Message
Years ago, when I was a younger Christian, many people would come to me and say, “Young man, we see the way you are on fire for the Lord. Make sure you don’t backslide.” Whenever I heard that, I would smile because I had made up my mind that I would not be a fool and return to the fear, sickness, and bondage Jesus took away from my life when I became born again. I thank God for His grace, which has kept me all these years. Remembering where God brought me from has been one of the ways I have stayed on course. When you constantly remember what Jesus saved you from, no one will need to preach to you to remain in Christ. I pray that you will not yield to satan’s temptations to depart from the cover of the shadow of God’s wings, in Jesus’ name.
Anyone who departs from the cover that the shadow of God’s wings provides is open to all kinds of sicknesses and diseases. Today’s Bible reading tells us the story of Gehazi, who decided to leave the shelter of God’s wings. Within a day, the fellow who could have ended up as the next prophet, because he was Elisha’s servant, ended up becoming a leper. Sometimes, it only takes a brief moment for people who decide to leave God’s covering to forfeit all the blessings they have enjoyed under His cover. I pray that your story will not move from glory to shame, in Jesus’ name.
People who wander from the shadow of God’s wings expose themselves to death. says, “The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.” When people are in the congregation of the dead, their lives stink. People who decide to backslide have accepted an open invitation to a stinking life. They have decided to invite rottenness and disfavour into their lives. No matter how beautiful a house may be, guests will avoid it once a rat has died inside and begun to decay. They might not want to wine or dine with the owner of the house until the pungent smell has been taken care of. In , however, Apostle Paul describes the believer as a sweet savour of Christ.
Beloved, when you abide under the shadow of the Almighty, you will continue to increase in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man ().