Bro. Stephen Iluman (Bishop, C.O.C – Grey)

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This is a broad teaching that involves both positives and negative but we should be thankful to God who have answers to every questions. In other to have detailed understanding, let us define the following key words, counting, gain, losses and please.

1. Counting: Counting one by one to find out – Ecclesiastes7:27 “Here is what I have found,” says the Preacher, “Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason”.
2. Gain: If he gains the whole world, and lose – Luke 9:25 – 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?
3. Loses: And loses his own soul. Matthew 16:26 – 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
4. Please: In the flesh cannot please God – Romans 8:5‐8 – 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Introduction

Our God Almighty who is all knowing had revealed the work of the flesh according to Galatians 5:19‐21 – 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. More to this in 1

Corinthians 6:9‐10 – 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[a] nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. In continuation, He also revealed to us all as a spiritual Father –

Galatians 5:22‐25 – 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self‐control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. In various ways, we will start by counting people both in Old and New Testaments whom God had revealed with gains and losses and to know whom they pleased either God or self –

Genesis 3:1‐6 –Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3 but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’” 4 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.

On this note, Adam and Eve pleased themselves and not God. Furthermore, be‐aware that Satan the devil is still very much around –

1 Peter 5:8‐9 – 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because[a] 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. Christ as an example went through all temptations to promote His image in other to please God –

Matthew 4:1‐11, Luke 4:1‐13, Mark 1:12‐13. 12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

Even at the point of death – Matthew 26:42 ‐ 42 Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless[a] I drink it, Your will be done.” In our continuous counting with gain to please God was Paul who went into perils to please God –

2 Corinthians 11:23‐28 – 23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.

Paul’s concern on earth here was to promote the truth in the gospel of Christ and please God and this was confirmed as he was about to depart from the earth –

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. Peter and John are among those to be counted with gain and losses who pleased God –

Acts 4:18‐19 – 18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 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. The apostles in like manner are to be counted with gain and losses who pleased God –

Acts 5:28‐32 – 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Time will not be enough to speak details of Job, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego –

Daniel 3:22‐30 – 22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‐Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‐Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.” 25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‐Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‐Nego came from the midst of the fire. 27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. 28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‐Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! 29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‐Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.” 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed‐Nego in the province of Babylon.

Read Hebrews 11:4‐11 as to count those gain and losses as to please God not self. Before the conclusion of this lesson, it is also proper to count those who gain and loss to please self. Judas agrees to betray Jesus because of money –

Matthew 26:14‐16 – 14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. 16 So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him. After said and done he hanged himself –

Acts 1;18‐19 – 18 (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. 19 And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) In Christendom today, all human churches of men and women throughout the whole world are gaining and losing to please themselves and not God. God through Christ has revealed this to them in the bible –

Matthew 15:8‐9 – 8 ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And[a] honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. The witches and wizards are also gaining and losing to please themselves –

2 Chronicles 33:6 – 6 Also he caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.

On this note I remember one wizard at Agbarho by name Jejekoriwa who killed all his children even his wife and relations and caused many accidents where people lost their lives, yet he was promoted to the highest position that he goes round all the covens in West Africa. When any sick person was brought to the tradomedical centre at Agbarho to negotiate what will be the cost of treatment…

My dear brethren, many things are going on in the secrets which belongs to God –

Deuteronomy 29:29. We should all be aware that judgements is going to begin with us and the final destination depends on whom you please – 1 Peter 4:17‐18.

May God help us all to work as to please HIM and not self in Jesus name –

Amen.

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