“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Heb. 9:27

God has always existed as judge over His creation. We only need to understand how, when and why He Judges. These will guide us in our endeavours in life.
“And we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against them that practise such things.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭2:2‬. (God is The True Judge, therefore, man must not judge his fellow man.)‬ ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“And behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” Rev. 22:11

The Yoruba culture believe in the judgment of God. We believe that even if you do bad things secretly, the All Seeing Eye of God sees you and will repay you openly.

Muslims believe that the present life is only a trial- preparation for the next realm of existence. A day will come when the whole universe will be destroyed and the dead will be resurrected for judgment by God. On that day, Muslims believe that people will be rewarded by God according to their beliefs and deeds.

In the Holy Bible, many examples of God’s judgments were written – Adam, Eve and the Serpent were apportioned judgment, (Gen. 3:14-19). Cain was cursed when he killed his brother Abel, (Genesis 4:11-12). When God determined to punish Sodom and Gomorrah, He passed judgment and the sentence was carried out, (Genesis 4:11-12).

The previous judgment of God on David is being played out on the descendants of David – the children of Israel – that the sword will not depart from the house of David.
These and many more points to God as the Judge of all.

In the New Testament (the 2nd Era) God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, to come and teach man the LOVE of God. He came and fulfilled His purpose on earth successfully and then returned to His father in heaven. Despite all these, man still refuse to acknowledge God and His commandments.
Some of Jesus’ parables illustrated that, judgment is a process that eventually leads to a decision and a reward or punishment.
The parables of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30). Labourers in the vineyard (Matt. 20:1-16) and Ten Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13) to mention a few – all help to clarify that, judgment is a process after which comes a reckoning.

In the Great Divine Holy order of the Third Era, we also believe that the dead shall be judged. The judgement begins forty days after the demise. The records of the soul shall be reviewed to determine whether he will become a Saint to be given another divine assignment in the celestial realm, or he will reincarnate for correction of his poor performance. Everyone has a limited time of reincarnation after which he will finally be judged by God.

God has called all human beings to serve Him; He has equally appointed members of this Holy Order and gave everyone a charge; to have a positive impact on the world around us and the universe at large. We are to reach for those who have not known the truth about God. This we are to do without fear or shame. We are to love genuinely. We must build up our knowledge of the God and be ready to take the step of faith, in obedience to God’s will so that we will be able to assist mankind to fulfil God’s purposes on earth.

God is the Judge over all His creations. It is in His power to decide and carry out righteous and merciful Judgments.

May we be found worthy at the day of judgement, according to our godly beliefs and living. Amen.

RUTH AS AN EXAMPLE. (THE BOOK OF RUTH)

1. The Book of Ruth narrated the dogged sacrifice of a Moabite woman to her foreign mother-in-law. The episode started with Elimelech a Jew, who lived in Bethlehem in Judah. His wife Naomi had two sons – Mahlon and Chilion. They were living happily until there was famine in Bethlehem and they moved to Moab. The two sons married to two Moabite ladies -Orpah and Ruth.

2. Later, Elimelech died. After about ten years, Naomi’s two sons also died without any kids from their wives, so Naomi had no grandchildren.

3. Famine in Bethlehem was over around that time, Naomi decided to make her way back to Judah. She begged her daughter-in-laws to head back to their mother’s houses so that they could have nice husbands and live happily.

4. Orpah took her mother-in-law’s advice and went for another wedding, but Ruth decided to go with the mother-in-law. Ruth pledged to follow Naomi wherever she goes. She told Naomi that her people shall be her (Ruth’s) people and her (Naomi’s) God shall be her own God, where she dies, there she will die. Ruth was devoted to Naomi.

5. Ruth threw off her religion, language and cultural identity and became a Jew living in Judah. Everybody started gossiping about Naomi’s return to Judah with her daughter-in-law.

6. Then, the Barley harvest was about to begin in Bethlehem. Ruth told Naomi that she would go to the Barley fields and try to glean some ears of grain. That means, she was going to gather some of the Barley that were left behind after the workers’ harvest. A sort of charity for really poor people.

7. She happened to pick the part of that field that Boaz owns. A lucky lady. Boaz happened to be around and inquired about her. The servant explained how Ruth left her home and family so she could stick by Naomi when the going got tough. A good lady. She was welcome to harvest in his field all season and drink from the same water the workers drank. The harvesters should not bother her. (Ruth 2:8,9). She had favour in the sight of Boaz. Ruth was so grateful. She threw herself on the ground in front of Boaz (Ruth 2:10). Boaz had heard about Ruth’s devotion to Naomi (Ruth 2:11). In verse 12, Boaz blessed Ruth: “The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust”.

8. Ruth worked so hard in the field. She was determined. Boaz was impressed and gave her free Barley grain. She spoilt her mother-in-law with food. Naomi wondered where she got so much grain.

9. Naomi sought security for her in a rich husband. Ruth agreed with Naomi’s advice and headed out to lie with Boaz. After due process, Boaz married Ruth. She got pregnant and had a son, Obed. She gave Naomi a grandson and even allowed Naomi to breast fed the baby. Obed became the father of Jesse who was the father of King David. Jesus Christ came through the linage.

10. Lessons: –
i) Ruth was a good wife and a devoted daughter–in–law to Naomi. She displayed strong character and truth in God even in the face of adversity and loss.
ii) She was a loving wife. “for whither thou goest, I will go.” (Ruth 1:16). Her relationship with the family of her husband was bonded with genuine love and faith in God.
iii) She was trustworthy. (Ruth 2:12) “The Lord recompense thy work under whose wing thou art come to trust.”
iv) Ruth was industrious and determined to support her mother-in-law. She worked so hard on Boaz field and gained favour.
v) Ruth was faithful and obedient to her marriage even after the death of her husband and even without children. She only listened to her mother–in–law and agreed to lie at the feet of Boaz.
vi) Her character and attitude overcame differences that might otherwise create division and disharmony between wife and her in-laws.
vii) She waited until due process was taken as a respectable woman before she married Boaz.
viii) God compensated her by giving her Obed the linage by which the Messiah was born.

‘Marians’ and all women are thus advised to follow the good example of Ruth so as to build a happy home. Many wives cannot tolerate their in-laws, some don’t even have regard for them. This is wrong for a child of God and a follower of Christ.

Patience, perseverance and love, shall make a woman to be a virtuous wife, that shall savour the benefits of marriage till generations to come.

Beloved Mishenites and favoured ones among men, ordained and privileged to witness the enthronement and reign of this new King and the FATHER’S Representative among HIS people; let not your life as a Mishenite be controlled and ruled by ego, greed, envy, anger and hate.

As humans; there are bound to be moments of anger and annoyance between us; however, in our moments of anger and annoyance; we must never mix bad and illicit words with our bad moods.

For, you will have many opportunities to change your mood as time goes on, but you will never get the opportunity to replace the words you spoke.

You must be very wise and extremely careful with words that will ever come out of your mouth.

The tongue is a tool of command.
Though many use it, only a few know it’s worth and might.
Why is it that animals do not have the ability to speak?
How about the plants or the mountains?
Why is it that man has that ability to speak?
Because man mimics his Creator fully and, in a way, that no other living or inanimate thing does.

As God pronounces, so it is done.

This is the power man has, which a large percentage of you are ignorant about. You think because you do not always see the effects immediately, that your words are useless.

This is caused by a lack of faith; the instant you, as a man, pronounce something, the actions to bring about that thing are begun with immediate effect.

Words have meanings. And the meanings you give to these words determine the power they will exercise over you and over your environment.
A word spoken with conviction or faith has more power, the same power as that spoken in jest. That is, even a word spoken in jest exerts its own power.

A word of conviction comes from within and will connect with the corresponding energy without. In other words, words of faith always find their corresponding levels in the universe, and all those with the same convictions obey.

When a word is spoken, man has an intention for it. This is what was spoken by the prophet when it was written “your word will not come back void without achieving that which it was intended.” Yet many speak without intent.

Therefore, seek to intelligently speak at all times and then you will notice the power you have at your disposal.

At conception, you have a baby which only manifests itself after nine months. However, the baby has always been there.
Because life is always there
‘LIFE’ existed before conception.

Word is life

This is how you must see your tongue, as a tool that plants a seed. The type of seed you have planted depends on your thoughts. The growth of the seed thereafter depends on your combined thoughts, actions and words towards the growth of that seed.

If you plant a good seed, water it, communicate with it constantly, for it to grow well, and it will.

If you plant a good seed, but neglect it, though it may grow, but it will be nowhere near where it should have.

If you plant a bad seed and it destroys your other crops because you did not make amends by uprooting it, you will have only yourself to blame.

This is what angel Raphael had to say about the tongue:

“Use your tongue only for His praise and things that shall evoke His praises.
Use your tongue only to bring hope and joy to your audience.
Use your tongue only to bring you closer to His Presence, and it shall be well with you.”

The tongue does not work in isolation. The outputs of your tongue are the words you speak. The inputs of your words are the thoughts that you compose. So really, the mind is the remote control for the tongue. It is what determines what the tongue will say and even how it will say it.

So, you must control your mind to properly harness the power of your tongue.

A learned person will say, 2+2=4. He has spoken the truth and said what is.

An ignorant person will say: 1+1=3. He has a tongue just as the wise man does, but he has not spoken the truth. He has not said what is. This is destruction.

The truth builds; lies destroy. And so, you must strive to have the truth revealed to you so that when you speak, you are building up and not destroying.

So, what does it all mean?

It means; Yes, the tongue (word) does have the power to build or destroy, but it is a power that is fuelled by the mind (thoughts) and sustained by actions (deeds).

To build, one must meditate on the truth, speak power to that truth and live it. What the person builds is not only his life, but also his immediate environment. For when man hears truth, it is like a good seed being planted in his heart that has the potential to bear fruit.

On the other hand, destruction comes when the tongue speaks lies and deceit – says what is not true. This causes confusion and chaos, which leads to eventual destruction not only of the person, but also of those he/she is around.

In this vein, you must be careful of your meditations and even more so before you utter them. Ask yourself, if I pronounce these thoughts, will I be building (stating the truth)? Or will I be destroying (spreading deceit)? It is better to say nothing at all than to be the author of confusion and destruction.

My dear Brethren…
Watch your thoughts;
What your words;
Watch your deeds;

Be careful not to pronounce false judgments. God alone is in the position to judge. Accept people as they are, for who they are and make no assumptions that a person is in the wrong. That too is a form of destruction because, a false assumption is no different from deceiving oneself and others that hear such.

Learn to accept people as they are and leave everyone to his or her own devices. Focus just on yourself and your progress – the works assigned to you.

If you find you are having the time to pronounce a judgment of good or bad on your fellow man, it means that you are not occupying your mind in the right way and this should be addressed.

The image and likeness of God is nonphysical. It is the power to be like God.

God does not look like man in the physical form. Yet within man you will find all that God is.

God thinks,
God speaks,
God acts.
When you understand this and bring into being only that which you originally ‘think’, then, you have become the god you are. Yet only a few attain this status because most people get carried away by the things of this world.

The things of this world remain in the world, while the things of God return to God. But all things are of God even the things of this world.

The things of God are eternal.
They rise from the dead.
They bring life.

The things of this world decay and hence are of benefit only in this world.

The tongue is powerful because it is part of the process that commands. What it says under authority brings into being, the thought of man.
Which is why the power of the tongue can build, and it can also destroy.

Choose to build at all times.

The American election was a real eye opener, the first female American woman to contest the position of the President of USA was described by her opponent to be determined, tenacious, courageous, fearless, hardworking, showing care & conscientiousness, diligent to win the election. In her own words Hilary Clinton said, “I know one thing, I am prepared to be the President of the USA!” Despite all the bad press especially from her opponent, WikiLeaks etc. she remained undaunted, undismayed by those who were sneering at her and she forged ahead with confidence and faith.

So, I ask my dear sisters where will we be when found in the face of challenges while performing the tasks assigned to us by God Almighty?

Deborah’s life (Judges 4, 5) challenges us. In Chapter 4, we are shown that God can use a woman to do His will. God used Deborah to give the men courage, and also to prophesy the victory that God would give the Israelites. In this case, we are told that the Lord delivered Sisera- the tormentor of the Israelites- into the hands of a woman (Judges 4: 9). Never let the fact that you are a woman, be an excuse for doing nothing. Women have the power to build up and destroy. What kind of woman will you be?

Hilary Clinton like Deborah is an example of a brave woman, who is not discouraged with culture or belief that women should be restricted to the kitchen, bedroom or living room, rather she channels her efforts towards achieving what God has given her the ability to do – lead. She does not waste valuable time, thinking that “she is only a woman” or sit there worrying about what she thinks she cannot do. Besides, who is to say what you can and cannot do? When you are too busy worrying about being only a woman, or full of fear that you cannot do something, it shows that you are self-reliant and not God-reliant.

God does not want you to rest in what you think is your weakness, he wants you to be emboldened by His strength. After all, “is anything too hard for the Lord?” (Gen 18:14). Women are influential! Think about the things you convince your husbands to do … the woman is the neck that supports the head, but also turns it in the right direction? How will you direct your head? Do not underestimate yourself as a woman. Instead, ask God to give you the strength to do His will and be a partner to your husbands that will lead your family to walk firmly on the path of righteousness and truth, with the sole focus of achieving God’s will.

We can see that these women have a common thread that runs through them:

1. Courage
2. Faith and trust in God
3. Wise leaders in their homes, work place, place of worship.
4. Been available both to God and mankind – I mean our families, friends, neighbours and environment.
5. Reliance on God and not on themselves

Are we truly ready to drop all shackles, prejudices and bid the clarion call?

We have been chosen for a task and also empowered to perform that task. We are true servants of God, divinely appointed, a basis for our sense of security and self-worth. See Isaiah 42:1. God in his infinite mercy and love has empowered us for the task ahead of us and that task ahead of us is never as great as the power behind us.

May God take over, fill each and every one of us with the Holy Spirit and grant us the grace to be and do our best in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Glory be to God the father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Jesus asked His disciples thus” “But whom say ye that I am? Matthew 16:15. It is the expectation of the Almighty God that man as the crown of His creation will know the truth and the truth will set such soul free (John 8:32)
Jesus Christ throughout His sojourn on earth exemplified this truth by His teachings on the supremacy of the Almighty God his father who deserves all the praises and thanksgiving who made everything for His glory and pleasure.

This same God, the Almighty Father does not share His glory with anyone. If this is so, why then do Christians, the followers of Christ and believers of the gospel make this mistake?
In this light, let us ponder again, who is Jesus Christ, is he the Almighty God and the most Powerful God?
In ignorance, many Christians and scholars in today’s Christendom, especially the new generation churches now exalt Christ as the Almighty Father, and this is causing a great displeasure to God Himself and His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. This sermon will try to correct this misgiving once and for all, for the full blessings therein and for the joy of Humanity. More divine enlightenment would be shared, all to the glory of the Almighty God. I AM THAT I AM.

Why this mix-up, misunderstanding or controversy amongst Christians? We shall examine and search the scriptures which many interpret erroneously in this regard.

Firstly – Isiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Secondly – John 1 vs 1 – 4, & vs 14 “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him and without HIM was not anything made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men and the word was made fresh and dwelt among us ****** behold his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the father, full of grace and truth.”

Thirdly – the principle and concept of the Holy Trinity as being said erroneously in today’s Christendom, even in the orthodox churches: Anglican, Methodist, Catholic etc. that is, God the Father, God the son and God the Holy Spirit.

In examining the above, one may tend to believe verbatim that Jesus Christ is Almighty God but with closer understanding, all these were revelation to Prophet Isiah and John.
This is because of the significance and importance of the shedding of blood and redemption of mankind by Jesus Christ. The Almighty God gave him that authority and privilege to assume and use the attributes and virtues (characteristics) exhibited by God Almighty Himself. Let us note this as we progress in this sermon.

If Adam had not faulted in the garden of Eden, there would have been no need to send His son for the work of redemption. Just like you and I made in God’s image and likeness, filled with all these virtues to rule and subdue the earth like Christ expects us to do like him. This WORD made flesh is the greatest love expressed to and for mankind by the Almighty God and Jesus Christ is the physical expression of this love. Hence is it right to now conclude or say that for sending his son, the son is now the Almighty God?

The Almighty God is the creator of Heaven and earth, and all therein, HE is the one and only one, I AM THAT I AM, ALL IN ALL. He is an embodiment of love hence He visits His people from time to time no mortal man can see HIM because HE is spirit hence, He sent his Son the only begotten in His likeness and image to dwell amongst men, to show and display HIS love, power and mightiness to mankind.
It is the same spirit of God planted in man with the love of Christ that gives man the liberty to do the will of God and be successful in his sojourn on earth.

1. The text for this address is taken from the Gospel of Saint Luke 8:1-3, it reads:
“And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.”

2. Doctor and Apostle Luke in this Bible text recorded that Jesus in the company of his disciples and some female associates went about preaching the news about the kingdom of God. This teaches us that there is no gender discrimination in doing the will of God. Jesus Christ never discriminated against the poor, the less privileged, the weak, the sinners and even those whom we humans have condemned.

3. WHAT IS THIS KINGDOM OF GOD ALL ABOUT?
Jesus Christ in His teaching about anxiety and worry in Matthew 6:33, said ” But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

4. The Kingdom of God was the focal point of Jesus’ teachings. He explained that it was not just a future kingdom; it is among us, embodied in him, the messiah. The kingdom of God begins in the hearts of those who believe in Jesus Christ. It is present with us today as it was with the Judeans over 2,000 years ago.

5. In response to the Pharisees, Jesus said in Luke 17:20-21:
“The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”
The kingdom of God begins with the work of God’s spirit in people’s lives and in relationships.

6. In addition, Jesus Christ in Luke 13:24 said “Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”
Finding salvation or entering the kingdom of God requires more concerted effort. This effort is not only knowing Jesus Christ, but to strive to follow his teaching not minding the cost.

7. With the establishment and planting of churches and fellowship groups, with words of exaltations, with fasting and supplications, many Christians are still far from breakthrough. Why?

8. The devil always attack believers’ finances, marriages, properties and worldly possessions, not because the devil spends money, nor because the devil wants to take over your spouse or properties, but because the devil knows that believers attach more importance to worldly ephemeral things than things of the spirit which are eternal.

9. Christians hearts are more connected to things of the world, so the devil’s target is man’s heart. Once he could conquer man’s heart, man shall be a perpetual slave to the devil by greed. The leaders of the church encourage the congregation to be more material conscious than to seek eternal life. The source of finance of members are not the concern of the Bishops. The Pastors’ favourites are the members with fat offerings. The Priests are more interested in members who sow large seeds in cash and gifts. The Evangelists preach more of material and physical breakthroughs, than repentance from sins. The pulpits in general teach mostly of prosperity and life in abundance, instead of repentance and seeking God’s Kingdom.

Grace in general terms is simply God’s unmerited favour and undeserved spiritual blessings. Favour we could say is goodwill, benevolent regard; a kind or helpful deed. I would go further to say, Grace is the manifestation of the love of God, however, is it truly unmerited? Can we abound in sin and still enjoy God’s favour?

2. Apostle Paul in Romans 5:20 taught that “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more”, but he quickly went on to say that this is no incentive to careless living: what shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6: 1-2). So, I ask what really is the grace of God and how does it avail us? In defining grace, I shall attempt to use propositions and statements used by various authors.

3. Grace is a dominant attribute of God’s dealings with man. His justice, His holiness, His omnipotence, and His omniscience are all integral parts of the attributes or character of God, but grace stands apart and has always been a part of God’s character as evidenced in the Old Testament. Men of God like David knew Him as a God of grace. Psalm 103 is full of praise and thanksgiving, acknowledging His grace.

4. But what epitomizes God’s grace is the entire work of Christ in coming to earth, dying for us sinners, and being crowned with glory (Hebrews 2:9). Our redemption is according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7). Our calling, the sovereign act of God by which we are drawn irresistibly to Him, is said to be “through His grace” (Galatians 1:15). Justification, the judicial pronouncement that we are innocent of any guilt whereby we are declared righteous through the work of Christ, is a gift of His grace (Romans 3:24; Titus 3:7). All said every element of the work of salvation is the work of God through grace and not of our making.

5. Even though the epitome of God’s grace is the cross of Calvary, Grace is also expressed in various forms.
i. Common Grace- This is God’s grace which He avails all ……for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (Matthew 5:44-45). God is gracious in making salvation available to all men, in delaying His judgement, giving us a long rope to repent (2Peter 3:9).
ii. Saving grace. It is the general provision of salvation on the cross of Calvary (Acts 15:11).
iii. Sanctifying grace which is that grace which works within a true believer in such a way as to bring growth, maturity and progress in the process of becoming Christ like.
Happy are they and only they who from his judgement fear to stray, who know and love His perfect will and all His righteous laws fulfil.
iv. Serving Grace is that grace that enables you to use your spiritual gifts to the glory of God and for the good and welfare of humanity.
v. Sustaining Grace: This grace availed man in times of need especially during adversity or suffering.