IBADAN DEEPER LIFE CRUSADE: KUMUYI’S UNENDING PASSION FOR TOTAL TRANSFORMATION OF MEN!
Kehinde A. Bolutife
It was an unforgettable experience in the lives of many when the foremost Nigerian Pastor and Evangelist- Pastor W.F Kumuyi stormed the capital city of Oyo State in a city-wide Gospel Crusade which took place between 11th and 13th of April, 2014. Although the crusade had come and gone, the impacts and the fruits of this great crusade will continue to speak long after and the participants will not forget their encounters in a hurry. The editorial crew of Kingdom Advance News (KAN) was also there to cover the event. Here is the exciting report from the great Gospel Crusade Campaign:
And It Came To Pass…
The opening day of the crusade was ushered in by a heavy downpour as if to signal a day of showers of blessings which it really turned out to be! From the early hours of the opening day of the crusade, people had started trooping into the crusade venue majorly from the three south west states- Ogun, Osun and Oyo for which the crusade was actually organized. The crusade venue is a large expanse of land specifically prepared for such large gathering. There was heavy security on ground to ensure a secured crusade.
As I stood by the security post close to the entrance gate watching as diverse people were trooping in; this passage of the scripture quickly came into my mind: “And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them”. Seeing these categories of people also coming in, I whispered, ‘Lord, let not the expectations of men be cut short at this gathering’.
Not long after that, the much awaited man of God arrived in the convoy of cars, most of which were filled with key leaders of the host states and few security men. He was welcomed amidst great shouts of excitement and joy from the cheering crowd. It was indeed a show of honour to whom honour is due. Meanwhile, at a pre-crusade press conference held at the Oyo State Deeper Life Secretariat on Monday, 7thApril, 2014, the Oyo State Overseer, Pastor Sola Odumosu speaking about this great servant of God, observed, “The Guest Minister, Pastor W.F Kumuyi is well known as an embodiment of the grace of God. He’s passionate about seeing people turn to God. In spite of God’s endowment on him, he’s an epitome of grace and humility. He has carried the gospel of Christ to almost all the continents and major cities of the world preaching and teaching with signs following. Pastor Kumuyi is a foremost Bible teacher. He’s known for his lucid and powerful teaching of the word”. And of a truth, Pastor Williams Folorunso Kumuyi gracefully combines greatness with humility.
As we also gathered from the press conference, Pastor Kumuyi has gone to several places both within and outside the country proclaiming the saving Gospel of the Lord Jesus with accompanying testimonies of genuine heart conversions and miraculous demonstration of the power of God to heal diverse kinds of sicknesses and deliver the oppressed. Therefore, the Ibadan crusade would not come short of those miracles. Speaking further at the pre-crusade conference, Pastor Sola Odumosu stated, “We are particularly happy that the crusade is coming up at an auspicious time in the history of our country”. He submitted that only righteousness exalts a nation and that is why the General Superintendent of the church, Pastor W.F Kumuyi, moves from place to place proclaiming the Gospel of salvation which alone has the power to produce righteousness in the heart of a man. He said once the heart of a man is affected by the Gospel, corruption and wickedness will no longer have power over him. And with the sequence of God’s move through gospel crusade in different states in Nigeria, we can be hopeful that our country is at the threshold of a mighty revival.
Prophecy Fulfilled….
Just as the Oyo State Overseer had earlier predicted or better put, prophesied during the pre-crusade press conference that “we in Ibadan were full of expectations and we desired to see many conversions, multiple testimonies of healing, deliverance, breaking of yokes, sight recovery, freedom from all forms of impairment, barrenness, poverty etc.”, it happened just exactly like that.
The opening day witnessed an overwhelming crowd as the whole of the church camp ground was filled with people who came from all parts of Ogun, Osun, and Oyo states of the southwest region to receive from God. In his word, Pastor Kumuyi remarked that he was hearing the loudest hallelujah in Ibadan compared to other places he had visited in Africa and that the podium was the highest he had seen so far. The choir band was a thousand-man strong choir in their black and white dresses. The choir rendition was characteristic of the usual Deeper Life style.
Pastor Kumuyi after his introduction to the mammoth crowd who welcomed him with thunderous shouts of hallelujah, preached a simple but powerful message titled, “Invitation by the God of Miracles”. Quoting copiously from Isaiah and other passages of the Scripture, he assured the crowd that God would reveal His power and strength to as many as would believe His report. He gave a three-fold challenge to the crowd to behold the Lamb and be saved; believe the Lord and be healed of sickness and begin afresh with wonder-working Saviour. Many people in their thousands surrendered their sinful ways of life to Christ after the message. Thereafter, the servant of God prayed a short, simple but very powerful prayer. And guess what? The supernatural miracles that followed were just too many to be related.
Signs And Wonders From The God Of Miracles…
A 27 years old Showunmi Helen had the problem of leaking neck which would require major operation. But after the prayer of Pastor W.F Kumuyi, she received her miracle. The leaking throat stopped instantly! She drank 2 sachet of pure water without any problem to ascertain her miracle. Another man, Sunday Adeshina Ojo, had been suffering from hernia for 20 years but at the signs and wonders crusade, he got healed after the prayer of the man of God. Mrs. Elechukwu in her own case was brought by her Doctor to the crusade ground and she was healed of kidney problem of over a year after the prayer of the man of God. Yet another woman, Victoria Oyediran had a twin problem of insanity and eye problem. But after the prayer of the man of God, she became completely normal. The miracles were just too numerous to count. It was indeed a crusade of signs and wonders with the God of miracles! From the beginning to the end of the crusade, the miracles of salvation from sin, healing from different kinds of sicknesses and deliverance from every form of satanic affliction and oppression never ceased to occur at the instant of the prayer of the man of God. Just as he said in his opening remark, it was indeed days of “wait and get miracles”. Only the resurrected Jesus has the unbeatable record of doing that. Glory be to Jesus!!!
Not As One Who Beats The Air…
To Kumuyi and every true breed of Deeper Life Bible Church, whatever we do in the name of Christian ministry today which has no direct bearing on the salvation of souls (the main purpose for which Christ came and the primary assignment handed over to the Church) is a total misplacement of priority, no matter the cost and seeming success or popularity of it. All such activities would be a fruitless gamble in the end. It is not a case of what anyone wants to specialize in, but what Christ handed to us as His Priority. This is why to him, no crusade preaching is complete and successful if such never results in bringing men into a transforming experience with Christ. To Pastor Kumuyi, the greatest miracle that can ever happen to any man is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit when a man believes in the Gospel of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is this priority that makes Pastor Kumuyi to always put prayer of repentance and forgiveness first before miracle prayers. The passion for the lost, the passion for holiness, is what is at the heart of all these crusade campaigns and what makes the Church powerful, not the preoccupation with his own comfort, fame or popularity.
Just To See A saved Man Smile…
I never stop to wonder at the huge sacrifice of money, time and human resources invested in organizing the crusade. Immediately after the short pre-crusade press conference at the Oyo State Deeper Life Secretariat, we headed straight to the crusade ground where work was going on 24/7 to see some of the facilities being put on ground for the successful hosting of the crusade. These include a large parcel of land suitable for such a large gathering, spacious vehicle parks, massive toilet facilities, huge podium structure which Pastor Kumuyi later commented on as the highest he had seen thus far in his crusade campaigns. Coupled with the enormous publicity in almost all available media and effective security being put up, one might be tempted to ask, does it really worth it? But one needs to bear in mind the word of Christ when he said, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance” (Luke 15:7). So then if the Words of Christ are yea and amen, which I’m fully persuaded they are, then no amount of sacrifice is too much to pay in the cause of saving souls from the kingdom of hell into the kingdom of the Dear Son of God. Jesus gave His sinless life upon the Cross at Calvary for the redemption of mankind. Therefore, whoever will follow Him on this rescue mission must be ready to pay the price of huge sacrifice as well. Just to see a saved man smile makes the effort well worthwhile.
But in the case of this crusade, the fruit is more than just a single saved soul. On the 21stof April 2014, the Young Saints Rally was held across the Region, Group, Local Government and District Headquarters in Oyo, Ogun and Osun of Deeper Life Bible Church for the converts of the crusade. And from the report, quiet a good number of people responded. People whose hearts were truly made up to follow God. Of a truth, the Gospel still remains the power of God unto salvation from sin and Satan. Beyond this, the Oyo state overseer in a chat with the team of Kingdom Advance News after the crusade told us that diligent follow-up efforts are being made by the leadership of the church across the three states from which people gathered for the crusade to ensure that these new babes in Christ are nurtured and grounded in the faith of the Bible. Proverbs 12:27 says, “The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious. And just as it is the desire of Christ that our fruit should remain (John 15:16), it is our prayer that God will preserve these ones blameless until the coming of the Lord.
FACING THE TASK UNFINISHED: THUS FAR YET FAR!
More than two thousand years ago, Jesus appeared in the scene of human history, He lived 33 years of holy, harmless, undefiled and sinless life. His miraculous birth, vicarious death and bodily resurrection are the most important events in human history. God became man. He died on the cross and was raised from the dead to save people from sin and to give eternal life to all who receive Him. The result was a spiritual evolution that changed the first century world and dramatically altered the course of history.
Jesus of Nazareth, the greatest person who ever lived, has caused the most changes for good in the entire history of mankind through changing of lives of hundreds of millions of men and women. Historian Philip Schaff said, “Jesus of Nazareth, witho
ut money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed and Napoleon. Without science and learning, He shed more light on things human and divine than all the philosophers and scholars combined. Without the eloquence of schools, He spoke words of life such as were never spoken before or after, and produced efforts which lied beyond the reach of orator or poet. Without writing a single line, He has set more pen in motions and furnished themes for more sermons, or orations, discussions, works of art, learned volumes and sweet song of praise than the whole army of great people of ancient and modern time. Born in a manger, crucified as a malefactor, He controls the destinies of the civilized world and rules a spiritual empire that encircles the globe.”
ut money and arms, conquered more millions than Alexander, Caesar, Mohammed and Napoleon. Without science and learning, He shed more light on things human and divine than all the philosophers and scholars combined. Without the eloquence of schools, He spoke words of life such as were never spoken before or after, and produced efforts which lied beyond the reach of orator or poet. Without writing a single line, He has set more pen in motions and furnished themes for more sermons, or orations, discussions, works of art, learned volumes and sweet song of praise than the whole army of great people of ancient and modern time. Born in a manger, crucified as a malefactor, He controls the destinies of the civilized world and rules a spiritual empire that encircles the globe.”
Jesus, having accomplished the work of salvation for mankind gave the disciples the command of the great commission. He said: “…All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20). Later on the Mountain of Olives, our Lord gave His final word to His disciples and to us before He ascended to the Father. He said: “And ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
Shortly after Jesus gave the great commission, God the Holy Spirit, on the day of Pentecost, transformed and empowered the lives of the same disciples who, during His trial and crucifixion, had denied our Lord and for the most part had deserted Him. Following Pentecost they went out boldly and courageously, willing to risk their lives to proclaim the message of God’s love and forgiveness in Christ. In fact, all of the disciples died as Martyrs preaching the gospel, except for John who died in exile on the Isle of Patmos after he survived being burnt in the pot of oil for the testimony of his faith. With dogged determination, fervent zeal, resilient spirit, unalloyed loyalty, uncommon consecration and a great relentless and sacrificial effort, the early apostles carried out the task of the great commission. By their hands the gospel went far, and great success was recorded.
White missionaries were moved by the sacrificial effort of our Lord Jesus and of his disciples and travelled to far away Africa, not knowing our language or culture. They came not necessarily out of convenience. Others who could not come sent their money not necessarily out of plenty, built schools, hospitals, constructed roads, adopted children and made very remarkable achievements. The white missionaries risked their lives to bring Christ to us. Today we are benefiting immensely from the sacrificial labour of these great heroes of faith. Though they are dead yet they are speaking clearly to us by the enduring fruits of their labour. Up till date, great men and women of God are still actively engaged in sending the message of the Gospel of Christ to the remaining unreached places of the earth.
With all these years of relentless missionary efforts, Gospel Crusade Campaigns and the intercessions of many committed Christians, still the task of taking the gospel of the kingdom to the unreached people and places is yet to finish. There are still lands where other lords beside Christ still hold their unhindered sway; where forces that defied the Saviour still defy Him till today; with none to heed the cry of the people for life, love and light. If we think otherwise, it only reflects our ignorance and lack of information concerning the unfinished task. There are many tribes, peoples, nations and languages yet to be reached with the gospel of the kingdom of God. If any man disagrees with this sober reality, it is simply due to short-sightedness or blindness to the matter of the gospel.
“Jesus saith unto them, my meat is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish His work. Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields for they are white already to harvest.” (John 4:34, 35). What Jesus said then is still very applicable today, His disciples could not see the fields that were ripe for harvest; and Jesus attributed this to their short- sightedness. Therefore He said unto them, “Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields.” As if to say that you have been looking down too much on your immediate environment- your home, your local church, your Local government; but now, you must need lift up your heads and look beyond your congregation and what you call achievement. Lift up your head, and then look at the field yet unreached; there are still many more people outside the church than inside the church. Note, looking is different from seeing, when you see and you don’t look, you miss the details and the basis. But when you look, you will have a clearer view of the state of the object you are looking at. Looking implies paying attention, focusing on a particular thing in order to get the details, and it is until you look intently that you see clearly and perfectly. So Jesus said, lift up your head and look up to the fields, and see the fields that are ripe enough for harvest. Now lift up your head and look at the many villages in your state and local government. Are they all reached with the gospel? How many true Christians can we find in those places? What are they worshipping as God? Many of those villages are still neck deep in idolatry and vain religions. Yet we have many churches around but negligent and apathetic to the state of the harvest. The present day church is busy celebrating anniversaries for many years of existence without any thorough commitment to the great commission as the apostolic church. Please tell me, what is worth-celebrating if a church cannot boast of a single new convert in a whole year? This is not the picture of the early church. The early church was not a stagnant, redundant church. The Bible records that the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. It is also rather unfortunate that the churches that were once committed have reached a plateau state of no improvement, glorying in the shadow of past success while there remaineth many more land to be possessed. Oswald J. Smith said, “Any church that is not seriously involved in helping fulfill the Great commission has forfeited its biblical right to exist.” This is the main reason and the primary purpose why the church is here- the evangelization of the whole world, starting from our Jerusalem. “Lift up of your heads and look”Jesus said, and you will see the challenge of the u
nfinished task of the church. We must also look beyond our local environment unto the land beyond. Jesus says we shall be witnesses unto Him both in Jerusalem and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
nfinished task of the church. We must also look beyond our local environment unto the land beyond. Jesus says we shall be witnesses unto Him both in Jerusalem and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
THE GLOBAL CHALLENGE
What is the situation of our world today? In a world of 6.3 billion people, with over 6000 different languages, unreached people groups are about 10,000. We are told that a third of the world’s population has not yet been reached with the gospel. Floyd Maclong in his book ‘Nine World’s To Win’ divided the world into nine… the world of the poor and needy, the Muslim world, the communist world, the world of tribal people, the world of nominal Christians, the world of children (about half of the world population are under the ages of 15-youths are therefore a group to reckon with), the urban world, the world of Hinduism, and the world of Buddhism.
Missions reports tell us that at present, there are 50 least evangelized countries of the world, and 37 of them within the 10/40 Window. Islam has adherents of over 1.2billion people, Hinduism, over 811.3 million and Buddhism encompasses much of China’s 1.2 billion plus South East Asia. There are also the least evangelized mega cities. Over 100 gate way cities (with 1 million people and above); and hundreds of Mega peoples across the world that are yet to be reached with the gospel. What a challenge these are! This is the task unfinished.
Men and brethren, the task of taking the Gospel of Jesus to the unreached is the urgent task of the church. Often, we find very many things that are important but are not urgent. There are other things which some people consider very urgent but may not be important. And there are things too that may not be important for a while. There are only a few things that are both urgent and very important now and in the future even to eternity. The task of taking Jesus’s saving gospel to the sinful and drowning world is one of such things that are both urgent and important at all time. The consequences of the Gospel if preached or if denied the sinners, transcends this transient world into an endless eternity.
The important task of preaching the gospel is urgent for many reasons: One, time is running out. The world will soon come to an end. “But this I say, brethren, the time is short; it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they weep not, and they that rejoice, as though they rejoice not, and they that buy, as though, they possess not; and they that use the things of this world as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away.” (1 Co.r 7: 29 – 31). Two, our opportunity for service to the Lord will soon come to an end. Jesus says, “I must work the work of Him that sent me while it is day, the night comes when no man can work.” Sinners will not always be ready and willing to hear or listen to the gospel message. So while now they yearn for the truth, we dare not falter to give them the gospel. “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and His kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time shall come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lust shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make a full proof of thy ministry.” (II Tim 4: 1-5). Three, there is also the dreadful reality that the time of God’s mercy may pass when seekers may not find Him. “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near” (Isaiah 55:6). It is therefore dangerous and of fatal consequences if we delay or fail to preach the gospel. Every lost opportunity leaves the heart more hardened and makes it more difficult to come into conformity with God’s will (Heb 3: 12, 13). Lost days of grace amounts to incalculable loss. Therefore, believers should strike while the iron is hot and sinners respond while spirit is calling. More so, the church is eagerly waiting for the return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. As we see nations rising against nations, hearing rumours of war here and there, famine and pestilence in every land, high rate of crime and corruption; evil men and seducers growing worse and worse, a true believer cannot but look, according to His promise, for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Heb. 13:14). “Arise ye and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction” (Mic. 2:10). “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh” (James 5: 7, 8).
However, Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Hence we conclude that the coming of the Saviour is inseparably linked with the global evangelization. And if we must hasten the coming of the Saviour and enter into our rest, we cannot but give this task of the great commission a priority in our lives. And the more we show unconcerned and disobedient attitude to this unfinished task, the more the postponement of the appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. I desire to see my Saviour very soon. How about you?
The realization that there is much to be done in the wide and ripe fields should stir us from our slumber. Christians need to be broken at heart as we daily see the lost state of our neighbours far and near. We must begin to have compassion and see sinners t
he way Jesus sees them-“harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). We must begin to have an eye on the incorruptible riches embedded in soul winning and do something about winning souls. Evangelism and missions is the work of the church. The church is also a product of missions. A church without any burden for sinners should forget being a church. Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost; the same is the commission of the church.
he way Jesus sees them-“harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). We must begin to have an eye on the incorruptible riches embedded in soul winning and do something about winning souls. Evangelism and missions is the work of the church. The church is also a product of missions. A church without any burden for sinners should forget being a church. Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost; the same is the commission of the church.
Facing the task unfinished: There are still more lands to reach with the Gospel. Facing the task unfinished, in what ways will your life contribute to see it finished up in time? Someone has said, “Life is not computed by duration but by donation”. Others have played their allotted parts and laid the sickle by. In what ways will your life contribute to the Kingdom Advancement? God is counting on you.
The church has the capacity to accomplish much if every genuine church denomination, Christian organization and mission agencies pull resources together and work with each other in synergy of purpose. (Please, underline the word ‘genuine’ because we know there are cults and religious people in the garb of “Bible Church” and of whom Jesus says, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves”. We are addressing truly born again children of God). Some are ready to go but lack the financial and material resources. Just imagine the huge amount of money being invested in erroneous religious propagation in the hope that rewards await them in heaven! How much more should Christians and churches be so committed to the cause of the gospel if we are fully persuaded that this gospel is the only power of God unto salvation. And if we must do this, we must do away with the spirit of individualism and denominationalism and be involved where the action is. We must also remember that we are stewards of whatever wealth, riches and material possession we have. “The silver is mine and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts.” “But thou shall remember the LORD thy God; for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth…” God wants to use all that we have, own and possess for this kingdom purpose. There is no amount of money spent that can be too much for the salvation of the lost. Jesus gave Himself for us! Therefore, this is the charge to everyone in possession of this “uncertain riches,” “…that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who give us richly all things to enjoy; that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”
Brethren, here is laid before us the greatest challenge ever given to man by the greatest Person who has ever lived. No matter how wealthy, famous, brilliant, or powerful you may be, you will never give yourself to any cause that can compare with this life-changing, even world-changing, call of God. No matter how many honours, awards, or achievements may be placed in your hands, nothing can even begin to compare with this command of our Lord Jesus Christ to help take His message of love, light and life to every community, city, and every country of the world and make disciples of all nations. It is a great honour for you and for me to be involved in this greatest responsibility of all ages.
In what way will your life contribute to the advancement of the Kingdom of God? You can be involved in the place of consistent, continuous and constant prayer for the missionaries and unreached nations. As a local church or denomination, what will you donate in terms of human, financial and material resources to enthrone Jesus among the nations? Take note, we are not here emphasizing individualism or denominationalism, but the advancement of the kingdom of Christ on earth. World Evangelization is a GLOBAL mandate for the GLOBAL Church; no single Church Denomination, Mission Organization or Christian Foundation can do it alone. It will take the entire Body of Christ working together in complete obedience and strategic partnerships to accomplish the task. The mission agencies need the churches as much as the churches need them. Enough of the rat race of competition and rivalry; let us justify the purpose of existence by working together and partnering to dislodge the kingdom of the heathen and enthrone Jesus among the nations. In this partnership, there can be those who give money while others provide useful information about the unreached lands and peoples. The beauty of the church is its diverse gifting. Let us explore this provision for the advancement of our Father’s Kingdom.
Another may have material resources and support networks that a church or mission group do not have. Yet another has the grace and enormous spiritual power to intercede and do prayer-walks in unreached lands, but needs information about the state of the harvest in the mission fields so as to intercede intelligently. God’s battles and works always require front-line battle men and women as well as background ‘helpers’, who though not very visible, are crucial to the battle. It therefore calls for a united action.
Working distinctly and individually, they achieve little, but in a working partnership, they reap a great harvest. God Almighty also recognizes the great power in a united partnership: “And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.” Even as Christian business organization, do you known that silver and gold belong to God, and God has entrusted it into your hands, not for selfish purpose but for the glory of His name? What percentage of your income is being offered to God and the cause of His kingdom? Only one life! It will soon be gone. Only what’s done for Christ will last.
This is my own heart cry to you Oh God: Lord, let my life be given and every moment spent; for God for souls and for heaven at last. Let every earth tie be rent that I may be free to serve you with undivided attention and loyalty. I don’t want to throw the weight of my life behind things that are of little or no consequence to Thy kingdom. I don’t want to be occupied with hay, chaff and stubble that will not stand the test of fire which must try every man’s work on the final day. I desire to be made relevant to this cause for the rest of my life. Jonah has the same commission but he took another ship going to Tarshish, away from the purpose and counsel of God for his life. Many “ships” are all around me, and all my attention invite; ever ready to convey me away the moment I pay the fare. May You Lord in your mercies deliver me from them all. Deliver me from every friendship and fellowship that will frenzy this vision. Cause me, Oh Lord, to be parted with every partnership that will paralyze this purpose. Rescue me from every relationship that will render this vision an aborted conception. Deliver my soul from every form of discipleship that will distract my soul from this goal. Sin makes a man useless and unqualified for divine assignment, May You O Lord, please; deliver me from the power and the influence of sin that can make my life irrelevant to your purpose in life.
White missionaries were moved by the sacrificial effort of our Lord Jesus and travelled to far away Africa, not knowing our Language or culture they came not necessarily out of convenience. Others who could not come sent their money, not necessarily out of plenty, provided free education, built hospitals, constructed roads, adopted children and made very remarkable achievements. The white missionaries risked their lives to bring Christ to us. The question at stake now is, what are you doing to take the gospel to people and places where Christ is yet to be preached? “Then Mordecai told them to answer Esther: ‘Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” May the lord give us understanding.
There is only one God with only one purpose- to seek and save that which was lost right from the Garden of Eden even until now. There is also only one life to live. In what way will your life contribute to the kingdom advancement? “The night cometh when no man can work.” And when the night comes, NO man, no matter how willing and energetic, no matter how zealous and visionary…..NO man can work when the night comes. While we continually pray and desire that God may preserve our exemplary Christian leaders; at the same time we know that life is measured! No one is an everlasting man. There is no everlasting anointing because there are no everlasting assignments. No man will live forever on earth. Every man has a measure of days and weeks that become months and years . . . and the night can come within any of these measurements. It is highly exigent for the younger generation to rise with a renewed passion to the task of evangelism and missions, especially as we see contemporary fathers of faith gradually rounding off their assignment! While it is called ‘today’ is the time to work. Jesus declared: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (Jhn.9:4).
Let us therefore maximize our days in the will of God and the advancement of His Purpose on earth; the night cometh, when no man can work!