Olabode Ososami's Blog, page 81

Self Love and How to deal with it.

Self love is an aspect of love that leaves many confused.  Is it wrong to love yourself? What does it mean to come to God with an agenda. Don’t we all have them? In John 6, we see, after Christ had performed a miracle of feeding thousands with a few loaves and fish, the multitude falling in love with Him – ready to make Him their leader.  Even the disciples would have perceived this as a convenient shortcut to the destined journey of salvation … a process which culminated instead in martyrdom and great suffering.  How do you deal with self-love and disciples with agenda?

John 6[15]  When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

Christ courageously faced demoniacs, Pilate, wicked adulterers and challenged the Pharisees … but when He recognised a wrong agenda to follow Him, He fled to find a place where He could be alone.  In similar fashion, the same Spirit of Christ flees …when agendas of multltudes and disciples converge in error.

No doubt, His explanations later were not understood … even as today without the Spirit of God and the special grace of God, we cannot accept and digest the truths that say in John 6[26]  Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. [27]  Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

What is self love? It is easier to understand it by the company it keeps. Where you find these things you find self love.  These are ambition, love of pleasure/fun, self-centredness, love of convenience, love of flattery/acceptance, self-promotion, desire of power, unrenewed minds ( that have not been immersed in the word of God), love of advantage and addictions to entertainment.  At its extreme it manifests in perversions and open and subtle justififcations of evils such as abortion …

When disciples are immersed with self love, the spirit of Christ will not strive, but must depart to be alone …to find somewhere where the soul still understands what it means to crucify self and love God.

In John 6, the disciples (wondering what was wrong with crowning Christ as an instant deliverer and King) on their own, without Christ, embarked on a journey on the sea only to encounter storms, strong adverse winds and fear in the darkness of the night until Christ appears again to them to rescue them.

Nothing has changed in present times…self-love is common and many disciples continue to follow with varied agenda…Christ is afar … not with them…until they get into storms and troubles.

John 6[16]  And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, [17]  And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. [18]  And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

The disciples of Christ did not remain chained to self love.  Eventually they received grace and were radically changed to living sacrifices.

It is pointless to argue with self love.  It is more powerful than a billion demons and more deceptive than the kisses of the most adorable…its massage is so soothing, it calms the mind and embraces with a most comforting warmth…deluding the most discerning into an irresistible detour.  Self-love can corrupt and be at home in the pulpit, in our prayers and pious devotions.  Like Jesus, we must often just flee from it before it completes its damage to our destiny.

Modern day and especially younger Christians are flooded with a world-view that enshrines self love in every facet of life.  We need grace to flee from these thought bombs before they explode. My prayer is that God will change us to love Christ even more …and less of ourselves. More of you O Lord in my life. Amen.

Escape from death – Dana Air Crash

Last Sunday, a fatal air crash near the Lagos, Nigeria airport of the Dana aircraft (Abuja to Lagos 2.00pm flight) claimed over 150 lives most of whom were burnt beyond recognition. Nigerians are demanding answers from the already beleaguered government swamped with multifarious allegations of negligence …promising even more probes. Even if early indications suggest that this was an avoidable disaster, few are hopeful that any consequence will deter future reoccurrence. But this blog is about true stories of escape…

I am led to conclude that death cannot come until the appointed time.  Even the ungodly Judas must be kept to perform his destiny before judgment. Still three real-life scenarios of escape cause me to ponder.  The first is about a bank executive who lives in Abuja and normally would take that flight to attend a regular Monday executive meeting in Lagos.  But on that day, he had an unusual fever and pleaded permission to take a rest …his protocol agent gives the already assigned seat to his mother …my friend who is a Muslim is on a fast, has promised his Muslim prayer cleric a bonus and intends more devotion to his faith.

The other case is about a lady who attended thanksgiving church service which extended well beyond the normal time as the guest pastor preached apparently interminably until in exasperation she angrily postpones her 2.00 pm flight vowing to find another place to worship…the third case is how you and I escape death daily … sustained by His grace.  At the period of the crash, I normally would take a flight on that same route at least twice a week…. but at the time of the crash I was nowhere near the airport.

The truth that death has no sting for the faithful throws very different light on human perceptions of escape. While we thank God for His benevolence, our preservations from earthbound death are valueless if we have not escaped the second death through salvation in Christ Jesus.  Few understand the different hurts of the second death and many are told to disregard it as mythical causing a fearful existence on this side of eternity

Revlation 2 [11]  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. …Revelation 21 [8]  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

In a country where things progress very slowly, committees and investigative panels will soon submit reports on the air crash. But I am talking this time about God’s report on your soul.  Are you His or are you not?

Click here to view the embedded video.

We will miss those who are gone and perhaps those who escaped this horrible encounter with the death angel will applaud themselves and make fresh resolutions .  In safer aviation environments adhering to all the appropriate air traffic /aircraft worthiness regulations – many will naturally heave a sigh of relief and offer thoughts of condolence …  until of course the time of judgment when the book of life is opened and the real winners revealed.

“Is your name in the book of life?  Unforgiveness lurks within your heart .. some folks that you will never let go ..little foxes and secret faults … will spring surprises on that final day…”  sings Nathaniel….” let him that thinks that he stands take heed…”

Change Catalysts and RCCG Apapa Family

Sunday June 03, 2012 promises to be truly memorable and exciting especially for the youth, as The Redeemed Christian Church of God (Apapa Family) holds the 5th edition of her Annual Excel Celebration; themed CHANGE CATALYST.

Change Catalysts are a peculiar breed who orchestrate changes and mitigate risk and resistance during growth, consolidations and major transformations.

Ministering at the epoch making event would be the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch A. Adeboye. This Year’s theme – CHANGE CATALYST is geared towards steering young people into embracing their roles as core agents of positive change in the society.

According to a statement from the organizers, “Excel 2012” is a free entry event with free food and refreshments provided for the 100,000 people expected to attend. Pastor E.A Adeboye, an education aficionado, will apart from ministering the word of life and encouragement – be endowing a professorial Chair in Mathematics at the University of Ife. This is in addition to existing ones already endowed at the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan and University of Nigeria Nsukka. The Excel Academy, a mentoring institution for youth leaders would also be officially launched on that day.

All are in for a fantastic time as Tim Godfrey, Eben and Joe Blue of the Nigerian Idol Fame would also be on hand to minister in music at the event.

Come and be changed …

The Diligent maketh Rich

Let us as Nigerians stop congratulating ourselves for awarding new blocs for production and increasing crude oil export. When we export crude oil we ship out unrealized jobs and future country wealth and perpetuate our poverty even as we become addicted to consuming processed petroleum products wastefully and buy more and more refined products from rich nations that continue to get richer.

Our goal instead should be to deemphasise if not stop export of crude and plan how to instead produce/export refined products i.e. have a thriving petrochemical industry… It is diligent disciplined application of technology and hard work that differentiates the refiners of crude oil from opportunist merchants who sell crude … the lazy remain poor (plain and simple) and the rich who export finished products love it to remain so. Indeed in these poor nations there are the few mega rich merchants who live on streets with dead street lights,epileptic electricity and no water supply.

“History shows that no country has ever become rich by exporting foodstuffs and raw materials without also having an industrial sector and in modern terms, an advanced service sector. The more a country specialises in the production of raw materials, the poorer it becomes. But this is a lesson Africa has still not learned. In the 19th century, the saying in the USA was: “Don’t do as the English tell you to do, do as the English did.” Our advice to Africa and other developing countries is: “Don’t do as the Americans and the British tell you to do, do as the Americans and the British did.” For Africa, this is the only way out of poverty and into prosperity. And the time to take that route is now!” reports Osei Boateng

… we must think deeply and out of the box to have a model that works for growth and wealth building for Nigeria.

Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich

There is no Mercy in Hell

Faith is basically believing that God still loves us. He does not love our sin. He does not want us to continue in our sin. He is like a father who sees his child’s diseases and hates those diseases, but loves his child. Think of a mother who sees her child full of leprosy or tuberculosis. That mother loves her child so much, but hates those diseases with all her heart.

God loves sinners but He hates their sin. We see God’s love for sinners and His hatred of sin on Calvary’s cross. His love for sinners is seen in that He allowed Jesus to die on the cross for us. His hatred of sin is seen in His turning His face away from Jesus when Jesus bore the sin of the world on the cross.

People sometimes ask how a God of love can send people to Hell. What is Hell like? Hell is a place that God has forsaken completely – a place where God cannot be found. This earth has not been forsaken by God. That’s why there’s still so much of goodness and beauty on this earth.

Look at the beauty of creation, for example. Look at the decency and goodness there is in many human beings. Demons would like to possess ALL human beings, but they are unable to, because God has put a restraining wall around people, so that demons cannot do what they like. It is God’s mercy also that gives man health, prosperity and many other comforts. All these blessings are bestowed by God on both good and evil people. All this proves that God has not forsaken this world. But Hell is not like that. In Hell there is no mercy at all – because Hell is a truly God-forsaken place.

There is goodness in many unconverted people in this world, because the influences of God are still over them. But once they go to Hell, those very same people will become as evil as the devil himself – because the mercy of God will no longer be over their lives.

In Hell, people will experience for the first time what it is like to be totally forsaken by God. That was what Jesus experienced on the cross. Jesus experienced Hell on the cross for those three hours of darkness, when God actually forsook Him. There we see how much God hates sin.

So what is the answer? Can a God of love send people to Hell? The answer to that lies in the answer to this other question: Could a God of love allow His own Son to face Hell on the cross, when the sin of the world was upon Him? If He could do that, He can send people to Hell too. A God of love will turn His face away from those who continue in sin, who say to God, “I am not going to listen to you. I have chosen my own way and I will continue along it forever.”

The Bible says in Proverbs 29:1 (paraphrased) “A man who is corrected many times and refuses to accept correction will one day suddenly be destroyed and he will not have another chance”. If a man keeps on refusing God’s loving invitations, he is in real danger. Now I don’t want any of you over-sensitive brothers and sisters to feel condemned hearing that – because that verse was not written for those who fall into sin, but to warn those who love to sin and who want to continue in it. It was not written for those who try to live in purity but keep falling. It was written for rebels, who defy God and want to keep on sinning. How can you know whether you are a rebel? That’s very easy to find out. Just ask yourself whether you have a desire to repent and to turn back to God? If there’s even the slightest desire within you to turn to God and to love Him, then that proves that the Holy Spirit is still working in your life and that God is seeking to draw you to Himself. You may be a failure, but you are not a rebel. There is a vast difference between one who is failing and one who is rebelling.

Originally published by Zac Poonen

“Thou art my hope in the day of evil.” By Spurgeon

Jeremiah 17[17]Be not a terror to me; You are my refuge and my hope in the day of evil. [18]  Let those be put to shame who persecute me, but let me not be put to shame; let them be dismayed, but let me not be dismayed. Bring on them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.

 

The path of the Christian is not always bright with sunshine; he has his seasons of darkness and of storms. True, it is written in God’s Word, “Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace;” and it is a great truth, that religion is calculated to give a man happiness below as well as bliss above; but experience tells us that if the course of the just be “As the shining light that shineth more and more unto the perfect day,” yet sometimes that light is eclipsed. At certain periods clouds cover the believer’s sun, and he walks in darkness and sees no light.

There are many who have rejoiced in the presence of God for a season; they have basked in the sunshine in the earlier stages of their Christian career; they have walked along the “green pastures” by the side of the “still waters,” but suddenly they find the glorious sky is clouded; instead of the Land of Goshen they have to tread the sandy desert; in the place of sweet waters, they find troubled streams, bitter to their taste, and they say, “Surely, if I were a child of God, this would not happen.” Oh! say not so, thou who art walking in darkness. The best of God’s saints must drink the wormwood; the dearest of His children must bear the cross. No Christian has enjoyed perpetual prosperity; no believer can always keep his harp from the willows. Perhaps the Lord allotted you at first a smooth and unclouded path, because you were weak and timid. He tempered the wind to the shorn lamb, but now that you are stronger in the spiritual life, you must enter upon the riper and rougher experience of God’s full-grown children.

We need winds and tempests to exercise our faith, to tear off the rotten bough of self-dependence, and to root us more firmly in Christ. The day of evil reveals to us the value of our glorious hope.

God bless you. Amen

A New Terrorism and Attack on Free Speech

The recent bombings of news media premises in Abuja and Kaduna, Nigeria by suicide bombers portend another fearful extension of the violence in an emerging nation’s socio-political terrain. The choice of houses of worship, law enforcement and western embassies perceived as supportive of an unresponsive government as targets is now inclusive of premises of unsympathetic media houses. Freedom of press establishes the opportunity for every perspective to have opportunity of unhindered expression given flaws in objectivity for which there are adequate legal avenues for relief.  Seeking to spread the fear to speak sets a tone for fascist tyranny and attacks the very fabric that permits truth to be known.  Someone once said … “it is a paradox that every dictator has climbed to power on the ladder of free speech but immediately on attaining power each dictator has suppressed all free speech except his own.”

“Without free speech no search for truth is possible… no discovery of truth is useful.” Charles Bradlaugh

I heard years ago the parable of several blind men examining an elephant … one holding the feet and calling it a tree…another leaning on its body and likening it to a wall …the other feeling its trunk and suspecting this must be a strange snake.  The flaws in our insights will surprise us but it is better to have different parts of the jigsaw expecting that all the pieces of the puzzle will one day provide a complete picture.

It seems we have a nation where targets of irritation for bombing down are selected if government is not motivated in creating the safety nets that alleviate hunger and pangs for some form of recognition and fulfilment that only these carriers of terror define. The institutional structures meant to regulate for fairness and guarantee order are weakened and caged in strange prisons of silence and extra legal actions apparently prevail to provide solutions that puerile bodies refuse to offer.  Without strong mature and effective institutions in all spheres … all that is bequeathed by the best of leaders to future generations are fears, tensions and grievances awaiting expression. Mutual distrust, tribal allegiances and prejudices embedded in new change maps already sabotage changes before they can even be initiated. Most will be silent for fear of being cruelly targeted.

The Bible says God is angry with the wicked everyday … have we become a wicked nation that must inherit only days of trouble? The Bible often describes the wicked as they who thrive by short-changing the weak and the vulnerable…rulers who rose through evil elevators and are trapped only to supervise the perpetuation of corruptions and oppressions in various forms. The only way to appease God is a genuine repentance – change of heart … as well as return of plunder.

Isaiah 57 [20]  But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. [21]  There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

A respected cleric recently asked …how can we transform or change anything for good when in our hearts we do not want to change or be transformed and deep wickedness thrives unchecked without repentance or restitution albeit in several masked strains.

The recent conviction of the former Liberian President and other similar landmarks in judicial history remind us that those who take advantage of the complex wounds of vulnerable emerging nations to raid their resources, foster troubles and sow evil, injustice and sorrow… will eventually be judged as criminal losers – no matter how long it eventually takes for them to be exposed and someday they will reap multiples of what they have sown.

Psalm 139[23]  Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: [24]  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

The Titanic and the search for Jonah

It is 100 years since RMSTitanic, a passenger liner that sank in the North Atlantic Ocean on 15 April 1912 after colliding with an iceberg during her maiden voyage from Southampton, UK to New York City, US. The ship disappeared beneath the waves, causing the death of 1,514 people in one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history. The “unsinkable” RMS Titanic was said to be the largest and safest ship afloat at the time of her maiden voyage – designed to be the ultimate in comfort and luxury, with an on-board gymnasium, swimming pool, libraries, high-class restaurants and the most opulent cabins.

In my reflections on the Titanic … I am drawn to another less known maritime incident with a happier ending. The story of Jonah, God’s man who initially refused to go to a wicked people of Nineveh and preach a curt and unfriendly message they were more likely to mock at …

Jonah 3[4] And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

Many would equally flee to Tarshish if called to deliver such “hate speech” to Ninevites. Jonah probably was not just disinterested in their salvation but also failed to appreciate how the Ninevites would ever respond positively to such a dour crusader … no jokes, no promises to prosper, no chorale, no dance troupe kicking their heels and no happy-ending tale. The trip of vanity to Tarshish was certainly a more practical pursuit …

Who dares preach undiluted truths and messages to the fearfully decadent culture of today? Who has been sent to declare, to advanced civilisations and cultures confident and arrogant in worldliness and debauchery, the words anointed to melt hard errant hearts … causing heads to be covered with sackcloth … and many fast. God, who says “I changeth not” had great mercy on Nineveh even as they believed Him and repented on hearing this “hateful” admonition – much to the surprise and chagrin of Jonah.

The vessel carrying Jonah faced a maritime peril that would have led to loss of potentially over 120,000 lives eventually … but for the admission of Jonah and his volunteering to be punished by being tossed into the sea. But he was God’s servant who God had determined to rescue for the sake of the Ninevites in need of salvation from an imminent judgment. Like Jesus who bore all our sins and had to be in the belly of the earth – the grave for three days .. so that many will be saved.

It is 100 years now and we are still searching for the Jonahs of today. Would a Jonah on the Titanic have made a difference? A discouraged servant of God headed on a luxury trip of vanity no more interested in taking God’s truths to a wicked society that do not look like they would accept it anyway. Would the mercy of God have made a difference … a mercy that interrupted Jonah’s disobedience and preserved him for three days in the belly of a fish only to be vomited on the coast of his assignment? How many thousands suffer today simply because prophets intimidated by the wickedness and culture have retired safely into ease or simply preach a different gospel that does not save – accompanied with hymn singing.

If Jonah had not been compelled to admit his disobedience and be thrown into the sea …eventually to return to Nineveh – an entire city may have perished …plus the souls on the ship … drowned together with a quiet, timid and hardened Jonah .

How many modern day “unsinkable” scenarios await the cry of “in 40 days and it will be destroyed unless you repent” ? Who will proclaim it? Who has been called and helped to be obedient to declare it? Who is still praying for God’s mercy for civilisations?

As new technologies reveal intimate images of the famous Titanic shipwreck … a new revival … a new merciful penetration of the soul is causing the word of God to echo once again …to help us see not just the geographical or historical dimensions but come to worship, fear and honour the God who says “He kills and makes alive” and to be helped to learn from His judgments.

Isaiah 57[13] When you cry out, Let your collection of idols deliver you. But the wind will carry them all away, A breath will take them. But he who puts his trust in Me shall possess the land, And shall inherit My holy mountain.”

God help us. There are no unsinkable vessels, ideas, nations, powers, men, women, civilisations, economies, politicians, ministries, corporations etc … as tomorrow’s headlines continually will remind us … “ but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them”

…safety is only of the Lord

Surviving Extremely Hostile Situations

A hostile environment represents circumstances in which you sense persistent unusual open or subtle opposition … even mere appearance is continually despised.  Sometimes for causes not always fully appreciated … and in other times for reasons which are not just known but justified. Hostility may be self-induced – perhaps arising from character flaws or  misfit in groups arising from differences and clashes in culture and values.  Hostility can and should be avoided as the Bible does say in Proverbs 16 [7]  When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. … Hebrews 12 [14]  Follow peace with all men , and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Still there are Bible lessons and divine wisdom illustrated in reactions of characters in extremely hostile situations. You may someday find yourself in these tough situations …in which you are puzzled at the scale of opposition.  Also, often we do not see our flaws or at best underplay them … or we overreact to situations misreading them as unwelcoming….or we can simply work on our attitude .. to be more friendly. Whatever may be the scenario … many may need help someday to cope when conditions become very hateful either in the workplace or even in ministry.

TD Jakes gave his own thoughts and tips in his best-selling book “Ten Commandments of working in a hostile environment” …I listed them below:

Know that you are anointed for the position
Don’t expect to be appreciated
Embrace opportunities for change
Do the job well while remembering the vision
Don’t let the environment get inside you
Increase your capacity to work with difficult personalities
Where you are is not where you are going
Achieve optimal results with minimal confusion
Don’t get into cliques and groups
Always keep your song near you

The Bible has some examples…a few are summarised.

Joseph as a favoured pampered young visionary is initially presented as a tactless lad who talks too much and was quick to bring tales to his father on the adventures of his brothers. You could say this is a case of hostility that could have been avoided if adjustments to manners or attitude were made. Joseph narrowly escaped death in the hands of his own brothers.  Still, he avoided cliques, not allowing himself to be bitter and remained faithful to God till his story eventually changed.  You could say he kept His song

Genesis 37 [19]  And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. [20]  Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

Isaac was a man who prospered in a famine and was consistently resisted till he finds his Rehoboth. In this case, envy and jealousy cause Isaac to simply move on to avoid further strife… reminding us that where we are now is not our final destination.

Genesis 26 [16]  And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we. [17]  And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there.

David is being hunted down by Saul for years  - finding himself exposed to different enemies… it seems an entire geography became hostile to his existence.  To survive – David resorted to unusual methods to stay alive until God’s appointed time. David knew how to live without accolades and appreciation … he learnt of a source of joy – God, that sustained him through the strangest trials and harshest periods .. so can we..

I Samuel 21[12]  And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. [13]  And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

Scripture teaches that periods of hostility are also means for the Potter’s training and preparations to forge the best vessels as David, Joseph and Isaac.  Still, the devil finds these periods ideal for sowing deep discouragement and wrong thoughts and answers … focusing his baits to lure the battle-weary and inflicting emotional wounds and scars that only God must heal.  Many do not come out like the Bible stars.

Td Jakes ends his book “Dear brothers and sisters, I charge you to go forth into your workplace, no matter how hostile it may be, bathed in His anointing, knowing that you are blessed and highly favoured!  I wish you Godspeed on your journey and joy along the way!..”

… and if you feel hurt whether deserved or undeserved and you have damaged your testimony in not reacting the way this blog would have advised  or you have not yet emerged glittering like Joseph, Isaac or David… still go to Jesus to uphold you.

Matthew 12 [20]  A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering (dimly burning) wick He will not quench, till He brings justice and a just cause to victory. (Amp)

He must still bring you to His house of victory.  God bless you and remain always strong in Him. Amen

 

 

The Great Need For Good Leaders by Zac Poonen

Zac Poonen

The state of God's people depends on the quality of their leader. Most of today's leaders in Christendom are not strong enough to keep God's people on the straight and narrow path because the leaders themselves do not know God and are compromisers. They seek to please men and to be popular like Aaron, and therefore God cannot endorse their leadership. Moses and Joshua never sought to be popular.

"The people served the Lord all the days of Joshua and all the days of the elders who survived Joshua, who had seen all the great work the Lord had done for Israel" (Judges 2:7). But by the time Joshua and his fellow-elders died, there were no God-fearing men available to replace them. And so "all that generation also died and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor the work which He had done for Israel" (Judges 2:10). There was nobody who knew God.

After many years of moving in many Christian groups, I have to say that I have met very few Christian leaders who really know God, and who can say like Elijah, "I stand before the Lord God." Most people in Christian work today are professional preachers. They study the Bible and get a degree, get someone to support them and then go out to "serve God". There may be some sacrifice in their lives and even zeal. But zeal, sacrifice and knowledge are of no use, if a person does not know God. The statistics of their work may be impressive, but the quality of their converts will be poor, because they don't know God. They may say that they have born-again believers in their church. But are these "believers" disciples of Christ? There is a vast difference between spiritual believers and carnal believers. Any man of God knows that it is better to have a small church of spiritual believers, than a large church of carnal ones. That's like saying that it is better to have a few 1000-watt bulbs than a hundred zero-watt bulbs.

We are to be the light of the world. But the intensity of our light depends upon how much we know God. If the leader does not know God, the people will not know God either. You can study the Bible and teach it to your church-members, and they will know the Bible. But that would be like teaching them chemistry in a classroom. That won't help them to know God. People cannot know God by getting Biblical information. You can know God only as you go through trials and testing. You have to humble yourself in those trials and have to have a yearning in your heart for God. That is how you can know God, not by sitting in a meeting. We certainly need to know the Scriptures, but we need to go beyond the Scriptures and get to know God. "The people who know their God will be strong" (Dan.11:32). The Israelites did not know God and therefore "they did evil in the sight of the Lord and served other gods." (Judges 2:11) That was because Joshua had died, and now there was no God-fearing leader to lead them.

The history of Christianity in the last 2000 years is replete with numerous examples of men whom God raised up to start a church or a movement that brought revival in their lifetime. But once they died, their church (or movement) declined just like the churches and movements before them. The new generation holds the same doctrine as their founder and the same theory of sanctification, but they are not holy as their founder was. Many of them claim to have the same "baptism in the Holy Spirit" that their founder had. But their life and ministry do not have the same anointing. Something is missing. Then God has to raise up another man and start something altogether new.

God has always done His greatest work in the church through individual men whom He has raised up in different generations in different lands. Around such a man God gathers together a few people who are concerned not so much for size as for quality – for a pure testimony for God in their generation. I believe the church needs many such men and women.