God's Ancient Landmarks

The present day is replete with evils and all kinds of criminal activities. There seems to be nothing comforting. News around us brings fear and discomfort. The only comforting news is the gospel news. Unfortunately, the gospel news is fast being corrupted. Sound teachings and ancient landmarks are seriously being removed. The real danger today for those who once obeyed the Holy Spirit conviction and sound doctrine is to stay away from preaching that will open the hearts of men to the Holy Spirit conviction. People that once carried their cross for Christ, today are trying to close their ears to that kind of doctrine that separated them from the world – sin, lust, pride and flesh, instead of taking the narrow way, they want the popular way that will bring numbers but not salvation.

 

These are the days that we need the Holy Spirit to show us the things of Christ daily. We need the Holy Spirit to give us the real conviction of what is right and what is wrong in God’s sight. If the Holy Spirit is actively working today, leading, guiding and convicting us and making us conscious that God is going to judge the world for what is wrong, then even though one may be a Sunday School teacher, or a preacher of long standing, one needs to humble himself and cry out to God in earnestness. If we do not have the Holy Spirit active in our lives, we do not have the only ONE that will quicken our mortal bodies – Romans 8:11. Christian sensitivity, by the Holy Spirit, is becoming deadened such that many are already swayed by the negative influences of worldliness. Virtues such as holiness, uprightness, honesty, sobriety, sincerity, compassion and probity are strange to believers in many of our assemblies today!

 

Many Christians are fast becoming compromising. Christian values are giving way to vices and moral decadence. Integrity has disappeared. Moral rectitude is scarce. The hitherto enjoyed unfeigned love is no more among Christians. Zeal for the Master’s service and commitment to the work of the kingdom have grown wings and flown away. Where is the unity of the Body which Christ passionately prayed for – John 17:11? The modern day Christians no longer have bowels for mercy and no more remorse for sinful acts.

 

The pertinent question today is: Where Are the Ancient Landmarks?

 

As we celebrate 50 years in ministry, it is my prayer that as we count years, our years will count for the Lord and by His divine touch our fire! I will be kindled to bring back the Christian values and virtues, with which the apostles of old were equipped to conquer the vices of their generations and which formed the Ancient Landmarks.

 

At this point, we say “Hurray” as Christ’s Ambassadors Evangelistic Team (CAET) is 50! What began in 1971 at Papa Adeleke’s house as a fellowship of a small group of brethren from the Polytechnic, Ibadan has now grown to what we are today – Praise the Lord! A fellowship that started with only two programmes – Bible Study (Tuesday) and Prayer Meeting (Thursday) has not only remained a service ministry helping churches and other groups to achieve the task of the Great Commission, but has vigorously employed strategies such as outreaches, seminars, workshops, counselling, retreats, film shows, Bible Study, School of Ministries (for Missions & Evangelism, Marriage Counselling, Discipleship training, Children Teachers Training), Prayer Programmes etc to pursue her goal – Soul winning.

 

“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ” – 1 Cor 3:11. It is our earnest prayer that the church will not remove the ancient landmarks. The earnest admonition of Apostle Paul for the Corinthian church goes in this wise: “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: For I have espoused you to one husband, that I present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through His subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel which ye have not accepted, ...”, and to the Galatian church “But we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed. As we  should before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” 2 Cor 11:2-4, Gal 1:8-9.

 

Therefore, we beseech you brethren, “Remove not the ancient landmarks, which thy fathers have set: Prov 22:28. Shallom!