself to the Holy Ghost now and pray in tongues for at least five minutes.
5. Major part of my destiny that has been severed from me, O God of restoration, recover and restore them for me.
6. O Rock of Ages, collide and crush the one contending with me over my ‘Ball’.
7. O Thou God that recovered the axe from the water, recover my ‘Ball’ from the point it has rolled away to.
8. O God, fill my heart with the love of God and the love of His kingdom.
9. O God, deliver all your churches and your ministers from the subtilty and trickery of the spirit and power of division.
10. Lord, help your church to realize that we have missed the purpose.
11. O God, let there be unity of love, faith and purpose in your church today like the early church.
12. O God, anoint your church with Holy Ghost and with power.
13. Present your personal petitions.

EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES

THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 5, No. 32 – Sunday 16th August, 2020
(1 Sam.9:22-24, Heb.12:1-2, Gen.49:14-15)
THE MYSTERY AND THE MESSAGE OF THE ‘SHOULDER’

It is never enough to receive the Call of God or the Call to leadership but unraveling the mystery behind the Call is far much more important. But for king Saul, it was disaster all the way because he failed in understanding and equally failed to ask questions that would have bettered his understanding.
1 Samuel chapter 9:22-24 states:
22 ‘And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlour, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, which were about thirty persons.
23 And Samuel said unto the cook, bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee.
24 And the cook took up the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left! Set it before thee, and eat: for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the people. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day’.

Surprising! Of every part of an animal’s body to be offered as food, no other part could be given eating consideration but the shoulder! The reason for my shock is none other but the fact that the shoulder part of the body is full of bones and not just bones but very hard bones.
I would have thought that the essence of eating any meat is for comfort and enjoyment. Should eating then be encumbered with struggling and the engagement of war with bones? But when God and God through His prophet takes a step, there is and will always be a mystery and a message behind that step.
To start with, it was true that Saul was by shoulder taller than every living soul in Israel at the time he met prophet Samuel through to the moment in which he became the king of Israel(1 Sam.9:2). But underlying this fact is a much deeper revelation.
Michael Bolton’s song ‘lean on me when you are not strong I’ll be your friend I’ll help you carry on. For it won’t be long you gonna need someone to lean on’ is a contemporary answer to this deep spiritual mystery.

The role of kingship is to shoulder the responsibility of the kingdom. In the right and non-political sense, the flipside of kingship or leadership is expectedly burden-bearing. The cries of the citizenery were supposed to be the King’s utmost concern.
King Saul and indeed any leader’s shoulder is a leaning point for all followers. Since life is a containment of no vacuum but a containment of the defining principle of reciprocity, shouldering the responsibilities of the people under one’s leadership outfit would automatically call for their support.

Dear brother and dear sister, do you have a shoulder full of grace for shouldering people’s concerns. How do you respond to people in crisis even those who have hurt you? Oh! God asked the prophet Samuel to give Saul the shoulder part because of the task that was ahead of him. But instead of being  a shoulder bearing the burden of the people of God, he rather made himself burden to the people (1 Sam.8:11-18). Thus king Saul failed in his divine assignment.
Understand beloved that words of comfort and consolation in times of crisis are worth much more than a bank vault full of money and the many golds and diamond piled up in secure safe.
Kenny Rogers quipped, ‘there is always one for everyone’. Without doubt, no man is an island onto himself alone. No one can do it all alone. No one knows it all. Everyone needs someone. No one can do without anyone. It all answers to the principle of reciprocity.
If others cannot lean on us, we ourselves will have no one to lean on when the need arises. Give for a course. Sow into people’s lives. Encourage a soul today. You never can tell, that soul might be preparing to return home that day only to commit suicide. Pray for someone in your little corner. Someone too will return that gesture to you at some point.

IN THE END, HAD KING SAUL GOT A HEART OF COMPASSION, HIS SHOULDER WOULD HAVE BEEN LOWERED IN ORDER TO SHOULDER THE PEOPLE’S BURDEN. BUT ALAS! HIS SHOULDER WAS SIMPLY HIGH UP THERE. HE FORGOT THAT THE WAY UP THE LADDER OF GREATNESS AND SUCCESS IN LEADERSHIP IS DOWN. HE WAS GIVEN THE SHOULDER TO EAT (THAT IS, TO CONQUER IT) AND BEND LOW. BUT HE DID NOT GET THE MYSTERY NOR THE MESSAGE CONTAINED IN THE MYSTERY. SO, HE FAILED WOEFULLY. DO IT DIFFERENTLY FROM THE WAYS OF KING SAUL.

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: There Is Not A Friend Like The Lowly Jesus
PRAY NOW:
1. O God, please give me grace to be responsive and more responsible with my divine and career assignment.
2. O God, appoint and speak to men and women who will help my divine mandate to its perfection and fulfillment.
3. Every satanic attack against my destiny helpers, be frustrated and scatter.
4. O God, speedily help my destiny helpers and give them the joyful burden for service in your kingdom.
5. Present your personal petitions.

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.

EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES

THE MESSAGE NOW

Vol. 5, No. 29 – Sunday, 2nd August, 2020
(Matt.27:18, Prov.27:3-4, 1 Sam.17: Gen.37:11)
ENVY

Envy is the perfect opposite of admiration; it is unequivocally the antimony of love. The flipside of envy is bitter hatred. The envious man will perpetually remain lower to and the servant of the one he is envying. Envy is deplorable. It always makes those who harbor its spirit to follow the path of deceleration continually.
No envious man will ever become as great as the one being envied. Actions emanating from prejudice, anger against others, manifested arrogance and exhibited pride are no more than envy clad in a different garment and complexion.
The great problem about envy is that envy has sometimes a very subtle nature. So then, the next time you find out you just hate somebody without a cause, check it deeply. It might just be that you are envying that individual.
Why do we wish others some ill? Isn’t it amazing to know that the only reason that pastor’s wife hates that sister in church is because that sister appears holier than the pastor’s wife? There are pastors who envy rather than admire their church member, worker or junior pastor because he/she is more gifted than them.
What a shame! Pastor! Can’t you ask God for more grace for that member, worker or junior pastor in your congregation. By doing so, it is in the end going to be for the benefit of the entire church. And if you want more gift from God, can’t you ask God through prayer, fasting and genuine consecration? Lazy pastor!
Understand dearly beloved that the best way to deal with an envious person is to pray for them and show them the love of Christ. But I must inform you now that you should not be ‘overmuch righteous’; otherwise you will in the end get your hands, fingers and feet so badly burnt. Therefore, if you discover that despite your Christ-like love that that envious person remains unyielding, then apply the strict spiritual principles contained in Romans chapter 16:17 and Romans chapter 12:18 and continue to pray for that person.

The question is why? An envious person’s strike is worse than the bite of numerous adders. Because of envious persons, please take note of the following principles:
(1) love all but trust none;
(2) avoid sharing your secrets;
(3) do not share your testimonies (not even in church) except you have dutifully prayed and got a release from the Almighty to so do (Mark 8:22-26);
(4) Do your best to keep your lips sealed when an envious person is around you. For, they will carry true and untrue information about you to lake and to land.

Do you know that people give advice just out of envy? Otherwise what was Eliab, the brother of king David trying to achieve in 1 Samuel chapter 17? His envy got aroused from the moment the Spirit of God in the life of Prophet Samuel refused him in 1 Samuel chapter 16 and his brother was anointed instead of him.
Alas! Older brother envying youngest brother! It is a shame that even in the Christian faith, pastors are envying themselves and churches are envying churches. With this poor show of attitude, when will we overcome our common enemy who is satan? Paul, the Apostle, whilst addressing the church questioned and quipped, ‘from whence comes envyings among you?’ It is a work of the flesh.
And if it is not dealt with very decisively, it will have eternal adverse consequences. There are no two reasons for cruel treatments that Joseph went through; it is the sole reason of envy. The only reason which made the Pharisees and the Sadducees to plot against the Captain of our Salvation is envy. Know this: if the world persecuted our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ through envy, we His followers must certainly suffer same. Therefore, be expectant and as well, be vigilant.
The truth is this: when your success begins to manifest, once the time of your glory and celebration starts; it will be like the days of the wheat and tares growing together. Envy and the likes too will appear. It happened to the Blessed Son of God. As soon as His fame spread, envy followed from the people of the Jews.

IN THE END, ENVY IS A SATANIC ENVOY WHICH JOURNEYS IN THE CONVOY OF ANGER, BITTERNESS, HATRED, ARROGANCE, PRIDE, MALICE, GOSSIPS, BACKBITINGS, MALIGNITY, RAGE, WHISPERINGS, BOSSINESS, AND THE LIKES INCLUDING KILLING. THE CONVOY OF ENVOY CALLED ENVY IS NOT A CONVOY TO PARTNER WITH OR BE EVER CLOSE TO.  THEREFORE DRIVE IT OUT OF YOUR LIFE AND FORBID ITS RETURN FOREVER.

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 God, I repent for my sin of envy.
2. Any height of blessing that I have fallen from because of envy, O God, please restore me back there and higher.
3. I claim and recover back every blessings spiritual or otherwise that I have lost because of envy.
4. O God, let my telephone ring for good news.
5. Present your personal petitions.

THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 4, No. 33 – Monday, 26th August, 2019
(Jude 1:3)
CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES
(Part 2)

There is a basic characteristic about authority. It is the fact that authority usually descends from an un-commanded commander down to the commanded. Authority usually does not imbibe equal partnership; the master is always at the top.
In the general sense, the one who is classified as authority, is usually the one who dishes out tasks. Oftentimes, his tasks are not followed up with rewards, and who can really question him/her. If his tasks receive the back-up of rewards, it is always at his/her own prerogative, time and disposition when he/she finds it so convenient to do.

But the case of the Great Master, the Blessed Lord Jesus, is markedly different. His tasks always comes with accompanying rewards. Indeed, Christ is so lowly that obedience to His given tasks makes one equal with Him before His father. Recall the content of John chapter 13 that Christ not only washed His disciples’ feet, He categorically informed them that He was no longer addressing them as His disciples but as His ‘friends’.
In the equation of the Almighty, genuine Christian service makes the children and the heavenly father one entity. Christ worked, serving the course of the Father so dutifully (John 5:17). The result of Christ’s dutiful service earned Him oneness with the Father as was elucidated in the account of John chapter 10:30. This act of service is the next consideration of Christian doctrine.

(3) Christian Service(Evangelism): An author, pastor and lawyer once argued in a book that ‘it is a man’s service onto God that recommends him onto greatness’. Hmmm! Can that really be true? Oh! It is spectacularly true.
But understand that it is both improbable and impossible to serve God without a genuine heart of love. For a master whom you do not genuinely love you certainly cannot please with your service (2 Chron.25:2).
What does that imply? It means that service to God is an expression of love to God. Genuine service to God tells God how much we value Him. Human masters load their followers with myriads of service that oftentimes are heavily crushing. But the Great Master, Christ gave to all who are His friends only one task: MAKE ME KNOWN TO THE ENTIRE WORLD (Matt. 28:18-20).

It has remained an age-old misnomer that evangelism only means the distribution of tracks and the preaching of the gospel. This is true, but not the whole truth. Please understand that winning souls is the best anyone can do for Christ in this present world.
And I do encourage us to seriously do so. But do you know that living a holy life, good enough for others to emulate is equally evangelism? When Christian workers, church members and leaders perform excellently with genuine heart in their given department, they are equally evangelizing.
Do I hear you say how? Matthew chapter 5:16 informs us that ‘let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,and glorify your father which is in heaven’.
Are we aware that whilst carrying out our duties, others are directly and indirectly being led into our direction? It was the lifestyle of my secondary school classmate, Stephen Angulu, that first prompted me to desire being a Christian. By serving God as a soldier on our duty posts, we are gladdening the heart of the Almighty. The spiritual cameras of heaven too are beaming clearly at us.

I have a spiritual daughter who goes out of her way to remind me about some of our church activities. Why shouldn’t I see her as a challenge? And why shouldn’t I be encouraged by her actions?
There is no one who serves the Lord who will ever be forgotten. Get a further secret and lesson of life about Christian service/evangelism from the espoused mystery below.
If you assist in sweeping or cleaning the things that pertain to God, God in turn makes sure that diseases and sickness are swept off your life. If you serve God with your finances, God knows how to position men to see to it that you never go down. And you know what, those who serve God with their substance will be put in everlasting remembrance (Luke 8:1-3).
If you support in building the house or place of worshipping God, daily and everlasting blessings and the cancelation of all curses are your portion as enunciated in Haggai 2:19). Read the entire account of the book of Haggai chapters 1-2 and see what I mean.
If you support in giving God praises like being in the choir of the house of God and so doing with a genuine heart, God in turn confirms His word in Malachi 2:1-4 in your life by nullifying curses and ensuring your deliverance, salvation and outstanding quicker breakthroughs as laid down in Psalm 50:22-23.
If you arrange chairs and put the house of God in order prior to service hour or even without any services at the corner, God makes sure that He arranges your life and puts its it in order. If you preach with a genuine heart about Christ, you carrying out the greatest deliverance for yourself especially from within. Do I hear you interject?

Have you not read the content of Hebrews chapter 10:22? It reads: ‘let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith; having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water’.
‘Our bodies washed with pure water’?! What does this mean in the context of preaching and evangelism generally? Every word of God preached during evangelism is full of enormous power. It works deliverance to the hearers who are two: the addressee and the one addressing the addressee.
For the one addressing the addressee (that is, the evangelist), note that there is no way a word will be spoken by a man that two things will not happen. One is the movement of the tongue in course of talking. The other is the movement or vibration of saliva in and through the mouth of the evangelist or the speaker of the word.
During the process of talking or evangelizing, saliva moves in two directions which is often unknown to man. The first direction is inward. The second direction is outward towards the atmosphere or sometimes even touching the outward hearer unintendedly.

The mystery is this: that saliva travelling back into the evangelist is carrying the enormous power which goes inside him/her to perform unspeakable miracles and also reside in him/her as residue of great spiritual power. No wonder, when such evangelist pray, there is always great results.
Having got this mystery from the Holy Spirit, I ask everyone the great question: where do you still stand? On the side of God with a genuine heart at every level of Christian service or do you wish to continue in your old ways of leaving His work undone?

Will we force you to give your tithes and offerings? Will we force you to administer rightly? Will we force you to lead prayers in your prayer department? Will we continue to force you to fast and to come to church?

IN THE END, WHO ARE YOU SERVING? REMEMBER THAT YOU CANNOT STAND ON THE FENCE. FOR THERE IS NO VACUUM. YOU ARE EITHER GENUINELY SERVING GOD, YOURSELF OR SATAN. DON’T YOU KNOW THE ANSWER?

Question and Answer Section:
Question: What book of the Bible contains no single mention of God or Lord?

Answer: The Bible book of Esther.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Counseling, 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 bank account is counterfeit. Any Concerns or questions about this facebook page or bank account should be directed to the Administrator of this Ministry, the Assistive Technology Adviser or the Resident Pastor. The Superintendent Minister and 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 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
PRAY NOW:
1. In every place O God where I have failed the doctrines of the Bible, O God forgive me and return me to the path of old.
2. O God, kill off that nulge in me which is opposed to any word of God.
3. O God, as Nehemiah prayed that ‘God remember me or the good that I have done onto this people’. So God, please remember me for the services you have helped me to genuinely render to your work.
4. O hand of Pharaoh and witchcraft stretched forth against the forthcoming Conference of this Ministry, let the sword of God collide against you.

ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS NEXT MONTH.

THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 4, No. 32 – Monday, 19th August, 2019
(Jude.1:3)
CHRISTIAN DOCTRINES
(Part 1)

It remains an acceptable philosophical stance that belief in anything is the start-point of knowledge. When belief has fully taken its grounded position, then the process of knowledge has just begun. Until the knowledge of anything occupies its rightful place, derailment is both probable and possible.

This philosophical stance equally holdsway with Christian doctrines and standards. It needs to be reechoed that constant reminders, reemphasis, repetitions and reiterations are potent tools for reengineering beliefs and for entrenching knowledge.
These tools are so vital that even after knowledge has been gained, their relevance remains unquestioned. No wonder Proverbs 22:28 warns us that we should ‘remove not the ancient landmarks which thy fathers have set’. Why? The reason is partly so that such good ‘ancient landmarks’ may be passed onto the generation from us.

There are doctrines, standards and principles laid down by the Lord Himself (Jn.8:31), the Apostles of old (Acts.2:42), the ten commandments by God Almighty through the prophets (Deut.5:6-21).
The question is why are doctrines still necessary? The answers are obvious:

(1) because doctrines are integral parts of the word of God (2 Tim.3:16).

(2) Because doctrines are commandments of God, and it is only by exercising obedience to them that our genuine love and followership is truly expressed to God (Jn.13:34-35).

(3) Doctrines are necessary because no doctrine no heaven (Rev.22:15, 18-19). And

(4) Without doctrines there will be no baselines for restraints. Put aptly, doctrines checkmate human excesses.
Underlisted are Christian doctrines in the Bible for which all Christians must abide by.

Christian marriage: This is the union of only one man and one woman. Christianity does not permit a union between two equal genders that is, man and man or woman and woman (Lev.18:22), Rom.1:21-32 esp 26-27, or sex between human beings and animals (Lev.18:23). Neither is anal sex or oral sex permitted among Christians. Nor does Christianity support masturbation.
Christian marriage is both a legal and a spiritual union where divorce is inpermissible (Malachi 2:16). There is equally no remarriage in christianity (Matt.19:9). For what God has joined together, no man should put asunder (Matt.19:6b). As far as Christian doctrine is concerned. If remarriage is the case, those partaking in such remarriage are living in adultery.
Note that sex before the payment of dowry is unacceptable (Heb.13:4). For such amounts to fornication and fornication is not permitted in christianity for all who practice fornication have no part with God (Eph.5:3-4, 1 Cor.5:11, 1 Cor.6:9-20.
In fact, quite apart from Christian standard and doctrine, is it not a fact that sex is no test of love? Sex before marriage removes the shine and beauty of the marriage. How so respected and authority commanding before God is a man or a woman who kept his/her virginity until his marriage or until her dowry has been paid. O young lady, would you lose your God-given virginity on the altar of mere material gifts or the sweet words of fantasy? O my young brother, would you?
Those Christians who kickstart their wife before dowry is paid end up managing in that marriage; they never enjoy it as they should. Neither is their finances ever in good shape. Did you get that?

Christian dressing: this is an area where many have allowed themselves to be deceived and are still deceiving themselves till date. Christians are living in the world but are not part of the world. Why then do Christian brothers and sisters fashion their dressing, hair-do, hair-styles and appearances after the fashions of this world?
Know you not that ‘the fashions of this world passeth away’? (1 Cor.7:31). Have you not read about the end of those who follow after the fashions of this world and how it was explicated in Jeremiah 4:30? If there is no difference in the manner of dressing between Christians and the world, then what makes us different?
If our dressing is to score the point of our beauty when the beauty is not there, is that not vaineness. If our dressing is to score the point of our beauty even when the beauty is already there, is that not pride and vaneness too?
Hear the Holy Scripture calling out: ‘charm is deceitful and beauty is vaine. But a woman that fears the Lord, she shall be praised’. The same rule and Scripture applies to men also.
How did attachment and braiding of the hair emerge? Events and experiences inform us that they are all machinations emanating from marine world. The events and experiences expousing these information have evidential proofs. But more than these, what does the content of 1 Timothy 2:9-10 tell us?!
Big Mr Man of God! Carrying punk style, Tyson hair styles. What do you think you are doing Sir? You say I am ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’. That is true! But did the Scripture say ‘beautifully made?’ And even if it says ‘beautifully made’, are we expected as Christians to misuse our liberty? If at all the Scripture included one being ‘beautifully made’, does that also mean punkly, tysonly and stylishly made?
Have you not read between the lines that Absalom’s pride and showmanship was the beginning of his fall? Did you not see between the lines that his attitude towards his hair greatly contributed to his pride, showmanship and eventual fall? Do you want to fall O mr Man of God? (See 2 Sam.14:26).
For ages now, the contest has remained raging that there is no need for a Christian woman to cover her hair when she is prophesying or praying. And the argument of some of these proponents is that after all her pastor’s wife does not cover her hair.
The best response for you is that you are equally preparing to miss heaven with your pastor’s wife. Have you not read 1 Cor.11:1-16?
Mrs sister and mr brother, that the Bible instructs us with certain standards on dressing, is that now the reason for your dressing poorly? Please tell us Mr brother, why you should dress with your trousers and well-tucked-in shirts accompanied with a pair of sandals or slippers on your foot? Sir, do you know that even unbelievers don’t dress that way?
Understand that there is a dress sense in Christianity. It is such dressing which celebrates in the genuineness of heart; not skimpy; not tempting; not for showmanship; not to lure; not to negatively affect weak consciences or give other onlookers an unchristianly orientation (1 Cor.8:9-13).
Understand this mystery: do you know that sometimes, our dressing determines the type of spirit that companies with us? Dear brother dear sister, don’t be an Israelite in Egyptian attire. It does not number you among the saints.
Are you saying ‘please leave me to dress as I wish, stop forcing me’. Who is forcing you Mr man and Mrs woman. I am telling you because obedience is the foremost key that unlocks all blessings. I am telling you because only the ones who obey God can please Him. You cannot disobey God and believe that you are making Him happy. By the way, do you know that there is blessing for obedience? (See Rev.1:3).
IN THE END, REMEMBER THAT THE SCRIPTURE SAYS: ‘THE WAY OF TRANSGRESSORS IS HARD’ (PROV.13:15).

Question and Answer Section:
Question: What book in the New Testament contains the lengthiest verses?
Answer: The Gospel according to Saint Luke.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Counseling, 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 bank account is counterfeit. Any Concerns or questions about this facebook page or bank account should be directed to the Administrator of this Ministry, the Assistive Technology Adviser or the Resident Pastor. The Superintendent Minister and 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 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
PRAY NOW:
1. In every place O God where I have failed the doctrines of the Bible, O God forgive me and return me to the path of old.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS NEXT MONTH!!!

THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 4, No. 31 – Monday, 12th August, 2019
(Num.16:1-50, Num.17:1-13, Ps.74:9)
THE MYSTERY ABOUT AARON’S ROD AND THE LESSONS DERIVED THEREFROM

I contend very strongly that evident fruitfulness is the basic hallmark of a divinely-ordained Call. I contend still that the reasoning of God though seemingly stupid by human reasoning is of such supreme intelligence in comparison to the greatest echelon of all human knowledge.
Further, I contend the more that only divine reasoning can unravel the mysteries propounded by divinity. If all these spiritual academic contentions were to be untrue, tell me then what points the mystery behind Aaron’s rod was designed by God to score?
To every prophetic and ministerial Call, there must of necessity be the mark of the Call. Psalm 74:9 states: ‘We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among any that knoweth how long’.
When there are no signs, it is because the people have become rebellious to the word of God and disrespectful in their hearts to the prophet of God. When there are no signs,it is because the prophet himself has fallen out of favour with God.
At other times, the absence of signs occurs when the prophet has reversed from being a prayer warrior to becoming a ‘playing warrior’. Such act of laziness was never the case with that great Man of God called Moses.

But in spite of Moses’ steadfastness, the scandalous congregation doubted, ‘murmured’ and challenged his spiritual authority. And God needed to give them a proof. For what most men look out for in a prophet is proof. And only fools doubt proof.
The case of the children of Israel was so bad that everyone of them presented themselves to be prophets also and considered themselves equal on the prophetic pedestal with Moses. Whilst it is true that every man is the prophet of his own life and destiny, nonetheless, they ought to have borne it in mind that the equality of all prophets is not true.

For all Christians are truly equal as children of God but we differ in grace and in anointing. And how so true is the fact that humility is one of the greatest promoters of grace and anointing. For did not the Scriptures state that God gives grace to the humble? (See Jam.4:6, 1 Pet.5:5, Prov.3:34).
In the case of the Man of God called Moses, humility was never missing in his human culture so much that the Holy Scripture could not but testify about him (Num.12:1-3). So, dear brother Pastor, humility is key. Therefore, pray for it, seek it and be sure you get it. It is the hallmark of spiritual elevation and fruitfulness.

Oh! My dear brother prophet, hear the painful yearning of the heart of the Lord saying to you this day: cease from advertising yourself and your ministry; stay far away from fleshly tricks to be noticed; be absolutely care less about crowd and fame. Do the work of the Master as it is fitting and pursue greatly after righteousness and spiritual power, minding nothing about money and wealth.
O Man of God, do you not understand that those who rose up against Moses and Aaron were people from the same tribe of Levi as was Moses and Aaron? Understand then O Man of God that the word of the Lord is true which states: ‘a man’s foes shall be they of his own household’ (Matt.10:36).

What more shall I learn from the mystery of Aaron’s rod which budded and did bud overnight?
(1) That all things are possible with God.
(2) That if dead, dry rod can become green tree overnight, then every good thing that has been dead and/or buried in any life can revive again.
(3) Job 14:7-9 informs us that even when a tree is cut down, yet at the scent of water, it shall sprout again. This tells us that every dead or delayed breakthrough needs only one thing: the breath of God. Man was made out of dust. Dust is inanimate. What made dust-made-man to become a living entity is the fact of the breath of God. Therefore, ask God to breathe upon that situation of your life.
(4) That clear demonstration of miracle-working-power is one of the direct proofs of divine Calling on a man. God allowed Aaron’s rod to bud to prove to the congregation of the children of Israel that He, the Almighty, is the power and force behind the Calling of prophet Moses and his brother, priest Aaron.
(5) Aaron’s rod budded because God wanted to teach the children of Israel the lesson that anointing demands two instant responses from the followers; (a) commendable respect, and (b) instant obedience.
(6) Aaron’s rod budded and budded overnight because God is both the God of the eleventh hour and indeed the Lord and the Master of the twelfth hour. God cannot be too early; God can never be too late; God is ever on time.
(7) Divine dawn of reality will always follow and supersede the darkest night. After every dusk will follow the bright day. Therefore, with God, always await the bright day, not the passing dusk, gloom or the dark hour which is soon fizzling into oblivion.

IN THE END, OUR LIVES ARE GREATER THAN AARON’S ROD; WE ARE THE TODDLERS RUNNING UP AND DOWN GOD’S LARGE ALTAR WHILST GOD IS BUSY ATTENDING TO MANY OTHER THINGS. SHOULD HE EVER HEAR OR FEEL OUR YELLING BEFORE EVEN SEEING OUR TEARS DROPPING, HE WILL SWIFT TAKE THE ACTIONS BEYOND OUR WILDEST IMAGINATIONS. BUT UNDERSTAND THAT OUR HUMBLE HEARTS AND OUR PRAISE-OFFERING SPIRITS WILL SPARK GREATER DIVINE ACTION THAN OUR TEARS. THEREFORE, KEEP THE LIPS OF PRAISES EVER FLIPPING.

Question and Answer Section:
Question: How long did it take Aaron’s rod to bud?
Answer: Only overnight.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Counseling, 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 bank account is counterfeit. Any Concerns or questions about this facebook page or bank account should be directed to the Administrator of this Ministry, the Assistive Technology Adviser or the Resident Pastor. The Superintendent Minister and 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 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. O God, the people were seeking shame for Moses and Aaron but you discomfited them. Do to those seeking my downfall as you did to the enemies of Moses and Aaron.
2. O God, let the dead and delayed situations of life receive the breath of God.
3. O God, release greater grace and enormous spiritual power onto me.
4. Pray for the Pastor of this Ministry.
5. Pray for the success of the forthcoming Conference; request for the reign of the miracle-working-power of God.

Annual Conference is next month!

THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 4, No. 30 – Monday, 5th August, 2019
(Gen.3:1-24 esp 9, Gen.48:8-20 Esp 10, 1 Sam.28:6, Heb.8:12, Rom.2:4)
HAS THE ALMIGHTY EVER BEEN BLIND, DEAF AND DUMB AT ANY GIVEN TIME?

What a question! Isn’t such a question absolutely a nonsense question? Even if it is nonsense, it is nevertheless a senseless question for nonsense does not mean no sense. Rather, it is no sense which is equal to senselessness. As such, both no sense and senselessness do not stand at per with nonsense.
So then understand that when some argue that nonsense still contains some fragments of sense, can they be said to be absolutely wrong? The unequivocal answer is NO. If therefore even nonsense contains some sense thereby differing from senselessness and no sense, then the above question cannot be said to amount to nonsense because there is yet some element of sense to be gained therefrom.
I rather think that a question of the kind referred to above should trigger a mix of the emotional quotience of surprise and the intelligence quotience of a strong desire for some spiritual research of some sort, and not simply confining and consigning the question to the waste bin of trash and nonsense.

The question again is: has the Almighty ever been blind, deaf and dumb at any given times? The unequivocal answer is YES. Now, I know that for those who belong to the school of thought which considers a question of this kind as nonsense, even the answer proferred to the question will trigger in them some sparks of paranoia.

Hmmm! It is a nonsense question after all with a crazy answer, isn’t it? A close look at verses 8 and 9 of the first Scripture reveals something quite staggering and striking. The verses in question read:
‘8 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, where art thou?’
Where art thou?! Why will the Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient Almighty God ask such a question? In the first instance, He, the Almighty created that garden where they were.

He, the Almighty created them (Adam and his wife) also. Being the sole Omnipresent in life and in all, and being the lone Omniscient in everything, wasn’t He, the Almighty present everywhere throughout the entire nooks and cranings of the garden and everywhere else that Adam and his wife might be hiding? Couldn’t He, the Almighty see them.

Metaphorically, the Almighty could not see them. The reason the Great God of heaven and earth could not see them or saw them but could not be bothered is the reason of love. Love trusts. Since love trusts, love never doubts the object of its affection.
The eyes of love are very different from the eyes of the flesh or the outer eyes. The eyes of love sees and ‘believes all things’ ever trusting never doubting (1 Cor.13:7). Oh! How I wish that man would learn from one of the greatest lessons of life that never lie to the one who trusts you and never trust the one who lies to you and of course, never lie to your own self.

O man, can you hearken to the voice of wisdom and learn now? Do I hear you say what wisdom?! Learn from the power and persuasion of love: do you know that every woman knew the true nature of the man she was getting into marriage with right from courtship moments?
The reason she cared less about his faults and weaknesses is twofold. First is the reason of love for love blinded her. Second is the reason of deceit; she was not true to herself about that man. The same is the case with the man during courtship days.

In the case of Adam, his wife and the Almighty, divine love enshrined in the high expectation and the consistent familiarity of usual embrace loosened up the Almighty from His unquestionable capabilities of Omnipresence, Omniscience and Omnipotence.
In short, God was absolutely blinded by love on two strata. First stratum was the fact that His consistent love for them kept them always in His heart. So even when they were not with Him, He could not forget them. But despite this, their usual fellowship together, the warm embrace of a father with His own and the cherishing affiliation between the creator and His creatures made Him see them in His mind’s eyes but could not feel them.
Second stratum is the love of sorrow; such is the painful love of disappointment from those you least expect to hurt you but also such people that you cannot do without. It was the same love that made the Almighty see the younger brother in preference for the older in the case of Ephraim and Manasseh as was encapsulated in Genesis chapter 48:8-20.
The evil coincidence is equally this, that just as God can be blinded through ecstatic love and the love from sorrow.

God can equally be deaf and dumb when sin is in place. This was the case of king Saul in 1 Samuel chapter 28:6.
But note that if king Saul’s situation was a negative account, the case of a sinner turning from sin to saintly life is positive. The content of Hebrews chapter 8:12 informs us that ‘and I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, their sins and iniquity will I remember no more’.
How so wonderful is the Almighty that He can have a memory blackout and a sight challenge to the sins of men all because of His love and passion! What manner of love is this that One gave His only begotten Son to die for sinful people?
Know this O people that genuine love is real and uncontestable. Love disciplines but in its discipline it does not cast away. I have argued somewhere that he who doubts proof is a fool. So is the case of God’s love; it is without doubt.

Do you doubt the love of God because of His goodness to you? See then the content of Romans chapter 2:4. Do you doubt the love of God because of your delay experiences and satanic oppression? Wait and see very soon; He will give you a spectacular proof of His love by means of miraculous wonders demonstrated in your life.

IN THE END, THE PRINCIPLE OF RECIPROCITY APPLIES ALSO IN THE CASE OF LOVE. FAN THE FIRE LOVE IN RETURN TO GOD’S LOVE. WHAT THEN WILL HAPPEN IS THAT THERE WILL BE COINCIDENCES OF LOVE AND SUCH WILL PRODUCE AN EXPLOSION AND AN IMPLOSION OF LOVE FROM TWO ENDS. THE IMPACT OF SUCH IS ALSO TREMENDOUS AND LONG LASTING ALWAYS LADEN WITH BREAKTHROUGHS, BREAKFORTHS AND JOY.

Question and Answer Section:
Question: What was the first lie in the Bible?
Answer: ‘You will not surely die’ (Gen.3:4).

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Counseling, 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 bank account is counterfeit. Any Concerns or questions about this facebook page or bank account should be directed to the Administrator of this Ministry, the Assistive Technology Adviser or the Resident Pastor. The Superintendent Minister and 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 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: What A Friend We Have In Jesus! Nearer My God To Thee! Near The Cross
PRAY NOW:
1. O God, please return me back to my first love for you when I first got saved.
2. O God, give me a miracle borne out of your love for me.
ANNUAL CONFERENCE IS NEXT MONTH.