14.03.18 RCCG TKC Faith Unguided:
Who Are
You? Dr. Omolola Omoteso
Worship:
Guide us, O thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land
I am weak, but thou art mighty
Hold me with thy pow'rful hand.
Bread of Heaven, Bread of Heaven
Feed me now and ever more/2x
Prayer
Thank you
Lord for YOU. Thank you Lord for us. Thank you
Lord for the mentors and guides you have put on our way to help us
live guided lives. A life guided towards yourblessings and ultimately towards
heaven. May your name be forever glorified in Jesus name. I hide
behind the cross and ask that you speak through me to bless the
vessels that will listen. Help us to do that which you direct so that our
lives would be exemplary to others to the glory of your name. So
shall it be in Jesus name.
Opening
Dearly beloved, I
greet you gracefully in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living
God. Lent is on-going, for all who are fasting, may
God deliver to you that which has caused you to seek him. For a youth
in the house, may you be a battle-axe and a blooming rose to the
glory of God’s name.
I have just few
minutes to speak to us on the theme: Faith Unguided and the
topic: Who are you? Faith Unguided: Who Are YOU? For
those who do not know me, I am Dr. Omolola Omoteso and this has been my home
church for 22 years. It is always a pleasure to return here. My
doctorate is in Biblical Counselling and I use it to God’s glory to counsel
towards healing of minds.
For this opportunity
to be a blessing and to be blessed, I appreciate our Province Parents
Pastor Niyi and Pastor Feyi Ajibola. I appreciate the Parish Pastors
and all those lifting their hands as Aarons and Hurs. Almighty God will continue to back up your
words with his supernatural powers and divine authority in Jesus name.
For the theme and
topic, I take my texts from 2 Corinthians 5:7 and Romans 8:14:
2 Corinthians 5:7
For we walk by faith,
not by sight:
Romans 8:14
For as many as are
led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Only those people who
are led by God's Spirit are his children.
Today
by grace we’ll share what can guide our faith and our belief. You can title it
Unguided Faith, Faith Guided, Guided Faith or Who are you?
The question I ask these days when I have an
opportunity to speak is, “Who are you?” Then other 4Ws and H follow. If you are
meant for the village stage then crisis can send you right back there. But if
you are meant for the big stage, challenges become ladders, what Yoruba’s call
akaba or appropriately ategun.
You need to find the strength to discover and tackle the root of the issues bedevilling you so they do not redefine your destiny.
Let’s look at the key
words in the theme for this season Faith Unguided:
Hebrews
11:1 helps us with the definition of faith… Now faith is the
substance (material, fabric) of things hoped for (expected), the evidence
(assurance, proof, verification) of things not seen (but already
decreed in the Word of God).
That’s
faith. But faith can also mean belief and trust in and
loyalty to God. Why should we walk in/by faith someone may
ask? It is because without faith, no man (or woman) can see
God. (Hebrews 11:6)
Unguided simple
means not led, without a pilot, counsellor or mentor. If you n unguided
stone is coming
your way, you can
dodge. But, if you think about an unguided train or plane, you
need to do more than dodging. You need to gbe bodi e (carry your body).
Let’s look at 5
people in the Bible whose belief and trust in and loyalty to
God was not led - by The Trinity or a God-led Counsellor
Faith
Unguided
Rebecca: Genesis 24: 59 tells us that Rebekah was
sent to Isaac with a nurse – a guide.
In an Eastern family
the nurse is a very important part of an entourage. She is accorded
similar respect as a parent. A designated nurse is expected to
accompany a new bride and remain with her. She is to play the
role of technical adviser, special assistant and familiar face in the
bride’s new environment. But we see how well Rebekah allowed this nurse to
play her part, in how her marriage turned out with bitterness as she
competed for love of one child over another. By Genesis 35:8 we are
told, “But Deborah Rebekah's nurse died, and she was buried beneath Bethel
under an oak: called the oak of weeping.” Why the oak of weeping… This is
significant but we can’t go into it today.
Samson: The strongest man who ever lived but
who acted foolishly by disobeying rules again and again and marrying with
reckless abandon until he faced shame… Who was his guide? Are you
facing life of shame because you have disobeyed your mentor?
Judas: A treasurer who stole from the coffers ad
betrayed his Lord and Master… Who was his guide?
Eli: He was, according to the Books of
Samuel, a High Priest of Shiloh who initially thought a woman seeking God’s
face for children was drunk. Why? Did you ever read that he conferred with
anyone? He was unguided.
David: What of King David of Israel
and Judah? Loved of God but killed a man, Uriah the Hittite, an elite
soldier in his army. Men who scheme to take the place of other
men after making wrong decisions of pacing on the balcony when they should
be brainstorming for their company or their country may die
without accolades… Who was his guide? Once he killed Goliath, who was
his mentor?
Consequences of
living without guides, mentor or counsellors
1. Destruction (For
lack of knowledge the people perish)
2. Failure
3. Lack of safety: Miscreants, Hoodlums, Boko Haram, Kidnapping, Robbery…
4. Destiny abortion
5. Death
Now let’s look at
those who were GUIDED…
Faith Guided
Rahab: Whether we remember her as Rahab the
harlot or innkeeper, she was a Biblical heroine. She knew by research and
by divine attentiveness that these were spies that could help her. This
is faith anchored on trust, guided by the art of listening. How
well do you listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, when you are asked not to
take a bicycle job that a jeep one is coming; do you say, a bird in hand or you
say, “Let it be to me according to your WORD o,
LORD!” Hear what Rahab said to the spies in Joshua 2:9-13:
“I know that the LORD
has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that
all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.” We have heard this about your LORD, we
have heard that… “Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will
show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a
sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers
and sisters, and all who belong to them - and that you will save us from
death.” They gave her conditions and thus played the role
of waka-pass destiny changing counsellors to her and her family.
As a good counsellee, she trusted and played her part.
Ruth: Her faith was anchored
on her mother in law. She had lost all but she knew this was a good mother
in law; she adopted her as mother. We never heard again of Orpah who had
no guide. Some during weddings make women say to the
groom, “Your God would be my God” but that is not Biblical, if it was
biblical the Bible will not say you have a choice to remain or
renege, where beliefs don’t align. Ruth benefited from her
guide.
Joseph: He would have ended his destiny under a
woman but he was guided to come up with strategies with which he translated the
economy of his domain. Those who sold him into slavery became beneficiaries
because he was guided.
Widow of
Zarephath: In 1 Kings 17 she was guided by Elijah. She
could have eaten and died but she gave and
lived. What education may not have taught her, believing in a prophet’s
anointing did. Her economic status changed because she was guided.
Esther: The cousin of Mordecai, a
member of the Jewish community also played the role of Esther’s father because
she was the orphaned daughter of Mordecai's uncle, another Benjamite named
Abihail. When crisis was about to erupt, Esther’s mentor
sent her word, she could have said, go to blazes, I am now queen. A number
of us, once we arrive, we no longer want to listen to mentors and
guides. Once your first million hit your account, when a mentor calls
you, you are busier than the Pope but when you had nothing, you
yielded. She had initially done yanga but her no nonsense
mentor, who did not want her to perish and end her destiny in “had I known”
like Vashti, sent word to her, do not think you are safe o! It
profited her and thousands because she had a guide. How well are your
counselees, benefitting from your wisdom as a mentor?
Samuel: He was referred to as
a Seer in 1 Samuel 9:9 was guided as a
young man who was doing his apprenticeship with Priest Eli in fulfilment of his
mother’s vow. That vow can be found in 1 Samuel 1-11. What vow have you
made before God and how well have you fulfilled it after your prayer was
answered? You asked and God gave... You asked and a mentor gave... What if your
own part? Samuel did his part and fulfilled destiny. He fulfilled destiny by playing a significant role in
the transition from the period of the biblical judges to the institution of a
kingdom under Saul, and again in the transition from Saul to David. When he was
going to make a mistake after rationalising choice by sight, he was redirected
- guided, by the Still Small Voice which said to him, God looks at the heart,
not faces.
Elisha: He followed Elijah every step of the
way and learning in the process. 2 Kings 2 “And it came to
pass, when the Lord would
take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from
Gilgal. [Elijah said again], Tarry here, I pray thee; for the Lord hath sent me to Bethel. And
Elisha said unto him, As the Lord liveth,
and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. So they went down to Bethel.”
What do you need from
your mentor, your pastor, your God-led parent? How well have you
tarried? There were other mentees but they became weary about
Elijah’s waka. Elisha who remained with his guide to learn earned.
He became blessed with a double anointing so much so that he was able to
curse children who mocked him. This was after he healed water… How well
has satan mocked you? What has been your response? Where is the power or
anointing you inherited? Who is your mentor? What did you gain from
tarrying or perhaps you left before heaven endorsed you
as Jesus was endorsed, “This is my beloved son, hear him.” How
will we ever be able toheal water, and decree no more sickness – no more
corona virus, if we cannot even heal headache. What happened to the other
sons or mentees who desired Elijah’s anointing?
You remember Acts
4:13:
Now when they saw the
boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant
men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with
Jesus.
Who have you been
with? Foolish men or women, who will scatter your destiny, feed your
diamond destiny to swine or royals blessed with wisdom in the body of Christ!
Let’s quickly look at
those who were able to move from foolishness to wisdom by listening to The
Trinity or their God-led counsellors. Those who transited from being
unguided to being guided include:
- Saul to Paul
- Abram to Abraham
- Sarai to Sarah
- Peter to Peter the Rock
- Adulterous Woman at the well to
Evangelist (after she listened to Jesus and accepted the Living
Waters). What waters have you been drinking? Sapelle water? Kainkain?
Burukutu? Gulugulu omo gushasha aka Gulder? In whose well have you
been fetching? Legitimate or illegitimate?
Benefits of Guides and Counsellor
What did the Bible
say about counsel and counsellors:
Proverbs
11:14 Where there is no guidance the people fall, But in abundance of
counsellors there is victory.
Proverbs
15:22 Without consultation, plans are frustrated, But with many
counsellors they succeed.
How are mentees
supposed to draw from the well of knowledge and experience of their mentors? We
see how Elisha tarried and asked. But his own mentee - Gehazi was only doing
follow-follow and never asked. He enjoyed a position of power but was
ultimately corrupt, misusing his authority to cheat Naaman the Syrian, a
general afflicted with leprosy. What did he reap? Disease, that likely led to
his death.
I will wrap up with
the Daughters of Zelophehad… I love them and love their
boldness.
The POWER to ASK – Ask. Seek.
Knock, is a great power indeed. It was the power that changed the destiny of
Daughters of Zelophehad - Mahlah, Noa, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah, who lived at
the end of the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt as they prepared to enter the
Promised Land. The Bible mentioned their father for a reason…
I learned my boldness
from my father and my mother. He would send you at night to pick
something from the car or buy something, if you say you are afraid,
my mother will tell you, “Omo Akin kii beru – The daughter
of the brave does not fear. And this is Biblical. Proverbs
28:1 - The righteous are as BOLD as a lion! Zelophehad must have
been their mentor; most importantly they had their ears to God’s heart
because they did not ASK amiss.
In Numbers 27…
Moses brought their
case before the LORD, and the LORD said to
him, “What Zelophehad’s daughters are saying is right. You must
certainly give them property as an inheritance among their father’s relatives
and give their father’s inheritance to them. Say to the Israelites,
‘If a man dies and leaves no son, give his inheritance to his daughter.’ Case
CLOSED! End of Discussion.
If they did not have
the temerity to raise before Moses and the Israelite community, the
case of their God-given rights which greedy humans had taken away,
the curse would not have been broken on womenfolk in that land. We can stand
on that to break curses of denied rights to women even today. If Zelophehad‘s
daughters did it, you can do it!
Mary asked. “Why me” was a question
that clarified her destiny, otherwise she could have been manipulated
to abort the pregnancy. Imagine what that would have done to
salvation. Esther asked. Even Rahab
asked. Who do you that you now feel too big or too depressed to ask
your CREATOR for divine connection or supernatural positioning? The
Bible, which remains the ultimate guide of Christians says, ASK till
your JOY be full!
By the Blood of
Jesus, women will no longer suffer in silence but would receive the boldness
from Jehovah Chatsahi (Psalm 27:1) to demand their rights in Jesus name!
This brings me to
the final question towards ending this message, who are
you…
When my daughter
brought her fiancé to meet me, I asked him, who are you? I said to him, if
you don’t know who you are, you are incapable of loving my baby.
Marriages are
breaking today because many men and women have suffered identity crisis and do
not know who they are. If a woman is abusing you, getting into a shouting match
shows there are two foolish people in that marriage. If you were guided and
guarded, you will draw her close to your bosom and ASK. How can I fix this?
If you don’t know
that you are the son or daughter of the Most High God, Oyigiyigi, Apa Nla
to so ile aiye ro, Erujeje to n’mi igbo kijikiji, The One who created the
Heaven and the Earth, then the iya nla gbe ni shan le, kekere gori eni
will become your lot.
Who are
you?
Knowing who you are
will guide you towards the right mentor. Afrobeat Star Fela Anikulapo Kuti
mentored some people and he thought them the way of Indian hemp! Adeboye became mentor to one of his drummers and today Pastor Kunle
Ajayi is fulfilling destiny.
If you
know who you are, you will know you need a Godly guide and you
will be guided and guarded to your mentor and the right counsel…
Jesus had a guide… he
allowed himself to be parented and to be baptised… He did not run away
from home, he remained till he was endued, soaked, immersed with power and
power and endorsed for ministry.
Some meet a man or
woman who spoke eloquently at a programme and rush to them to become their
mentors. Did you ask God? Do you know their God? Do you know in whose name they
do all those things or achieved success? Do you know by whose power and
authority they speak?
Who or what are guides:
1. The Trinity - You
can be divinely guided.
2. The Word of God -
If you can feed on it, meditate and act on it, the Word of God can guide you.
3. Mentors can guide
you. Pastors, advisors, teachers, preachers, Godly influences...
4. Character can
guide you. Obirin s’iwa wu, o loun o l’ori oko. A woman behaves badly but she
complains she is not destined for marriage.
5. Maps. You can be
guided by road maps and these are real maps or books that have documented how
others have done it.
Brethren, you have
heard it again, you are salt and light, live by it every
day. In John 8:12 - Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the
light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have
the light of life.”
Hear this Exodus
3:14 - And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt
thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
John 14:16
- Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man
cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Are you the way out
of breakdown, are you the truth out of corruption in any department you are
positioned, are you the life through which your lineage will banish
poverty and early deaths. Who then is guiding you?
Who are YOU? Who is the guide
marshalling your destiny?
§ Can you do all
things through Jesus Christ who strengthens you as
spelled out in Philippians 4:13?
§ Can you say boldly to
anyone condemning you that, “There is therefore now no condemnation for
those who are in Christ Jesus.” As spelled out in Romans 8:1.
§ Can you decree to a brother or sister
facing crisis what is documented in Deuteronomy 31:8, “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will
be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
§ Can you boldly tell relatives or captors
trying to enslave you that, “you are no longer a slave, but a son or
daughter, and if an offspring, then an heir (inheritor) through
God.” as indicated in Galatians 4:7.
§ Can you confidently read what is clearly
decreed in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his
purpose.” So much so that even when things are low, you can claim this and
believe that it means whatever situation you are facing is temporary.
ALTAR
Call
Are you here and do
not have God as your ultimate guide. I’m not here to beg you but to invite you
to the one who guides and can position a worthy guide to help you fulfil
destiny. If you made the decision to know God who is able to guide you and send
you a guide, meet with any of the protocol officers to direct you.
Closing
Rise and begin to
bless God for teachers, mentors, guides, pastors and destiny helpers God has
put in your path. Begin to pray that Almighty God will give you the
wisdom to tarry and learn so you can earn. Ask God to define yourself to
you so that you stop running from pillar to post in a bid to fulfill destiny.
Prayer
Behold your children
o Lord. Guide us Jehovah. Enable us to yield to destiny helpers you have
sent to us. Help us to understand that you have the manual to our lives and can
make us fulfilled and to bloom where we are planted. Help us know our
identity in you and to remain on the path of righteousness and continue to
ASK till our joy be full, in Jesus matchless name. AMEN
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