Everlasting Gospel
First lesson: Matthew 7: 13
"Enter ye in at the straight gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:"
Second lesson: Mark 8 : 34
"And when he had called the people unto him with his
disciples also, he said unto them, whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me".
Golden Text: Luke 24 : 26
"Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?”
2.1 Should we not suffer to be glorified?
Brethren, the texts above constitute our lesson. Have you noted the lessons? Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? Should I not suffer tribulation and to enter into the Father's Glory? Should you not suffer before you enter into the Father's Glory? Should we not suffer and enter into our Father's Glory? Should they not suffer before they enter into their Father's Glory. If our Lord Jesus Christ suffered these things before entering into His Glory, ought we not to suffer these things? If there is another way through which one can enter into this glory, let me know. The first lesson tells us, “enter ye in at the narrow gate.” What is that narrow gate? This constitutes tribulation, self-denial, surrendering yourself unto God, keeping His commandments and adhering to all His injunctions. You can see how narrow the path is. But the other way; of fornication, stealing, telling lies, indulging in diabolic act and fighting admit greater number of people because it is wide.
Every person believes in the gospel of retaliation; if you do bad to me, I give it back to you. Lies are told at will, drinking, taking of drugs, beating up people and making noise about nothing is the order of the day and that is the broad path. But the narrow path requires temperance, and to forsake what God has commanded us. Do not take snuff. Do not drink. Do not fornicate. Do not tell lies. Do not litigate. Can you see the narrow path before you?
If somebody offends you, do good to him. Love whoever hates you. If somebody will sue you at the law, and take any coat, let him have your cloak also. Resist not an evildoer no matter the circumstance, because that is the narrow path through which all the children of God should pass. If thy enemy is hungry, give him food. If he thirsts, give him drink. Do good to whoever is concerned. Bless them that curse you. Pray for him who despitefully use you. Bear with your persecutor and concern yourself not with any worldly affairs.
2.2 What is the narrow path?
Keeping the instructions of God, and indeed keeping God's commandments constitute the narrow path you are told to enter. Follow the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ for He says, “I am the way, the life and truth. No man cometh unto the Father except by me”. Considering what we are searching for, we cannot see this Kingdom, except we set aside our wishes and follow the narrow path. There is no other route, be it through the sky, or through Lagos, or America, that can lead one into the Kingdom of God. It is only through the keeping of His teachings.
You may be here for twenty years but you are still taking snuff, eating meat and fish, fornicating, and preparing concoction. You are merely wasting your time. You call yourself a Christ Student, or Christ Servant, or Pastor, or Elder, but you are still taking snuff, telling lies, quarrelling and bearing malice. You are merely wasting your time because you cannot enter. You struggle for positions, arguing that you are the most qualified for that position. Your claims are irrelevant. Enter into the narrow path and observe all the things expected of you by God.
2.3 By faith God's Kingdom is made
People feel that the Kingdom of God is entered through wealth. It is not through wealth but by faith. Believing and keeping the commandments of God, opens up the way for you. It is always pathetic to hear people complain, I have attended Brotherhood of the Cross and Star but I have no car, or husband, or wife, or house, and so forth. Are these the prerequisites for entry into this Kingdom? Is that not the broad path that leads to destruction? The way is said to be narrow. If you are left with any vestige of sin, no matter how small you cannot enter.
2.4 What true discipleship demands
He said all these things, openly, that "whoever does not forsake all that he has cannot be my disciple". Whoever does not hate father and mother, wife, husband, sister, brother, children, and his life also cannot be my disciple. Brethren, why did Matthew, the tax collector, who sat on money, forsake all his wealth to follow our Lord Jesus Christ? Why did Paul, who was a lawyer, abandon his profession and other attendant benefits, to follow our Lord Jesus Christ. What made Peter, a devout fisherman to abandon his trade to follow our Lord Jesus Christ.
What was the problem with that lawyer who asked our Lord Jesus Christ, "what shall I do to inherit eternal life" and was told, “thou shalt not commit adultery; thou shalt not kill, thou shall love your neighbour as yourself.” And he replied, “all these have I kept from my youth. What is left for me?” There and then was he told, “if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast, give to the poor, come back and follow me and thou shalt be rich in heaven”.
You who want people to give you money and everything, are you sane? Are you with your correct senses? You who look for houses, cars, and wives, are you sure your senses are complete? What do the inhabitants of the world look for? Is it not the same thing? Are they the component of the narrow path you are told to enter?
2.5 Always examine yourself
When one of our brothers was testifying, he intimated that no one should disturb the leader, or bother to report any situation to Him, but rather every person should examine himself and will realize where he has fallen. Search yourselves. Everyday you come asking that you want to see the Father, you want to see the mother, or you want to see the first son, you want to see the second son; you want to see a Christ Student, or that you want to see a Christ servant. Examine yourself whether you have entered into the narrow path.
2.6 If you are guided by the flesh you will not enter the kingdom
Brethren, there is no parable or tale about this if somebody is a millionaire, and can afford any amount of meat or fish but because he wants to enter into this Kingdom he forsakes all these things. Or will you say that the person has forsaken the meat and fish so that during the ensuing week God can give him more meat and fish to eat? Should one not refrain from eating meat and fish, drinking, fornication, anger and other things so that he may enter into this glory? Should one not refrain from fornication, telling of lies, anger, bearing malice, slandering so as to enter into this glory?
Brethren, can you not see that there is no other way except the narrow path? Many of us here dread the common three days dry fasting and do not partake in it. Should we not fast to mortify the flesh for the spirit to have dominion; so that we may enter into this glory? If we walk according to the dictates of the flesh, we shall die, but if we mortify the flesh with the spirit, we shall live.
2.7 The kingdom tolerates no vestige of sin
One of our brothers testified that the Chief Accountant in his establishment expressed strong desire to come to Brotherhood but for the sake of not putting on shoes he will not come; because he had put on shoes since infancy. When he gets out of bed, he puts on shoes, in the bathroom and other places, he is with his shoes on. Since it is expected that one should not put on shoes, it was a very difficult thing to do. Do you see the situation? Putting on shoes has hindered him from entering.
Many people also say that they have stopped eating meat but because they are still eating fish, they cannot enter this Kingdom. Yet, everyday you come out here to sing. This avails nothing. Many people refrain from eating fish and meat but they still maintain anger. Till today you will hear people complain that their main problem is anger. If you are left with anger, do you not realise that you are debarred from entering? Anger is the problem with many of you here but if you are still angry you cannot enter. If you like you can weep.
This. issue is not a question of asking for prayers, placing of hand on your head, putting holy oil in your eyes and giving you some to drink. Far from it! What is wanted is entry into the narrow path. That means keeping his injunctions. It is only through here that you will enter. Otherwise you may remain here for one hundred years but cannot enter. You want prayers so that you will win a contract, or have a car, or have good health, or have a wife. Is that the narrow path?
2.8 Nobody can enter the kingdom on your behalf
Brethren, this matter is not such that you can assign somebody to enter for you. It is the individual who has to do it himself. We have no other way to pass except through the narrow path. What disturbs the inhabitants of the world are, how can one walk barefooted? How can one fast? How can one not be intimate with a woman? How can one not be intimate with a man? How is it possible to do without the things of this life. These sum up the fact that you will not enter.
Brethren, I do not intend to overload you, read our first lesson.
First lesson: Matthew 7 :13
"Enter ye in at the straight gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:"
2.9 Deviate from the way of the world
Can you not see how the world is encompassed with multitudes of sins? Anger, quarrelling, fighting, hatred fornication, drinking and all vices fill the world. Everywhere you go, you find self-esteemed desires for ostentatious dressing, gluttony, luxurious cars, and so on. Everybody wants prayers to become millionaires, have good children and good health. These are the things you concern yourself with. But today we are told to live in peace. Enter into the way of the Lord where there is no quarrelling, gluttony, eating of meat and fish, flamboyant dressing, unseeming behaviour, malice or discrimination. Such is what it takes to enter into the narrow path.
There is no other way through which you can enter into this Kingdom except by, hearkening to the injunctions of God, to mortify the flesh, for the liberation of the spirit. If you do not fast, if you do not refrain from drinking, medication, fornication and anger, how do you enter? You cannot enter.
It is not filling this place with your money that subsumes the Kingdom of God. It is not vision; being able to see everything in heaven and on earth that admits you into the Kingdom of God. But it is through practising the word of God you hear from day to day. If you can accept what you are told, surrender yourself to Him, you will not have any problem but will enter the Kingdom with all pleasure.
The reason why the inhabitants of the world wonder and roam about is because they have chosen the broad path that leads to destruction. They steal, indulge in idolatry, fight, bear grudge, bear malice and behave unseemingly.. If you begin to lead a righteous life, people will query the need for it, whereas your mates are getting intimate with women, drinking, and will also ask whether you are a Jesus. They will go on telling you that the Father does not stop any person but rather encourages them since he wants people to live decently in the society.
When you talk about fasting, it sounds strange to many church goers and they will ask why it is necessary to fast since God created food for man to eat and be satisfied. When you make mention of going barefooted, you will be told it is nonsensical considering that God gave man the wisdom to make shoes and wear. Some will argue that they are suffering from rheumatism and for that reason they cannot walk barefoot. When you dissuade somebody from anger he will warn you to hold your peace. He will tell you that if a person offends him and he avenges not, he is never at ease.
2.10 What comes out of you defiles you
Do not think that there is any other route or medium through which you can enter the Kingdom of God except passing through these tribulations, which constitute the narrow path; as streamlined in the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. What said our Lord Jesus Christ to the Scribes and Pharisees who accused the disciples of transgressing the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands when they ate bread? He said to them, "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." This is so because whatever enters into you passes out as stool or excrement but what comes out of you comprises stealing, fornication, deceit, anger, murder, division and malice. These things that come out of you defile a man.
2.11 Evil spirit gingers people to do evil
A woman can be transported to Lagos; locked in isolation while a man is at Calabar but when that spirit, the lust in you starts to operate, you will not mind finding your way from here to Lagos to see the woman. You can hide money wherever you care but somebody who has a lot of money will leave that which he has to find his way to where your money is and break in to collect it.
Somebody will leave his food to go and feed on another person's food because the evil spirit residing in the person is directing him.
It is for this reason that our Lord Jesus Christ says, “you brood of vipers who are evil, how can you, being evil speak that which is good. A good man speaks out of the good treasures of his heart but an evil man speaks out of the evil treasures of his heart”. All things are in themselves pure but if your heart is not pure, nothing could be pure to you. If your heart is pure, you will think not evil neither will evil be found in you. You will hear no evil, see no evil and do no evil. But as long as the thought of stealing, murder, fornication, indulgence in diabolism, animosity, seeing witches, mermaid and juju and also believing them in your hearts comes in, you will neither think good, see, nor can do anything good.
This explains why none of the gospels delivered to you has found a dwelling place in you. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ said, “anyone who wants to come after me, should deny himself, take up the cross and follow me”. We have to kill evil thought; fornication, falsehood, stealing, anger and other things that defile. It is thereafter that we can enter into the glory of God.
2.12 God's kingdom is with us
The Kingdom of God is not far from us. It was for this reason that the Pharisees asked him when the Kingdom of God would come; and he told them that the Kingdom of God does not come by observation, neither can one say it is here nor there but the Kingdom of God is within us; but many of us are still gazing at the sky. The sight of an aeroplane attracts the attention of many. When some see an eagle they will shout that it has come. Yet others are still asking when it will come but the Kingdom of God is within us, and you have to enter in through the narrow path.
Our Lord Jesus Christ charged us to “labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed”. He was the one sent to come and teach. Therefore, whoever refuses His teachings has no part in this Kingdom. Re-examine our second lesson.
Second lesson: Mark 8 :34
"And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me".
2.13 The kingdom is about self- denial
Have you noted what the Scripture says. Is it a tale or a parable? Is it a vision or dream? It states clearly, “whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”. Do you not see how Christ denied Himself, took up the cross and followed the Father? They spat on Him, called Him thief, beel-zebub, mermaid, demented fellow, and all sorts of names. Did you hear Him bandy words with anyone?
The thing to enable you determine your stand is that He had said, “if the world hates you, know that it first hated me, before it hates you. If you were of the world, the world would have loved its own; but since I have chosen you from the world that is why they hate you. Remember what I had told you that a servant is not greater than the chief and a messenger is not greater than his master. If they had persecuted me, they will persecute you, but if they had kept my commandments they will also keep your commandments.” He has hidden nothing from you but has told you that all the things done to Him will be done to you. You can neither blame our Lord Jesus Christ nor the word of God,
Everything is laid bare; bear tribulation. He has hidden nothing from you. The word of God is not a hidden issue. That is why he has taught you everything openly. If we keep His word we are in order. He teaches that if we are smitten on one cheek we should turn the other side; if a person tells you to walk one mile, walk two with him. He teaches you the word of God and how you can enter into the Kingdom of God.
If you do not enter, maybe you are left with one aspect of sin, and because of that you cannot enter. Some of you are held back by falsehood. Some are hindered by fornication. Others are hindered by provocation. Yet many others are hindered by malice. It is true that you bear malice in everything done against you.
These things constitute hindrance and if you do not deny yourself, take up the cross and follow Him, you shall not enter. Kill those negativities such as malice, quarrelling, anger, lust and other evils and count them as rubbish. Forgive whatever is done against you and try to live in peace with every person for the sake of this glory since there is no other way through which one can enter, God's Kingdom.
A spiritual chorus says, “one does not enter God's Kingdom through wealth but through faith”. You may claim, “I have gone on ministry work to Europe, America, extracted charm from people, prayed for the dead to rise”. Accepted. But these works do not admit you into the Kingdom of God. It is only through faith that you will enter.
2.14 Jesus the Christ bore the greatest persecution
Did you not hear that on that eventual night when they appeared to arrest our Lord Jesus Christ, Peter drew out a sword and cut off the ear of a servant of the High Priest. By that action Peter initiated warfare. But our Lord Jesus Christ forbade him, and replaced the ear in its place and told Peter, do you think that I cannot pray my Father to give 'twelve legions of angels to fight, but if this is done, how will the Scriptures be fulfilled as was written.
They spat on Him and mocked, “you are a prophet, who has spat on you”. They slapped Him, and asked Him to mention who did it. Such things are what we must go through. Deny yourself and bear shame and disgrace, whether it be spitting on you, or throwing you on the ground. That is the path you must follow. There is no other way into the Kingdom.
Imagine that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Son of man, and God Himself, had no other way to pass through. Or would you argue that He ought not to enter into his Father's glory? If He ought to, must He not pass through tribulation. When He was afflicted, He did not murmur against God, neither was He angry nor frowned, nor cursed, nor abused any person. He was called mad man but He did not quarrel, or get angry. He was called prostitute, He was not angry and did not quarrel. He was called a beelzebub and that He used the power of beelzebub to work, He was not angry, He did not argue, nor did He say He would no longer continue His work.
The greatest persecution of all is for you to be paid in a bad coin for the good thing you did and to be accused falsely. These things constitute the cross you have to bear in order that you may enter into this Kingdom.
2.15 Job and John the divine saw the face of God
Look at Job who said, “God I only heard your voice but now have I seen you face to face”. When did Job see God face to face? When did he only hear the voice of God? The time Job heard only God's voice was when he was blessed with material wealth and he wallowed in affluence and prosperity. He had children and everything. When did he see God face to face? It was when all his children died, his wealth was exhausted, his friends deserted him and his wives left him. That time he saw God face to face.
When things are good with you and you are blessed with food, clothings, shelter and other materialistic necessities, you neither know, nor see, nor believe in God. If tribulation does not come to you, you will not know God or see Him. When did John the Divine have that revelation? Do you think it was when he enjoyed his tea, with women around him, and his bottle of wine before him? It was after they had killed him, cut him into pieces and cremated and the dust that resulted was thrown away at the Island of Patmos. Then did he see the revelation written down as the last book of the Bible (Revelation of John the Divine).
All the visions you claim to see are all earthly. None has seen any heavenly thing. Have you entered into the Kingdom? He who is from above is greater, and he who is from the earth, speaks of the things of the earth what he has seen and what he has heard. All the things you see and preach are earthly.
Concerning entry into the narrow path, did any of you ever pray that you should enter? You claim that you are a human being and not Jesus the Christ. You wish tribulation to go away from you as you cannot bear it. The situation is that throughout the whole Christendom and indeed all the worlds no one follows after the footprints of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2.16 Nothing good comes easy
He has stated clearly that whoever wants to come after Him, should deny himself, take up the cross and follow Him. Now, take a cue from the Brotherhood fold, upon all that I say, I weep, I groan, I roll on the ground and do everything, how many people have accepted to deny themselves, take up the cross and follow me. Our Lord Jesus Christ says. “Except a corn of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abideth alone: but if it dies, it bringeth forth much fruit”. Do you think that if you do not deny yourself and take up the cross, you will be seen lavishly everywhere? You cannot be so seen.
Can you now see that we have to deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Him without which we will have no share with Him and will not enter into the Kingdom of God. Beginning from Moses and all the prophets, He revealed unto them via the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. When His followers, who did not yet recognize Him after His resurrection, began to tell Him what one Jesus of Nazareth had suffered in the hands of men, then He asked them: “ought not Christ to have suffered these things, to enter into His glory?”
Ought not Brotherhood members to suffer tribulation, and to enter into their Father's glory? It is sacrosanct. There is no other way. The scripture states it clearly, “whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, take up the cross and follow me”. That is why we refrain from eating meat and fish and do not commit fornication; or tell lies, or bear malice, or discriminate, but aim at righteousness.
2.17 God's kingdom is within us
Brotherhood says that God is here, our Lord Jesus Christ is here and so on, but those outside the fold cry out in protest that our Lord Jesus Christ is in the sky. We tell them that we are in the Kingdom of God, but they will tell you to keep quiet that the Kingdom of God has not yet come. But in the long run they will ask; what do you feed on, what are the things you do there, what do you do to your body for it looks so fresh, lively and healthy. And when you reply that the Father is at work, you will be cautioned by them to be serious so that they may come with you. But tell them there is nothing in it and you will be told to depart with your trouble, that you only camouflage God, whereas, beneath, you commit atrocities in God’s name.
Many people are wandering; “let us move to that city”. Some question; “when shall we leave for the city?” In their candid hope, they think there is a city built in a certain geographical location and called the Kingdom of God. This is the height of man’s misunderstanding. The Kingdom of God is within us, but suffering and tribulation is the road to the Kingdom. But unfortunately, many people are complaining of the severity of tribulation and their inability to continue. Advise them to deny earthly things and they will argue that the suffering is too much, that they have been called wizards, apparition and so forth. In such a case, the situation is clear that you will not enter.
2.18 Should we not suffer tribulations and enter into the Father's glory?
Our Lord Jesus Christ had said, “these things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me”. He also said, “And ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake”: In what other manner do you expect that we should speak before you understand. He has spoken openly. When you read Matthew 24:9 and John 16:1-3 you will see these things clearly. If all these had been set for us, ought not we to pass through these things and enter into this glory? That is the question you should ask those who will query, “why do you suffer yourself so much? Do you not wear your earings any more? Why do you not put on your gold? Do you walk barefoot? Why do you allow yourself to be beaten by rain? Why are you subjected to series of insults?” Ask your questioners, “ought not that we should suffer these things, and enter into the Father's glory?”
They will also ask you, “now you no longer eat meat and fish, is that still the system of worshipping God? Is that why you no longer wear shoes? Why are you indifferent to whatever is done to you?” Ask them the same question, “ought not that I should suffer these things and enter into the Father's glory?”
2.19 The white raiment symbolizes purity
You have heard the question asked in the Scriptures, “What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they?” And John said, “Sir, thou knowest. And he said to John, these are them which came out of great tribulation and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat” (Rev. 7:13 -16).
What is their garment? It is the human cassock. It is kept clean by refraining from fornication, anger, eating meat and fish and other vices. I do not intend to be tedious unto you, let our golden text be re-examined.
Golden Text Luke 24 : 26
"Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?"
2.20 No amount of commitment replaces tribulations
The reason many people do not enter into the Kingdom of God is because they do not want to suffer tribulation. It also explains why it is said that many are called but few are chosen, because they are few who accept to suffer tribulation. Whether you are a millionaire, or trillionaire, or king, or president, or prime minister, or mother, or father, or child, irrespective of what you are, it is through tribulation that you enter into the Kingdom of God. Whatever position you claim for yourself is vain and sensual. If you like to be a Bishop, if you do not pass through tribulation, you cannot enter. Give all your money to the poor, but if you do not accept to suffer tribulation, it is a mere waste of time. Go on ministry work to America, India, Russia, but if you refuse to deny yourself, suffer tribulation and surrender yourself completely to God, all will be nonsense.
2.21 Publicity strategy of spreading the gospel has changed
I had told you that the Television programme, 'Brotherhood Pulpit” had completed its work. If you now see the medium the Father is getting about publicity, it is marvellous. While in your house, the sceneries will be revealed to everybody, everywhere. In your office, homes and other places the revelation appears clearly.
Brotherhood is an affair of God and not politics. Apostle S. U. Etuk was among those who initiated the moves for the Cross River Radio Programme. I was not ready but they pressurized me and since a man will rather die than face shame, I yielded to their demand. If I should tell you what has so far been expended on the radio programme, it is about eighty thousand naira (Nigerian currency). The Father has seen it as an economic waste and because of that stopped the programme.
It is said, as the lightning passes from one end of the sky to the other, so is the coming of the Son of man. It is not through vision, research or anything. It is God and that is all. Once you follow Him into the narrow path, you will see His manifestations in various forms.
He has the prerogative to extend His call to you and others. If He does not call, you cannot follow. If He does not elect, you cannot be worthy. If He does not change, you cannot change on your own. It is not a an earthly matter. It does not call for pomposity. It is to pass in through the narrow path.
Brethren, when you are asked the reason for your self-denial and what your profit will be in the end, ask the person; “ought not the children of God to suffer tribulation and enter into their Father's glory?” I know that from time to time Satan comes to ask you series of questions. Such as, “upon the suffering you undergo, what will be your profit?” Give him the answer, “should you not suffer and enter into your Father's glory?”
We do not do anything in Brotherhood in order to have money. We do nothing so as to have children. We do nothing so that we will become chiefs. But all we do here is for the sake of this Kingdom; so that we may enter. The things we do are geared towards our entry because there is no other way apart from the narrow path.
2.22 Short cut to confirm that God's kingdom is here
People fast because they have court cases, or are sick, or are seeking for solutions to various problems. In our own case what is the reason for doing these things? Is it that it may rain or shine? It is for none of these reasons. Rather, it is the path that we have to pass. Because, when I tell you that here is the Kingdom of God, you cannot comprehend, that is why I have said that all of us should pass through this narrow path. It is through this path that you see glaringly well. When you begin to practise these teachings, you will no longer expect that the Kingdom of God is in the sky, or in Biakpan, or in Lagos, or in America. You will find the Kingdom of God within you.
It is a thing of happiness for you because in the recent past, you were given to slaughtering cows during Pentecostal periods. You used to slaughter up to twelve or twenty one cows. But right now, you require neither meat nor fish. Your testimonies now are great.
People look fresh and healthy. Tell a man to start eating meat again and he will tell you. “It is poisonous.” Is that not a wonderful thing? If one should tell you that millionaires no longer eat meat or fish and yet they are happy and joyous, how will you view that? You no longer drink, no longer attend parties, and no longer fornicate. Can you not see the glory of God?
But if you do not forsake these things how will you see the glory of God. Imagine the happiness found here every day in everybody. Imagine how dexterously people dance here. People ask what sort of church is it that people attend from morning till dusk. They ask what you have to do there for so long. They assert that it cannot be without a reason. In which church can one stay for more than five hours and will not protest. In other churches, drums, rattles, cymbals and gongs are purchased and used in worship to sustain members but all to no avail. But here, there are no such things, neither do we clap our hands, nor beat drum, but yet when songs are rendered, you dance your head off without feeling hungry or thirsty. What manner of place is this? Is this not the Kingdom of God?
How much does it cost you to be admitted into this Kingdom? What is the requisite qualification for entry? What sort of worldly glory has qualified you for entry? It is only through one path that you enter into this Kingdom. Aside from this, it is the way of perdition. It is the narrow way you enter that admits you into this Kingdom.
Will you tell yourself again that suffering is too much? Will you ask God why you should suffer tribulations? It is tribulation that has admitted you into this Kingdom. So, ought not that you should suffer and enter into the Kingdom? And if it is because of tribulation that you are able to gain entry into this Kingdom, what have you to lose? For who can enter into a strongman's house to carry his property, without first having his hands and feet bound. If the cow of Saul's father were not lost, how would Saul and his father's servant have gone out to search for the cow which eventually led them to meet Samuel. It was not the cow that was missing. It was a medium God used to call them into the Kingdom.
2.23 God's strategy for recruiting persons into the kingdom
All the things you find in this world are ways and means by which God calls people into this Kingdom. Presently, you do not hear of any other complaints apart from hard times; but suffering is the design of God to call man into this Kingdom. There is no other way. If it is because of tribulation, or because somebody has collected money from you in an extortionate manner, or another person has snatched a husband or wife from you, that paves your way into this Kingdom, what do you lose? Whatever happens to you, whether you are cast into prison, that happens so that you may enter into the Father's glory.
The Scripture says, “have the Israelites stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles”. If it were because of their fall that the Gentiles received salvation, much more has the gift of grace brought eternal life to those who love Him.
All the things we see are pointers to the fact that we have to pass through tribulation and suffering, disgrace and false accusation since they constitute the inroad into the Kingdom of God.
2.24 The kingdom is more than the world
Let us rejoice because we ought to suffer and enter into this Kingdom of God. Right now, millionaires, emperors and indeed many persons in the world are crying about hard times. They seek in vain for death, and life eludes them, but we here are rejoicing everyday. Can you see what tribulation has brought to us? This glory has neither a beginning nor an end. What then will you say of the comparatively small suffering we face.
It is preferable to suffer for doing good than to suffer for doing evil. We suffer for doing good to somebody and being paid back with a bad coin; via false accusation, lying against us, spitting on us, and extorting money from us. All the things you have lost the Father has bestowed to you a hundred fold and since you have the Kingdom of God, you have more than the world. What then do you have to lose?
I believe that all those who had wondered why they should be sick or suffer, (like one of our brothers who asked while testifying) have now had the scales off their eyes. Ought you not to suffer that you may enter into the Father's glory?
Brethren, I do not intend to be tedious unto you. He who has ears let him hear. May God bless His holy words; Amen.
THANK YOU FATHER