Christianity is fast becoming a social organization. Many self-acclaimed leaders in Christian circles are busy churning out modern rules and regulations for their followers.
Needless to say many of those rules are contrary to the immutable standard of God as codified in the Holy Bible.
The latest magical trick in town is called “gospel of prosperity”. Of a truth, our God is the author and finisher of prosperity, but we must be careful not to fall prey to the counterfeit/adulterated version of prosperity currently ruling our religious terrain.
Everybody wants to move from glory to glory. That is God’s original plan for humanity. At creation, Adam & Eve were covered with glory.
It was the entrance of sin that removed the glory and exposed their nakedness! It, is, therefore, perfectly in order to desire the unmatchable glory of God. The crucial question is how to identify divine glory. Modern day Christians, with few exception, measure divine glory by the percentage of financial and material supply within their reach.
Put in another way, if you’re prospering financial, material and career wise, it means you are moving from glory to glory! What about the poor and oppressed believers roasting away in the prison of hardship on account of his or her faith?
Are they truly moving from glory to glory? It is a hidden secret that many ‘prosperous’ individuals cannot in all honesty tell the true story of their ‘breakthrough’ because it takes more than a lab coat and a stethoscope to qualify as a medical doctor; just like a mere wig and gown without more cannot make a Lawyer. Isàlé ôró l’ègbín!!!
The point must be made that sometimes divine glory is expressed through trial and suffering. Yes, that is one of the unpopular side of the gospel.
We need to return to the original gospel of Jesus Christ. Brother Paul, the undisputable Apostle to the Gentiles, founded many churches during the formative years of Christianity.
Those who embraced the gospel were excited that they were moving from glory to glory.
Hence, Apostle Paul did something very unique to strengthen them. Take a look at Acts 14:21 & 22, “After preaching the Good News in Derbe and making disciples, Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch of Pisidia, where they strengthened the believers.
They encouraged them to continue in the faith, reminding them that we must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God”. (NLT).
The target of the gospel is heaven. The road is narrow. In essence, it is full of hardship.
That is why we need to encourage ourselves instead of struggling to outdo and uproot those ahead. We need the gospel of hardship and how to cope in such situations.
When last did your pastor strengthened you by reminding you that you must suffer many hardship to enter heaven?
Suffering for Christ is part and parcel of moving from glory to glory! Many may want to know if I appreciate what l am saying. Is there any relationship with suffering and glory?
In Acts 5:40 the early Apostles were flogged and ordered “never again to speak in the name of Jesus”.
Can you imagine a scenario where a highly celebrated General Overseer like Apostle Peter was flogged openly by the enemies of the gospel! What do you expect Apostle Peter and the remaining Apostles to do?
They actually celebrated the privilege to suffer for Christ. For them, it was a special case of moving from glory to glory.
Acts 5:41 captured their mood immediately after the flogging:
“The Apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus”.
How many professing Christian would willingly and heartily celebrate God in moments of disgrace occasioned by their faith in Christ?
The truth is that many fake preachers have narrowed the powerful gospel of Christ to ordinary bread and butter!
Millions now seek Jesus because of bread and butter packaged as solution to personal problems.
Little wonder that John 6:26 has this to say, “Jesus answered, “You’ve come looking for me not because you saw God in my actions but because I fed you, filled your stomachs-and for free.” (The Message).
We need to tell ourselves the bitter truth. Seeking earthly things without seeking God first as commanded in Matthew 6:33 is the same as seeking free lunch from Christ to fill our insatiable hunger for earthly things at the expense of our eternity! What a pity.
If your pastor neglect to tell you that hardship is part of your Christian heritage, feel free to treat him as a false prophet.
Yes, anyone who finds it convenient to hide the truth from you is your principal enemy.
Truth may be bitter, but it remains the only weapon of liberation. In John 8:32 Jesus said, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
That Church that is hiding the truth from you is a prison yard.
Get out and embrace the sincere word of God no matter how bitter.
Apostle Paul did not hide the truth from Timothy, a young minister. Listen to 2 Timothy 4:5, “But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord.
Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.”
What is paramount in this scripture is “suffering for the Lord.”
You must know when you’re suffering for your errors and when suffering for the Lord. According to 1 Peter 4:14-16, “So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.
But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian.
Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!”. In Act 16:22-24 it was recorded that, “A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods.
They were severely beaten, and they were thrown into prison.
The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape.
So the jailer put them into the inner dungeon and clamped their feet in the stocks.”
What was the crime committed by Apostle Paul and company?
A demon possessed slave girl/fortune teller was delivered!!! Simple. But look at the unbelievable consequences!!! While in that maximum security prison Paul and Silas were busy “praying and singing hymns to God.”
Heaven responded promptly as God despatched a special earthquake to take charge of their release.
Acts 16:26 described it as “a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations.”
Yet, the building did not collapse let alone expose Paul and Silas to any bodily injury.
The only mission of the earthquake was to secure the release of the detainees. This was achieved in a most marvellous manner.
Moving from glory to glory may not exempt you from some unpleasant situations. God’s way is surely not the way of man.
If you have been deceived by the fake gospel of prosperity I beg to announce to you that trial and challenges for the sake of Christ simply means you’re moving from glory to glory.
In fact, it is a privilege (and not a curse) to suffer for the gospel by refusing to join the bandwagon of modernized wickedness in the name of prosperity.
Here is the final declaration of the mind of God as recorded in Philippians 1:29, “For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.”
Now, you know better. Refused to be deceived. You’re actually moving from glory to glory if, indeed, you are in Christ no matter the circumstances pointing to anything to the contrary.
May His ever sufficient grace abide with us today and always as we move from glory to glory in Jesus’ name.Amen
