By: Bro. Stephen Iluman (Bishop)
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This is another question everyone is to answer,
starting from me the teacher and preacher, am I still in the faith, I should
examine myself, and the same question is now directed to you, are you still in
the faith, examine yourselves. The word of God revealed to the world according
to Romans
1:16-17 – 16 For
I am not ashamed of the gospel [a]of Christ, for it is the power of God
to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the
Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from
faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Habakkuk 2:4 – “Behold the proud, His
soul is not straight or within him; But the (rigidly) just and the
(uncompromising) shall live by his faith and his faithfulness – Galatians 3:11 – Now it is
evident that no person is justified (declared righteous and brought into right
standing with God) through the Law, for the Scripture says, The man in right
standing with God [the just, the righteous] shall live by and out of faith and he who through and by faith is declared righteous and in right standing with God shall
live (Amplified Bible).
Jesus Christ through whom we became Christians was
steadfast till death despite all temptations, trials, humiliations, insults,
intimidations, embarrassment, oppressions, even within His family, yet He held
firmly to His Father’s will. Then His apostles and disciples were also
steadfast and faithful – Acts 4:19 – But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right
in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. Acts 5:29 – 29 But
Peter and the other apostles
answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. Be aware that
this teaching and preaching is timely to enable us know what the rewards of
those who are steadfast without drifting or doubting – 1 Corinthians 15:58 – Therefore, my beloved brethren, be
steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that
your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
There are encouragements for Christians as
revealed through the inspired word of God – Revelation 2:10 – Do not fear any of those things which you
are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may
be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and
I will give you the crown of life. The choice is ours either positively or
negatively because of the examples of those who remained faithful till death
were all revealed as Stephen was the first martyr – Acts 22:17-21 – 17 “Now it happened, when I
returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance 18 and
saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they
will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ 19 So I said,
‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe
on You. 20 And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed,
I also was standing by consenting [a]to his death, and guarding the
clothes of those who were killing him.’ 21 Then He said to me,
‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ” I was happy when I saw this topic handed over
to me Stephen. Acts 6:8-15 – 8 And
Stephen, full of [a]faith and power, did great wonders
and signs among the people. 9 Then there arose some from what
is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those
from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. 10 And they
were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke. 11 Then
they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words
against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the
elders, and the scribes; and they came upon him, seized him, and brought him to the council. 13 They also set up false
witnesses who said, “This man does not cease to speak [b]blasphemous words against this holy
place and the law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus
of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses
delivered to us.” 15 And all who sat in the council, looking
steadfastly at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
We ought to understand in reality what Christians
can go through and yet remain in the faith. What have you gone or went through
in the vine yard of God, as this question is now asked? Are you still in the
faith, examine yourself?
Dear brethren, I am tired of writing, our reader
to open his bible to Stephen’s address – Acts 7:1-3, the call of Abraham. The
patriarch in Egypt – Acts 7:9-14. God delivered Israel by
Moses – Acts 7:17-29. Israel rebelled against God – Acts
7:37-42. Israel resisted the Holy Spirit – Acts 7:51-53. Stephen the
martyr – Acts 7:54-60 – 54 When
they heard these things they were [h]cut to the heart, and they gnashed at
him with their teeth. 55 But
he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God,
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said,
“Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand
of God!” 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped
their ears, and ran at him with one accord; 58 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down
their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And
they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God
and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he knelt
down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.”
And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Saul who later became Paul testified of this as
read in the book of Acts 22:17-21. This is the same Paul who went through so many
perils according to 2 Corinthians 11:1-4 – Oh,
that you would bear with me in a little folly—and indeed you do bear with me. 2 For
I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one
husband, that I may present you
as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But
I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your
minds may be corrupted from the [a]simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For
if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit
which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not
accepted—you may well put up with it!
Paul wants all of us to know that we have no
reasons to give for the lack of faith – 2 Corinthians 11:22-28. There is a
remarkable statement – 2 Corinthians 11:31-33 – 31 The God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In
Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the
Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; 33 but I was
let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and escaped from his hands. After
all these, he confirmed that nothing will separate him from the love of Christ,
because God’s everlasting love – Romans 8:31-39 – 31 What then shall we say to
these things? If God is for us,
who can be against us? 32 He
who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He
not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring
a charge against God’s elect? It is
God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It
is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the
right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who
shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or
nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written: “For Your
sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet
in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For
I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor
powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height
nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the
love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. If we all can work like Saul
who became Paul, this topic: Are you still in the faith, examine
yourselves will not be necessary. Let us hear from Paul as he boasted
with assurance of eternal reward – 2 Timothy 4:6-8 – 6 For I am already being
poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I
have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally,
there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to
all who have loved His appearing.
The last statement of Paul is encouraging because
of those of us who will love Christ’s coming, according to 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 13 But I do not want you to
be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow
as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For
this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the
Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the
Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an
archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and
remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in
the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore
comfort one another with these words.
Everybody should be aware that God, Christ and the
Holy Spirit have finished their assignments for we all both on earth here and
heaven. And He confirmed this through His inspired word – Revelation 22:18-19 18 For I testify to
everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to
these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and
if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, Godshall
take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in
this book.
On this wise, we are to study the Bible as
directed – 2 Timothy 2:14-16 14 Remind
them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive
about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be
diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun
profane and idle babblings, for
they will increase to more ungodliness.
Recently, last week, I spoke on this topic Beware of The Snare Of Worldliness and
this is the work of Satan as revealed in John 8:42-44 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you
would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of
Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech?
Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires
of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does
not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie,
he speaks from his own resources,
for he is a liar and the father of it.
1 Peter 5:8-9 8 Be
sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring
lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in
the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood
in the world.
There are so many things, individually, one need
to examine in his or her Christian life because of corruption and before then
God is aware and you cannot be bold to tell God to examine – Psalm 26:1-2 1 Vindicate me, O
Lord, for I have walked in my integrity.
I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip. 2 Examine
me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart.
You on your own is asked to do this Lamentations
3:40-43 40 Let us
search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord; 41 Let
us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven. 42 We have
transgressed and rebelled; You have not pardoned. 43 You have
covered Yourself with anger and
pursued us; You have slain and
not pitied. 1 Corinthians 11:28-30 28 But
let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the
cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats
and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For
this reason many are weak and
sick among you, and many sleep. Galatians
6:4 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he
will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
Above it all – John 1:8-10 8 He was not that Light,
but was sent to bear witness of
that Light. 9 Thatwas the true Light which gives
light to every man coming into the world. 10 He was in the
world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
Before I make my personal observations, see Romans
3:23 23 for all
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of
Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body according to what
he has done, whether good or bad. Examine yourselves in the field of evangelism
according to Christ’s directives and instructions and He is the owner of His
church and in authority. Matthew 28:16-20 16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee,
to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 17 When
they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 18 And
Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in
heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all
the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Mark 16:14-18 14 Later He appeared to the eleven as
they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart,
because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every
creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but
he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs
will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will
speak with new tongues; 18 theywill take up
serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them;
they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Luke 23:36-49 36 The soldiers also mocked Him,
coming and offering Him sour wine, 37 and saying, “If You are
the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” 38 And an inscription
also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE
KING OF THE JEWS. 39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged
blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” 40 But
the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing
you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly,
for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing
wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You
come into Your kingdom.” 43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly,
I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” 44 Now it
was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the
ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the
temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a
loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having
said this, He breathed His last. 47 So when the centurion saw
what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous
Man!” 48 And the whole crowd who came together to that sight,
seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. 49 But
all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a
distance, watching these things. John
20:19-23 19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were
shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and
stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He
showed them His hands and His
side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So
Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send
you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the
Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are
forgiven them; if you retain the sins
of any, they are retained.”
Acts 1:6-8 6 Therefore,
when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this
time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 And He said to them, “It
is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own
authority. 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
In my observation, there are those of you, after
your baptism that had not taken part in this great responsibility assigned to
all Christians collectively and individually.
My dear sisters, beware that you are always assigned
to a duty every Saturday to take care of the meeting hall and there are those
of you assigned that never take part in this responsibility.
Those of us who are teaching and preaching be
aware that you are deceiving yourselves if
you are not doing what you are preaching and teaching – James
1:21-25 21 Therefore
lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness
the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be
doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For
if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing
his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes
away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But
he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer
but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
You need to develop and improve in your commitment
to God, in all the activities spiritually and physically without late coming.
Rooms are given to those who want to be teachers and preachers in our zonal
house fellowship on weekly basis. Rooms are also given to those concerned with
fasting and prayers including the all-night prayers every last Friday of each
month. More rooms are also given to those of us who live close to the church
premises for everyday morning devotion as from 6:30am – 7:20am.
Will God be offended at any time when you gather
to pray? 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 16 Be
happy (in your faith) and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always), 17 Be
increasing in prayer (praying perseveringly), 18 Thank (God) in
everything (no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give
thanks); for this is the will of God for you (who are) in Christ Jesus (the
revealer and mediator of that will). 19 Do not quench (suppress
or subdue) the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not spurn the gifts and
utterances of the prophets (do not depreciate prophetic revelations nor despise
inspired instructions or exhortation or warning). 21 But test and
prove all things (until you can recognize) what is good (to that); hold fast. 22 Abstain
from evil (shrink from it and keep aloof from it) in whatever form or whatever
kind it may be) – [The Amplified Bible].
CONCLUSION
In all that have been taught, there is still room
for repentance. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count
slackness, but is longsuffering toward us not willing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.
May God bless His words into our hearts and mind
to enable we heed and take to corrections before it is too late in Jesus Name –
Amen! (Hymn 637 – Songs of the Church).
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