WHEN GOD MET A LOT OF US AT OUR YONGER AGE

WHEN GOD MET A LOT OF US AT OUR YONGER AGE
(By Latunde Akin)
When God met a lot of us,we were much younger and our responsibilities were being taken up by either parents or sponsors.
We met God in an encounter at the cross where our sins were forgiven and the fire of salvation was kindled. We became adopted by God and our journey started.
Then we had no problem with money or pursuit of money. We embraced the Lord from younger age and much more those who discipled us did so well. They taught us how to do Quiet Time,and our growth was directional. People called us S.U just to show we are different from them.
Yes some believers had it rough from the beginning, they weren't exposed to torough discipleship. Some believers didn't have anyone consistently discipling them, so they had inconsistent doctrinal upbringing.
Discipleship became declining in various churches or gatherings and brethren who were once discipled well stopped discipling others. Many of us who were once on fire for God started another silent movement by establishing our various colonies where we like to maintain. Colony of spaces where we can find position to rule and get money.
Brethren God favored in places and companies of influence began to see those opportunities as a means for capitalistic tendencies. Yes,their responsibility has become raised due to need to sustain their immediate family and thus became encumbered with what to eat and drink.
Churches which were small became so big that they don't have time again for grassroot work of discipleship.
Projects and expansion techniques have taken over their mindset and the pressure alone is very distracting.
Programmes that attract crowd became their target and they covered it up with the excuse of doing mass evangelism.
Process of administration in the church revealed CAPITALISM. A system copied from the government which amasses fund towards the centre. The center now become the focus all because of money.
Believers lost their sense of decorum as money pumps in to the center, or as they get more comfortable in their various places of work. They lost their first love. Their first fire became smoke again. Our love for God became sliced into pieces. We still love God,but that love is now being channelled towards becoming more religious than the God of the religion. We love holy parties now than serious decipleship gatherings.
The church system is being built now in such a way that those who are really doing the work are the one massively suffering. Missionaries are suffering, oh they are suffering. And it is not that there is no money, but believers are spending money on bigger programs and building projects.
There is a cancerous situation now in the life of many believers that many are not even aware about. It has eaten so deep that they are even ready to support bigger activities at the centre at the neglect of grassroot discipleship of souls.
If you watch well, people already know they are neglected in various churches. They will just attend service and go home. Nobody is actually interested in their discipleship or care about them.
A lot of pastors are pastoring nothing. They only write reports, collate papers and only run administration. A lot of them have neglected genuine SHEPHERDING. Discipleship is fast eroding.
Lust for money,position and fame is covered up by religious activities and services termed FELLOWSHIP. Hmm...fellowship indeed. Fellowship that neglected their brethren on the mission field. Fellowship that has lost her focus of discipling all nations. All that the fellowship is after are CONVERTS. They believe increase in population is DISCIPLESHIP already. They recruit Converts who are not properly discipled into positions or working team. This contributed to a lot of stunted growth.
Root of all these is actually traced to the negative effect of money. It creeps in subtly if a believer becomes distracted by its lack or by its accumulation. Lust of the flesh and pride of life. Prosperity gospellers and pentecostal miracle proponents more than the major purpose of Christ caused much more havoc than the good in it. They make believers lost focus of each an everyone discipling others.
A believer is damaged already when he could no more longer disciple another person and instead he is just encumbered with corporate programmes and activities or businesses or work.
A believer is damaged already when he has lost his original love for God and is now chasing shadows.
A believer is damaged already when his compassion to support Missions,Discipleship and Missionaries is lost. If your church is distracted, you mustn't be personally distracted.
A believer who has no time to intercede for others on his knees is already damaged. Probably your pursuit for money has damaged you.
At this point, we shouldn't hide from the fact that our lives need repair.
How will I shy away from that fact? Then it means someone is about to be swallowed up by hell unknowingly if the deception persist.
Lord, I come to Thee. Please look down from heaven and have mercy on us. Repair our damaged lifestyle and diverted mentality. We surrender to you alone and we refuse the onslaught of lust of our flesh. Rekindle your fire of love in us,and give us strength to overcome the distraction that lack or lust for money brings. We are returning dear Lord to our first love in Jesus name. Amen