CHRISTIANS ISSUES
WITH EVANGELIST OLULEYE OLUFAJO
PHONE NO: 08038244010
Now That We Have Left Everything and FollowedYou
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question was posed to our Lord Jesus Christ by Apostle Peter in Matthew 19:27 “Then answered Peter and said unto Him, behold, we have left everything and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?” before we can discuss this powerful Apostle Peter’s question, we need to ask ourselves what lead to that questions? Reading from verse 16-26, we found a young man came to Jesus to ask what he could do to make heaven, the response of Jesus to the young man lead to Peter’s question because at that juncture Peter was confused and not sure what his end reward would be. Jesus response to him boosted his faith that he was on the right path and that great reward awaits him.Before we can talk of reward we should ask ourselves, have I run the race as God commanded? Have I done exactly what God asked me to do? Have I truly left everything? Many of us Christians are just like that young man who is faithful in one aspect and unfaithful in another aspect, we have given up some certain things but still secretly hold on to some Galatia 5:9 says“a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump”
We can see from the scriptures that the apostles left everything to follow Jesus, even the one whose father died left the father’sburial to continue following (Luke 9:59-60). The major problem with most of us Christians is that we hold on to so many thingswe have not really let go for Jesus, remember, we cannot serve God with mammon.
Leaving everything doesn’t mean that you isolate yourself from the world but raising God above everything that matters to you. Many Christians find excuses in what God gave to them for not serving God, you must make God more important than your job, marriage, children, properties because He gave them to you. God’s children have entangled so much with the world that the event of Genesis 6:1-3 is rapidly increasing in our world today, God is looking for people that will give up, wash clean and follow Him.
Abraham gave up relatives, farmlands, houses and followed God to an unknown destination, and the Lord gave him a whole country in return, Hannah fulfilled her vow by giving up her only son Samuel unto God and the Lord gave her five children in return (1 Samuel 2:21). The widow of Zarephath gave her family last meal to Elijah and poverty was taken out of her home. Until you surrender it all unto God, brethren, things might not change.
WHY CHRISTIANS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO GIVE IT ALL UP.
1. We Love Them: the value we give to some certain things tells how much love we have for them, when you love anything above God, there is no way you can give God time or attention above that thing. Judas loved money and he gave Jesus up for it,
2. We Are Afraid of Losing Them: Satan have use wrong marriages and job to cage many Christians by placing them under an unbeliever as boss who will not permit them to serve God, and due to the fear of losing the job they cut-off from their source, many Christians cliff to adulterous and unbiblical living together and they call it marriage. Who joined you together? but the fear of loneliness and what the world will say kept them down and Satan continue to afflict them in the marriage.
3. Wrong Belief: Many Christians are wrongly indoctrinated about life and the church to a large extend is not helping matter, many churches are population driven. This have affected the true purpose of the church which is to teach people the way to God but most teachings are placed on wealth, spiritual deliverance, marriages and things of the world rather than salvation of souls.
4. Poor vision: 1corithian 2:9 says eyes have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God have prepared for them that love Him. And Matthew 19:29 says “Everyone that forsake anything for my name sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. We need to pray to God to open our eyes to see what we are missing as we refuse to let go of some certain things in our lives.
5. Dead Faith; Many Christians find it difficult to work-out the promises of God because faith is not in them and without faith it is impossible to please God. By faith, Abraham became father of many nations. Until you begin to believe the word of God you may not see the power of God, remember Elisha and that chief in 2king 7:2 “Then the lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven how might this thing be? Behold, thou shall see it with your eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. Jesus said to Mary in John 11:40 “said not I unto thee, that, if thou wouldbelieve thou should see the glory of God?”
WHEN YOU GIVE IT ALL UP
To surrender all to God is not easy as it may come with some sad, painful and unwanted situations unto man, but the later end of it is always joy. The Lord said in Matthew 4:18-19 “…….follow me and I will make you fishers of men” it would not have been easy for both Pater and Andrew then as pressing needs would have been on them just as it is on us but they followed and today we are still part of the fish they caught. When we give it up;
1. Evil Burdens Will Be Taken Away: Matthew 11:28 says “come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” We carry some worldly yokes that is really affecting us but the moment we give it all unto God He will offload them from us. Verse29 says “take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” When you refuse to continue in the satanic business, he will withhold the benefits and enjoyments attached to those things you use to do.
2. Trial Will Come In: The decision to follow Jesus must be tested, when you say no to the old way of life every benefits attached to it will be taken away, then a temporal hour of pains will set in which will eventually take away the burden and give you a new life. Psalm 66:10-12 says “You have tested us O God; you have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid an oppressive burden upon our loins. You made men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water. Yet you brought us out into a place of abundance”
3. New Course Begins: 2Cor 5:17 “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away behold, all things are become new.” This promise comes to fulfilment only when we give it up totally then, gradually the Lord will bring you into a new beginning, He will redefine your life, give meaning to it and also bless you with the good things of life.
Conclusion
The time has come when we have to stop acting or living against the word of God and still pretend to be what we are not, we seek the face of God for better life but we refused to do that which he commanded, we need to get it right with God. All those who have made impact in life and still making impact with God are people who paid the sacrifice, Cain refused to pay in full he lost his position and became accursed, Anaiah and Sephirah refused to pay in full they lost their lives.
The world is an existing system created by God and you can’t recreate it, you can only live in it. When coming into the system you didn’t come with anything and so when going back you won’t go with anything. You are called to serve, checkout for things that are limiting your service and do away with them as you consider the following scriptures
1. Ecclesiastes 5:15 As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry away in his hand
2. Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will comeafter me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
4. Matthew 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
5. Revelation 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
PRAYER POINTS
1. Powers leading me away from God, because it is written that I should rebuke the devil and he shall flee away from me I rebuke you in Jesus name.
2. Father give me the grace to give up everything for you in Jesus name
3. Father help my Christian race in Jesus name.
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