The CORE missing SS in some of our Churches with true stories and Five (5) Critical ACTION Steps to Deploy
Saturday 21st of September 2024
Otakada.org Content Count 2 million Plus!
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/4dM07mIhic99gToH8I6iv1
Youtube link:
https://youtu.be/y27giW233aY?si=fXSlsZayf_rvJU_8
Telegram Channel – https://t.me/holyghostschooldiscipleship
Friends, grace and peace be multiplied plenty unto you as we wind down the month of September 2024, 9 days left. I would like to explore something that has been uppermost in my heart for a couple of weeks and months now for the body of Christ – Specifically concerning leaders and the followers in our churches with the intent of motivating us all to take corrective action before it is too late.
When the Lord called me into the ministry of intercession in 2006, he placed intercession for the church and leaders as a core focus area and mandated that every year, from the day He revealed this to me, to spend 40 days interceding for church and leadership every year. I have tried my very best, ability and grace given me to stay true to this mandate. And so, as part of that mandate, the Lord prompts me from time to time to visit and worship in several churches. I have gone and worshiped with so many of them to date. In each of those churches, I listen to the specific of what God is saying to me, things I need to learn and areas that need adjustment for those fellowships. These visitations provide further inputs in our writing and in the place of intercession and of course, in communicating our findings to the church. That is what I seek to do in today’s title – The core missing SS in some of our Churches with stories and Five (5) Critical ACTION Steps to Deploy
I have to bring this title up because the time is almost up and we are in the season of purification of the saints that will intensify with persecution on a scale we have never known it before because the harvest is near, closer than the time we believed.
There has to be a change in our messaging because bread and butter Christianity will not take us through the time we have already entered.
Everything we know about ourselves, about God, about Jesus, the Holy Spirit, our faith will be tested. God help us if we do not have conviction of who Christ is to us and what He accomplished in us and what he is telling us to be and do for Him.
Jesus said in
Mark 9:49-50
New International Version
49 Everyone will be salted with fire.
50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
In He said, relating to salt in
Matthew 5:13-15
New Life Version
Jesus Teaches about Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. If salt loses its taste, how can it be made to taste like salt again? It is no good. It is thrown away and people walk on it. 14 You are the light of the world. You cannot hide a city that is on a mountain. 15 Men do not light a lamp and put it under a basket. They put it on a table so it gives light to all in the house.
What then is the CORE missing SS in some of our Churches? The core missing links in our messaging, amidst others in these times are:
1) SOUL winning with the intent of making obedient disciples is missing – with six (6) Supporting Scriptures:
Matthew 4:17
New Life Version
17 From that time on, Jesus went about preaching. He said, “Be sorry for your sins and turn from them(Repent). The holy nation of heaven is near.”
Matthew 28:18-20;
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark 16:15-20
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Luke 15:7
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who REPENTS than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no REPENTANCE.
1 Corinthians 9:19-23
New International Version
Paul’s Use of His Freedom
19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Acts 2: 36-40
36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”
37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
2) SUFFERING perpetuated by persecution from the realm of the wicked missing – suffering because of our faith in and faithfulness to Jesus Christ.
Five (5) Supporting Scriptures:
John 15:20-22 NKJV
Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
Luke 21:10-19
English Standard Version
Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution
10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers[a] and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
2 Timothy 3:10-13
New International Version
A Final Charge to Timothy
10 You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, 11 persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.
James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
1 Peter 4:14–16
“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name”
SOME Clarifications in the missing SS highlighted above is needed here:
There is a need for an in-reach ministry because so many are in church who are not Christians. They are just there floating with activities and no conviction. For instance, in the name of soul winning today, so many have been converted without conviction. So many have ben to come as you. As if joining Christianity is father Christmas. Nowhere in scripture did Christ or any of the apostle invite anyone to follow Jesus without repentance. Some have been promised that the life of a Christian is devoid of suffering especially for the course of Christ and then they come in and find out something is missing, that the suffering and attacks intensify because Satan now takes them into his focus and begins attacking, and with time, this person just backslide or remain dormant in fellowships. 10, 20 30 years on with no single fruit. Some are promised great things happening to them that borders on material things and they come in and find out these promises are not tenable. Their pastors chalk it down as lack of faith as if Christianity is equal to materialism. And so, we have people following their pastors and not Christ with the wrong expectations of the Christian life. When you send these ones out to go win souls, they go with the same teaching they have received and the wrong chain continues.
Some of these converts get into fellowship and get inundated with church activities throughout the week without time to develop a personal time and walk with Jesus. We can’t go far with group anointing. As the storms come, personal anointing, developed in the secret place of work and walk with Jesus is what will count. As persecution comes, group fellowship will be reduced to a minimum and sometimes in hiding.
Another dimension to this is where outstanding miracles are happening in some church gathering and not once are invitation made for recipients of the miracles to surrender their lives to Jesus. Rather, we see man worship or miracle worship going on. The things for which even angels’ shudder: get these accounts from scriptures below:
Revelation 19:10
New International Version
10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”
Revelation 22:8-9
New Life Version
8 It was I, John, who heard and saw these things. Then I got down at the feet of the angel who showed me these things. I was going to worship him. 9 But he said to me, “No! You must not do that. I am a servant together with you and with your Christian brothers and the early preachers and with all those who obey the words in this Book. You must worship God!”
Acts 14:8-15
New Life Version
Paul and Barnabas Are Called Gods, Then Stoned
8 There was a man in Lystra who had never walked from the time he was born. 9 This man listened as Paul spoke. Paul watched him. He saw that the man believed he could be healed. 10 Calling to him with a loud voice, Paul said, “Stand up on your feet!” The man jumped up and walked around.
11 The people saw what Paul did. They called with loud voices in the language of the people of Lycaonia, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” 12 They said that Barnabas was Jupiter. Paul was called Mercury because he spoke more than Barnabas. 13 The god of Jupiter was in a building near the gate leading into the city. The religious leader of that place brought cattle and flowers to the gate. He and many other people wanted to burn these as gifts in an act of worship to Paul and Barnabas.
14 When Paul and Barnabas heard this, they ran among the people. They tore their clothes and cried out, 15 “Why are you doing this? We are only men with feelings like yours. We preach the Good News that you should turn from these empty things to the living God. He made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them.
The other side that is so loud is the issue that one sees and experience in the attitude towards the Word. Bible-based engagement devoid of power – no manifestation of healing, deliverance and restoration. The other swing is where there is healing, deliverance and restoration and no word. It is amazing! How can we focus on one truth totally and leave the other truth undone!
There are so many other half-truths for which time and space will not permit me to highlight here all in the name of Jesus, Christianity and God said.
As I see it today, the greatest threat to the church of Jesus Christ is not so much as the threat from WITHOUT but more the threat from WITHIN the Church. There is so much half-truth been proclaimed from our pulpit. We are not giving out the full counsel of God and it is grand scheme of the enemy. It is the time of fire, like we have it now that what we teach and preach and proclaim will be tested. Jesus said in Mark 9:49 that EVERYONE will be salted by fire. Our effectiveness and what we claim we believe in will be tested through the furnace of affliction. Proverbs 30:5 says, “Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him”
If the word is not of God, if our standing is not of God or is of God, it will be tested. I have noticed, reading history that every 100 years, there is always a reset. A testing of what we hold dear to heart. If the message is fake or untrue or half-truth, it will not stand the fire test over time. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:13 using the Berean Standard bible, “his workmanship will be evident, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will prove the quality of each man’s work.”
The issues we are facing today, Jesus knew it was coming and the apostles experienced it first time, alfa time!
Hence, Jude alluded to this in
Jude 3-4
New King James Version
Contend for the Faith
3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Then Paul and Peter talked about the mess that was going on as it relates to money and profiting
2 Corinthians 2:17 Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.
CSB: For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many.
CEB: We aren’t like so many people who hustle the word of God to make a profit.
GNV: …many, which make merchandise of the word of God…
NABRE: …the many who trade on the word of God…
NLT: …the many hucksters who preach for personal profit.
2 Peter 2:15 They have left the straightway and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness.
Jude 1:11 [About ungodly infiltrators into the church:] Woe to them! …they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error.
1 Timothy 6:3-5 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, they are conceited and understand nothing… [5] who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
1 Timothy 6:9-11 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. [10] For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. [11] But you, man of God, flee from all this…
Jesus Crowned this all by stating these:
Matthew 10:7-8 As you [12 apostles] go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.
What is Jesus saying and what is He doing and calling us all to do?
The Lord said in Luke 17:21 and re-echoed in Matthew 16:16-18 that His church is matching on and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Paraphrased). To give effect to this declaration, we read in Hebrews 7:25 as our high Priest, “25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
To ensure the gate of hell does not prevail against the church – you and I, He lives to make intercession us and have chosen others to intercede for the church as well here on earth.
Apart from Him, we also know, that the Spirit in us personalizes this prayer to every individual saint by making intercession for the saints as written in
Romans 8:26-28 New International Version (NIV)
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
We must be vigilant – 1 Peter 5:8-11 The Message (MSG)
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are! — will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does.
We must carry the church, the light, everywhere we go, we are living epistle, without that, we are irrelevant to our world –
Matthew 5:13-15
New King James Version
Believers Are Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
2 Corinthians 3:2-3
New King James Version
2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.
The Story today – The Guarantee of Suffering as true Soldiers of Jesus Christ – The Persecution of the Early Apostle
On suffering triggered by persecution, I would like you to consider the stories below of the early apostle that details the persecution they faced to the point of death. Try to position yourself and any apostle in the 21st century in any of the persecution setting. What do you think? Can you stand it? Will you deny Christ or will you stand for Him till death? Can church leaders today stand the test like these early apostles did? Will you fight for them?
Ask yourself, has the mandate God given concerning reaching the world for Him changed? Have our messages been diluted?
When And How Did The Twelve Apostles Die?
Summary: The Bible only mentions the deaths of two apostles, James who was put to death by Herod Agrippa I and Judas Iscariot who committed suicide shortly after the death of Christ. The details of the deaths of three of the apostles (John, the Beloved, Bartholomew and Simon the Canaanite) are not very well known at all, either by tradition or early historians. The deaths of the other 10 apostles are known by tradition or the writings of early Christian historians. According to traditions and the Bible, eight of the Apostles died as Martyrs. At least two of the Apostles, Peter and Andrew were crucified.
Simon surnamed Peter: (crucified upside down)— died 33-34 years after the death of Christ. According to Smith’s Bible Dictionary, there is “satisfactory evidence that he and Paul were the founders of the church at Rome and died in that city. Recognized as the head of the original Christian community in Jerusalem (Israel), he left the city when King (Herod Agrippa I) started to persecute all Christians in Jerusalem and ordered the beheading of the Apostle James (the Great). After escaping from Jerusalem, Peter preached in Judea (originally Palestine) and in Antioch (Syria) where he is historically considered as the first patriarch (bishop) of the Orthodox Church. After staying in Antioch for some time, Peter went to Rome and converted thousands to Christianity. The emperor at the time, Nero, did not like the idea of Romans becoming Christians and used the new members of the group for his amusement (e.g., feeding them to lions or wild dogs, and then burning them at the stake in Rome’s coliseum—yes, the tourist spot– if they do not renounce their faith). Peter was one of the most prominent victims of this persecution. He was captured and crucified upside-down at his own request, because he said he was not worthy to be crucified the same way as our Lord. His body lies below the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican City, in Rome.
James (the Great): (beheaded)—the son of Zebedee, the brother of the Apostle John. He was captured and condemned to die by Herod the Agrippa 1 to please Jewish leaders who were furious at the rapid growth of the Church. James was put to death by Herod Agrippa I shortly before the day of the Passover, in the year 44 or about 11 years after the death of Christ. From Acts 12: 1-2
John: (thrown into boiling oil, but survived)—For most of his labors, John was with Peter in Jerusalem up until the persecution of Herod Agrippa I. During this period, scholars agree that John escaped and preached for some time in Asia Minor (an area around Turkey). Years later, scholars have traced that he went to Rome where it was believed he was persecuted by other Christians and was thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil—he miraculously survived. The Roman emperor at the time, Dominitian, decided after the incident to banish John to the island of Patmos (in Greece). When Dominitian died, John went back to Ephesus (in Turkey) where he spent the rest of his days. He died a very old man, the only Apostle to do so.
Andrew: (crucified upside down on an X-shaped cross)—Preached in Georgia (Russia), Istanbul (Turkey), Macedonia, and finally Greece. There in Patros, Greece, Governor Aegiatis was angered by the apostle’s preaching and the conversion of his own family to Christianity. He ordered Andrew to renounce his faith in front of a tribunal. When Andrew resisted, the governor ordered that Andrew be crucified. He was tied upside down to an X-shaped cross with thick, tight ropes but Andrew kept preaching to spectators. He was able to convince many to accept Christianity just before he died after suffering for three days. Parts of his remains are in Constantinople (Turkey), Scotland (England), but his skull is kept in Patras to this day.
Phillip (crucified)—Preached in Greece, Syria, and Turkey (in the cities of Galatia, Phrygia, and Hierapolis). Philip partnered with Bartholomew in his missions. According to sources “Through his miraculous healing and preaching, Philip converted the wife of the Preconsul of the city” of Hierapolis. This event angered the Preconsul and ordered that both Philip and Bartholomew be tortured and crucified upside down. While on the cross, Philip continued to preach and he was able to convince the crowd and the Preconsul to release Bartholomew, while insisting that he (Philip) remained crucified. Bartholomew was released but Philip died on the cross and was later buried somewhere within the city.
Bartholomew: (skinned alive and beheaded)—Preached the Gospel in Mesopotamia (Iraq), Persia (Iran), Turkey, Armenia, and India. He was skinned alive and beheaded at Derbent (Azerbaijan, near Russia) on the Caspian Sea by order of a local king after a majority of the people of Derbent converted to Christianity. Some of Bartholomew’s skin and bones are still kept in The Basilica of St. Bartholomew in Rome, a part of his skull is in Frankfurt, Germany and an arm is venerated at the Canterbury Cathedral in England.
Matthew: (burned-to-death?)—He must have lived many years as an apostle since he was the author of the Gospel of Matthew which was written at least twenty years after the death of Christ. Christian tradition says he preached in Ethiopia (in Africa), Judea (Israel today), Macedonia, Syria, and Parthia (northeast Iran). Bible scholars have different versions of how he died. Some say he was either killed with a sword in Parthia or died a natural death in Ethiopia.
Thomas: (impaled by a spear)—Called by most Christians the “Doubting Thomas” for disbelieving the Lord’s Resurrection. But after his doubts were erased by touching Jesus’ wounds, he became a fearless preacher of the Gospel and builder of churches. He was one of the first Apostles who preached outside the boundaries of the vast Roman Empire (out of Europe). He preached in Babylon (present-day Iraq) and established its first Christian church. Then he went to Persia (Iran) and traveled as far as China and India. He was martyred in Mylapore, India when a local king named Masdai condemned Thomas to death. The Apostle angered the Brahmins (high-ranked priests/scholars who served as the king’s advisers) who thought Christianity disrespected India’s Caste System. Thomas was brought to a nearby mountain and was stabbed to death with a spear. He is believed to be buried around the suburb of Madras, in India. The earlier traditions, as believed in the fourth century, say he preached in Parthia or Persia and was finally buried at Edessa.
James Alpheus (the Lesser): (stoned and clubbed-to-death)—We know he lived at least five years after the death of Christ because of mentions in the Bible. Believed to have preached in Damascus (Syria) and is acknowledged as the first bishop of the Christians in Jerusalem (Israel). Historians say he was sentenced to be stoned to death by the Jews for challenging Jewish Laws and for convincing some of the members of the Jewish community to convert to Christianity. James died when during the stoning, one person from the crowd approached him and bashed his head with a fullers club (a piece of wood used for bashing-washing clothes). He was buried on the spot where he died, somewhere in Jerusalem.
Simon (the Canaanite): (sawed or axed-to-death?)—Before becoming an apostle, Simon was a member of the “Zealots”, a political movement rebelling against the Roman occupation of Jerusalem. Identified by some as the second Bishop of Jerusalem after James the Lesser (who was beheaded). He’s also believed to have preached in the Middle East, North Africa, Egypt, Mauritania, and even Britain. His martyrdom is being debated by scholars and historians who claim Simon might have been crucified by the Romans in Lincolnshire, Britain, crucified in Samaria (Israel) after a failed revolt or sawed-to-death in Suanir, Persia with Jude Thaddeus.
Jude (Thaddeus): (sawed or axed to death?)—He was a partner of Simon the Zealot and together they preached and converted non-believers in Judea (Israel), Persia (Iran), Samaria (Israel), Idumaea (near Jordan), Syria, Mesopotamia (Iran) and Libya. It is also widely believed that Jude traveled and preached in Beirut, Lebanon. He also helped Bartholomew in bringing Christianity to Armenia. The cause of his death is unclear because of the existence of two versions: (1) He was crucified in Edessa, Turkey; (2) He was clubbed to death and his body was either sawed or axed in pieces after (together with Simon the Zealot). Some sources say he was buried either in Northern Persia or the most accepted version is that his remains are buried in a crypt at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
Judas Iscariot: (suicide, death by hanging)—Best known as the apostle who betrayed the Lord by divulging His location, leading to His arrest and persecution. He received 30 pieces of silver from Jewish priests for the information he gave. Shortly after the death of Christ Judas killed himself. According to the Bible, he hanged himself, (Matthew 27:5) at Aceldama, on the southern slope of the valley of Hinnom, near Jerusalem, and in the act he fell down a precipice and was dashed into pieces.
Paul – The exact details of St. Paul’s death are unknown, but tradition holds that he was beheaded in Rome and thus died as a martyr for his faith. His death was perhaps part of the executions of Christians ordered by the Roman emperor Nero following the great fire in the city in 64 CE.
Note: There were twelve apostles chosen by Jesus. Eleven are named in Acts 1:13, “Peter and John, and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. “Judas Iscariot, one of the original twelve, the one who betrayed Jesus, is not named in that list. That’s the original twelve. Then add Matthias who replaced Judas Iscariot to become one of the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Acts 1:26). “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:14). When we include both Judas and Matthias the total is now thirteen.
We are also told that Paul was one of Jesus’ apostles (Eph 1:1) “Paul, anapostle(G652) of Jesus Christ by the will of God…” (Ref: Acts 9:3-6, 15-16)
We know additional apostles besides these men exist because Christ, after His ascension, appointed “some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers . . . until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13).
As we reflect on these stories, may we be set on fire for Him from today as we rededicate our lives for the cause of Christ in Jesus name,
Now, let’s look at
Five (5) Critical ACTION Steps to Deploy
- Like Apostle Paul, Be all things to all people with the intent of winning souls every day!
- Make Disciples by whatever means possible – Point them to Christ – By asking them what will Jesus do and model Him Every Day in daily living and check for the fruit of Christ in others as well as you become an intercessor for them.
- Become His Ambassador in WORDs and DEEDs – Be the WORD as you live the bible every day. Check out for the fruit of Jesus in all your engagements – In the local assemble where you worship and elsewhere. Make those your mission field.
- Suffer as a GOOD Soldier of Jesus. Don’t suffer for doing the wrong things but the right things. If the right thing is needed to be done, do the right thing no matter the cost but don’t settle for the wrong thing because it is popular.
- Serve God with all that you have got – The Totality of You and what makes you, you!
In closing, go with the full counsel of God don’t settle for less of what God has for you. Search within the body of Christ until you find what is missing. Go for the FULL Gospel, not half-truths! Go 360 degrees with God as you love Him completely and love others as yourself. May the Holy Spirit give you wisdom to align yourselves with godly spiritual leaders who love Jesus and His Word, honour the local church, and never show inclinations to preach, market, or sell God’s Word for personal financial gain. And avoid those who do make merchandise of God’s people. Pray for them for a change of heart. Jesus twice cleansed the temple of the merchandisers in the first century. And He is fully able to deal appropriately with those in the 21st century who minister to God’s flock “for shameful gain” (1 Peter 5:2, Amplified). Meanwhile, focus your love, your energies, your commitment, and your financial support on the Bible-believing, Jesus-honouring local church where the Lord has planted you. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).
This bring me to the end of our title today, “The missing SS (Double S) in our Churches and Five (5) Critical ACTION Steps to Deploy”
Have a blessed and restful weekend
Shalom!
Ambassador Monday O. Ogbe
God’s Eagle Ministries (GEM)
About Author
