Profiting with Tongues (1)

Topic 1: God Wants You To Speak With New Tongues

Speaking in tongues or praying in tongues is not a selective doctrine that some modern day churches are venturing into...
It is God's intention, even since the foundation of the world that there will be some people on the earth, who are believers, who all speak in tongues, both to God and to other believers...

On the day of Pentecost, we read that the 120 disciples who were at the upper room ALL spoke with new tongues... to the amazement of onlookers...
They said several many things about it, you know carnal men now... Some of them said "these guys must be drunk" (I guess they must have had some demonstrations too, like that of a drunkard) others said "no they are speaking our dialect, but these are Jews" some said they are glorifying God...

But whatever they said about it has Nothing to do with it... They are carnal men after all, so their observation doesn't matter...

The bible says tongues is for a sign to them (1cor.14:22), it means that it is something that's beyond their reasoning... They can't figure it out, they could assume anything about it, all that we as believer have to do is to Know what we are doing and get result through it.

Act 2:39 says the promise is Unto YOU... I mean you who has believed on Jesus... And who is reading this... God intended that you will speak with tongues, among other spiritual manifestations, and as it appears, it seems speaking with tongues is where it begins.

Jesus said this signs shall follow them that believe, he said in my name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues... Mark 16:17

It is God's express desire, he wants you to speak in new tongues...

See what I found in Isaiah 28:11-12: ‘For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear’.

He said speaking with another tongue is the rest and the refreshing wherewith You will cause your weary self to rest...

Are you weary? Financially, academically, spiritually, maritally, whatever it is, God wants to refresh you with tongues... Not with shouting the name of Jesus 7times or shouting die by fire... It is by speaking with tongues

I will point you to just two verses from the bible and then we'll continue later

1 Corinthians 2:7; But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

He says we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery... The wisdom which has been ordained even before the world unto our glory...

He said we communicate that OUR Glory by speaking God's wisdom in a mystery, he says it is a hidden wisdom, it is an unexplainable wisdom, you may not express the glory if you don't speak it, God intended that we will express his Glory as we speak the mystery

And see the other verse: 1 Corinthians 14:2
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

He says when you talk tongues, c'mon! he says you are speaking Mysteries... Well if you will ask me other ways to speak mysteries, I don't think I know, But I know this one for sure, he says when we speak with tongues, we are speaking mysteries unto God, NO MAN understands... So those in Acts chapter 2 that said they are speaking our dialect were confused (don't mind them). No man understands anyone who speaks in tongues, except by the Spirit... Though I have several times interpreted other people's tongues, but it isn't by the senses, it is by the Spirit...

He says HOWBEIT in the spirit, he speaketh Mysteries... Oh! Glory, can you see? When you speak with tongues, you are speaking mysteries, Unto God. And that mystery you are speaking had been ordained by God before the world unto Your Glory.

Eph 1:12 says God wants us to be UNTO his glory...
And as you speak with tongues, you are plugging yourself into the reality of that eternal intention of God...

You become a manifestation of His Glory...
That's God's wisdom... That it sounds foolish to some is the more proof that it is God's wisdom....

Hallelujah...

This is just the beginning; we haven't scratched the surface yet...
Roll in your question and observations...



We'll continue in a moment
Blessings!!!

Bro. Samuel Duyilemi can be contacted on +2348063221904; Email: tellduyz007@gmail.com

(C) Grace Nugget 2014

perfectawordline@gmail.com

Profiting with Tongues (3)

Topic 3: Speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift
Written by Bro. Samuel Duyilemi.


This is one of the points that those who don't pray in tongues do make to justify their pitiable condition

You hear them say a word like speaking in tongues is a gift, not everyone has it...

Funny, isn't it? It is true that Paul asked that "do all speak in tongues?" but even if the answer is NO, it is Still not enough reason why anyone should conclude that he doesn't have to speak in tongues...

The right answer is; though not everyone speaks in tongues, yet everyone can... Everybody can speak in tongues; you only need to realize that...

If I say for instance that not everyone drives, it is not same as saying Not everyone CAN drive...

The fact is everyone can drive, but not everyone knows enough to drive... If they can grow enough and learn, then they can drive!

Same with speaking in tongues!!

What is a spiritual gift? The word gift there is from the Greek word Charismata which means manifestation of the spirit...

You are the spirit that we are talking about here, and that spirit that you are can manifest in so many ways, it can love like God, it can prophesy, it can discern spirits, it can interpret tongues, it can give the word of wisdom or knowledge, and it can heal the sick and work miracles... One thing it can also do is that IT CAN SPEAK IN TONGUES...

But you got to exercise him to be able to do many of those things that he can do... And the way to do so is to make him meditate in the word and then pray in tongues...

There are some believers who claim that they don't always feel like praying, which is true for most of us, the challenge is when they don't feel like praying, then they don't pray... but the bible says we should pray without ceasing, what then should we do? We don't wait for feelings, we pray in tongues until we begin to pray in tongues...

That seems repetitive right? But it’s just a fact... When you know that you ought to pray, and you don't feel like it, you should just start speaking in tongues anyway, and fix your mind on spiritual facts, and then your spirit man will take over, your real self will begin to generate utterances in your mind, which you voice out with your mouth, and I tell you that if you continue long enough, you may manifest several other gifts that thesame spirit can manifest...

You may give words of knowledge, of wisdom, or prophesy... etc. You may also develop enough faith to heal the sick or cast out devils...
In fact speaking in tongues bring you to the reality of what the word of God says about you...

The word says you are a new creation, but it might not become expressly real in your very emotions that you are new, your past may keep hunting you, but if you can pray in tongues, and pray in tongues, then it will dawn on you that you are NEW...

If something is a spiritual gift, it means anyone that is a spirit can manifest it... If speaking tongues is a spiritual gift, then you a believer can manifest it...

Paul said I wish that you all would speak with tongues... 1cor. 14:5 in verse 39 he says we shouldn't stop speaking with tongues, in verse 18 he says he thank God that he speaks in tongues more than you all.

It is expressly clear that it is God's desire that we all speak in tongues, it is the rest and the refreshing for our spirit Isaiah 28:11-12

I like what the bible says in 1cor 12:4; Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

It is the same Spirit that manifests all these gifts in a believer... It is the same God that worketh all the Graces in all of us...

All we got to do is to allow him... Quench not the spirit, let it soar, make it pray, make it manifest God's fullness... Pray in unknown tongues...

I wanna show you something before I drop my pen for now

1cor 12:
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

This is the scripture that many misunderstand that make them conclude that Tongues is a gift to some...

Well, that's not what that place is saying...

Others say there is general speaking in tongues, but there is speaking in tongues as a gift... But that's not also true

Verse 11 says
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

See, all the manifestations of the spirit are the things that your spirit can do whenever it pleases or as you will... Depending on the need at hand, healing when needed and prophecy when needed... If none of them is needed at a particular time, then there is no need for the manifestation.

So it is wrong to be asking for a particular gift when you already got the person that works them all in your spirit...

He says it is the spirit that works all these things... The ONE spirit that is in you, (1cor.6:17) is the one that works healing and every other gifts... And he distributes the manifestations as gifts to people that needs them...

Do you understand that...?
For instance; if someone is sick with cancer in another city, and I pray in tongues here and heal him... What happened is that my spirit worked healing, and distributed it to that sick fellow, and now to the sick fellow, that healing, which he never had to pay any doctor for, is a gift... He got healing for free...

But healing in me is a manifestation, while it is a gift to its beneficiary...

Healing for instance is not always useful, prophesy too is not always useful, there are times that these things are needed and when you don't manifest them, it doesn't mean they are not there... They are there... When you make your spirit pray, with tongues, he will come to the reality of who he is, that the word of God has told you about Him...

I will like to answer your questions...
Feel free

Watch out for topic 4...
Bro. Samuel Duyilemi can be contacted on +2348063221904 Email: tellduyz007@gmail.com
Blessings!!!

(C) Grace Nuggets 2014

perfectawordline@gmail.com

 

Profiting with Tongues (2)

Topic 2: Spiritual things don't make sense written by Bro. Samuel Duyilemi

 

I honestly do wonder the kind of Christianity that many are into without praying or speaking in tongues... I do wonder what they do when they pray...
So you shout the name of Jesus 7times, and then Holy Ghost fire 9 times? Nothing can be more heretic than that...

It is important that you know that speaking in tongues doesn't make sense, it is a very boring exercise to the senses... But which turns on the spirit self which you are to the reality of The Glory of God

The issue I wanna clear here is this....
Since God understands every language, and can understand my English language when I speak it... And he can respond in the same English if he has to, why then do I have to speak a language that I don't understand, and then be hoping that he understands?

Now this is a very vital question... Since God hears English, why can't I then speak it to him, and receive my answer straight...? That's beautiful, But very shallow... God hears English, But English language or another language is a product of your senses, and your senses cannot communicate beyond the confines of what it can feel, see or hear... therefore it is a limited tool, you need to get beyond your senses, such that you will be able to download the real stuffs that God has for you...

Let's look into this Ephesians 3:20;
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

Do you see something there?
He says God is able to do exceedingly, and abundantly above what our canal senses could ever desire...
Hey!!! What God has for you, never expect your senses to be able to think it, as to now be requesting for it in English language

For instance, while you are praying that God should build house for you and buy a car plus it, what God is saying is
Psalms 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

You want a house, God wants to give you the world... And you know what? Your senses can never fathom that, even if God promise you, your senses will argue it, you will keep wondering How God's is gonna go about it...
But he said ask... So you need a means that is beyond your senses to be able to communicate that which is beyond your senses

I like 1cor 2:9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

He said your heart has never known what God has in stock for you... You don't know it yet, and if you don't know it, how will you enjoy it ? And another fact is you cannot know it except by your spirit

See what the word says

1cor.2:10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Now that passage contains a lot of things, which we will get to explain as the series proceed... But I want you to see for now that the words which man's wisdom teaches cannot communicate the things that God has freely given to you...

And it is what you communicate that you get or that will be real in your life...

Paul prayed for Philemon (Philemon 1:6) ‘That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus’.

He said that the communication of his faith (spiritual realities that has been revealed to him), may become obviously real... Effectual, through acknowledging the good things that God has placed in Him

This speaking in tongues helps us to be able to pray beyond what our senses could afford...

It helps us to fulfill God's intention for our lives...
If you pray in tongues, you will like to pray again

Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

He said through groanings (gibberish words, blabbings, senseless utterances) the spirit makes intercession for us... But that is when we realize that we don't know what exactly to ask for in prayer through our English language and then engage the spirit to pray for us according to God's will...

See, your senses need not understand anything here, it is extremely spiritual, you just keep talking in tongues, keep talking mysteries; it is God's wisdom for your Glory...

You may wanna ask, which of the spirit makes the intercession; the recreated human spirit or the Holy Spirit? But 1cor.6:17 has since answered that... It says ... He that is joined to God is ONE spirit... I don't know which is which... You got a spirit as a new creation, and that spirit is one and Holy...

The spirit in you is one, so when you engage him in prayer, you pray according to God's eternal intention for your life

1 Corinthians 14:14
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth....

The way to engage your spirit in prayer is to pray in tongues... I know no other ways...
Hope you are enjoying this?

Blessings!!!!

(C) Grace Nuggets 2014
perfectawordline@gmail.com

 

Can You Answer My Question?

My definition of ‘good sex’ is the sexual intercourse between legally married husband (male) and wife (female) that both the husband and the wife equally enjoys. My definition of ‘believer’ is a person who has given his heart to Jesus (a born-again Christian).

Question: Suppose I am a young believer, and a virgin, looking forward to getting married soon, and I have come to you, my close friend and fellow believer to ask questions about sexual matters in marriage. How do you explain to me the pleasures that are in good sex? Please share your thoughts freely… and in three days time I will return to let you know why I asked the question. God bless you all.

That was the question I posted on my Facebook page, and for two days running, no man responded to my question.

 The question came during my communion with the Lord early on Sunday morning, November 16, 2014 . When it came, it was questionable until I could perceive that God was talking to me in an unusual manner. I am not surprised that you did not respond to my question. Talking about sex is a no-go area in Christendom as far as many people wants it so to be. Have you had good sex in your marriage? If your answer is yes, glory be to God. If you cannot say Yes affirmatively, my prayer for you is that the Lord will favor your cause and make you to enjoy the fullness of the pleasure of being one with your spouse in Jesus Name.

If you are truly married and you are not enjoying your sex life, you are not depriving your spouse; rather you are depriving yourself because when you enjoy it, you obtain the benefit of a good sex life.

In marriage, sex is an issue that can easily crush a home. If it is an issue of not enjoying a good meal at home, you can go to an eatery to satisfy yourself… and your spouse will not bother you but rather say ‘thank God this man spared me the stress of cooking today’, although this will affect your relationship somehow, but not as when you have someone who satisfies you sexually outside of your marriage. Sex drives men out easily than any other factor because men are like aluminum pan whilst women are likened to clay pots.

 Those who have had a good sex experience will discover that they cannot answer my question. Why?

 It is very difficult to describe the kind of pleasure you get when you have a good sex. It is a thing to be experienced personally to know how it feels.

There are categories in this issue my brethren! The man driving in a rickety car does not know the pleasure derivable from driving a custom made fully loaded brand new car until he drives one.  

My friend, no one can explain how pleasurable it is to be at the right hand side of the Most High God!!! You don’t know what you are missing until you come to the right hand of God!

As beautiful as the pleasure of good sex is, you will come out of it after a while, but the pleasure you derive from the right hand side of God is for evermore. You enjoy an indescribable pleasure for evermore! The joy you feel when you get to the right hand side of God is indescribable!!

In Psalm 16:8, David was on the left hand side of God, and he was well protected just like you are as a believer. His heart was glad and his glory rejoiced and his flesh also rested in hope while he was at the left hand side of God. But, when he ventured to check out the right hand side of God, he discovered pleasures; pleasures that is indescribable with human words.

Human beings are created to have hands that differ in strength and usability, and we were created in the image of God. God’s hands differ in usability! O thou that savest by thy right hand; Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy... Thou stretched out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them ((Psalms 17:7; Exodus 15:6, 12).

The right hand of the Lord is where you find all that makes for comfort both in this life and hereafter whilst the left hand of the Lord is for Judgment; little wonder will he say to those ‘on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Mathew 25:41)’ Come to the right hand side of the Lord my brethren.

What must I do to get to the right hand side of God? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, if it were not so, I would have told you.

You first have to get to his presence before you can get to his right hand side, and in his presence you find fullness of joy that propels you into keeping ALL the word of his majesty, for whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

When you are at the left hand side of God, Self still has a foothold on you. Sin and worldly things still looks attractive to you; your human nature is not completely dead. You will only be able to move to his right hand when Self in you is completely dead. God is simply calling you to a deeper relationship and the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosever will, let him take the water of life freely. Will you come to the right side of God?

perfectawordline@gmail.com

The spirit of ELi in the 21st Century Churches

THE SPIRIT OF ELI IN THE 21ST CENTURY CHURCHES

Unedited Message as shared by Pastor Sean Akinrele

The Evangelical and Pentecostal churches have witnessed a quiet but insidious infiltration of a harmful attitude of discipleship. It is a mentoring tendency that closely resembles the biblical pattern described by the life of Israel's penultimate Judge, Eli the High Priest and his two sons: Hophni and Phinehas. The proliferation of this 'spirit' has always been with the churches; but has over the last few decades assumed the character of a spiritual pandemic running amok throughout the 21st Century church-world. By 'spirit', I of course, mean 'attitudes', 'tendencies' and 'dispositions' rather than a demonic presence; though this can't be always ruled out in some specific instances.

Spiritual leaders in our churches displaying this tendency have been on the increase as more and more have seen the largesse forerunners have enjoyed with little apparent divine punishment. As the Preacher observed "Because the sentence against evil deeds is so long in coming, people in general think they can get by with murder" (Ecclesiastes 8:11 MSG). Many Pastors and leaders have imbibed Eli's error and allowed the consequences into their lives and ministries. Eli's judgment when it came produced a premature offspring named Ichabod (1 Sam. 4:21). The glory will always depart or be lacking in such lives and ministries.

ELI'S PEDIGREE
Eli was the only person to combine the positions of High Priest and that of a Judge of Israel. From the biblical record, he was fifty-eight years old when he began to judge Israel until he died at the age of ninety-eight (1 Sam. 4:15, 18). He judged Israel for forty years. We do not know how long he was the High Priest, but he was a direct descendant of Aaron through his son Phinehas.

Physically, Eli is described as very fat and with failing eyesight later degenerating into near blindness (1 Sam. 2:2; 3:15, 18). Despite his dismal description, Eli appeared highly respected in Israel and his word alone calmed Hannah in 1 Sam 1:17 after she had poured out her soul unto the Lord for a child. She immediately believed the word of Eli and ceased her mourning in anticipation of answered prayers. God also honoured Eli's pronouncement by granting her a child that same year (1 Sam. 1:18-20)

He faithfully trained and nurtured Samuel into a first class prophet of God. He displayed discernment in guiding Samuel's first encounter with God's voice; and his instructions to Samuel showed the practical familiarity of one experienced in hearing from God (1 Sam. 2:11; 3:1-10).

Many 21st Century Eli's have also impeccable pedigrees and unassailable Christian records of service. They have by stint of hard work and consistence become icons within their local or national Church communities or denominations. A few have even developed international stature as respected church leaders.

Modern Eli's have also grown 'fat' and exhibit evidences of material prosperity and success as key indicators of their ministries. They can also point to supernatural workings of God as evidence of divine recognition of their ministries. Testimonies of answered prayers and transformed lives abound in their ministries. Many are by no means 'evil' or bad in the normal sense of the word. They have merely compromised some of their standards and adjusted to the pressures of their environment. Some of these happen so gradually that neither they nor many around them actually realise how far they have actually changed.

THE SONS OF ELI
Eli's two sons Hophni and Phinehas were described as 'sons of Belial' (sons of wickedness or worthless; 1 Sam. 2:12) WHO DID NOT KNOW THE LORD, even though they fulfilled priestly duties in Israel. This is a curious description for sons of the High Priest charged with leading Israel in worship of Jehovah. Eli's sons grew up accustomed to the temple and its services and familiarity with God's house produced contempt and disregard for God. They grew up discounting their privileged positions and saw it as a means for personal gain and license.

Possibly because of Eli's age he apparently left much of the day to day operations of the temple to his sons (1 Sam. 1:3b). Eli's sons had no respect for God and it showed. They were accused of disrespecting the Lord's offerings by forcefully appropriating the best part for themselves (1 Sam. 2:13-16); they were also guilty of sleeping with women worshippers in the temple itself (2:22), thereby profaning their priestly vows. Though he heard reports of their evil escapades, Eli failed to control or discipline his two sons for their irreverence towards God and His temple. He merely remonstrated with them without taking any steps to correct their actions when they ignored his reproof (2:22-25). He obviously preferred his sons over his devotion to God. Centuries later, God describing the same tendency charged prophet Ezekiel to tell the Israelite Priesthood that:
YOU HAVE BROUGHT UNCIRCUMCISED FOREIGNERS INTO MY SANCTUARY—PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO HEART FOR GOD. IN THIS WAY, YOU DEFILED MY TEMPLE EVEN AS YOU OFFERED ME MY FOOD, THE FAT AND BLOOD OF SACRIFICES. IN ADDITION TO ALL YOUR OTHER DETESTABLE SINS, YOU HAVE BROKEN MY COVENANT. INSTEAD OF SAFEGUARDING MY SACRED RITUALS, YOU HAVE HIRED FOREIGNERS TO TAKE CHARGE OF MY SANCTUARY. (Ezekiel 44:7, 8 NLT)

ELI'S GUILT
1. ELI ALLOWED PROFANE PERSONS TO WEAR THE LINEN EPHOD AND MINISTER IN THE TEMPLE AS PRIESTS IN THE HOLY THINGS OF GOD, though he knew God's requirement of purity and reverence from those who drew near to Him in worship and service. The fact that they were his sons was no excuse as they clearly had not fear of God and failed the moral requirements for the priesthood. To God they were as good as ''UNCIRCUMCISED FOREIGNERS' fulfilling the office of the priests as "NO MAN TAKETH THIS HONOUR UNTO HIMSELF, BUT HE THAT IS CALLED OF GOD, AS WAS AARON" (Hebrews 5:4 KJV)

• SIMILARLY, MANY 'SPIRITUAL MENTORS' HAVE APPOINTED AND SUSTAINED PROFANE PERSONS INTO SPIRITUAL MINISTRY IN OUR CHURCHES TODAY. We have witnessed high incidences of irreverent ministries and church leadership within our denominations that had no business being in the ministry in the first place. Many are protected and supported by mentors within the denominational or fraternal system who turn a blind eye to their misdeeds or rationalize their failings in ministry. These mentors are unwittingly falling into the error of Eli and unless they genuinely repent will share in his judgment as God is no respecter of persons and He remains ‘THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER’ (Heb 13:8).

2. ELI WAS ALSO ALLEGED TO HAVE GROWN FAT FROM THE LORD'S OFFERINGS ILLEGALLY OBTAINED BY HIS SONS. Though he did not actively participate in their disrespect for God's offerings; he partook of the ill-gotten gains of their profanity. He accepted his own share of the proceeds of their crimes knowing full well how these prime beef and mutton were obtained.
So why do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings? Why do you give your sons more honor than you give me—FOR YOU AND THEY HAVE BECOME FAT FROM THE BEST OFFERINGS OF MY PEOPLE ISRAEL! (1 Samuel 2:29 NLT)

• ELI SHOWED HE LOVED THE COMFORTS HIS SONS' MISDEEDS BROUGHT THAN HIS INTEGRITY BEFORE GOD. Despite knowing what God had revealed about His plans for his children; Eli was swayed from what he knew was right by the gifts his sons left for him. Similarly, Isaac (in Gen. 25:28; 27:1-4) was willing to give Esau the birthright blessings despite God's word in Gen. 25:23 that the older shall serve the younger; because Esau supplied his love of bushmeat;
"AND THOU SHALT TAKE NO GIFT: FOR THE GIFT BLINDETH THE WISE, AND PERVERTETH THE WORDS OF THE RIGHTEOUS" (Exodus 23:8 KJV).

• INTERESTINGLY, BOTH ISAAC AND ELI WERE REPORTED TO BE ALMOST BLIND AT THE TIME OF THEIR GREAT BLUNDERS (Gen 27:1; 1 Sam 2:2); suggesting that impaired vision and short-sightedness may be contributory factors to the operation of the spirit of Eli. Also Lev. 21:16-23 makes it clear that any defect of eyesight should have disqualified Eli from continuing in priestly service.
'God spoke to Moses: "Tell Aaron, None of your descendants, in any generation to come, who has a defect of any kind may present as an offering the food of his God. That MEANS ANYONE WHO IS BLIND or lame, disfigured or deformed, crippled in foot or hand, hunchbacked or dwarfed, WHO HAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH HIS EYES, who has running sores or damaged testicles. NO DESCENDANT OF AARON THE PRIEST WHO HAS ANY DEFECT IS TO OFFER GIFTS TO GOD; HE HAS A DEFECT AND SO MUST NOT OFFER THE FOOD OF HIS GOD. HE MAY EAT THE FOOD OF HIS GOD, BOTH THE MOST HOLY AND THE HOLY, BUT BECAUSE OF HIS DEFECT HE MUST NOT GO NEAR THE CURTAIN OR APPROACH THE ALTAR. IT WOULD DESECRATE MY SANCTUARY. I am God who makes them holy."' (Lev. 21:16-23 MSG)

The Bible took pains to report that Eli had become short-sighted and eventually degenerating into blindness (1 Sam 2:2; 4: 3:15, 18). Yet Eli continued to function as the High Priest of Israel in negation of the commandment of the Mosaic Law. Though no such physical qualifications are stipulated in the New Testament; 2 Peter 1:5-9 spells out a checklist of spiritual growth in ministry amongst which are ‘discipline’ (temperance or self control), ‘virtue’ and ‘godliness’. Peter concludes this passage in 2 Pet.1:9: “BUT HE THAT LACKETH THESE THINGS IS BLIND, AND CANNOT SEE AFAR OFF, AND HATH FORGOTTEN THAT HE WAS PURGED FROM HIS OLD SINS”. Clearly Eli’s eye defect went beyond the physical and had compromised his ability to see as God sees. He thus became twice blind and the gifts from his sons further blinded his spiritual discernment and deadened his awareness of his peril of imminent divine judgment.

• THE ABUSE OF THE PROPHET’S OFFERING: Today, Eli's spirit is actively at work in many ministries and denominations as leaders in positions of authority to correct and discipline erring protégées turn a blind eye as long as they receive their share of the illicit largesse. Many biblical principles which when correctly applied are a blessing to the church and individuals are corrupted to aid the religious sleaze. Terms such as 'prophet's offering', 'sowing into the life of your mentor' or 'Baba gba owo òpe me re' (lit. accept my thanksgiving offering) have become acceptable slogans and slangs used to perpetuate this tendency in the churches.

• PROTÉGÉES OF SUCH LEADERS RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO PERIODICALLY MAKE SUBSTANTIAL 'RETURNS' TO THEIR MENTORS TO ENABLE THEM REMAIN IN HIS GOOD BOOKS. Such mentors rarely support any form of sanctions for their 'loyal' protégées but always fight to find him a soft landing from the consequences of misdeeds. Blind eyes and deaf ears are turned to reports of immoralities, financial misdeeds and other character flaws for which the Bible prescribed clear sanctions. Many maverick sons and daughters therefore outdo themselves in making of gifts of houses, cars and hard currency etc to the ministries of their 'fathers in the Lord' to secure their benevolent protection and cover.
'Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, HAVE RUN GREEDILY IN THE ERROR OF BALAAM FOR PROFIT, and perished in the rebellion of Korah'. (Jude 1:11 NKJV)

• PERHAPS MORE DISTURBING IS THE TREND WHERE SOME OF THIS SPIRITUAL PATRONAGE IS EXTENDED INTO THE POLITICAL AND CORPORATE COMMUNITY. Here politicians and businessmen of doubtful pedigree adopt church leaders as mentors and overwhelm them with portions of doubtfully acquired wealth 'sown' into their ministries and personal lives to secure their endorsement and spiritual cover. Such unwary leaders soon become 'fat' from such 'seed' offerings and find they are unable to challenge or give meaningful rebuke to the misdeeds of such erring 'protégées'. Their relationship with such individuals is perceived with resentment by many in the society who rightly conclude that the leprous fingers of graft and sleaze had soiled the mantle of religious piety.

3. GOD CHARGED ELI WITH HONORING HIS SONS ABOVE THE GOD OF ISRAEL (1 Sam. 2:29). God sent warnings to him, but he failed to act on the divine warnings until it was too late. He displayed a fatalistic disposition to God's judgement that was in contrast to saving faith in God's mercy and reverence for His just anger. It was a display of godless apathy and indifference to the dishonour being brought upon God's name and damage to His people (1 Sam. 3:18) that was unworthy of one wearing the linen ephod of priestly service.

CONSEQUENCES OF THE ELI TENDENCY
The consequences of Eli's folly is quite instructive to those who have 'ears to hear' in these last days. Eli's folly produced a harvest of evil fruit not only for him and his sons; but for all Israel and his future descendants. God spelled out His judgment on Eli's household in 1 Sam. 2:
"BE WELL WARNED: IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE I WIPE OUT BOTH YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR FUTURE FAMILY. NO ONE IN YOUR FAMILY WILL MAKE IT TO OLD AGE! YOU'LL SEE GOOD THINGS THAT I'M DOING IN ISRAEL, BUT YOU'LL SEE IT AND WEEP, FOR NO ONE IN YOUR FAMILY WILL LIVE TO ENJOY IT. I WILL LEAVE ONE PERSON TO SERVE AT MY ALTAR, BUT IT WILL BE A HARD LIFE, WITH MANY TEARS. EVERYONE ELSE IN YOUR FAMILY WILL DIE BEFORE THEIR TIME. WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR TWO SONS, HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS, WILL BE THE PROOF: BOTH WILL DIE THE SAME DAY. THEN I'LL ESTABLISH FOR MYSELF A TRUE PRIEST. HE'LL DO WHAT I WANT HIM TO DO, BE WHAT I WANT HIM TO BE. I'LL MAKE HIS POSITION SECURE AND HE'LL DO HIS WORK FREELY IN THE SERVICE OF MY ANOINTED ONE. SURVIVORS FROM YOUR FAMILY WILL COME TO HIM BEGGING FOR HANDOUTS, SAYING, 'PLEASE, GIVE ME SOME PRIEST WORK, JUST ENOUGH TO PUT SOME FOOD ON THE TABLE.'" (1 Samuel 2:31-36 MSG)

·         During his tenure, the Ark of God was seized as war booty by Israel's enemies. He is the only recorded judge and priest of Israel who lost the Ark of God's Covenant with Israel. This was the only time in Israel's history that the Ark would fall into enemy hands:

'AND THE ARK OF GOD WAS TAKEN; AND THE TWO SONS OF ELI, HOPHNI AND PHINEHAS, WERE SLAIN'. (1 Samuel 4:11 KJV)

·         He lost his two sons, daughter-in-law and his own life in one day - 1 Sam 4:11, 18-22

 

·         His grandson was named Ichabod, meaning 'the glory has departed' from Israel. He was born when his mother heard that her husband and father-in-law were both dead and the Ark of God captured by the Philistines (1 Sam 4:21-22)

 

·         His great grandson, Ahimelech son of Ahitub and all the priestly line were exterminated on the orders of Saul (1 Sam. 22:11-20). Only Abiathar, son of Ahimelech was able to escape to David as prophesied in 1 Sam. 2.

 

·         His descendants eventually lost the High Priesthood (1 Kings 2:26-27):

'SOLOMON STRIPPED ABIATHAR OF HIS PRIESTHOOD, FULFILLING GOD’S WORD AT SHILOH REGARDING THE FAMILY OF ELI.'
- (1 Kings 2:27 MSG)

The severity of God's judgement on Eli's household is a warning to us New Testament believers of God's views of irreverence and disrespect of His name and glory.
'NOW THESE THINGS WERE OUR EXAMPLES, TO THE INTENT WE SHOULD NOT LUST AFTER EVIL THINGS, AS THEY ALSO LUSTED.' (1 Corinthians 10:6 KJV)

Mentors, Pastors and spiritual leaders in these last days must realize that the God of the Old Testament is also the God of the New Testament. Only the covenant has changed; God is "THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY AND FOREVER" (Hebrews 13:8). God holds us accountable for the actions of those we raise and support in ministry.
"DON’T BE IN A HURRY TO PLACE YOUR HANDS ON ANYONE TO ORDAIN HIM. DON’T PARTICIPATE IN THE SINS OF OTHERS. KEEP YOURSELF MORALLY PURE". (1 Timothy 5:22 GWT)

CONCLUSION
1. The Spirit testifies that a lot of the corruption manifest in the visible churches is directly related to these Eli tendencies within church and denominational hierarchies. However, a purging has begun within the Body of Christ (as distinct from denominational churches) to judge backslidden and apostate leaders who have soiled their hands in the sleaze of Eli's family and introduced or nurtured pollutions into sections of God's vineyard under their oversight.
2. Many spiritual 'dynasties' of mentors and protégées will be scattered or wiped out within the next few years as the Holy Spirit orchestrates incidents that will expose and reduce their influence amongst the faithful.
3. Some spiritual Abiathars the Lord has been warning for years will come to judgment from this year forward as the Holy Spirit's departure from them will become manifest to the faithful; even though the deceived will continue to celebrate them
4. The Lord will increasingly differentiate the Zadok type of ministry from the Abiathar type of ministry as He limits the Abiathar and Eli ministries to the flesh-hooks ministrations outside His presence. This will cause many apostasies within the latter to become manifest as they increasingly seek alternative sources of power to retain their popularity with the deceived.
5. A fresh wave of the Spirit will visit the body of Christ to purify and empower His people and cause a separation within the organized churches between clean and unclean. This wave will usher in a revival within these physical churches as He uses His activities in the lives of the pure to provoke the worldly and carnal to hunger and thirst for God and His righteousness.
6. Judgment is coming on the ‘Achans’ in the Household; swift and conclusive judgment beginning from God’s own who have polluted themselves.
7. Mercy and restoration will be extended to as many as truly repent and forsake their evil ways and turn to the Lord for cleansing.

 

 

Why Do I need to Hear God Speak Today (Part 2)

God is three in one, and as we grow in our Christian race, we believers will be able to differentiate who amongst the trinity is actually speaking to us, yes, just as you can differentiate the voice of your earthly father from that of your mother even without seeing their faces. Be that as it may, what is important is that God speaks, whether it is the father that speaks, the Lord Jesus, or the Holy Spirit.

By the way, this message is meant for born-gain Christians! Why? While it is evident that everyone can hear God, not everyone can know the secrets of God, and you know what? Secrets… which come in the form of instructions from God are vital to success! If the poorest man on earth has access to the kind of secrets that Bill Gates has, he is most likely not going to remain poor.

Last Sunday, I did not eat my first meal of the day until around 4pm, because I decided not to eat until I returned from church.  Church service ended around 1pm, but my family and I went to a few other places, and finally arrived home at about 3.45pm. It was time for me to choose what to eat from what is available in our house. Suddenly, I remembered that there was a small portion of pounded yam wrapped in a transparent zipper bag placed in the fridge. Pronto, I decided to eat this with a mixture of Fluted pumpkin and spinach leaves soup. In the process of warming the food, I saw something like a vision (in a brief flash) showing me that the pounded yam was divided into two.  In my heart I said, ‘’what??? This food is just enough amount of food that my 10-year old daughter will eat.  God, are you saying I am not permitted to finish this food?’’  As I was making up my mind to eat the whole portion, not being really sure if God was talking to me, the Holy Ghost said to me… ‘be not disobedient to the heavenly vision’. I had to divide the pounded yam into two, eat a portion and my wife also opted to eat the other half, and returned the rice she had earlier thought of eating.

An incident happened not long ago in the sub-division where I live. A Christian woman was about setting out on a trip to somewhere known to her. The Holy Spirit whispered to her not to go to where she meant to go. She ignored the voice that spoke to her and set on her journey. Along the way on her way driving, when she finally decided to obey the Lord and make a turn at a junction to return home, it was too late!  She crashed into another car while making the turn. She had collided with the car driven by another Christian sister that lives in her suburb. As soon as she got out of her vehicle, she started to confess her regrets…’how I wish I obeyed the Lord, the Holy Spirit told me not to set on this journey’.  

There are people who set on journeys that are not meant for them, and they end up dying the death they are not meant to die. Look around you and you will find so many examples of these.  Perhaps it’s because of the favor/contract that that minister awarded to you that informed your decision to travel to his party at all cost despite being warned of God not to go. The dog that refuses to hear the whistle of the hunter will certainly get lost. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul (Proverbs 15:32).  

If reaching heaven is your goal, I think your ability to hear when God speaks to you is directly proportional to whether or not you will make heaven. Heresy????

Mathew 19:16-22 tells the story of a young rich man who was bold enough to declare that he keeps all the commandments of God. Who would have thought that this brother has made an idol of his riches despite being a keeper of God's laws? Thank God he asked in verse 20 'what lack I yet?'...and he was informed.

What is the next area of your life you need to deal with? Excuse me sir, I don't know!

Only your maker knows your weak points! You need to revert to him so he can show you what areas you still need to work on so you can be perfect and ready to enter heaven.

I tell you brethren, if you would be perfect, God must be able to interrupt you. He must be able to change your decision about the clothes you wear, about the job you do`, and about the places you go to; the Lord must be able to put a comma and a full stop to the events that you have determined to execute.