Ask for the Old Paths by Dr. 'Tayo Brown
November 30-December 6, 2003

"Thus saith the LORD, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest unto your souls…"Jer. 6: 16. I strongly believe this is the time that the Church needs to go back to the Old Gospel, the old paths so to speak. We must not remove those ancient Landmarks, which our Fathers have set (Pro 22: 28). Every good paths or ways is not always God's paths. We don't have any other path than the path of the word of God, "a light unto our paths".

Jesus said; I am the way (path) the truth and the life. Hitherto many have tried the contemporary, modern, broad and carnal path, but this is only leading to destruction. We cannot do the things of the Spirit of God our way; it has to be God's ways as we follow God's paths. "The John the Baptist" company has been mandated - To prepare the way of the Lord and to make straight his paths. When we parallel this present Church with that of the Acts of the Apostles we will see a great difference. Majority of what we call "The Church" today look more or less than folks in the movie or magic shows.

Oh! The beauty of Israel has been slain upon the high places. Consider this: "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things in common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was their any of them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands and houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And distribution was made unto every man according as he had need" Acts 4: 32-36

Friends, this Church was so strong that they all dwelt in one accord, one heart and one soul. They had great power to witness Christ Jesus and great grace was upon them all. Shall we continue in sin and grace abound? Certainly not. Which means a continuous life of sin is not their life style. That was why they had great grace. This Church does not only give their tithes but they gave all and none of them lacked.

Is there any that lack in the Church of today? Many people tend to force and cajole the people to give with different kinds of gimmicks, imagine Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5: 1-11) wanted to inject sin and dishonesty to this Church and they were immediately judge of the Holy Ghost. "…And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things" Acts 5: 1-11. This is not the fear or terror of the devil, but the fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom. Majority of the Church of today lacks the fear of God, which is the old paths, the only path. "…for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and MANY there which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it" Matt. 7: 13-14

The "old paths" is Prayers and Intercession, studying confessing and meditating on God's sanctifying undiluted WORD consistently, fasting, walking in love and in the Spirit, doing the word, rural missions, singing hymns and spiritual songs, being perfect and holy just like our Father in heaven. All of these require the same faith and patience that is used for prosperity and healing.

This Old paths leads to life - (Zoë) GRA