The focus of the Holy Spirit for the End Time Army Convention 2022 is a clarion call!
“BE PREPARED! HOLY BRETHREN, PARTAKERS OF THE HEAVENLY CALLING” Heb. 3:1.
A call addressed to the holy brethren and partakers of the heavenly calling. In every season, age or generation, there are usually burning issues, in the heart of God. Such matters are usually communicated to his people either through prophetic or apostolic declaration, visions, revelations or special visitations.
Special attention must be given to every aspect of the convention so that we can deeply comprehend and not miss out what the Spirit of God is saying to His church. I Tim 4:1-2 throws, some light on the seriousness of what is at stake.
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy, and having their conscience seared with a hot iron.”
Yes, there are lots of speaking, teaching and preaching going on in various conferences, conventions, special seminars and different gatherings of God’s people. One wonders why much talks are having little or no effect on the body ministry in these last days. The above scriptures open our eyes to about four or five revelations.
First is the fact that we are already in the last days. Lots of heat, pressuring, moving, shakings, confusions, and fears. All these commotions and confusions according to Matthew 24 v 1-8 are the beginning of sorrows. Things will get a lot worse before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to restore all things.
The second aspect is the drifting away and mass departure from faith. I mean, the faith that was once delivered unto the brethren (Jude 1v3). Many of the happenings and actions of brethren in the church has become a matter of serious concern to the holy brethren, who are sincerely waiting for the coming of the Lord.
The third dimension is the underlying reason why people, pastors and many leaders are doing what their fathers in faith never preached or practiced……Giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. The influence of strange spirits and seducing spirits in the church today is very pronounced. Lots of evils, sins and wicked acts are committed daily without a single sense of remorse. Everyone seems to be doing what seems good in his sight, yet all activities and programmes are decked with the best and most attractive slogans, themes, backed with beautiful fliers and posters. Where are true callings and where are the holy brethren where everyone is seeking for “mere performance” instead of representing Christ.
Food, pleasure and entertainment have taken the place of prayers, repentance, consecration and holy living. Just as it happened sometimes in Israel in Judges 17 v 6, Judges 21 v 25; Pls 12 v4; every man was doing whatsoever seems right in his own eyes. Lawlessness, lewdness and looseness have become the order of the day.
Thousands of prayer mountains, hills, caves, valleys and temples are springing up daily, promoting and teaching doctrines of devils. The holy seekers and true enquirers are confused, confounded and constraint not knowing what to do next. The church of God is not an entertainment centre. Let us arise and manifest the true Christ.
The fourth aspect is the speaking of lies in hypocrisy. Out there today, there are lots of visions, revelation, prophecies, words of knowledge and thus says the Lord from men and women with various titles, deceptive attires and sonorous voices, proclaiming the word of the Lord they have never met or known. Multitudes are being deceived today to think that they are serving the living God, when actually their souls are being traded as articles in the kingdom of darkness. Lots of strange teachings, principles and practices are spreading like wild fire in our generation and many of the prayer houses are actually initiation centres into satan worship, occultism, demonism and deep spiritism.
Lots are going on in the world and in the church, with many more inventions being revealed day after day. No one seems to be in doubt today that indeed, we are in the end times. The last days events are very scary, troubling and worrisome. Former true brethren are giving heed to seducing spirits because of money, power, fame, influence and pleasure. Some are getting trapped due to ignorance, but majority are actually walking in and selling out to the devil because of financial and material gains, pleasures of sins and glamour of affluence.
The worst of it all is the aspect of “having their conscience seared with a hot iron. I Tim 4:2. It is not a matter of not knowing the truth, but according to 2 Pet 3 v 5
“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water……”
One of the slogans of one of such people is “I DON’T CARE.” True to their confessions, they don’t care. Many of the people that follow them are like them. That is where the truth of God’s word must be deeply taught to every young disciple in the church, so they can be rooted and grounded in the truth of God’s word. That was why apostle Paul however warns us in 1 Thes. 5 v 4-9 –
“But ye brethren are not in darkness, that their day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of the day: we are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as do other; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love: and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The trademarks of the devil in these last days are lies, hypocrisy, deception, enticing words of man’s wisdom (1cor. 2:4-5) cohesion, fear and demonic harassments; lying wonders and false magic, which are not the same as genuine miracles and moves of the Holy Spirit to affirm the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Yet, we are in one of the most exciting times in the world today. There is this mighty move of God that is sweeping across the nations of the world. A great outpouring of the Spirit of God with unprecedented release of power, signs and wonders to usher in the final move of God upon the earth for the great ingathering. We see great manifestations of God. Salvation, healing, Holy Ghost baptism and power, quickening of the Holy Spirit in the church to re-awaken those sleeping and slumbering. Many backsliders are returning to the faith while former satanic principal agents are having serious encounters with the Lord. Now, they accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Many of such former agents of darkness are becoming powerful tools in God’s hand exposing the works of darkness and proving to the world that Jesus is indeed alive and still saving souls. Joel 2:28-32
“It shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh…… And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.”
Furthermore, we must endeavour to keep the unity of faith and of the spirit in the bond of peace. Eph 4 v 3. We must never neglect the gathering of ourselves together as brethren as manner of some is – Heb 10 v 25, more so as we see the day of the Lord approaching.
The Lord laid it upon my spirit to challenge every saint of God in these last days to take up the challenge and BE PREPARED FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD AND BEGIN TO SOUND THE GOSPEL ALARM TO EVERY TONGUE, TRIBE AND NATION, DECLARING THAT THE COMING OF THE LORD IS NEAR, REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL.
The purpose and power of God’s calling is being revisited for all to be reminded that there is a destiny we must protect, callings that must be fulfilled, and lives that must be impacted. We must not fail God or this generation. The only hope for the world is Jesus. So, those of us who have been called must be ready to stand strong, speak out louder and clearer so that the true church will no longer be tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.
In the same vein, everyone that the Lord has called should rise up, walk up and take up the assignment from the Lord, that we might have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. I Jn 2 v 28. We must be wise, strong, focused, holy, united, skilled and skilful, watchful, filled with the Holy Spirit, occupied, diligent, disciplined, prayerful, faithful, generous, fruitful, consecrated, rooted, obedient, committed and ready!
Finally, we must stress the truth and reality of our redemption in Christ Jesus. We are saints of God, we are holy brethren, we are partakers of the heavenly calling – Heb. 3 v 1. Nothing must sway off our faith, commitment and determination to stand firm on the truth of the gospel as we contend for faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1 v 3. One sure way to do that is to abide in the apostles’ doctrines, and build up ourselves on our most holy faith by praying in the Holy Ghost Jude 1 v 20.
Yours in God’s Power,
Rev. Dr. Francis & Rev. Dr. Grace Olonade
