I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted… But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate. Revelation 2:2-3,6

Our text is most relevant in our Christian churches today.

Who should the followership be asking about the spiritual leadership? Asking the leader or asking God? Our spiritual laziness causes us to be deceived by self-serving and self-promoting leaders. We are to be diligent to ask God, and test them according to the standards of the Bible:

1. Matthew 7:15-20;
2. Revelation 2:2-3, 6;
3. 1 John 4:1-6;
4. 1 Timothy 1:4-7;
5. 1 Timothy 4;
6. 1 Timothy 6:20,21; and
7. 2 Timothy 2:15,19-24

It is your responsibility to know that God called the leader leading you; the Lord warned you expressly in Mark 4:24 and Luke 8:18 to do so. There is no trial and error. Give yourself to your calling, Romans 12:3-8 gives further guidance.

O Lord, help us and help my brethren for we are at a crossroad (hell bound or heaven bound), spending Your grace in profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge which has only produced more ungodliness, rather than standing firm in the grace and faith and love that saved us in Christ. For there is only one God and one mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5,6). Help us Lord—the instruction is clear. Selah.



Pastor Afolabi Oladele