Isaac Boluwatise

Speculations Abound Out There These Days Powered More by The Ongoing Global Crisis.

This is exactly what happens once there is a major novelty or even crisis. Such speculations and educated and/or uneducated guesses only promote confusion and fear, one of the tools which the devil uses to steal, to kill, and to destroy.

The surprise is how believers also follow the trend instead of choosing to be stabilised by the word/will of God. If we are not to be easily unsettled or alarmed by the prophecies, words, and/or letters alleged to be from God and are not, how much more should we be careful not to be unsettled or alarmed by such speculations and guesses as are currently trending.

Trending currently are facts and speculations concerning the COVID 19; concerning the 5G technology; and concerning the end time politics with President Trump being a key figure.
It becomes necessary to take the attention of God’s people away from the nascent speculations allay their fear and encourage their devotion to the word and the will of God.

What do we need to know and how do we need to live in such times?

WE NEED TO KNOW THAT ….

… The Focus of Believers in The Last Days Should Be the Coming of Our Lord and Our Being Gathered to Him. 2Thess 2:1a.

He is coming back again, whether it looks like that or not, whether we believe it or not. He is coming as He promised, same way as He departed this world. He is coming like as the thief does in the night. He is coming to gather to Himself: His own; Those who love (earnestly looking forward to) His appearing: Those are prepared and ready. This should inform how we live, how we speak, and what we do.

We need to be careful about what we give attention to. We need to be careful not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by non-biblical teachings/speculations. 2Thess 2:1b. COVID 19 is a fact but we do not live by the details around it beyond being careful to curtail it’s spread. The 5G tech revolution is a fact; that technology is useful in the now is a fact; that it’s nature of tech comes with health challenges is a fact. That the stage is fully set for a takeover for a one world government is speculative. That COVID 19 lockdown is to accomplish that is speculative. That the antichrist will appear after Trump administration in a few years is speculative.

… We Need to Be Careful Not to Be Deceived.

The day of the Lord will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed. The antichrist might wield much power on earth when the time comes, he will yet not be absolute for he is doomed to destruction. His operation will be to oppose and to exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped. He will set himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. This particularly refers to the restoration of the temple in Jerusalem, the worship in which will indicate the re-enactment of the 70th week of Daniel’s prophecy.

While the world is preparing the ground for the appearing of the antichrist by technological advancement, watch out because the church is also preparing that ground through excessive lust for power; over-assertion of self in the sense of ‘I am he’; pointing people to personal calling than to Christ; empire building tendencies than pointing people to the kingdom that cannot be shaken; etc.

… The Appearing of The Antichrist Is Being Restrained.

Some specific events will precede his manifestation, and till then he’ll continue to be restrained. WHAT is holding him back so that he may be revealed at the proper time was known in the first century, according to 2Thess 2:6, whereas it is being highly speculated today.

That President Trump is the force that is preventing the one world government and the so-called illuminati conspiracy is a superfluous speculation. Lots of such speculations have been there in the past and they fell like a pack of cards. Subtly touted in the past were some notable world leaders.

The identity of the one holding back the manifestation of the antichrist has in biblical discussions ranged from the Roman Government, to Archangel Michael (because of his protection of the Jewish nation, and to the person of the Holy Spirit who continue to work in and through the church until the times of the gentiles are completed. The Holy Spirit fits more as a non-material person (what and He)

The secret power of lawlessness was already at work as far back as Paul’s time, predating those being touted today. Paul even wrote that, “… THE ONE WHO now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, ….”

… The Lord Is in The Charge of The Process and The Time, And That Human Conspiracy Cannot Usurp His Power nor His Schedule (Ps 2:1-8).

The manner of the coming of the lawless one is not limited to the current trend.
It will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie. He will use all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing.

His Subjects Shall Be Those Who Are Perishing. Those who have refused to love the truth and so be saved. Those who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness. Those who by their preference for lie will be aided by the sending of a powerful delusion by God so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned

This should command calm and peace in the heart of believers.

WE THEREFORE SHOULD …

… Always Give Thanks To God: for we are loved by the Him; for He had chosen us as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth; for He has called us to this through the gospel, that we might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

… Always Stand Firm.

… Always Hold Fast to The Teachings Passed to Us, according to God’s word.

………………………………

We Therefore Give Thanks to Our Lord Jesus Christ And to God Our Father, for loving us and for giving us eternal encouragement and good hope by your grace. We pray that You will encourage our hearts and that You will strengthen us in every good deed, in Jesus name. Amen.

#MattersArising

Unless some errors are corrected, the next generation may be on the road to another dark age, if the Lord tarries.

I was with my ministry mentor years back and i enjoyed the private time with him discussing ministry matters. I can’t remember what led to it, but we discussed ministry issues as per immorality.

He was shocked when I mentioned names from the 70s who were great but had compromises on moral issues. I mentioned how it affected them seriously.

He was shocked that I know about them and I reminded him that I am pastor’s son.

He even quipped about the scarcity of historical records about the exploits, the errors, and the effect that errors (sin) had on the lives of those anointed persons in the history of the Nigerian church. He believed that it needed for the subsequent generations to learn from.

It reminded me of Robert Liardon’s God’s General Series that acquainted us with the Dane and the challenges of some late famous ministers. It is a taboo and anti-Christian to write such records in this part of the world

In those days, one of them was so impactful that even the great Idahosa interpreted for him at some point. When morality issues happened, he was called out. When de did not budge, his associates left him.

He was a colossus, yet not invincible as not to be challenged.

The error that made immorality to thrive in CHRISTIAN leadership today began from a little after then. There was an explosion in the country. More anointed men arose. With it was the teaching that made anointing to be worshipped more than God. Reference would be made to how Miriam suffered for speaking against MOSES. It was forgotten that MOSES only broke the policy of marrying outside the community of the Israelites, not that he sinned per se.

Teaching was used to place people under bondage. Today when a man of God is wrong, people keep quiet fearing for their lives and for the generation after them.

It was an heretic teaching. It was a scam. With it was the mind game that subjugated people and that truly affected those under such pulpits.

With such teachings and with the experience of those who don’t know what they should know and who suffered being cursed by the anointed or by the teachings fed to the psyche, in agreement with the global heresy so related, the church celebrated anointing plus sin in the pulpit. The anointing makes them sacred and untouchable even with their abominable practices of iniquity.

Such doctrine was a scam. That is why today, the church cowers and celebrate even when sin is obvious. They forgot that Jesus said he will reject many who despite their great work practise iniquity.

Sin also thrive in the pulpit, because we only discuss positive things. Jesus rebuked sin. The Apostles did the same. We think we should only discuss grace. So grace teachings, while we continue in sin, has messed up things in the church.

Where they will not thrive with sin in those days and would have to withdraw from the pulpit to sort things out, we continue in sin today, lacking in rebuke, lacking in discipline, and without Godly repentance (as if Paul did not teach repentance), for the climate allows the shinning stars who lack in remorse to continue to radiate grace plus sin.

Don’t pin this on the current saga please. This is just a matter that arise from it. I speak as someone who is aware and who has withdrawn from having teeming relationship with ministers. Too may things are wrong.

It is the mind games and the intimidation that make young ministers to celebrate the anointing of of the dirty hands behind the pulpit. It is the quest to make it, no matter what, that makes you to know and to continue to draw from corrupt pool.

You are not concerned about your soul, you only want the anointing. So it gain the anointing with the corruption. It is well covered and you know how to do it.

Lie thrives behind the pulpit. The prophetic scam is all over the place like rain water. Stone are being tuned to bread – the anointing is being merchandised while we continue to celebrate it. You fear and honour the anointing of the corrupt. No problem.

Jesus said in Matt 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

He also said in Matt 7:15-20

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

BY THEIR FRUIT (their lifestyle which doesn’t reflect the fruit of the spirit) YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM.

Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

Yet, we think we should overlook their lives and just concentrate on the anointing, respecting them for their anointing.

Paul’s said in 1 Co 5:1-6

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate:

A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. AND YOU ARE PROUD!

Shouldn’t you rather have gone into mourning and have put out of your fellowship the man who has been doing this?

[in essence, he is saying “deal with the charismatic man who indulges continually in sin, for it is wrong to be proud of him].

For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this.

So when you are assembled and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, hand this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, SO THAT HIS SPIRIT MAY BE SAVED ON THE DAY OF THE LORD.

[we however think and teach that everyone will be safe on that day, their sins notwithstanding].

YOUR BOASTING IS NOT GOOD – [your pride in the charismatic Corinthian sinner is wrong].

Don’t you know that a little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough? – when you allow such to continue to operate, you promote the spread of sin in the church.

So when you advise that the church should look beyond the consistent sin and the continual wrongs of the anointed and just draw from their anointing, you are promoting the spread of sin in the body and proud of the man whose soul might not be safe on that day. The practice of sin by the anointed may not affect everyone; it will definitely affect more because of their influence and example.

The problem is not just in the practice of sin in the pulpit, it is also in the gospel methodically repackaged to service itchy hears.

Paul spoke about itchy hears and the preference for certain kind of teachers.

In 2 Tim 4:1-5, he wrote:

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom,

I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.

[Note that ministry is not just for encouragement – which is the popular duty today]

For the time will come when PEOPLE WILL NOT PUT UP WITH SOUND DOCTRINE. Instead, to suit their own desires, THEY WILL GATHER AROUND THEM A GREAT NUMBER OF TEACHERS TO SAY WHAT THEIR ITCHING EARS WANT TO HEAR.

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, DISCHARGE ALL THE DUTIES OF YOUR MINISTRY.

[If ministry is not prepared to be apt, in season and out of season, to correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction, it is not faithfully discharging all the the duties expected]

The trend today is the proof that the warnings of Paul are real.

2 Tim 3:1-5.

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.

People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, BOASTFUL, PROUD, ABUSIVE, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, UNHOLY, without love, unforgiving, SLANDEROUS, WITHOUT SELF-CONTROL, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENYING ITS POWER.

[Denying the power of godliness is not the absence of the miraculous, but the want of the proof of transformation].

Have nothing to do with such people.

The popular opinion today is against this last line and that is why people thrive with immorality. When the church detests it, the spate of scandalous practices will reduce.

It is time to part ways with the brainwash and the extreme teachings that honour anointing without holiness.

It is time to speak not against persons, but against issues that are inimical to sanctity and true health in the body.

TO BE SILENT ABOUT THE ILLS IN THE CHURCH IS NOT CHRISTLIKE.

God bless the church.