EXPRESS IMAGE GLORY MINISTRIES
THE MESSAGE NOW
Vol. 5, No. 13 – Sunday, 5th April, 2020
(Amos 7:7-17, Jeremiah 20:1-6)
FEARLESSNESS: THE TWIN SISTER OF FAITHFULNESS
If sin produces fear, then fearlessness is the functioning product of faithfulness. The account of man’s experience in the Garden of Eden teaches an eternal lesson that so long as man remains faithful to his calling and to the instructions of his Great Master, man will live in no fear but in the atmosphere of reverent worship.
But as soon as man forgoes faithfulness, sense of shame and the torment of fear replaces all confidence. Was this not the situation when Adam failed God? For as long as Adam was faithful, the relationship between him and his Maker was that of glorious worship in an atmosphere of reverent confidence.
But what happened next? Adam flouted God’s instruction: lost his confidence, became empty and was surrounded by nothing else but shame and nakedness. What is the implication and the application of the foregoing?
If any thing, sin and its product called fear makes man unworthy. Fear reminds the sinful man that he is nothing but a slave. The perfect point scored by faithfulness is that faithfulness builds in man the realization and the authority of sonship.
The summation of all this is that faithfulness always births fearlessness. By the directives of the Lord, both prophets Jeremiah and Amos prophesied against the nations of Judah and Israel respectively. Because of these prophecies, Pashur the priest in Judah and Amaziah the priest in Bethel turned evil minds against the prophecies and blind eyes towards the word and the will of the Lord.
What could be the reason behind these differential attitudes of these spiritual entities and emblems? For why should priests become enemies of prophets?
Ah! What a wicked world! A world where men of God antagonize one another because of fame and the gathering of crowd to themselves. It is a world not led and guided by the Spirit of God but by flesh. It is a world where priests who love lies and fantasies make it a duty to oppose those who are genuine carriers of the word of truth.
Unfortunately, the sons of men prefer such lying priests, prophets and pastors (Jer.5:31). Like Pashur and Amaziah who are well-known priests with financial and public influence who find it easy to raise the dust of wanton accusations against holy children of God, so are their like-kinsmen in ministries, organizations and churches today.
And why is it that God seems to be too quiet when these men of God do these things? I can but find only two reasons for this divine silence.
First, It is the lot of every child of God living in righteousness to suffer persecution (2 Tim.3:12). Second, it is undoubtedly within the knowledge and the agenda of the Almighty that such pastors, prophets and priests of falsity and fallacy are left by God in ‘slippery places for an eventual disastrous end if they will not repent (Ps.73:18).
Both Pashur and Amaziah harmed and threatened prophet Jeremiah and Amos with the probable interest to instill fear into these two genuine men of God, but the shield of faithfulness securely affixed to the Hearts of these men of God were spiritual anti-missiles which easily detonated the satanic ballistic missile of wickedness and fear fired by Pashur and Amaziah.
O dear Christian, in what area of life are you facing your own salvos of attacks, opposition, falsities and fallacies? I do not care to say this: are you aware that delay in marriage, troubled homes, financial lack and losses are all part of satanic persecution? Their mission is to make you backtrack on God and seek them for help.
O dear Christian, do not lose hope. Neither ‘go down to Egypt for help’ (Is.31:1). The day is coming and very soon when the cup of your faithfulness will become full. The result is that such fullness will stir God into righteous anger. God’s righteous anger will produce two results: (1) your instant deliverance, and (2) the enemy’s instant destruction.
Only those who have accepted the fruit called truth, eaten of that fruit and allowed the seed of truth to be richly sown in them can appreciate the truth, love it and speak it always. It is only such people of truth who are always battle ready knowing truth has an enemy called falsehood.
Those in whom truth reside do know that man design this present life only in the complexions which celebrate mondanity, lies and fallacies and the defamation and the downgrading of the truth. So when you are maligned O Christian for standing up for the truth, keep your balance and cool. Rather, keep speaking the truth boldly with wisdom where necessary and always without fear or favour.
IN THE END, WHATEVER SITUATION STRIKES A MAN DOES NOT REALLY MATTER. WHETHER THAT STRIKING SITUATION DEFEATS THE MAN OR THE MAN REMAINS UNCONQUERED IS A CONCERN. WHAT IS RATHER MOST CONCERNING IS THE DETERMINING FACTORS FOR THE DEFEAT OR THE VICTORY. SO, BE MOST CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATE OF YOUR HEART ALWAYS. IS IT FILLED WITH FEAR OR FAITHFULNESS?
Question and Answer Section
Question: The great question again! when was the last time you heard a force praying within your belly without your consciousness? When was the last time you gave some thing to support God’s work apart from your tithes and offerings? When was the last time you supported any man to fulfill a purpose? When was the last time you put smile on the face of someone?
Answer: Hmmm!.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Counseling, Prayers and Appointments: Please contact contactus@expressimageglory.com Alternatively, meet us every Sunday at the address below:
Suit 26, 2nd Floor, Nikky Africana Plaza, 70C Allen Avenue, Opposite UBA/MTN Office, Ikeja, Lagos.
Donations and Financial Supports – Please support the Kingdom of God through Christ Jesus in this Ministry by paying your hard-earned money to only this one account and no other: Express Image Glory Ministry, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Account number – 0020881228.
Further information: Be informed that this Ministry has only one Facebook page and no other. Any other Facebook page or bank account is counterfeit. Any Concerns or questions about this facebook page or bank account should be directed to: contactus@expressimageglory.com The General Superintendent Minister of this Ministry therefore pleads and urges you to desist from all such fake and ungodly Facebook pages or accounts. Be informed also that there is only one medium for soliciting donations and that medium is via our weekly magazine – The Message Now through our Facebook page or website: www.expressimageglory.com
ALTAR CALL:
Backslidden – living in sin – needing fresh recommitment (say):
Christ Jesus, You are the Anointed One of the Most High. I come to you today as I am. In your mercy, help me out of my situation. Heal my soul, my spirit, my body, my life and my destiny. I acknowledge you as the only true lover of my soul. Please, deliver me on every side and save me through and through. I promise from the depth of my soul to be yours from henceforth, in Jesus name. Help me now O God. Be my Lord, my Saviour and my all in all from this day. Thank you Lord (read Ps.54 in closing and pray more).
HYMN: Faith Of Our Fathers Living Still
PRAY NOW:
1. O God, I give you thanks for your word and for the one whom you have used to deliver this word.
2. O God, sanctify my heart today.
3. Mighty God, sow the seed of faithfulness in the soil of my heart today.
4. Cause the seed of faithfulness to germinate, grow and become a fruitful vine in me till Christ comes.
5. I austracise fear from my heart from hence forth.
6. O faithful God, bring your covenant and divine promises to reality in my life and destiny.
7. Present your personal petitions.
