AND WHEN YOU HAVE COME IN, YOU SHALL SHUT THE DOOR BEHIND YOU AND YOUR SONS.’ [3RD MAY 2022 (3.5.22 WFT

‘AND WHEN YOU HAVE COME IN, YOU SHALL SHUT THE DOOR BEHIND YOU AND YOUR SONS.’ 

[3RD MAY 2022 (3.5.22 WFT *WISDOM FOR TODAY * Real Evangelism* by Bro. Alex Oguh)

2 Kings 4:4 (KJV)  And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

Being shut in with the Lord and your earthly discipler is not a bondage. The rewards can be amazing. Remember Elisha? There were hundreds of people in the Schools of the Prophets. God couldn't see one student good enough to replace Elijah. It was Elisha who was shut in with the man of God, Elijah.

Caleb was more vocal than Joshua in matters of faith. Caleb was a real man of faith. The man could say that his strength at 85 was the same as it was when he was 40 (Josh. 14:7-11). He was a tribal leader like Joshua. When Moses was phasing out, he asked God to tell him his successor. See the reply:

Numbers 27:18 (KJV)  And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;

Being shut in with the Master is good. See the disciples of Jesus Christ who were shut in with Him for about three years. Their rewards are endless. They would judge the twelve tribes of Israel. They all, except Judas, received all the blessings of Abraham listed in

 Genesis 12:2-3 (KJV)  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Paul picked Timothy in Acts 16:1--4. Timothy got the blessings of Abraham. There are 7 blessings that are together called Abraham's blessings. These are:

1. ✓ Under Timothy, the Church (at least spiritual children) expanded.

2. ✓How could he not have been blessed (spiritually, materially)?Timothy became a blessing to his congregation, to his generation and to generations after him. Letters written to him have been blessing me. His implicit obedience to leave all and be a follower has been a blessing to me.

3. ✓Can you guess how many bear his name? You know what I mean?  Every time a new leader emerges in Nigeria, new babies are nemed after him. So we have so many Gowons, Murtalas, Obasanjos, Goodlucks and we are having Buharis joining us now. The case of those who get Abraham's blessings are different. The namings after them do not stop. Even tomorrow and in years to come, if Jesus tarries, babies will be called Timothy 

4. ✓Timothy is not here and those of his time are all gone, but I'm sure Timothy became a blessing. The people in Ephesus were happy when Timothy became their shepherd (Pastor or Bishop). That was because Timothy became a blessing. 

5. ✓Timothy is not here to tell us whether God blessed those who blessed him. I'm sure God did even as He is doing today to those who give things to servants of God.

6. ✓The beauty of being shut in is God's protection we get. God becomes enemy to your enemies. God heals you since sickness is an enemy. God limits the devilish activities around you. God becomes you protector and security.

7. Genesis 12:3 (KJV) ... in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. The story of Timothy is still a blessing us all. The letters to Timothy are still helping our faith and making us understand how to run the Church. Those Timothy raised for God must have raised others for God. We may not know where their spiritual descendants are, but God kmows.

Even today discipleship is happening. The Ibo tribe in Nigeria practices discipleship. A successful one picks a boy from the village and puts him in the store or inside the business. The boy grows inside the shop or business and he is empowered to start his own business after about 7 years. And another success story begins. He too would pick another boy and he follows the cycle. Ibos are the most business-minded tribe in Nigeria. You can verify.

Other lines of business or knowledge follow this trend. It's only the Church that had it originally that has abandoned it. Instead we do what is not reasonable. One man of God would gather thousands of people and say that he would carry them to heaven.

How can? Not even Jesus tried that feat. Apostle Paul didn't. You can name his direct disciples from Timothy, Silas to Demas. The number you can be shut in with is always few.

I wish that every Pastor learns from Jesus. How can you do more that the Lord. How can you be wiser than Him? I know that you already have a crowd around you. Do like Jesus tell them stories and leave them alone. Give them food and healing, but never spend your energy on them. Do like the lord. Focus on making disciples.

That is the work with a promise. Lord said, I am with you to the end off the earth. What do you think?

Alex Oguh

+234 806 579 2749