As God watches you bleed...

The times are almost upon us when there will be a sharp division, when there will be a parting between those who talk the talk and those who walk the walk, between those who have chosen to "follow the Lamb wherever he goes" and those who follow the Rabbi for the bread he gives. This is one article where I will not pull any punches, so do forgive me if the things said sound strange or annoy you, but for the Nigerian church, I guess it is high time that certain things should be said.

Often as one surveys modern "Christianity" as we know it, you have to conclude that it is nothing more than a mental crutch and a veiled pursuit of materialism. Indeed, it has become more and more like an addiction to Mammon, that seductive demon drenched in slime so appealing that saints and sinners alike bow in unison to receive "blessings" of cars, estates, earthly glory and the adulation of men. Sunday after sunday, hands are lifted up to heaven by those with real needs and those who are fat from the consumption of excess, both groups asking for more - and yet, the poor abound because love wanes, spirituality dies and there is a growing disconnect from the essence of it all.

Now, the "man of God" sits next to Jesus in the hearts of many, while for many more, he actually sits above God Almighty because God is no longer the end that is pursued, the shield we are to hide behind and the Great Reward and satisfier of our souls! He is not the "product" and balm that is advertised to a dying world. Just as company billboards show their products, so do the billboard of "churches" and denominational gatherings REALLY show what they offer to the world; smiling faces of men and their wives, marketing words like "breakthrough", "freedom", "deliverance"....and a small line underneath that is barely visible to the eye which weakly says "Jesus is Lord".

Is he Lord indeed?

Before you point an accusing finger at these denominations and men, YOU who calls his name and who says you are truly his, can you really say HE is LORD of your life INDEED?

Let me explain lordship.

You see, friend, Lordship is best grasped when you embrace the fact that God may not save you sometimes. Lordship is what the Hebrew boys had embraced as they stood before the King and were told to bow down to an idol, save their necks temporarily at the risk of losing their eternal souls from turning their backs to the I AM. Their answer, who of us can boldly say today?

"O king, we are not afraid to answer you regarding this matter. Our God who we serve is able to save us from this fiery furnace - BUT IF OUR GOD DOES NOT SAVE US, O king, we will not bow...."

They are gathered up, bound and thrown into the fire - and God comes on the scene. At this point, one may say "The same God that delivered Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego will deliver you from your troubles" and the crowd may scream back a loud "Amen".

But wait a minute.... What about John's head on a platter.
What about Saint James killed by the sword?
What about Timothy beaten and dying two days later from the wounds?
What about Thomas killed in India?
What about Peter crucified - just like Matthew and Andrew?
What about Stephen stoned to death?
What about Mark who was beheaded?
What about Luke who was hanged?
I know of great saints who have died in plane crashes, been killed at home, have succumbed to cancer, have suffered great loss...

Friends, where was God when this happened? He was there, watching.
Did that make him any less Lord? Did they let go of God because there was no more bread, no more car, no more jobs, no more babies, no more wives....or had they made him Lord - no matter WHAT???

May I shock you for a bit. Some of us are not called to "prosperity" as we know it. The lavish "things" we seek for we may not be meant to have - and if we forcefully get, they will kill us. This does not apply to all - but understand something, HE will SUPPLY ALL your NEEDS because faithful is he who has called us. Some of us are not going to die of old age; some will die of sickness, some will be killed in explosions, some will die in car and plane crashes and others may be targeted and killed - or even be part of the saints around the throne decapitated because we made HIM Lord.

Ah, tis a hard saying and who can bear it?

Let us re-appraise the often chanted quote which has become another twisted mantra that puts man at the centre "For they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony". This is often used as a basis for applying the blood of Jesus to situations, to cars, roads and to chase demons and witches who may try to stop us, but as always, LIES are often nothing but TRUTH taken out of context because the passage really is not about getting or keeping.... Like the Master, it is about a laying down.

"For they overcame by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved NOT their lives, even unto death..."

So, friend, if God so chooses to watch you bleed as you walk in the foot path of his Son, will you still call him LORD?