Story by Kehinde Eniayejuni
Pastor and Founder of The synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Temitope Joshua has said Christians who claim they would not suffer because Christ did it for them are opposing God’s word.
Joshua whose church runs the Emmanuel TV Station said this in a message titled, “ commitment enhances faith” The message is on the Facebook page of the SCOAN
He said “anyone who claims he is not to suffer because Jesus did it for him is contradicting what Jesus said. That is the opposite of what Jesus said”.
He explained that receiving Jesus into your life is accepting citizenship in heaven and death here on Earth. He stressed that the doctrine that says there is no suffering, no health challenges, no hardship is evidence that one is not saved as our walking with the Lord is both in good and bad times.
“The doctrine that says no suffering, no health challenges, no hardship is evidence that you are not saved. A man can be sick in body and yet be a candidate of heaven. As a friend of Jesus, you should not allow your situation to rule you- when you are sick. When you do, you begin to see Jesus in a bad light. Our walking with God is both in good and hard times and we cannot separate warfare from salvation as true salvation will put us into direct conflict with Satan” he said.
He emphasized that the proof of genuine salvation is hatred and persecution from the world adding that “the world is under satanic control. One cannot afford to be a fake Christian”
He says Christians will be hated just as Christ was hated as read from the NIV version of John 15:20: Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’[ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. (B If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.
According to him, “having a total commitment to Jesus is declaring a war against Satan. It is best to not only be prepared each day but also commit our every step, present and future to God.”
He admonished his listeners that in this trying times we cannot grow as Christians if we do not ask for God’s direction and strength. “ we cannot decide our future, we own now, he owns the future, we take over today, he takes over tomorrow, leaving everything to God means we are followers of Jesus, You can start it now, leave your next for God. God owns your future. It is good to consult Jesus before doing anything” he said.