INTRODUCTION

What we have this Easter from the Lord can be termed "a special message". It is special because of the times in which we live and the circumstances/situation in the church of Christ generally and in our ministry.

To prepare our minds for such a special message, we would do the following :-

i. Define a message in the context of the scriptures.

ii. Define a retreat

iii. State the time now as was lately revealed

iv. State the basis for our Ministry's solidness of foundation, its dearness to God and the invaluableness and uniqueness of its assignment/service to God.

v. State the implications of the above; In other words, draw our inferences.

(i) A MESSAGE DEFINED AND ILLUSTRATED

As portrayed in/by the scriptures, a message is a well-defined piece of divine information and /or instruction usually sent through some medium to an individual or a people. Such messages are usually given to their recipients for their perusal and action of some sort, with the giver aiming at achieving some goal with them.

Broadly speaking, the entire Bible is a message from God to all mankind of every generation. In it we find God's mind for all; what they should know about him, about themselves, and about everything, as well as what they should do.

Apart from the Bible being a broad message from God to all mankind, we have pieces of message (as before defined) from the: Lord to individuals and to peoples littering its pages (eg, Lk. 1:26-33; Jonah 1:1-2; 3:1-2; Acts 26:13-18; Mk. 16:4-7; Matt. 1:20,21). So much on the definition of a message.

(ii) RETREAT DEFINED

A retreat in Christian parlance is a period/time the Christian separates himself/herself I from secular activities to present himself/herself before the Lord, listening to and reading His word, reassessing and correcting himself/herself in the light of the word, and building-in lost qualities, in order to stand before him blameless once more (cp. Mark 6:30-32; 1Sam. 7:3-6; Neh. 8:1-6; 9:1-3; Mk. 6:30-32; Mk. 1:35; Lam. 3:40; Matt. 17:1-2).

(iii) THE TIME NOW

Up to a couple of weeks back, we had known that the bride of Christ, the church has a very short time in the present world before the Rapture. We had well informed that we were 5 minutes to the MID-NIGHT. (See Matthew 25:1-12). The MID-NIGHT, as we already know symbolizes/signifies the apex/peak of current-distracting, destablizing and demoralizing activities and /or phenomena presently influencing the Christian into unrighteousness, faithlessness, greed, covetousness, prayerlessness, impatience, indifference and lack of compassion for the sinner and unmindfulness of the Bridegrooms return, to mention but a few.

But now, the time to this MID-NIGHT mark is shorter than we had known. A few weeks back, the Lord, by the word of knowledge intimated that we are now 2½ minutes to the MID-NIGHT. Since this revelation a couple of weeks ago, many testimonies have reached us from various quarters confirming the authenticity of the revelation.


(iv) THE BASIS OF THE MINISTRY'S SOLIDNESS OF FOUNDATION, ITS DEARNESS TO GOD AND THE INVALUABLENESS AND UNIQUENESS OF HER ASSIGNMENT FROM GOD. (1Cor. 10:1-11)

What is recorded hereunder is of such paramount importance and so sacred that all who have anything to do with the WCCRM/this Movement should have them indelibly printed on their hearts in their own interest.

About 30 years ago, soon after becoming genuinely born-again and converted, the general overseer of this Movement! the man whom God used to commence this Movement observed some serious ugly, unchristian and sinful tendencies, characteristics and phenomena among the believers of those days. This observation led him into making the following vows 8 long others which vows he upholds till now.

• Not to seek to be known or recognized by anybody for whatever he is able to do for the Lord until in eternity. (Jn. 2:24-25; 5:44; 7:18; Phil. 3:1-8; Jn. 5:30)
  


• Not to seek or accept the glorification or approval of man but that of the Lord (cp. Jn. 2:24-25; 6:15; Lk. 11:27-28; Phil. 3:13; Jn. 5:44).

• Not to be a means of offence arid schisms in the church or a means of hind rance to the religious but unsaved, the saints or the sinners.(1Cor. 10:23-33; Phil. 1:10; Lk. 17:1; Acts 24:16)

• Not to engage in any thinking, any speaking, any conversation, or any murmuring against those who led and taught him, or against their administration, but to pray to the Lord in the event of anything that do not appeal to him (cp. 1Sam. 24:6; Phil. 2:19; Num. 12:1-2; Rom. 12:4).

• To pursue no earthly reward for any labour invested in serving the Lord, but to be self-subsistence throughout. (cp. 1Sam. 12:1-5; Acts 20:33-35; Lk. 9:58; Acts 4:34-37; 2Thess)

• To remain teachable and rulable always, no matter the category or status of those who ruled and taught him. (cp. 1Pet. 5:5-6; Heb. 13:17; Phil. 2:5-8)

• To learn always from every source - the dynamic, the babes, the sinners, as well as the ants. (cp. Prov. 6:6; Job 12:7-8).

• To remain an exemplary believer in the midst of all categories of believers through to the end. (cp. 1Tim. 4:12; Matt. 5:13-16; 10:25 ).

• To do whatsoever that is legitimate and to endure whatsoever that comes his way in his quest and work to bring the multitudes to the saving knowledge of Christ. (cp. 2Cor. 1:6; 2Tim. 2:10; 1Cor. 9:18-23).
  

(v) THE INFERENCE FROM THE FORE-GOING

It must be because of these vows (as stated above) and the type of qualities they yielded that the Lord gave his man initially the 5-fold vision/ministry of :-

• Opening the eyes of the masses of un-regenerated church-folks and turning them from ignorance to the knowledge of the Lord and the riches therein.


% Opening the eyes of the other multitudes outside Christendom and turning them to Christ and to the riches of Christ.

% Restoring, reviving and unifying the body of Christ (the church) for the Rapture.

% Healing the sick, restoring the disabled, delivering the oppressed and possessed by devils and bringing the power of God to bear on the needy generally.

% Warning the adamant of the judgement to come.

This 5-fold vision has now been compressed into a 3-fold end-time vision/project of

(a) Raising a great army of Christians from the various denominations for an imminent great harvest of souls into the kingdom of God;

(b) Bringing about a great harvest of souls proper and a great revival in the entire church.

(c) Fulfilling the pre-rapture necessity (Eph. 4:11-15; 5:27).

This 3-fold end-time vision was substantiated or concretized by the following scripture passage by the still small voice of the Lord, April 2001, after "Mbaise on the hill programme". (Isaiah 49:5-6).

Remember, Moses was chosen by God for such a great assignment he gave him because of his love for the God of Israel and concern for his people, portrayed in what he did (Ex. 2:11-13; Heb. 11:24-27).

Noah was chosen of God for the business of announcing the wrath that was to come and building that ark to the saving of his household, and for replenishing the world that was to be destroyed because of his choosing to eschew evil in the midst of his evil-laden generation. (Gen. 6:5-9,17-18; 2Pet. 2:4-5).

Joseph was chosen by the Lord ahead of time to provide for the house of Jacob his father in Egypt and thereby preserve them for God's promises in the future because he was separate from his brethren (Gen. 37:5-7; 49:26 ).

From the foregoing, the solidness of the foundation of this Movement, its dearness to the heart of God and the invaluableness and uniqueness of its service to the Lord can be clearly seen by any reasonable person. Moreover, the dearness to God of its faithful and right-living ministers (including the founder) and flocks is also not in question.

Now that we have seen the meaning of a message and that of a retreat, and also known the time now 2½ minutes to the MID-NIGHT, as well as the basis of the WCCRM soundness of foundation, its foolishness, self-delusion and self-destruction for anyone to try to do, say or introduce anything or things that tend to destroy those things the Movement is built on, which have endeared her and its founder to God's heart? Nonetheless /nervertheless/however, the Lord is still long suffering, not willing that any should perish (2Pet. 3:9; Ezk. 33:11). Repentance in dust and ashes and restitution are still efficacious. This is why He is announcing to all and sundry, who may have repentance and restitution without delay, since it's not yet late.

It must be noted that these inferences and injunctions, are directed to you, the reader, to the diocesan pastor, the WCCRM representative overseas, the district/zonal pastor, the women leader, the parish pastor, the worker, the new convert, the backslider, as well as all those who have been coming and going, but their names are not yet in the lamb's book of life.


THE YET UNSAVED CAN STILL BE SAVED, AND THAT NOW

Right now, it is evident that a greater percentage of the multitudes of church-folks are only coming and going, but remain unsaved. The reason for/behind this is obvious. These days, being the very last days before/to the Rapture, are perilous and full of troubles of every sort (2Tim. 3:1; Matt. 24:3-8).

The devils knowing that the beginning of their damnation is almost up, are intensifying their manoeuvres and onslaught, creating a lot of troubles in every area of life - the health sector, the economic sector, the social sector, the political sector, the academic sector, the religious sector and the spiritual sector (cp. Rev. 12:7-12). Because of this situation, multitudes mill around seeking religious solutions to their afflictions, sickness, matrimonial woes, economic woes, insecurity, etc; having sought such solutions without success in the secular world. In the process, either consciously or unconsciously, they forget or neglect their souls' eternal well-being and remain unsaved. This is why they have no genuine clear-cut testimonies of salvation and the joy of salvation. Such people are usually conversant with the Christian's language. They pray, sing and testify to the reality and power of God, but have no clear-cut testimonies of how they encountered Christ, repented, confessed and had their sins forgiven and their hearts regenerated (cp. Tit. 1:16; 2Tim. 3:5; Rom. 10:1-4; Acts 10:1-5). There are others in the lot who come, partake in some of the activities, yet those things are done as a matter of formality.

But it is not yet late. These unsaved can yet be saved and should be saved now. They should remember that the rule/principle of God is; "seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness , and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matt. 6:33). They should also remember that Lazarus' soul, whose flesh was full of sores and torments went to paradise at death while the rich man's soul, whose flesh was filled with pleasure and goodies, descended into hell (Luke 16:19-23). They must seek to be born into the kingdom forthwith (John 3:3,5). The simple but definite thing that must be sincerely, willingly and wholeheartedly done is as follows:

C They must look inwards and realize they are yet sinners, though in the church (cp. Luke 15:17(a); Acts 2:37(a) ).

C They must repent and confess their sins to God, asking for His forgiveness, and the granting of the earnest of God's Spirit to dwell in their hearts (1Pet. 51:1-; Prov. 28:11-13; Acts 3:19)

C They must believe that Jesus died for their sins, and rose up the 3rd day for their justification, and that because of this, their sins are blotted out from God's record and the guilt cleared from their hearts (Rom. 5:1-2)

C They must henceforth consider themselves saved and children of God on the basis of the fore-going and continue from there to build-up better relationship with God as they endeavour to keep away from those things/persons that could lead them back to their old lives, and as they continue in fellowship, prayers and in His word (Acts 2:42; Jn. 8:31).

THOSE ALWAYS BLIND TO THEIR OWN EVIL CAN YET BE CHANGED/HEALED/BEGIN TO SEE THEIR SIN

There is the terrible evil in mankind which the heavens have/which heaven has lamented through the centuries since the fall of man in the garden of Eden. It is the evil of everyone seeing the error of the other. Adam said, "it is the woman whom thou gavest to be with me that is responsible for the sin" (Gen. 3:11-12). On her part Eve said, "it is the serpent that caused the disobedience (Gen. 3:13). From that time on till now, the tradition has continued unabated. This is why the brothers of Joseph saw his "evil" of dreaming dreams and sharing same with them, but did not see their real evil, youthful tendencies and behaviours and hatred (cons. Gen. 37:1-8). The Pharisees and Sadducee's on their part saw Jesus' "evil" of healing the sick on a Sabbath day, but could not see their real evil of mercilessness, injustice, envy, etc ( Matt. 23:23; Jn. 5:5-16 ). At their time, Miriam and Aaron readily saw Moses' "evil" of marrying an Ethiopian lady, but could not see their real evil because of the magnification the Lord gave him (Num. 12:1-10).

But note this, inability to see ones errors, faults and sins is one inability too many and too costly. It is little wonder that families are in crises, relationships are sour or broken; the political realm is in turmoil; the church of God is in crisis and in shreds; name it.

It is common knowledge that many in our church today do not bother about examining themselves, spotting and dealing with their own sins, but readily pick the faults of others.

However, the Movement is not a pa,ce where the truth of God's word can be downplayed or a place of sub-standardness that leads to hell. The infallible word has commanded us to make the habit of examining and correcting ourselves first (2Cor. 13:5). The Lord Jesus charged his listeners thus, "thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt...thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye" (Matt. 7:5). The apostle lambasted the Roman Christians thus, "thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? Thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? (Rom. 2:21-22).

The flocks are picking the faults of the pastors and vice-versa. The husband is picking the faults of the wife and vice-versa. Without restraint, every body is busy examining and discovering the faults in the other. But it is not yet late for these categories of sinners in the church to be changed/healed. The night of the rapture or death has not come (cp. Jn. 9:4). But the night can come tomorrow.

Note this, it is dangerous for anybody to kick against the pricks (Acts 9), in other words, it is dangerous for anyone, after hearing or reading this to continue to go against those qualities upon which this Movement was built, those who have been faulted must repent in dust and ashes forthwith, following this, if they must henceforth be free, they must begin the practice of examining, their own selves first and doing away with whatever faults they find in themselves (Ps. 139:23-24; 2Cor.13:5 ). The principle is, physician, heal thyself (cp. Lk. 4:23 ).

THOSE WHO KNOW ONLY IN PART, BUT THINK THEY KNOW MUCH CAN BE RECOVERED/RECOVER THEMSELVES

It is the issue of people in church knowing only in part (as shown in scriptures - 1Cor. 13)? but thinking that they know much that has resulted in some stubbornness that we find among the church-folks of today. More often than not, those who have this terrible fault are zealous, but heady, unrulable and therefore disruptive to the harmony required in the church. How many people have jumped out to commence ministries/church organizations (albeit, without success) and put their salvation and entire lives into jeopardy because they had thought they knew much, not realizing that they knew just a little. How many others have ruined their Christian lives, falling from grace to grass for not heeding experienced pastors' counsels, just because they erroneously thought they knew much.

THE SOURCE OF THEIR "I-KNOW-MUCH"

Part of what usually leads people into this evil is the privilege of dreams, trances, revelations, voice of the Spirit of God. No doubt, God does grant whosoever he wills the privilege of dreams, trances, revelations, voice of the Spirit (eg. Num. 12:1-6; Joel 2:28). Very often we hear people say, "the Lord spoke to me; the Lord ministered to me", but what then is the common error of such people whom the Lord speaks/ministers to from time to time?

THE ERROR OF THE PEOPLE

While it may be true that the Lord speaks/ministers to such people from time to time on some matters, their error is the fact that they do not realize that the Lord will not give dreams, trances or the Spirit's voice for just every matter of their lives. As a result some will hardly listen to sermons objectively, hardly go for counselling, hardly learn anything from any other person or quarter. But hear these: young Samuel thought that Eli was calling him, until more mature Eli made him know it was God and instructed him on what to do (1Sam. 3:7-10); the disciples of the Lord thought that the kingdom was to appear physically upon their arrival at Jerusalem, until the Lord disabused their minds of the erroneous notion (Lk. 19:10). Experience and maturity usually count in interpreting the voice of the Lord through dreams, trances and the Spirit's voice.

Now, it's not yet lat for all who have this terrible fault of "I know it" to be rescued. Hereunder is what they must realize today and do. We all know in part, no matter the volume of what we think we know (1Cor. 13:8,9). Let us assume that brother/sister A knows some things, and that brother/sister B knows better than brother/sister A, and that brother C knows more than A & B, nevertheless, all of them know in part, given the unquantifiable volume of what can be known (Rom. 11:33; Isaiah 55:8-9). Even the angels know in part, not knowing the day and hour the Lord's second advent (Matt. 24:36). They must repent today and begin to learn from the spoken word, the written word, listen to counselling and learn from others.

If this counsel is not heeded, such people want to crash out. Satan knows that they know in part, but are unwilling to learn. So he will set traps for them, usually long-term traps. Do not be caught in that trap.

THE MURMURERS AND ALL OTHER EVIL-TONGUED CHURCH-FOLKS CAN YET BE RECOVERED

Murmuring can be defined as, complaining or speaking against a thing, a person or the church because of some adverse situation, or because of something one does not agree to, or does not understand. The church in the wilderness had this terrible evil spot of murmuring on the way to Canaan land, and even when they arrived there.

(1) They murmured after the first three days of the journey through the wilderness for lack of water or drinkable water (Ex. 15:22-24; 17:1-3).

(2) They murmured again fifteen days into their journey for lack of the former courses of meals in Egypt and wished they were killed by the Lord in Egypt (Ex. 16:1-3).

(3) As the journey progressed, they murmured yet again because an evil picture had been painted of the land they were heading to and decided to dump Moses for another leader to return to Egypt (Num. 13:31- 14:4).

(4) In the course of time, a band of them (Miriam and Aaron) murmured against Moses, their junior brother/leader for what he did which they did not understand (Num. 12:1-2). Having come into the land, they murmured agin against their leaders for what they (the leaders)disallowed which they did not understand (Joshua 9:17-18; see Psalm 106:26).

In the New Testament Jesus detractors murmured against him for a number of things He did allowed, or said which they did not agree with or understand (eg. Mk. 14:3-5; Lk. 5:29-30; 19:5-7; Jn. 6:41). There was also murmuring in the early church for a perceived discrimination (Acts 6:1). Later, in the church, there were murmurers (Jude 16). And today, even at 21/2 minutes to the midnight, there are still murmurers in the church, even the Watchman church. Some murmur because of some adverse situation they are into and they speak against the church as if the church is responsible for such situation. Others murmur because of the modus operandi of the Ministry . Yet others murmur because of the projects the movement is undertaking (including the IGMC of the hour), or because of some things they do not understand or that do not appeal to them.

Whatever the reasons behind any murmuring, murmuring is a great evil, carrying terrible consequences. For example, murmuring made God to change the period of the journey from Egypt to Canaan from 40 days to 40 years, till the adults that were involved were wasted (Num. 14:26-37). Murmuring brought leprosy and ostracism to Miriam (Num. 12:1-15). It was murmuring that brought destruction to the people (1Cor. 10:10; Num. 14:37). In the New Testament murmuring is still punishable (see Jude 16:10-15).

It is not yet late for all murmurers and all other evil-tongued folks to repent and desist. But it may become late a little after this retreat in the event of the Rapture or death. The WCCRM must be returned to the foundations the founding father had laid as itemized earlier in this treatise. The Lord will not continue to watch while the apple of His eye is being pricked. He that hath ear to hear, let him hear (Matt. 13:9,43).

THOSE WHOSE AFFECTION FOR GOD, THE THINGS OF GOD AND THE BRETHREN HAVE WANED CAN YET BE RECOVERED

For a long time now, it has been observed that in the church that the affection of many brethren for the Lord, the things of God and for the brethren has badly waned of dissipated. For some it is the myriad of the adverse situations of our day that has entered their hearts and caused this (cp. Matt. 24:12; 2Tim. 3:1(a)). For others it is the eating and drinking, and the pursuit of the other mundane things that has led to their predicament (cp. Matt. 24:37-39; Deut. 32:13-15).

The evidence of this situation is so glaring. They miss fellowships, leaders' and workers' meetings, follow-up work, retreats, and will engage in things that serve not the interest of others in the church. All these they do for no genuine reasons other than having grown cold with secular activities (Deut. 32:13-15). They constitute a discouragement to their pastors and the other brethren. Unto such we can hear heaven exclaiming, "how are the mighty fallen" (2Sam. 1:17, 19, 20, 25).

But the dry bones can rise again before it's late. All they need do is to recognize with godly sorrow that they have fallen (Rev. 2:5; Lk. 15:17a); give into the voice of God's word (1Kgs. 19a; Ezk. 37:4-6; Rev. 2:5), shake off their fatness, indolence, lack of interest, etc (if need be violently) to save themselves from this untoward situation (cp. Acts 2:40).