Encouragement

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In Luke 18v22 Jesus says to the young man, "You still lack one thing: sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow Me." The basis of our sharing is of the Church that sells all it has and gives to the poor and then shall come and follow Christ.

The Spirit of the Lord is saying to us today, "I want a Church that shall sell all it has and Follows Me." God is echoing that message in our generation today because He is saying that He has a desire for the Church to follow hard after Him and not worldly desires. He is saying, "I Need a Church that does not value worldly treasure, a Church that does not follow Christ partly, but one that shall sell all it has and gives away so as to secure its treasures in heaven." The Psalmists writes in Psalms 42v1, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee O God." In Psalms 63v8 he adds, "My soul followeth hard after Thee."

Today's Church is becoming too content at holding on to its treasures. It does not want to give up its hold on worldly things. That is why its message is not powerful enough and effective enough. Look at how sorrowful the rich young ruler was at this word. Only when a people are fully sold out for Christ can it learn to rely on Him. Only when a Church is reliant on Christ can it move. Only when a Church moves can it do the will of God. Heaven is not earned by the wealth that you accrue but by doing the will of God. It is found by you storing your treasure in Heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy. It is only when your treasure is in Heaven that you can focus on the true Gospel. That's why He writes to say, "Seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, and then all these things will be added unto you."

The early Church sold all it had and followed Christ. All Her needs were met by Christ. She was not diluted by worldly passion but by the desire to serve. This Church was effective because Christ was in Charge. We can equate Her to Rebekkah, the busy bride who served Eliezer and his camels such that she was favoured to become the wife to the Promised son Isaac. How can a Church serve two masters? It will love one and hate the other. Today's Church is too concerned about its resources. If Her priorities were the GOSPEL and PRAYER, the world would be a better place. How impossible it is for the rich to enter Heaven. How easy it would be for a camel to enter the hole of a needle than a rich man to enter Heaven. The Church should be rich in Christ rather than in earthly treasures. She must learn to deposit riches in Glory because no thief can steal from it.

Unless our Church arises and follows Christ in truth, we will still be playing hide and seek when the Lord comes. We are still like the rich young man who was religious rather than becoming like Christ. If He, the Owner of all things, could leave His treasures in Heaven and come down to earth and become poor, why can't the Church be rich in good deeds? Silver and gold belong to God. He shall supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. According to the promise God can do more than we can expect.

Church of God, thus says the LORD, "sell all your possessions, that is, the things you hold most dear to you, give to the poor, that is your duty to feed them with the TRUE GOSPEL, and you will have your treasure in Heaven, that is, where all the treasures are stored and come follow Me as we proclaim the message of redemption."

Thus says the LORD, "Quit fancy dressing the GOSPEL. It is not to be done the way this world does it, but according to the manner of heaven. There is none who is good but God. Follow the way of the LORD. Seek His way and walk in it. Quit being like double minded people. Focus and follow Christ. I Am the Way, Truth and Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. There is need for you to realise that only My will be carried out in My Church. How impossible it is for a Church that trusts in riches to enter Heaven. All you have left, you will receive a hundred fold in glory and in this age I will supply all your needs."

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