TEPH

ii

THE ECCLESIASTES TIMELY TRUTH

Copyright © 2021 Oluwole Peace

ISBN: 978 02013 79 624

Published in Nigeria by:

The Ecclesiastes Publishing House - TEPH
Under the auspices of New Creation Publishers

All rights reserved

No portion of this book may be used without the written permission of the
Publishers, with the exception of brief excerpts in magazines, articles,
reviews, etc.

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are taken from the King
James Version (KJV) of the Bible.

For further information or permission, write to:

Oluwole Peace
Email: Oluwole.peace@gmail.com
Tel: 08035165613, 08111619915

Follow us on facebook: Ask the Preacher, Don't Die in Silence - The

Ecclesiastes

First printed (2021) in Nigeria by:

OmegAlph, Lagos, Nigeria.
 iii

To the only wise and righteous

God, the Judge of the whole earth.

To all men and women who stand

for the message of the truth despite
the prevalence of falsehood in our
generation.

To all the Saints across the Nations

of the world, including the
Martyrs.
 v

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

To my heavenly Father; the Immortal, Invisible, the

only wise God, for granting me the depth of insight to
write this book, indeed there is a spirit in man, the
inspiration of the Almighty grant them understanding.
It is noteworthy to specially acknowledge the
notable men of God on whose shoulders I stand to be
able to see farther. Foremost is my father in the faith,
Bishop David O. Oyedepo, the President and Founder
of Living Faith Church Worldwide, who provided a
platform for me to serve God as a Pastor, I am also
highly grateful to: Bishop David Abioye, the first Vice
President LFC Worldwide; our Grandfather in faith,
Pastor E. A. Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian
Church of God; also my mentors, Pastor (Dr.) Paul
Enenche of Dunamis and Pastor David Ibiyomie of
Salvation Ministry, to mention but few. I am a product
of many graces, to God alone be all the praise.
My special appreciation to my wife, Ibukun
Imoleayo, who stood by me all along in the work of
Ministry through the thin and thick, and to my
adorable daughter, Rhema. I love you so much.
 vi

Immeasurable appreciation to my prayer warrior -

my Mother - who provides a strong spiritual backing
behind the scene, may you live long to see your fourth
generations.
Many thanks to my brothers and sisters, who have
been supportive in my walk with God, and work in His
vineyard.
To my superiors, colleagues in Ministry, and
spiritual sons and daughters across the globe, I
appreciate you all for believing in the Word of truth we
stand for over the years. None of us will miss Christ re-
appearance in Jesus name. Amen.
 vii

ENDORSEMENT

In this book, Pastor Oluwole Peace emphasized

fascinating intrigues that disturb today's readers on
and why the Book of Ecclesiastes was denigrated by
many. He carefully reflects the message sent to the
Church in the Ecclesiastes - an Old Testament Book,
which is traditionally attributed to Solomon.
This Book is void of complex theological teachings
that indoctrinates with a specific view or ideology; it
proves a purposeful unity and teaches of a united Body
of Christ.
The author carefully writes about the thoughts of
life and its meaning which depicts Ecclesiastes. He
illuminates the purpose of Christ Church to the world
today to be of one mind, united in thought and in
purpose to attain the goal: reigning with Christ above
all.
This Book is a warning to Christians, that living
Kingdom ready is imperative.
So, without any reservation whatsoever, I strongly
recommend this book to everybody, especially to
those in the Ministry, and to the Church. This book is a
 viii

treasure to own, and I believe lives will be transformed

through this book. Read with an open mind and with an
expectation because this book is loaded with
instructions and directions, as designed by the
heavenly Father, for growth, for existences, to bless
humanity, and to prepare us for His coming. Blessings.

Pastor Julius L. Oshokpekhai

Liberty Township, Ohio, USA
 ix

CONTENTS

Dedication
Acknowledgement
Endorsement
Foreward
Prologue 1

Chapter One:
The Gospel Truth 11

Chapter Two:
Truth on Doctrinal Matters 25

Chapter Three:
The Adventure of Salvation 37

Chapter Four:
The Blessing in The Curse of The Lord 63

Chapter Five:
The Focus of The Church 71
 x

Chapter Six:
The True Story 77

Epilogue: Conclusion 89
 xi

FOREWORD

This is truth condensed. It is a book that holds many

books within it. The chapters are pregnant with
Revelations presented with simplicity. Reading
through this book reminds one of many hidden truths
that are no longer common on our Pulpits.
The message is bold; no sitting on the fence, and
therefore draws the line between the Gospel and what
is not the Gospel; it sheds light on the difference
between rationalism and spirituality.
We live in days when people know “the Letter” but
unfortunately the letter kills. Only the Spirit gives life.
The life conceived in the Word of God requires the
ministry of the Spirit to be midwifed but unfortunately
only few are connected to the Spirit.
This book opens one up to that depth where the
Spirit births the life in the Word of God. Deep truly call
unto deep. You can't remain the same reading this
piece.
 xii

I recommend this book to both clergies and laities.

Welcome to freedom.

Rev. Ayo Akinsete

Senior Pastor,
PARADISEWORLD Christian Ministry
& Host of BETTER LIFE Crusade
- a Daily Radio Programme.
 1

PROLOGUE

In my early days as ‘church boy,’ there are two books

of the Bible that didn't fascinate me at all, because I
could not understand nor comprehend what were
written therein. So I didn't just bother to read them, I
preferred to go through other books. As far as I was
concerned, they contain hard sayings that sounded too
difficult for human reasoning, so I thought. One of
such books is the book of Revelation
Revelation,, because of the
many strong words that transcends my terrestrial
comprehension to the celestial realms.
In the book of Revelation, you will read where the
book will tell you someone has four heads with many
horns and many eyes. And to my understanding then, it
looked scary. Only a monster can be described in such
forms. And I was convinced that the Bible is a Holy
Scripture and not occultic book. So I saw no reason
why such book should be part of a Holy Scripture,
which to me was supposed to be sacred and not filled
 2

with horrors. The second book of the Bible which I

found difficult to understand was the book of
Ecclesiastes, this is what I based the title of this book
on.
As a little boy the whole summary of what is
written in Ecclesiastes is “Just Vanity upon Vanity, all
is Vanity”. So I thought within myself, if all is vanity
as stipulated by the author, then life is not worth living.
God should have just created us and caused us to reign
with Him in the heaven, without the need of coming to
the earth. Life is just a wasteful adventure, so I also
thought.
But thank God for light, thank God for inspiration
of the Holy Spirit; when the Scripture says the letter
killeth…, that is a reality. 1 Corinthian 13:11-12 then
give explanation to my curiosity; “When I was a child,
I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as
a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish
things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but
then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I
know even as also I am known” And this was what
happened when I began to attain to the maturity of
faith, like those ahead of me.
By the inspiration of the Almighty, I got to know
that the two books were full of depth of Revelations
and insights, truly beyond human comprehension.
comprehension.1 1
 3

Corinthian 2:10-14 “But God hath revealed them

unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things,
yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth
the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in
him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but
the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the
spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that
we might know the things that are freely given to us of
God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words
which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy
Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with
spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the
things of the Spirit of God”.
The two books were pure words of Revelation,
with eternity in focus, and full Insights not historical
accounts of what happened; like some other books of
the Bible. John the Revelator drew explanation of
eternity from the realm of the Celestial, while King
Solomon drew inference of eternity from the
abundance of wisdom of God in him, Job 32:8.
Now, to the book of Ecclesiastes, one unique spirit
that God bestowed on Solomon was the Spirit of
wisdom. Some people thought he wrote some part of
the book of Ecclesiastes in a drunken state. Some
believe his wisdom was already turning to foolishness
because of the many strange women he had. The
 4

answer to all these insinuations, is a capital NO!

The book of Ecclesiastes was a report from a man
who was explaining the wit and the value of the
wisdom given to him by God, to explore the world
around him in order for him, to determine what the
whole duty of man should be.
His words and works in the book of Ecclesiastes
presented Solomon as a researcher, and he defined the
objectives of his research and findings from the first
chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes. Let's consider
some: The first question he intended to find answer to
is written in Ecclesiastes 1:3 “what profit hath a man
of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?” He
went further in verse 12 and 13 to explain the
objectives of his writing.
12 “I the preacher was king over Israel in
Jerusalem” 13 “And I gave my heart to seek and
search out by wisdom concerning all things that are
done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to
the sons of man to be exercised herewith.” In his
wisdom, he tried both folly and madness, to see which
is better; whether it is better to be foolish or to be wise,
or to be insane than to be sane.
Verses 16 and 17 confirmed that! 16: “I
communed with mine own heart, saying, Lo, I am come
to great estate, and have gotten more wisdom than all
 5

they that have been before me in Jerusalem: yea, my

heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.
17: And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to
know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is
vexation of spirit.” In his search, he went into the two
extremes of life. His wealth of wisdom made him try
the two extremes of life to know that which is good for
man. If you ever read about His 700 wives and 300
concubines, it's all part of his quest to find out if a man
can have pleasure and satisfaction by the numbers of
women he has. In Chapter 2 verse 3, he wrote:
“I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine,
yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay
hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the
sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all
the days of their life.” This was his focus. He went on
and on; in verses 9 -13 “So“So I was great, and increased
more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also
my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatsoever
mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not
my heart from any joy; (including the many women)
for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my
portion of all my labour.
11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands
had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to
do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit,
 6

and there was no profit under the sun. 12 And I turned

myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for
what can the man do that cometh after the king? even
that which hath been already done. 13 Then I saw that
wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth
darkness”. He then came to the conclusion of his thesis
in Ecclesiastes 12:12-14 12 “And further, by these, my
son, be admonished: of making many books there is no
end. (No end to learning, no matter what you think you
know there is always more you are yet to know that
others still know) and much study is a weariness of the
flesh”
Here is his conclusion 13 “Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep
his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 “For God shall bring every work into judgment,
with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether
it be evil”. And just like the Preacher (King
Solomon), who did a research and outlined his
findings, I am here to present to this generation, my
research of many years of observations of The Church,
The Clergy and The Congregation, with the intention
to preserve the FAITH that was once delivered to us by
our fathers. Psalm 145:4 “One generation shall praise
thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty
works.”
 7

Yes, Truth is timeless, but I tagged this as ‘Timely

Truth; The Message of the Preacher for the Hour’.
Be blessed as you read and consider.

Pastor Oluwole Peace.

(Author)
 9

MESSAGE TO
THE CHURCH,
THE CLERGY
AND THE
CONGREGATION
 11

Chapter 1

THE GOSPEL TRUTH

SYMBOLIC REPRESENTATION OF HUMAN BODY

The Gospel of Christ has been represented in many

ways by various Denominations, and many thought all
these works are in isolation of one another, not
realizing that they are to be interdependent and
interrelated; a built up of one on another. 1
 12

Corinthians 3:6-15 “I have planted, Apollos watered,

but God gave the increase. 77.. So then neither is he that
planteth anything, neither he that watereth: but God
that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he
that watereth are one: and every man shall receive
his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For
we are labourers together with God: ye are God's
husbandry, ye are God's building.
10 According to the grace of God which is given
unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the
foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let
every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid,
which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon
this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood,
hay, stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made
manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall
be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's
work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide
which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a
reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall
suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by
fire.”
It is important to note therefore that your
assignment may be that of cultivating the land by
clearing the weeds and thorns, mine may be sowing
 13

some seeds while others may be to watch the seed to

germinate in order to prevent devourers from
corrupting it, while another may be just to dress the
vine making it look beautiful. Whichever category we
belong, it's all for the essence of returning with harvest
during the season of harvest. Verse 9 says: “For we are
labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry,
ye are God's building.”
Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and
some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;” And why? 12“For 12“For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for
the edifying of the body of Christ.” 13 Till we all come
in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of
the stature of the fullness of Christ.” I want us to
consider two words used in the two verses of
Scriptures quoted above: one is building while the
second is body
body..

1. BUILDING:

The building of an edifice requires the works of more

than one professional, if you will agree with me. They
are all professionals in their fields of works, yet they
need the input of another professional in other fields to
 14

complete the job. Even in the field of Medical Science,

there is specialization. A Gynecologist can never
perform the duty of an Optician; he may claim he is a
consultant, but whenever the treatment has to do with
the eye, the patient needs the help of an Optician or
ophthalmologist.
A mason cannot claim he is the only one required
in the building of a house. For a house to appear in
glory, first, the mason would come to lay some blocks
and concretes for the foundation after the earthwork
and the ground breaking has been done. When the
mason is through with the laying of blocks, he must
give way for the carpenters or the engineers to roof the
house. Then the electrician will come to fix the conduit
and wires.
Interesting thing to note is that in fixing the
conduits, the electrician would need to break off some
blocks laid by the mason. Those who don't understand
the procedure of building may think that the electrician
is destroying the works of the mason, No! That must be
done for the building to have access to electricity. After
this, the windows and doors are fixed by welders or
iron benders as the case may be. After this, the mason
work is needed again for plastering. The house may
look complete, but the beauty may not be seen until a
painter is hired to paint the building. Now, it may
 15

appear that the painter did just a little work on the

house, but that little work is essential for the building
to finally appear in glory, despite all other works that
had been done earlier.
The question now is, between the house that is
well painted and the one that was not painted, which
one will you desire to live in by choice? So, as little as
the work of the painter may seem and perhaps
considered not necessary in the building of a house,
their assignment is essential for the house to be
thoroughly furnished and appear in glory.

2. BODY:

In the same vein, if you consider the word 'body'

'body',, you
will understand that the body is made up of many parts,
as we can see in the picture above; each part has its own
peculiarity and function in the body. No matter how
important the eye is, it can't play the role of the hand,
and vice versa. In the same way, the role of the legs is
different from the hands, that does not mean both are
not working for the interest of the body.
And this is The Church
Church,, Christ is describing. Not
the Church preaching the same theme of message, but
the Church performing the same function of:
1) Perfecting the saints in preparation for His
 16

returns.
2) Edifying the body
3) Helping people to come to the knowledge of
Christ

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the

knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto
the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ”
(Eph 4:13). A Church performing one or some of these
purposes is already achieving the unity of purpose
expected by the Master. The function performed by the
Ear is different from that of the Mouth, but they are
both working in unity of purpose to see that the body is
healthy and functioning well. That is it!
Christ is waiting for the time His Body, which is
His Church, would be joined together in the unity of
purpose and faith, before he returns. Ephesians 4:16
“From whom the whole body fitly joined together and
compacted by THAT WHICH EVERY JOINT
SUPPLIETH, according to the effectual working in the
measure of every part, maketh increase of the body into
the edifying of itself in love.”
This is the gospel truth. You supply your part, I
supply mine and the body is growing (1 Cor. 3:6).
Hallelujah! Each denomination either big or small,
provided Christ is preached, is a part of the Body of
 17

Christ. Remember a house that is divided against itself

cannot stand (Mark 3:25). But whosoever is not
against us is for us (Luke 9:50). Let us consider some
other scriptures to validate this truth:
Ephesians 2:13-16 “But now in Christ Jesus, ye
who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood
of Christ. 14 For he is our peace, who hath made both
one, and hath broken down the middle wall of
partition between us. 15 Having abolished in his flesh
the enmity, even the law of commandments contained
in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new
man, so making peace. 16 And that he might reconcile
both unto God in one body by the Cross, having slain
the enmity thereby” Jesus also compliment this in John
17:21-22.
“that they all may be one;
21 “that one; as thou father, and I
in thee that they also may be one in us: that the world
may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory
which thou gavest me I have given them, that they may
one.
be one, even as we are one.
The Church of the New Testament is a built-up on
the Church of the Old Testament. In the same way, in
the contemporary, the Church of the NOW is also a
built-up on the ones we call the orthodox.
And before the second return of Christ, if Jesus
tarries, in order for His Church to attain the measure of
 18

the status of the fullness of Christ, another movement

may still resurge different from the Charismatic
renewals, as a built-up on the charismatic movement.
Anglican and Methodist were offshoot of Catholicism,
after Martin Luther released his Thesis that opened the
eyes of many to the hidden doctrines of the Catholic
Church, and also because of some truth they consider
to be obsolete in the doctrine of Catholicism. In the
same vein Pentecostalism was also an offshoot of
Anglican and Methodist because of the less
importance placed on the subject of the personality of
the Holy Spirit in their teachings and doctrines at the
early stage.
The likes of Rev. C.H. Mason, who was a
Missionary Baptist, and attended Arkansas Baptist
College in 1892 started a new work called the Church
of God in Christ in the United State and was reputed to
be the largest Pentecostal denomination in the United
State as at that time. E. N. Bell, a graduate of the
Southern Baptist Seminary was the first general
Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, the largest
Pentecostal denomination worldwide as at 1914.
(Synan Charisma June 1986,45; Synan Charisma
August 1986, 53)
The emphasis I am making here is that every new
work is a built-up on the previous; each Denomination
 19

is seeking to ensure the Body attains perfection. Jer

6:16 “Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and
see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way,
and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your
souls…” So, the works of the Pentecostal does not
make that of the orthodox of non-effect or irrelevant,
NO! Every work is a built-up on the previous. We all
first started with milk before we started eating some
soft food and later bones. Despite the variety of food
today, every child born must first feed on milk before
strong meat.
Romans 12:3-5: 3 “For I say, through the grace
given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to
think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but
to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every
man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have members
in one body and all members have not the same
office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ,
and every one member of another.
another.” ” Can you see that!
“Every one member of another”
“Every another”..
The advent of cars for mobility cannot make the
leg useless. Neither will the use of knife and blade
make the teeth useless in cutting things. Each performs
its own purpose for which they are designed or
invented. The function or the office of individual is
now determined by the measure or proportion of faith
 20

given to the individual. Remember the parable of the

Talent? Romans 12:6 “Having“Having then gifts differing
according to the grace that is given to us, whether
prophesy, let us prophecy according to the proportion
of faith”.
Let's consider also 1 Corinthians 12:3-30: 3 “No
man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy
Ghost. 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same
spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations,
but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of
operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in
all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to
every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of
wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same
Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another
the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another
the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to
another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds
of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit,
dividing to every man severally as he will.
12 For as the body is one, and hath many
members, and all the members of that one body, being
many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one
Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be
 21

Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and

have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the
body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall
say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is
it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say,
Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it
therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the
hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the
smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every
one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. 19 And
if they were all one member, where were the body? 20
But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of
thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of
you.
22 Nay, much more those members of the body,
which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And
those members of the body, which we think to be less
honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant
honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant
comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need:
but God hath tempered the body together, having given
more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the
members should have the same care one for another.
 22

26 And whether one member suffer, all the

members suffer with it; or one member be honoured,
all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body
of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath
set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily
prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then
gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of
tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all
teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the
gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all
interpret?
The church is not meant to oppose one another but
to complement one another. Not to preach against one
another but to preach Christ to the dying world. The
scriptures says in 1 Corinthians 7:20, 24 “Let every
man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called,
therein abide with God”. Each part is meant to mind
own’s calling not meddling in another man's business.
The basis is that Christ is the
fulcrum of our message. The church is not
He is the Centre of the meant to oppose
message. In the word of Apostle one another but
Paul to the Philippians, in to complement
Philippians 1:15-18 “Some one another.
indeed preach Christ even of
 23

envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one
preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing
to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love,
knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18
What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in
pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I
therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice”.
Matthew 7:1-3 “Judge not, that ye not be judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged;
and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to
you again.” 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is
in thy brother's eye, but considereth not the beam that
is in thine own eye?” All these are applicable to this
subject matter. Jesus still has this to say further,
Matthew 12:25 “And Jesus knew their thoughts, and
said unto them, every kingdom divided against itself is
brought to desolation; and every city or house divided
against itself shall not stand”.
Paul equally wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:2 “For I
determined not to know anything among you, save
Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” This connotes, the
doctrine you practise is of no importance to me, what
am interested mostly in is Jesus Christ and His
message to the world. He was not concerned about
their doctrine or culture. Not concerned about their
operation and administration. All he is concerned with
 24

is that Jesus Christ is preached among them.

This is the unity of purpose expected by the
Master from the Church. And I conclude with this
scripture, Ephesians 4:3-7 “Endeavoring to keep the
unity of the spirit in the bond of peace.” 4 “There is one
body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope
of your calling: 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism 6
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and
through all, and in you all.” 7 But unto everyone is
given grace according to the measure of the gift of
Christ.”
Though we may have several Denominations,
know that the Church of Christ is one entity dividing
itself through various operations and administration,
like our physical body.
 25

CHAPTER 2

TRUTH ON
DOCTRINAL MATTERS

The explanation from the first chapter would easily

help us to comprehend the reasons behind differences
in doctrinal matters.
I defined doctrine as opinion drawn from scripture
based on individual's understanding of the scripture,
 26

and passed unto one's followers to do or practise.

Consider the word of Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy
3:10 “But thou hast fully known my doctrine,
manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity,
patience”. A clearer scriptural example is in the Book
of Matthew 9:14-15: the Disciples of John the Baptist
challenged Jesus concerning his Disciples' attitude;
why they were not fasting as they (John's Disciples)
and the Pharisees did.
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying,
““Then
why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples
fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children
of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom
is with them? but the days will come, when the
bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall
they fast” The response of Jesus connotes, if you are
fasting now, it's because your Master deems it
necessary for you to fast at this point in time and by
that, His own disciples have not violated any law by
not fasting at that time. To the Disciples of John the
Baptist, fasting at that period of time is a doctrine to
them, that they believed all should hold sacred,
including Jesus and his Disciples. But Jesus' response
shows that it is simply a Doctrine practised by John
and the Pharisee.
In the same vein in Matthew 12:1-5 Jesus and His
 27

disciples went through the garden of corn on a Sabbath

day, and His disciples, since no doctrine was given to
them by the Lord, whether to eat or not to eat on
Sabbath day (their own Doctrine not Christ's), were
hungry and they plucked the ears of the corn and ate. 2
“But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him,
behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do
on the Sabbath day.” They judged according to the
doctrine of the Pharisees, based on their understanding
of the Law of Moses
Moses..
But Jesus Christ discredited that in verses 3 to 7.
“But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David
did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with
him; 4 How he entered into the house of God, and did
eat the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat,
neither for them which were with him, but only for the
priests? 5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on
the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the
sabbath, and are blameless?
6 But I say unto you, That in this place is one
greater than the temple. 7 But if ye had known what
this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye
would not have condemned the guiltless.” Believe me
or not, doctrines are considered as our school masters
which should be de-emphasized now that the SPIRIT
OF TRUTH has come, Who is able to guide and lead us
 28

into all truth. The reason behind differences in

doctrines from one denomination to another is simply
because of the differences in individual's level of
understanding of the Word of God.
For instance, a lecturer may teach the same set of
students same course, spent the same time with them in
the lecture room, possibly give them the same lecture
manual or books to study, and assess them with same
questions. But at the end, some will be graded A, some
B, others C while some will still have F. The reason
behind these discrepancies is simply the level of
individual's understanding of the course. And Paul has
this message for the Church, only that the Church is yet
to realize this. Hebrew 6:1 “Therefore leaving the
6:1“Therefore
principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go unto
perfection”
Now since our calling differs from one another
and our administration differs and our operation
differs (1 Corinthians 12:5-6), then we shouldn't
expect our doctrines to be the
same because your doctrine is Your doctrine
simply your taskmaster to is simply
drive home your calling. your taskmaster
Note also that because to drive home
your doctrines differ from your calling.
mine does not indicate am not
 29

on the right course. For instance, students of Covenant

University, one of the christian Private Universities in
Nigeria, founded by the Founder of Living Faith
Church Worldwide, Bishop David Oyedepo, are not
permitted to use a personal cellphone while in school,
compare to other students of Higher learning in
Nigeria, where they have the liberty to use cellphone.
They must always appear corporate (be on tie and
shirt) for all lectures. It may look as though they are
being treated like infants, but this approach is aimed at
driving home the Vision and Objectives of the
establishment of the University. (This explains
Doctrine as a 'School taskmaster')
Your calling as a denomination, most times,
determines your doctrine. But if you are asking about
the doctrine of Christ, I will tell you it is entrenched in
Matthew 22:36-40. “Master, which is the great
commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him,
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the
first and great commandment. 39 And the second is
like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40
On these two commandments hang all the law and the
prophets”

Romans 14:2-3, 5-6, 14:

 30

2 “For one believeth that he may eat all things:

another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that
eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him
which eateth not judge him that eateth: FOR GOD
HATH RECEIVED HIM.” 5 “One man esteemeth one
day above another: another esteemeth every day alike,
let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the
Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he
doth not regard it” 14 “I know and am persuaded by
the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself:
but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, TO
HIM IT IS UNCLEAN”.
Let's take note of the last statement there; this
connotes whatever you consider a doctrine for
yourself remains a doctrine to you and your followers,
and not necessarily means or becomes a doctrine to the
generality of the Christian faith. No wonder the last
phrase in Verse 5 says “let every man be persuaded in
his own mind”.
This explains where doctrinal opinion comes
from - the persuasion in someone's mind based on the
level of his understanding of such scripture. That is
why I laugh when I hear some Christians arguing
whether it is good to honour the birth of Christ on
Christmas day or His death and resurrection during
 31

Easter. Each time I hear that, I simply refer them to the

scripture above, wherein Verses 5 and 6 explain it all.
So, there is no contention about it. Jesus the righteous
judge explains the same in the book of Luke 7:33-34
“For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor
drinking wine, and ye say, he hath a devil.” 34 The son
of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, behold
a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of
publicans and sinners.”
Though John the Baptist came to prepare the way
for our Lord, his doctrinal belief and teaching differs a
little from that of our Lord, simply because there is
difference in administrations and operations, yet by
the same Spirit based on individual's Calling and
Assignment. No wonder, his disciples too queried
Jesus' disciples why they were not fasting as they
(John's disciples) did.
Consider also Matthew 15:1-9. The Pharisees
challenged Jesus why his disciples were not practising
the doctrines laid down by the supposed elders of
faith. And Jesus replied them this way: 9 “But in vain
they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the
commandments of men.” And without fear or favour, I
consider some church doctrines as simply
commandments of men. For more studies, consider
the following scriptures: Mark 7:1-13; 1 Corinthians
 32

10:30-31; 1 Corinthians 8:8;

And without fear
Isaiah 29:13. or favour, I consider
Let me conclude with some church
these two scriptures: doctrines
Colossians 2:16/20-22 “Let as simply
commandments
no man therefore judge you in
of men.
meat, or in drink, or in respect
of an holyday, or of the new
moon, or of the Sabbath days:” 20 “Wherefore if ye be
dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why,
as though living in the world, are ye subject to
ordinances. 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22
“Which all are to perish with the using;) after THE
COMMANDMENTS AND DOCTRINES OF MEN?”
Also Galatians 2:2-16. “And I went up by
revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel
which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to
them which were of reputation, lest by any means I
should run, or had run, in vain. 3 But neither Titus,
who was with me, being a Greek, was bold to be
circumcised: 4 And that because of false brethren
unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out
our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they
might bring us into bondage: 5 To whom we gave place
by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the
gospel might continue with you.
 33

6 But of these who seemed to be somewhat,

(whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me:
God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed
to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: 7
But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the
uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel
of the circumcision was unto Peter; 8 (For he that
wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the
circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the
Gentiles:) 9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who
seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was
given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right
hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the
heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
10 Only they would that we should remember the
poor; the same which I also was forward to do. 11 But
when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the
face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that
certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles:
but when they were come, he withdrew and separated
himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him;
insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with
their dissimulation.
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly
according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter
 34

before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the

manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why
compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15
We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the
Gentiles, 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the
works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even
we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of
the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be
justified”.
In conclusion, no single church doctrine is the
prototype for the Church. No single denomination can
possibly effectively reach everyone. It takes all kinds
of denominations to reach all kinds of people.
1 Corinthian 9:19-22 “19 For though I be free
from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all,
that I might gain the more. 20
And unto the Jews I became as It takes all
a Jew, that I might gain the kinds of
Jews; to them that are under the denominations to
law, as under the law, that I reach all kinds
might gain them that are under of people.
the law; 21 To them that are
without law, as without law,
(being not without law to God, but under the law to
Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22
 35

To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the

weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by
all means save some.”
 37

CHAPTER 3

THE ADVENTURE
OF SALVATION

In Paul's writing to the Philippians, he admonished

them in the Book of Philippians, Chapter 2 verse
12; “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always
12;“Wherefore,
obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more
in my absence, WORK OUT YOUR OWN SALVATION
WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING”.
The first phrase of this scripture brings our mind
to the fact that some received Christ in the presence of
many witnesses, but returned to their old ways of life
when the witnesses are no longer with them to oversee
 38

them. But Paul emphasized here that whether in the

presence of people or not, your Salvation should be
total and absolute, with the consciousness of relating
with God and not just as men pleaser. Another
interesting point in this verse is; “WORK OUT YOUR
OWN SALVATION”.
Thank God for grace, thank God for faith, but
most absolute is the fact that faith without work too is
vain (James 2:17-20). As we all know that life is a race,
and the race of life is a personal adventure, so also is
our journey to eternal safety, which begins with our
soul's Salvation. Salvation in its short form means
eternal safety. JOHN 3:1-3. You need to know that
Salvation does not exempt you from this world, but it
guarantees you a hope of eternity with God and a
glorious experience on earth here. COLOSSIANS
glory.” It makes you
1:27; “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
earthly relevant (living life with meaning) and heaven
consciousness.
You must also know that Salvation is a journey of
a thousand mile that begins with a step, but does not
end with just that step; it requires taking continuous
steps forward until the “perfect day”. Proverbs 4:18
“But the PATH of the JUST is as the shining light that
days.”A wise
shineth more and more unto the perfect days.”A
man once said: Success is not made in a day but daily.
 39

There are stages involved in Salvation; this is

why we tagged it an adventure Not an adventure into
uncertainty but adventure
into certainty. It's not taking a You must know that
risk but having assurance of a once saved is not
hope and a future with God. forever saved, if you
You must know that once refuse to follow and
saved is not forever saved, if seek the Lord to
you refuse to follow and seek the end.
the Lord to the end. 1
Corinthians 10:12 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he
standeth take heed lest he fall.” And mind you, it is the
end that justifies the means. Many think they are saved
only by confessing Jesus Christ as their Lord and
Savior; that is just a step out of the many steps that
guarantee your total Salvation. “For with the heart
man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth
confession is made UNTO SALVATION”. Romans
10:10.
Emphasized - UNTO SALVATION - which
means your confession leads you to becoming saved.
1Corinthians 9:24-27. “Know ye not that they which
9:24-27.“Know
run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So
run, that ye may obtain. 25 And every man that
striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now
they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an
 40

incorruptible. 26 I therefore so run, not as

uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have
preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”
There are series of stages involved in this
adventure that you must know, if you truly desire to
reach the mark of the high calling of God. The error we
make today is narrowing Salvation only to confession,
and when we see people confess Christ in our
presence, we assume they have been truly saved, while
nothing has actually taken place in their spirit and soul.
A genuine Salvation that must endure and thrive is
built on the following stages:

STEP1: REPENTANCE STAGE

This is the point where it begins from, or permits me to

say, where it should all begin from. A point where you
hear the Gospel of Christ, the Word of truth, Word of
eternal life, and your heart is “melted” (pricked) to the
obedience of Christ.
Consider the following scriptures: Romans 10:17
“Faith cometh by hearing and hearing the word of
God” This means our faith in Christ should stem up
from hearing the Gospel of Christ. Acts 2:37 “Now
 41

when they heard this they were pricked in their heart,

and said unto Peter and to the rest of the Apostles, men
and brethren what shall we do?”
The word they heard made their hearts to prick.
The word of eternal life they received revived their
Conscience and Soul that was hitherto dead. This goes
in consonance with Romans 10:10 which say “For
with the heart man believeth UNTO
RIGHTEOUSNESS…”. Acts 6:7 “And the WORD OF
GOD INCREASED and the number of the disciples
multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and great company of
the priests were OBEDIENT TO THE FAITH”
In a nutshell, Salvation must begin with a heart of
repentance. Salvation should not be sought for mainly
because of welfare or healing; John the Baptist said in
Matthew 3:2 “…Repent for the kingdom of Heaven is
at hand”. The irony of this, today, is that many confess
Jesus Christ without the heart of repentance, and that is
why they seem to lose ground when faced with the
temptation of sin, because their Confession is not
rooted in genuine heart of Repentance.
So please begin to examine and X-Ray yourself
as you read on. Many, because they know a Pastor may
not pray for them until they confess their sins before
him, would quickly recite the Sinners' confessional
prayer of Repentance, but within days, it would be
 42

evident that such Confession did not stem up from a

genuine heart of Repentance.
Consider the story in the Gospel of John, Chapter
6. In verse 2, multitudes gather around him for
miracles. Although scripture has it that until some sees
signs they may not believe. (John 4:48), you must
understand that signs and miracles are to prepare your
heart for genuine Repentance. Jesus also revealed in
Verse 26 that many followed him not because of
miracle, but because He actually fed them and they
were expecting Him to feed them again (welfare). This
explains the motive behind some people's confession
of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. As
confirmation, in Verses 66-69, they all left him
including some of His disciples. Those who remained
were people who were genuinely touched by the Word
of eternal life; those who already had encounters with
Him.
Now to you reader, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, by whose blood we were drawn near
(Ephesians 2:13), reconsider your access to this new
life. Jesus emphasized in the book of John 3:5, that we
must be born of the Spirit, which means it's a spiritual
operation. Your spirit heart must be fully involved, the
moment you confessed Him as your Lord and Savior.
Remember His suffering on the Cross, just for you.
 43

According to Isaiah 53:3-8 “He is despised and

rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted
with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he
was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our
sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of
God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our
transgressions; he was bruised for our iniquities: the
chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his
stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone
astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and
the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He
was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not
his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he
openeth not his mouth. 8 He was taken from prison
and from judgment: and who shall declare his
generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the
living: for the transgression of my people was he
stricken.”
Imagine the love God has for you, that He was
willing to and did give a human Ransom just to have
you. John 3:16.“For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Recall many who had died without having this
 44

privilege to be saved. Isaiah 38:18-19: “For the grave

cannot praise thee, death cannot celebrate thee: they
that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. 19
The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this
day: the father to the children shall make known thy
truth.”
Remember there is no other name given to any
man through which we can be saved, other than the
name of Jesus. Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in
any other: for there is none other name under heaven
given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Remember Jesus Christ equally so loved you by
surrendering His life just for you, even while you were
yet a sinner. Romans 5:8: “But God commendeth his
love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.”
Remember he is still willing and ready to save
you irrespective of the life you have lived in the past.
Romans 3:22-25 “ Even the righteousness of God
which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all
them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all
have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24
Being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath
set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,
to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins
 45

that are past, through the forbearance of God.”

Make this genuine choice today my friend,
because tomorrow may surely be too late. “Be sober,
be vigilant, for your enemy, the devil, walketh to and
fro looking for whom to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). I pray
that you will surely escape in Jesus Name. The only
way to escape is to genuinely repent of all your sins
now!

STEPS 2: CONFESSION STAGE

This is the stage that follows Repentance, where you

boldly declare the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and
openly renounce every act of sin and secret faults.
Consider the following scriptures again: Romans
For with the heart man believeth unto
10:10 ““For
righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made
unto salvation
salvation”.
”.
Matthew 3:6 “And were baptized of him in
Jordan confessing their sins
sins”.
”.
This happened after genuine repentance from the
heart. In the story of the Prodigal son, he repented of
his act and followed it up with a genuine confession to
his father.
As I said earlier, confession on its own, does not
equal Salvation without a genuine heart of repentance.
 46

Confession is like a pledge that you have chosen to

follow Jesus all the days of your life which must be
backed up with profession. It is like a citizen of a
Country that pledged to serve his Country with all his
might, strength; to be truthful, loyal and honest. But
you will agree with me that many of our Politicians do
that today and yet they still steal from the
commonwealth, which they pledge to protect. That is
why confession is not total without a profession. It is
not just about what we say, but also what we do.
Jesus gave a parable in the Book of Matthew
21:29-31; about a father that sent his two children to
work in his farm. One actually confessed before his
father that he would go
but went not, while the Other people don't
other, though initially need to close their eyes
declined, but later for you to be saved.
repented and went. Your If you are sure of
confession will only be striving for salvation,
genuine when backed up you will be bold and
with a heart of confident to step
Repentance. Make your out for Jesus.
confession open and be
bold to accept his Lordship publicly. I tell members in
the Church: other people don't need to close their eyes
for you to be saved. If you are sure of striving for
 47

Salvation, you will be bold and confident to step out

for Jesus.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for
it is the Power of God unto Salvation…” Romans 1:16.
My father in the faith, Dr David Oyedepo (the Founder
of Living Faith Church Worldwide, aka Winners'
Chapel International) says, “It is foolishness to be
shameful of what is gainful”. If the host of heaven
rejoices over a single soul that is saved, why would you
feel ashamed giving your life to Christ on earth in the
open? Remember what Christ said “If you will be
ashamed of me on earth, I will be ashamed of you
before my father in heaven” (Luke 9:26).
This is not a new doctrine, but the truth of God's
Word; one of the reasons why you fell back to that
indulgence was because your renunciation and
declaration to serve the Living God, was done in the
secret. The fear of cultism is still parading your heart
because you only renounced in the secret. When I talk
open’, I don't really mean that thousands
about ‘in the open’,
or hundreds of people must be there, but I mean it must
be confessed to God in the presence of others, not just
alone, in your closet, only. This has spiritual
significance and I have the following Scriptures to
back up this claim:
James 5:16, 19-20 “Confess your faults one to
 48

another and pray one for another…” 19. Brethren, if

any of you do err from the truth, and the other converts
him. 20 Let him know that he which converted the
sinners from the error of his ways shall save a soul from
death and shall hide a multitude of sins” Hebrews 12:1
“Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with
so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every
weight, and sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us
run with patience the race that is set before us” Read
the confession of faith below if you desire to confess
Him as your Savior and Lord.

CONFESSION OF FAITH

I believe in God, the Creator of the heavens and the

earth. I believe with my heart that He sent His only
begotten Son, Jesus, for the remission of my sins. I
accept Jesus today as my Lord and Savior. I believe in
my heart that He shed His blood for the remission of
my sins, and I confess with my mouth today that He is
my Savior. Jesus, come into my life, cleanse me with
your precious blood. Give me a new beginning. I desire
to follow and serve you to the end. Thank You for
saving me. Now I know am born again, I am a child of
God. Amen!
 49

STEP 3: CONVERSION STAGE

This is a stage that has been forgotten among the 21st

Century's Believers. We believe that Salvation is only
from the heart. Yes, this is true. But let us not forget that
if you make the inside of a cup clean and leave the
outside dirty, the cup will still be dirty. When the inside
of a man is clean, it should naturally reflect on the
outside.
Conversion stage is a stage of consciously
neglecting the old and negative behaviors, habits and
attitudes, in order to give room for the “NEW YOU” to
emerge. This connotes both
physical (outward) and
When the inside
inward changes. Consider the
of a man is clean,
following Scriptures:
it should
Matthew 3:8 ““BringBring forth
naturally reflect
therefore fruits meet for
on the outside.
repentance”. Which means:
Show from the outside what
the inside looks like. Matthew 18:3 “And said, verily I
say unto you, except ye be converted and become as
little children, ye shall not enter the kingdom of
heaven”.
Remember, Jesus was talking to his disciples
here. Jesus did not assume they were all converted.
 50

Thank God, the later acts of Judas Iscariot proved

Jesus to be right. He didn't say that since they have
been following Him everywhere, belonging to His
Church as members, or even serving in the Church
with Him as Altar stewards, that they should be
adjudged to be saved, and forget the aspect of
Vonversion, No! He still emphasized to them the need
for Conversion, if their Salvation must be complete. 2
“Therefore if any man be in christ, he
Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore
is a new creature, old things are passed away behold
all things are become new”
The old is not assumed to be gone, it is expected to
be gone, through conscious neglecting of old habits,
and converting to the new. You are expected to be
converted from the old nature to the new nature by the
help of the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:19-25 “Now “Now the
works of the flesh are manifest, which are these;
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20
Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the
which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time
past, that they which do such things shall not inherit
the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23
 51

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh
with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit,
let us also walk in the Spirit.” 1 Peter 1:14-16 “As
obedient children, not fashioning yourselves
according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as
he is holy, so be Holy in all manner of conversation,
because it is written, be ye Holy, for I am holy”

Therefore:
Ÿ Be converted in your physical dispositions
Ÿ Be converted in your moral dispositions
Ÿ Be converted in your behavior
Ÿ Leave old habits, and trust in the Holy Spirit for the
new nature of Christ to be recreated in you.
Romans 8:13 “But if ye live after the flesh, ye shall
die, but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds
of the body ye shall live”

STEP 4: THE DAILY WALK AND DAILY

PURIFICATION

This is not intended to make you live in sin

consciousness, but rather to enable you walk with God
in order to share in the nature of God - perfection
perfection.. God
told Abraham in Genesis 17:1 “…walk before me and
 52

be thou perfect”. Perfection is only guaranteed when

we maintain a daily walk with God. Hosea 6:2 says
“Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the
Lord…” We will only look like Him when we daily
look at Him.
2 Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with open face
beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are
changed into the same image
from glory to glory, even as by We will
the Spirit of the Lord.” How look like Him
much of Him you know, only when we
determines how much of His daily look at
character you exhibit. Just like Him.
you don't bath once and assumed
to be cleansed for the whole year, but bath daily in
order to be clean, same is with our adventure of
Salvation. Paul said ““II die daily
daily”” (1 Corinthians
15:31), meaning he purified himself DAILY.
You must know that sin is a mystery. In the same
vein, godliness too is a mystery. 2 Thessalonians 2:7
“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work, only he
who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the
way”.
1 Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy, great
is the mystery of godliness…” It takes mystery to
counter mystery. For every action, there must be equal
 53

and opposite reaction. Sin comes to us in daily

disguise of pleasure; we must resist it with daily
spiritual immunity.

What are these spiritual immunities?

1. Daily Word shower:

Jesus said in the Book of Matthew 4:4 (when the

temper came to him) “Man shall not live by bread
alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God” Isaiah 59:19 says “so shall they fear
the name of the Lord from the west and all his glory
from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come
in like a flood, the spirit of the Lord shall lift up a
standard against him”.
Remember, the Word of God carries the Spirit of
God. John 6:63. “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the
flesh profiteth nothing: the
words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit, and they are Sin comes to us in
life”. It is the Word of God daily disguise of
converted to the Spirit of pleasure; we must
God inside of us, that fights resist it with daily
against the whirlwind of the spiritual immunity.
devil's deceptions. And if the
 54

devil attacks daily, then we must fortify ourselves

daily, to escape. The Word of the Lord in the Book of
Psalm 119:9 & 11 say: “Wherewithal shall a young
man cleanse his ways? By taking heed thereto
according to thy word… thy word have I hid in my
heart that I might not sin against thee”.
Your daily Word study is essential for your daily
cleansing and purification. Romans 12:2 admonishes
us to renew our mind continuously. This can only be
achieved by daily Word study. Now that you have
made the choice to be saved, get yourself a complete
Bible and begin to study it. You can study book by
book; e.g. Psalms, Proverbs, Romans, Revelation etc.
You can study based on Characters e.g. study about the
life of Jesus Christ, about Paul and other apostles,
about the prophets, about the patriarchs, etc. and you
can equally study chronologically i.e. from Genesis to
Revelation, taking them one after the other. I have done
that more than twice in my little time with God.
But now that you are just getting to know the
Lord, I would like you to first intimate yourself with
the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and his ways of
life contained in the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark,
Luke and John. The Lord will strengthen you more and
more in Jesus name. Please, start with John's Gospel. 2
Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou known the
 55

Holy Scriptures, which are able to MAKE THEE WISE

UNTO SALVATION through faith which is in Christ
Jesus”
Acts 20:32 “And now brethren, I commend you to
God and to the word of his grace, which is able to
build you up and to give you an inheritance among all
them which are sanctified”.

2. Lifestyle of Prayer

Jude 1:20 “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on

your most Holy faith praying in the Holy Spirit”. I will
discuss on the subject of Prayer here before
elaborating on the need for the HOLY GHOST
BAPTISM. Prayer is meant for sanctification and
purification, apart from serving as a medium of asking
and receiving from God. Prayer sets your body on fire
and makes it dangerous for the enemy to hibernate.
Just like flies will not perch on hot food, so also will the
devil not come near a Believer that is always on fire on
the Altar of prayer.
Matthew 17:21 says: “this kind goeth not out but
by prayer and fasting”. Know also that there are some
habits that won't leave you until you fight against them
with daily prayers. When I say daily, I don't mean once
in a day, I mean praying consistently as often as you
 56

have opportunity to pray in a day. Some nature of sin

won't leave its grip on you easily except by consistent
prayer, even sometimes
coupled with fasting. Prayer
sharpens our spiritman and When you cease
makes us spiritually alert and to pray, you start
alive. Jesus admonished his to nurse sin in
disciples in the book of Luke your heart.
22:40 to pray in order not to
enter into temptation.
And one of the phrases of the Lord's Prayer in
Matthew 6:13 is; “lead us not into temptation”
meaning continuous prayer life can shield us from
temptation. 1 Thessalonians 5:7 says “pray without
ceasing”. This is one of the heavenly mysteries to
combat the mystery of iniquity; else you will just be
rising today and falling tomorrow. When you cease to
pray, you start to nurse sin in your heart.

3. Constant fellowship with the Brethren

The disciples understood this mystery very well, and

that is why they always returned to their company. Acts
4:23, 4:42. Scriptures also encourage us not to neglect
the assembly of the fellowship of the saints or brethren.
Hebrews 10:25,3:13. I charge you therefore by the
 57

mercy of God to identify with a Church where the truth

of the Gospel is shared. Not where doctrine is
emphasized above the truth, but christian gathering
where you will be nurtured with the balanced gospel
diet.
Know that, right things will only happen in right
company. Proverbs 13:20. Saul finds himself among
the prophets and he prophesied. Beware of
soothsayers who say: “thus saith the Lord”, when the
Lord is not the one speaking through them. Let your
choice of a Church be mainly determined by the Word
of life they share. Don't be carried away with miracles,
welfare and prophecies. May the good Lord guide your
choice with the help of His Holy Spirit. Amen!

OTHER ESSENTIAL THINGS TO KNOW IN THIS

ADVENTURE

I have two important things to share with you here on

this subject matter. Matthew 3:11. John the Baptist
said “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance,
but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose
shoes I am not worthy to bear: he will baptize you with
fire”According to this
the Holy Ghost and with fire”According
Scripture, we identify two types of Baptism. And these
are what I want to discuss briefly here. Now that you
 58

are saved, you must subject yourself to these two

Baptisms.

1. Water Baptism

Many believed that the era of the Holy Spirit has swept
Water Baptism under the carpet. But the explanation
Jesus gave to it, despite that he was born of God by the
Holy Spirit, shows that Water Baptism is essential for
our righteousness to be total. Matthew 3:13-15 “Then
cometh Jesus from galilee to Jordan unto John to be
baptized of him. But John forbade him saying, I have
need to be baptized of thee and comest thou to me. And
Jesus answering said unto him, suffers it to be so now
for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness.
Then he suffered him”.
Emphasis on the word 'US' in that passage:
meaning that he was not just referring to Himself
alone, but all that must be heirs of Salvation, including
you. Jesus was baptized and he encouraged us to be
baptized. His disciples that followed Him also
believed in Baptism, by baptizing others. This shows
that Jesus must have shown them such example also.
Acts 2:38 & 41; 8:38. So if Jesus was baptized, you
also must be baptized by water now that you have
confessed Him as your Lord and Saviour.
 59

Another crucial aspect we need to consider is

that, it was a total immersion
immersion,, which signifies the
death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It's not sprinkling, not using water to make the sign of
the Cross on your forehead. When you are immersed in
water it signifies the death of the old YOU, when you
are raised out of the water, it signifies the resurrection
of the new YOU. So it has a spiritual significance, not
just a religious rite.
Another error is claiming to be baptized while
infant. An infant cannot make a choice
you were yet an infant.
of his own (Galatians 4:1-3). Jesus could have done
that as an infant, owing to the fact that he was even
seen with Teachers and Doctors of the law in the
Synagogue at age 12. But He waited till the time that
He was adjudged to be able to make the right choices.
So, Water Baptism would be profitable when a man is
conscious of, and understands the choice he is making.

2. Holy Ghost Baptism

According to the earlier Scripture, Matthew 3:11;
Jesus Christ came to baptize us with Holy Ghost and
with Fire. He went for the baptism of the Holy Ghost
and Power, after He was baptized in water in Luke 4:1-
14. And He returned with the Power of the Highest.
 60

This same injunction He gave to His disciples, to tarry

at Jerusalem until they are endued with the power from
on High.
Luke 24:49, Acts 1:8. And in Acts 2:1-4, they
tarried in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost, and
were all filled with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of
speaking in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterances.
It was not a state of unconsciousness NO! It was a
state of consciousness empowered and enabled by the
Unction of the Holy Spirit, to speak with new
utterances according to the power of God that dwells
within them. Romans 8:26, 1John 2:20, 27.

WHY THE NEED FOR THE HOLY GHOST?

- The Holy Spirit empowers our adoption as sons of

God. Romans 8:1,15-16; John 3:1-8;
- The Holy Spirit helps us in the place of Prayer.
Romans 8:26-27, 1 Corinthians 14:2 & 15
- The Holy Spirit helps us to mortify the deeds of the
flesh. Romans 8:13; Isaiah 59:19.
- The Holy Spirit seals us for the day of His coming
(Eph. 4:30)
 61

THE PLACE OF GRACE

In 1Corinthians 15:10, Paul wrote “But by the grace of

God I am what I am: AND HIS GRACE WAS
BESTOWED UPON ME WAS NOT IN VAIN; but I
labored more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but
the grace of God which was with me” The grace of
God may be sufficient for us according to 2
Corinthians 12:9 “…My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is made perfect in weakness”. But
know that the grace can also be cut short and be
frustrated. (Romans 3:23; Galatians 2:21).
Every time you go back to any act of sin
deliberately after you have given your life to Christ,
you are simply cutting short the grace of God upon
your life. It is the grace of
God that we require to sail Though, grace may
through, in our adventure of not be retrieved by
Salvation. Ephesians 2:8 the Giver, it can be
says: “For by grace are ye corrupted and
saved through faith and not of frustrated by the
yourselves: It is the gift of User.
God” The grace of God is the
gift from God given to all men, and it is the fuel we
need to survive the race of life. Though, grace may not
be retrieved by the Giver, it can be corrupted and
 62

frustrated by the User.

Galatians 2:21 “…I do not frustrate the grace of
God” You may ask, how does one frustrate the grace
of God? We can find answer to that in Romans 6:1
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that
grace may abound? God forbid!” Therefore, never
settle down, keep increasing in faith, keep adding
virtues to your faith until the day called 'perfect day'.
Don't acquire unnecessary weight (spiritual and
otherwise) that will easily weary you down to sin,
along your Salvation journey.
No matter what you strive to acquire here on
earth, please don't lose focus of your eternal home.
Salvation is not Salvation
except and until it leads you Salvation is not
to eternity with God. So, be Salvation except
conscious of your daily walk and until it leads
with God this is what makes you to eternity
it an adventure; not to with God
uncertainty, but to certainty.
Remain blessed!
 63

CHAPTER 4
THE BLESSING IN THE
CURSE OF THE LORD

Bear these two adjoining Scriptures in mind as we

review this subject matter:

1. Whosoever He loves, He chastises. Hebrew 12:6-

11“6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and
 64

scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure

chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for
what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if
ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers,
then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we
have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and
we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be
in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their
own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be
partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for
the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:
nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit
of righteousness unto them which are exercised
thereby.”

2. His Commandments are not grievous, but to

deliver us from griefs. 1 John 5:3 “3 For this is the love
of God, that we keep his commandments: and his
commandments are not grievous.”
Lots have been said and written about the
judgement of God but very few have really considered
the nature of His Love towards us. Romans 5:8 “But
God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Many believe that the desire of God is primarily
 65

to destroy the earth, forgetting that His utmost desire is

to see all men saved. Many cannot even lay it to heart
that hell was not created for Man. Matthew 18:14.
“Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in
heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.”
This informs the choice of this topic. The blessing in
the curse of the Lord. The curse of the Lord, is a
blessing in disguise for the man. You may ask me,
Pastor, what do you mean? Let's consider few
examples in Scriptures.
Let's consider the curse of God upon Cain when
he slew his brother Abel. Cain was believed to have
been cursed by God when he killed his brother Abel.
But let's review the Curse a little before we address the
one upon Adam and Eve. He was meant to be a
fugitive; running around and spreading his tentacles
beyond his parents' home, which was the cause of his
action in the first instance A grown up adult, that
supposed to be on his own, independent, was still
living with his parents,
fighting for 'bottom pot' with The curse of
his brother. For God to compel the Lord,
him to spread out; which was is a blessing
His instruction for the earth to in disguise for
be replenished, he confined the man.
Cain to be a fugitive. Also
 66

consider his desire to scatter the people while they

were building the tower of Babel in Genesis 6:1-6.
For God to prove to Cain the blessing in the
Curse, He said in verse 15, “And the LORD said unto
him, therefore whosoever
slayeth Cain, vengeance shall God did not curse
be taken on him sevenfold. the man, but only
And the LORD set a mark cursed the ground
upon Cain, lest any finding for man's sake
him should kill him”. Which
means, I have made you a fugitive not because I want
you to be destroyed, but to spread. Similar instruction
was given to Abraham, only that it was not pronounced
in form of a Curse. At 75, Abraham was still living in
his father's tent until the Lord sent him out of that tent
so as to fulfill the fundamental instruction of
replenishing the earth (Genesis 12:1, 4).
Now on the subject of the Curse of the Lord; it
should first be observed that God did not curse the
Man, but only cursed the ground for Man's sake; the
rest was a kind of DECREE that will confine the man
to divine order. The Man was instructed to till the
ground and the garden, but there was no record he
actually did that or not, before he was tempted by the
devil. So the statement “in sorrow shall” indicates to
the Man, that whether he likes it or not, he is confined
 67

to tilling the ground.

The Man as a creature of God, was supposed to be
hard-working as God, not necessarily in hard labour
labour..
But the original plan made the Man to be too relaxed in
cultivating the land. If the land then brings a little
thorns and thistles, it will make the Man to sit tight on
his job and this will eradicate any form of laziness.
Genesis 3:15 emphasized on putting enmity between
the serpent and the woman and her seed. This is also
presumed to be a Curse, whereas it is actually a
blessing in disguise. The
friendship between the
serpent (devil) and the woman So, it was never
in the plan of
led to the initial disobedience. God that some
So enmity between the two pain will not
will promote friendship with actually accompany
God. offsprings delivery.
Verse 16 talked about
multiplied sorrow - for
something to be multiplied, it shows it already exists.
For example, if you multiply 0 by 100, it will be equal
to zero. So, it was never in the plan of God that some
pain will not actually accompany offsprings delivery.
Other mammals were not cursed as it were, yet they
experience pains during delivery of young ones. This
is why even when we are no longer under the Curse of
 68

the Lord, through the saving Blood of Jesus, pains still

accompany deliveries. This, I believe, is a divine order
to promote birth-control.
The same goes in line with verse 16b “thy desire
husband”. This is equally a blessing in
shall be to thy husband”.
disguise. It was because her desire was not on her
husband that made her fall for the devil's trick. The
Curse of the Lord was to set rules for God's creation
according to divine order, not to work contrary, to the
Man.
Curse in its real sense is meant to work contrary to
a person but the MERCY of God upon the man made
the Curse to be a set rule for the Man, other than
working against him. In verse 17 the Curse was not on
the Man as we earlier said, but on the ground for the
Man's sake. This was to make the man think straight.
Free food will make the man idle and that will make
him the devil’s workshop. The man is to eat out of his
labour, not free meal - this is the emphasis of verse 17-
19.
The Lord, by this, put in the Man the ability to till
his land, and procreate like Himself. Proverb 28:19;
He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but
he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty
enough. God rested from his labour of creation on the
enough.
seventh day, which shows He exerted energy; this is
 69

what the term 'sorrow' represents in the text under

review.
Let me close with this
point, that there is a sharp There is a sharp
difference between the Curse difference between
of the Lord and the Curse of the curse of the
the law? The Curse of the Law Lord and the
began with the advent of the curse of the law?
Law of Moses. The Curse of
the Lord aims to set order on
the earth, not disorderliness in the life of the Man that
God created. SELAH!
 71

CHAPTER 5

THE FOCUS OF THE CHURCH

There may be diversities in our preaching, but they are

aimed to hit a particular point. That Centre of focus for
the gospel message is what this chapter is all about.
John Chapter 6 is a Scripture that guides us on the
focus of the Church of God.
In verse 2, Bible recorded that a great multitude
followed Jesus, because they saw His miracles which
he did on them that were diseased. Yes! That was one
 72

of the main reasons why He came. Acts 10:38 says:

“How God anointed Jesus Christ of Nazareth with
Holy Ghost and with power, who went about doing
good, healing all that were oppressed of the devil for
God was with him”.
So, deliverance from oppression was one of the
reasons why He came. But alas! In Matthew 11:20-
25, Jesus lamented over the cities of Chorazin and that
of Capernaum, because despite the miracles done
among them, they refuse to repent from their old ways.
Jesus also fed the multitudes as described from verses
5 - 14, and in verse 25 - 27 ((emphasis
emphasis on 2626)) “Jesus
answered them and said, verily verily I say unto you, ye
seek me not because ye saw the miracles but because
ye did eat of the loaves and were filled”.
The first category of the people were seeking for
miracles, while the second category were seeking for
welfare and good living. Jesus therefore emphasized
in verse 27 “Labour not for the meat which perisheth
but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life,
which the son of man shall give unto you, for him hath
God the father sealed.” In Matthew 6:25-34 Jesus said
“Therefore, I say unto you, take no thought for your
life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet
for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not LIFE more
than meat and the body than railment?” Believers in
 73

Christ, are you part of those seeking for what the

gentiles are seeking for?
All that the gentiles want are miracles of what to
eat, what to drink, what to put on and where to live.
Could that be the major thing Christ shed His blood
for? Consider the fact that before He shed his blood,
people have been living in good houses, eating and
drinking, enjoying the life of affluence to the peak.
Could that actually be the abundant life He brought?
No wonder, Believers today run the rat race all through
their life, struggling to acquire all these that the
gentiles too have without the knowledge of Christ. The
'scriptural Gentiles' are not seeking for the Kingdom
for the sake of eternal life or to reign with Christ in His
Kingdom, but for the purpose of the proceeds of the
Kingdom. And such we have among the Believers
today. What then are we to seek for, which should be
the main focus of the Church?
Back to John 6:47-60: Jesus having introduced
to His congregants what their focus should be, which
is eternal life, with the demonstration of His blood and
flesh as the representation of the eternal life passed to
mankind through Him, they all deserted Him,
including some of his Disciples. John 6:66, the only
set of people that remained with Him were those
genuinely seeking for eternal life, those who made
 74

eternal life their focus. When persecution and trial of

faith shall come, those who seek for food, drink and
raiment and shelter will be blown away as chaff.
What then should be the focus of the Church?
Matthew 6:33 says: “But seek ye first the kingdom of
God and his righteousness and all these things shall be
added unto you.” And in the word of our father in faith,
Bishop David Oyedepo ''All All these things that the
gentiles are dying for, shall be added unto you
you'' So we
are not in Church to seek for things, we are in Church to
seek after righteousness. Righteousness connotes right
standing with God. We keep beholding Him through
His Word until we finally begin to look like Him ((2 2
3:18).. The purpose of Christianity is not to
Cor. 3:18)
possess the present material world, but to first secure
eternity with Christ, and live in the new Earth, that
shall be revealed. We won't struggle to possess the new
earth, but we will inherit it (Revelation 21:1-7, 22:1-
6).
The Disciples of Jesus returned and were
celebrating that even the devils bowed down to them in
His name. But Jesus told them in verse 20 of Luke
Chapter 10: “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that
the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice
because your names are written in heaven.”
If the World is running to get the material world
 75

and we are serving God for the same purpose, then we

are not better than them. What should make us better
off is what we have access to in Christ that they don't
have access to without Christ, which is Eternal life life;;
reigning with the King of
kings in His Palace of glory,
If the World is
made of gold. The greatest
running to get the
error in our generation is that
material world and
we are seeking for the wrong
we are serving God
thing. We are busy chasing
for the same purpose,
after what profits not ((Isaiah
Isaiah
then we are not
55:1-2). In life people run
better than them.
after two things. And
interestingly, they sound
almost alike - God or gold. More people seem to be
seeking for gold than the true living God.
Even, a number of the few claiming to be seeking
after God, do that for gold. This is why Scripture says,
no man can serve two masters, you either serve God
or mammon (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). Man was
created to seek for nothing other than God ((Isaiah Isaiah
43:1, 7:21). God equally told Moses to go and tell
pharaoh to let His people go, primarily, to serve Him.
All that man needs is in God. That is why life with God
is ALL SUFFICIENT while life without CHRIST is
ALL DEFICIENT, irrespective of a person's level of
 76

acquisitions. Money does not satisfy, only God

satisfies.
Jesus therefore admonished his Disciples while
departing, giving them the focus of emphasis which
should be the focus of
the Church, in Luke That is why life with
24:45-48 “That God is
repentance and ALL SUFFICIENT
remission of sins should while life without
be preached in his name CHRIST is ALL
among all nations.” DEFICIENT,
This, to me, should be irrespective of a person's
the focus of all level of acquisitions.
Churches irrespective Money does not satisfy,
of their different only God satisfies.
operations or gifts.
 77

CHAPTER 6

THE TRUE STORY

John 8:32 says “And ye shall know the truth and the
truth shall set you free” The turning point of a man's
life begins from the day he is able to differentiate the
truth from falsehood. We live in a World where
falsehood is celebrated above the truth. The devil
knows this, and he is using this trick to deceive many;
to steal from many.
 78

John 10:10 says: “the thief cometh not, but to steal,

and to kill, and to destroy, I am come that they might
have life, and that they might have It more
abundantly”. 1 Peter 5:8 says: “Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” May I
tell you that the devil, knowing fully well that the
World prefers falsehood to the truth, sold falsehood to
us as the Truth. John 8:32 says “And ye shall know the
truth and the truth shall make you free.”
John 17:17-20 says: “Sanctify them through thy
truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the
world, even so have I also sent them into the world. 19
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also
might be sanctified through the truth. 20 Neither pray I
for these alone, but for them also which shall believe
on me through their word”. Believe me, every product
that has a counterfeit must definitely have the original.
Those who sell fake products to you capitalize on your
ignorance. Same with the devil, he loves the ignorant.
The devil cannot create a thing, but he can adulterate.
Isaiah 9:2 says “The people that walked in
darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the
land of the shadow of death upon them hath the light
shined”. To walk in darkness connotes living in
ignorance. Don't confuse the brightness of the day with
 79

the light we are talking about. Many are living in the

shadows of death without knowing (INDULGENCE).
For instance, the chicken you rear at home are
living in the shadow of death unaware, but you still
feed them, but they are good for nothing other than to
eat them when necessary, or to exchange them for
money. Therefore, those who can't differentiate
between falsehood and the truth, are still in darkness
thereby living in the shadow of death, unaware!

WHAT THEN IS THIS TRUTH?

The truth is all about the Love of God for Mankind.

We have heard so much about the judgement of God or

the day of vengeance. In the process of getting many
saved, we emphasized on the judgement day more
than what Christ came for. The manner some of us
stress this day of judgement has made many to
conclude, if it is this hard to be saved, then there is no
point making effort. This is why many people chose to
continue in their sinful acts other than making the
choice to be saved.
Many PREACHERS today are like PROPHET
JONAH, they desire God's judgement upon mankind
rather than mercy. Jonah 4:1-2 “But it displeased
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Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry and he

prayed unto the Lord and
said, I pray thee o Lord, was
not this my saying, when I Many PREACHERS
was yet in my country? today are like
Therefore, I fled before unto PROPHET JONAH,
tarshish, for I know that thou they desire God's
art a gracious God, and judgement upon
merciful, slow to anger, and mankind rather
of great kindness, and than mercy.
repentest thee of the evil.”

THE TRUTH IS ALL ABOUT HIS LOVE

John 3:16 says “For God so love the world that he gave
his only begotten son that whosever believeth in him
shall not perish, but have everlasting life”. Consider
this scripture! He gave His only begotten Son to have
more sons and daughters. Jesus is no longer the only
begotten of the Father, but he is now the First born
among many brethren. Glory to God!

Consider also the Scriptures below:

Romans 5:8 “but God commendeth his love towards
us, in that, while we were yet sinners Christ died for
us”.
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John 15:12-13 “this is my commandment, that ye

love one another, as I have loved thee, greater love
hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for
his friends”.

Know therefore:

Ø It is not first about the judgement of God

Ø It is first about the love of God
Ø It is first about the love He brings
Ø It is when the love is refused that judgement come
to play.

Revelation 21:7-8 “7 He that overcometh shall inherit

all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my
son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the
abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and
sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:
which is the second death.”
The gospel truth is about His mercy and
compassion that fails not. Lamentations 3:22-23 says
“It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed
because His compassion fails not. They are new every
morning; great is thy faithfulness”. The truth about the
gospel message, is what we bring to you. Note that the
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fear of Hell will not take any man to heaven. Only the
Love for God and righteousness guarantees Eternal
life.
Jesus was going about telling people about the
good news of the Kingdom.
And what is this good news! Note that the fear
THE LOVE THAT THE of Hell will not
FATHER BRINGS. That is take ny man to
the gospel of the Kingdom - heaven. Only the
John 3:16. In Matthew Love for God and
22:36-40; A lawyer asked
righteousness
Jesus Which is the greatest of
guarantees
all the commandments and
eternal life.
Jesus' response was love not
judgement”. The love the
Father has for mankind has been from the beginning.
Let's consider few of His love dimensions above
judgement from the Holy Scriptures.

1. In Genesis 3:21, despite the sin of Adam and Eve,

God still made cloth for them
2. In Genesis 4:15, despite the error of Cain in killing
his brother Abel, God still placed a mark of
exemption from destruction upon him.
3. In Genesis 6:8 His original intention was to
destroy the entire mankind without leaving a
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trace, but His heart of love made Him to preserve

Noah and his family, not because Noah was
entirely perfect, but the Scripture says Noah found
favour in the sight of God. I pray for you today,
may you find favour in the sight of God, all the
days of your life, in the name of Jesus Christ.

4. In Exodus 32:7, 11-14; His people, the nation of

Israel worshipped another God, yet he had mercy
on them. “And the Lord said unto Moses, 'Go get
thee down; for thy people… have corrupted
themselves.” “11 And Moses besought the LORD
his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax
hot against thy people, which thou hast brought
forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and
with a mighty hand? 12 Wherefore should the
Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he
bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and
to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn
from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil
against thy people. 13 Remember Abraham,
Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou
swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I
will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and
all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto
your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. 14 And
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the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to

do unto his people”.

No wonder He said in 2 Chronicles 7:14:

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall
humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,
and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear
from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will
heal their land”.

5. Leviticus 4:1-6; God knowing that man is prone to

sin and iniquity by nature, He made atonement for
sins. “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul
shall sin through ignorance against any of the
commandments of the LORD concerning things
which ought not to be done, and shall do against
any of them: 3 If the priest that is anointed do sin
according to the sin of the people; then let him
bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young
bullock without blemish unto the LORD for a sin
offering. 4 And he shall bring the bullock unto the
door of the tabernacle of the congregation before
the LORD; and shall lay his hand upon the
bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the
LORD. 5 And the priest that is anointed shall take
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of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the

tabernacle of the congregation: 6 And the priest
shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the
blood seven times before the LORD, before the
veil of the sanctuary.”

6. In 1 Kings 21:27-29, despite the several atrocities

committed by Ahab, God allowed the foretold evil
to pass over him, because of his genuine heart of
repentance.

7. In Acts 9:1-9; Saul of Tarsus became Paul the

Apostle, on the basis of His mercy despite the evil
he had committed against the people of God.

These, and many more are the proofs of His love

above judgement, in Scriptures. Note therefore:
whatever evil sin brings, divine mercy can avert.
Another truth you must know, is that through the
Blood of Christ, given to us for the remission of our
sins, we have a guaranteed Advocate in heaven (Heb.
12:24). The Blood of Jesus will work as atonement for
sin for those who believe and receive Him. Rom. 10:9-
10 says “that if thou shall confess with their mouth the
lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that god
hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…”
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The truth is that the key to life and death is no

longer with the devil, it is now with Jesus our Lord.
Also know that the devil is never the opposite of God.
The devil is a creature of God. The ruler-ship of the
world is no longer in devil’s care; it is now in the hand
of our Lord Jesus Christ (Rev 12:11). The truth is that
Hell was not made for Man, but for the devil and all his
fallen angels and all demons. Jude 1:6 “and the angels
that kept not their first estate, but left their own
habitation, he hath reserved in
everlasting chains under darkness Also know
unto the judgement of the great that the devil
day”. is never the
The truth is that it is the desire opposite of
of God Almighty, that all men God.
should be saved and come to the
knowledge of the truth. Matthew 18:14 says “even so it
is not the will of your father which is in heaven, that
one of these little ones should perish”. The truth is that,
he has made provision for sin, and the way to escape
damnation. In John 14:2 “Jesus saith unto him, I am
the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me”. The truth is that it is only those who
refuse the love He offers that will partake of the danger
of Hell with the devil and his fallen angels.
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Let me say this in conclusion Jesus Christ is the LOVE

OF GOD personified. Everywhere he went, he was
doing good, showing love, healing and rescuing lives
from destruction. Accepting Jesus as your Lord and
Savior will not add to God, it will only add to you. Heb
13:8 says “He is the same yesterday, and today and
forever
forever”.
”. You are not helping God by giving your life
to Him, you are only helping yourself. You are not
helping your Church or your Pastor by giving your life
to Christ, you are only helping yourself and your
destiny.
Lastly, the truth is that all knees shall bow to His
Lordship and all tongues shall confess Him as Lord,
either here on earth or in life after now. Phillipians 2:9-
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and
11: ““Wherefore
given him a name which is above every name: 10 That
at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in
heaven, and things in earth, and things under the
earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Romans 14:11 says “For it is written, As I live, saith
the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue
shall confess to God”.

I PRAY THAT THIS WORD OF TRUTH WILL

NOT STAND AGAINST YOU ON THE DAY OF
RECKONING. MAY HIS MERCY PREVAIL OVER
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JUDGEMENT IN YOUR LIFE.

Let me therefore conclude with the words of King

Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
““Let
Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the
whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every
work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it
be good, or whether it be evil”
God bless you richly in Jesus Christ Name.
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EPILOGUE

GARBAGE AND BAGGAGE

In my meditation on the 27th May, 2016, The Holy

th

Spirit impressed these two words into my heart. The

write-up later came out in a Christian Magazine Called
“Straightgate” in 2018. I like to conclude this timely
book with this timely but timeless truth I shared in the
Magazine. Garbage and baggage are two words that
sound alike. A close look into these two words shows
that they are simply two words giving expression to the
same thing in two different forms.
Baggage refers to loads of treasure packaged in a
bigger box or bags while garbage on the other hand
refers to a container where loads of trash or wasted
materials are kept for disposal. Have you ever consider
this salient truth that every material you ever see in
garbage was once delivered as baggage. How did it
find itself in garbage? After men must have squeezed
out the treasure inside a baggage, they turn it into the
garbage. That trash you are looking at out there was
once a treasure.
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Everyone born on earth was once delivered as

treasure to this earth by God. Psalm 127:3-7. But most
times, the challenges of life turn the treasure to trash.
Sometime human errors and mistakes turn the treasure
to trash. Most times abuses and indulgence turns the
baggage to garbage.A man who people supposed to
look up to is now being looked down upon.
But the good news is that, with the advancement
in technology, any trash can become a treasure again.
The loads in the garbage can become a baggage again
when they are recycled. Praise God! With Jesus our
advocate and the recycler of Human Destiny, that
naughty child can become a noble child again. That
harlot can become another Rahab the Harlot through
which another “savior” will be born. That Saul of
Tarsus can become Paul the Apostle again. The chain
smoker can be used by God as another great evangelist
of our time. What is important is to turn over that life to
the Porter again to remold your destiny. Whatever we
put in his care, He takes care.
The porter is still in the business of turning
garbage to baggage. Whenever the treasure in a
baggage is juiced out through the works of men, they
trash it into garbage. Every destiny that looks like a
trash you ever see or met was delivered by God from
heaven as a baggage, including the person reading this
book. Like the parable of the prodigal son; stop
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feeding with the swine when your father is waiting to

feed you with his primes. Treasure your life and avoid
any form of abuse. It's never too late to make a change,
never too late to return, never too late for the trash to
become a treasure again, it only require a process.
(Consider Chapter 4 of this Timely book)

Remain ever blessed.

Pst.Oluwole Peace
Author.