© Ayo Omolayo
“So that’s how you and your dad continued to have issues with each other?
“Yes! We’ve always had issues from time to time. Sometimes I even wonder if he’s truly a servant of God. It’s a shock to me sometimes. And with what you guys were saying. Immediately I died, instead of him to join faith with all of you for my restoration, he was the first to order my landing in the mortuary.
And Susan shared with me how he was skeptical about our prayers and everything. He was like we are proud because we know how to pray. Is it jealousy or what? I don’t know where to place that attitude!”
“Ope calm down!” I said quickly.
“But we thank God for his miracle. Today, he’s the best father in the world. That life and death situation I experienced had greatly humbled him.”
“We are grateful to God for life,” I said grinning.
“So you were going to share with me about your bible study this morning.” I said.
“Oh yes! It was completely awesome.
“Daddy taught me a lot. He taught me about our spiritual location. He said much about sin and how if we sin, it means we have abandoned Jesus. Daddy made me to understand that we are to prove our loyalty to God by obeying him. It was so awesome!” She said with a broad smile on her face.
“That’s awesome!”
“But there’s a question on my mind, mama!”
“What question?”
“The bible says that he that commits sin does not know him neither seen him. I want to understand what that scripture means because I know God, but sometimes I commit sin. I want to ask, what does it mean to know God?”
I exhaled and turned to her.
“Can you get your bible?” I asked.
She quickly stood up and rushed to get it.
“Open to the passage and read it from verse 3.”
1 John 3:5. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
Verse 6. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
Verse 7. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
Verse 8. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Verse 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
Verse 10. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.”
“Dis you notice what that scripture is saying?”
“No ma!”
“The knowledge of God is confirmed when there is absolute abstainance from sin. That you know God and you live in sin is nothing but absolute lie.”
“But…..”
“Calm down, I’ll explain what’s on your mind right now. I’m not actually saying you’ll be one hundred percent perfect. Infact, no human being will be perfect on earth, you keep getting better and better everyday till the day you meet Jesus.
But there’s something called willful sin. That’s what that scripture is referring to. That scripture is talking about willful sin. A sin that you commit after deliberating whether to obey God or please yourself. And you stand up with a firm decision to disobey God.
That’s what that scripture is talking about. When you claim you are a child of God and you deliberately disobey God, you don’t know him.
The knowledge of God is not reading about God a book. It’s not about having a dream where the heavens open and Jesus appears to you. Although sometimes it’s part of it. But the knowledge of God is living with conciousness of God’s feelings. It’s a relationship with God. A relationship with God that is built in love.
The knowledge of God is a lifestyle where you are so conscious of how God would feel when you do something contrary to his will.
Let’s take an example from the life of Joseph. He was not a member of the Redeemed Christian church of God in Egypt. Added to it, he didn’t have a bible. He didn’t have a phone to chat up his mentor or call the brethren to strengthen him and pray with him.
He was surrounded with all the disadvantages of spiritual backup. And when the wife of Lucifer came to swallow his destiny, it would have been easy.
Even Joseph was able to admit that his master does not know how much is in his account. He doesn’t even know about the transactions that I did on his behalf. If I want the package some of his money for myself, it it would be possible.
But Joseph made a statement that meant everything God represented in his life. God was more than a diety that he worshipped. He was Joseph’s friend. God was more than just a deity to be worshipped to him.
That statement how shall I do such a wicked thing and sin against God, reflects his relationship. In a relationship, you don’t take actions anyhow. You don’t take decisions that would affect the two of you all by yourself. You consult with your partner and gets his approval or disapproval.
Also, you learn the likes and dislikes of your partner and avoid them. Because you love your partner, you wouldn’t want to do something that he or she doesn’t like. That’s exactly what Joseph was referring to in that passage.
This what it means to know God. Knowing God is having a relationship with him like that of the husband and the wife. They grow fund of each other every single day. They learn about each other and spend quality time together.
When you’re involved in something as intimate as this, you’ll realize that son is more than just pleasing yourself, it’s hurting your lover’s feelings.
No wonder the bible says, grieve not the Holy Spirit. That’s because the Holy Ghost has feelings. It’s not a suggestion, it’s a command. Please open to Matthew 7:21.”
She opened her bible and read.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Verse 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Now I want us to read Matthew
Verse 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
“Now this is the most important part of the knowledge of God. I will use Cain and Abel as an example. Cain had no relationship with and Abel had a relationship with God.
But the funny thing about it is that both of them brought sacrifice to God, interesting.
Cain was not right with God and he had a lot of things to settle with God in his life, but when it was time to sing in the choir he was there. Cain had just finished fornicating with a girl and cleaned up himself.
Infact open his android phone, there are porn videos hidden in specific places. But he’s the youth leader and the choir coordinator in the church, that’s sacrifice.
He’s offering his services to God as a burnt offering. But remember the words of Apostle Paul, I seek not your substance but you.
God is not after what you do for him or give to him. He’s after you. He wants a relationship with you. Enough of all the sacrifices on the altar. God had rejected many sacrifices long ago, but people keep bringing more and more.
Infact, let me tell you something, Hosea 6:6, says, for I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
A relationship with God, not sacrificing your voice, your talent, your money, your time for God without a relationship with him. That was exactly what Cain did and God rejected it.
And if you notice something, the bible said in Genesis 4 verse 4. And Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
Verse 5. But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
Take note, the Lord first had respect for who?”
“For Abel!”
“Yes! He had respect for Abel first, before he had respect for the sacrifice Abel brought. The same thing with Cain. Maybe Cain’s offering was bigger than that of Abel. Some people says that Cain carried rotten yam to God, that’s a lie. The bible never said that he brought a terrible offering to God.
The bible only said, that God looked at him and rejected him first, before his offering.
Take note, first the person, before the offering. God first of all rejected Cain, before he started rejecting what services he came to render in the church. Perhaps Cain was a drummer. Maybe the best drummer in the church. When he plays the drum, the entire congregation summersalts and starts praising God.
God looks down at the Cain beating the drum and turns his face away.”
“Wow! Lord have mercy!”
“So according to Matthew 7 verse 21, we see a list of zealous believers. They even had gifts of the spirit, yet no relationship with God. They cast demons out of possessed people, yet no relationship with God.
And when they arrived at heaven, God asked, who are you?
We have eaten and drunk at the presence of the king.
I don’t know you, depart from me. Workers of iniquity. Believers living in sin. Believers who compromise all in the name of I will repent later, after I finish commiting this particular sin.
The bible says in Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
Verse 2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
The reason why God claims he doesn’t know them is because, sin hides you from God. It makes God unable to recognize you. It defiles and messes up the person so badly that it’s difficult for the ancient of days to recognize you.”
Ope was already on the floor weeping and I was surprised to see Ella and Susan on their knees behind me.
Our little chat had turned to a revival meeting.
“Oh Lord! Help my heart! The heart of man is wicked. Even after knowing that this is the tree of knowledge of good and evil, man will still go and pluck from it. The knowledge of God is what we need, not the knowledge of good and evil.
Apostle Paul said that the love of God constrains us. We are constrained by his love. We want to jump at sin, but we remember the loving saviour and how he had a lot of choices to make, but chosed to pay our debts.
That love we have for him begins to strengthen our will to say no to sin. That’s what it means to have knowledge of God. That’s what it means to be in a relationship with God. It’s not about the bible study, it’s about practicing what you learned at the bible study.” Mummy Oladimeji said.
I was shocked to see her as she walked in.
“🎵When I remember what the Lord has done.
I will never go back anymore.
No, no no no I say no!
I will never go back anymore!🎵”
She sang as we all began to pray in tongues.
To be continued………
Are you just reading or are you already praying?
Lord, I want to know you.
Better than I know me.
Teach me Lord to know your. ways.
To know your truth.
Can you go ahead and cry to Jesus this morning!
This people draw near to me with their mouths and honour me with their lips but their heart is far from me! Haaaaaaaaaaa!
Lord! Help us to know you more! Help us to love you so intimately that it would constrain us from sinning against you!
Can you go ahead and cry to the Lord!
