FEATURE ARTICLE

Sam AwedaTuesday, October 13, 2015
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Lagos, Nigeria

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THE DANGER IN TAKING GOD'S MERCY FOR GRANTED!

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ing David testified of God's mercy severally in his writings. The one recorded in Psalms 103, vs 8- 9 reads: The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. 9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever.

The Prophet Jeremiah also testifies of God's enduring mercy. In his book, Lamentation 3, he wrote in vs 22-23

"It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" (Lam. 3:22-23).

But shall we continue in sin and expect God's grace to multiply? Do we think we can remain living in disobedience to God's words and expect His mercies to remain forever without any repercussion?

So, the topic of my sermon today is "The Danger in taking God's Mercy for Granted"

As Dr. Dn Kayode Samuel prays, let me suggest to you, to call a friend right away to tune to us; invite members of your household to listen to God as He speaks through me.

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The Danger in taking God's Mercy for Granted!

The horrible behavior observed among Nigerians is very frightening. No evil is beyond them. Yet this is a country that is very religious. Churches abound everywhere. Mosques are attached to houses. Prayer times are not missed; yet evil behavior escalates. People worship, but they have no fear of God. Though they hear it frequently on the pulpits that the time given to man on this earth is very brief, yet they live as if this world is all they live for.

Job in chapter 14:1-2 says "Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. He blossoms for a moment like a flower-and withers; as the shadow of a passing cloud, he quickly disappears"

Do they not realize that their behavior here below determines where their soul goes after death?

Yes, God is very merciful, the prophets said it. I can confirm it too.

It is as if Jeremiah had for seen Nigeria, when he wrote that "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not"

People have said it often that, what keep Nigeria till today is the intercessory prayers of a few, otherwise God will have wiped Nigeria off the face of the earth.

One of my seniors in High School has expressed his disappointment in my pleading with Nigerians to repent. He said that what he wants me to do is to pray that God wipes Nigeria off the face of the earth.

Beasts of the jungle have compassion for themselves but not Nigerians, who God makes in His image, who God expects to behave with some decorum.

Lives of human beings have no significance to the people of Nigeria. I heard that human beings are buried alive for rituals. They have no fear to kidnap a 77 year old man for ransom. Nigerians dupe themselves without their conscience troubled. Is what we are reading and hearing in the news of recent of how individuals steal the public money not baffling? When someone is not blind to the suffering of the masses, how can an individual steal so much of the public money, which can transform the lives of millions positively?

I heard of a certain Local government, which once it is noon time on Friday, the officials lock themselves up in a room to share all monies they have taken from people in the week; whether legitimately or fraudulently. They send agents out to the town and market places to collect all kinds of levies and taxes and on Fridays they share it. They collect money from the weaklings; poor pepper and salt sellers, transporters, those who do not pack their vehicles properly or those who are yet to renew their papers and instead of using these monies to improve the town and market places, they share it.

I am told of another Local Government somewhere who appointed agents to revoke lands that are not developed. While there is nothing wrong in the resolve, I am told that those who were employed to carry out the task, smoke weeds in the open and brandish cutlass and other dangerous weapons. Is this not fearful? How does one explain this behaviour in this modern world? Nigerian governments simply prefer to remain crude and refuse to be civilized.

Recently, it is observed that the Sign Post, which we erected at the junction that leads to our Church was vandalized. The Petty traders in the vicinity believe that it must have been vandalized one night after they had left for home. After a lot of enquiry, the vandalism was traced to a government agency. Up till today, it baffles me how a government agency who is supposed to lead by example should be so destructive.

If they think we owe them any levy, is it by destroying it that they will use to inform us? We have our telephone numbers on the post as well as our e-mail address. What stops them from making a call not lasting one minute or putting a notice on our premises? No. They did not do any of those simple, convenient things. Instead they went in the night with a welder's machine to cut the poles, load the bill board it in their truck and took it to their office. I pity them because as someone often says, there are lots of people among us who though they wear clothes but actually they belong to ward seven where people with mental illnesses are kept or Aro Mental hospital.

Is it the Sign Post that offend them or they want money? Well, they can be so destructive, not caring how much it costs us to erect it since they always have illicit money to spend. And that is why after they left the service, their lives turn upside down, their legs wobble the way they have turned the legs of the signpost.

In Civilized countries, one receives a reminder in advance, upwards of 2 to 3 months to the time of whatever renewal is due.

I am yet to hear of anyone in those countries who is reluctant to pay his bill and taxes. Why will anyone be reluctant? Does he or she turns his or her light on and it does not light? Does he or she turns the forceps on and water refuses to run down the pipe or does he or she run into pot holes any day as he or she drives?

Alas in Nigeria, we pay for services, which we do not enjoy. And where are all the levies and taxes forcefully taken by the weed smokers, brandishers of weapons of destruction? The officials and our big men share it to buy houses in London, France, Dubai and the US.

God is merciful, slow to anger, but how long shall we expect God's mercy to last? I am preaching on the topic "The Danger in taking God's Mercy for Granted"

The governments of the civilized governments see Religious houses as partners in progress because religious houses teach their congregations to behave godly, which in essence makes governance easy for the rulers and so, the religious houses enjoy some incentives from the government. The incentives do not imply that the government pays the salaries of the religious leaders anyway. Not at all! So do not get me out of context please. But the government sees whatever contribution anyone makes in the year to religious houses as part of his tax for that year. They call it "Tax Deductible"

Unfortunately, in Nigeria, the Church in particular is under attack because of a few of the Church leaders who are wealthy. But have they stolen money from any one? If some of them talk sweetly and you dole money to them, whose fault? I suggest strongly that the government and its hooligan agents' tax collectors come to their senses and fear God and stop these senseless attacks on religious houses, particularly the Church if they do not want the wrath of God.

It must be made clear however that when the Bible talks of God's enduring mercy, it is not without limitation. Hear king David in Psalms 103: vs 11 "For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear Him" So, God's mercy does not all the time extend to those who do not fear God, those who willfully are disobedient to Him.

Those of you who do evil may ridicule my sermon; you may say there is no repercussion or vengeance anywhere. But listen to Apostle Peter in his 2nd book chapter 2 vs 4- Peter argued that how do you think you can escape God's judgement 4 if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes, condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:

Listen to what the wisest man in history, king Solomon who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes has to say in chapter 8 vs 11 "11 When a crime is not punished instantly, people feel it is safe to do wrong. 12 But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off. 13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. (Eccl: 8:11-13).

Apostle Peter alludes to king Solomon's saying ". 9 God isn't really being slow about his promise even though it sometimes seems that way. But he is waiting, for the good reason that he is not willing that any should perish, and he is giving more time for sinners to repent (2Peter 3 vs 9).

Time is still there for you to repent. But after your life is snuffed it will be too late. Do not delay your salvation.

Let us pray.

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