admin
( A world full of compromise. Truth is failing for profit at all levels).
Theme : We will not compromise our salvation.
Prologue :
People all over the world are searching for gains. No one begins a business enterprise, however, without computing gains.
A Christian brother rented a building to us where we held services for N100 per month. This was in 1989. After some time we started the Primary School and he increased his rent to N500 per month.
When we asked him why, he said to me ” You are doing business”.
He never reckoned that salvation is the main cause of Christianity and material benefits derivable from the temple were not the essence of the Christian faith. He did not recognise that christian projects are not all tied to gain. He was grossly in error.
The Message Of The Day :
And in a situation of legalism and money issues Jesus said :
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (Matthew 23:23)
Today people dwell on minors and neglect the great issues of salvation. The Jewish elite class will pay tithes on all things and would compel people nontheless, to do so, meanwhile they set aside :
(i) judgement
(ii) mercy; and
(iii) faith;
these Christ said, were the weightier aspects of the law which were set aside.
Paying tithes was never condemned by Christ, but many leaders have compromised the issues of salvation in search for money or material benefits. Because of this stand, Jesus berated tithe seekers.
So today even at the high places in the church, fair judgement has been denied for favour, mercy is not shown to the lowly and faith in God has been abandoned in search for materialism and the gospel is watered down and devoid of warnings concerning our salvation.
And Jesus speaking again to the Pharisees, and scribes said :
“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” (Matthew 23:13).
Many have been misinformed or curried out of the Gospel.
I am often compelled to say that the largest victims for hell are likely those who are knowledgeable of the way of God, but have compromised it. So many people in the church have lost grip of the essence of worship.
I have been surprised to note that when I invited people to work for God, the first question from them was ” What is in it for me?”
THE CHRISTIAN’S FIRST CONCERN.
I had thought that people should be concerned first about their contribution to evangelism and soul winning than any other thing.
Have we all not listened to different ranges of philosophy in which the apostle warned us:
“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” (Colossians 2 : 8)
That we should act like the Bereans should be the crust of modern Christianity. They searched the scriptures to find out if what they were taught was indeed the correct thing.
THE PEOPLE OF BEREA :
“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17 : 10 :11).
FOR THE SALVATION CONSCIOUS CHRISTIAN
Read your bible to prove all things and may God bless you.
I discovered that many people, who came to work in our ministry, their craving was their belly. And surprisingly they found my invironment a place to apply non biblical practices to promote themselves. However, they were really chased away by the Holy Spirit and not me.
For such people scriptures cautions us thus :
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”
“For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Romans 16 : 17 – 18).
PRAYER :
Grant me grace oh Lord, never to compromise my salvation for the reason of any earthly benefits in Jesus name Amen.
Miracle Valley Sermon 1st March 2020.
Email : outreach.mvgm@yahoo.com
Website : www.mvgmng.org.