EFFECT OF MAKING A VOW

First lesson: Matthew: 5-33 “Again, ye have heard that it had been said by them of old times, thou shall not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths.” Second lesson: Matthew: 14-9 “And the king was sorry, nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them that sat with him at meat, he commandeth it to be given her”. Golden text: Matthew: 12-36 “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement.” 2.1 You are killed by your words Today's sermon is a new spiritual food for you to digest. I told you that if you had the time, I would reveal all the mysteries of God which had been hidden to you and which are the knots lacking in you. Therefore, the revelation of today is fundamental, because it is the cause of the troubles and tribulations in the world. An old adage says that it's own mouth kills the monkey, but today I say that you are killed by your words. Since all the utterances, which you make, are recorded by God, their reactions affect your daily life and bring troubles to you From today the talkative persons will control their tongues because they will realise the devastating effect of negative words. 2.2 Your words follow you and create your destiny Word is the weapon and instrument used in creating and destroying the world. Jacob used words to destroy some of his children, and to bless others also. You can easily erase anything written by hands, but the words, which you speak, can neither be erased nor recalled because they have been written down and will be used in judging you. What is meant by destiny is the effect of the statements you make from the time of your birth. You may decide what you will be during your regeneration, and this will be recorded for you. When you reincarnate, whether they were good or bad resolutions, they will all be fulfilled accordingly. Many people today grumble that when they do good to people, they are rewarded with evil. This will be fulfilled, and whenever you do good, you must be rewarded with evil because you said it. Others make promises that when they have money they will surrender themselves to work for God. This will be recorded and sealed and if you fail to accomplish it, you are condemned. 2.3 You are judged by your words Idle words are the unfulfilled promise, which you make and which will be used in judging you. You must keep all the promises you make else, you will be condemned. Since the law has stipulated that you must perform all your vows, therefore, whether in life or death, you will be called upon to honour them. Word cannot be compared with such thing as gold, money, cloth or anything craven by man's artifice, but it is God. So when you speak, you are bound to fulfill them. If you confess your sins and promise never to commit them again, but afterwards you go back to sin, you are guilty. If you promise to surrender yourself to God, but you go back to entangle yourself in the affairs of this world, you are condemned. We are governed by our resolutions because they were recorded and sealed for us to fulfill. If you do not fulfill them, you will meet with the vicissitude of life. Christ visualised the depredating effect of vows and the impending judgement thereof. He warned you not to swear on anything. He said that He could do nothing by Himself, but He spoke what He heard from God because He was doing the will of Him that sent Him. That was why when Pilate interrogated Him during His trial, He said nothing, because if He had offered any defense, He would have been guilty. You may inflict any punishment or shoot anybody, but do not use words because these will inevitably appear during judgement. You should be quick to hear but slow to speak because after speaking, there is no retraction. Now our records are overflowing with idle words and we are being judged with its contents whether they are good or bad. In such circumstance, how can the world get peace? Christ says that heaven and earth shall pass away, but one jot of the law will not pass till all is fulfilled. Nobody should joke with words. 2.4 God's decrees are immutable All the outrageous and uncomplimentary words which you pour out daily from your mouth result in accumulation of trouble and death for yourself. Many people think that God will not act on their loose utterances because they are Kings. There is no joke before God for His decrees are immutable, so all your utterances are stamped and reserved for judgement. The Israelites perished in the desert because of flouting orders. They received the laws passed to them through the disposition of angels but failed to keep them. Therefore, they perished. Jesus advised that you should swear nothing but to surrender everything to God. It is respite against dooms-day. During the civil war, and when you were sick, you made many resolutions, which you have forgotten, but God had recorded them for you. The first fear of God is to perform your resolutions to God, whether in the sun or rain, or whether in life or death. For if not so, you will be condemned. Today there is nobody who honours his words. Since word is life, power and God, any resolution you make, you are vowing to God. This is why temperance is the essence of life. If you say that you will do something, but at the end you cannot do it, your words have condemned you. Why did you say you would do it when you are unable? Therefore, there is no excuse for your inability. I sympathize with you because of the promises you made from your youth. You may forget them but God had recorded them against you. Many have no husband because they had promised that they would not marry. Others said that if they had been present during the time of our Lord Jesus Christ, they would have followed Him. This was recorded and sealed with God's signet. Today you are reminded to perform to God what you promised, but if you fail, you do not lie unto men but unto God. You complained that your former church was not good, and now you will practise the gospel, but you have not fulfilled your promise. By your words, you will be justified and by your words, you will be condemned. A vow is such a solemn and venerable act that it is irrevocable. You cannot forsake juju and secret societies because you vowed that you would not leave them. People die because of binding themselves with the words of their mouths. It is just like giving a person IOU for £1000 when you are not indebted to him at all. If legal actions are taken against you, you will be ordered to pay the amount although you may plead that you owed him nothing. 2.5 Honour your vows to God and get out of trouble People are bewildered to see how people suffer sickness and death despite their devoted prayers to God. This is because of their unfulfilled promises. If you pray that you should be given three children, this will be done notwithstanding whether they are mad or thieves. When they come here and you pray for good children you will get none. You said that you would get many children, but you had no foresight of maintenance. When the children begin to stream in, you will be found desperate at last. Do not think that God has forsaken the vows you made. But for these vows, we will not suffer for God does not punish anybody. All our predicaments emanate from our vows, which we have not honoured. If you are not a carpenter but you deceive a person that you will make a door for him, this statement will be recorded. But if you are unable to provide that door, you are guilty. Your suffering is because you do not fulfill your obligations to God. When you go home recount all the vows you have made to God which you have not fulfilled, and for ever, you will be a debtor and in perpetual suffering if you do not fulfil them. 2.6 Kings of old were held by their vows Your trouble is that you do not know whether the vow is good or bad. Herod made an irrational promise to Herodias daughter. Although he was sorry at last, but for the oath's sake he had to fulfill it. The fate of Herod has befallen many of you today. In the case of David, when he eloped with a person's wife, he promised the woman that her son would reign in his stead. The boy was neither the first nor the second born son because David had previous wives and children, but intrigue, adultery and lust resulted in this one. When David became old another son proclaimed himself king, but Solomon's mother went to him and reminded him of his vow. Since the law warrants a person to perform his oath, whether good or bad for fear of condemnation, David arranged and installed Solomon as King, to keep his oath to Solomon's mother. 2.7 Dishonour to your vow makes you guilty All of you here have made promises to people. You are now required to fulfill them. When you took your wife to the church, you tied the nuptial knot and vowed that only death would part you. This promise was recorded and stamped for you. If you divorce now, you will be guilty. When you had no child, you vowed on what you would do for a son if given to you. You are now called upon to discharge your vows. Why do you complain of moral depravity and roguery in the nation? Many people said that they would steal in order to enrich themselves, while others promised to marry many wives. All these utterances were recorded for them. If you did not know that you must fulfill your promise. Read the first lesson for clarification. First lesson: Matthew: 5-33 " Again, ye have heard that it had been said by them of old times, thou shall not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the lord thine oaths." 2.8 Perform your oath to God or face judgement Why do you fail to fulfill your promise? You promised never to part with your friend till you die, but if afterwards you quarrel and separate, you have broken your promise. Hannah was a barren woman. She went to the temple and vowed before God that if a male child was given her, she would surrender him to God. Eli, the priest who did not know her petition thought she was drunk when he saw her lips moving without hearing any words. But she said that she was not drunk, but that she was pouring her whole heart to God in prayer. When at last God gave her Samuel, she honoured the vow and returned the boy to the Temple to minister unto God. Do you deceive God or yourself when you fail to keep all your vows? There is nobody who can revoke the vow you have made because the law enacts that you must perform all your oaths to the Lord, or you will be judged. 2.9 Your obligation is not to say what you will not do When there is any proposal to build a house, you will vow to donate two hundred pounds, but at last you will not fulfill your promise. Imagine the burden, which you have heaped upon your head. Many promise to participate in fellowships and other activities of the church, but they attend none. At the judgement, all your unfulfilled promises will appear. You stand before God and swear that you have forsaken sins and juju, but the next day you go back to wallow in the mire. Have you kept the vow? Whenever you promise that you will never commit sins again, this will be recorded and stamped, and if you go back to sin, you will be condemned. All those who sign for the priesthood and vow for poverty, chastity, but afterwards they go back to meddle in worldly affairs and in fornication are all condemned. All the ministers and reverend gentlemen who turn their collars backwards to signify that they have forsaken the world entirely for the ministry of God, if they return to the worldly life, they are condemned. Many people wonder why God should have particular interest in them while others wonder why Satan should need them. It is because of the vows you made, which you must fulfill now. Nobody forced you to make the vows but you did them voluntarily and they were recorded in books, which you cannot see. Our sufferings are due to our unfulfilled promises. For this reason people say that there is no man of God because no one honours his words. Any person who keeps the commandment, which says that you must perform your oaths to God, is a true man of God. Jacob promised to build a bethel in the place where he dreamt, and he did so. If we fail to keep our vows, we become nothing before God. Many people who promised to serve God are now serving Satan. You have sleepless nights because you have not fulfilled your promises. You promised that when God gives you money, you will give alms to the poor, but when the money finally came, you forget your oath and because of this negligence, you suffer. You promised that when God helps you, you would help others. As you have been helped now, how many people have you helped? It is better to stop making a vow than to make one and fail to fulfill it. You deceived a girl that you will marry her. She started cooking delicious food for you, but afterwards you disappoint her. The same trick is rampant among girls. If you forget or regard it as trivial, judgement will not show you any mercy. Why do you make agreement when you know that you will not fulfill it. It is unnecessary to seek the services of an advocate and to stamp it according to the stamp duty ordinance because by mere making agreement, you have strayed from the ways of God. You may invite the entire family to sign as witness, but at last they will deny. Before you can maintain your integrity and culture of probity, you must fulfill your vows to God. Writing is insignificant but your words are important because when you speak, you are making a vow in the presence of God, and if you do not fulfill them, you must suffer and die. Nevertheless, to make a vow or to fulfill it is evil, and it is responsible for all the troubles in the world. Let us read our second lesson again. Second lesson: Matthew : 14-9 “And the king was sorry, nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them that sat with him at meat, he commandeth it to be given her”. 2.10 To vow is evil The disadvantage of making a promise is that immediately you try to fulfill it, you must stray from God. Your relations are tied down in the churches because they vowed that they would not forsake them. For this reason, they are lost. Since the law is that you must fulfill your vow, they cannot go out again because they promised to stay there forever. Before you are sworn in as a full member in the secret societies, you must vow never to forsake the society and the devil will record and seal them. Today it is not easy for them to go out again. Although Herod was sorry for the lofty and enthusiastic promise he made, but he was compelled to fulfill it. This is why Christ insisted that you should not swear anything and that your “yes” should be “yes”, and your “no” should be “no”. Many of you die because you promised to help a person, and in the attempt to honour your promise, you lose your life. Oath is like signing a surety for a borrower. If he is unable to repay the debt, you will be called upon to liquidate it. People die so as to remove shame from them. If you have no money, you will go and steal to be rich in the eyes of the people, and this will bring you death, 2.11 The disadvantages of making a vow Do not be an accomplice where they administer oath because such is a diabolical ceremony. You should surrender everything to God. From today, do not take any oath, but if due to unavoidable circumstance you do it, you are bound to fulfill it. After John had reproved Herod for marrying Herodias, his brother, Philip's wife, Herod contemplated to kill him, but he feared the people because John was a true prophet. Therefore, he alternatively locked him up in prison. Unfortunately for him, when Herodias' daughter entertained them by dancing, he promised to give her whatsoever she would demand. All the wars in the world are caused by the words of our mouth. In attempt to maintain our integrity, we fight and die. What is the essence of making a promise and then striving to fulfill it when both actions are devilish? Christ says that you should not make any promise, but that you should surrender everything to God, because if you make a promise and fulfill it not you are condemned. It is the worst thing to promise to educate a person or give him employment. Are you the owner of work or yourself? The only person who can make promise is God. You commit sins because of your oath and you become a mean fellow if you do not fulfill it. Even if you fulfill, you are guilty. If Herod did not make the promise, he would not have killed John. This is the effect of making a vow. Everybody in the world today swears to serve Satan. How many persons sign to work for God? You will promise to forsake a person if he tells lies, and when this happens, you remember your promise and keep it. But how many of you promise to do good things and fulfill them? 2.12 We are judged on daily basis Before the world was founded, you vowed to serve God, therefore the time to fulfill the promise has come. Whether the world likes it or not they must serve God because all of them acknowledge God as their Father. This is why it is said that judgement will begin in the house of God. They also accept Jesus as their Lord, therefore, they must all follow and serve Him, because this had been recorded and sealed. The Scripture says that you should speak and do what you say, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. Honour your words because whenever God makes a promise, He honours them. From today, you should regret because of the promises you made, and you must fulfill all that you promised to God. If you fail, you will give account during judgement, which has started. You should note that there is no special day reserved for judgement because we stand before the judgement seat and are judged daily. Let us re-examine our golden text. Golden text: Matthew: 12:36 “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement.” 2.13 Before God, be real by keeping your words We are now in the judgement day. You are being reminded to render all services to God as you promised. You promised to forsake fornication and lying, why do you do them again? If Ananias did not vow to sell all his possessions in aid of the Apostle's common purse, he would not have been condemned. It was said that all those who believed and were of one heart and soul regarded nothing as their own, for they sold all and brought the money to the Apostles. But Ananias sold his own and kept back part of it. When Peter quizzed him, he fell down and died. Why do you say that you have surrendered everything to God but you do not allow your belongings or yourself to be touched. Which one do you surrender to God then? 2.14 Time for the Lord's service The judgement of the former Pastors and Bishops are delivered in the Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 34, from verse one to the end. All those who promised to be devoted to the prophetic ministry and to feed the flock of Christ, whether they be apostles, prophets, teachers, mothers or elders, but afterwards they fail, the same judgement is meted to them. Brethren, let us always honour our vows. If you had vowed to be priests of God, you should fulfil this, whether in the sun or rain, and let God be magnified in you in life and in death. Paul said, "What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword?" We know that nothing can separate us. Now the Father is reviewing the record of the whole world. Many people who are Pastors now vowed to work for the devil, but contrary to their vows they creep unawares into the Lord's vineyard to devour the sheep. There are others who do not go to church today, but they vowed to serve God. Such people are being fished out and they will be gathered together. Do not be surprised if you see a person doing well in Brotherhood, although he did not attend any church previously. This was the promise He made, so this was discovered when the records were checked. Many people did not want to be sorcerers from the beginning but their family forced them into it. At this fullness of time, they have been liberated and brought to their destination, but you think that they were juju doctors when they were not. God has never forgotten, His promise. He says that you will account for all the promises you make on judgement day. Have you fulfilled all the vows you made? As you promised to serve, worship and keep the commandments of God, if you do not fulfill them, you will have no peace. 2.15 Always mind your words and actions It is said that promise came before the law. This is the time of promise and law cannot disable the promise of God. Whether you are serving the devil now, but since you vowed to serve God, be prepared for the time has come. The judgement is that if you forsake your society to serve the living God, you will have peace. Do not be surprised when you experience this change because it is the promise of God. You vow that you will not defile yourself, fornicate or make juju, but if you fail to keep this promise you will not have peace. When you did not come to Brotherhood, you lived a vicious life, but when you came here, you were given the “First Step to God" booklet to read. You then promise to denounce sins after confessing the previous ones, therefore you were baptised into the fold. If you go back to sins you are guilty because the “First Step To God" is the book of judgement. In 2nd Peter 2; 20-21, it is said that, it is better for you not to know the way of righteousness, than after you have known it, you turn away from the holy commandments delivered unto you. Nevertheless this proverb is fulfilled in you which says that the dog is turned to its own vomit again, and the son that was washed, to his wallowing in the mire. Therefore your last stage will be worse. 2.16 More stripes for those who know the law and violate it All the words of your mouth will be judged. It is said that you should not seek to be teachers because their judgement will be very great. If you say that a person should not kill or steal, but you do these things yourself, you are condemned. A none member can steal because of ignorance, but if a Brotherhood steals, he will have sleepless nights. It is said that a person who knows the Lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to the Lord's will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. Baptism is the most solemn vow before God that you will forsake the world and live the rest of your life to God. If you do not honour it, you are condemned. Mind your words and actions for they all appear in the judgement. 2.17 As God's children live by your words Do not promise to do anything by yourself, but say: "By the will of God", you will do anything. Do not vow to donate one hundred pounds, but donate what you have because immediately you make the vow, it will be recorded against you. If you promise to visit someone by 4o'clock, but you fail, you will be a useless fellow before God and man. Let us honour our words so that we may be the true sons of God. There is no other thing that can make you a good Christian because it is said that we are the stewards of God, and moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. Do not do anything above your ability and do not go before God but follow after Him. We now dread certain streets because of our unfulfilled promises. Such vain pride and loftiness is evil because man is like a vapour, which appears for a little time and then, vanishes away. You must from today honour your own words. He that has ears to hear let him hear and may God bless His holy words, A-men THANK YOU FATHER