THE DEMAS SYNDROME

"Demas has left me and he has gone to Thessalonica city. He wanted to enjoy the things of this world too much.......".- 2 Timothy 4:10 (EASY)

In October 1944, Stephen Weiss, a 19 year old soldier walked away from the 36th Infantry Division in France during World War II. Weiss deserted his duty post and sought the safety of the rear as his unit was pounded by German artillery. When he was asked during his court martial procedures why he walked away, he said: “Because I broke down inside. The artillery shells were coming, and I shook all over and just went to pieces.” He was then dishonourably discharged and sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour. (The Deserters: A Hidden History of World War II by Charles Glass)

"From that time, many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life" -John 6:66-68 (KJV)

Whenever I hear stories of how valiant soldiers of the Cross are walking away from their duty post like Stephen Weiss, my heart bleeds uncontrollably. Then, I understand why the question that Jesus Christ asked the twelve disciples in John 6:67 is still relevant in our generation. It is quite saddening to see many Demas' absconding to Thessalonica to satisfy their inordinate personal ambitions. The Demas Syndrome disconnected many soldiers of Christ from their commanding officers during the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ and Apostle Paul is still wrecking havoc in our generation. This terrible syndrome turned many great destinies away from the path of faithfulness and loyalty to the heavenly mandate. Like Weiss, they fled the path of honour because something broke down inside them. Yes, something happened within them that loosened their rope of allegiance and consecration to God. The unrestrained craving for the things of this world has poured cold water on the blasting altars in their souls. The artillery of worldliness has decimated their souls and torn into pieces the armoury of God within them. 

It is obvious that we have many absconded believers or deserted soldiers of Jesus Christ everywhere in this  generation. They seek the safety of the rear by shying away from their duties and responsibilities in the Kingdom. They have been distracted and lured away from kingdom service by their jobs, careers, businesses, friends, spouse, and even family members. Some deserted the Kingdom's Army because of unfulfilled dreams and expectations. Many have walked away because no one appreciated them, while others chose to step aside because of pride, unresolved conflicts, unforgiveness, pleasure, and sinful habits. Like Demas, these people have mortgaged their everlasting rewards in heaven for the ephemeral pleasure, money and prestige in Thessalonica (Matthew 19:28-29). They chose the mundane things of this world at the expense of their eternal souls (1 John 2:15-16). What a grievous blunder!

Beloved, I hope you are not one of the Demas - the Deserter in the Lord's Army. I hope Heaven has not declared you AWOL (Absent Without Leave). Hope the altars of sacrifice and faithfulness within you has not broken down? Hope you are not the Brother/Sister/Deacon/Pastor/Evangelist Demas of your church/Parish/Area/Zone? Are you still in your Rome, or you are now in Thessalonica? Are you still in the Lord's Army, or have you absconded? If your answers to these questions are not affirmative, then repent now or prepare to face the heaven's court marshal for being Absent Without Leave. 

Beloved, I strongly believe God is calling us to renew our commitment to serve Him like a valiant and faithful soldier in our Rome until the trumpet sounds. In the court of Heaven, abandoning our Paul in Rome is a serious capital offence. The consequences can be terrible and unbearable. 

One very simple but powerful hymn that describes what God expects from His valiant soldiers is titled "Faithful Unto Death."

FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH by Fanny J Crosby

Up and onward, Christian soldier,

Hear thy lord’s divine command;

Be thou ready when he calls thee

In the foremost ranks to stand.

Refrain:

      Unto death, O be thou faithful,

      Strong in Him, thy Strength and Shield;

      Go thou forth where duty calls thee,

      Truth’s eternal sword to wield.

Up and onward, Christian soldier,

To the conflict and the strife;

God will test thy zeal and courage,

Ere thou enter into life.

Up and onward, be not weary,

Do not lay thy armor down;

Thou must fight the battle bravely,

Ere thy soul can wear a crown.

Up and onward, firm and fearless,

Like the vet’rans of the past;

Then, thro’ him whose grace redeems thee,

Thou shalt overcome at last.

May nothing in this world be able to lure us away from our commanding officer - Jesus Christ. The oil of mercy will mend everything broken thing within us. And God's grace will keep us standing at our duty posts till the trumpet sounds in Jesus name. Amen.

Good day, and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE JUDAS SYNDROME

'“Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; 'for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry. Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out.." - Acts 1:16-19 (NKJV)

The above Biography is one of the most pathetic biographies in the history of man. Every statement in that biography clearly brings to fore the fact that man can live in two worlds on earth. The first being the public world which is visible for all to see and the second, the private world which is not visible. These two worlds are inextricably tied together as what happens in the private world will eventually play out in the public world (Luke 8:17).  

Unfortunately, Judas Iscariot lacked the understanding of this salient truth. There was a sharp contrast between who he claimed to be in private and public. Judas was numbered with the disciples publicly but chose to drift away from them privately. He was a disciple in public but a backslider privately. He was a believer who stood aloof from the kingdom agenda. He was numbered with them but he was never a part of them. Judas was numbered with them but absent. He was numbered with them but not committed. He was numbered with them but not consecrated. In summary, Judas was a huge deficit or liability in the Balance Sheet of Heaven. That is simply the Judas Syndrome!

Beloved, who you are in public is important but who you are in private is even more important. You can occupy an highly revered position like Judas – the Treasurer and still be a misfit or disappointment to God privately. It is possible for your name to be on the membership register even when you are not a genuine member like Judas. Outwardly, Judas looked like he fitted in very well but inwardly he was in a slow state of rot. There was a corrupt and decaying process going on secretly within him. Outwardly he looked like a disciple but inwardly there was a terrible cancer that was spreading its wide tentacles rapidly but unknown to many people. He was a superstar in public but a traitor privately. Hmmm! What a deceptive and hypocritic lifestyle.

The Judas syndrome is still brooding and infecting many people all over the world today. They are Judas-like in private but Christ-like in public. They have drifted away from the cross privately but pretend as if they were still carrying the cross in public. They don’t seem to understand that the further away they get from the Cross privately, the greater the propensity for them to fail and become a deficit to heaven in public like Judas. On the other hand, the closer we get to the Cross privately the greater the degree of God’s glory, power and love that manifests within or through us publicly. 

This wonderful hymn below re-echoes what should be the prayer of anyone who sincerely desires to finish well and strong on earth: 

JESUS, KEEP ME NEAR THE CROSS By Fanny Crosby (1869)

Jesus, keep me near the cross,

There a precious fountain;

Free to all, a healing stream,

Flows from Calv'ry's mountain.

REFRAIN:

       In the cross, in the cross

       Be my glory ever,

       Till my ransomed soul shall find

       Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,

Love and mercy found me;

There the Bright and Morning Star

Shed His beams around me. 

Near the cross! O lamb of God,

Bring its scenes before me;

Help me walk from day to day

With its shadow o'er me.

Near the cross! I'll watch and wait,

Hoping, trusting ever;

Till I reach the golden strand,

Just beyond the river.

May God keep us near the cross till we finish our race on earth. And may God revive His church and restore backsliders into the fold before it is too late. 

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE CONTAMINATION TEST

‘'...for the ruler of this dark world is coming. But he has no power over me, for he has nothing to use against me.’'  John 14:30 (TPT)

The contamination test involves subjecting a substance to thorough examination with a view to detecting the presence of any suspected contaminants or pollutants therein. For example, athletes are subjected to doping test to detect any contaminants that can put a question mark on the integrity of the sport. Any sportsperson who tests positive for any contaminants (illegal substances) is usually sanctioned to serve as deterrent to others.   

In Genesis 3:11, when man failed the first contamination test in the Garden of Eden, he was sanctioned heavily by God. Man is still groaning under the heavy burden of that sanction till today (Romans 5:12). God has not stopped the contamination testing procedure He began in the Garden of Eden. Heaven is still checking to see if we have been polluted while running the race of life. And God will soon publish the contamination test result of all men (Rev. 22:10-12). If yours is published today, what will it look like? Will it be good or bad? Please be sincere with yourself. 

In John 14:30, the contamination test result of our Lord and Saviour was published and it was a very good one. According to the result, there was no contaminants in Him that could attract the Devil’s wrath or Heaven’s sanction. However, unlike our Saviour, Judas Iscariot’s result was not good at all. As a potential Apostle, no one knew that he had been harbouring the legions of greed and lust in his heart secretly for a long time. He had several opportunities to amend his ways, but he never did. By the time his test result was published, it was already too late for him to repent. Judas could not transit from being a Disciple to an Apostle. He was alienated from God - physically and spiritually for the rest of eternity (Acts 1:16-20). Hummm! What a terrible and shameful way to end a glorious journey! May you and I not end our journey on earth like Judas Iscariot. 

Beloved, are you sure there are no contaminants or pollutants in your life that the ruler of this dark world can lay hold on to hinder you from making Heaven? Are you sure you are not eating forbidden fruits that can separate you from God eternally? Are you sure you are not meddling with things that can damage your integrity, defile your purity, and frustrate the grace of God upon your life? Are you really sure that you are not harbouring pride, bitterness, lust, anger, and other vices that can shut the gate of eternity against you (Galatians 5:19-21, 1 Cor 6:9-10)? These contaminants are excess luggage valued and paid for with the currency of man's soul (Hebrews 12:1, Romans 6:23). They are simply too heavy and expensive!

This powerful hymn captures what should be our watchword till we finish our race on earth: 

NOTHING BETWEEN By C. A. Tindley (1851-1933)

Nothing between my soul and the Saviour,

Naught of this world’s delusive dream;

I have renounced all sinful pleasure;

Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.

 REFRAIN: 

        Nothing between my soul and the Savior,

        So that His blessed face may be seen;

        Nothing preventing the least of His favor,

        Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.

Nothing between, like worldly pleasure;

Habits of life, though harmless they seem,

Must not my heart from Him e’er sever;

He is my all, there’s nothing between.

Nothing between, like pride or station;

Self-life or friends shall not intervene;

Though it may cost me much tribulation,

I am resolved; there’s nothing between.

Nothing between, e’en many hard trials,

Though the whole world against me convene;

Watching with prayer and much self-denial,

I’ll triumph at last, with nothing between

By God’s grace, we shall remain undefiled until Christ returns to take us home. And nothing in this world will be able to separate us from Christ and the commonwealth of Israel.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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THE FUEL OF COMPASSION

"But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd"- Matthew 9:36

Several years ago, some ministers visited D.L. Moody to enquire about the secret of his exploit in ministry. Moody took his guests to the window of his hotel room and asked them what they saw. One by one, the ministers described the people in the park below. Then, as Moody looked out through the window, tears began to roll down his cheeks controllably. "What do you see, Mr. Moody?" asked one of the ministers. "I see countless thousands of souls that will one day spend eternity in hell if they do not find the Saviour." (Culled from Today in the Word, February 1, 1997)

Cambridge Dictionary defines compassion as a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering or bad luck of others and a wish to help them. Compassion is the approved fuel for powering the engine of a believer for profitable kingdom service. The difference between those who weep and those who laugh at the pitiable condition of sinners is compassion. This fuel drove the engine of Jesus Christ from His highly exalted position in Heaven to the humble manger in Bethlehem (Philippians 2:5-8). Powered by the fuel of compassion, Jesus Christ also went ahead to accomplish the reconciliation agenda and executed many mighty works for God on earth (2 Corinthians 5:19). It was practically impossible to have achieved such great feat with the fake fuel of worldly gains or personal aggrandizement. 

Beloved, what is powering your engine in the kingdom? Is it personal gains or compassion? The truth is that the engines of many professing believers are being powered by worldly gains and personal aggrandizement like that of Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20-27). The pulpit and pew of many churches are filled with many knocked or grounded engines powered by fuel of greed and personal gains. Many of us are moneybag disciples like Judas Iscariot (John 12:6). Affluence, power and position are now the motivating factors for kingdom service in our generation. The lackadaisical attitudes of believers to soul winning clearly attest to this fact. There is no more fuel of compassion in the engine of many Christians. We lack empathy for sinners and backsliders. This is very sad!

Friends, is there still fuel of compassion in your tanks? Are your engines already knocked or grounded? Does the terrible plight of sinners and unbelievers disturb you and makes you reach out to them with the Gospel? 

Please be sincere with yourself and cry to God for mercy before it is too late. And if you are not yet saved, please surrender to Jesus Christ today and escape from hell.

This wonderful hymn below re-echoes the need to have compassion on lost souls: 

FEEL THE SAVIOUR'S HEART FOR PEOPLE

Feel the Savior’s heart for people

As He shares Himself with all.

All are brothers, sisters, neighbors.

All are welcome, great and small.

See Him live His deep compassion.

Watch Him shepherd, heal, and feed,

Through the Father’s rich abundance

Freely meeting every need.

Feel the Savior’s heart for people

When it gives Him only pain.

Now engulfed in vicious hatred,

Selfless love seems all in vain.

Though alone, condemned, abandoned,

Taunted, tortured, crushed, betrayed,

With His dying words He loves them –

Love triumphant, unafraid.

Feel the Savior’s heart for people.

Feel His deepest longings burn.

As He yearns for love’s completion,

Hear Him promise His return.

See Him come for all His family,

Gathering us from every race.

We will feast on love together

Heart-to-heart and face-to-face.

May God refuel our empty tanks with great compassion and grant us grace to weep for lost souls like D.L Moody. May  every sinner or backslider that crosses our path  be rescued by the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus name, Amen 

On behalf of my esteemed father in the Lord- Pastor E.A Adeboye,  I would like to invite you to our October 2024 Holy Ghost Service and International Youth Convention. Theme:

DOMINION. Date: 30th Sept to 4th October 2024. Venue: The Redemption City of God, Mowe, Nigeria.

Good day and God bless you.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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