JOIN THIS CHARIOT

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20). The need for every believer to reach out to the sinning relations, friends and neighbors cannot be over emphasized. The call of our Lord Jesus Christ is still biding on every believer today as a command, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” Mark 16:15). It is divine command which is compelling for every Christian without an exception. This assignment become easier when Christian reach out to their friends and peers who are not born again. Yes, Jesus as given us a mandate.

The exploits of converted saints of old like Joseph, Esther, prophets and apostles should be a challenge to us all, they stood out for God in their own generations. Furthermore, the age in which we are today demand that we should wake up to the holy calling of God and save our generation from destructions and evils around them through the gospel of Christ. If you are saved, you cannot afford to sit on the fence when millions of souls are going into a Christ-less eternity. The prevalence of false prophets and apostles who deceive and close the doors of the heart of the sinning people and the ever increasing vices such as drug addiction, thefts, brazen immorality, cultism and many others should arouse the sympathy of every believing Christian to join the chariot of mass evangelization. Be wise, the scriptures say “…He that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30).

In spite of the need and urgency to reach out to the sinning world, God cannot use sinners. God cannot work or entrust the divine command of evangelism to sinners. “Can two walk together except they be agreed” (Amos 3:3). The Bible makes it clear that, “the sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 15:18). The moment you are born again, you are called to join in this great commission. You do not have to wait until you know every verse of the scripture. The Holy Spirit is able use the little you have known to bring sinners into repentance. When God called the Philip to join himself to the chariot, he did not delay. “Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?” (Acts 8:28-29). In similar way, every believer should not delay answering this call because time is short.

It is the Lord’s desire to see that we are winning souls for His kingdom from time to time. To be a successful soul winner, we need to equip ourselves with the word of God after salvation. In addition, the life of a soulwinner should be pure and transparent. Such a person should be freed from shame and reproach otherwise., it will be a hinderance to the gospel. To live unblameably always, you need the sanctification experience. Holy Ghost baptism is also paramount for one to do exploit in the area of evangelism. All these Christian experiences are available for those who will earnestly desire and pray for it. Furthermore, a soul winner must pray for compassion for the perishing souls and passion for evangelism. There should be fervent prayer before and after witnessing to sinners. Prayer is a spiritual weapon with which we dislodge and defeat Satan’s hold on the lives of the sinners.

Various method of evangelism abounds. Direct preaching of the word of God alone or in the company of others as opportunities come or by creating the opportunities. Inviting friends and relations to church meetings and programs can work wonders in their lives. One can also send tracts and writer letters to unsaved friend. Buses and other means of transportation are also place where effective preaching can be done. In addition, phone calls, text messages, and other social media platform like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, etc. could be used as means of winning souls. The message must be Jesus the Savior of the whole world and not the church. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved…That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9). At the end of the message, the sinner must be led to make decision to follow the Lord as Phillip did to the Ethiopia Eunuch.

For every believer who will join the chariot of soul winning, there are rewards here for them on earth and crown awaiting them in eternity. Soul winning ensures self-preservation in God’s kingdom. “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16). Soulwinners are special in God’s sight because they witness often and pray often which make the possibility of backsliding very remote. Their prayers receive quick answers and attention from the Savior. Apart from all these, there will be stars on their crowns on the last day.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IN NEW CREATURES

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit…For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth” (Galatians 5:22-25; Ephesians 5:9). The Lord is concerned about the life and character of every believer. There is a great different between the work of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.

Works are produced by human energy; why fruit is grown as a branch abides in the vine. The Christ likes qualities or virtues seen in new creatures are referred to in the bible as the fruit of the Spirit. God is glorified when the believer brings forth fruits. He derives joy and happiness in seeing Christ’s life in His Children. Fruit bearing is a mark of true discipleship. “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). Believers are known by the kind of fruit they bear; Love tops the list which means there is a single fruit of the spirit -Love, is the very basic essential life of the living Christ which expresses itself in all the nine fruits listed in Galatians 5:22-23, the other eight are anchored in Love. The single-minded lifestyle called “The fruit of the Spirit”. This produced in God’s children as they allow the spirit to direct and influence their lives and work in the fellowship with God. Christ commends fruit bearing Christians and condemns the fruitless ones. The branch that does not abide in the true vine cannot bear fruit, such is cast forth, withered, branch cast into the fire and burnt (John 15:1-7).

A Christian who does not bring forth the fruit of the fruit is rejected, while the fruit bearings are replenished to bring forth more fruit. The bearing of the fruit of the fruit is conditioned upon the possession of the salvation experience. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:4-5). In addition to this, Apostle Peter counselled, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8). The fruit of the Spirit is the product of the Spirit. It is a gift from God the true vine.

A real living relationship and union with Christ is the only condition and qualification for fruit bearing. Church membership, tithing, good morals and water baptism are good, nut not good enough to qualify anyone for heaven or to bear the fruit of the Spirit; the bible declares: “All our righteousness are as filthy rags”. And Jesus said “Abide in me for without me ye can do nothing”. Have you be struggling to live a holy life., making resolution every time, yet living a defeat life, today you can make up your mind to come to Jesus the source of life and the gate into fruitful life. As you keep contact with Jesus and fellowship with people of like precious faith, your life will never remain the same. Have you been depending on the energy of the flesh? Today I tell you the grace of God is available for you. Abide in Christ constantly that is the secret of fruit bearing.

Meekness: The meek is gentle, plain, flexible but firm and frank. The meek is submissive, quiet, kind, soft and patience especially with the weak (Matthew 11:29).

Temperance: This is referred to as self-control, moderation or self -restraint. Temperance is the outward sign of a well-discipline life. It means bringing the total man (body, spirit, and soul); control.

Love (Charity): A caring for and seeking the highest good of another person without motive of personal gain.

Joy: The feelings of gladness based on the love, grave, blessing, promises and nearness of God that belong to those who believe in Christ.

Peace: Peace is the selfless, self-giving, self-loosing, self-sacrifice love that in manifest in spite of all adverse of life; Jesus the Prince of peace is the source of peace, it is calm in crisis, untroubled in trial and determined in disaster. “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Longsuffering: This is also referred to as enduring or patience. It is the strong ability of selfless love to bear all things and continue in adverse situations. It is a ungrudging willingness to understand an unwelcome difficult people disturbing events situation that God allows to come your way (Hebrew 12:2). The benefits of longsuffering are disciple, development and direction.

Gentleness: It is the fruit that comes from the life that has received God’s abundant grace.

A Christian whose life reflects goodness is one with noble purpose, strong character, reliable conduct and trustworthy lifestyle. He is good, gracious and generous, always in the business of making others happy (Acts 10:38).

Faith: (Hebrew 11:6), faith is our basis for belief. It is the divinely implanted principle of inward and whole-hearted confidence, trust and reliance in God and His word. The Christian who is full of faith loves to the point of trusting and yielding himself faithfully to the service of other follow men, and the church. There will be no demonstration of God’s love where there is no faith.

FAITHFULNESS IN GOD’S SERVICE

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own…Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (Luke 16:10-12; 1 Corinthians 4:2). Fingers are not equal. It is not a mistake, that is exactly how God created them. But each function in its own capacity faithfully doing its own part.

There are diversities of spiritual gifts and ministries in the household of faith. The Spirit of the Lord writing through Apostle Paul said, “For the body is not one member, but many…But now hath God set the members everyone of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him” (1 Corinthians 12:14-18). Whatever work you are doing for the Lord, whether small or great, the Lord expects you to be faithful.

Faithfulness, even when the duty does not suit your fancy or rhyme with your social status or spiritual standing faithfulness is all the Lord requires of you. For the Lord won’t accept any excuse for failure (Matthew 25:24-27,30).There is a clarion call for faithful, committed and dependable ministers in God’s vineyard. God is daily searching for men and women, young and old who are ready to serve Him selflessly, committedly, and faithfully. Unfortunately, many of those who take up appointments in God’s house are only after material or financial benefits they could acquire by serving the Master. But a faithful servant does whatever his hands find to do with all his might, knowledge and wisdom (Ecclesiastes 9:10). He does not tolerate sin, seek self-glory or reward from men. He is undeterred by affliction, persecution, want and initial failure. He holds fast that which the Lord has given him and labor on in hope.   He daily trims his lamp of service with the oil of faith, purified his heart of all doubts and ensures that his hands are continually on the plough (Luke 9:62). Jesus Christ our perfect example in all things. As servants in his service, we are called to follow His steps. “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers” (Titus 1:9).

Christ was faithful to the Father who sent Him, and He remained faithful to the end. Faithfulness glues the believer to his duty post. It moves him to do the task assigned to him rain or sunshine. Faithfulness is tenacity of conviction and commitment to purpose and practice. The faithful does not waver, cringe or recant. He remains unmovable in his conviction, firm in his confession and fixed in his commitment and consecration. He is ready to die at his duty post.The reason why many ministers fail in their service to God is lack of faithfulness. Those who doubt the power of God or unwilling to pay the price but rather look for help in Egypt using diabolical powers to deceive the unguided flock yest saying. “Thus saith the Lord” when the Lord has not spoken, are unfaithful.

If your convictions, commitment and consecration change with time and tide of prosperity and popularity, you are unfaithful. Whatever work you are doing for the Lord, whether small or great, recognized, or otherwise, it is faithfulness that God requires. Therefore, God expects you to be faithful. To do this, do the following:Magnify your office and put your best into it (Romans 11:13). Discharge your duties with a high sense of responsibility (2 Corinthians 2:16). Be bold, uncompromising, forthright and unsparing in the denunciation of evil and declaration of the truth (Acts 4:13; Titus 1:13).Adhere to the word of God who has called you (2 Corinthians 4:2). Live a challenging true Christian life (Matthew 5:16; Titus 2:8). Be determined to please the Lord , not surrendering to people’s whim and praise.“Therefore,my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58). The work you do for the Lord, the office or position you hold in your church might not have a big name or great title attached to it, yet you need to be faithful, loyal, committed, and selfless in discharging your duties because your work shall be rewarded. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

Faithfulness in a little office brings promotion to bigger office. If you are a faithful soul winner today, tomorrow, God will make you a dynamic preacher or evangelist. Whatever lowly position you think occupy today, if you would be faithful, higher position than you would ever dream of awaits you tomorrow. As in the case of David ( 1 Samuel 16:11), you might be the youngest and unrecognized but if you are faithful in little, God will bring you to the limelight for greater honor and service. Remember Joshua’s appointment after Moses’ death and Elisha’s appointment after Elisha’s appointment after Elijah’s transition. You should, however, avoid murmuring, bitterness and complaint which fill the service of some. These will block your chances of promotion to something higher and greater. Therefore, be faithful. Faithfulness will earn you favor of God and His untold blessings here on earth and in the life eternal.

PRAYER LIFE FOR REVIVAL AND EXPLOITS

”But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly… we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Matthew 6:6; Acts 6:4). Revival and exploit are the desire of every believer, but these cannot be achieved unless there is an effective and growing prayer life. Prayer life translates to the closet life of a believer. Prayer life is the pillar of personal spirituality and public service. A believer in the first instance a private Christian, his closet is his armory from where he obtains arsenal of weapons to ensure daily victory in life’s battles.The prayer and closet life approximate or affect a believer’s:

Worth: A believer is what he is on his knees that he is and no more. The influence we yield for God’s glory, men’s good and hell’s devastation is diversely proportional to our prayer life. Walk: life can never be better than the quality of prayer life.Winsome: you are as pure as you are, prayerful souls dwell in the holy atmosphere of the father’s presence, hence they are kept sweet, holy and pure.

Warfare: prayer is the determinant of life’s warfare to pray is to prevail.Witnessing: a believer’s prayers give wings, power, pungency, and penetrating might to his preaching.In summary, the time of a believer strength, sensitivity, spirituality, and solemnity his is prayer life.Revival and exploit cannot come by mere wishing; they must be brought down by strong prayers. That is what was done by the saints of old.Abraham set up early in the morning (Genesis 19:27), Job rose early in the morning (Job 1:5), David prayed in the morning,noon and evening (Psalm 55:17), Daniel kneel upon his knees three times a day.(Daniel 6:10), Apostles gave themselves to prayers (Acts 6:4), Paul prayed night and days (1 Thessalonians 3:10), and Epaphras labored fervently in prayers (Colossians 4:12). No wonder the saints of old had revival and did exploit in their times. We should also rise and resolve to give ourselves continually to prayers.We learn to pray by praying and we grow in prayers by praying. We must be committed to:Periods of prayer: Sacred, sanctified hours for effectual fervent prayers. “Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer,being the ninth hour” (Acts 3:1).Place(s) of prayer: severe,tranquil or quiet place to facilitate deep concentration and devotion in communion (Genesis 19:27).Partner(s) in prayer: seriously and serially prayer with devout saints who are prayerful. “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven”.

(Matthew 18:19).Prohibition of possible distractions: simply delegate and supervise all tasks so as to concentrate on all important duty of prayers.There is no doubt; a believer who prays will surely have success in life and ministry. Join the band of believers to pray for this latter time harvest of souls into God’s kingdom.There is personal and corporate success through prayer. Patriarchs and Prophets of Old Testament experience stupendous achievement in life and ministry through prayer. In the New Testament Apostles, evangelists, pastors, and teachers accomplished supernatural feats through prayer. The church prayed for the release of Peter, the work of the ministry expanded as the leadership determined to give themselves continually to prayers among other things. Paul enjoined the Romans Christians to strive together in prayer for him (Romans 15:30-32).

When in 1890 Albert Simpson, the author of Jesus only is our message, challenges his congregation to prayer pledge. It was said that the alliance people were not fulfilling the task for which they were organized. Contribution were meager and missionary candidates few. But in 1891, after the church had signed to a prayer of pledge, the floodgates of contributions and consecrations were opened. At the end of the year, the alliance had 100 missionaries, and had received funds for their transportation and support. In less than 10 years over 350 missionaries had been sent abroad and the churches multiplied throughout North America. What a challenge on what a praying congregation and praying Christians could achieve!

THE CHRISTIAN STANDARD IN A CORRUPT WORLD

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

The new birth experience is the greatest of all miracles, the greatest thing that can happen to a man. By it we are reconciled to God. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior and Master of our lives is our standard. We are called to follow His manner of life, uphold His ministry of love, listen to His message of life and light, copy His model of loyalty,follow His method of laboring in the kingdom, take Him and look unto Him as the author and the finisher of our faith, and worship Him in meekness and lowliness. But Jesus acknowledge our plight of living in a sinful, corrupt world with its contaminating and corrupting influence when He prayed for His followers in John 17:15-16. Nevertheless, we are to continue steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine till er are raptured to spend eternity with the Lord.The new life is entirely different from the old life because “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

In Christ, we no longer live in sin but are dead to and freed from it and live unto God in righteousness.Christ now lives in us and regulates our lives to please Him. Since He can only relate to and have communion with us when there is agreement of compatibility between Him and us (Amos 3:3), He commands us to put on His image (1 Peter 1:15-16). This has been His requirement from time immemorial (Leviticus 11:44). He commanded the children of Israel whom he had adopted as His own to sanctify themselves and be holy, because He is holy. He still maintains this standard and repeats the call today. Having been reconciled to Him, we should “continue in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship” (Acts 2:42) and become partakers of His holiness, putting on Christ. His attributes then begin to manifest in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23). We are to be doers of the word and remain unspotted from the world, we become yielded to Him, doing only His will, avoiding the corrupting influence of the world. If by God’s grace, we are able to live the Christ-like life, God will be well pleased with us.

Believers are to be like Christ in character, conduct and way of life. God gave the warning to all believers. In the book of 1 John 2:15-17, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever”. The world refers to the world order, the characteristics and attitudes of the people of the world in contrast to the dictates of God. Life in this old world is ordered and directed by Satan and his demons (devils) who have blinded people from the light of Jesus. Worldly associations, worldly pleasures, worldly ceremonies worldly dressings (half naked dressings), worldly philosophies, politics and festivities are all initiated and ordained by Satan. These last days are replete with unprecedented pollution and corruption compared with any period in history. Evil has become the modernized, Man’s cup is getting filled to the brim and evil is being celebrated and glorified. The world is drunk with the wine being distributed and served by the prince of the air – the devil, who is the god of this world.

The love of money has sealed up the hearts of many from God’s word. Immorality has become so common that nakedness of some women is on display on the streets and internet. In the world system, men are driven by inordinate ambition, pride and self-exaltation and hunger for power, pleasure, and praise of men, material possession and popularity, although the result contradicts their expectation. Others have taken to alcoholism, polygamy, adultery, and all sorts of pursuits regardless of the stand of the word of God. The modern film industry and television have become the greatest perpetrators of sinful and criminal tendencies in children and older people. Worldly magazines, and books exert influence on the mind and believers are fast becoming receptive to the standard of the world as almost everyone seems to embrace it. But these are the deceptions of the devil and the wayfaring pilgrim must come out and stand clear of them.The only way to be totally free from the corruption and pollution of the world is: To be cleansed by Christ and become identified with Him. This is something real and practical. We need to be totally crucified with Him and to reign with Him without rival in our hearts. Also, we need to set our affections on things above and be heaven-focused at all times (Colossians 3:1-2).

Eschew evil practices and be bold for the Lord like the three Hebrew children and Daniel, and damn the consequences (Daniel 3:16-18). We should be in constant touch with heaven through meditative study of God’s word and prayer. Our prayer should always be “turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken thou me in thy way” (Psalm 119:37). The grace of God is sufficient to make us “live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”. If we conform to the world, how can the gate of heaven open to us when we die, or how can we be caught up with Christ on the day of rapture? We will be left to the antichrist of the great tribulation. This shall not be our portion in Jesus’ name. Who is on the Lord’s side?