Any abandoned newborn baby, left for a long period of time is sure not to make it.
For instance, if there was no one to pick up Moses, a crocodile would have swallowed him in that basket – Exo. 2:3-10, 2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.
3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.
4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.
5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.
6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.
7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?
8 And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother.
9 And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the women took the child, and nursed it.
10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.
The same can be said of a new convert; if left unattended to, will be back to his or her old way of life and their end may be worse than the beginning
Mat. 12:43-45, When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.
44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.
45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.
This is why, we must take responsibility to bring them to church, bear them on our shoulders, and pay their way, where required. They must be brought to church where the word will continue to wash off their old way of life and keep them going from strength to strength
Eph. 5:26, That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Psa. 84:7, They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.
Heb. 3:13, But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
2. As often said, it is not unspiritual to be challenged, but it is anti-covenant to be defeated
-1Jhn. 5:4, For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
The man at the beautiful gate would never have encountered His healing if he was not carried to the gate daily
– Acts 3:1-8, Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.
✓The paralytic man would never have gotten to Jesus if he were not carried by those four men
– Mak. 2:1-12, And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.
2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them
3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?
9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?
10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.
12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
Bringing challenged people to Christ is part of our responsibility as believers. Jesus said, “…other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” – Jhn. 10:16
Bringing those who cannot come by themselves is a must so that they can get across for their desired change of story.
A. Some may be under satanic oppression, and they need the light of the word to be set free
-Jhn. 1:1-5, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
B. Some may also be at the verge of giving up on life and they need the word to stir their hope and secure their desired change of story
-Rom.15:4, For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
C. Some may be challenged in their health, and they need the word to be healed
– Psa. 107:20, He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
D. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus said a man was accosted by robbers, wounded and left for dead, but a Good Samaritan showed up, got him across for medical attention, paid the cost and told the attendant that he would return to pay whatever additional expenses where required to care for the man. Jesus concluded that parable by saying, “…go and do thou likewise”
-Luk. 10:30-36, And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
This is why, bringing challenged Winners to church is a covenant responsibility for everyone who is in a position to do so.
For example, any victim of road accident may never make it without timely help from a passerby, who gets him or her across for medical attention. Any injured victim without timely rescue may not make it!
This is why, we must ensure that every injured Winner around us is helped back to Church where he or she can encounter desired rest for his or her soul by the word, experience restoration, and possess his or her possessions
– Mat. 11:28-29, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
/Obd. 17, But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
3. But why must they get to church to have all the above?
✓ The church is the spiritual centre of illumination
– Psa. 73:17, Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
✓ The church is where people are fed with knowledge and understanding, which triggers their faith for victory, restoration and breakthrough
Jer. 3:15-16, And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.
16 And it shall come to pass, when ye be multiplied and increased in the land, in those days, saith the LORD, they shall say no more, The ark of the covenant of the LORD: neither shall it come to mind: neither shall they remember it; neither shall they visit it; neither shall that be done any more.
Psa. 119:130, The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
Isa. 60:1-3, Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
4. But what is in this for me?
>He that gives to the poor lends to the Lord and He will repay –
– Pro. 19:17, He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
1 Jhn. 3:16-18, Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
>Ever increasing prosperity
– Job. 29:4-17, As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;
6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;
7 When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street!
8 The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up.
9 The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.
11 When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me:
12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
Psa. 112:5-7, A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.
6 Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.
7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.
Matt. 6:33, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Here is a call to all members of the Church, to join hands with Jesus in bringing all that are of this fold, both our new converts and challenged members to ensure that they are always in church for their desired turnaround.
As we understand from scriptures, anyone who is committed to the change of story of another has committed God to his own desired dramatic turnaround
– Eph. 6:8, Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
We must therefore arise and take responsibility in this regard, so as to secure the enviable future ordained for each of us this year, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Jesus is Lord!
David O. Oyedepo
FAITH TABERNACLE CANAAN LAND, OTA-LAGOS
