THE NICOLAITAN CANKER

THE NICOLAITAN CANKER
1. This CHURCH was born at Pentecost, embassy of the CHURCH of the FIRSTBORN [Hebrews 12:23] The SAINTS were filled with the HOLY GHOST, their garments washed in the BLOOD of the LAMB, spotless and without wrinkles, “And they were all FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” [Acts 2:4] No sooner, tests and temptations arose. First, was crisis of GRACE versus the LAW as route to SALVATION in JESUS CHRIST and it was such, Apostle Peter was temporarily caught off-guard, “But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because HE WAS TO BE BLAMED. … I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” [Galatians 2:11,21] The concision lost that battlle but the same may not be said of THE NICOLAITAN CANKER. Some point to NICOLAITANS as followers of Nicolas of Antioch, Acts 6:5. Not a few claim it derived from two Greek words; NICAO [to conquer] and LAOS [the people] Whatever the case, THE NICOLAITAN CANKER, a malignant infection of FALSEHOOD refused to go away; shifting shapes and masks through the ages.

2. NICOLAITANS appear twice in the Bible and in both cases denounced by JESUS CHRIST. First, in the leter to the Church in EPHESUS, “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the DEEDS OF THE NICOLAITANS, which I ALSO HATE” [Revelation 2:6] Emphasis here is on “DEEDS”, as in what they accomplished or did. For ease of understanding, we turn to Apostle Paul’s final meeting with Elders of the same Ephesian Church, “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. … For I know this, that after my departing shall GRIEVOUS WOLVES ENTER IN AMONG YOU, NOT SPARING THE FLOCK” [Acts 20:17,29] With benefit of hindsight, the Elders neglected “FIRST LOVE”, Revelation 2:4, which as Paul warned was to “FEED THE CHURCH OF GOD”, Acts 20:28, as JESUS also commanded, “…  Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, LOVEST THOU ME? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, FEED MY LAMBS” [John 21:17] NICOLAITANS were the “GRIEVOUS WOLVES” in Acts 20:29 and false APOSTLES in Revelation 2:2. They crept into the fold, not to serve or “FEED” the LAMBS but to CONQUER, RULE and make MERCHANDISE of the flocks. THE NICOLAITAN CANKER has gone full cycle, now celebrated as popular face of Christianity for her much “MERCHANDISE”.

3. The “DEEDS OF THE NICOLAITANS”, Revelation 2:6, were “SEEDS” of the notorious TARES JESUS mentioned in one of His parables, “… saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed GOOD SEED in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed TARES among the wheat, and went his way” [Matthew 13:24-25] The “SEEDS” some some 2,000 years ago, occupy the same fields and received similar spiritual GIFTS as the GOOD SEED, “… for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and SENDETH RAIN ON THE JUST AND ON THE UNJUST” [Matthew 5:45] Yes, we read the same Bible, the DOCTRINES we make of it separate WHEAT from TARES. One handles the GOSPEL to draw men to JESUS CHRIST, the other quotes the same Bible to gather men to themselves, “Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to DRAW AWAY DISCIPLES AFTER THEM” [Acts 20:30] The growing perversion of BRANDED CHRISTIANITY, where one man sits as CEO over the flocks is harvest of almost two millennia of NICOLAITAN indoctrination, “So hast thou also them that hold the DOCTRINE OF THE NICOLAITANS, which thing I HATE” [Revelation 2:15] Truth be told, CHURCH is not a corporation run by memorandum of association, a CEO and board of directors, it is the HOUSE of God and we are all His Children.

4. The Lord JESUS CHRIST is the quintessential farmer, PATIENT and not the least moved by the flamboyant harvest of TARES, “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the COMING OF THE LORD of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the EARLY and LATTER RAIN” [James 5:7] The Lord is surely COMING for His HARVEST and going before Him is the LATTER RAIN, the ultimate outpouring of the HOLY GHOST to prepare His BRIDE; the GREAT REVIVAL. However, our readiness for LATTER RAIN nay His COMING is hampered by odious and pervasive CANKER of NICOLAITANS, “So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. REPENT; OR ELSE I WILL COME UNTO THEE QUICKLY, and will FIGHT AGAINST THEM with the sword of my mouth” [Revelation 2:15-16] All of us, one way or the other have our garments “SPOTTED”  and or “WRINKLED” by strains of NICOLAITAN CANKER. The Lord is calling His CHURCH to seek Him in REPENTANCE from almost 2,000 years of NICOLAITAN insubordination, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, “That he might present it to himself A GLORIOUS CHURCH, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” [Ephesians 5:26-27]

# I invite you to One Hour of PRAYER on ZOOM, to stand in for the CHURCH and REVIVAL. Date: Every Wednesday. Time: 8.00pm WAT.
Meeting ID 404 207 5943  Passcode MjRUk3
+2348074318009 WhatsApp message only