“And when his armour-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.” 1 Samuel 31: 5.
When the armour bearer of Saul-the first king in Israel suddenly discovered that Saul, his leader and mentor had died in the battle front, the next thing he did was to kill himself and die with him! Isn’t that strange to hear? But I have discovered such an attitude as a natural tendency in man. Another example in the New Testament just confirms that. When Lazarus, a good friend of Jesus died and He broke the news of his death to his disciples, “Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, let us also go, that we may die with him.” (John 11:16).
Why a living person would prefer to die when there is still hope of living is something we need to take a critical look at. To me, there is only one answer-despair-a state in which all hope is lost or absent. Or the feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out well.
But I have a good news for you: you don’t need to die with those who are already dead. The armour bearer of Saul was still a living soul when his boss died but he chose to die with him regardless of the life bobbling inside of him. He could have been a living hope of better things for the house of Israel, but I could hear him said to himself, “If Saul, the king and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Israel could die; what else am I living for? It’s better to die than to live.” Mighty men around us falling…courage almost gone.
Just like the armour-bearer of Saul, there are many followers who have died and still dying with their leaders. When the highly respected leader they have followed for years suddenly “fall and die”, they conclude, “If Pastor or Bishop or Prophet so and so could fall so low into this miry clay of sin, then who am I to say I am standing?” But you have to remember that the human leader is not the perfect standard of God for humanity. God had since revealed His “Standard Shekel of The Sanctuary” when a voice from Heaven announced publicly unto all men “This is my beloved Son in whom I Am well pleased, hear ye him.” Jesus is the Author and the Finisher of our faith, and unto Him we must look up as our perfect Example of leadership. And where it becomes necessary for us to follow Christ servants as disciplers, mentors and tutors, it’s imperative we follow, allowing the Christ-gap in-between in order to know when they deviate from following the ultimate Leader. It’s why Paul the apostle said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” A follower of Christ is NEVER under obligation to keep following any leader who has deviated from following after Christ in doctrine and manner of life.
There are some leaders who are already dead in trespasses and sins; you don’t have to die with them. You don’t have to fall along with the leader who has fallen into sexual immorality. You don’t have to die with leaders who have lost integrity in matters of money and materials. To die with those who have died is to deny yourself of living to correct their errors and failures. Choosing to die with the “dead” leaders is to deny the world of a better leader in you and also kill the hope of seeing a better leader in men. The fact that Bishop or Pastor or Prophet so and so has done it wrong doesn’t mean you should also go the wrong way. You have your own life to live and everyone will stand before the Judgment Throne of Christ to receive according as their works shall be; whether good or bad. When a disease is epidemical, everyone is suspected to be tainted with it. But there are still “7000 knees” yet to bow to Baal. You can be one of them.
The reason why many leaders fall is because they fail to take heed unto their lives and consequently enter into pitfalls. You can avoid those pitfalls because they are avoidable. When Peter was overtaken in hypocrisy and deceit, Paul did not fall alongside with him. He stood his ground and presented a better Jesus by his life. You also can do the same. Don’t foolishly copy the errors and sins of any leader who has erred.
There are leaders who are having amorous relationship with followers and yet still preaching and prophesying on the pulpit. That your mentor is now pursuing what to eat rather than what to be is not a reason for you to commercialize the gifts and the calling of God as he did. They are not a good example to follow. You don’t have to follow a leader who is heading to hell. That will be tantamount to a suicide mission and foolishness of a superlative degree. “Escape for thy life” is the express command of God to you. Don’t be deceived by miracle signs and wonders. Jesus spoke emphatically: “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devil. And in thy name have done many wonderful work? And then will I profess unto them: I never knew you, depart from me, ye workers of iniquity.” (Matt. 7:21-23). If you choose to die with a dead leader; you only die a foolish death.
Choosing to die when there is a chance to live and make better impact is a suicide mission informed by a foolish mentality. God cannot do anything with the dead again. He is the God of the living.
The number of people choosing to die on a daily basis is increasing at an exponential rate. You must make up your mind to live because the matter of life and death is a matter of choice. The word of God says, “I lay before you today, life and death; choose life that you may live.”
Don’t join the company of people in who choose to sell their dignity, honour and respect on the altar of sexual sins. Their boss have to sleep with them in order to have more money and retain their jobs. Of such people, the scriptures says, “She that gives herself to pleasure is dead while she lives.” Dare to be different from those who embezzle money that doesn’t belong to them though they call themselves Christian. Decide to live as true ambassador of Christ and His Kingdom.
There are wives who are not satisfied with their husbands and have decided to tread the path of marital unfaithfulness by giving themselves over to adultery. Such have wondered out of the path of life into the congregation of the dead. Come out from among them. That everybody is doing it does not mean you should follow their foolish ways and deadly examples. You are not everybody. That your elder sisters lost their virginity before marriage doesn’t mean you have to take after them. Make up your mind to be a better example.
However, taking a stand for life have its own implications. Choosing not to die might attract persecution, intimidation, threat, and denial of some rights, but it is far better to be alive unto God than to be a dead living man.In fact, choosing to live for God rather than following the path of spiritual death can cost you physical death! But those who value eternal life in God and with God have always chosen life even if it means dying! Here’s the testimony of some believers who chose life rather than death when a powerful but godless king threatened them: “I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments.But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” How many Christians can say that today? There is a difference between following an order with which you don’t agree and following one you know is wrong. It is never right or ethical to carry out a wrong act, no matter who gives the order or what the consequences for disobedience may be. The question is, what shapes your choice when you face a moral dilemma? Have the courage to follow God’s law ab
ove human commands.
ove human commands.
Shedarch, Meshach, and Abednego were pressured to deny God, but they chose to be faithful to him no matter what happened! They trusted God to deliver them, but they were determined to be faithful regardless of the consequences. We should be faithful to God whether he intervenes on our behalf or not. Our eternal reward is worth any suffering we may have to endure first. Jesus says: “So if your eye—even your good eye—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell” (Matt 5:29-30). May the Lord give you courage to choose life over death!
DON’T DIE WITH THE DEAD CHURCH!
There is a church that is dead: the reality of the life and power of Christ is gone from them. They are only left with a form of godliness while they deny the power thereof. The dead church is still gathering for meetings; activities such as singing, praying, preaching, prophesying and offerings are still actively going on. All these put together make the dead church appears to have a name as though it’s alive; but it’s really dead! The dead church has a reputation and popularity for being alive by the reason of its many church activities; but in the evaluation of the God of all knowledge, it is a dead church! They are dead because transformation of lives from sinner to saints is lacking; the evidence of genuine conversion is missing. Though men go to church everyday, they also come out of the church to continue their sinful lifestyle. In fact, even the sanctuary itself is not cleansed of its sinfulness.
Please, don’t be deceived, there is a dead church- A church that is severed as a branch from the Vine though still retaining the name of Christ. There is a dead church, a church that is yet to embrace the reality of the Cross though wearing the cross as a decoration for the neck and erecting it as a sign post in the church buildings. Ah! There is a dead church-a church where the altar is dead because the ministers at the altar are spiritually dead without the life of God to impact men unto righteousness. There is a dead church-a church that has lost the mandate of her existence and only busy pursuing vanities and shadows. There is a dead church-a church that only associates with Jesus Christ in Name but not in His Divine Nature; a church that only has the mental knowledge but lacks the heart experience. Don’t die with the dead “church”.
Unto the living Church saith the Head of the Church, “Why seek ye the living among the dead?”“Come out from among them and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord. Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you.” Come out of the preaching, practise and pursuit of the dead church and be distinct. Let not the living church die with the dead church. There is hope for the living than for the dead, let not the living church be despair or intimidated by the bogus popularity and acceptance of the dead church by the people of the world. The living church of Christ is marching on and the gate of hell shall not and cannot prevail over Her. Let the living Church hear the voice of Lord and Husband: “Arise He calleth thee” and separate herself from the mix-multitude of the dead church in order to show forth the glory and praises of Him who has called Her out of the darkness into His marvelous light. There is a “church” that is dead, we will not die with them because JESUS IS ALIVE!
Dare to be a Daniel…Dare to stand alone;
Dare to have a purpose firm…Dare to have a purpose firm;
Dare to make it known.