TRIBULATION THE KEY INTO GOD'S KINGDOM

First 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, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me". Second lesson: Matthew 10: 39 "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it". Golden Text: Matthew 16: 21 "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day". Brethren, that is the theme of our lesson. Often when you hear the word of God, you do not accord it any importance. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the author of our faith. All the words of God proceed out from Him. He also said that we should follow after Him. And any person who follows after Him must surely, pass through all the tribulations which befell our Lord Jesus Christ. He did not say that when you decide to be His disciple, what befell Him will not plague you. He never made such, a statement. He has not said that if you love Him and keep His commandments you will not meet tribulations. Rather, He made it clear that all that were done unto-Him will beset you also. That is the meaning of the cross mentioned by Him. He said, "And whosoever doth not -bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple." 2.1 Tribulation is God's will for his children If our Lord Jesus the Christ, who is the head of all the angels, the Son of God, the Son of man and God Himself, was subjected unto tribulations, who are you not to face the same? The problem with all of us present here is that none of you is battle ready to suffer tribulations, humiliation and disgrace. It is said "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me". That is why you cannot realise the glory prevalent here. You are not prepared to suffer afflictions to carry your cross and follow Him". You are not ready to .receive disgrace, to receive insults, to be cheated, to be beaten up, to be accused falsely, and to be killed in His name. The reason why the blacks, the whites, the coloured, and indeed all mankind fall short of the glory of God is that no person is prepared to suffer. But our Lord Jesus Christ has made it emphatically clear, "whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me'-'. If you do not take your own cross, your stay here will be of no effect. Your money is not paramount but what is required is for you to overcome tribulations, to take up your cross and follow Him. You have heard that scriptural nomination saying, "from that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day". If you do not suffer with our Lord Jesus Christ, how will you be glorified with Him? If you fail to suffer tribulations with Him, how will you resurrect with Him? That is why He asked that must Christ not suffer many things and pass into His Father's glory? You have heard the nomination in Revelation chapter 7 saying, "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 they 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. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters". How will you be led unto the living fountains of water, when you fail to suffer tribulations and persecution? 2.2 Tribulation is our cross How will you serve God if you do not take your cross and follow after Him? Everybody claims that they want to follow after our Lord Jesus Christ. But there is no person who is prepared to face tribulations. Why Peter, and other Apostles as well as Paul were truly the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ was that they accepted to lead the life style of their master. Who amongst you here will not retaliate when somebody wrongs you? Should a person slap you, you will not fail to slap him back. Therefore, it is not sufficient to pay lip service that you are following our Lord Jesus Christ. If you do not deny yourself, and take up His cross and follow Him, you cannot be His disciple. Brethren, I do not wish to overload you. Let our first lesson be read First 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, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me". 2.3 Denial of self is key into kingdom of God Where lies the mark of the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ in you. Now, if you are abused, you also return it unto him in the same way. Somebody curses you and you curse him back. If a person slaps you, you also retaliate. Somebody pronounces a word and you say two words. Is that the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ? That is your problem with our Lord Jesus Christ. I do not think that if it were for the sake of money He would have said “how difficult it is for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God”. If money was the central requirement, the western world itself would have inherited this Kingdom. It would not have come to the African continent. But the Kingdom of God consists in denying yourself, and taking up your cross and following after Him. People must slap and abuse you and yet you utter not a word. You do not bother or become exasperated. This constitutes the key to this Kingdom. Ask yourself whether there is any of you who have denied himself. If you had humbled yourself, be you an infant, a woman, a man, a millionaire no matter your status in life, you would not have had the cause to say a word when somebody spits on you, abuses or does anything wrong to you. You would count such experiences of no effect. When our Lord Jesus Christ said, "Take my yoke upon you", what is the implication of that yoke? It is that cross. To take His yoke upon yourself implies your suffering tribulations and persecutions. You do not learn of Him by having the Bible, speaking good English, quoting the different nominations from Genesis to Malachi. You can resemble Him if and when somebody smites one side of your cheek and you turn the other side for him also. It consists in keeping sealed lips when somebody, even an infant, spits on your face, people taking your handbag extortionately; you do not retaliate. Even when a man like you throws you down. kicks you everywhere; for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, you bear all these. Somebody calls you a thief, a murderer, a prostitute, speaks to you disdainfully, yet you do not answer him a word. That implies denying yourself and taking up your cross and following after Him. 2.4 Rejoice in tribulation Every time you testify thanking God for giving you a fresh appointment, that your wife has delivered a child, that you have purchased a car. You should thank God that somebody had boxed you down and you did not retaliate. Have you thanked God that people call you a thief, a ghost, disgraced you, yet you did not seek redress? Have you ever thanked God when somebody deprives you of your legitimate right? It is against this background that I keep telling you that Brotherhood is not yet understood by all of you. For if you were to comprehend it, you would not behave in the manner you chose to do at present. You are a cross which is used anyhow by all persons. You are bound to be humiliated. No matter your status in life, if you are not prepared to forsake such esteemed positions, deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Him, you are not worthy of this Kingdom. We are aware that He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Son of God and God Himself. He was sinless. He accepted to suffer many things, to deny Himself and take up His cross in order that we might be saved. What do you think about yourself who is an old thief? There is no good thing in you. Till dooms day, you cannot speak good words. But if biscuits are shared here and you are not given some of it, you would not mind holding the basin containing it until you have your way. Despite the teachings given to you, the mysteries you have seen, you have not learnt any lesson. You argue that you are a human being. Alright, since you claim to be a human being, you go ahead and die because it is incumbent on man to die. You have seen a certain rich man who is now a wretched fellow. Brethren, can you realise where men and women have gone astray. No matter what you do, if you do not suffer tribulations, and deny yourself, it would be impossible to practise the word of God. And if you fail to keep the word of God, you cannot follow after our Lord Jesus Christ. 2.5 Self-denial is mandatory A great many people argue that Brotherhood does not respect people, does not take cognisance of chiefs. And for this reason they choose to stay at home. For in their own estimation there is much insult here. As we eat feast in common here, many people are not happy over the development. To them, there should be class distinction as regards the sharing of the love feast and that is the time Brotherhood would be enjoyable. But they forget what is said in the scripture that "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it". You can see how our Lord Jesus Christ lost His life for the sake of the gospel and thus He was saved. If we should accept tribulation, allow people to bring upon us afflictions, disgrace, torture and yet we are not exasperated, God would have come in to save us. 2.6 God saves those who deny themselves God cannot save you when you do not deny yourself of your rights. For the word of God cannot be of any effect as it is said, "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find It". If we want God to save us, let us deny ourselves. When we are called thieves, murderers, yet we are not annoyed. They beat us, destroy our houses, speak disdainfully against us and we do not complaint. Money is of no avail. The paramount requirement here is for you to deny yourself and take up your cross and follow after Him. Brethren. I do not want to take you further. Let our second lesson be read. Second lesson: Matthew 10 : 29 "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it". 2.7 You cannot save your life Have you lost your life for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ? Are you not arguing that you are not Jesus Christ but that you are a human being. All of us here would have loved to follow after Him but our behavioural patterns deny Him. Even though you have realised this truth with your naked-eyes and not by heresay, you are witnesses of it, yet you still argue that you are human beings. Is that not a disgraceful thing? You claim to be a Brotherhood, have you suffered tribulations? Have you denied yourself, and taken up your cross and followed after Him? Have you seen the handiwork of the inhabitants of the world? They say that Brotherhood is Beelzebub and kills people. They spit at it and reject it but have you seen the Father showing any sign of disapproval? In your own case, even today you have quarreled for the sake of Brotherhood. Is that the cross which you are to take up and follow after Him? You struggle to save yourself. If you are accused of witchery. People will urge you to swear to an oath for your self defense. They will claim that such a thing has never existed in your family and you will obey them. Is that not spelling your downfall. You are consulting necromancers, you cast lots, swear to an oath all in a bid to vindicate yourself from blame. Thus, you lose your life. Somebody accuses you of having intimacy with his wife or her husband as the case may be and you vow that you shall not allow your name to be defamed. You then accept to swear to an oath of any type because you do not wish anybody to assassinate your character. You take that oath so as to vindicate yourself from disgrace. You want to be regarded as an upright person. Have you not lost your life? 2.8 Do not seek for man's justice Many of us here do not ignore our accusers when we are called thieves and accused of witchery. This causes us to fight, to quarrel in the bid to save ourselves. Brethren, it is said, "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it". All the accusations by the people of the world that Brotherhood is Beelzebub, that Olumba has killed some people, that He has done one thing or the other, have you seen me refuting or accepting those accusations? Have you seen me being fastidious? That is the implication of taking up the cross. But in your own case, you vow that you will never accept it and worse of it you will drag them to where you think that justice will be done. 2.9 Even the Father suffers tribulations I do not think that since God created the world, there has ever been a man who could bear such campaign of calumny as has been directed against Brotherhood of the Cross and Star and its Leader. How can a living being who is still eating, has the mouth to speak and is full of wisdom and everything, be able to withstand such accusations? But this is the revelation and the fulfillment of the will of God. Ordinarily, when a mishap befalls somebody, he will seek for money to vindicate himself from it. In our present case, there is money here. People will argue that if they had people, their plight would have been over. Here, there are people. They will cry for one thing or the other to help them. But all such things are prevalent here. But you have witnessed that notwithstanding the calumny against me, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, I keep sealed lips. For that is precisely the cross that I must take up. In your own case. you would have raised eyebrow, over it. That is erroneous. I have no answer to such happenings for that is the only path into this Kingdom. But you submit that you do not want to tread on such a road. Have you heard this surpassing statement, "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it". You who try to save yourself, have you heard that? But any person who loses his life for my sake shall find it. This is an eye-opener. 2.10 Christ accepted tribulation The people defamed the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, but He did not complain. Even during the trial, Pilate had cause to ask Him. "Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? And he answered him not a word". He left everything onto the Father. In your own circumstance, when you are accused of embezzlement, you are beaten hollow. When people say or point at you that you have embezzled the money meant for the women's fellowship, men's fellowship and nay, the entire Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, you will turn red with fury and the Father will laugh at you. Somebody will come to accuse you of falling in love with his wife or her husband. People will make a mockery of you. You will not take the situation kindly. You are perhaps at liberty to go and save yourself but the Father will not try to save Himself. For I have to take up this cross until the end. I am delivering this gospel to strengthen you. At present, many brothers do not visit the domiciles of our sisters to avoid being accused of having intimacy with them. Many sisters do not get close to the brothers to avert accusations of being their love partners. Because once they are found together, ' people will jump to the conclusion that they have already completed the deal. Thus, they do not want to defame their names. They wish to play innocent of such tendencies. The Father is the only person who wants disgrace. It is a truism. You are free to make any pronouncement on the Father and nobody will answer you. For "he that findeth his life shall lose it". People like us do not seek to save ourselves for our Lord Jesus Christ has saved us. 2.11 Do not defend yourself or you lose your life You are afraid of the words of the mouth. You complain that you do not want to go there because there is too much talking. Have you been blackmailed, as was done unto our Lord Jesus Christ? You have heard what-is read to you saying, "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it" Have you not found it manifested here in Brotherhood? Consider all the blackmail made by the worldly people, what is the situation today? Has our Lord Jesus Christ not saved Brotherhood? He has done so. All church denominations. necromancers, thieves, whoremongers and all the inhabitants of the 'world are against Brotherhood. If we were to drag people to court, how many cases would be pending in the law courts? What would you have used to defend yourself? We have allowed things to be for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. You can now see that He has elevated Brotherhood unto the heavens? Why do you not want to be elevated? Therefore, right from today that you have heard this gospel, no matter the false accusations leveled against you, even if somebody accuses you of being intimate with his wife, do not utter a word in defense of yourself. For if you endure these temptations, our Lord Jesus Christ will elevate you. If somebody alleges that you are in love with his wife or husband, that you are a thief, a murderer, whatever thing you are accused of, do not answer him a word. Do not attempt to defend yourself so as not to lose your life. For these realities are not concealed but are meant to beset all mankind. Whosoever wants to follow after our Lord Jesus Christ must surely be visited by these conditionalities. No person is exempted from it. That is the only gateway into this Kingdom. Everybody must face this reality. And that is why many souls are lost because they do not deem it wise to deny themselves and bear the cross. Even if Queen Elizabeth should come into Brotherhood, she must face it. If a person tells you that he is following after our Lord Jesus Christ, but he does not suffer tribulations, humiliation, cheating, despised at in the society, such a person is a liar. Take Saul, now Paul as an example. He was a learned lawyer and a responsible man. But for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, he was laid on the ground and given thirty-nine strokes of the cane in five different occasions yet he uttered not a word. Do not think that when the people went to kill Peter and the rest of the Apostles, there were no matchets and guns for them to have used to defend themselves? But because of the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, they did not defend themselves. Now that you have a gun in your house, does it follow that when they come to shoot you, you will fire back at them. If you shoot them, it means that you are lost Now that you have paid for the service of lawyer, does it mean that if a person is indebted to you or if somebody offends you, 'you will drag the person to court? Have you not heard 'what is said, "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it"? Do you not believe in the efficacy of that scriptural nomination? This is why the people of the world cannot realise the power of God. Brethren, can you then see the reason why Brotherhood has no difficulties. When the youths wanted to defend Brotherhood, I disapproved of their aim. For if they had done so, they would have scattered Brotherhood. This was the same situation in which Peter found himself. Our Lord Jesus Christ told Peter, "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scripture be fulfilled, that thus it must be?" 2.12 Emulate the Holy Father Many of you are usually bamboozled about why the Father keeps sealed lips when people misbehave here. How can I make a statement? Did our Lord Jesus Christ utter words? It is that same Jesus Christ our Lord who does the work here. You have seen how the worldly people blaspheme against Brotherhood. They make all sorts of disdainful statements against this Kingdom. Your boss will mockingly tell you to go and report the matter to Obu, now that he has dismissed you from the job. They even spit on your face. You become so much depressed unto weeping and eventually you will pray the Father to salvage you out of such a mess. If you were Obu Himself, you would have spoken the words and fire will burn them. But the Father does not act in that pattern. You should not retaliate. For if you seek to defend yourself, know it that you have lost your life. The reason you consult a necromancer is to save your life. So also is the reason behind your search for visions. You go to the hospitals in a bid to save your life. Why you drag somebody to court is to save your life. You are given to quarrelling, swearing to an oath, because you want to save your life. But you have been told, "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it". All those who are not affected by what men do unto you and who allow everything into the mighty hands of God shall be saved. Brethren. I do not wish to overload you. One stroke of the cane is sufficient unto the wise. Let our golden text be read. Golden Text: Matthew 16: 21 "From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day". 2.13 Meaning of cross Have you realised the real meaning of the cross? It is to suffer tribulations, humiliation, false accusation, and such tortures without uttering a word. If you do not count your life as a loss, how shall you gain entry into this Kingdom? For it may be that you are a wealthy man, with prominent children, some of which are lawyers, doctors, experts in different fields of study, and somebody comes to insult you, it would seem as if you should cut off his head. By so doing, this Kingdom shall elude you. Consider our Lord Jesus Christ who said “I am” and every person fell on the ground. He spoke the word and the storm ceased. He spoke the word and the dead was risen. Why should He have surrendered Himself to the people to suffer many things? He did it so that God might save Him. It is for this same reason that He was glorified above all creations. If you were involved in the same case, you would have fasted to avert such a calamity. You would have also prayed that-God should send down fire from above to destroy them, that He should waive it aside. But He did none of these. Instead, He endured these tribulations so that God should raise Him up. Take the usual trips to Biakpan as a case in point. Because of bad roads and other associated difficulties along the route, many people complain and find it impossible to visit the Holy City. Some people have their cars abandoned along the road. But in the case of our Lord Jesus Christ, He said, to His disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again on the third day". This was not a thing He was informed about, but He knew of this mission within Himself; that He must go and suffer tribulations so that the glory of God might be manifested. 2.14 Christ did not defend himself even though he was justified It suffices us therefore to ponder over this case. If our Lord Jesus Christ who was not guilty of an offence and who was the Son or man, the Son of God, and God Himself, should subject Himself to suffer many things to the extent that He accepted to be spat upon on the face, to be caned and even to die, you should draw a lesson from it. He had all the powers to speak the word and any thing happens but he answered not a word. Who are you then not to be prepared to face whatever tribulations may come your way? You are a luckier generation because our Lord Jesus Christ accomplished His mission in only three and a half years. But in the case of the Father, thirty-one years have been sunk into this mission so far. The work is done on a full-time basis. You are witnesses to the goings on from day-to-day. Notwithstanding all what you do and the temptations you bring forth here, yet, do you see me answering any person a word? For everything comes from our Lord Jesus Christ who is the same yesterday, today and forever. There are troubles outside, and troubles inside the house. Temptations, quarrelling and other evil mechanizations abound both inside and outside. Every nook and corner there are anarchy and confusion, but have you heard me utter a word. Rather, I let everything go the way it is because I had signed for it. All those things done unto me are what were written of me but God will raise me up in the end. When you are afflicted, many of you pray that, it should be taken away so that people will not say that Obu has killed you. Do you think that such statements will avail you any glory? It means that you do not believe in God. At times, you will wonder why something should befall that person who has been practising Brotherhood in its true perspective. It is through such avenues that God passes through to save you. It is not a thing which the keeping of the word of God can wave aside. It is inherent in us. Brethren, many of the things you tag to be minor tantamount to crucifying our Lord Jesus Christ the second time on the cross. All the fighting which you are engaging in. connotes the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ a second time. Quarrelling, sowing of seeds of division and discords and other evil acts symbolize that same thing. I do not think that it had occurred to you that all what is happening today is what was predestined of the children of God. Any person who wants to follow after our Lord Jesus Christ must pass through this only door which is tribulation, torture, false accusation, humiliation, and other disgraceful acts. No person will have any regard for you. Rejoice therefore to go into the narrow path, 2.15 Do not even swear You do know that if you swear to an oath, you are defending yourself. Though it could be proved that you are innocent but by then, you have lost your life and you have denied our Lord Jesus Christ. Brethren, it was not a matter of vision for He specifically told His disciples that he will be going to Jerusalem to suffer many things and He actually went through the travail on no just cause without murmuring against God. He did not ask God why He allowed such a tribulation to befall him for he knew that was destined for Him to pass through. Each and everyone of us should not be exasperated when people abuse us, when you are called a wizard or witch, a thief, accused falsely of loving somebody's wife, husband, indulging in the preparation of concoction, telling lies no matter the situation you find yourself, no matter what people do unto you, you should not be infuriated for that is the wage of the children of God. 2.16 Your identity attracts tribulation It can be likened to a person who before becoming a, king, nobody spoke ill about him But the moment he is installed as the king, hatred, envy and all false accusations will beset him. He will be held solely responsible for all happenings. If somebody steals or commits murder, it will be broadcast abroad that the king did it. People will speak disdainfully about you right from the moment you are capped a chief, people will defame your name and you may become an abominable person in the community. From the time our Lord Jesus Christ called you into this Kingdom, if rain falls, you will be queried why you allowed it to rain or why did you not pray to stop if from falling. Somebody goes on transfer and you will be accused of being responsible for his death. If a person is sick, you will be held for it. People will rain abuses on you. If something is lost, you will be made liable for it. You are witnesses to this realism. When your belonging is stolen, they will contend that since you are a visioner, you should have prayed to avert such a calamity. If your relation goes on transfer, they will ask why you allowed the person to pass away. If a sister needs a husband. she will be questioned why she does not pray; whether she wants to stay until pregnancy dawns on her. People will regard you as a little child. Even the position of a child will be better off than yours. That is precisely what you must expect to befall you. There is no other door for you to pass through. But our hope lies on that statement, "He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it". That is why we do not have problems. Whether you throw us down, put us in a conflagration of fire, we are not bothered. Take the case of Shadrach and his two friends. They did not attempt to save themselves. Daniel never tried to defend himself. So also was our Lord Jesus Christ, He did not venture to save himself. Any person who loses his life for the sake of the gospel and who keeps the word of' God, the same has no problem. For God will save Him. 2.17 Gain your life by losing it Pilate advised our Lord Jesus Christ to escape when He was about to be killed. If He had complied with it. He would have lost His life. But since He lost His life for the sake of the gospel. God caused Him to resurrect on the third day. When Pilate said unto Him. "Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee? If He had put up any defense, He would have lost His life. When He was arrested, if He had prayed to His Father for legions of angels to wage a war in defense of Himself, He would have lost His life. Why do you indulge in the preparation of concoction in a bid to protect yourself? You arrange juju to ensure good health. Why do you subject yourself to somebody in order to be saved? Does it follow then that you want to save yourself? Can you save yourself? 2.18 Everything is God's will for man Whatever you witness happening today, had been so written. All what He said are what is in stock for the children of God. In your different homes, you are a symbol of great wonder to every person. Then, if you are incapacitated to endure these tribulations you should put yourself in fervent prayer. This gospel is well known to all of you because it has actually manifested today in the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. A lot of noise was made about Brotherhood in the State, Nigeria, Africa and the entire world. Write ups on it were published in universities and broadcast abroad that Brotherhood does this or that, all to scandalise the good name of the Kingdom But after the much noise and falsheeod, what is the position today? Can you not realise the handiwork of God? 2.19 You must endure tribulation Many of you have given up doing certain assignments in Brotherhood for fear of criticisms, false accusations, insults. And for this reason you become exasperated. You should continue to be infuriated; for you are trying to save yourself which is a pointer that you are lost. As a man of God, where are you going to receive praises? No person will accord you any praise except to abuse you. Your 'thank you' is to be cursed by people. That is the share of the children of God. Even a little child will stand up to accuse you. He will tell you that if you derived no gains from what you are doing, why do you continue with it? He will contend that you have been fully disorganised yet you continue to shout on the name of the Father. And you may be forced to pack up and "return to your home. You are free to stay at home and die. Since you want to die. You should then know that tribulation and other adversities in life, are what the children of God must endure. God will cause them to resurrect on the last day. Even here, when a Christ Student, Christ Servant, an Elder, no matter who you are, comes up to do that which is good, everybody will rise in concert against him. Some will ,be talking good of, him while another faction will speak ill about him. You will be so persecuted that, if you are not patient to endure, if you should not put your trust on our Lord Jesus Christ, your spirit will quench completely. 2.20 Stand firm in your calling When you decide completely to accomplish a particular assignment, people argue that there is something of interest in what you are doing. Even when you are performing that assignment, somebody emerges to challenge you not to do it; that they do not want it since you have spoilt it. But the truth remains that you have not spoilt it. As a human being, you may give up doing the assignment. If you stop you lost your life. What sin did our Lord Jesus Christ commit to merit those accusations? lt is said that all that were done to Him will be manifested on you. Where are running to? You should not forget the word of God given to you this night that you will suffer many things, but if you stand firm God will cause you to resurrect in the end. Can you not see how God has made Brotherhood to resurrect? Brethren, take all that befell Job as an example. If he had attempted to save himself, he would have lost his life. But he never tried it. Rather, he continued to thank God. Can you not realise what God did unto him? That is exactly what awaits all of us. It is a thing of great pity for a Brotherhood member who dies, to die in the necromancer's house or, he dies from taking injections or he dies along the road or he dies in the hospital or he dies at where he went for treatment. This happens because he wanted to save himself. It is a pathetic development to have Brotherhood of the Cross and Star members being summoned to a family meeting, for settlement of their dispute, engaging in court actions, all to save themselves. It is sorrowful to find Brotherhood members engaging in disagreement, quarrelling and disputes. If you were to comprehend that as a Brotherhood, you have to suffer tribulations and persecutions of all kinds, when these things are brought on us, we would have surrendered everything to the Father. For He alone can take dominion over such tendencies. Brethren, it is said one stroke of a cane is sufficient unto the wise. I will not wish to be tedious on you. Those who have ears, let them hear. May God bless His holy words. Amen THANK YOU FATHER