Weekly Messages
January 18-24, 2004
Who are these Strangers and Pilgrims? by Dr. 'Tayo
Brown
“These all died in faith, not having received the
promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded
of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were
strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such
things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly,
if they had been mindful of that country from whence they
came out, they might have opportunity to have returned. But
now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:
wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he
hath prepared for them a city” Heb. 12: 13-16
Friends, how does the word see you on this planet, do you
look like them in every way or they see you as a stranger?
These scriptures was referring to men who pleased God by
faith, they were persuaded, embraced and confessed that they
were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
A stranger has the characteristic of another country, he
is from a foreign Land, he is not a native nor does he
belong to where he is, a pilgrim is one who journeys in
foreign lands, a wayfarer. This is what we ought to be in
this world, ambassadors for Christ. A stranger could easily
be identified due to his strange way of doing things. We the
Church does not belong to the world though we are passing
through it, we are sent from above to fulfill a special
commission that no other creature could do, we are the body
of Jesus Christ.
It is however so sad that majority of the Church have
naturalized in this world, many have forgotten where they
come from, many can not be recognized anymore, they have
failed to be persuaded, to embrace and to confess that they
are strangers and pilgrims on the earth, they are now
citizens of the earth, they are so busy, so involved in the
things of this world that they do not even remember the
program and timetable of their creator, they often think
they are here to stay, they have arrived, but it’s not so.
As pilgrims or travelers, you have to keep on journeying.
Majority does not have a map and so they are here and
there in every direction, they have no bearing, though they
said they are born again, some have left following Jesus
only to follow men and their tradition, they cannot follow
the map to their destination, some have been swayed by blind
guides, majority are already lost in the wilderness of this
world, while some are still traveling and will soon arrive
at their destination which is to be like Jesus, manifest the
fullness of His glory rapture with Him in the air. Jesus has
gone to prepare a place for us, we have our God given
mansions in heaven, we don’t have to pay mortgage on it, it
is ours.
What is then your destination as you read this article?
where are you going in this world, do you still resemble a
stranger passing through this planet, have you began to ask
for and follow other directions in life because everybody is
walking there, or you are still focused to the map that you
receive from Jesus? We are His ambassador.
GRA
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Earth's Strangers and Pilgrims Seek for a Better Country
Friends, some of us have
become earth’s permanent resident, we are no more seeking
that HEAVENLY country. The scripture says, seek and you
shall find, if you truly seek for heaven, if that country
has entered your mind you will definitely find it. There is
a better country than any known country in the universe
where God, the creator of heaven and earth is the President
and commander in chief of armed forces. He is not ashamed to
be called our God.
Do we live and say plainly
that we are in search of our fatherland, where is our
treasure? Many of us have spent or are spending the most
productive years of our lives laying up treasure for
ourselves here on earth where moth and rust could corrupt
and thieves (satan and his demons) could break through and
steal, that is why our joy, fulfillment, peace,
righteousness and benefits have been stolen, our heart is
here and it is focused on the earth. We live by the earth’s
economy and health’s news because all our attention is here.
Those strangers and pilgrims who have not lost their bearing
are laying up for themselves treasures in heaven that is
what is affecting their confession, program and their heart.
They can never suffer heart attack, because heaven cannot
suffer economic crash or fatal disease.
You are privileged just as I
am to read this article at this minute, would you go the
map, trace where you’re lost and let the Holy Spirit guide
you into all truth?
GRA
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Parting Thoughts...
Would a man gain the whole world and loose his soul. If
you are used to win a single soul by the help of the Holy
Spirit it cannot be compared to anything else in the world.
Satan offered Jesus the whole world at the expense of
loosing His soul, think about it, the owner of the world was
been asked to buy it back from a thief that stole it. Jesus
instead laid down his life to win many souls unto God. You
could begin to use all your God given resources to win souls
in the unreached areas of the world today by supporting GRA
rural missions ministry in Africa that is presently reaching
those who have never heard about the gospel. Would you lay
down your resources today to save souls of men that are
perishing?
GRA
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