By Pastor Austin Udeoha
The Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim, among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites: And the Gileadites took passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites. And it was so, that when those Ephraimites, which were escaped said, Let me go over, that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay; Then said they unto him, say now Shibboleth: and he said Shibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him and slew him at the passages of Jordan. And there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand (Judges 12:4-6)
Here in the world are used to the police, army, customs, immigrations and other check-points. But be it known unto you that one day somewhere in your travelling from this earth to eternity, you must surely meet God at His final check-point for a final search, which God will do by Himself. And that will determine your eternal happiness of doom (Rev. 21:8, 27; 22:15; 20:12-15)
You see God at the check-point in the book of Judges. (Judges 12:4-6). Ephraim and Manasseh were the children of Joseph that he had in Egypt before his father Jacob came and with the joy that Joseph was still alive, the old patriarch so loved the two children that he adopted to the twelve tribes of Israel. Manasseh and Ephraim replaced their Joseph their father in his one portion in Jacob. So, instead of Joseph sharing one portion in Israel, he now shared two portions of his father through his two sons. God removed Levi and gave him his share as a minister with the twelve tribes and removed Joseph just to fix Manasseh and Ephraim into Jacob’s twelve tribes. Now Jacob generally had twelve children, if you remove Joseph and Levi from sharing their portions, they remained 10 tribes, then, add the two first sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim they will come back to 12 tribes again, but because of God’s love, favour and kindness to Ephraim he became proud and started sinning and oppressing other tribes and even took laws into his hands. Just like many people today, even some pastors, churches and men have taken God’s love, favour and patience for granted and they are living as if god is no more on the throne, as if there will be no more judgment, even some are teaching eternal security in doctrine or through the way they are living. But how long will God bear all these abominations in the sanctuary? So it was with Ephraimites oppressing the Gileadites, until God mounted up check-point through Jephthah and Gilead to put a check to Ephraim’s wickedness and pomposity. When the battle was so hot against them, they started running towards Jordan passages to take refuge but behold, God is at the check-point with only one way test of remedy, just as Jesus Christ is the only One Way to heaven today (Acts 4:12; John 14:6) What was the test of remedy? Art thou an Ephraimite? They will say
No, because Ephraimites were declared wanted at that time. Okay, if you say that you are not Ephraimite, take this test-question- Say SHIBBOLETH but because of the peculiar tribal tongues, they could not pronounce it well. Instead of SHIBBOLETH they said SIBBOLETH missing letter H and they failed and instead of granting them entry visa they were all killed one by oneby one at the final check-point. Why? Because of missing the letter ‘H,’ and because God is at the check-point, no bribery and no manipulation. Please, listen at this point, they could not enter because they missed the letter ‘H’ out of the ten letters that made up the word SHIBBOLETH.
Do you remember the word of God in James that say if you keep the whole laws (10 commandments0 and fail in one that you are guilty of all? Not only that, do you remember that the most important word in the Bible is called HOLINESS and it started with letter ‘H’? And God said without HOLINESS that letter H, no Man, Woman, Pastor, Rev, Doctor, Bishop, Pope shall see the Lord no matter whom you are you and your position in the church (Hebrews 12:14). And if God’s prophet and the meekest man on earth Moses didn’t enter the Promised Land because of anger then you will not enter without HOLINESS for God is not a respecter of man. Beware and repent and follow peace with all men without which you are forever lost. Again, these favourites of their God didn’t pass over the passages of Jordan because one simple letter H was missing.
Now tell me what will be the end of all these so-called Christians and Bible carriers, whom many major things are missing in their lives. In your closeness with them you can see evidently that major Christian virtues are missing in their lives, such as genuine repentance, real Christian experience, godliness and Godly fear, blamelessness, holiness, circumcision of heart, sanctification, Christian perfection, Christlikeness, humility, meekness, gentleness, patience, righteousness, truth, conscience void of offence towards God and all men, even many of them do not know that restitution is the doctrine of the Bible talkless of doing their own restitution after repentance. Listen, if any of these virtues listed above is missing in your life then God will surprise you at the check-point just as He did to the Ephraimite (Judges 12:4-6).
Moreover, at every check-point here in the world, there are some contraband that the security agents are searching for and if they see them with you then, you are in trouble with the law of the land. So it is at God’s final check-point. God, Christ, Holy Spirit and Angels will be searching for heavens’ contraband goods, which is sin of any kind, of any shape, secret or open, big or small and you better check yourself here on earth and offload them through genuine repentance, because if any is searched out from you over there, the books ever written in the world cannot be able to describe your doom, lamentation, woe, wailing and weeping. Read for yourself from the law book of heaven, constitutional book from the country of heaven, God’s own book with His own word called the Holy Bible. Read these passages carefully and be sure that none of the heavenly contraband items is found in you, it not you are a wanted man of woman and one day God’s policeman, Mr. Death that has been looking for you, will arrest you any where he sees you and will take you to God (Heb. 9:27). Read them now (Mark 7:21-23)
Now closely read and study these unchanging Bible reference and give yourself an examination lest and know whether you are free from God’s judgment or not. “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, maliciousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and defile a man”. (Mark 7:21-23) “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them”. (Romans 1:29-320 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived; neither fornicators nor adultery, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God”. (1Corinthians 6: 9-10) “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sedition, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, ravelling and such like: of which I told you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:19-21) “This know also, that in the last days perilous time shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boaster, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good; traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away”. (11Timothy 3:1-5) “But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers and idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev. 21:8) “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:16)
Let me remind you of some of the uniform concluding factors of these passages.
(1) Mark says they defiled the man out of heaven. (2) Romans says they are worthy of death not worth of heaven. (3) Corinthians and Galatians say they shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (4) Timothy says from such both God and the saints should turn away from them. (5) Revelation finally concluded that their part shall be in the lake of fire.
Oh man! Hear it again. God is at the Check-Point – (Amos 4:12)
If you are not yet ready, then, prayerfully take these seven steps to Jesus Christ: –
(1) Realize you are a sinner from birth with a sinful nature, and that you cannot save yourself by your power, your good works but through Christ’s sacrifice for you on the cross.
(2) Repent from all known sin through total confession of them to God not to man.
(3) Renounce and forsake every confessed sin and never go back to them again.
And separate yourself from persons, places and things that may lead your back
to sin.
(4) Receive the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart by faith as your Lord and personal saviour
(5) Rejoice in the Lord that your sins are now forgiven according to His word, you are now a new creature in Christ, old things are passed away, behold all things are now new.
(6) Read your Bible, preach, pray and watch every day.
(7) Remain with the people of God in a good – God fearing Christian Church that preaches, teaches, dresses and lives a practical life of holiness, Christians that are not dressing like worldly people, but totally different from the world. We shall meet in heaven if you sincerely, from your heart do these things and remain in holiness till the end (Romans 3:23; John 1:2. 2Corinthians 6:14)
For more help, contact Pastor Austin C. Udeoha
Holiness Power Bible Ministries
Operation Tikpoo (Destroy the works of devil)
No. 8/10 Igbesi Street, Okomala,
Berilet Bus Stop Oshodi-Apapa Express Way, Ilasamaja, Lagos
E-mail: holinesspowerbibleministries@gmail.com
Weekly Meetings
Sunday Bible Service: 7:30 am
Wednesday Power Connection (Morning Session) 8.00AM
Wednesday Power Connection (Evening Session) 6.00PM
Friday Holiness and Heaven Bible Study in different Regions 6.00PM
JESUS PEOPLE
