Blessed be the Name of our God for His goodness and wonderful works to the children of men from whom we have received and grace for grace. Also, it is expedient and important for us all to acknowledge His supremacy as God over all and in overall control which He continually proves without fail anytime men decide to show they can do without Him. No one can deny His graciousness, mercy, protection and salvation to as many that have received the free gift given us in person of His Only and Holy begotten Son, Jesus Christ. As a Church and a nation filled with the presence and the Spirit of the Most High, we shout, Hallelujah!
Also, before proceeding any further, for every good work and valiant acts carried out by the Christian Association of Nigeria in all that had to do with the peace, goodwill and love of God being shed and spread abroad, God will keep this body and continue to prosper His word in the heart and mouth of every representative and arm of this body that the Word of God will grow so mightily and prevail indeed in the Name of Jesus.
To the Spirit of the Saints and Just men both living and asleep in Christ, to the Church of First born whose name is written in Heaven and for the blood of Jesus shed on the cross for remission of sins, this is written to encourage and comfort as many soldiers of the cross who have fallen into the precious guard of the Great Physician to receive a crown of glory that fades not. This will also be a form of an appeal, pleading, instruction and reproof. Kindly accept me in my little folly as Apostle Paul would say.
First, like Jude said in verse three, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” This is my first time of writing to this noble representative of God’s body here in Nigeria, please bear with me and understand the burden with which I write.
How on earth would the body of Christ be mistaken for government of the world? Should His body be shaken by what shook the world? Never! The world is running from one calamity to another as it was foretold by the prophets and the Holy Apostles which was established by our Lord Jesus that all these are the beginning of tribulation. What am I driving at?
Why should you order for the Closure of churches or better still, let me put it in the right words shutdown of Churches? Is that the solution to the pandemic which is apparent that the judgment of God is gradually coming upon the children of disobedience?
Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, I hope we are aware of this? With this, it is clear that there is authority and jurisdiction. Authority is only effective within the jurisdiction of its enforcement. God told Elijah to choose three men before his death. Why? For the sole purpose of executing judgment. Period! These three men were, Elisha, Hazael and Jehu. “And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay – I Kings 19:17.”
From the above text, one thing is clear. The strata of authority must execute judgment and righteousness accordingly else this would surely lead to a higher pandemonium. The Church has authority likewise the government but right now it is as if one is overstepping the other. The judgement that escapes the sword of the world should not escape that of the Church and the offices thereof.
This letter is not to blame or show prowess in knowledge but as we have been admonished that we should instruct and correct in love, I do this in the same manner. The church in gradually giving the authority meant to govern her welfare to the world. Where are the Daniels that at the face of this common law of shutting down the worship centres, would dare to open not just the windows and doors but the roofs and other available openings? Where are the people like the three Hebrew boys that at the face of trials of any one who dare to ask anything from another other than vaccines and STAY AT HOME and STAY SAFE terms, that would not count it anything to suffer shame? But like Peter and John with one voice they would respond by saying, “…We ought to obey God rather than men – Acts 5:29.”
At the face of this pandemic disease, we have started reasoning like the world and in due time, it is clear that we are scheming for the world what they should use against us when the time is ripe. The Philistines could not overcome Samson if not for his brethren who handed him over. The slave traders had no power to make Joseph captive but for his brothers. No one could lay hand on Jesus to take Him and arrest Him if not through Judas. Isn’t it glaring that history is repeating itself? The government cannot stop us from worshipping God in the house we have called with and by His name but you (CAN) have encouraged that. Just because of this disease, you have temporarily postponed the joy that angels should have been engaging in higher dimension for making thousands of souls not to repent making our worship to look like just ordinary gathering. You have denied the world the proofs of our calling by telling them that a virus is higher than the whole of army of Christ combined. What a shame!
I strongly believe that if appropriate measures are not taken to this effect, God would raise radical men of spiritual rascality that would not count their lives to worth more than to do the biddings of the Captain who said, “Go Ye into the World…” But Nay, you have changed the Go Ye into the world to STAY AT HOME in support of what the world thinks to be solution. Says who? How has the STAY HOME helped in stopping the pandemic? Please, be sincere.
Is there no Balm in Gilead? Where is the potency of God’s word in the mouth of the faithful? Is this same God not sovereign over wind and sea anymore? Aren’t we jeopardising the faith given us to be exercised? This thing works with wind. Can’t wind answer to God’s word? Or have we forgotten so soon that it was written, “And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? – Mark 4:41.” Is the STAY AT HOME of a thing a wisdom from God or from scheme of men? Let us repent! I know you would try to defend this by saying words like, “wisdom is profitable to direct”, “wisdom is a principal thing.” Is it the wisdom from senses, earthly and beggarly elements or what? You would soon discover that, those that would be smitten by fear, hunger and other spiritual wiles would be greater than the main reason you have ordered for the closure of churches. Repent of this wickedness! Be wise! Don’t be deceived!
Tell me, what has the closure of Churches done to reduce the pandemic in our nation. Has it not brought about the rise and increase? We have raised the consciousness of an average man to a level of “GOD CANNOT PROTECT US, THEREFORE, LET US START PROTECTING OURSELVES.” Who deceived us? This is a deadlier state than this phenomenal pandemic itself. Just before I write you soonest depending on the response given, like Mordechai told Esther, “Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? – Esther 4:13-14.”
Who knows, maybe God allowed you to be His representatives this time around because of time like this, to stand and defend the true course of His nature. Think that God is weak to defend Himself? No! Never! If you won’t restore the gathering of believers in times like this, God will raise men and women that have neither honour nor fear for men. And don’t in anyway think that you can escape from incurring His wrath. For it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
“…We ought to obey God rather than men – Acts 5:29.”
God bless the Body of Christ.
Yours In Christ
A Faithful Steward
