You can’t whisper something in private, and preach another thing in public!
Don’t be bluffed into silence or insincerity by the threats of religious bullies. True, they can kill you, but then what can they do? There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands!
Did you ever read those words in your Bible? Luke 12(MSG)!
I have always read this portion of the Bible without seeing clearly what Jesus was commanding here. Jesus was saying, don’t merely whisper between friends and those you are discipling that leading G.O’s in this nation have become idols, shout it at the rooftop! Don’t merely comment in whispers that many who read this are worshiping their Bishop and would be incapable of discerning truth, say it publicly on facebook. Jesus is saying in this chapter that it’s hypocrisy when you know the truth and are afraid to share it! Jesus says to make it clear that the whole bunch of prosperity preachers are using God for things, and the message of God will prosper you, give you progress in your career and children if you haven’t gotten one is really God for personal use – a variant of idolatry and harlotry. Jesus says these words should not be mere whispers, they should be bold declarations!
Jesus makes it clear that the reason we’ll not to do this is because we are afraid that these men and their men can kill us with their words and with personal attacks. Jesus says the fear is founded; they can kill those who speak truth. From the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary, those who represent truth have their paths cut out! If they can kill you however, they can’t do more than that, and guess what, God won’t even allow you to be killed until He’s done with you.
Jesus is looking for people who will stand up for him before men! Are you standing up for him? Do you know that those who listen to some of these “men of God”, are literally being poisoned and would ultimately die and perish? Do you know that false doctrine is a matter of life and death? Have you read Jesus’ commandment about what to do when next you go to Church and your pastor begins to make Prophetic declarations about blessings and progress and what God can do for you?
The Bible says quite clearly – 1 Cor 10:14 (MSG) “whenever you see people reducing God to something that can be used or controlled, get out of their midst as fast as you can”. This means if you are truly a child of God intending to worship God, you really should have left your current church by now if the constant message is what God has done, and what he can do, outside of saving you and you becoming more like Christ. Please note, I’m not asking you to run to the church I pastor, no! Run home! Run to your Bible and seek someone who will disciple you. Someone whose life and words model Jesus Christ. Don’t say I don’t know what I’m saying, just go to YouTube and listen to what most revered pastors at different camps and venues are saying, and tell me if what you hear is Christ, His Cross, The Cost, and Repentance.
Please don’t take my words for it, Read Luke 12 with an open mind! If by these words I speak in defense of Christ, then your anger against me will be answered by Christ as he stands up for me before his angels. We live in a generation where Christ is constantly put to shame! We gather in his name but not about him, it’s about things! Our testimonies betray our true values – Car dedication, house dedication, – ridiculous things! We testify about how we have cornered the worlds goods, how we have choked the love of the father. We glory in the things that should bring us shame! How can we be proud of mere monuments, buildings and sitting capacities?
If so many people need to listen to us every Sunday is that not a sign of failure of our main assignment by Jesus Christ? I have a few people I’m discipling with my wife (Less than 24) and praying for them all is so daunting I’m pleading that God raise people who can take some of them off me. How a Pastor can sincerely obey the scriptures and be personally responsible for 100 people is a miracle that beats me! When 1,000 people gather together every Sunday and less than 15 of them are discipling people (please not mentoring, discipling – one makes them like you, the other makes them like Christ), is that not a cause for worry and shame? Yet we prefer to whisper the messages, we don’t want to offend the followers of men, Jesus can wait? No way!
Jesus did not come to bring peace! He came to start a fire, and how he longs for the fire to start! Jesus came to disrupt and confront, to change everything! (Luke 12:49-53). Jesus is not becomes a reason for contention. Either we see him correctly and agree, or we don’t and disagree. What Jesus changed with the Pharisees, the world has gradually returned to! From Catholic to Protestant to Pentecostals we have witnessed different revivals, and have watched those revivals cool down into God for sale as rosary, handkerchief, oil, combs and so on. We have witnessed the building of lives exchanged for the building of monuments. We have watched God’s will thwarted into man’s agenda.
Repent, the Kingdom of God is at hand! God’s judgment is coming both on the Shepherds and those who hang around in disobedience against God’s words. God is done with the House of Saul, even though he’s there for 13 more years. Israel’s prophets continue to prophesy, long after God has told them anything. There is a change of guard – truth must be published beyond whispers! You are welcome to like, share or take a swing at me, Jesus or the Holy Spirit.
Adeolu Akinyemi
Whatsapp: 08037228919
