₦airaland Forum

Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides forever. - 1 Peter 1:23.

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. - John 3:5

Simply put, you hear or read/study the word of God. Then the Spirit of God convict you of the world of sin, you turn away from the world of sin unto God, you are baptized by immersion into water, water baptism and baptize with the Holy Spirit. Hence, you are born again! Continue in the word of God and the Spirit of God. It's a beginning of a journey to new life, a life in Christ.

The true and real Cross Over is to cross from Old to New man in Christ. There is nothing wrong in the religious Cross Over services but that is a shadow. Real Cross Over is to cross from World to the Word, from worldliness to godliness, from carnality to spirituality etc.

4. The end time church have gone from revelation to feeling. Psychology has been substituted for theology. Sin is no longer the enemy of God's people; sorrow and sadness are. Feeling good about self and sin has become the priority in the end time assemblies.

And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Gen 3:17-19

Man was taken from the dust of the ground. Now he was going to eat from the source from which he was taken and this source (dust of the ground) is the food for the serpent in divine judgment. That is, the fallen man returns to the dust which is also a food for the devil. The source from which he was taken only produces thorns and thistles. The Old Testament gives us a picture in the natural so that we can see the spiritual in the New Testament. What is the spiritual equivalent or the product of the ground (flesh) from which he was taken? What are the New Testament thorns and thistles of the ground? - Gal 5:19-22

God did not want man to partake of the “Tree of Life” in the condition in which he now lived. That does not mean that God did not want man to partake of the “Tree of Life”. As stated earlier, Adam previously had ready access to the Tree. A very interesting verse follows that we will analyze:

So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Gen 3:24

There is a verse in Revelation that corresponds with Genesis 3:24:

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Rev 22:14

Those that keep His commandments are going by the way of Christ and they gain access to the “Tree of Life”. They enter through the only gate, which is located on the east side and this city, the New Jerusalem, is the garden of the Lord. Gaining total access to the tree of life spirit, soul and body. Access is not gained to the “Tree of Life” by being covered by other trees as they attempt to gain access. There is no group entry. Man must pass through this turnstile in single file as a part of the one body of Christ. Let’s take a walk through the woods so that we can spiritually discern the forest from the trees.

Through a tree, first Adam fell and sin reigned over mankind in Eden. On a tree in Calvary, curse and sin was destroyed by the second and last Adam for curse is everyone that hangs on a tree. Though, with no exceptions, every one of us starts life initially as being reproduced by some man’s seed, God reproduces His own children with a different material, His Seed in the Word, which is infallible, incorruptible, indestructible, an Ever-living-divine Substance. May I invite you today to Christ, the Living Word. Come to Christ and turn away from all iniquities; repent and bring forth fruit (evidence) of repentance.

The end

FIRST ADAM; SECOND AND LAST ADAM, CHRIST AND THE TREES

The first Adam could partake of any tree in the garden except for one. That one tree would bring forth death. Conversely, there was only one tree in the garden that could sustain life. Interestingly, he could not mix the fruit of the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil and continue to sustain life. Adam mixed the fruit and fell. He did not fall out of a tree, but he fell into the trees. One of the curses that befell Adam continues to plague mankind in that he continues to perceive himself to be hidden from God by seeking covering from the leaves and shadows of other trees:

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. Gen 3:7

Adam and Eve now knew that good and evil existed. Before they had only known good. The covering of the glory of the Lord had departed from them. They could now see themselves as they were without the covering of God. They now looked to themselves to cover themselves. They made an apron of leaves from the fig tree to cover them. This fig tree can be spiritually related to the one where Jesus found no fruit. An apron might work if viewed only from the front but not from a posterior position. Man’s covering will always leave this area exposed. God made them a temporary covering that would suffice for a covering until the seed of the woman would come in the fullness of time some 4,000 years hence. The Israelites continued to use the animal sin covering until that sacrifice was ended by the ultimate sacrifice. Adam and Eve had hid in the trees from God with the product of the trees supposedly covering them:

And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. Gen 3:8

Like the first Adam, men continue to hide amongst the trees of the Lord’s garden. Seemingly they say, “If we can hide amidst the trees the Lord will not see us and He will think we are covered for we believe we are covered.” There remains only one “Tree” that can provide covering for man. Adam (the man) may have partaken of the tree of knowledge of good and evil only one time, but mankind continues to sample its fruit. The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is not an apple, but is thorns and thistles (remember the bramble of Judges 9).

Final and concluding part!

14 “Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us!’

15 And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me as king over you, then come and take shelter in my shade; But if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon!’


The trees of Judges 9 by this time were no doubt becoming frustrated in their effort to find a king to rule over them. They were desperate for a king so they went to the bramble and ask him to reign over them. The bramble is the most useless to God or man and was used only for hedges. It was dangerous to come near it – a fitting system of an impious, cruel, oppressive king it is (v. 15). The product of the bramble is thorns and thistles. The bramble readily agrees to assume the position as king over all the other trees (Judges (9:15).

Notice that the bramble wants the trees to put their trust in his shadow and if they don’t trust in him then let them burn. Many innocent souls who want to go beyond their covering are burned in the modern church world. Let’s see what the Psalmist wrote about the one in whose shadow we should trust:

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Ps 91:1

It appears that the only tree that would hasten to rule and reign over other trees is one that promotes self and the fruit of that motivation is the same that torments others with fire. Again we are not addressing trees that are planted in the world, but the ones that claim to be planted in the Lord’s forest.

Unknown to many, the OT Israel is a type and shadow of the modern and end time church. We fool ourselves when we think that the very same things are not happening in many areas of the contemporary church world. All of the things taken by the local king (bramble) in the scripture above are symbols of those things that are taken today. We won’t examine each of these, but use your Holy Ghost inspired intuition to learn the lesson of the trees of Judges 9. There is certainly delight in giving as the Holy Spirit directs, but not by the demand of a thorn tree. Let’s move on and search out additional understanding where man is “covered by the trees.”

OFFICIAL VICTORY SPEECH BY GOSHEN360 AND TEAM GOSHEN

Men and brethren of this section of our great forum;

The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD and thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

If there is anyone out there who still doubts “our faith” – CHRISTianity and what we carry inside of us; who still wonders if our light still shines in the midst of darkness and chaotic disorder; who still scorns if our founder, Christ is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our unity, love and spirit of brotherhood, today is your answer!

It's the answer demonstrated by unity of spirit, love and perseverance among believers of this great section; by people who waited on this mountain and those who campaigned faithfully because they believed that this time must be different; that their voices and vote could be that difference that will emerge into victory. It's been a long time coming, but because of what we did on this day, in this sectional election of the yearly award of Nairaland, at this defining moment, victory has come to Team Goshen.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this award. We didn't start with much influence or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the global village – it began in spirit of oneness, unity, love, sacrifice, commitment and brotherhood. We have always disagreed, sometimes fiercely, but our faith is ONE! Whether I earned your vote or not, I have listened to you, I have learned from you, and you've made me a better teacher of God’s word.

To “Team Goshen” campaign group

In the spirit of team work, oneness, unity, love, sacrifice, commitment and brotherhood; special thanks to my campaign group and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of this section – you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

Toba – Campaign General Manager.
Boomark - Campaign Manager
Frosbel – Intelligent and Strategic Campaign Manager
Serialink – "Sharp Shooter" Campaign Manager
Bella3 – Welfare Manageress
ATMC – ATM & Cash/Financial Manageress
Plappville – Women Affairs and French Campaign Manageress



“Top UP The Vote” Managers
Pastor Kun, Ijawkid, flourishG, Chubhie, musKeeto my dear friend/brother and Reyginus.



You all volunteered in the spirit of love and oneness without any negotiation for reward fought long and hard in this campaign, and fought even longer and harder for and through the spirit of victory. You endured sacrifices for this victory that I and most of us cannot begin to imagine; and we are better off for the services rendered by this brave and selfless team. I congratulate you in this victory we all have achieved together and I look forward to continue with you all in the spirit of brotherhood wherein Christ had made us one - kindly respond to your PMs from me.

To our dedicated voters

Many thanks to all who nominated us and our dedicated voters. I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to – it belongs to God and you, our dedicated voters. Thank you so much.

To my fellow contestants in this election

I want to thank my fellow contestants, Logicboy03 and Mr Anony my brother in Christ for their contributions, calmness and hard work in this great religion section. God shall reward every man according to his works. You have fought the good fight and you stood in the face of storms. If there is anything we have learned together, it is our efforts to summon a new spirit of patriotism, of service and of responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember we rise or fall as one people and we win as one in love.


In this year 2012, I accept your election as The Official Winner of Nairaland Religion Section Poster of the year. There were 12 Apostles who preserved the faith that was handed to us and this award came as such in year 20-12. By this victory and by the will of God, I hereby step further into the “Apostolic Grace and Dimension” of my teaching gift for the perfecting of the saints of God, for the work of the ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ because there is still much work to do. By God’s Grace, 2013 in this section will experience a radical dimension of Apostolic teachings as God lives – follow me ONLY if I follow Christ.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. - 1 John 5:4


Thank you all, God bless you all, God bless Nairaland and God bless the body of Christ.

engrtee: ..if he doesnt answer, u ban him

Bros, I don answer naw. Me and my honourable mod don connect chap-chap. Abeg relax o.....

plappville: [size=14pt]victory .....victoire.....pour mon frère bien aimè. Felicitation à toi et à #team Goshen. Special salut to boomark and Bèlla3, you guys tried for taking care of our drinks and food Bravo to all #team Goshen. And all thanks to God almighty for the unity. [/size]

Merci ma chère sœur. Nous avons remporté la victoire ensemble. Discours de victoire inspirante sera bientôt disponible.

On behalf of "Team Goshen" that spins in "360", we await comment(s) from our brother Mr. Anony before we deliver our victory speech. Abeg make I go sleep my own now please. Will be back when I wake up.

manmustwac: I asked you a question in a previous post. How didyou know that I used to live in Old Ojo Road. Who are you?

Okay. Let me spill it out in the open air. I went to Agboju Secondary School. I lived and grew up at 7, Idowu street, by Moshalashi B/Stop. I was one of the area boys before I was arrested by Christ and attended Renaissance Pentecostal Church then.....Make I open fowl yansh still ......Make I start dey mention names of area fathers ....

Special thanks to you all. Thank you Logicboy. Waiting for Mr. Anony's message and then my speech. Thank you Team Goshen and our dedicated voters.

manmustwac: It took me more than 2 & a half hours to count the votes but I never add them but I know the winner. I wan sleep now I will anounce the result in the morning.

Okay our honourable moderator. Sleep well bro. It's sleep o'clock for me here also. God bless you bro.

[quote author=Bélla3] MMW do you knw him? [/quote]MMW no fit deny say him no live for Old Ojo road na.....haba. MMW no sabi me but me sabi am wella. Na we dey control all those area in those days....

^^^ No worry my dear sister. Our able moderator, MMW have credibility, honesty and integrity. I have known him for long even though he doesn't know me. We grew up together in Old Ojo Road, Agboju-Amuwo area of Lagos state. So relax. I can see him working to release the result soon. God bless our able moderator, MMW.

^^^ No worry my sister, if MMW no release result now make you go sleep but no too sleep sha in case them wan carry ballot box pass ya side, make you quickly grab am..........

Okay.....it's rolling. Where is ATMC naaaaaaa. Suya and wine go soon finish oooo................

@ Bella3, Chai, this aboki sabi fry suya no be small. See as the guy fry Antelope, come make am suya namah.....Oya, Bella3, add that red wine join make I start chop-chop..........

[quote author=Bélla3]wahala no dey atall.
Make i add that red wine buzugee dy drink al the time[/quote]Okay mix the red wine join the suya make i kukuma chop everything together......

[quote author=Bélla3]HOLY $$$.
Oga al this campaign wey i dy do since nko?[/quote]That's why I dey spray this $$$$ NOW! Oya, receive ya own NOW! Na on top ya head I dey spray the $$$$$$s NOW....

@ Bella3,

Abeg serve me that okporokpo and Antelope suya meat make I take cool my intestine......

Tempted to start spraying $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ssssssss. Oya receive your own NOW!

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. - 1 John 5:4

plappville: Je suis d'accord avec toi, Aller aller Mon Frère......ton nom est partout, tu as bien meritè ça.......alors plus de travail pour ton Dieu car, il t'aimes beaucoup....donc, victoire à toi!!

Je suis tellement inspiré ma sœur bien-aimée! Des larmes de joie dans mon cœur. C'est la victoire! Je vous remercie beaucoup. Discours de victoire à venir bientôt!

toba: Im handling over this bro to you. Jezuspoa. You can help develop is faith

Noted and added....following and followed.

Greater works.....#Team Goshen

More votes coming.....watch it!

^^^ I already gave my vote to my brother Anony. That's the spirit of brotherhood and the spirit of the kingdom we belong. More votes are coming for Goshen360 bro. Watch it!.....

Great thanks to the efforts of our campaign team.... Please be reminded that The "Acts of the Apostles" could not have been possible except for the Holy Spirit in ACTION! God is our victory!

aletheia: Bro Goshen, this is nice. I'm learning some new stuff here. Please update ASAP.

Thank you my brother. I and others can also benefit from whatever the Spirit of God ministers to you on this subject. I have only shared what the Spirit of God ministered to me according to the measure. Let he that ministers also be ministered to; it's all by the same Spirit.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit. - 1 Corinthians 12:8-9

So we understand that divers things or revelation can take place by the SAME SPIRIT. Share what the Spirit ministered to you bro. Thank you and God bless you.

12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us!’

13 But the vine said to them, ‘should I cease my new wine, which cheers both God and men, and go to sway over trees?’

With the refusal of the two previous trees to leave their first estate and be demoted, the trees then went to the vine to ask it to be king of the trees (Judges 9:12). The vine asked them if he should leave his wine to be king over the trees (Judges 9:13). With minimal examination we can determine that wine represents the Holy Spirit. The “wine” gives cheer to both God and man. The vine being as wise as the other two trees refuses the appointment. Again, a tree apparently cannot retain the Holy Spirit if it desires to be promoted (actually demoted) over other trees.

3. The End-Time churches have gone from convictions to opinions.

Jesus is Lord and Master because of His commitment to love and service to others. The three trees visited so far understood that concept. It appears that many position holders in the end time churches today desire to be lord and master because they desire to be seen by men as lord and master. They would never contemplate promoting someone above their position due to jealousy. Jesus said that greater things shall we do because He went to the Father. He wants us as His body to go beyond where He went as a man.

Most leaders in their churches today would never want their “subjects” to go beyond where they are. They want to keep them under submission and to understand to a level just below their understanding. If anyone is to obtain understanding the promoted trees want to get it first and then mete it out in morsels to inspire awe at their revelation. Everyone in the Kingdom of God should be a free person and not bound to some man who may unwittingly control, manipulate, coerce and restrain.

Let’s look at a scripture where Jesus uses the words “master” and “servant”. In our kingdom understanding these words mean the opposite, but in real Kingdom vernacular they are one in the same:

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. - John 13:13-16

Very few people in our end time church really have convictions about anything and what they believe except for their right to be happy. We are being tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.

(to be completed in the next post, the final part)

As we continue to the second act of the trees, we look at another revelation to the end time churches.

10 “Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us!’

11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to sway over trees?’

Again as usual and as we have seen of the trees from our first teaching, all the trees went again to the fig tree to ask if it could be king over them and reign over them (Judges 9:10). The fig tree also bore fruit for God and man. The fig tree when fully ripe in its own climate has an indescribable sweetness and is no doubt, the sweetest of all fruits – it produces the sweetest fruits of the land at that point in time in Israel. The fig tree in the land at that time is next in importance and was busy, fully producing good fruits rather than to rule. Notice the answer of the fig tree to the other trees (Judges 9:11), “Should I forsake my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

2. Today’s church have moved from truth and fruit bearing to pragmatism.

Apparently one cannot retain sweetness and fruit bearing if the desire is to be promoted over the other trees. Unlike the military services and various occupations, promotion in the Kingdom of God comes only through demotion of self. God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble and as the word says, “Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God.” The fig tree that Jesus condemned in Matthew 21:19 must have been one that wanted status over the other trees for it had no fruit on it when Christ came. With minimal study we can determine that this fig tree was Israel. Religious Israel was a proud tree with no fruit. John the Baptist said that they should bring forth fruits meet for repentance (Matt. 3:. Let’s see what John said in verse 10 of that same chapter:

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. - Matt 3:10

Jesus laid the ax to the tree. He said in Matthew 21 that this fig tree would never more bring forth any fruit. Israel as an ethnic nation would never again produce any fruit. Fruit bearing would be taken from them and given to a Spiritual nation. The fig tree of Judges 9:10-11 was a tree that exercised much wisdom in refusing to be promoted or recognized over the other trees.

The second truth conveyed in the respond of the fig tree as being sought to be made king is that, the church today had moved and shifted from truth to pragmatism – no longer do we ask is it true? We ask does it work? It doesn’t matter to us anymore if it is true or not, as long as it works. It’s man centered rather than God-centered.

New International Version (©1984)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. - Galatians 5:22-23.

@ Enigma,

updated. Thanks. My study materials don expire ni..... .....

Let’s start with the first.

8 “The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’

9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘should I cease giving my oil, with which they honor God and men, and go to sway over trees?’

The Bible refers to men as “trees” in many cases and so is this parable. These “trees” are ones of righteousness and they are definitely planted by the Lord and not by man. All of them are planted so that the Lord is glorified and no man can take credit. They are trees of beauty, ones with the oil of joy for anointing and they have a spirit of praise instead of heaviness. Seeing that men are sometimes referred to as trees let’s take a core sample of the trees in the Book of Judges and apply that sample in comparison as to what is taking place in many churches today in these last days.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
to provide for those who mourn in Zion; to give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the LORD to glorify Him. - Isaiah 61:3

In verses 8, 10, 12 and 14, we see all the trees (men) as they repeatedly went forth to anoint a king over them speaking prophetically of the end time church who forgets that Christ is the king over us and should reign over us as believers. The words of Apostle Paul expressly keyed into the actions of the trees and prophetically fulfilled of the last days.

New International Version (©1984)
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. - 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

It is easier to proceed back to Egypt than press into the promises of the Kingdom. We sit in our churches and bemoan, “How could they have been that way,” when in fact we are doing the very same thing.

Judges 9 was written for a reason and not just because it affected those of that day - it is prophetic to the end time churches. The trees of the forest wanted a king to rule over them (Judges 9:. First they went to the olive tree. Why will these trees (men) first go to the olive tree and not another? At least these trees had enough discernment to recognize a tree that was anointed by the God. The olive tree was the most useful and helpful of all trees in the land at that time.

Both God and man were honoured by the olive tree. The product of the olive tree, olive oil, represents the anointing of the Lord. Olive oil keeps the menorah burning (Zech. 4:12). The menorah with its seven candlesticks represents the seven churches (Rev. 1:20). In short without the anointing of the olive oil from the olive tree there would be no light emanating from the candlesticks from the city that is set on a hill. Without this oil from the olive tree there would be no anointing to light the world.

There are four major truth that is conveyed from the response of the four trees that was sought after to be made kings.

1. The latter day churches have moved from authority to relativism.

Paraphrasing the answer of the olive tree in being made king of the trees (Judges 9:9), “Why should I leave the position that God has given me whereby I bring glory to God and benefit to man?” In other words he is stating that this appointment might be a promotion in the sight of the other trees, but it would be a demotion in the sight of God and in his usefulness to “tree kind”.

An appropriate question is posed here: How many trees in today’s church would refuse such a position in order to remain where God has planted them (we are not addressing geographic position)? This tree knew that a position in God has much more significance than a position recognized by man. This tree knew that God is the covering for all trees.

Unlike the olive tree, the churches today have shifted from the position of authority wherein Christ had placed us. We have moved and shifted our focus to what I call “find out what the people want and then just give it to them”. This in itself is not leadership!


(to be continue)