But the men that went up with him said, we are not able to go up against the people: for they are stronger than we. Whither shall we go up? Our brethren have discouraged our heart, saying, the people is greater and taller than we: the cities are great and walled up to heaven. Deuteronomy 1:28. Numbers13:31.                                                                                                                     
God promises cannot fail but we can fail to obtain any present or future promise if we act inappropriate conduct or speak improperly against God or his promises contrary to the condition that keeps them in place to breach any of them. All his promises are yea, and in him are Amen, but there is no free or unconditional promise in the word of God: even the gift promise of eternal life is in the hope of it, on the condition in continuance patience doing the will of God, while waiting in the hope (for we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man see, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we do not see, then do we with patience wait for it. Romans 8: 24-25) of that which Christ has purchased by his precious blood and sealed us with his precious Holy Spirit to guarantee our possession of it at the end. Titus 1:2.
It is not over until each and every one of us in Christ Jesus shall endure to the end to cross over the finish line to enter our spiritual Canaan of inheritance, undefiled, reserved in heaven for us. Failure is not an option in the kingdom of God who always gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus, and in our daily walk with Christ who causes us to triumph in him in every place.
But at the brink of entering the land of the inheritance God promised to the Israelis (Canaan), it was unfortunate for them all (excluding Joshua and Caleb) to blindly agreed to play into the lifestyle their elders presented before them in support and agreement to follow the suggestion to go back to Egypt. At this point in the journey, it was unimaginable the Israelis could ever think and unanimously agreed to go back to Egypt in submission to their old cruel bondage and servitude to Pharaoh’s bondage and slavery under which they once wept and groan to God for help and deliverance he sent them. It is also unimaginable that they took the presence of the pillar of cloud which led them by day to find them a place of habitation for them with the pillar of fire by night for their protection for granted. Once they willingly walk away from the two pillars, what is left for them is death. Or, do they think that God will be glad to lead and bring them back to the idolatry and bondage lifestyles of Egypt? But why did they chose to make them captains to lead them back to Egypt to portray Pharaoh as superior over the Omnipotent God of heaven and earth, and to make him a liar that cannot deliver on his word and promises? How soon they’ve forgotten how far they’ve come with God, to have forgotten the Rock that has followed them up to the Kadesh Barnea to go back to Egypt? Who did they think shall divide the red sea for them to access the land of Egypt once again? Note: after the deliverance from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear Son, the presence and the comfort of God overshadow any pain and trouble in the way as we press forward toward the goal, but the cost of abandoning the presence and will of God for any inconvenience is calamitous and unimaginable. The Israelis allowed the ten leaders among the twelve chosen from each tribe to represent them to set the limit to their growth in the Lord: worst above it all, to determine the height of their spiritual elevation in the Lord, and to dictate to what depth they are allowed to experience the exceeding greatness of his power toward them in the wilderness because those leaders are not ready to experience it; and to what extent of tolerance and simplicity they should be obedient to the Lord; and to what distance they can or should walk with God, provided it is priceless, acceptable and good in the sight of the leaders for approval, but they’ve soon forgotten God’s ways are not our ways, and Israel would none of his ways. The Israelis attitudes of spiritual irresponsibility before God to go up and possess the land and venture for the immutable word and promise of God in defiance against the evil report from the ten elders, but chose to believe the elders carnal observational report above the word of God to despise the pleasant land, but falsely referred to it as the land that devours up its inhabitants ( Numbers 13:32) to magnify and exalt the giants in the land above the incomparable living God who has brought them so far from Egypt provoked him for the annulations of the promise (breach of promise) and he sworn against them in his wrath that they shall not enter into his rest – that he will no longer bring them into the land he promised to give them, except Caleb, Joshua and their little ones below or under twenty years of age whom they said should become preys to the giants. Psalms 106:24-27.
God’s promises are inaccessible and unobtainable if we do not coordinate and adjust our ways in tune with them. Note: as the cost (death on the cross) of our redemption was too costly to pay by any of us, except Christ paid with his own life and blood for our salvation; so likewise shall the cost (lost of your soul unto perdition) of any foolish and ignorant choice and willingness to place the under-shepherds and church elders (pastors and leaders) delegated authorities from above over the authority of him (God) who has appointed them, by giving approval to the pastors and elders to do the thinking and to make the choices for you to despise the word of God altogether. What eternal danger and damages shall this foolish choice have on you if you don’t repent at once to take responsibility before God to receive the engrafted word of your salvation with all meekness, and to direct your lifestyles after the narrow way and straight paths of life, and to shape your conducts and other conversations in true holiness, that you deliver your soul from the pastor who is manipulating and playing with your life with the word of God (tossed and fro by every winds of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Ephesians 4: 14) even as the Israelis from twenty years old and upward who allowed their leaders to make the choice of refusal and disobedient to God’s word concerning the land of Canaan and sought to make God’s unquestionable word, will and purpose a debatable issue (despising the word) were altogether destroyed and denied entrance to the Promised Land. Note: as those evil leaders thought in themselves that it was not wise to contend with the Canaanites in battle to lose their brethren in contention for the land of Canaan, but preferred to go back to live in Egypt to continue life in the flesh, slavery and idolatry, but were wasted in the wilderness, and prevented from entering into the rest of God: so likewise is the foolish and wicked idea of the cunning craftiness of the fair speeches of flattering pastors and false prophets toward the itching ears believers to feed them with unprofitable milk and not with strong meat to keep them in the world, and not out of the world, in the love and lusts of the things therein in order to keep them under their carnal influence and control, and to keep and increase the numerical growth without quality shall all be cut off one after the other, and they shall not enter into the rest of God, but shall be replaced with true shepherds which shall feed them with undiluted word of God according to the mind of God. Isaiah 65:8-9. Jeremiah 23:28.
The Israelis failed short in boldness and bravery to limit God in whom there is no limitation. We should never seek to figure out by any carnal or intellectual wisdom of professional expertise of conclusion and calculation to draw the line to what end the all-powerful Father of all spirits and the God of all flesh with whom there is no impossibility can do or work to achieve through us as Jonathan says to his armor bearer that there is no restraint with God to save by many or by few. 1 Samuel 14:6.
I want us to understand that when Jonathan expressed this personal faith- opinion about God, he has decided to take it on himself (because of God’s impression or impulse on his heart bids him to courage and brave action to take the battle to the gate of the Philistines concerning which his father (the king) and the Israelis warriors with him are of double-minded and reluctant to engage in fight. Without seeking their advice, permission or consent (undoubtedly King Saul would not agree to the idea of Jonathan’s initiate to engage the enemy on his own, for he would count it as a crafty contentious challenge (rebellion) against his leadership, though it was God who has led him to engage as we can see the positive outcome and victory wrought by God through Jonathan; even, all the people stood up behind him to his defense against the consequence and penalty of King’s rash vow (1 Samuel 14: 24) to put any man to death who shall eat anything until the end of the war, but unknown to Jonathan who has tasted honey in the course of the fight. Verses 45. This is the lesson; no serious church member and heaven minded believer should be stuck and chose to sit down to be paralyzed in the spirit; lying down, loving to slumber and sleeping, because their pastor and the rest of the elders are of such, even though God is calling and leading them against slothfulness in business into fervency in the Spirit and deeper experience in relationship to come up higher to walk in spiritual high places.  No one should be afraid to dig deeper into the treasures of truth and of the mystery of Christ which God has prepared for our glory because there is none around or with him to encourage him. Isaiah 56:10.
It is unpleasant to God who has called us and raised us up with Christ Jesus in heavenly places in him, far above principalities and powers and dominion to consent with any man or group of people to the limit and extent to which we can believe him to manifest his glory, presence, and power in us, for his work is great and marvelous, and it is sought out of all those that have pleasure therein: his way is unsearchable and his understanding is infinite. Psalms 111:2.
How long shall you continue to resist the prompt and constant persuasion of the Holy Spirit within you to submit under the mighty hand of the Lord that he might operate and perform in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, that through you, the truth that is forbidden and unbelievable among your faithless brethren for their lack of revelatory understanding (I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. Psalms 119:99) of which the pastor and his elders have talked you out of it as impossible should be manifested and fulfilled through you who believe and is thirsty to see the power of God moving to fulfill his word?
Should you desist to break any new ground in the word of God to discredit the testimony of the anointing that teaches you into all truth (1 John 2: 26) because the Bishop has not evidently grown to such understanding and revelation, though the scriptures clearly show that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so, the things of God know no man, but the Spirit of God? 1 Corinthians 2: 9-11.
How long shall you continue to blindly and foolishly submit to the blind guides over you in the name of submission, tolerance, men’s approval and commendation, though it is not within the bond of the scriptures but outside the scope of the word of God, and to permit your short-sighted, lukewarm, worldly and greedy spiritual leader to set the limit to your obedience against the unchanging word of God, though it is clearly written that every thought should be brought to the obedience of Christ, and to be ready to revenge all disobedience, once your obedience is complete? 2 Corinthians 10:6.
Should I personally refuse to receive prophecy (1 Corinthians 14:24) and to refute every prophetic utterance meant for my edification, instruction, guidance and exhortation (1Timothy 1:18) from the Lord as from Satan, though the Bible warns me not to despise prophecy (inspired discourse, conducive to the instruction and edification of the Church or of a particular believer) but to prove all things, and to hold on to that which is good, and disregard what is evil, just because in my local church, there is no operation or manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit for anyone to profit withal; and our leader teaches and hold that prophecies are now exclusively fixating in the bible? 1 Thessalonians 5:20. Note: if spiritual gifts have ceased to be operational in this present church age as some men assert; it means that Christ is no longer the same, yesterday, today and forever. Let it be known that the scripture is the eternal word of prophetic revelation, revealing the past to confirm the present events and is preparing us for the future fulfilments of all that is written. There is what the bible calls the spirit of prophecy (the gift of prophecy) the testimony of Christ (Revelation 19:10) design for immediate or periodic edification, comfort, instruction and enlightenment of the brethren, to expose the things obscure, revealing things pertaining to the present will of God to encourage and prepare the believer for whatever lies ahead. This can come in the form of prophetic dreams, revelations or spoken word to you from any man or woman in the church who is exercising the gift of prophecy according to the proportion of faith : or when you attend a Spirit-filled prayer gathering, you can receive prophecy, where men and women are flowing in this precious gift – greater is he that that prophecy than he that speaks in tongues. Romans 12:6. Acts21:9. 1 Corinthians 14:1-12.
Should I hold myself back from praying in the spirit, to pray in the Holy Ghost, even to pray in tongues for my personal edification (spiritual improvement and enlightenment) and to speak to myself and God in the church (I Corinthians 14:28) and to build up my holy faith in private prayer season at home (Jude 20) because my pastor doesn’t speak and think it is not really important, nor did they encourages it, neither preaches about speaking in new tongues in our church, though Christ says it shall be one of the signs following them that believe (Mark 16: 17- 18) and the scriptures warns the cold-hearted leaders not to forbid or discourages people from speaking in tongues? 1 Corinthians 14:39.
Like Nehemiah, God is looking for a self-less leader with die-hard spirit for an example of a self- less walk and lifestyles to encourage and not to discourage the on-lookers and would be followers. Where is the courageous leader who is willing to lay down his life to protect his brethren from danger and to lay down his life for his followers (Philippians 2:17) like our Lord did at the Garden when the mob came to arrest him defended and negotiated the security and safety of his disciples! Where is the leader who is willing to take the bullets for his congregation and not the other way round? Where is the leader who will not sit as chief at the table, but will choose to serve as a servant of all? Is it not written, he that will be great among you, let him be the servant of all?
God is looking for an unapologetically church from the head to the bottom, which is able to speak as the truth is in Christ, and to live and walk to defend the truth in the face of death or any danger, to shun worldly popularity, acceptance, approval, honour, promotion, reward and praise for the truth’s sake.                                                          
We all know that the people in the world are wicked and faithless; but at the same time, they’re looking up to the light of the world (church) and Christians whose speeches are not only about Christ but are as well walking and living undisputedly after the pattern of the risen Lord – let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ.
Many people are not encouraged to follow Christ and to serve God when the church people and their leaders are not models after biblical principles and after the patterns of what they are preaching and profess to believe in; meanwhile, the immature and unstable souls in the faith are offended and discouraged to keep the faith when they found the church as they would not because of their ignorance to the principle of ‘the wisdom of the just’ to ‘walk out your own salvation with fear and trembling’ when it comes to the issues of challenges, disappointments, determination and encouragement looking for someone to follow as an example – good or bad.
The church is in need of leaders who are not out to hire private security company for security assistance services (Ezra 8:22) or ask and encourage the congregate to bring conceal weapon to the church to defend themselves against any assassin attempt on worshippers in the temple: but leaders with earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also, Christ shall be magnified in them, whether it be by life, or by death: bold like a lion, and will sincerely affirm that to live is Christ and to die is gain: for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds and casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Philippians 1: 20-21.
The church is in need of leaders who hate covetousness and are not teaching that gain is godliness (prosperity preachers) to enrich themselves for self aggrandisement above their followers; while the widows, orphans, jobless, unemployed, debt bond, homeless and sick people under them are unable to get treatments for lack of sufficient finance, and are crying to God for helpers; meanwhile, the servant of God is living flamboyantly and he seems not to be moved to do something to alleviate the plights of the multitudes of his congregants and worshippers. 1Timothy 6: 1-5.                                                                    The Church is in need of diligent leaders who are not only giving instructions to go out for evangelism but are also fully involved in street evangelism for soul winning as an example to lead through encouragement for action and consecration for the great commission.
I am amazed by the zeal and consecration of the members of the Jehovah’s Witness organization for their commitment to evangelism, both the young and old, male and female. If there is no physical and medical ailment to impede, there is no leader greater than street and outdoor evangelism in the morning or in the evening from January to December, winter or summer; none is exempted until they become too old and feeble to walk or go around among the ranks and file of the Jehovah Witness.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The church of Jesus Christ and her leaders are facing factual criticism from the people of the world because they failed to live and act as people who are truly representing God as the true light of the world and the salt of it. Many who are ignorant of the devices of Satan are bound and imprisoned  in the spiritual ward and cells of discouragement; given up the thoughts or idea of going to church but settled in their minds to practise self- righteousness and other foolish carnal religious stuff than to commit to the application of the word in the righteousness that is in Christ Jesus because they have judged themselves far better in kind deeds and charitable works, better in the spirit of moral purity and good manners of approach and expression, and very honest above the hypocrisies of believers who are called by the name of the Lord, but has come short to demonstrates the crucified and resurrected Christ in their walk; as it is written, in everything, show yourself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing incorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Titus 2: 7-8.                                   
The disappointment of worldly and negative religious lifestyles is another impact the failure of the church has made room for the unbelieving world to reproach the name of the Lord Jesus unfairly, apart from the uncleanness and corruption which is seen today in the place of holiness, the through adulteration of the scriptures is contagious enough to destroy the flock and to scare others away, alluring with empty words without the power and the fruit of transformation to new life in Christ Jesus – many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard; they have trampled my plot of land: they have turned my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland. Jeremiah 12:10.
More also, we must be very careful to watch out for the human agents of demonic influence and interference who are close to us in the church as brethren but can be compromised by Satan to cause discouragement against the fulfilments of divine purposes like the example of Peter’s consolation words in response to Christ announcements of his death which he must accomplish at Jerusalem (from that time forth Jesus began to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffered many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, be it far from you, Lord: this shall not be unto you. But Jesus turned, and said unto Peter, get you behind me, Satan, for you savour not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Matthew 16:21-23) by considering the sharp resistance and rebuke worthy of an enemy he received from Christ. Think about the emotional heart-broken reactions of the Caesarea believers at Philip the evangelist house to the prophetic revelations of the sufferings which Apostle Paul must endure for the Lord’s sake at the hands of the Jews at Jerusalem which shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles – his determination and courage to move forward and not to pull away from the danger ahead of him to fulfil the word of God and his ministry, and to suffer for the testimony of the word of God (and as we tarried in Philip the evangelist house for many days, there came down from Judea a certain prophet, named Agabus. And when he has come unto us, he took Paul’s girdle, and bound his own hand and feet, and said, thus says the Holy Ghost, so shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owns this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, what mean you to weep and to break my heart? For I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, the will of the Lord be glorified. Acts 21; 8-14) according to the will of God. 
 
According to the scriptures, we are in the end time prophetic period of itching ears delusional two faced followers of Christ under the guides of deceitful and flattering preachers and fair speeches leaders. If you are walking without active discernment of spirit in strong personal conviction to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints, knowing whom you believed, and why you are saved, with the determination to focus, so that you might attain the goal set before us to obtain the prize for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, then shall the corrupt church leaders and multitudes of godless Christians (Broadway and wide gate worshippers) become your stumbling blocks to fall into the sin of worldliness and spiritual lapse (because of iniquity shall increase, the love of many shall wax cold Matthew 24:12) only to put the blame of the life you chose to live after the pattern of others on someone else, instead of after the similitude of Christ according to the scriptures, the same way the Israelis in the wilderness put the blame of their chosen lifestyle and failure to become what God intends they should be on their leaders.                                                                                   
In addition to this, many people will seek to use the delay indignation of divine justice and God’s patience and longsuffering against sin that the future and eternal judgement is non-existing for an opportunity to follow after the examples of the ungodly, and to encourage themselves in the iniquity of their lives (Ecclesiastes 8:11-13) that they might continue in sin, and be covered under darkness: knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers (mockers) walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation (discouraging others from serving God in spirit and truth). The Lord is not slack concerning his promise but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Nevertheless, we are according to his promise, look for a new heaven and a new earth, wherein righteousness dwells. You, therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error (discouraging lifestyles and behaviours) of the wicked fell from your own steadfastness. 2 Peter 3:1-17.
A thirsty and a believer which is hungry after righteousness, who at the same time seek to worship God with pure aspiration to know him increasingly, will not hesitate to depart from the congregation of the hypocrites; but not to withdraw and sit back at home, rather than to be prayerfully be led to another place of worship where he can be fed with the undiluted word of God in godliness and true holiness, to serve God together with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22.
Those ungodly, unscriptural, worldly practises and lifestyles of which the decent and moralist- unconverted men found disgusting and displeasing overrides the decisions of many to turn their backs against the church as long as they can’t see the difference between the church and the world; and for their frustration and disappointments, they continue to speak evil of our beautiful Zion, the holy city of God, of which glorious things ought to be spoken.                                                        
Holding and speaking the truth in unrighteousness shall undoubtedly pour cold water on the hearts of many weary sinners who are genuinely looking for the best place, solution and way out of darkness, and out of the oppression of Satan, to conclude that if this is all it meant and takes to be a born again Christian, they should just be as they are -woe unto the world because of offences.
If the head is sick, and considering the responsibility of its leadership and authority over the entire body, what can the body do? The whole body shall be sick as well! People are leaving Christianity because they think it didn’t work, but it is the leaders of these people that cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed (except they will deliver themselves to escape the pit to save their souls, if they are not spiritually bewitched like the foolish Galatians that they should not obey the truth for many pastors are operating with the spirit of divination and their members are spellbound). Isaiah 9:16.
Some churches are classy, but if you are simple and not ready to be flashy, flamboyant and classy to be drawn away from the modesty and simplicity in Christ Jesus, you will feel unwelcome because of the spirit operating in such place and stop attending their fellowship. Some churches weary you with different types of offering collection in one Sunday, and if you have prepared for just an offering, you would be embarrassed and astonished for the rest of the giving time; and if you are not for such kind of noisy-showy mammon spirit’s operation, you’ll certainly back off the next Sunday. Some churches tolerate you to keep smoking your marijuana or cigarette as a new believer without taking any strong stand against such ungodly behaviour within or outside the church in the name of love, patience and tolerance (I think the bible says that the believers added to the church were the repented sinners, baptised and converted) but if a genuine and serious seeker is invited and sees the ungodly tolerance of the leaders who are unwilling to enforce a certain standard of godliness and righteous principles in the church among the brethren, such poor soul will quietly leave and look for his deliverance elsewhere in a place where the zeal of his house is consuming the brethren.
Some churches are as cold as a dead- lifeless body, while others can be as noisy without moderation and self-control, behaving as if they are in a carnival or bikini festival in the name of where there is the spirit of God, there is liberty in his presence. But all those overdo and excessive behaviours and the unscriptural inadequateness of the church people comprises to the factors responsible for the advantages the enemy has gotten over the people of God to deter others from seeking the sole and true God of heaven and earth for the redemption and salvation provided by the only mediator, the great Christ, our Saviour.
The kingdom of God requires personal determination of consecration to search the scriptures as you look strictly unto Jesus, who is the author and finisher of your faith, who is at work in you, both to will and to do according to his good pleasure, until you get to the top of the summit – in a race everyone participate but only one person obtains the first price, so run as to obtain the price. There are biblical rules and principles to run an acceptable and rewarding race, so do not let the pastor be your authority above the word of God to run a good race, fight a good fight of faith to keep it very well. Let others cheat, go magical in the quest for fame, do drug or whatever the lusts of their father Satan in fulfilment, do not be discouraged to fret yourself in any wise to do evil. You don’t have to be cold or practice how to fall because great men are falling, or quit just because you see others are leaving the kingdom of God, lacking the power of perseverance in the spirit. This is the kingdom where the winners do not quit and the quitter will never overcome anything; but they that understand shall walk wisely, and the strong are careful not to fall, for whosoever shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.
Let us consider the events prior to the rapture of Elijah to heaven and the experiences of his servant (Elisha) with all that he encountered and has to overcome before the desire of his heart (greater anointing) was granted to fulfill his God’s purpose, ministry, and destiny. He was unkindly advised by the sons of the prophets from three different cities to quit following after Elijah his master for he will soon be taken away from his head! What about the head of Elisha, was that the proper and nicest way for the prophets to give comfort to a colleague who is preparing for the departure of his master to heaven? The head of Elisha is not different from other normal heads, except that he was not as hairy (2 Kings 1:8) as his master was – a bald-headed man. What a mockery are they all were as they chose to ridicule their colleague whom they thought shall be left alone like an orphan, weak and helpless at the absence of his master, and instead of admonishing and encouraging him ahead of his master’s departure to heaven as revealed to them from God, they sought to demoralize and to discourage him from pressing forward to the goal set before him by God – the double portion of the anointing. Note: we all know in part and we prophesy in part. Though the multitudes of the sons’ of prophets had the revelation knowledge of Elijah’s departure, nonetheless, they were obviously clueless of the instruction given by God in the secret place to Elisha to follow his master under any circumstances until he’ll be taken away to heaven for the acquisition of power transfer which shall be taken place during the moment of sudden separation to heaven between him and Elijah which he must be a witness to. Prophets can be deceived and may not be able to see everything beyond what is revealed to them from God (2 Kings 4:27) and the sons of the prophets were no different; but if any commit himself to seek, search and acquaint with God on personal level through consecration of consistent prayer and fast life, reading and obeying his word, he will never be deceived, abandoned or disappointed by him – for though, O Lord, never forsakes those that seek thee. Psalms 9:10.
Can you just imagine the uselessness of a gun without cartridges; or an unloaded pistol, except for decoration in a glass or hang on the wall? Only the powerless, carnal and brethren of little faith will unashamedly tell you that the era of the miraculous and supernatural manifestation of God’s power is over that they might bring you down to their black-out and lifeless spiritual life as a test against your resolve to be all that God is calling you to be. You will be confronted with such a question as to why you are so serious and take things personally in the letter of the word to mock and jest over you in the spirit of discouragement and false accusation of overzealous as one out of his mind, and to mentally weaken you from pursuing and reaching the highest life’s goal, that they might influence you to live the life they want you to live before them; if not beneath them, but just like them, if you don’t know your God to make yourself strong in him and in the power of his might that you might do exploits with him.
Prophet Elijah informed Elisha of his pending and imminent rapture to heaven, not at Gilgah where they both set off for the journey, but after he saw the determination of which Elisha has overcome the mockery, discouragement, and challenges from the sons’ of the prophets, notwithstanding the hurdles of traveling across the four cities: namely, Gilgah, Bethel, Jericho and Jordan before he spoke to him to ‘ask what I should for you, before I be taken away from you’. And Elisha said; let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. And he said, you have asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if you see me when I’m taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so. 2 Kings 2: 1-15.
Perseverance in prayer and spirit are of great reward but those who easily give up and draw back by giving in to the pressure around or before them don’t actually realize the true riches of glory they are giving up for. Greater glory and riches, life eternal and unending fellowship with God and Christ awaits us in heaven above, and why should any even think of giving up because of the insignificant suffering of this present temporal time and season which shall soon be all over? Therefore, cast not away your confidence which has great recompense of reward. For you have need of patience, that after doing the will of God you might receive the promise.
Do not withdraw from your sincere commitments and thirstiness after God, lest it is water-washed away by the weapon and disruption of evil tongues of the envious brethren which may sound like those who have concerns for your safety and happiness. They may appear as one who is sent to help you, but if you look deeper, they are actually programmed by Satan to derail you from your primary assignment and to convince you to sit down and play it safe like them, but whosoever shall seek to save his life, he shall lose it. You can do all things in him that strengthens you if you keep rejecting wrong pieces of advice meant to mislead you, and to make sure that you keep following after God as far as he chooses to lead and bring you; not to stay at Bethel to become as one of the mockers in the field of powerless, visionless and evil-hearted discouraging believers; but to go as far as to Jericho and to pass over to Jordan to receive the glory and power kept for your glory, and not for them. After crossing the river of Jordan, make sure that you follow as far as the Christ is leading you, and never content to stay at Jordan with the mockers as well. There shall be a miracle to pass over the ‘river of Jordan’ which has returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before. After crossing the water of Jordan, (overcoming the swelling of your Jordan – overcoming the uninteresting and provocative brethren in the land of peace wherein you trusted) you can be sure that you are stepping into your open heaven of the ‘double portion of the anointing’. Jeremiah 12:5.
God is still in the business of healing and deliverance, restoration and empowerment. Thank him for his pleasure to chose you as his vessel to bring back the days of Elijah for the demonstration of the spirit and power: not only in word, but as he’s confirming the messages spoken with signs and wonders following, to heal and to make the barren land a fruitful field, and to show other believers and the rest of the world that the kingdom of God is not in talk, but in power to command respect and the fear of God, and to provoke others to seek the true knowledge of his way, and to show the manner less forty and two children possessed with the spirit of the land (mockery, arrogant and disrespect spirit) how to respect the person of the old age and hoary hairs, torn by two she bears as the man of God and his God were glorified and honorable in the places he was once upon derided, mocked at, and despised. 2 Kings 2:23-24.
It was the day of Elisha adversity (Proverbs 24:10) but he never fainted to fail because his strength and focus were in his God and in what he’s about to accomplish in his life – if you fail in the days of adversity, your strength is small. Where should the five deliverances intervention and the miraculous provision God wrought for the sons of the prophet and their wives occurred if Elisha had succumbed to their mockery and demeaning spirit against him to have him discouraged and to become as one of them? 2 Kings 4:1-7; 38-41; 42-44: Ch. 6:1-7.
 
Prior to Goliath death and the conquest of the Philistines armies at war between Israel and Philistines, David’s oldest brother (Eliab) sought to intimidate and falsely accuse his youngest brother of curious and inquisitive spirit and pride, though David was there by the instruction from their father to go with victuals for his brethren’s relief and to enquire after their welfare to bring back words of assurance to his father that all is well with his sons, only to find the people of God and the entire nation in an awkward and intimidating situation with insults and curses on the people of God and on the God of Israel spoken by Goliath, the champion of Philistines army.   
David’s intimacy and personal knowledge of God’s ability of mighty deliverance in his daily experiences in the face of previous and past dangers in the field as a shepherd was brought into question and challenge, but he never failed to tap into them as the solution and answer to the questions, fears, dangers and challenges facing the nation of God to benefit and help them from the danger posed by Goliath of Gath – and David said to Saul, let no man’s heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine. And Saul said to David, thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth. And David said unto Saul, thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: and I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, the Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, go, and the Lord be with thee. And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put a helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail. And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him. And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine. And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David, and the man that bare the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said unto David, am I a dog that thou come to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, you come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand, and I will smite thee, and take your head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands. And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth. So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him, but there was no sword in the hand of David. Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled. And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents. And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armour in his tent. And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, as thy soul live, O king, I cannot tell. And the king said, enquire thou whose son the stripling is. And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. And Saul said to him, whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite. 1 Samuel 17. Note: never underestimate your God’s sufficiency to over-estimate Satan’s limitations as Saul and the rest did before David (and Saul said to David, thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for thou art but a youth, and he is a man of war from his youth) to frighten and to bring him into the same situation of spiritual incompetency and cowardice spirit the enemy has brought them under; but he answered politely to resist the voice of King Saul pretending to protect him, rather than to postpone, prevent and possibly rob him of the unveiling of divine glory upon his life, and to close the door to the manifestation of divine presence in his life – is there not a cause?                                                                          
Do not fall for the weapons of factual physical evidence of your circumstances and the agents of discouragement programmed by the enemy to back off from your resolution and decisive mind to pursue your purpose in God or his purpose for your life. In the battle against Goliath and confrontations before the battle, David encouraged himself in God’s purpose (is there not a cause) against his oldest brother’s false accusation, and against the king’s advice that he was too young for the task, just as Elisha had no one to encourage or strengthen him before he received the double portion of the anointing.                                      Do not allow the spiritual stupidity and confusion (addlebrained) of others take hold on you to affect your calling against God’s purpose and divine potential within you; though, they are displaying spiritual stupidity and confusion before you – is there not a cause?                                                                              If David had hearkened to King Saul’s voice that seemed to protect and guide him against premature death, where shall those women be gathered to sing the song of David’s killing his ten thousand and Saul his thousand – is there not a cause?                                                                                                                  There is no explanation to Abraham’s faith than the expression of his love for God and trust in him to go out in obedience according to God’s commands, ‘not knowing whither he went’. Let’s say it clearly that what God is asking us to do, if we are to be led of his Spirit, may sometimes have nothing to do with human wisdom or calculation than to exercise a childlike trust and obedience, because faith does not work with common sense, but by his love for God, he demonstrated his faith by obedient. Faith is the positive spiritual mental attitude adventure with the certainty of a victorious outcome in God who honors faith. This is where faith in God (rest in God’s promises) is different from taking the risks in the world without God’s guidance; though it’s a risky act of faith that whosoever will save his life in this world shall lose it; but it’s outcome and recompenses are never to be doubted here on earth for the hundredfold blessings promised by God, and in eternity, for the crown of honor it shall bestow to them that shall overcome. Matthew 19:29. Heb.11:8.                                       
God has not called any of his redeem children bought by the blood of Christ to become a victim of circumstances, except that he will work all things out for their good as one beautiful for every situation, if only they can see his presence and his hand in every move and happenings in their lives. Genesis 50:20. Job 23:14. Romans 8:28.                                                                                                                              The heart of man devises his way, but the Lord directs his paths. If you found any trouble in the paths of righteousness, do not get discouraged, fear, upset or dismay for the swelling of the river of Jordan before you. God will be glorified in your patience, braveness; perseverance and endurance to bring you forth as gold and to bring you into a wealthy place of honor after you have passed through the water and fire (obstacles and any impediment) by his help, grace and presence unscathed to unveil the greater one who lives in you before the entire world. Psalms 66:12. Isaiah 43:2.
The Lord through mercy and love anointed, gifted and taught me how to cast out demons because the scriptures say; ‘your children shall be taught by God’ and ‘these signs shall follow them that believes, in my name, they shall cast out demons’ because the Holy Ghost distributes the gifts to each and every one of us severally according as he will.                                                                                                                    This testimony experience I am about to share with you is meant to glorify his name as it happened shortly after my conversion and baptism in the Holy Spirit. One evening, I went out into the street to share the gospel tracts with people, and there were some guys (about four) smoking and drinking local gin (ogogoro) by the roadside. They mocked at my new life and called me pastor when I haven’t received the call by then, and jokingly demanded to be prayed for. In fact, I was reluctant to pray for them because I don’t know how to pray for myself very well, my conversion was less than six months. I asked them to honor God by putting aside their cigarette on the excuse that I cannot pray for them with it on their fingers, which they did. I uttered a simple prayer like this: O God, I thank you for saving me and delivered me from smoking marijuana and other stuff, please help my brothers also, and remove the heart of stone and give them a new heart of flesh- a new creature in Jesus name. One of them named Dotun instantly fell to the ground and kept rolling around and vomited things while I felt the urge to command the demons to come out in the name of Jesus, and the more I command them to come out in Jesus name, the violent and convulse increases to torment him until he was totally set free and was calmed. It was like an impromptu drama to everyone around, including me, because I couldn’t believe my eyes on what I just witnessed, and many more were drawn closer because of the demonic manifestation and visitation of the deliverance of this young man. Thus the news of what happened to Dotun (beneficiary’s name) spread about and multitudes throng daily to my parents’ home uninvited and without an appointment, seeking to be prayed for and to be delivered from whatever they think is troubling their lives as the result of this testimony. When I was in the world, I used to be a bad boy and a street fighter, and when people need more hand in combat, they will invite me with free offer of dry gins and marijuana as reward to support and defend them; but now, I have received and found a new passion in Christ, to let go of his captives, not for price, nor reward. Isaiah 45:13.                     
I gave my life to Christ in a non-denomination assembly by the name of faith clinic international of Nigeria. Faith clinic ministry demonology school is a place where church workers and pastors are trained and equipped for the ministry, but considering my conversion timeline, if it was to be judged by faith clinic ministerial school protocol, I am not eligible to be in the school or group of those who are casting out demons at that particular time, but God has truly chosen the base things of this world to confound mighty things; and things that are not has he chosen to bring to nought things that are, so that no flesh should glory before him.                                                                                                                                       
There was this elderly woman who was a teacher by profession at that time, and she was in those days a highly respectable worker at the faith clinic ministry, a matured believer, who, after hearing about me, and what God is doing in the neighborhood through me, and because she was not living too far from my parents’ house, called and invited me to her home. I never knew she was living in my neighborhood, but I recognized her as one of the famous leaders and workers at faith clinic as soon as I met her. The purpose of her invitation was designed to warn me of the danger in casting out demons and to stop immediately ministering to people who are coming for deliverance ministration by referring and directing them to the faith clinic. I was perplexed by the tone of her counsel and disturbed to what I discerned as envy and bitterness coming out of her. I thought and expected her to bring me closer and to teach me more on how to improve on what God has deposited in me and doing for people, and how to sustain and increase on what I’ve received from the Lord; but instead, her sharp and unreasonable rebuke against the goodness of God and what he is doing for people daily in my life did not discourage me because I know that some people will despise what they don’t have control over or ability to take any praise for, but God will not share his glory with anyone. God spoke to me that if it were a man or group of people who has imposed his/ their hand(s) on me (1 Timothy 4:14) before the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit in my life, they will say that I am rebellious and proud to authority, but because he has chosen and called me to himself without consulting after any man’s idea or opinion, I should continue in what he is doing in my life both to will and to do according to his good pleasure, that no demon shall hurt me because his angels shall defend and protect me in all my ways because I am raised and seated with him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, far above principalities and powers, and as long as I walk in righteousness, I shall be established before him. I personally never asked or invited anyone to come to me for any sort of prayer, but as God brings or direct them, I received and ministered to them according to the love and mercy I received from God, even according to their need, and nearing to three decades now, no demon has ever conquered to destroy my life; as it is written, being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun the good works in me will finish it unto the day of Jesus Christ – may God count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power; that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6. 2 Thessalonians 1:11
Heaven is not meant for cowardice Christians because Christ has no place prepared or reserved in heaven for those who are not brave (faith requires boldness and braveness) with holy audacity: therefore, failure to speak, act and live bravery against challenges, despair and succumb to suicidal action (and the whole Israelis murmured against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, would to God that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would God we had died in this wilderness! Numbers 14:2) or to draw back to the world (and they said one to another, let us make a captain, and let us return to Egypt. Numbers 14:4) and give up in the face of bombardments of discouragement (influence of negative lifestyle, direct or indirect action against you: or words spoken to discourage you: delayed promises of God concerning your life- when hope is delayed, and the heart is sick: influences of demonic interference, etc) is not from God, because he is never in any form of discouragement. You should consider Jesus, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God, to make sure that you set your face like a ‘flint’ as the Holy Spirit is at work in you to defend, preserve and deliver you to the end if you cleave unto the Lord with all your heart. God’s pôwer never fails, but those who will wait on him and are willing to go as far as he chooses for them shall have the best from him. They shall not be ashamed as long as they keep their rank, and are not discouraged to walk away or turn their back against the Lord, that if he visits them at the third or fifth hour, they may be hired to receive the full wages of salary like the rest who has borne the heat and burden of the day.
As long as God bears you on his eagle’s wing according to his word, you are greater than any giant and stronger than any sons of the Anakims before you. There is no wall, even though it appears thick and impenetrable, that the Rock of ages in you shall not be able to fall upon and to break them into pieces and turn them into powder or dust before you. Never compare your God, the living God of heaven and earth to anything or anyone: great and marvelous are his works, and there is no searching of his understanding, power, and his might. The facts of your life should not deter you from moving forward to possess the land that is set before you as you speak the truth against the facts, re-affirming the plans and unchanging purposes and thoughts of God toward you. Whose report shall you believe? Is it the facts of your situation that are contrary to his word and testimonies, or the truth of his eternal word in defiant against your mountains (facts) through the utility of the power of life (positive confession of his word and promises) in your tongue to keep confessing what the word of God says against what the elders, circumstances, and situations are saying, or what your doctor says according to the diagnostic report about your body and health, or what others are saying about your insufficiency, or what your bank account is saying about your debt and poverty, or the tongues decreeing unrighteous decree against. Be courageous to speak life to your situation through the promises of the scriptures (as it is written, I have made you a father of many nations, before whom he believed, even God, who quickened the dead, and calls those things which be not, as though they were. Romans 4:17) but if you chose not to live in denial of your facts and situations, then you are not walking after the example of Abraham’s faith and works, who was not discouraged by unbelief to consider his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb: he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
This is the promise of God for you that no giant, power of darkness or anyone shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Do not be discouraged by the height and grandeur of your mountain or problem than to keep speaking against it by the word of God; whosoever shall say to this mountain, be thou remove and be cast into the sea, and shall not doubt, but shall believe that those things he said shall come to pass, he shall have them….Happy art thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee, o people saved by the Lord (past, present, and believers of all generation) the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy Excellency! And your enemies shall be found liars unto thee: and thou shall tread upon their high places. Deut. 33:29.                                                                                        
Stop looking down on yourself but keep your regard to the greater one who lives in you, and stop listening, but turn deaf ears to those defeating and discouraging voices speaking negative, discouragement, defeat, death, impossibilities, and limitations words to you. The devil is a liar and your facts are not the truth of whom you are called to be, and let it not define what you should be as you speak the word of life and creation to recreate your situation and circumstance – by faith the worlds is framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Should you not rise up at once to strengthen the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knee? Say to them that are of a fearful heart, be strong, fear not; behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with recompense, he will come and save you. Isaiah 35: 3-4.
Sometimes, there is none to encourage you, and all you have left is the all-sufficient comfort and promises you’re receiving from the word of God – quit you like men, and don’t be cast down, but encourage yourself in the Lord, and look up to the hills from whence your true help is coming from. Onward Christian soldiers, the battle continues and we shall undoubtedly overcome and be made partakers of Christ if we shall hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast (courageous) unto the end. Heb. 3:14.                                             
We see another good example of David’s boldness and daring spirit during one of the tough crises of his life at Ziklag. He went out to fight in a battle, and before his returned, Ziklag was smitten by the Amalekites, the cities were burnt with fire; sons and daughters were taken captives, including the two wives of David, Ahino-am and Abigail which were left behind. And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters; but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God to recover all that was taken by the enemy.
Do not be discouraged by the scorpions and serpents on the way, because your shoes are made up of iron and brass. Deuteronomy33:25. Keep walking and moving forward because the Lord says, I will strengthen them in the Lord, and they shall walk up and down in his name. Zachariah 10:12. Do not put the sword back into the sheath, though the enemy intensify his assaults, yet the gates of hell shall not prevail if you will not slack or withdraw your prayers altogether to keep fighting the good of faith with the sword of the spirit, quenching all the fiery darts of the wicked; as it is written, and they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the Lord is with them, and the rider on horses shall be confounded. I Samuel 30:56. Zachariah 10: 5.
 
 
Hymns
 
Courage Brother do not stumble, though thy path is dark as night; there’s a star to guide the humble, trust in God, and do the right.
 
Let the road be rough and dreary and its end far out of sight; foot it bravery, strong or weary, trust in God and so the right.
 
Trust no party, sect, or faction; trust no leader in the fight, but in every word and action; trust in God and do the right.
 
Some will hate thee, those will love thee, some will flatter, some will slight; cease from man, and look above thee; trust in God, and do the right.