PROVERBS 14:34; LUKE 12:4-5
There are 'persons' you may call 'your enemies' around you, but they are not the greatest enemy you (mankind or the human race) is up against. Yes, in 1 Peter 5:8, the devil is called our adversary, one walking about seeking whom to devour, but then he also isn't man's greatest enemy. Why? It is because he didn't begin like this, but was once called Angel Lucifer-the shining cherub who covered the Throne of Grace...Till SIN brought him down. It was SIN that made him the devil, the old serpent, and 'the enemy', painting his image 'black' that wherever he is mentioned, evil is thought of Him. But he isn't our 'greatest enemy', sin is! Sin is the greatest enemy to mankind; it is the root of all our pains, sorrows and evil. Sin gave birth to every suffering in the world and it is said, in Proverbs, that it is a reproach to 'any people,' no matter where, whether it be Europe, America, Asia, Africa or anywhere. Sin has wrecked families, nations, communities and created rifts between husbands and wives - It imported evil! So before there was any term like the 'devil', there has been an enemy called 'sin'. Lucifer, then, was a good and loyal angel till sin was found within and he was cast down from Heaven, because there was no more place for him there-Ezekiel 28:14-15.
Therefore, that enemy which you must fight well against is sin! Don’t be bothered when people are thronging into the broadway Churches, social Churches, with social entertainers and motivational preachers who teach their members how to invest money, and do several other things, to increase well in goods, riches, and so on, but teach not on how to fight against sin; neither those who urge persons to commit wickedness, embezzle money and so on. All done against God is sin; all done to glorify the flesh is sin. Even in areas known as the 'developed world', the bone of contention is sin; and this sin makes their Churches allow men marry persons of the same sex, women marry women, persons indulge in prostitution and so on; and as they continue in that way, we see that everything about such persons and Churches is sin.
Sin chased the man ''not born'' but "created" from the Garden of Eden. You were born of a man and woman, and so was I, but Adam was created in the actual image of God. Even Eve wasn't born but created; but it was sin that took them from the path of holiness, righteousness, purity, joy, obedience and fear of God. And we are told, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach." And this sin is a far more greater enemy than death- 1 Corinthians 15:53-54. Satan is man's enemy, death is man's enemy; but man’s GREATEST enemy is sin; and it is on the ground of sin that Satan(the devil) attacks a person. The devil doesn’t respect your title and position, he doesn't respect your post or office even in the Church, so if he doesn’t see righteousness in you, he will mess you up; I.e,. if he sees sin in your life, he will destroy you. And that’s why I say, if there's anyone still in fear of God today, if there's anyone still yearning and desiring to see God, flee from Sin! Flee because when it it kills you, it will kill you again.. HIV/AIDs can kill a man today, but he can still make Heaven (if he were a Christian before death). Another can be a true Christian infected by Ebola, or may have contracted Covid-19 (or any disease) or be involved in an accident and die, but still make it to Heaven inspite of his bodily illnesses. But in sin, dying kills both the body and soul- damning it to hell. Some persons see money as their greatest enemy, but economic depression is not the greatest problem of man, and neither is insecurity the greatest problem of man; for even if an angel were made the President of our country, if we refuse to follow righteousness, we still will perish.
Sin is deadly; it is the enemy. Irrespective of what it is you have achieved in life, in the Church or society, at the end of your journey, if iniquity is found in your life, all those things will be wasted. If there's pride, greed, jealousy, anger, malice and other sins in you, you cannot make it into Heaven. The Throne-coverer was cast down because of his sin and so also was Adam and Eve, not minding their positions in God's creation. Sin is deadly!
David made us know in Psalms 51:5 that man was born in sin; and according to Job, man was born naked and naked he will go(Job 1:21); and from Solomon, we saw that vanity upon vanity, ALL is vanity. Sin brought destruction to the world of Noah, but it was in such a time that Righteousness exalted him and his family. But today, people come to Church playing hide-and-seek; they come, attend all programs and weekly activities, yet continually behave as though this world is our home. No! Man, our time is short, our days are numbered. 2 Peter 3:9 states that, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." It was their righteousness that exalted and elevated them, above the tempest, the winds, the seas and the stormy waters. A true Christian life is nutured through righteousness and holiness! Can there be a righteous brother who steals? or a 'righteous and holy' sister who would break her home, pursue after another man or love same sex relationships? No! And what our world needs now is righteousness; what our Churches need now is righteousness; what our generation needs now is righteousness and even our families now need righteousness. Noah was called , "A preacher of righteousness.." ; but Churches today are producing more ungodly pastors than godly pastors, producing ungodly ways than godly ways and pastors even are producing more ungodly people than godly people. They are producing more materialistic gamblers, thieves and robbers, all in the Name of the Lord. And we are told in 2 Peter 2:6 that Sodom and Gomorrah were roasted in the fire of God’s anger despite the rich and wealthy geniuses and gurus and even beautiful women and men amongst them. Remember when Lot was to make choice of which land to take due to the contention between his servants and those of Abraham? We were told that he chose the well watered and beautiful plains - Genesis 13:10-11. What about you? Have you chosen the beautiful plains of this world? Have you gone back to the world? You know, even those, once in Christ, that have left the Church are now on Social Media advertising their backsliden nature, their compromise and sin with a cunning heart; but I thank God for those who remain as Peter, strengthening their brethren when converted; and I pray that by the Grace of God, we shall overcome in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Do you believe what I believe? Righteousness is a Person; Holiness is a Person and Purity of Heart is a Person. Sin is the greatest enemy, challenge and problem to man; it is a killer; it kills physically, it kills spiritually, kills socially and kills mentally and then destroys. And that’s why Jesus while on earth, in the flesh, explained to His followers what it was that they ought to fear. He said, "Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that, have no more than they can do.... Fear Him which after He hath killed, hath Power to cast into hell..." A song says, "If you die in sin, you will die again; but if you die in Jesus, you will die no more." So, my brethren I ask you a question, "Are you a sinner in Church? ...your marriage? ...business? Or one claiming that nobody can be truly free? Then you are saying that the death of Jesus is in vain; you are speaking contrary to that which we have heard, that He manifested to destroy the works of the devil. And what are the works of the devil? Stealing, killing and destroying. The Bible says, "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil (which is sin)." So if Christ has ever been manifested in your life, if you truly have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior, the first thing He would break would be the power of sin. That's what He'll destroy - the power of sin. And that's the reason why he that is born of God cannot sin; because he is born of God; he cannot sin, because the Seed of God, the nature of God, the Spirit of Jesus Christ remains in him. How can you claim to be born again and yet still with anger in the heart or malice in the heart or bitterness in the heart? How can you do the work of an usher or evangelist with such a backslidden spirit? Check up your life very well if you are still in faith, and if Christ is still in you! Examine yourself! Or are you the kind who comes to Church just to earn a position or to enjoy the social gathering and make friends without giving heed to the Truth? Isaiah 5:14 tells us that "...hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure..." to accommodate everybody who rejects the Truth. So you can be a social guru, making friends and socializing here and there, that people even know your name, but in God's Book of Life, that same name is missing. And know that you aren't the only one listening to this message; even those abroad are listening and sending words of encouragement; but that which I do is by the Grace of God. Do you know I need prayers also? Yes, I do! The Bible says, "..Smite the shepherd and the sheep would scatter." So if there's anyone much more in need of your prayers, I am the one. Therefore while praying in your morning devotion, evening devotion, having your quiet prayers and others, please remember me. And you will receive your reward.
What we are saying here is, 'Righteousness exalts, promotes, blesses and propagates God’s Kingdom but sin reproaches, sin hinders blessings and hinders prayers.' How can a man (in sin) go to a mountain to pray and expect that his prayers be answered? What mountain is that? The Mountain of God is always a Mount of Transfiguration; and when a person climbs that Mountain, he will be changed and transfigured! But if you go to God's Mountain with sin, all your prayers will be hindered because sin brings reproach. It hinders your prayers, hinders your fasting, hinders your tithe, hinders your offering; and even if you donate a huge edifice to the Church, or purchase a jet and gift it to the Church and afterwards you die in your sin, the prayer of the pope will not save you, neither will the prayers of Maria save you, because the Scriptures say that, "...the soul that sinneth, it shall die." Even if many well known pastors and bishops gather to bury such a wealthy man, yet his case will be as that of the rich man in Luke 16. Oh yes! He was gorgeously and royally buried, but the Bible tells us that in hell, he opened his eyes. You see, when you come to Church, you'll see many brethren. You'll see those who jump in to Church and then jump out and also others who come, but when you see them again after two weeks, a month, or even three years and you look at their lives, you'll see men who have gone back to their vomit, crucifying Jesus a second time. They have sold their birthright just as Esau did to enjoy the red pottage. When Jesus was on earth He taught that "...the Kingdom is with thee...", and commanded that when we pray, we also ought to say, "... Thy Kingdom come..." But for many in Church today, their kingdom is 'marriage' and their will is 'childbirth'. But it ought to be more than that! The Bible tells us that our life is not our own, and a man's life does not consist of the abundance of riches he possesseth. So for the fact that you are married, have a new baby, a car, gotten admission amongst others has not yet given you the Kingdom. When you gain all these things, it gives no guarantee that the Battle is Over. Infact, when a man is getting married, he is as a young child been born into the 'world', and there will be health challenges, life issues and much more, all which he has to overcome and it is only going to take the mercy of God for grace to be given. This battle is not yet over; we've been told that this Kingdom which we seek after is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost! James 1:15 tells us further, that when lust is conceived, it brings forth sin, and when sin is finished, it brings forth death. Therefore, lust is pregnant of sin, sin is pregnant of death and death brings forth hell. That is, when a sinner dies in his sin, the same Heaven which rejected angel Lucifer cannot accommodate him; the Garden of Eden which rejected Adam and his wife can never accommodate him- Genesis 3:23-24. That's why we are told in 1 John 2:15-17 to "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -the power and dynamism of the world- including the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is NOT of the Father (not His nature nor identity), but is of the world..." So when you see a brother exhibiting pride both physical and spiritual, or see a pastor, bishop, reverend, president or world power speaking as though he is the one with the keys to the Kingdom, know that he is not of the Father. Same also when you see denominations and organizations creating strife and hatred between one another. Even in our Church, some still exhibit pride. Just a little message and people are hailing you, when you let sin in, you become as Ahithophel. For this man, the Bible shows us that he was so endowed that when he spoke, or counselled, it was as though the words came directly from God Himself. But when he decided to use that gift against God's anointed, God turned his counsel to nought. And upon seeing that his counsel wasn't heeded to, he thought himself useless, and he killed himself. Pride... Humble yourself Church! So many of us are not representing Christ well. When you look into the Church, you would see wounded soldiers, who no longer feel they can continue and then leave. To help, the first thing you should do is not to 'bring coffin and bury him' in his wounded-but-living state; rather the first thing you should do is to pray and get the mind of God. Seek the face of God to know if He will deliver this soul when you try to reach out to such a wounded one; and if 'Yes', then go ahead. But if the answer from the Lord is 'No', then don't go after that one because he may have been so contaminated and corrupted that when brought back, he corrupts others. And be careful. For it can occur that in the heat of defending the Church or pastor you may end up telling lies... Be careful.
Back to where we were reading, verse 17 tells us, "And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." See... presidency, governorship and various other powers will pass away; even pastoral positions and Church denominations will pass away, but He that does the will of the Father will not pass away.
Selfishness, selfish desires or lust always leads to sin, and sin conceives and gives birth to death- therefore, sin has wages, which is death. And this isn't just physical death, but death both physically and spiritually -Ezekiel 18:4 says, "...The soul that sinneth, it shall die." This is not Fishers of Men dogma, it's not the General Overseer's words either; this Scripture has been even before we were, and condemns all sins and sinners. But there is a way out! Yes; there is a way out of sin, a way out of hell, a way out of second death... It is through Jesus Christ- Romans 6:23. Psalms 7:11 says, "God judgeth the righteous, but is angry with the wicked everyday." Proverbs 8:36 says, "...he that sinneth against Me wrongeth his own soul..." This 'he' means 'anyone'- any man, woman, pastor, or bishop who deliberately continues to commit sin. The Lord says here that any who sins against Him, is offending, destroying and killing his own soul. Many may at this juncture claim not to hate God, but when checked, the lives they are living proves the opposite. Remember John 14:15? Jesus said, "If ye love Me, keep My commandments." If truly you love God, you must keep to His ways and follow His commands in everything, even in showing obedience to your earthly master, loving your wife and children.
In summary, all the commandments and all the laws have been interwoven in Jesus; and that's why you have to follow, obey, honour, live for and glorify Jesus. He is the Head of the law. So many talk about sin, sin, sin- sin has been generalized- And Righteousness is now a man! Fasting, and killing of rams cannot make you nor I righteous; only with Jesus (in you) can you be righteous. When He lives in you, you will live a righteous life. On my own I cannot be righteous, neither can you on your own. Our righteousness is of the Lord- Isaiah 54:17. Only the sinless Saviour who lived, died, was buried and resurrected with glory and power is able to make us righteous. When He lives in you, you will have the hope of glory- Colossians 1:27. So when we talk about righteousness, we are talking about Christ living in you, controlling you, guiding you, and helping you everyday.You ask: 'How can I be righteous?' Allow Jesus in. He stands at the door (of every heart) and knocks, if any opens to Him, He says He would go in to dine, sup and live with him... You may claim to be a member of Fishers of Men, but I assure you that this name cannot save you. The name "Holiness Organization" is not enough to save any, and neither can the name of any denomination save a person. There is only one name given amongst men by which we can be saved, the name JESUS. Christ in you, makes you saved. And this is why though you make several attempts to be holy and to be righteous, they are futile. You can't deliver yourself. The Bible says that our own righteousness is as a filthy rag before the Lord- Isaiah 64:6. This righteousness was what the early Israelites tried to achieve- they killed rams, offered sacrifices and did so much more; but even with all these things, they couldn't be righteous. Not until the Saviour came. So if you want to be righteous, believe in Jesus, accept Him, and He will hear, forgive and deliver you. Jesus is still the same even in our day and will remain same in the future. What's this message about? God handled and dealt with sin in the past, without being a Respecter of persons- Romans 2:11-12. Ecclesiastes 8:11-14, makes us understand that because judgement against a sin (be it fornication, abortion, embezzlement, theft, gossip, pride and others) are not speedily effected, men continue to do evil. These things can also be done secretly by persons. Though their names are highly reverenced, yet the amount of wickedness done by them in the secret is highly abominable. And its because their days are prolonged, that's what makes them continue in their sins, forgetting judgement. Galatians 6:7 says, "...for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." So no one should toy or play with sin because it is a deadly explosive which destroys man.
But Is there any way out? Yes! In that same chapter of Ezekiel wherein the Lord pronounced death on the soul that sins, we see that He has no pleasure in this (because it's not His reason for creating us)- Ezekiel 18:23. We were created to be as He is. So He asks, "Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?...and not that he should repent, return from his ways and live?" This is the mind of God- Turn and live, for why will you die...? Ezekiel 18:30-32. He is the One who loves you more than your girlfriend, husband, wife, mother, father, brother, sister or even pastor. And He's saying to you, "Why will you die...? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord: wherefore turn yourselves and live ye." And it is from here that Paul continues, saying, " But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8. So now its obvious that God is not interested in the death of that sinner, liar, fornicator, or wicked man. Even for those who spend their days dancing, pleasuring, and pleasing their flesh while mocking pastors and their messages of holiness, it is not the will of God that they should perish.
This may be your last chance! Proverbs 8:35 narrates that whosoever findeth the Lord, finds life and obtains favour of the Lord. So, its not the will of God that you and I should die, sin or backslide but that we should repent and turn away from evil. Now, the choice is yours! In John 10:9, Jesus says, " I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved..." Are you ready to go in?
You decide...!
REMAIN BLESSED!!!
Pst Ig Nwabuo The choice everyone must make