LEADERSHIP AND BLINDNESS

FIRST BIBLE LESSON: LUKE Chapter 6 verse 30

"Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods as
k them not again."
SECOND BIBLE LESSON: 1st TIMOTHY Chapter 6 verse 11
"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godl
iness, faith, love, patience, meekness."
GOLDEN TEXT: 2nd PETER Chapter 1 verse 9
"But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath fo
rgotten that he was purged from his old sins."
Brethren, what you have heard being read to you constitute the revelation of our
lesson. Many people think, a blind man can lead another blind man. If they do,
both of them will tumble into a pit.
WHO IS A BLIND MAN?
Anyone who does not have love, peace, self control, endurance, meekness, humilit
y, knowledge, faith, and godly devotion is blind and he is shutting his eyes to
the light of truth.
In fact, all the unfaithful visionaries and dreamers are blind. Any preacher who
opens the Bible and quotes here and there, without first practicing is blind. T
he only person who sees is the one that does not tell lies and does not fornicat
e, nor commit adultery. A person who is not loose in conduct; people who practic
e the Word of God, such ones can lead.
Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is not something to joke with. It is not so si
mple as reading through a catechism and memorizing the contents. YOU MUST PRACTI
CE WHAT YOU PREACH. The whole world is blind. It is not a matter of picking up t
he Bible and claiming to be a preacher, but you are found wanting in the practic
al side of it; i.e. you cannot practice any of the things you preach.
Brethren, I want you to see eye to eye with me on this premise. Someone who is a
thief, he is also cunning, crafty, fraudulent, but he tries to lead another per
son who is equally defective in character to a better way of living. How can he
lead? Who leads whom? Is it when you stand in the pulpit abusing and cursing mem
bers? Or when you pronounce and invite people to an all night prayer meeting for
your lustful desires? Or is it when you solicit for money and even empty the ti
the boxes? How can you claim to lead when you practice these things? You are jus
t an opportune preacher of fortune.
If Brotherhood was not of the real God, you self-styled preachers could have had
your ends. Take a look at it this way: a father who is jobless, homeless, and t
he children who are also jobless and homeless. Who assists whom? How can a poor
person be generous and hospitable? A preacher is the father. The members are his
children. If you have no means of livelihood, how can you give out to the needy
ones? How will you care for the poor who come to your bethels?
CARRYING THE BURDEN:
It is an undisputed fact, rich men do not need the gospel. People who come to Go
d are the desperate and needy ones. Consider those with burdens. When you the pr
eachers are poor and desperately trying to survive, how can you assist these one
s coming to God? Many of them are there to be helped materially after the gospel
. How practical then does it look when you are unable to help them materially? S
ometimes you say to them: "May God be with you." How? They are poor both materia
lly and spiritually. They need help from you the preacher. When they feel disapp
ointed, they will look on you as a deceiver. That is why, you have many irregula
r and inactive members in your bethels. Some even backslide. Since you as the pr
eachers are poor, you are irritated when the poor members do not give you financ
ial assistance. But what can poor members do? They look upon you as the man of G
od, to give them their needs and assist them in their burdens. In this case it i
s the opposite, for when the poor members refuse to assist you, you curse, abuse
, and pronounce woe upon them. Yes, you look up supporting texts from the Bible
and condemn them. Now can a poor man help a poor man? Both have failed. The resu
lt is the sheep are scattered, everyone to his home, because you are a poor prea
cher who is unable to feed the sheep.
The instruction from Our Lord Jesus Christ to the apostle Peter was that Peter s
hould feed the lambs. (John Chapter 21 verses 15 to 17). The lambs are the poor
and needy, the sick, widows, and spiritual babes. The spiritual food goes with t
he material food and shelter for edification. But what will someone without a me
ans of livelihood preach to the people? What is he, (the Preacher), going to eat
and put on? Where is he going to stay? Is he not going to be a parasite and a b
urden to the congregation? Is that the service of God?
YOU MUST FEED THE SHEEP:
This is exactly what the Prophet Ezekiel was speaking about in Chapter 34 of his
writing. This is what the Lord Jehovah said: "Woe be to the shepherds of Israel
that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?" (Ezekiel Ch
apter 34 verse 2).
"Feed my sheep," is a weighty statement. When you preach to the people, you must
also feed them. But when you do not have something to give out, what sort of pr
eaching is that?
The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of God the F
ather, is to look after the orphans and the widows in their tribulations. How ca
n you be praying with empty stomachs? How can you be happy and receive God's ble
ssing when you do not have something to give out? Christ said it is more blessed
to give than to receive. (Acts Chapter 20 verse 35). You preachers who only wai
t to receive from or even plunder the poor members, where then is your share of
the blessing from God?
When you preachers seduce the wives of members in your bethels, are you gatherin
g the sheep or are you scattering them? When you become burdens to the bethels,
demanding, they feed you, clothe you and sometimes accommodate you, sometimes in
cluding your families, are you feeding the sheep or are the sheep feeding you? W
hen you are toying with sexual immorality in bethels, FEEDING MEMBERS WITH FALSE
HOOD, quarreling and fighting, are you an example to the flock? When you are abo
ve correction and would not accept your faults, are you fit to teach? When you e
ngage in fights, gossiping, and whispering around the bethels, are you actually
helping to build or to pull down? That is why, it is said, "a blind cannot lead
the blind."
THE SERVICE OF GOD REQUIRES TRUTH, LOVE, SELF-CONTROL, MEEKNESS, MILDNESS, GENTL
ENESS, OBEDIENCE, CARING FOR THE ORPHANS AND THE WIDOWS. YOU MUST LOVE ONE ANOTH
ER. YOU ARE TO ASSIST THE NEEDY ONES WHO WILL NOT BE ABLE TO COMPENSATE YOU, SO
THAT IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST YOU MAY HAVE YOUR REWARD.
You must have secular work before you enter the full-time service. You must be a
husband of one wife or be able to control yourself. Examine this. If you were a
 shepherd, would you agree leopard should take care of your goats? Is it true, a
leopard can remain with a goat? Or if you were a farmer would you allow a goat
to take care of your yams without charge? The goat will eat all the yams. Who wo
uld you blame? So also is a preacher who is immoral and he does not have any sec
ular work, just canvassing around bethels. Such preachers are those who encourag
e members to practice what they preach and not what they do. Because as they say
no one can practice the word of God. These are the preachers who practice immor
ality and call it "Holy love and holy kisses." What then would a man or a woman
who is loose and also a simpleton preach?
A blind man cannot lead another blind man. A preacher without money and parishio
ners who are equally without money, what type of ministry can you expect from th
em? Or a preacher who is easily provoked by impatient members, that church must
be a battle ground.
Brethren, the service of God is not an easy task. You must be a practical preach
er of God's word. You are told to put on your complete suit of armor. What and w
here is your armor? YOU ARE OUT TO FIGHT AGAINST THIEVES, FORNICATORS, ADULTERER
S, THOSE POSSESSED BY DEMONS. THEREFORE IF YOU DO NOT CONQUER THESE THINGS YOURS
ELF, HOW CAN YOU WAGE WAR AGAINST THEM?
This could be well illustrated in this way: sending unarmed persons to go and ar
rest an armed lunatic. That person must not fight with the insane person but sho
uld disarm him and arrest him. Such a person must be fully trained and qualified
in order to be successful. The scriptures have told you, "EVEN THOUGH A MAN TAK
ES SOME FALSE STEPS BEFORE HE IS AWARE OF IT, YOU WHO HAVE SPIRITUAL QUALIFICATI
ONS SHOULD TRY TO READJUST SUCH A MAN IN A SPIRIT OF MILDNESS AS YOU EACH KEEP A
ND EYE ON YOURSELF, FOR FEAR YOU ALSO MAY BE TEMPTED." (Galatians Chapter 6 vers
e 1).
Can Satan cast out Satan? Or can an angry man cast out anger? Is it easy for hat
red to cast away hating. A house or a city divided against itself cannot stand.
(Matthew Chapter 12 verse 25, Mark Chapter 3 verse 25, Luke Chapter 11 verse 17)
. That is why, you have disagreements in your bethels and members desert your be
thels. IF I HAD NOT COME THE SHEEP WOULD HAVE SUFFERED BECAUSE OF YOU PREACHERS.
THE SHEEP DO NOT LOOK ON YOU, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THEIR OWNER IS HERE ON
EARTH.
When money is given to you, you preach love and blessings. You may even describe
the donor to be Jesus Christ. When you are not fed or cared for, you go on comp
ulsory ministry work and abandon your station. The reason why many bethels are n
ot powerful is because those, who feed the preachers, and the preachers, who exp
ect to be fed, are equal. Any bethel that cares for the upkeep of the preacher d
ictates what the preacher has to preach. The preacher must obey, otherwise he wi
ll have nothing to eat. On the other hand, if members fail to support a preacher
, he will suspend them at will. That is why, it is said, the blind cannot lead t
he blind.
A preacher cannot be bold enough to handle the Word of God aright, if he looks u
p to the members to care for him, or if he has to patrol the houses of members f
or food or the necessities of life. A PREACHER CANNOT HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD IF
HE IS LAWLESS AND IMMORAL. HE WILL LACK RESPECT. A MAN OF GOD MUST NOT BE AN ANG
RY MAN, HE MUST BE HUMBLE, HE MUST NOT BE LUSTFUL, HE MUST BE GENTLE AND HE MUST
HAVE SELF-CONTROL. YOU CANNOT CHANGE AN EVIL DOER WHEN YOU, AS A PREACHER, ARE
PRACTICING EVIL. When you are cursed, you bless. When your character is defamed,
rejoice. You should not be quoting from the Bible indiscriminately, neither sho
uld you be wearing gorgeous dresses or soutane, with a copy of the Bible. You mu
st be a living example in word and in deed. If you are immoral, people would alw
ays be suspicious of you, even if you merely talk to a girl, rumors will spread
about you. Being a preacher, you must live according to the Word of God. Let us
read the first Bible Lesson.
FIRST BIBLE LESSON: LUKE Chapter 6 verse 30
"Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods as
k them not again."
As a preacher of God, you are representing God. You must be compassionate as wel
l as be a source of consolation and comfort. You are a father and a mother. You
must be kind and loving to your enemies.
Tell me, you are a preacher, and the needy ones come to you for help, and you ha
ve not a kobo to give them, but you tell them, "May the Father be with you, or t
he Father will do His work." How would the Father do the work and be with these
ones when you as a spokesman cannot help them? Did Paul not say, "Let him that s
tole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing
which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth." (Ephesians Chapter
4 verse 28).
I COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH ANYONE WHO SAYS A PREACHER SHOULD NOT HAVE ANY SECULA
R WORK. Such preachers are prone to soliciting for money from the poor and wretc
hed members. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT AT ALL TO DEMAND A KOBO FROM ANY MEMBER JUST BECA
USE YOU ARE A PREACHER. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO HOLD ANYBODY FOR RANSOM OR RESPONSI
BLE FOR YOUR MAINTENANCE. YOUR ASSIGNMENT IS FROM GOD. YOU ARE GOD'S MINISTERS A
ND YOUR REWARD IS FROM GOD. THEREFORE YOU MUST NOT BE A BURDEN TO ANYBODY OR GRO
UP OF PERSONS. WHETHER PEOPLE ATTEND SERVICE OR NOT, YOU ARE NOT THERE TO QUARRE
L OR TO JUDGE ANYBODY, NEITHER TO ABUSE NOR TO TALK DOWN TO ANYBODY. YOU ARE NOT
THERE TO MEDDLE IN OTHER PEOPLE'S AFFAIRS.
YOU HAVE FAILED TO COPY MY EXAMPLE BUT YOU HAVE FOLLOWED THE EXAMPLE OF PREACHER
S IN CHRISTENDOM. YOU WANT TO BE SERVED AND NOT TO SERVE. YOU ARE HIRED SHEPHERD
S.
"But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not,
seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth
them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling,
and careth not for the sheep." (John Chapter 10 verses 12 and 13). A PREACHER OR
A MINISTER OF GOD HAS NO RIGHT TO DEMAND A KOBO FROM A MEMBER FOR HIS MINISTRY.
It is written: "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and
stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a ma
n be found faithful." (1st Corinthians Chapter 4 verses 1 and 2). YOUR MINISTRY
IS A WILLING AND VOLUNTARY VOCATION.
If you demand money because you prayed for a sick person and he recovers, and a
native doctor receives money for the services he renders to a sick person, where
then do you differ? YOU MUST PREACH TO YOURSELF FIRST. IF YOU PREACHED AND YOU
ARE PAID AT THE END OF THE MONTH OR YOU ARE COMPENSATED, WHERE DO YOU DIFFER FRO
M A CIVIL SERVANT, OR THE PREACHERS IN CHRISTENDOM? YOU ARE GOD'S REPRESENTATIVE
S, THEREFORE YOU ARE TO FEED, PREACH, CONSOLE AND COMFORT THE SHEEP. YOU MUST LO
VE YOUR ENEMIES, EVEN THOSE WHO PERSECUTE YOU. YOU MUST ENDURE AND HAVE SELF CON
TROL.
THE RIGHT KIND OF MINISTERS:
Who are those called ministers? THEY ARE THOSE WHO SERVE OTHERS. Christ set the
example. The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to
give his life as a ransom for many. (Matthew Chapter 20 verse 28). You must prot
ect the sheep. You must care for the sick, the ailing and the broken hearted. Th
e dispersed and the lost ones must be sought. The inactive one must be reactivat
ed. Where the carcass is there the eagles gather. (Matthew Chapter 24 verse 28).
 If you the preacher have love, joy, comfort, and have the interest of the membe
rs at heart, the members will certainly cling to you. You must take the lead at
all times.
You must live with the Word of God. You must be an example setter. Just as Chris
t walked, you must follow his footsteps closely. When he was slapped, he opened
not his mouth. When reproached, he did not revenge. YOU MUST TAKE UP THE CROSS I
N WORD AND IN DEED.
Your conduct affects the sheep. Many of the sheep have gone astray because of yo
ur immoral and lawless conduct. Remember you will be held responsible for the li
ttle ones you have led astray. You must look for them now and bring them back. F
or who is he that had a hundred sheep and one is missing, and will not leave the
ninety-nine and seek for that missing one. When he has found it, the joy shall
be great. Since you have been preaching how many souls have you converted?
God is the one who called you for his service. You were initially warned: "Do no
t procure gold or silver or copper for your purses or food pouches for the trip.
" (Matthew Chapter 10 verses 9 and 10, Luke Chapter 10 verse 4). Therefore you m
ust look forward to his bountiful provision and be content.
Before you become a preacher, you should first consider what it will cost you. Y
ou should have a solid foundation. YOU SHOULD BE CONVINCED THAT IT IS A WORK OF
SELF SACRIFICE, SELF DENIAL AND SELF CONTROL. A teacher who is not good in a par
ticular subject would not be assigned to teach that subject. So it is in all asp
ects of business.
Your problem is spiritual blindness. And as it is, a blind person cannot lead an
other blind person. LOVE IS THE BACKBONE OF THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY. This kingdom
's ministry must be practical and it must portray godly virtues. YOU MUST BE EQU
IPPED SPIRITUALLY BEFORE YOU MOVE OUT TO FIGHT THE RAVENOUS WOLVES WHO ARE AGAIN
ST THE SHEEP. You must first be physically and spiritually healthy so, you do no
t become a burden to anyone or fall on the wayside. You must possess all the bas
ic qualities of a mature Christian minister as demonstrated in Brotherhood of th
e Cross and Star.
A PREACHER MUST NOT SCOLD, CRITICIZE OR CONDEMN. He must not compel anyone or us
e provocative statements. He should not use bad language with anyone. He must tr
eat the elderly ones as fathers and mothers. Shepherd the sheep of God under you
, not under compulsion, but willingly. TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE DESIROUS OF DOING
THE WORK OF GOD, MY ADVISE TO YOU IS: "COME LEARN OF ME."
Have you ever heard of me charging money indiscriminately for the services I ren
der to all? It is the Father who must provide for the children and not the child
ren for the Father. It is you preachers who must provide for the members and not
the members who must provide for the preachers.
A preacher must be slow about speaking but swift to hear. (James Chapter 1 verse
19). YOU MUST BRIDLE YOUR TONGUE. (James Chapter 1 verse 26). It is noted, regr
ettably, some fancied preachers curse and condemn members by referring to some p
ortions of the Bible. Brethren, things should not go this way. In this way you a
re pulling down the work of God. You are killing and exposing the Lord's sheep t
o danger. These are the ones He poured His perfect blood for.
BEWARE FOR YOU WILL GIVE ACCOUNT.
You must refrain from the lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and a showy displa
y of one's means of life, because all those things were crucified with Christ. L
et us have the second Bible Lesson read.
SECOND BIBLE LESSON: 1st TIMOTHY Chapter 6 verse 11
"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godl
iness, faith, love, patience, meekness."
THE NEED FOR SELF CONTROL:
Brethren, to feed the poor is secondary but to change an evil doer is the foremo
st. The world is filled with evil things, the doing of evil is prevalent today.
There you must have self control. This will help you to abstain from lustfulness
. Temptations are all around you, situations that require real mature understand
ing. Young girls are parading around you inevitably. Some will cook for you, oth
ers would like to fetch water for you; still others will want to wash your cloth
es; there are others who would just like to converse with you at all times. Stil
l there are others who, of course want to lay down with you in romance. Yes, suc
h idle girls will tactfully pretend to be sick. They want prayers from you. If y
ou are lustful, how would you escape being ensnared by these questionable charac
ters? Oh, man of God, flee from immorality, flee from these wolves in sheep's co
vering.
Christ your Master and Teacher met with similar situations. He conquered them al
l. So with mature understanding of the truth and the divine commission given you
, you must flee from immorality now. RELY ALWAYS ON THE FATHER. Understand fully
well, you have this treasure in earthen vessels and that the power beyond what
is normal is from God. You may be pressed in every way, but not cramped beyond m
ovement. You may be perplexed but not absolutely, with no way out. You may even
be thrown down but not destroyed. ALWAYS ALLOW THE LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST TO BE SE
EN IN YOU. Even though you are brought face to face with death, never you compro
mise.
Be assured, the Father is in front and behind you always. Paul was able to win s
ouls for Christ, because he said, "I became all things to all people." (1st Cori
nthians Chapter 9 verse 22). It was not by shouting, abusing, condemning or figh
ting. He was not a busy body.
Rather with love and patience, longsuffering and kindness, he won them for Chris
t. YOU CANNOT TEACH ANYONE WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW. YOU CANNOT GIVE SOMEONE WHAT YO
U DO NOT HAVE. "Oh, man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness
, godliness, faith, love patience and meekness." YOU MUST NOT RESIST THE EVIL DO
ERS. CHILDREN OF GOD DO NOT ARGUE. THEY ARE CLOTHED WITH HUMILITY AND GODLY DEVO
TION. Let us read the Golden Text.
GOLDEN TEXT: 2nd PETER Chapter 1 verse 9
"But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath fo
rgotten that he was purged from his old sins."
Brethren, anyone who does not practice these teachings is blind. He is not holy
either. For this reason, such a person cannot lead because he is still blind. He
is walking in darkness and does not know where he is going because darkness has
blinded his eyes. Such ones can always see ghost, demons, wizards and evil thin
gs in visions.
In this New kingdom, falsehood, fornication, division, and all forms of lawlessn
ess and loose conduct are not allowed. The qualities mentioned here in the Golde
n Text must be possessed by all in Brotherhood, especially, you preachers.
The kingdom of God does not consist in fighting or talking. It is righteousness
and peace. YOU ARE GOD'S TOOLS, YOU HAVE NO STATION, NO BETHEL, NO MEMBERS. GOD
OWNS EVERYTHING. YOU ARE GOD'S FELLOW WORKERS AND HIS VINEYARD. YOUR COMMISSION
IS UNIVERSAL: "GO YE THEREFORE AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS." (Matthew Chap
ter 28 verse 19).
The hungry ones must be fed, the naked must be clothed, the sick must be healed.
The blind must be given sight. The dumb and the deaf must be released. The lame
must jump up. The lepers must be cleansed. Yes you must raise the dead.
Let your light shine so the people may see your good works and glorify your Fath
er. (Matthew Chapter 5 verse 16). Remember that unfruitful fig tree, how it was
condemned. Anyone who is lustful and loose, is unproductive and useless, and wil
l perish like the unfruitful fig tree. (Mark Chapter 11 verses 13 and 14).
Faithful workers are wanted in God's vineyard. You are not required to use your
previous experience from the churches you attended, in here. You are not require
d to bring or quote their methods here in the New Kingdom Ministry. You are not
required to follow the way their preachers do, or compare your conditions and se
rvices with them. If you do so, you are still blind and therefore you cannot lea
d the flock of God.
INDEPENDENT OF WHATSOEVER SIN IS COMMITTED BY A MEMBER, YOU MUST SHOW LOVE AND C
OMPASSION AND CONSIDERATION. Follow scriptural injunction: "Brethren, if a man b
e overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spiri
t of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." (Galatians Chapt
er 6 verse 1).
This is why you were called to come and hear from the horse's mouth. This is the
work of love, patience, and longsuffering. The widows and the orphans must be c
ared for equally. THIS IS WHY YOU MUST HAVE A GOOD FOUNDATION BEFORE YOU STEP OU
T FOR THE MINISTERIAL WORK. You must first think of what it will cost you before
you start.
PAYMENT OF TAX:
Christ your Master paid Tax. (Matthew Chapter 17 verses 24 to 27). He advised, y
ou give to Caesar what belonged to Caesar. (Matthew Chapter 22 verses 17 to 22,
Mark Chapter 12 verse 17, Luke Chapter 20 verses 21 to 25). YOU MUST ALSO PAY YO
UR TAXES AND DUES. You must give honor to whom honor is due. Respect all those i
n authority. Honor all sorts of men. (1st Peter Chapter 2 verse 17).
THE KINGDOM'S MINISTRY IS NOT FOR MONEY MAKING:
Look upon God and abide by his instructions, principles and rules; and you will
lack nothing.
Love one another. Owe no man anything. (Romans Chapter 13 verse 8). Love works n
o evil against his neighbor. THE SERVICE OF GOD IS NO PLACE FOR SELFISH AND DISH
ONEST GAINS. IT IS NOT A MONEY-MAKING SERVICE. SOME PREACHERS EMBEZZLE TITHE MON
EY. THIS IS DISASTROUS. OTHERS IMPOSE UNNECESSARY LEVIES ON MEMBERS.
If you cannot serve faithfully as God's stewards, it is time for you to quit. Go
and trade or farm in your area. ONLY FAITHFUL AND HONEST SERVANTS OF GOD WILL B
E REWARDED; AND TO THEM THERE IS NO STUMBLING BLOCK.
Those who have ears to hear, let them hear. May God bless His Holy Word. Amen.
THANK YOU FATHER.