A DONKEY IN A LION’S SKIN

A DONKEY IN A LION’S SKIN

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:15-20 (NIV)

In the ancient Aesop’s fables, a donkey walking through the forest finds the skin of a lion. Hunters had killed the lion and left the skin to dry in the sun. The donkey put on the lion’s skin and was delighted to discover that all the other animals were terrified of him and ran away when he appeared. Rejoicing in his newfound respect, the donkey brayed his happiness only to give himself away by his voice. 

In Matthew 7:16-20, Jesus Christ made one profound statement twice in this short passage to lay bare a salient truth. He said "By their fruits you will recognize them".  That is, the fruits reveals the identity of the tree. The only way to know the value of a tree is to examine its fruits. Hence, the real worth of a man cannot be ascertained by checking  the gorgeous apparels (leaves) he flaunts around but by looking at the fruits of his life. Fine clothes may deceive, expensive cars may mislead, big title or position may be used to disguise, but a man's actions or dispositions will reveal who he is. 

The Holy Spirit documented many examples in the bible to drive home the above point. For example, In 2 kings 5:19-27, by merely looking at his outward appearance of Gehazi, everyone in Israel thought he was a true prophet-in-training. They shower much love and respect upon Gehazi because they believed he is going to possibly receive double portion of Elisha's anointing. Although, Gehazi exhibited the charisma of a prophet but his corrupt and rotten fruits were cleverly concealed from public view. Then, one day, after Naaman had been healed of leprosy, the wind blew heavily and all the beautiful leaves  that had covered the terrible fruits growing in the life of Gehazi were blown away. For the first time in Gehazi's life, the fruits of deceit, lies, hypocrisy, worldliness and covetousness covered up in him were suddenly  exposed. Those terrible and corrupt fruits began to fall and everyone was surprised to discover that Gehazi was actually a donkey in a lion's skin. It's obvious they have been judging the tree of Gehazi by its leaves and not its fruits. Then, leprosy cut down the tree of Gehazi's prophetic ministry prematurely.    

"Then Elisha said to Naaman, “Go in peace.” So Naaman left Elisha and went a short way. But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has let Naaman the Aramean go without accepting the gift that he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after Naaman and get something from him." Now you and your children will catch Naaman’s disease. You will have leprosy forever!” When Gehazi left Elisha, his skin was as white as snow! He was sick with leprosy."- 2 Kings 5:19-20, 27 (ERV)

Beloved, there are many donkeys in lion's skin all around us today. The fruits growing inside them are completely different from what people see on the outside. These people display adorable skin of lion but their real nature (fruits) is that of a polluted donkey. They claim to have the doggedness or tenacity of a lion but their attitude and disposition is that of a lazy and confused donkey. They exhibits the charisma and boldness of lion even though their true genetic composition is that of a coward donkey. They cover up the fruits of donkey in them with the skin of lion. They have perfected the art of deceiving people around them just to earn their respect and trust. What an hypocritical lifestyle?  

“Don’t be impressed with charisma; look for character. ... A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned". Matthew 7:16-20 (MSG)

These people have not come to terms with the fact that their true nature or fruits will soon be uncovered. Their pretence and deceitful lifestyle will not continue forever. Every corrupt fruit growing secretly on their tree will soon be exposed. Nobody can hide the fruits of his/her bad action or lifestyle from everybody forever. Those fruits of ungodly vices; greed, pride, stubbornness, fornication, adultery, arrogance flourishing silently in many life today will soon become breaking news in town. Yes, those bad fruits will soon draw the attention of the whole world to the ugliness of your life. It's a matter of time and everyone will know the real you. 

Friends, hope you are not a donkey in a lion's skin? If you are, then God is calling you this day to repent and amend your ways. Please do it now so that God will not cut your tree down in its prime. But if you refuse to repent,  then, please be assured the event that will expose those terrible and ugly fruits in your life will soon happen. The silent voices of those corrupt fruits growing secretly under that deceptive frame of yours will soon become audible enough to betray you. Everybody will soon know that you are a fraudster and backslider. And people who had once respected and celebrated you will begin to look down on you. You may end up as the Gehazi of this generation. 

Several years ago, God inspired Witness Lee (1905 - 1997), a renowned Chinese preacher and hymnist to compose a hymn that re-echoes a powerful prayer point that Gehazi should have prayed seriously before that fateful day. The hymn is titled " Remove My Covering, Lord". Please join me to make the lyrics of this wonderful hymn below our prayer points so that we will not be disgraced like Gehazi. 

REMOVE MY COVERING, LORD by Witness Lee

Remove my covering, Lord,
That I may see Thy light,
And be deceived no more,
But all things see aright.

Refrain:
     Oh, may Thy living light, Lord,
        Scatter all my night, Lord,
        And everything make bright, Lord,
        For this I pray to Thee.

I hardly know myself;
Deceived so much by pride,
I often think I’m right
And am self-satisfied.

I know Thee even less;
In doctrine, shallowly;
True revelation lack
Of Thy reality.

As for Thy life within,
In darkness I mistake—
If spirit or the flesh,
One for the other take.

As for Thy way, O Lord,
I often am not clear;
I toward seclusion tend
And from the pathway veer.

As for Thy will for me,
I do not know it well;
I substitute my own
And often would rebel.

As for the church, I need
Thy revelation more,
The Body-life to know,
Thy wisdom to explore.

I long to be unveiled,
In everything made clear,
No more to be deceived
Or to my pride adhere.

My prayer for you and my humble self is that God will graciously remove every leave covering the corrupt fruits on our trees. The mercy of God will restore our backsliding backsliding heart. His grace will keep us standing upright and blameless till He returns in Jesus name.  Amen. 

Please join us at the Arena of Wonders for our Healing Stream Service tagged "Be Made Whole" on Sunday 25th, 2019. Venue: RCCG, Kingdom Life Parish, 109, Shasha Road, Abati Bustop. Egbeda, Lagos. Nigeria. Time: 8am. Please come expecting, the Great Physician is waiting for you. 

Good morning and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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