A time has come for us to make a distinction between a Christian and a follower of Christ; because the world has its own definition of “Christian,” and unfortunately many of us have bought into the same. But the Lord at this time is looking for followers indeed – followers in truth and spirit. This where the difference will be made clear as we see God bringing to pass every word that He has spoken in terms of the coming revival at this last time (Joel 2:21-32).

From Joel 2: 22 – everything that is supposed to produce economically and has been in a downturn before, will begin to produce, preceding the coming revival. It is of necessity that there be the restoration of financial prosperity before the spiritual revival comes. In these last days when God is saying that He is closing up the age, to bring back mankind to the dominion He ordained; He will provide everything that the people of God will need to cause the revival to prosper. And when He has provided it, how you use the wealth determines who you are in Him.

The phrase “come to pass AFTERWARD” in Joel 2:28 indicates a sequence – something has to come first, before something else follows.

There will be an economic and revival of prosperity, that will support and bring forth into view what God is saying concerning the outpouring of His Spirit upon His people, then judgement would come. But in the midst of these, who is a Christian? who is a follower of Christ? Because the world has its own definition of who a Christian is.

Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted: But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away. For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways. James 1:9-11

The rising of the sun brings light and heat. Light causes awareness but heat brings about the sapping away of the life-giving ingredients, the vitality of plants.

Too many of us when we become prosperous become so aware of the things surrounding us, and what we think we don’t have begin to drives us to copy what is around us; and that is why the sapping of the anointing comes. That’s why God speaks concerning the rich in James 1:9-11, “that except you learn to be lowly, you are going to miss it.” If when you have been prospered by this rush God is giving for a particular purpose, and you begin to see yourself in the light of the circumstances around you, you will lose the anointing. God is not therefore saying “don’t be rich” but He has set a purpose in this last time that His word must be preached, that men will be saved, that there would be an outpouring of a great revival, before which there has to be a financial prosperity to cause that word to come. Woe to that man who when he has prospered according to the promise of God doesn’t understand the purpose for which it has been given.

The sun makes clear, draws attention, simultaneously comes the burning heat that causes the sapping out of the ingredients that make for vitality of the natural state – God’s given state as reflected in the freshness of grass and flowers. No wonder, God emphasises the advantage associated to those who maintained a low degree. This exhortation is not an endorsement of poverty, rather, a call to imbibing the principles of lowliness even when you are rich. Look unto Jesus who though He was rich, became poor. The way He was dressed was such that you could hardly distinguish Him from those who were with Him. Is that what you see in Christendom today? The time has come that we begin to make a distinction between a Christian and a follower of Christ. Which one are you?

The world has its own definition of “Christian” and we all have gone along with it but I want you to know that you will either line up with the Scarlet Woman of Babylon or you will line up with the Lord Jesus Christ. What could have made John the Apostle “wonder with great admiration” when the angel of the Lord showed him the scarlet woman? It was because he could not believe that the woman was truly Babylon.

God will do greater things in raising millionaires among His children, but woe to those who don’t understand the purpose for which they are being prospered. And that is how we will know who is the follower of Christ and today’s Christian.

The influence of the heat can be reduced by either staying indoors or walking in the shade. The sun rising brings about clarity, draws attention to you and to your surrounding; as you receive and have it, it won’t be hidden. The natural tendency is a new awareness of who we are compared with what is around us (looking at what we don’t have) and this is where the danger lies. What we do not have becomes a driving factor as the resources that you need are now available to be what you think you are not. But those resources are meant for something else.

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:8-10).

There was a calling upon the life of Abraham and obedience was associated to it, even though he did not know exactly the nature and all the completeness of what he was going into. The American translation says, in Verse 9, “By faith he lived as an ALIEN in the land of promise….” When you are an alien in a land, it shows that you don’t belong there. Note that this Scripture did not say he lived like an alien but as an alien. Picture yourself, aware of the surrounding that you are in, do you have the guts to say you are an alien, that you live by a different law, different from the law that is around you? An alien lives by a different law, different from what prevails around him. But what do you find in Christendom today? Christendom wants to be like the world, ride in posh cars, bring stardom into the Church to try and “catch them.” Come out of Babylon! Dwell according to the dictates of the word of God, because we are cut out to live by a different law! Jesus made the difference.

And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. Matthew 17:24-27

Jesus Himself began to put a distinction that we would need to understand: we are not children of the kings of this world that we should fall prey to the issues of this world, we are only required to abide by the rules and regulations of governance.

Even as a follower of Christ, you are required to make a distinction between what things you need to do that are legitimate and the things which are not legitimate. We have to render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s and unto God the things which are God’s. But Christians today run headlong and flow with what the world is saying. In this last revival of prosperity, according to another man of God, Pastor Tokunbo Oshokoya, “if Jesus tarries much longer, many Christians, tongue speaking and demon chasing, will end up in jail; because they would have become thieves.”

If you don’t begin to recognise that you live by a different law, you will miss God. How many followers of Christ recognise that they are aliens? We want to ride the same cars as the world rides, we want to wear the same clothes they are wearing. And that is why the world has a different definition for Christian. That is why I’m shying away form being called a “Christian” anymore. I want to be called a follower of Christ! Are you a follower of Christ or are you a “Christian?”

If you are not walking exactly the same way that Jesus walked, put a question mark on your name – Christian or follower of Christ because He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. (I John 2: 6).

In this coming revival, there will be an unleashing of prosperity across the face of the earth and the church would be a major beneficiary. May God save you that you don’t become like the flower that withers because you did not learn to imbibe the principles of lowliness that God is demanding concerning those who are rich.

Live like the alien that God has called you to be, recognise the things that are truly needful for your existence. Don’t get yourself messed up with the world. The woman harlot of Babylon (see Revelation 17) was dressed in purple, and the Scriptures say that the kings of the earth have drunk of the wine of her fornication. The kings of this world demand tribute from aliens; and if those kings are the same ones that have drunken of the wine of fornication, and you want to follow them, by accepting the things of the principles of this life, you also by consequence have drunken of the wine of fornication and you say you are a Christian.

Christian or follower of Christ, which are you? What’s your expectation? What are your aspirations? What are the things you are wanting? I am not saying that you should not dress nicely, but I want you to take consideration that what things God has put in your charge, He put it for a particular purpose. That purpose in this time is the proclamation of the kingdom of the living God.

The sequence in Joel 2 in which God said He would pour our His Spirit upon all flesh and when He has done this, He will begin to do things that would turn people to the Lord Jesus Christ. This prophecy was what manifested in Acts 2 and in a day, three thousand people gave their lives to Christ and there were miracles in every direction. Likewise, everything that God is giving in this last time, is to the intent that the souls of the sons of men be saved. As the Lord liveth, this word will not fail, that prosperity in abundance will come. You will see it, you will know it, you will handle it, but don’t let it destroy you.

Change

There has to be a change of attitude, recognising that you are an alien in this world, who is looking for a building not made with hands.

Hebrews 11:24-26 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

There was a time that Moses enjoyed being called the son of Pharaoh. There was a time that Moses enjoyed being called a prince. There was a time he did not see the difference, he was a prince. But when he had come of age, when he had become mature, he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh. He understood that he was an alien, living according to a determined purpose of God. And by that, he shunned friendship, association and everything that had to do with Egypt.

Consider Jesus, who though He was equal with God, He humbled Himself to death, even the death on the cross. There is a death that God is calling for, concerning that awareness that wants to make us look like the world. We all need to get to the point where we can stand and say “no, I live according to a different law.” That is when God will rejoice in us and His glory will rest upon each of us.

Your reward as a follower of Christ is not whatever this world calls, you today. Don’t you know there’s a promise upon your head, that wheresoever Christ is, there will you also be? (Rev. 14:1-5). But many Christians today are no longer looking at that reward, they live only for today – seeking the acceptance and admiration of the world.

Jesus gave light, grace and truth to men;  Are you shinning like Jesus shined, to give light to those who are walking in darkness? Are these things in your life – light, grace and truth? The world has its own definition of Christian and that’s what you need to avoid. The world has taken the definition for Christian for comfort and external appearance. But I tell you no! God is looking for those in whose lives the light of Jesus is shining and grace and truth are manifest; those in whose lives, the name of the Lord, like a sweet aroma, is imparting the lives of others. As many as will give themselves up for the redemption of others, God is going to re-position them, because these are the ones that He loves.

Let there be a redefinition of your life, understand what God is saying and say no to religion, because religion is what is left when the love of God has drained away from our hearts. God is saying that it is time to reach out with His love. (Jn. 13:35) Religion is what is left when the Spirit of God has left our hearts. Religion or the religious system can never give freedom to the people, it is the love of Christ that can set free; but the beginning of it is that you recognise that you are an alien to this world.

I’ll end this with two stories of those who are running well.

A man was running in an Olympic race and he was leading the others. Then some of the people who were standing by began to criticise him and make noise. Then the man stopped, stepped out and began to answer them.” He was soon over taken by others and he lost the race!

Are you running well and there are criticisms on the right and on the left and you want to step out and answer them? Hear me o child of God, don’t you know that it is those who are running that well that criticism comes to? The moment you step aside to answer criticisms you have lost the race! The Holy Spirit is calling upon you to keep focus, get to the end of the race and win.

A man was in a hurry to catch a flight. As he ran he met a man carrying two heavy bags, whom he asked what the time was. The stranger put down his bags, looked at his watch and said, this watch says it’s 10 o’clock and the weather is fair in Lagos, it would be cloudy in Ibadan, it would be rainy in London and in New York it would be snowing. The man looked at the stranger in surprise and said you have all that in your watch, how much would it cost me to have it?” The stranger said “ten thousand pounds” and the man paid him. He collected the watch and as he was leaving, the stranger called him back to give him the batteries he needed for the watch, which were the two bags he was carrying. All these transactions took some time making the man to miss his flight.

All the gizmos of technology, that you are seeing today, they not only get obsolete, they also succeed in killing the time that you need to spend in the presence of the Lord. Will you be a follower of Christ or a Christian, having all that the world has, not knowing that your time is being carefully blown away from your life?