In the English Language, ‘mine’ is a first-person singular possessive pronoun. A speaker or writer uses ‘mine’ to refer to something that relates or belongs to himself or herself.
The weightiness of the possession and the benefits that go with it is determined by the attributes or the personality of the owner.
Some years ago, there used to be a very rich man in Nigeria who owned the Concord Group of Companies. He had several wives and concubines, such that he had children with different women. So, whenever a lady claimed to be pregnant for him, they would wait till the baby arrived. Then they will look at the baby’s ears. If his/her ears resembled that of the man; the child would have just entered into a life of opulence because the man would claim ownership.
This morning, I have been sent to you by a Being who is called the Lord God Almighty, but because He is a Spirit, He will be using my mouth to speak to you.
Everlasting Father’s Assembly, the Lord God Almighty says, “You are Mine“.
Isaiah 43:1-7
This passage was written by Prophet Isaiah as a direct message of God to the children of Israel, at a time when the Babylonians have taken over the Northern Kingdom; the Southern Kingdom was under constant threat.
The people would have wondered if God still loves them; God, however, sent Isaiah to them to keep reassuring that He is a God of covenant; that because of that He was prepared to pay any ransom for their lives; treat them especially; promote them and showers His love and care upon them.
One of the first things God wanted the Israelites to know because they belong to Him is that they must not and never be afraid. God told them that occurrences like ‘water, flood, fire, and flame’ would arise through their journey in life; whenever that happens, they must not be afraid.
God says, Everlasting Father’s Assembly when you pass through waters… He will be with you.
It occurred to me that when someone tells you in person that “you are mine”, it means that they are close by or they can reach you. It gives me great joy that God is very close to us to have declared that we are His.
God had to address the root cause of Israel problem so that the message of ownership from Him can sink in. He went as far back as Jacob, the father of the twelve tribes of Israel. The created Jacob became a supplanter and cheater, which should come with fear, guilt and apprehension.
But God reminded them that He later formed Jacob and personally changed his name to Israel. For that reason, Israel should not be afraid anymore.
God reminded His people who they were and of Whom they are.
First, they are redeemed, precious, honourable and loved.
The One that owned them is Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, their Saviour.
These are the messages that God is saying to us this morning.
Everlasting Father’s Assembly, God says, you have been redeemed, you are precious to Him, you are honourable to Him, and you are loved. Repeat after me…
As mortals, several kinds of fear can grip us. 3 of which are:
The fear of yesterday. When something that has happened in the past is trying to haunt the present.
The fear of today. When you don’t understand what is going on?
The fear of tomorrow. When today makes it seem like tomorrow may never come.
God, however, told His people “Fear Not”!
Is there anyone here afraid of an event of yesterday? Are you afraid of what is happening now? Are you afraid of what might happen tomorrow? Hear the word of God to you, fear not! Your mind shall be at rest.
For God to tell His children, fear not. It means that there is a tendency for them to become afraid or fearful. There are several things in life that can make one afraid. The passage listed four: ‘water, flood, fire and flame’.
Water pass water. The Red Sea is massive, the Jordan River may be smaller, both of them can, however, make one to drown. There is no small water in life. I remember a sad incidence in 1994 when our Geography Department took us on a field trip to Jos in our 300 level…
There is a saying that “it is little water that takes them away. Whether the water is little or big, it will not take you away. It will not drown you. Little water will not drown you. Big water shall not drown you.
Water is supposed to be a friend of man, but when water goes beyond friendship, it will seek to drown. Flood, on the other hand, can never be a friend. When it comes, it only seeks to carry away and to destroy. Fire may be good to keep us warm when its intensity goes past that, it will burn. Flame on the other hand also seeks to consume and destroy.
Everlasting Father’s Assembly, whenever any of these comes knocking, you will pass through unhurt, you will not be overwhelmed by any, you will not drown in Jesus name.
Everlasting Father’s Assembly, your head will always be above the ‘waters’.
Everlasting Father’s Assembly, your ‘fabrics’ will not catch fire. The flame will not jump on you.
There are many spirits that men worship as gods. The Spirit Being that owns us is the God above all gods, the Creator and Maker of all things. He is Jehovah, the Almighty, All-powerful, All-knowing, Self-existing God. He is the ever-present Help in time of need. He is God that can do and undo. He is pure God. He doesn’t take a bribe.
When we buy cars and houses, we do insure them against the unexpected. Some of us even insure our lives to the benefit of our loved ones.
God says He has gone beyond insuring our lives, He has ransomed us. My Son has paid the price for you to live. Not only in this life; but in the life to come.
I Peter 1:18-21
If you address as Father, the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in [reverent] fear [of Him] and with profound respect for Him throughout the time of your stay on earth. For you know that you were not redeemed from your useless [spiritually unproductive] way of life inherited [by tradition] from your forefathers with perishable things like silver and gold, but [you were actually purchased] with precious blood, like that of a [sacrificial] lamb unblemished and spotless, the priceless blood of Christ. For He was foreordained (foreknown) before the foundation of the world but has appeared [publicly] in these last times for your sake and through Him, you believe [confidently] in God [the heavenly Father], who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are [centred and rest] in God. (1 Peter 1:17-21 AMP)
The God that I’m delivering His message today can go to any length to save those who trust in Him.
He can shield His own from attack – Elisha at Dothan.
He can substitute His own for another – Daniel, Shadrach & co.
He can fight against those who trouble His own – Pharaoh chariots in the sea. Sennacherib.
May God shield you from all attack. Substitute your life for another. Fight against those who trouble you.
The God that sent me to you is a God of blessing. He can give the increase, He can multiply. He can establish. He can restore. He said He will bring and gather our seeds. All our seeds that have scattered, He will gather.
He will command the four corners of the earth to release our seeds.
Everlasting Father’s Assembly, have you lost ‘sons’? Have you lost ‘daughter’? Hear the word of God, they are coming back.
It might be that some prodigal sons and daughters will come back; it might also be that new sons and daughters are coming. Whichever God wants to do, let Him do. All we know is He said sons and daughter are coming…
I will send to you those that are called by my name, says the Lord.
Those I have created for my glory.
Those that I have formed. Those that I have made. Not those that have formed and made themselves. They are coming…
From that scripture, the Spirit of God told me that people can suffer lack not because of their own doing for two reasons:
What they ought to have was scattered by someone else.
What is supposed to come to them was withheld by another.
If you are here in this assembly and suffering from any or both of such; it stops right now in Jesus name.
If what you have has been scattered; they will be restored. They will be brought back. You shall receive a seven-fold return in Jesus name. E.g. David at Ziklag.
If what you are supposed to have is been withheld, they are released now in Jesus name. Those who are holding such back will lose their pulling power. Their supernatural elasticity will fail. E.g. Laban over Jacob.
Everlasting Father’s Assembly, Elohim says “you are Mine”. This should not only make us glad; but make us become courageous, hopeful and determined.
At times, when I look at my life; I wonder why God loves me so much.
Many times He has saved me from harm; a couple of times, He had saved me from death; He had fought for me in instances that I would have to pity and plead for mercy for the evildoers, and He had ransomed my life before.
Could it be because of my righteousness? Far from it. Could it be because of the prayers of my late parents? Possibly. Could it be because of the daring sacrifices my parents have made for the gospel? Possibly.
One thing is sure though, it’s mainly because I have been redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb of God. Because I am precious in God’s sight. Because I am honourable to Him. Because He loves me.
What God says to me, He says to all.
“But now thus says the Lord that created thee, O Strongtower Leeds, and He that formed thee, O Everlasting Father’s Assembly, Leeds, fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; you are Mine”.
Prayers
Psalm 67:7
Father, bless me to the extent that all the ends of the earth shall fear You.
Father, use every means to demonstrate to the whole wide world that I’m a ransomed, precious, honourable and loved child of Yours.
The sermon was delivered on December 8, 2019.