All These Things - Bola Olu-Jordan |
Growth comes by feeding, spiritual growth comes by feeding on the word of God |
I have often wondered about the craze for miracles, breakthrough, prosperity, etc, that many churches have become sudden specialists and many pastors have become consultants in, these days. Of course, it’s a clear departure from the True Gospel of Jesus.
Many find it difficult to believe that this type of gospel is from Satan because of the miracles, healings, deliverance, prosperity, etc, forgetting that Satan offers his gifts on a platter of gold to avoid suspicion. The wrapper is always the first attraction. If Satan appears with one big round eye in the middle of the face and two horns in the head, who would not run? But he comes in the most adorable, alluring and inviting sight that man can ever behold, so that it will be almost impossible for mortal man to resist. 2Cor. 11:14 says ‘and no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into angel of light’ to the extent that Jesus Himself said in Mat. 24:24 that if it were possible, even the ‘very elect’ will be deceived! Adam and Eve who were at the very presence of God were deceived by his gifts. Hear what Eve said about the gifts: ‘good for food, pleasant to the eyes, tree to be desired to make one wise’ (Gen. 3:6)… She took it and even offered it to her husband, innocently! The characteristic is still the same today. Satan uses the same strategy today to sell the same product through his ‘sub-dealers’, and they are dispensing it faithfully to unsuspecting public. It’s only when they get to heaven and Jesus tells them: “I know you not, depart from me, you workers of iniquity’ (Lk. 13:27) that they would realize that the miracles, healings, prosperity, they merchandized to people were, afterall, not from God, despite the many testimonies. There is a difference between preaching Jesus and preaching miracle. There is the gospel of Jesus and there is the gospel of ‘all other things’ (miracles, prosperity, etc). The only true gospel is the gospel of Jesus, not miracles, prosperity, etc. This is ‘another gospel’. Miracles, prosperity, healing, etc, don’t bring Jesus. You can have ‘all these things’ and never have Jesus, but it is impossible for you to have Jesus and don’t have ‘all these things’. You can have miracles, healings, prosperity, etc and still go to hell, but you can’t have Jesus and go to hell. Satan is busy propagating the gospel of ‘all other things’ today and that is why majority of messages, preachers and churches, have abandoned righteousness to prosperity and miracles. This is Satan’s strategy to make people think miracle is Jesus. No, friend, miracle is not Jesus, but Jesus is miracle. Satan is a cheat from the beginning. The word ‘Salvation’ in Greek is ‘sozo’ and it means salvation, healing, deliverance (financial, material, spiritual, etc). The scripture says in 3Jn. 1:2: ‘I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers’. By going for ‘all these things’( miracles, etc), Satan is only short-changing you. He is cheating you from receiving the fullness of God’s benefit because when you receive Jesus, all other things, (miracles, etc) follows. But if you receive all other things, Jesus does not follow. Jesus does not follow things, things follow Jesus. Satan always uses ‘divide and rule’ system when it comes to the things of God. (See how he has divided the church with denominations). When you are given body part of a chicken, you can be sure that the chicken is dead. When God’s gifts are butchered by the so called men of God and dispensed in parts, you can be sure that as there is no life in it because there is no life in a roasted chicken part. Jesus is whole. Satan can afford to give healing as long as prosperity is absent. He can give healing as long as salvation is not there, etc. But when you have Jesus, you have all, but you may have all without Jesus. Jesus says in Mt.6:32 ‘For after ALL THESE THINGS do the gentiles seek’. Jesus calls those who run after ‘all these things’ ‘gentiles’, yet some are building churches, doctrine, etc, on it and even run jingles in the media, inviting people for it. Jesus said: ‘your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of ALL THESE THINGS’. He knows and He has made adequate provision so that when you get Jesus, you get all. So, He said ‘seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all other things shall be added’. They are additions. But now, many are seeking the other things. They hardly talk about the kingdom and its righteousness but miracles, prosperity, etc. But friend, that is not what you need. Be careful, don’t be deceived. I know you need breakthrough in your finances, miracle in your marriage and work, healing in your body and prosperity, etc, but why don’t you go to Jesus yourself, the giver and stop looking for the gifts through touts who smuggle it out and sell if one for a penny? The supply can cease but the supplier is eternal. Go for what will guarantee your soul, (eternal) not your life (temporal) You have heard many commercial jingles in the media announcing instant, unconditional miracles, etc. You have attended many miracle rallies and bought books and received various preparations just like herbalists dispense to their ‘victims’ and doctors to their patients, all because you need solution to your problem. Is miracle the solution? No, friend, it is not: the solution is Jesus. Satan has no problem with you if you are looking for miracles. If you have decided to propagate it, he will even give you people, finances, popularity, etc. But he will fight you to a stand still if you are looking for Jesus. The world tells you to go for gold, but I tell you, go for God. The ‘miracle- miracle’ message is not a new thing. It happened in the days of Paul. Paul told the people of Galatia what to do and it is still relevant today: ‘though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed’ (Gal. 1:8) This is how serious it is. Don’t be so distracted looking for ‘all these things’ which are only temporal and do not count in your eternity. What will it profit you, then, to gain ‘all these things’, including the whole world, and lose your soul? Clad with your miracles, breakthroughs, prosperity, you may still go to hell, but impossible to go to hell with Jesus. Jesus is the only thing you need. May be you know Jesus and you are saved. Perhaps, you are even a worker in the church or a teacher. Thank God for your life. But at the last days, Father God will not ask you if you know Jesus, He will ask Jesus if He knows you. What do you think Jesus would say? Does He know your name and call you by your name? Does He speak with you or through a ‘secretary’? Do you have a relationship with Him? Do you obey His commandments? Friend, if your answers are ‘nos’, or, maybe you do not even look for miracles but you do not yet have a one-on-one relationship, or the experience of a second birth, I have good news for you. You can decide to accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour right now by turning 180 degrees from your ways, realizing that it is the way of death. "There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end is death." (Prov 14:12). Jesus is the only way and the only One who can save you. He said: "if anyone come to me, I will in no wise cast him out." Your religious efforts and good way of life cannot atone for your sins. If it could, Jesus needn't have come. He came to shed the pure blood to atone for a grave sin. The blood must not be in vain, but it can on you, if you neglect so great salvation. "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation." (Heb 2:3). Speak to the Lord right now and express your desire for Him to save you. No one can do that for you, even if they help you to form the words, the decision is entirely yours. The following may guide you in what to say: Sinners Prayer If you prayed, meaning it from your heart, I congratulate you. Just like every child is born into a family, you are now born (again) into the family of God. Welcome! Write down today’s date because it is your date of (spiritual) birth. One more thing you need to do now: you need to confess it to people, just like when a child is born he cries. Right now, there is joy in heaven over you. Imagine that! (Read Lk. 15:7).
You are now a member of the family of God by faith. You need to fellowship with other members of the family of God so that you can grow in grace. Growth comes by feeding, spiritual growth comes by feeding on the word of God. Faith comes by hearing the word. Do not join a 'church' to be a member, being born again is a spiritual experience, not religious activity. That has its place. Seek to be nurtured. Your spiritual man must grow to maturity in Christ; to the fullness of full stature in Him. Find such a fellowship around you, not denomination. A place where Jesus only is preached, not sectional messages. If you listen to sectional messages like miracle-miracle or healing, breakthrough, prosperity messages alone, you will be like someone eating unbalanced diet. It may appear to give strength but it is in actuality it is dangerous to your health. |
If you prayed, meaning it from your heart, I congratulate you. Just like every child is born into a family, you are now born (again) into the family of God. Welcome! |