DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS?
Knowing His Name Is Not the Same as Knowing Him!

Key Scripture — Acts 19:14–16 (KJV)
“And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.”

Thought Of The Day...
There is a tremendous difference between knowing about Jesus and actually knowing Jesus.
Acts 19 gives us a powerful and sobering picture of this truth. The seven sons of Sceva had heard about the miracles taking place through the Apostle Paul. They had witnessed or heard reports of demons being cast out and lives being transformed through the name of Jesus.
They saw the results, but they did not understand the relationship behind the results.
They wanted the authority Paul demonstrated without possessing the relationship Paul had.
They attempted to use the name of Jesus almost like a spiritual formula. Earlier in the passage they said:
“We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.”
— Acts 19:13 (KJV)
Notice their language.
They did not say, “Jesus whom we know.”
They said, “Jesus whom Paul preacheth.”
Jesus was Paul's testimony, but He had not become their personal testimony.
And that raises a serious question for every believer:
Do you know Jesus for yourself?
It is possible to grow up in church and still only know about Jesus.
It is possible to know Scripture and still not truly surrender to Jesus.
It is possible to sing about Jesus, preach about Jesus, teach about Jesus, shout about Jesus, and even use the name of Jesus—yet lack a genuine relationship with Him.
Christianity was never intended to be secondhand.
You cannot survive spiritually forever on your mother's relationship with God, your father's prayers, your pastor's anointing, your bishop's revelation, your spouse's faith, or your grandmother's testimony.
Eventually, you must know Him for yourself.
Paul could say:
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings…”
— Philippians 3:10 (KJV)
Paul wasn't satisfied merely knowing facts about Christ. His desire was, “That I may know Him.”
“JESUS I KNOW, AND PAUL I KNOW; BUT WHO ARE YE?”
These may be some of the most sobering words in Acts.
The evil spirit responded:
“Jesus I know.”
There was no confusion in the kingdom of darkness concerning Jesus.
The demons knew exactly who He was.
During Jesus' earthly ministry, an unclean spirit cried:
“I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.”
— Mark 1:24 (KJV)
James gives us another sobering reminder:
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
— James 2:19 (KJV)
Simply acknowledging that Jesus exists is not the same as belonging to Him.
But then the spirit said something else:
“Paul I know.”
Why was Paul recognized?
Because Paul's life demonstrated that he belonged to Jesus.
Paul wasn't borrowing somebody else's faith. He had encountered Christ for himself. His authority did not come from merely repeating Jesus' name; it flowed from his relationship with and commission from Jesus.
Then came the devastating question:
“BUT WHO ARE YE?”
In other words, You are using the name, but where is your relationship with the One whose name you are using?
The sons of Sceva discovered that the name of Jesus is not a magical phrase.
There is power in the name of Jesus because of who Jesus is.
Jesus declared:
“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
— Matthew 28:18 (KJV)
His name represents His person, His authority, His victory, His lordship and His kingdom.
We must never reduce the name of Jesus to something we merely shout when we are in trouble. His name belongs to the Savior to whom we surrender our lives.
DO YOU KNOW THE JESUS YOU CALL ON?
Jesus is more than a name mentioned at the end of a prayer.
He is the Son of God.
“Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
— Matthew 16:16 (KJV)
He is the Savior.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
— Luke 19:10 (KJV)
He is the Way to the Father.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
— John 14:6 (KJV)
He is the Resurrection and the Life.
“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”
— John 11:25 (KJV)
He is Lord.
“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
— Philippians 2:11 (KJV)
The question is not merely, “Have you heard about Him?”
The question is:
Have you trusted Him?
Have you surrendered to Him?
Are you following Him?
Are you walking with Him?
Does your life belong to Him?
YOU CANNOT BORROW SOMEBODY ELSE'S ANOINTING
The sons of Sceva tried to imitate what they saw Paul doing.
But spiritual authority cannot be copied like a technique.
You can imitate someone's preaching style.
You can imitate someone's prayer language.
You can imitate someone's worship.
You can repeat someone's favorite Scriptures.
But you cannot imitate their relationship with God.
Jesus said:
“Abide in me, and I in you… for without me ye can do nothing.”
— John 15:4–5 (KJV)
Our strength comes from abiding in Christ.
The greatest danger is not weakness that drives us toward Jesus. The greater danger is trying to operate spiritually while disconnected from Him.
The seven sons discovered this painfully.
The possessed man “overcame them, and prevailed against them.”
They entered believing they had authority they did not possess and left “naked and wounded.”
There is a warning here:
Never attempt to substitute religious activity for genuine relationship with Christ.
YOUR PRIVATE WALK MATTERS
Before Paul stood publicly in authority, he had privately surrendered his life to Jesus.
Our public Christianity must be supported by a private relationship with God.
Who are you when there is no microphone?
Who are you when there is no congregation?
Who are you when nobody sees you praying?
Who are you when temptation comes?
Who are you when life becomes difficult?
Do you still trust Jesus when there is nobody around to applaud your faith?
Jesus said:
“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed.”
— John 8:31 (KJV)
Real discipleship is demonstrated through continued fellowship, obedience, faith and dependence upon Christ.
KNOW HIM BEFORE THE BATTLE COMES
Don't wait until trouble arrives to try to discover who Jesus is.
Know Him now.
Know Him in prayer.
Know Him through His Word.
Know Him in worship.
Know Him through obedience.
Know Him when everything is going well so that when everything begins falling apart, you already know where your help comes from.
David could face Goliath because David already knew God before Goliath appeared.
Daniel could face the lions because Daniel knew God before he entered the den.
The three Hebrew boys could face the fiery furnace because they knew God before Nebuchadnezzar heated it.
Paul could endure persecution because he knew the Christ for whom he suffered.
And when your day of testing comes, you need more than something somebody told you about Jesus.
You need to be able to declare:
I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF!
Job said:
“For I know that my redeemer liveth…”
— Job 19:25 (KJV)
There are some storms where somebody else's testimony will not be enough.
You need your own history with God.
You need memories of prayers He answered.
You need moments when His Word carried you.
You need times when you experienced His grace.
You need the confidence to declare:
I know who Jesus is because I have walked with Him for myself!
THE QUESTION STILL STANDS
Acts 19 leaves us with a question that should cause every believer to examine his or her heart:
DO YOU KNOW WHO JESUS IS?
Not just the Jesus your pastor preaches.
Not just the Jesus your parents taught you about.
Not just the Jesus you heard about in Sunday School.
But Jesus Christ for yourself.
And perhaps an even deeper question is:
DOES YOUR LIFE SHOW THAT YOU KNOW HIM?
Jesus said:
“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
— John 10:27 (KJV)
Knowing Jesus should produce following Jesus.
Following Jesus should produce obedience.
Obedience should produce transformation.
And transformation should cause our lives to testify that we have been with Jesus.

PRAYER...
Father, in the name of Jesus,
Thank You for revealing Your Son to us. Lord, forgive us for every time we have been satisfied with simply knowing about Jesus instead of developing a deeper relationship with Him.
We don't want secondhand faith. We don't want borrowed convictions. We don't want to depend solely upon somebody else's prayers, testimony or relationship with You.
Lord Jesus, we want to know You for ourselves.
Draw us closer to You. Give us a hunger for Your Word, a desire for prayer, a heart of worship and a spirit willing to obey Your voice.
Search our hearts and remove everything that has created distance between us and You.
Teach us not merely to speak Your name but to honor Your name with the way we live.
When temptation comes, remind us who You are.
When storms arise, remind us who You are.
When fear attacks, remind us who You are.
When the enemy challenges our faith, help us stand firmly upon the authority of Your Word.
May our lives testify that we belong to Jesus Christ.
And Lord, let our greatest desire always be the cry of Paul:
“That I may know him.”
We want to know You more deeply, love You more completely, trust You more confidently, obey You more faithfully, and represent You more boldly.
In the mighty, matchless, powerful name of Jesus Christ, we pray.
Amen.

DECLARATION...
I DECLARE that I will not live on borrowed faith!
I know who Jesus is!
Jesus is my Savior.
Jesus is my Redeemer.
Jesus is my Lord.
Jesus is my Deliverer.
Jesus is my Rock.
Jesus is my Strength.
Jesus is my Hope.
Jesus is my King!
I will seek Him, follow Him, obey Him and grow deeper in my relationship with Him.
I refuse to merely know about Jesus.
I WILL KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF!
And when life asks me, “Do you know who Jesus is?”
My faith, my testimony, my obedience and my life will answer:
YES! I KNOW HIM FOR MYSELF!
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection…” — Philippians 3:10 (KJV)

Enjoy your Sunday Church Services and God Bless!

God's Creation, 100 / evolution, 0
WAS THE BIBLE COPIED CORRECTLY?

One of the most common objections to Christianity is that the Bible has been copied so many times that we can no longer know what it originally said.

At first, that sounds reasonable.

After all, if a document has been copied by hand for centuries, wouldn't mistakes accumulate until the original message was lost?

The problem is that this objection ignores the evidence.

The New Testament is the most well-attested document from the ancient world. Today, scholars have access to more than 5,800 Greek New Testament manuscripts, over 10,000 Latin manuscripts, and thousands more in other ancient languages. In total, there are over 24,000 manuscript copies and portions of the New Testament available for comparison.

To appreciate how remarkable that is, consider other famous ancient works. The writings of Julius Caesar survive in about 10 manuscripts. The historian Tacitus is preserved in just a handful of copies. Yet few people question whether we know what those authors originally wrote.

Not only do we have an enormous number of manuscripts, but many of them are very early. Portions of the New Testament can be dated within decades of the original writings. Complete manuscripts appear far closer to the originals than those available for most ancient literature.

Because we possess so many copies from different regions and centuries, copyist mistakes are often easy to identify. If a scribe accidentally omitted a word, misspelled a name, or skipped a line, scholars can compare thousands of manuscripts and detect the error.

Think of it this way. If there were only one surviving manuscript, mistakes would be difficult to identify. But when thousands of manuscripts agree with one another, they function as checks and balances.

Critics often point to the existence of textual variants. However, the overwhelming majority are minor differences involving spelling, word order, or grammar. In Greek, changing the order of words often does not change the meaning of the sentence. Most variants are so insignificant that Bible translators simply note them in the footnotes.

Even skeptical textual scholars acknowledge that no major Christian doctrine depends on a disputed passage.

Then there are the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Discovered beginning in 1947 near the Dead Sea, these manuscripts included portions of every Old Testament book except Esther. Some of them were over 1,000 years older than the oldest Hebrew manuscripts previously available.

Critics expected significant corruption of the text over time.

Instead, they found remarkable consistency. The book of Isaiah, for example, was found to be substantially the same despite being copied over many centuries. The differences that existed were overwhelmingly minor and did not affect the message of the text.

The Bible was not preserved because people copied it perfectly.

It was preserved because so many copies were made that mistakes became detectable.

In fact, the manuscript evidence for the Bible is so extensive that scholars can compare copies from different countries, centuries, and language families to reconstruct the original text with a very high degree of confidence.

Every ancient document was copied.

The question is whether it was copied reliably.

When judged by the same standards historians use for every other ancient work, the Bible stands in a category of its own.

The new week is coming at us with to-do lists, targets, bills, and challenges. 
‎But Jesus gives us the order: Kingdom first.
‎
‎When we chase provision before purity and His Presence, we end up anxious and empty. 
‎
‎When we chase platforms before integrity, we build without God. 
‎But when we seek His kingdom first, His rule, His righteousness, His will, God says, “I’ll handle the rest.”
‎
‎This week, Do not work from pressure and panic. Work from rest and priority. 
‎Put God’s agenda above your agenda, and watch Him add what you have been stressing over.
‎
‎Repent of putting your plans, hustle, and worries before God. Surrender your week, your decisions, and your way to Him. 
‎
‎Invitation: 
‎Hey, if you never had the chance to invite Christ into your life, this is your moment.
‎Accept God’s way, JESUS. He died and rose again so you can have life and know the Father. Surrender to Him today and He will add everything you need.
‎It's Providence

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PROVERB OF THE DAY

(Proverbs 25)

1. These also are
proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:

2. It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,
But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

3. As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4. Take away the dross from silver,
And it will go to the silversmith
for jewelry.

5. Take away the wicked from before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.

6. Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of the great;

7. For it is better that he say to you,
“Come up here,”
Than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.

8. Do not go hastily to court;
For what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor has put you to shame?

9. Debate your case with your neighbor,
And do not disclose the secret to another;

10. Lest he who hears it expose your shame,
And your reputation be ruined.

11. A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold
In settings of silver.

12. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.

13. Like the cold of snow in time of harvest
Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

14. Whoever falsely boasts of giving
Is like clouds and wind without rain.

15. By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded,
And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

16. Have you found honey?
Eat only as much as you need,
Lest you be filled with it and vomit.

17. Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house,
Lest he become weary of you and hate you.

18. A man who bears false witness against his neighbor
Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.

19. Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble
Is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.

20. Like one who takes away a garment in cold weather,
And like vinegar on soda,
Is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21. If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

22. For so you will heap coals of fire on his head,
And the LORD will reward you.

23. The north wind brings forth rain,
And a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

24. It is better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

25. As cold water to a weary soul,
So is good news from a far country.

26. A righteous man
who falters before the wicked
Is like a murky spring and a polluted well.

27. It is not good to eat much honey;
So to seek one’s own glory is not glory.

28. Whoever has no rule over his own spirit
Is like a city broken down, without walls.

Kora Obidi, Pastor Kumuyi and Her Deeper Life Roots: How One Shakira Clip at 13 Turned a Holiness Girl Into an Adult Performer

I saw an interview recently. It came to my feed because it contained content related to Pastor Kumuyi and Deeper Life, and the algorithm knows I watch holiness‑based content.

And in that interview, Kora Obidi openly mentioned Deeper Life Church.

She said she grew up in a Deeper Life home where TV was completely forbidden.
She said she didn’t watch TV for the first 13 years of her life.
And the very first day she finally watched TV… she saw Shakira dancing.

According to her, that sudden exposure — after 13 years of total denial — made her “vulnerable,” and Shakira’s performance immediately influenced her to start dancing.
Not just dancing, but eventually becoming an adult performer.

Her story is not simply unfortunate.
It is a case study in what happens when holiness is present, but conviction is absent.

WHAT HER STORY REVEALS

1. Rules cannot replace regeneration

She lived under holiness but never met the God behind it.
That is why one Shakira clip could overthrow 13 years of doctrine.

“God looks at the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7

2. Sudden exposure destroys unrooted children

She said she became “vulnerable” because she had never seen anything like Shakira before.
This is exactly why Kumuyi and Deeper Life restricted TV, not to punish, but to protect.

“Guard your heart.” — Proverbs 4:23

3. Trauma without discipleship becomes rebellion

She lost her mother early.
Her father left the church.
Her emotional foundation collapsed.

Pain + exposure + no discipleship = predictable derailment.

“A broken spirit dries the bones.” — Proverbs 17:22

4. Talent without guidance becomes a weapon for the world

Her gift made room for her but because she lacked discipleship, the room she entered was the world, not the kingdom.

“A gift makes room.” — Proverbs 18:16

5. Church culture cannot replace personal salvation

She grew up in church, not in Christ.

“Be rooted in Him.” — Colossians 2:7

LESSONS FOR THE CHURCH, PARENTS AND CHILDREN

For the Church

Stop assuming children raised in holiness are automatically saved.
They need encounters, not just outlines.

For Parents

Your child can obey your rules and still be spiritually empty.
Your child can avoid TV and still be unrooted.
Your child can dress holy and still be vulnerable.

Holiness must be explained, not just enforced.

For Children/Teenagers

Growing up in church is not salvation.
Your parents’ convictions cannot become yours by inheritance.

You must meet Christ personally.

MY PERSONAL CONCLUSION

When I was in Deeper Life in the 90s, I saw this pattern clearly.
Most of the people who carried real fire were those who came into the church seeking God, not those who were born into the system.

I saw chronic unbelievers who mastered the routines but never felt the fire.

Even Jerry Kumuyi, raised in holiness, didn’t become born again until his mid‑thirties.
His friend, who claimed he was an ex‑cultist in that popular video clip, was also the son of a big pastor.

This reinforces one truth: salvation is personal.

“Work out your salvation.” — Philippians 2:12

Holiness is not inherited.
It is not absorbed by proximity.
It is birthed by conviction.

This is why Pastor Kumuyi or Deeper Life should not be blamed for how Kora turned out.
Many grew up under the same strict environment — no TV, no worldly exposure — and turned out strong, stable, and deeply rooted in Christ.

The issue is not Deeper Life.
The issue is not the no‑TV doctrine.
The issue is not Pastor Kumuyi.
The issue is personal surrender.

HOW TO HELP CHILDREN BORN INTO CHURCH CULTURE (WHO DON’T BELIEVE)

• Teach identity, not just morality
• Give encounters, not just restrictions
• Disciple their gifts early
• Heal wounds before the world exploits them
• Let them ask questions without fear
• Show them Christ, not just church culture

If we fail here, the world will disciple them the moment they step outside.

And the first Shakira they see at 13 will still be powerful enough to redirect their destiny.

- shared by

Dae Jumong 12/7/26
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Here is my opinion …

This conversation goes beyond Kora Obidi, Deeper Life, Pastor Kumuyi, or even the question of whether a particular church standard was right or wrong.

The deeper parenting lesson is that child can be protected from the world and still not be prepared for the world.

Rules are important. Boundaries are important. Values are important. But boundaries without understanding can create children who know what they are not allowed to do, but do not understand why they believe what they believe.

A child who has never been taught how to process temptation may not know what to do when temptation eventually arrives.

This is why parenting cannot only be about restriction. It must also be about formation.

You cannot simply say:
“Don’t watch this.”
“Don’t listen to that.”
“Don’t go there.”

You must also teach:
“Here is why we choose differently.”
“Here is who you are.”
“Here is what God says about your identity.”
“Here is how to make wise decisions when nobody is watching.”

The goal of parenting is not to raise children who can survive only inside our fence.

The goal is to raise children who carry conviction even when they leave the fence.

A child who has been trained only by external control may look obedient while supervised but collapse when freedom comes.

A child who has been discipled has an internal compass.

That is why parents must move from control to conviction, from rules to relationship, from behavior management to heart transformation.

Jesus did not just give people rules; He transformed hearts.

The question every Christian parent should ask is:

“Have I only taught my child how to behave, or have I helped my child understand why they believe?”

Because one day every child will encounter their own “Shakira moment” an unexpected exposure, a new environment, a new friend, a new temptation.

The preparation is not pretending the world does not exist.

The preparation is raising children who know who they are before the world tells them who they should become.

Holiness must move from the family handbook into the child’s heart.

That is the work of intentional parenting.

This is exactly why parenting cannot be accidental.

The world is discipling children every day through entertainment, friendships, social media, and culture.

The question is not whether your child will be influenced.

The question is:

Who will have the strongest voice in your child’s life before the world begins speaking?

Inside our Inner Circle Program for Parents, we help intentional parents move beyond just controlling behavior and start building children with:

Strong identity
Biblical values
Emotional intelligence
Critical thinking skills
Healthy boundaries
The confidence to stand when nobody is watching

Because the goal is not to raise children who only do right when parents are around.

The goal is to raise children who carry conviction when they are alone.

Registration for our next Inner Circle is open.

If you desire to raise children who are rooted, resilient, and prepared for the real world, comment INNER CIRCLE or send us a message to secure your place.

Your child’s future cannot be left to chance.

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My Daily Walk With Jesus
A Blessing of Quiet Peace
May the peace of Christ settle over your mind like a soft morning light. May He quiet the anxious thoughts that run too fast, silence the fears that whisper too loudly, and calm the storms that rise without warning. May He remind you that peace is not the absence of problems — it’s the presence of Jesus in the middle of them. May His peace fill your home, your conversations, your decisions, and even the moments when you feel unsure. And may you feel His steadying presence today, reminding you that He is not just watching over you — He is walking beside you, calming your heart one breath at a time. John 16:33 — “In Me you may have peace.”

Copied from the eBook
My Daily Walk with Jesus by Grace Shepherd — available at The Shepherd’s Nest. (eBook link in the comment section below)

My Daily Walk With Jesus
"A Blessing of Clear Guidance"
May Jesus guide your steps with clarity today. May He shine light on the decisions that feel foggy, the paths that feel confusing, and the choices that feel heavy. May He close the doors that would drain you and open the ones that will grow you. May He give you a sense of direction that doesn’t rush you, pressure you, or overwhelm you — but gently leads you forward. May He remind you that guidance is not about knowing everything ahead of time; it’s about trusting the One who already sees the whole road. And may you walk with confidence today, knowing that every step surrendered to Him becomes a step strengthened by Him.
Psalm 32:8 — “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go.”
Copied from the eBook [ My Daily Walk with Jesus ] by Grace Shepherd — available at The Shepherd’s Nest. (Store link in the comment section below)

Did you know?
When much of Europe was buried in darkness,
God still had a people.

THE WALDENSES—TRUTH IN THE SHADOWS.

The Waldenses rose as a reforming movement in the late 12th century, associated with Peter Waldo of Lyons, and by 1182–1184 they had been excommunicated and formally condemned by the Roman church. Over the centuries that followed—through the long era of papal supremacy, and later persecutions such as the crusade ordered by Pope Innocent VIII in 1487/1488—they were hunted, scattered, and attacked, yet they would not let the truth die.

Hidden among the mountain valleys, they stood as heaven’s witnesses.
Far from the pomp of apostate religion, they clung to the Word of God with humble, steadfast faith.
They held the Scriptures as the rule of life, treasured Christ as their only hope, and preserved the light when much of Christendom had buried it.
GC 64–65

They were not rich.
They were not honored.
They were not safe.

They copied the Bible by hand.
They hid its words in the heart.
They taught it to their children.
They sent truth quietly from valley to valley and from land to land.
They suffered hunger, exile, reproach, and death—yet would not let the truth die.
GC 65–67

They loved truth when truth was costly.
They held fast the Word when to possess it was a crime.
They chose suffering with Christ rather than ease with error.
They sacrificed worldly prosperity for the truth’s sake, and heaven counted them rich.
GC 67

Why were they hated?

Because truth exposes falsehood.
Because Scripture in the hands of the people breaks the power of spiritual tyranny.
Because corrupt religion fears the light it cannot control.

So they were hunted.
Scattered.
Driven into the wilderness.
Slain.

But though they were crushed, they were not conquered.
Though they bled, the truth lived on.
GC 66–68

And that is why their story matters now.

The Waldenses were a prophecy in life.
What they were in the Dark Ages, God’s remnant must be in earth’s closing crisis.
They stood when church and state united against conscience.
We are nearing a time when the same issue will again be tested:

Whose word will rule—God’s or man’s?
LDE 143; ST, Jan. 22, 1880

They had scraps of Scripture—and treasured them.
We have full Bibles—and often neglect them.

They risked life to spread truth.
Many now risk nothing even to live it.

They would not surrender the Word to save themselves.
Shall we surrender truth to preserve comfort?
GC 68; LDE 143

Lessons

A cave with truth is richer than a cathedral with error.

The church in power was feared by men—
the church in the wilderness was honored by heaven.

The faithful may be crushed—
but they cannot be conquered.

The Waldenses preserved truth in the Dark Ages;
God calls His people to preserve it in the last days.

They would not betray Scripture to save their lives.
We must not betray truth to save our ease.

Beloved,
the Waldenses did not love truth when it was easy.
They loved it when it cost them everything.

They suffered so the light could reach another generation.
They bled so the Word would not disappear in darkness.
They died, but the truth lived on.

Now that truth is in our hands,
may it not die in our hearts.

And as the final crisis draws near,
may God make us like those hidden witnesses—
humble, fearless, Bible-rooted, and faithful unto death.

THEY WERE HUNTED FOR THE TRUTH—BUT THEY WOULD NOT LET IT DIE.
AS THE FINAL TEST DRAWS NEAR, GOD STILL NEEDS A PEOPLE WHO WILL OBEY HIM RATHER THAN MEN.

In the Bible, in ancient Israel, one of the criteria for choosing a priest was that he must not have a flat nose. The significance of this is that anyone who stands before men on behalf of God must be sensitive and aware of what’s happening around him, because destinies are at stake. Lack of sensitivity is, many times, why some unwanted things have happened to believers.

I remember being mocked by a fellow preacher for not having a car. He would go on and on about how the easiest thing anointed preacher should have is a car. I heard about his mockery day after day. It haunted me so much that one day, after I finished preaching at a pastors’ conference in Onitsha on “25 Things Jesus Taught Martha That Every Preacher Desperately Needs to Know,” he swallowed his pride and walked up to me. He didn’t apologize for what he’d said about me. Instead, he begged me to give him my preaching notes so he could repeat the message on Martha to his church.

The "normal me" would have given him the message. But his mocking words still haunted me, so I decided not to give him the notes. He took offense, walked away, and added more insults about me not having a car despite claiming to be anointed.

For a while, it didn’t bother me. Until one day, I was at a printing press picking up flyers for our program when the woman who owned the press told me how some pastors in Onitsha used to talk about me. They asked, “How can a man be so anointed and gifted yet trek everywhere in the city? How come his anointing couldn’t attract something as small as a car?”

Those words got to me, not because they were true, but because I had become a topic of discussion among certain preachers.

A few weeks later, a young man called and said he had a gift for me. When we met, it was a car — a Highlander SUV. A very beautiful car. He said God told him to give it to me. I thought, “At last, this mockery will stop.” To think the brother mocking me only had a small Toyota Camry, while I was about to get a Highlander SUV. This was going to make sense!

But just as I was about to collect the keys, I heard the voice of the LORD: “Don’t touch the car. It’s not yours.”

I knew it was God’s voice because I’m familiar with His voice. But I was confused. This brother said God told him to gift me a car, and here I was hearing the same God tell me not to touch it. It's obvious that one of us must be wrong about what they heard.

The brother was very upset that I rejected his gift and walked away. Most of my friends who heard this were angry, especially considering how the other preacher had mocked me for months for not having a car. They said it couldn’t have been God asking me to reject it. “God is not the author of confusion,” they said. And yes, that’s true. God is not the author of confusion. But I was very sure I heard His voice.

About two weeks later, that guy that wanted to gift me a car was arrested. It turned out the car was stolen, and they tracked it down to Onitsha. The guy was into selling stolen cars and, for some reason, wanted to sow that one as a seed. I don’t know why anyone would sow a stolen car as a seed, but using God’s name to do it was beyond my comprehension. Imagine if I hadn’t been sensitive to the voice of the LORD. The mockery of not having a car would have been nothing compared to the mockery of riding in a stolen car. It would have caused devastating damage.

Being sensitive — having “sensitive ears” — will save a preacher from many sorrows. There are many traps set for your life and destiny. You must be sensitive so the desire for material things doesn’t trap you in Satan’s snare.

There are invitations a minister of God should not honor. There are places you should not preach. There are pulpits you should not climb.
And yes, there are relationships you should not enter. Failing to obey this can cost you a lifetime to recover from.

That’s where the devil got me — in my marriage. The signs were there. God didn’t leave me in the dark. I just didn’t listen.
Amos 3:7: “Surely the LORD GOD does nothing without revealing His secret to His servants the prophets.”
He revealed. The issue wasn’t revelation. It was reception. I just didn't perceive.it.
Today, I have to live with the consequences of that insensitivity.

God instructed Moses that anyone chosen to serve in the priesthood must not have a flat nose. He must have the ability to be sensitive — to know when to act and when not to. He must be someone who can smell a trap in perfume. And that includes you!

Here are a few valuable lessons to grab from this account:

1. Not every gift is from God. Some are bait.

Just when I needed a car badly, just as I need it now, a Highlander showed up. And it came with “God said I should give it to you.”
But the same God said, "Don’t touch. It’s not yours.” It takes a sensitivity to know which voice is God's.

2 Cor 11:14 warns: “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

The devil doesn’t always come with horns. Sometimes he comes with car keys and “seed sowing” theology. There are counterfeit blessings and it takes one with sensitive nose to detect them.

Imagine what would be the headline! “A Pastor Caught with a Stolen SUV."
Thanks to God, sensitivity saved my name.

2. The loudest “no” you’ll ever say is to a “ blessing”
It's easier for a preacher to say “no” to sin than it is to say “no” to a shiny thing. Many anointed destinies have been truncated because of gifts.
Jesus said no to bread, kingdoms, and shortcuts, Matt 4:3-10. Because He had a sensitive ear. That's what it means to be discerning.

Discernment is refusing what looks like provision but smells like prison.
John 10:27, “My sheep hear My voice... and they follow Me and the voice of a stranger they shall not follow.”

3. Satan doesn't give up on you easily. He is patient. He’s a trap engineer.
He doesn’t give up on you just because one trap failed.
He’ll try gifts today, a car tomorrow, a “relationship” next week.
1 Peter 5:8: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
He prowls. He watches. He adjusts when he fails. Only sensitive ears can adjust faster. Sensitivity to the voice of the LORD will save you from his traps.

In my case, the real trap wasn’t the car. It was insensitivity in marriage.
Hosea 4:6: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” What gives the devil leverage is not lack of anointing. It's a lack of listening.

4. Sensitivity is your security system.
Applauds of men will make you famous, but sensitivity will keep you faithful and true.
John 10:4-5: “The sheep follow Him, for they know His voice. They will not follow a stranger.”
There are contacts, contracts, and connections you should not have. There are times you will hear God say, "Leave it alone" for there's death in it.

Sensitivity will teach you how to choose the voice you know over the gift they hold.

Not every attack comes as an attack.
The car looked like a blessing. It looked like “God’s will”.
But it was a test of hearing.
2 Cor 2:11: “...so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.”
God doesn’t hide the design from you. He whispers it. Preachers with sensitive noses catch the whisper.

God told Moses, "No priest with a flat nose should be allowed" Lev 21:18. God wants preachers with sensitive noses. Not perfect faces, but perceptive spirits.
Because when you stand between God and men, destinies are on your table. One wrong move, and a whole lot will bleed.

May the LORD give us noses that can smell danger in the middle of a feast.

May we be the kind of priests who protect destinies — including our own.

Amen!!

copied.