THE GLORY IN SERVING GOD

First lesson: Matthew 7:5. “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” Second lesson: 1 John 2:15. “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.” Golden text: John 3:6. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” 4.1 The great distinction Beloved, the time of speaking in parables has gone. In this era, we must call a spade a spade. This is no longer the time to dwell in falsehood and deception. For this reason, you are enjoined to read this gospel with complete concentration. The three texts cited above have summarized the truth that is about to be revealed to you. This truth is worthy to be accepted by all. Before now, you did not know the mark of distinction between those who belong to the world and those of the Spirit. The divine truth would today be brought to your knowledge and you would no longer be misled. God had arranged His things in stages. This however does not mean that the people of the world are not God's creation, and it does not imply that the spiritual children had, before their call, belonged to devil. The point is, all beings are God's creation and children. God has various purposes for His numerous creation. This is likened to a city which has people from various walks of life, such as carpenters, lawyers, doctors, millionaires and a host of others. A great many people assert that government officials and politicians are not God's people. This assertion is false. Moreso, people claim that traders and business tycoons cannot be referred to as God's people. This is equally untrue. Furthermore, it is claimed that married people do not know God. I also maintain that this claim is not true. The only mark of distinction among people is that, those who are of the world are worldly while those of the Spirit are spiritual. It is a matter of choice. You can devote your service and attention to the area of your choice. That is why the first lesson presents to us an important piece of advice, that you must first of all remove the block from your eyes in order to be able to see the little speck that is in your brother's eye. This should form the practice in the fold and should be started right away. You must have heard that He is called the God of heaven and earth. You can see that heaven is His throne while the earth is His footstool. All beings and entire creation are for His service. Which of the two is greater, the heaven or the earth? The truth is that, heaven is greater than the earth and in the same vein, the heavenly or spiritual man is greater than the earthly man. I had mentioned this point before, I am merely repeating it in order to make it abundantly clear to you. Even in our midst, those of the Spirit are those who love only God. Those who do not link their love for God with money, wife, husband, profession and other material possessions. This group of people are solely ready to serve God throughout their life. They are those who are in Spirit. 4.2 Hope in His promise He had advised that, we should not allow our hearts to be troubled. That, we should believe in God as well as in Him for in His Father's house are many mansions, for if this was not true He would have told us. He further assured us that. He was going to prepare a place for us and would come back to take us; so that where He is, we also would be there (John 14:1-3). This prophecy has already fulfilled. The sad issue however is that the bulk of the people here are worldly. Their love is in mundane possessions and all the places are dominated by them. God did clearly instruct Adam that he could eat the fruits of any other tree in the garden of Eden, but not the fruit of the tree found in the middle of the garden. God made it clear to Adam that, the tree that occupied the centre of the garden was forbidden and he would die any day he ventured to eat of its fruit. God clearly revealed that the tree was nothing apart from the knowledge of good and evil. Adam has incessantly suffered untold tribulation, disease and other unpleasant disasters ever since he flouted this divine order. Man has become so materialistic that he no longer has love for God or His word. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only person from the foundation of the world, who has honestly, willingly and truthfully served God. He walked in the Spirit of God. He did not seek any form of mundane glory, possession or position. He gave Himself wholeheartedly and unconditionally to the service of God. This is the reason why He is the greatest. He did not seek for wife, children, house, car or exalted earthly position. That accounts for His present glory as the King of kings and Lord of lords. 4.3 The identification of God's children Those who have relinquished everything to serve God are the greatest in the world. You can now see why you were overcome by the world. This happened because you centre your love on the things of the world. You are overtaken by the pleasures of the world because of your lust for money, women, men and worldly positions. So, it is impossible for you to serve God if you are not in Spirit. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the only person who is in Spirit, and who also serves God in Spirit and in truth. Being called a child of God has nothing to do with your wealth, beauty, wisdom or status. A true child of God is he who has no concern with the world. His entire life, love, hope and joy are in God. All his services are rendered to God. Such a person is a child of God. This group of people were also identified when the Holy Spirit was lavishly showered on the people on the Day of Pentecost. As spirited children, they sold all their belongings and formed a common purse. This group of people were the true children of God and Christ has now come to gather them to Himself. This is why our Lord Jesus Christ said, it would be very difficult for any person who loves and hopes on mundane wealth and position to enter into the Kingdom of God. This latter group of people accumulate cars, mansions, wives, land and other worldly gains to themselves. No person who walks in the flesh can ever please God, and such a person cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven. No person who is carnally-minded can please God. I am sounding this last warning before it is too late. How can only one person be a lawyer, doctor, governor and politician? What time would be devoted to God, since his desire is to be a community leader, teacher, farmer and business man? He would certainly have little or no time for God. How possible is it for you to please the world and at the same time please God? Having love for worldly possession implies fighting against God. 4.4 The prodigal son Remember what happened to the prodigal son. Those who lust for material possession and positions are the prodigal sons. These are the set of people who divide their father’s house. The illustration on the prodigal son explains that the second son demanded his share of their father's wealth. And their father did not refuse, but did as he demanded. When he got his portion of wealth, he left for a distant land and squandered it on harlots and worthless people. Not quite long, he exhausted his share of wealth. This is the situation in the world today. It is also the source of your problems. As time went on, the prodigal son became wretched after having exhausted all the money. In this hopeless condition, he repented. He remembered that his father owned slaves and servants who were properly cared for, and pondered over why he should continue in his deplorable state. He finally made up his mind to go to his father and plead for forgiveness. He accepted that he was not even worthy to be his son but should be regarded as a servant. The prodigal son further said he would confess to his father that he had sinned against heaven and earth and so was no longer worthy to be called a son but should be considered as a mere hired servant. But when his father saw him coming from afar, he rushed and hugged him and commanded that some clothes be brought to cover his son. He also ordered that food should be prepared for him. He had no time to listen to his son’s pleadings and confession. The man went as far as ordering the slaughtering of the fattest cow for the celebration of the return of his dear son. Meanwhile, when his first son returned from keeping his father's sheep, he noticed the excitement and festive mood in which the entire city was. When he inquired what was happening, he was told that his younger brother who had journeyed to an unknown land was back, and that their father was exceedingly happy over his return. When the elder son heard all that, he became sad and angry because he considered that he had always been with his father working day and night, yet on no occasion had his father ever organized such a celebration for him. So he was amazed at the grand reception organised for his younger brother who had squandered the share of his belongings with prostitutes. The elder son questioned the rationale behind his father's action. So, he finally made up his mind not to enter his father's house. But when his father got the hint, he went straight to him, embraced him and disclosed to him that his younger brother was dead but had risen, and was lost but has been found. So, it was pertinent that they all should rejoice over his return. He also assured his first son that all his wealth belonged to him because he had always been with him. 4.5 Service to God In the same token, we are expected to rejoice with anybody who has forsaken the world to serve God. The entire people of the world have forsaken God and His ways. Nobody wants to be identified with God. Someone who knows and loves God is a child of spirit and equally a child of God. Such is the person who has forsaken all the things of the world and followed God. The worldly people pre-occupy themselves with the establishment of churches, prayer houses, healing homes and even creating gods for themselves. None knows God or serves Him. Whatever they do is done solely for their own benefit. The only person who serves and loves God wholeheartedly is our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a clear evidence of our Lord Jesus Christ's total renunciation of worldly positions. There was a time He was about to be crowned a king by the people, but He fled from the scene. He had fed them free and they thought the best way to reward Him was to crown Him their King so that He would continue to provide free meals for the people. But knowing their thought, He withdrew from them (John 6:14-15). For this reason, He revealed that if we judge ourselves, God would not judge us. But if He judges us, He chastises us that we may not be condemned along with the world. The present widespread suffering in the world is attributed to man's carnal mindedness. We experience untold suffering because we seek our own glory and kingdom instead of the glory and kingdom of God. 4.6 The errors of past generations This has been the case from the time of Adam through Abraham until present time. No one is willing to serve God and for that reason, it is said that, except the Lord builds a house, the builder labours in vain. Also, except the Lord protects the city, the watchman watches in vain (Psalm 127:1). The entire human race is walking in the flesh and is led by mundane desire. The children of Israel suffered because of the same lust. When God made a covenant with Moses, He decreed that the precious things found in any city captured by the Israelites should be kept for Him. But it happened that when the city of Jericho was besieged and eventually captured by the Israelites, Achan stealthily gathered some gold items to the camp of the Israelites and buried them under his tent. As a result, when the Israelites were to face Ai, a very small city, they were surprisingly defeated about thirty-six Israelites were killed and many more wounded. The Israelites had never suffered such defeat. So, Joshua, the commander of the Israelites army was furious, rent his garment and fell with his face to the ground, and sought to know the source of their defeat. So, God disclosed to him that the children of Israel had broken the covenant which He made with them. He maintained that He was no more their God for they had gone astray. God disclosed that, there was a forbidden thing in their midst and unless such is removed, Israel would never be victorious in battle. The children of Israel decided to cast lots according to families and houses, and decreed that whoever the lots would fall on, he and his entire household would be destroyed. So the lots finally fell on Achan and Joshua furiously declared that as he, Achan has brought trouble on them, God would also deal with him. Consequently, Achan with his entire household was completely destroyed. After this, Israel sanctified herself before proceeding to the next battle. After this she eventually defeated Ai (Joshua 7:1-26; 8:12-23). 4.7 The evil in mundane possessions Have you seen how the worldly things have deceived mankind? You all are Achan. It was a similar case with Judas Iscariot. Even you who come to the Kingdom still have the nasty urge to amass wealth. You even change your name to Obu so as to use that as a way to dupe people. You are now convinced that, there is a forbidden thing in your midst. A real Brotherhood does not seek mundane possession, position or praises. The worldly people are those who come here to seek material benefits. The entire world has inherited that greedy spirit of Achan. Mankind has forsaken the way of God and gone after mammon. Re-examine the first lesson. First lesson: Matthew 7:5. “Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.” 4.8 Surrender to God's will Now, who in the entire world has first removed the beam from his eyes? There is no person who has surrendered himself to God. Nobody is ready to serve God. However, this is the time you have to surrender to the will of God. For you cannot gain anything in this world unless it is given to you by God. Therefore, surrender yourself and everything to God. If you surrender to God, He would reveal Himself to you, and be your source of all supplies. You see that the Everlasting Gospel Centre has done much and is still doing a lot of work in the Kingdom. Although the hall is empty, yet workers from the Centre are here to record and produce this gospel in print. Many do not care to come into the hall to receive the word of God. They have gone to their various businesses. That is why you are enjoined not to love the world and the things of the world for he that loves the world, does not have the love of God in him. This is the source of your problems and also that of the world. It is undisputable that you love the world and lust after the things of the world. Since the world loves itself, you only find yourself serving the flesh. The Samaritan woman retorted that their fathers worshipped on the mountain, and so queried why Christ should ask her to worship at Jerusalem. Christ then revealed to her that, there would come a time and now is, when the true worshippers, shall worship God the Father, in spirit and in truth. That, such worshippers are needed by the Father (John 4:19-23). This is the time prophesied about by Christ. This is why I keep correcting the wrong impression that Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is a church or prayer house. Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is none of these and is not even a school of the world but the Kingdom of God. Let us call a spade by its name, which is spade. Therefore, do not fear or doubt what you would hear and see in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. For anyone who comes here to worship God in flesh would always leave empty-handed. Those who would be rewarded are those who serve or worship God in spirit and in truth. These are those who serve without seeking their glory. They only seek the glory and praises of the Father. Such people do not make claims, for all glories and thanks belong to the Holy Spirit, the doer of all things. Their love is only for God. These are the type of people God is looking for. 4.9 A true child of God Our Lord Jesus Christ said that He glorified His Father while on earth and having fulfilled the assignment which His Father gave Him, asked His Father to crown Him with the glory which He had with Him before the foundation of the world (John 17:4-5). If you charge someone money for the prayer offered or vision given to him, this would mean you are a hireling. This also portrays you as being in flesh and worldly, because the instruction is, you should give freely having received freely. If you come here as a child of God and request for cars and houses, it would mean you are a worldly person. A true child of God does not demand for salary or any kind of compensation for services rendered particularly after performing spiritual work for people. Whether you are a virgin, preacher or visioner, you have to heed this laid down rule otherwise you will remain an alien in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, for we are not those who worship God in flesh, but in spirit and in truth. I am grateful to the Everlasting Gospel Centre, and the New Kingdom Trumpet for documenting these gospels. This work is not easy. God wants those who have surrendered themselves completely to His will and rulership. Such people who serve without demanding compensation are those who do not seek their own glory but that of God. All their love, faith and hope are in God. 4.10 An era of reward Those who do not seek material reward for whatever services they render to both God and humanity are accepted as the real children of God. They are those who will eventually inherit the kingdom of God. This is the only judgment. You claim to have been in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star for the past fifty years or more. This is not considered. What matters is whether you have followed this laid down rule. Spiritual chorus: Sell all that you have and follow the lord I need those who live in the Spirit because those who live according to the dictates of the flesh will certainly perish. But if you use the Spirit to destroy the works of the flesh, you will surely live. From what you have been told here, you would now realise that nobody can excommunicate a member from Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. But we are aware that worldly people are equally here in the midst of God's children. That is why we do not mind what they do. We only mind our services to God. 4.11 The benefit of spirited children It is only God who knows what you are at any point in time. Those who live in spirit shall gain much from the Kingdom. Do not deceive yourself that you have been promoted to any rank in the Kingdom because you may be ordained a bishop yet, you are a worldly person. All those who serve the world shall go empty-handed while those who serve God shall be highly rewarded, for all things belong to them. Beloved, read the second lesson again Second lesson: 1 John 2:15 “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.” 4.12 God's kingdom is unique Beloved, Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is the Kingdom of God. Therefore, everything done here is according to the dictates of the Holy Spirit. That is why whenever somebody comes in here with carnal and ulterior motives, he is quickly detected. Nobody is forced to come into the Kingdom. The criteria for membership in the Kingdom are good behaviour and works of edification. On this note, you are strongly enjoined that, the law of retribution is still very active in the Kingdom. The scriptures in Galatians 6:8 reveal that, whoever soweth to the flesh, shall also of the flesh reap corruption, but whoever soweth to the spirit, of spirit too shall he reap life everlasting. Therefore, all those who surrender themselves completely by forsaking sin and carnality are bound to reap life everlasting, whereas those who are carnally-minded and sinful in the Kingdom shall certainly reap corruption. This being the case, it therefore means that, nobody should wait to be advised on how to forsake sins and embrace righteousness. But the standing order is that whoever sows to the flesh shall of necessity reap corruption, and whoever sows to the spirit shall reap eternal life. Ever since you came into the Kingdom, have you seen me commit sin? Have you ever seen me seek for money, position or other earthly things? This gospel is judgment to you. If you were called into the Kingdom as a child of God, but you abandon your original assignment to seek material things that would mean you are carnally minded and as such are not worthy of me. A true child of God must not be carnally minded but gentle and honest in all his endeavours. So, it is meaningless for you to claim to be a child of God. The truth is that the end shall justify the means. By your deeds, you shall be judged. 4.13 The indigenes and converts in the kingdom Beloved, this gospel is the key to God's Kingdom. All of us in the world are from one Father, and for that reason, we are brethren. But it is worthy to note that, individually, there are limitations to our spiritual capability. There are some who are the real chosen children of the Kingdom, while others belong to the Kingdom but have diverse assignments and designations. There are many mansions in the Kingdom. The real source of your daily problems is your lust for money. How can you serve God and at the same time lust for money? A true child of God is he who has completely destroyed the lust for mundane things. Such a person is indigenous to the kingdom of God. As many as lust for money, wife, husband, car, children and other material possessions are mere converts as far as God's Kingdom is concerned. In fact, they have no share in the Kingdom of God. Many of you claim to be true members of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, but still have deep interest in worldly things. The question is, can a servant serve two masters at a time? On no account can you be ejected from the Kingdom regardless of your deeds and actions. However, it is obvious that whatever a man sows, same shall he reap. 4.14 You are the architect of your fate This is a Biblical illustration of the doom that awaits a carnally-minded person. Recall when God commissioned Prophet Elisha to go and cleanse Naaman of his leprosy. Prophet Elisha, as directed by God went to Naaman and asked him to go and wash in the River Jordan seven times, and his skin would be restored. Naaman after some consideration, obliged and was cleansed. As a mark of appreciation, Naaman offered Prophet Elisha some money, but being that he (Elisha) was not a hireling, refused the offer. But when Elisha's servant, a hireling, saw that his master had rejected the offer, he stealthily ran after Naaman who was on his way home and in the name of his master, Elisha, collected the offer and consequently became a leper immediatedly. So many of you claim the Father has really delayed the revelation of Brotherhood of the Cross and Star to the entire world. But do you know that you are the cause of this? Is it possible to reveal Brotherhood of the Cross and Star to the entire world when you who are visioners are hirelings and cheaters? Many of you have claimed to be God because you are gifted with the ability to see vision. With this, how can Brotherhood of the Cross and Star be revealed to the world. What respect have you given to God, the Creator? 4.15 The Father is all and in all Ever since you came into the Kingdom, have you seen me charge money for any service rendered to people? All the services rendered are free. Have you ever heard me lay claims to the mighty works as witnessed in the Kingdom? Every work in the Kingdom is done by the Holy Father and not Olumba. But because of your ignorance, you have failed to give Him His due glory. Instead, you take delight in defrauding and embezzling God's money. Your actions are monitored. The scriptures have enjoined you not to love the world or the things in it, that whoever loves the world is devoid of the Love of God. Now, the question is, have you not fallen short of this injunction? This gospel therefore constitutes judgment to you. It is said: “The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the World, and they that dwell therein. For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation”. (Psalm 24: 1 - 5). God is the Sole owner of everything in the world. Hence, nothing belongs to anybody. If you dare claim ownership of anything, you are but a thief. What do you think will encourage those who are still outside to come into Brotherhood of the Cross and Star when you who have gained this salvation go about dupping and defrauding others of their money? A lot of you are fraudsters. You pretend to be members of Brotherhood and even change your surnames to Obu to achieve your ulterior motives. What do you think will bring people to Brotherhood when you are still wallowing in such abominable acts? So many of you, when the Father uses you to accomplish one assignment or the other, you arrogate the glory to yourselves by claiming to be the actual doer of such work. When God endows you with material wealth say a house, instead of using it freely for the welfare of man, you would rather convert it to a hotel, and charge people for lodging in it. Are you not carnally minded by so doing? This explains why you are advised not to love the world and the things therein, for anybody who loves the world is an enemy of God. 4.16 Leadership by example You must emulate me because, ever since you came into the kingdom, you have never seen me charge anybody for any service. Before now; you did not understand what Brotherhood stood for, but this gospel is an eye-opener to you in particular, and the whole world in general. Therefore, do not come here to practise the acts of swindling and dupping, but should adhere to the injunctions of God to magnify His glory. If you do anything outside this, you are a child of perdition. Nobody in the entire world is ready to purify himself for God. None is also ready to surrender himself and the wealth endowed him to the service of God. All the things you find at your disposal belong to God. But instead of using them for His services, you rather misappropriate them and often show no contentment. With God, nothing is impossible. Your stinginess is responsible for your poverty. 4.17 An illustration on contentment There lived a boy who was money conscious to the extent that even the services he rendered to his parents were charged. On one fateful day, he got entangled in a problem which he could not on his own solve. To help him out, his father became his last resort. But when he turned to his father for help, he (father) refused, that except he was financially compensated. He became frustrated and finally perished. Similar things have been happening to those who charge for every service rendered. This is because in as much as you receive money from people for the services rendered, you are invariably charging God. This is why God turns a deaf ear to you, when you get into problems and run to Him for solution. 4.18 Search yourself You do not lose anything by rendering services to God. But you had failed to realise this fact. Hence, you were hitherto a hireling. You claim to have seen God face to face, but your attitude is nothing to write home about since your mind is centered on the acquisition of material wealth. This therefore shows that you are devoid of the love of God. Do not boast of having money, children, car, house, food, and other earthly possessions. Rather, boast of being one with the Father. The greatest hindrance to your salvation has been materialism. It is also the major hindrance to the manifestation of God's glory on earth, Therefore, let us be spiritually-minded and renounce completely the things of this world. Visions and dreams do not glorify God, what glorifies God is total surrendering to God. Read the golden text again. Golden text: John 3:6. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”. 4.19 The two groups in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star There are two categories of people in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, those who love and serve God diligently and those who seek material reward. Those who are spiritually inclined and serve God diligently are the heirs apparent to the kingdom. On the other hand, those who seek the satisfaction of the flesh by amassing material wealth are the children of perdition. Whoever serves the Lord can never be in lack. Therefore, do not think that if you serve God you would be impoverished as erroneously believed by the worldly people. The people of the world have not lived up to the expectation of God. What belongs to God belongs to His children. Therefore, you will never hunger or thirst while serving the living God. You should stand firm and serve Him for Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is the only place where God is worshipped in spirit and in truth. The worldly people place much emphasis on paid services because of their lust for material acquisition, and due to this they have continued to live in poverty. Spiritual chorus To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Beloved, this song should be sung to the entire world. Let the worldly people know that the actual source of their problems is carnality. Here in the Kingdom, we do not lack anything because we are with the Father. What belongs to Him belongs to us, and what belongs to us equally belongs to Him. Therefore, if your real motive of coming into the Kingdom is to get children or material benefits, then you should endeavour to drop such motives. Start to seek spiritual gifts. Also, if you came here in order to become a child of God but still indulge in the old habit of stealing, it means you are a child of perdition. You should take a cue from what one Lagos based lawyer, a baptized member of this fold does. He handles cases for his clients without charging a fee; such is the work of God. Again, recall what Doctor Nkanta is doing at Ikot Ekpene. He has been rendering free services to many patients in his clinic. That is the work of God. In your case what have you done? Do you not know that anything that involves money is out of God's service? Beloved, a stroke of cane is enough for the wise. Let he that has ears, hear what the Holy Spirit has imparted to the world. May God bless His holy word, Amen. THANK YOU FATHER