Category: Blog

The grace of the Lord continues to manifest itself in continuance and growth of the vision which undergirds International Ministers Fellowship. We are pleased to note that He has inspired, guided and propelled us to live in His sight as a network of the remnant, devoid of the stifling features of Religion and religiosity.

Review of 2024. Key Highlights

• Kingdom Culture. The advancement of Kingdom Culture in the earth realm is accomplished by the Holy Spirit through the Word. Ephesians 5: 25-27 makes it clear that the core instrument which the Holy Spirit uses to perfect the Church is the Word. In 2024, we engaged in updating/revision of some courses while new ones were developed. Pastor Grace received grace to publish 8 of the 21 Books the Lord gave her. These resources are freely available on these sites: www.gsom.ac and www.assuringgrace.org .

• Arise Online Church Without Walls which supplies the boots on the ground for growing the International Ministers Fellowship was finally able to obtain permanent schedule to use the Elm Park Assembly Hall for face-to-face services on weekly basis. The Lord has enabled Fivefold ministry to emerge, using the Master plan Yeshua, Jesus granted to the Church through Apostle Paul. We have seen a situation where all the brethren are receiving consistent teaching, training, equipping, activation of their gifts and callings and released to serve the Lord without limitations. That model is what Global School of Ministry centres are seeking to replicate across the world. The reason we cite this is that the Lord says this is the key to ensure the long-term sustainable growth of International Ministers Fellowship.
• Another critical resource that Elohim is using Arise Metropolitan Assembly to model is in the area of Prayer, Intercession and Spiritual Warfare. All the saints are impressed on the critical need for a life of prayer. With the critical mass available, the Lord has inspired hundreds of brethren worldwide to sign up for various prayer moves that the Holy Spirit uses to undergird the leadership and entire vision of International Ministers Fellowship on a daily and even hourly basis.

Regional Missions

The Go Ye/Evangelism team at Mission Central led by Evangelist Mudi Fashe and Evangelist Nobert was primed to support ministers in the network. Part of the team travelled to Castlebar and Roscommon, Ireland; Cardiff, Wales, Boston, Portsmouth and Southampton to preach the word and signpost souls to local congregations they went to support. This is part of the catalyst role of Arise Online Church Without Walls.

Global Missions

The International President was inspired, directed and empowered by the Lord to undertake extensive missions throughout 2024. This includes Missions to these nations:

Austria. A Mission to encourage Arena of Glory Ministries led by Apostle Solomon Robinson, the IMF contact with Pastor Grace was used by the Lord to bless them.

Ireland. The 60^th  birthday of Pastor Kazeem Ogunsakin, National President.

USA: National Conference in Washington DC, followed by trips to Greensboro, North Carolina; Kilgore, Dallas and Austin in Texas)

Slovenia – where some enduring Divine Connections touch the Slavic world.

South Africa – short but effective visit which rejuvenated the network.

Zimbabwe – National Conference in Harare, visit to the widows at Epworth and the orphanage at Waterfalls.

Zambia Ministry in a 2-day conference was used by the Lord to boost the Fellowship.

Kenya. A GSOM ordination was occasion to boost the Fellowship and expand its reach.

Ghana A GSOM Graduation in Kumasi and vision sharing in Accra led to a fresh start.

Liberia A GSOM graduation was occasion to expand IMF in Boys Town and Bernard Farms.

2^nd Ireland. The National Conference injected impetus for the chapter.

Italy. The 55^th birthday of Apostle Patric and 20^th wedding anniversary with his wife Pastor Obedience led to s strategic spiritual warfare project in Padova.

The Vatican. This was entirely for a prophetic prayer assignment.

Brussels. This was entirely for a prophetic prayer assignment.

The United Kingdom: These cities and counties were visited by the International President as part of Home Missions: Old Kent Road for the IMF-UK National Conference; Portsmouth (to minister at the annual retreat of the Sisters Keepers Christian Association International), Southampton (to visit our brethren Brother Obi, his wife Dr Chiamaka and family); Chattam, Medway in Kent (for the first anniversary of New Glory Church led by Pastors Frank & Pastor Mavis Nnabue.

It is noteworthy that delegates connected to the meetings from Malawi, Uganda, Nigeria, Benin Republic and  Cote D’Ivoire.

• Online empowerment. Building on the grace Elohim released during the global COVID-19 Pandemic, the Facebook Live and zoom platforms were greatly used to train and empower saints in 10 nations of Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific Region, namely India, Pakistan, Nepal, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Australia. This was also done with the Now Generation Master Class; the Ondo and Imo States GSOM centres in Nigeria. A similar arrangement was implemented in Kenya.

Through these discipleship, training and empowerment projects, International Ministers Fellowship experienced growth.

• Compassion. The Lord enabled this network to manifest the grace of Love manifested as Compassion towards the less privileged. This was implemented through various agencies which focus on their core mandates.

• Let Brotherly love continue, launched some years ago continues to be a source of comfort and consolation to ministers and brethren in the Frontline of the Third Word.  IMF-USA met its obligations up to about 90 percent towards the brethren in Asia. IMF UK met its obligation to saints in Africa up to 60 percent. The President of IMF Ireland stood in the gap for his chapter. Italy was able to support according to its ability. IMF South Africa and IMF Nigeria were not able to participate as expected.

• We Care International. Created as the Compassion arm of IMF, this entity has not fully taken off as it should because the national chapters have not fully implemented the vision. As of today, IMF-USA led by Minister Rose Etuka has been able to achieve a great measure of operational efficiency. Hopefully more brethren will donate more consistently to it. We hope We Care UK led by Teachers Bridget and Akwasi Nuamah will be embraced and supported by the national chapter. The Presidents of IMF in these nations: Ireland, Italy, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe are hereby charged to activate and support the funding of We Care chapters

Global Missions Board birthed at Mission Central, it has with limited resources continued to support orphanages, orphans and widows in some nations of Africa. With very low revenue, the Board has broadened its approach to supporting individual orphans. For 2025, the Board would like Families, Ministries and congregations to prayerfully consider sponsorship of these individuals:

>Nigeria: a 4^th year Medical Student and a 1^st year student of Cyber Security need support to complete their studies..

>Zambia: Sponsorship of 2 youths who grew up and were raised in the P. Jabangwe Children’s Home. They recently passed their Matriculation exams and were admitted into universities.

> Liberia: The wife of a leader in the network needs financial sponsorship to undertake a degree in Nursing. Achieving her dream would empower the family to be financially independent.

• Africa Transformation Network. Birthed out of the birthday gifts that were due to Apostle George, this Kingdom agency has been used of the Lord to enhance the quality of life of brethren in some nations of Africa. In 2024, projects to empower saints to activate cooperative businesses were funded in Nigeria (East, West and North), Ghana (Kumasi), Cote D’Ivoire, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Niger Republic, DRC Kinshasa, Zimbabwe. We are grateful for all partners who helped to actualise this vision and look forward to more sponsors of poverty eradication/reduction initiatives.

Shifts and Trends.

In the last few years, it pleased Elohim to bring these trends into being:

In July 2024 Apostle Sheldon and Lady Deborah Southerland completed an assignment from the International President: installation of Prophet Jeremiah (39) and his dear wife, Pastor Brittney Shepherd as the 7^th National President of the Chapter. With their accension to office, millennials have embraced the Fellowship.

New website

The Lord has used Prophet Jeremiah, an accomplished graphic artist, to rebuild the official IMF website. www.imfministers.com is poised to provide the network a truly global portal for interaction, information and building an online community. There will be profiles of National chapters for easy access and many other features. We enjoin national Presidents to cooperate with the Global Executive Director of Communication, Apostle Dr Katherine Jones, the Global Executive Director of Administration, Teacher Stephanie Foster to collate the information Prophet Jeremiah will need to populate the site.

A modernised logo.

After so many years of using a logo that did not meet global standards, the Lord has blessed the Fellowship with a new logo and matching colour scheme that reflects modernity and has greater appeal to those in the digital age. As well as the website, Prophet Jeremiah designed the logo, free of charge. We are grateful to Elohim for the burden in his heart for IMF.

New National President for Zimbabwe.

Bishop Jonathan Chatendeuka graciously handed over the staff of office of the National President of IMF Zimbabwe to Apostle Patience Kutinyu. The Board of Trustees has been reinvigorated.

The Asia, Middle East and Pacific Region.

The International President has continued with the empowerment of ministers in the 10 nations which are part of this region through a special Master Class programme. In the process, the ministers are being prepared to effectively take their place in what Elohim wants to do with International Ministers Fellowship in the region. We are grateful to Elohim for Pastor Seema Kale and Apostle Jacob Chacko who have partnered with us in the process of service delivery.

Zambia.

Zambia is the only nation in the world that is constitutionally designated as a Christian nation. During the last visit there, the Lord used Apostle Steven and Pastor Monicca Nkando mightily, with the support of brethren they co-labour with to host a two day Conference where the Lord moved mightily to the degree that IMF was expanded greatly.

Special Measures.

These IMF National Chapters will receive enhanced oversight from the International President and the Global Executive to ensure that their full potentials are realised: Nigeria, South Africa

Walking in Light and being a Light to the Remnant.

The Lord has blessed us with a suite of revelational truth concerning the End Times. Called the Systematic Eschatological Studies, these courses that are in ebook form for free download on the website www.gsom.ac will empower all members of the network to gain real understanding of the end times and be equipped with truth to overcome: i. The Things to Come: What Next? ii. Understanding the End Times iii. 7 Letters from Heaven iv. Revelation Unveiled (Verse by Verse Commentary) v. Completing the Unfinished Reformation vi. Dispensation, Seasons and Times.

Acknowledgement.

Before we conclude this report, it is needful to acknowledge the extraordinary investments of some brethren in consolidation and expansion of the vision.

We acknowledge the President’s Special Assistants : Minister Elect Akalonu who coordinates the global media work on social media and is pioneer  Director of Africa Transformation Network, Evangelist Kwabena Owusu, who though based in Ghana has dome an incredible work on serving on a voluntary basis as Graphics artiste; Pastor Toyin Jama & Minister Favour Akalonu who have been working on assembling and collating information on practical resources ministers of the gospel worldwide can utilise to better their lot; Evangelist Mudi, Evangelist Nobert &  Pastor Kemi who are virtually on call to execute special assignments at short notice Mudi, the entire Mission Central Team who are the IMF Boots on the ground; Deaconess Daisy as Global Missions Board UK  Director with her team; Teacher Bridget Nuamah who is pioneering the emergence of Kingdom Boks Club (Europe) as Managing Editor; Teacher Stephanie Foster who has coordinated the Office of the International President in the USA for over 7 years.

  We acknowledge the Special role of Prophet Uloma Edna Ahuama as Global Executive Director of Prayer, Intercession & Spiritual Warfare along with her core team and various associated Prayer teams worldwide.

  We acknowledge the effective service of Pastor Liz Emuchay as the Open Gates Director with full encouragement and support of her husband, Pastor Jeremiah and Joshua their son

  70th birthday of Global Governing Council Chair, Dr Cosmas Ilechukwu in September 2024. An enduring Legacy therefrom is publication of his autobiography ‘In Conversations with myself’. We asked him to bring some copies so that as many members of this Fellowship as possible will get to know him better and receive the challenge to pay the price of success in ministry and life by embracing our own crosses

  Every one of the approximately 20 people across the world who think of us and give graciously to support our sustenance. As both of us are serving full time, without any income and do not monetise any grace, the significance of what these saints do is truly significant. We acknowledge that IMF Presidents in U.K, Italy, and Ireland joined GPRC Kilgore and Friendship Community church in Greensboro to make institutional commitment following the resolution at last year’s Open Gates which encouraged brethren to support us. While we obviously need much more resources to live as a family and operate the network, we are grateful to Elohim for those whose loving giving made them true partners in the gospel. May Elohim repay them abundantly.

Group Legal Advisor. Expansion of the network in the midst of a world system opposed to grace requires us to be ever ready for potential challenges. Accordingly, Barrister Ngozi Olehi, SAN of Owerri, Imo State of Nigeria has agreed to offer his Chamber’s expertise in legal issues free of charge to IMF International. He will serve alongside Evangelist Veronica Ikechi and Pastor Ross Monioro as a Group Legal Advisor.

The Open Gates Choir

As we have seen so far from two ministrations, there is now a standing Choir for Open Gates. We call on all brethren who are gifted in the area of Praise and Worship to sign up for a Mass Choir that will practice extensively online and serve in this department from the next Open Gates, if the Lord tarries.

The Way Forward.

The Lord has been speaking expressly that This Fellowship was raised for such a time as this when the remnant worldwide needs a platform to connect, interact and build up each other. Let everyone of us be persuaded about this, take our place and invest in the growth of the network. Foundationally, this is a network ordained to work for all who are part of it. After all, one of our cornerstones is the reality that ‘we are Better, Together’! As the International President has repeatedly exhorted us, it is time for as many of us as possible to make real connections when we gather. We ought to be willing for the Holy Spirit to lead us to undertake Home, Regional or Global Missions to the cities and nations where our brethren are, work together to ensure that the gospel of the Kingdom is preached in all the world for a witness to all nations before the End Comes, just as Matthew 24: 14 says.

Before closing, let us acknowledge the need by some of our brethren for total healing and pray in one accord for same: Pastor Linda Didier, Pastor Racheal Chukwuemeka, Apostle Ron Shepherd, Teacher Akwasi and Brother Sol. We pray for speedy healing of all of them and any other brethren across the world in need of a touch, in the Name of our Lord, Yeshua, amen!

Finally, this year 2025 corresponds to the Hebraic year 5785 which speaks of the breath of Elohim, His Grace and a Window of Opportunity for all who believe to walk in divinely orchestrated breakthrough. This is consistent with our 2025 theme: GRACE. The Keynote Address by Dr Cosmas set the ball rolling. All other speakers are building on the theme so that by the time we complete the Open Gates 2025 Conference, all of us will receive an impetus to launch out to the realm of irreversible breakthrough.

Let us therefore Awake from sleep, Arise from Slumber, Align with King Yeshua and each Other and Advance Together into the fullness of divine purpose.

Apostle George & Pastor Grace

Vision Holders/International President

Be a part of the global remnant….

See original live video from Apostle George Here – CLICK LINK TO VIEW VIDEO

1. I will not allow the enemy to influence my thoughts to be negativity.

2. I will not speak evil of any man.

3. LOVE, walk in love.

4, Empty out; Surrender to the Lord.

5. I will take the fullness of Holy Spirit.

6. Live a life of prayer, pray about everything,

7. I will walk by faith, not by sight.

Introduction

Being A Keynote Address to The OPEN GATE 2024, An International Gathering of International Ministers Fellowship (IMF) Holding in The United Kingdom, January 11-14, 2024.

The word, wrath, evokes fear in the minds of people. It paints the picture of a rampaging angry force trampling and destroying every person on its course, resulting in vehement brutality, horrendous affliction, and tormenting fear. Wrath is the extreme opposite of pleasure and comfort. According to Dictionary.com, wrath is “strong or fierce anger; deeply resentful indignation; ire. Vengeance or punishment as the consequence of anger.” Wrath is used in reference to God, as well as to man, and Satan. In reference to God, the Bible observes “the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience” (Colossians 3:6). In reference to man, the Bible affirms that “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20). In reference to Satan the Scripture bemoans, “…Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time” (Revelation 12:12). 

The Bible uses the word wrath in three distinct ways: Firstly, it is used to express physical anger as the fierce anger of a king against his subjects. Example, “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). Paul warned the Ephesian believers –  “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath”(Ephesians 4:26). Paul also admonished the fathers on godly parenting saying – “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). King Solomon offered this practical wisdom to live by saying, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

Secondly, wrath is used in scripture as an expression of human’s sinful and Satan’s inspired anger. Example, Jacob decried the wrath of Simeon and Levi his sons – “Simeon and Levi are brothers; Instruments of cruelty are in their dwelling place. Let not my soul enter their council; Let not my honour be united to their assembly; for in their anger, they slew a man, and in their self-will, they hamstrung an ox. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce; and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel” (Genesis 49:5-7). James underscored the futility of human anger serving as a means to any godly end – “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).

Thirdly, wrath is used to express God’s righteous anger – God threatened to pour his wrath against the children of Israel for their stubbornness – “And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people! Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them, and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation” (Exodus 32:9-10). God will ultimately unleash His wrath to judge human sinfulness – “Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God” (Revelation 19:15).

WHAT IS THE WRATH OF GOD?

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).

The wrath of God is His loving action against evil, which basically consists of the “ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.” God’s holy nature forbids Him to be indifferent to sin but demands that He actively punishes it. His wrath is therefore His righteous judgment against sin. Paul explained detailly “But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honour, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; but glory, honour, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God” (Romans 2:53-11). Notice that people are treasuring up wrath for themselves as a result of the hardness and impenitence of their hearts. The clear implication of this is that the wrath of God against sinners is duly earned; God will only let each person reap what he or she sowed. He is only giving back to each person whatever the person deserves –“For there is no partiality with God.” 

Therefore, God’s wrath as His judging action against sin, manifests in surrendering people to the consequences of their actions. Romans 1: 24,26,28 support this conclusion. Let us see what those verses say: 

· Romans 1:24 – “Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonour their bodies among themselves.” 

· Romans 1:26 – “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.” 

· Romans 1:28 – “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.” 

Notice the phrases, “God gave them up” and “God gave them over.” These phrases depict God’s indifference instigated by human mulishness. God’s wrath is expressed in leaving people to their own desires. His wrath makes people follow their own way, which often leads to harm and destruction because without Jesus we are slaves to sin, and sin is intrinsically always destructive. Recall the wisdom of God which states, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

God’s wrath differs from human wrath in that it is not retribution against those who had offended Him. Its goal is not to get back on someone but rather it is to uphold His justice. Every system of justice must uphold and extant law. The law upon which the wrath of God operates states, “The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself” (Ezekiel 18:20). Only as a sinner lays the burden of His sin on Christ and receives His righteousness can he escape the wrath to come. This means that in reference to God, wrath does not mean vengeance, because it is not aimed at exacting revenge on people. It is rather a holy display of His justice. J.I. Packer observed in his seminal book, “Knowing God”: “God’s wrath in the Bible is never the capricious, self-indulgent, irritable, morally ignoble thing that human anger so often is. It is, instead, a right and necessary reaction to objective moral evil.” God’s wrath is His love in action against sin. It is simply God’s love responding to godlessness, wickedness, stubbornness, unrepentant hearts, and rejection of Jesus as Saviour and Master. 

THE LOVE OF GOD VERSUS THE WRATH OF GOD

It is a strange paradox that wrath can be found in a God who is love. This paradox is made more incomprehensible in the face of such claims by God as He proclaimed through Isaiah saying, “Fury is not in Me. Who would set briers and thorns against Me in battle? I would go through them; I would burn them together” (Isaiah 27:4). Here God declared that He has no wrath because He has the capacity to overcome every opposition in battle. My understanding is that wrath, when applied to God takes up a different meaning and goal than when it is applied to man.  Wrath is an essential attribute of God as love is. As God cannot be truly what the Bible claims He is without love, so can He not be truly God without wrath. The infinite worth of God’s purity demands and justifies His wrath. God’s wrath is the proportionate display of His unsoiled holiness in judgment of those who reject His love in Christ. 

In God, wrath is as much a virtue as love or holiness. The God who is love (1 John 4:8) is at once holy (1 Peter 1:16), righteous (Daniel 9:14), as well as a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:28-29). There is no hierarchy of attributes with God. Each of these attributes is indispensable in attaining an accurate understanding of God. Take away any and you have a strange god of your own making. The God, who is love, is at the same time, holy, righteous and a consuming fire. In God, severity and goodness find perfect accommodation as Paul explained in Romans – “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off” (Romans 11:22). Focusing on God’s goodness at the expense of His severity create a truncated view of Him, much as focussing on His severity at the expense of His goodness. One fosters licentiousness and the other legalism.  The God of the Bible is at the same time good in His severity and severe in His goodness. 

On the Cross we see a clear demonstration of the love and the wrath of God in the sacrifice of Christ. There we see God’s utter hatred for sin and His love for sinners. God unleashed the totality of His wrath against sin on Christ while He hung on the cross. Isaiah prophesied about His suffering saying, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him…And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5-6). In Paul’s words, “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Our Lord suffered both physical and emotional pain that can hardly be imagined by the human mind. The worst part of our Lord’s experience of the wrath of God while on the cross was His father’s apparent indifference to Him in His suffering. Having taken responsibility for the sins of the whole world, past, present, and future, the Father could not but distance Himself from His Son. The weight of His sense of abandonment is spelt clearly in His lamentation: “…My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46). Ladened with the sin of humanity, the Father, who cannot countenance even a fleeting fellowship with sin turned His face from His dear Son, letting Him bear the fulness of His wrath.

The effect of God’s wrath on Christ is summarized in Scripture as follows: “But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man” (Isaiah 52:14, NLT). Through such gruesome brutality as Christ went through to atone for our sins, shines forth the love of God for us. His pain becomes our joy. “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:8-9).

THE WRATH TO COME

“And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10).

The wrath to come is the Day of the Lord’s Judgement, when He will judge everyone according to their deed, whether good or bad. Paul reminds the Corinthians – “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).

God promised to judge everyone according to their deeds. Those who are found to be righteous will be blessed while those who are guilty even of one single sin, will be damned. “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law” (James 2:10-11). The wrath to come will occasion the unveiling of God’s terror against sin and His righteous indignation against those who choose their self-righteousness over the righteousness of Christ. 

THE TARGET OF THE WRATH TO COME

According to the testimony of the Bible, humanity as the progenies of Adam and Eve, “…were by nature children of wrath…” (Ephesians 2:3). This means that our nature as human qualifies us for the wrath to come. The only way of escape available to us is through the intervention of Christ. The following are some specific targets of the wrath to come.

· “Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD Goes forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind; It will fall violently on the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD will not return until He has done it, and until He has performed the intents of His heart. In the latter days you will consider it” (Jeremiah 30:23-24).

· “God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; the LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies” (Nahum 1:2).

· “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Ephesians 5:6). 

Notice in the three passages above, the description of the target of the wrath of God. The whirlwind of God’s wrath is programmed for the head of the wicked, who are otherwise identified as the enemies of God and sons of disobedience. The wrath of God, which is described by Spurgeon as “the tremendous peril,” dangles over every ungodly person who stubbornly rejects Christ. the Bible makes us understand without any equivocation that “God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11). Failure to believe in Christ, and by implication to obey Him,  qualifies one for the wrath of God. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). With reference to Christ, believe and obedience mean the same thing. 

Those who make empty confession of their faith in Christ but do not support that with practical holy living will attract the wrath of God upon themselves. Paul calls them sons of disobedience. The context of Ephesian chapter 5 shows that Paul was addressing believers. He began by challenging them to become imitators of Christ as His dear children and to lead a lifestyle “as is fitting for saints” (Ephesians 5:3). Here is the text of Paul’s admonition: “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:3-11). A believer who does not obey Christ and live consistent with the leading of the Holy Spirit but is a partaker of the pollutions and immorality that is rife in the world, is a son of disobedience who will certainly be visited with the wrath of God. 

HOW TO ESCAPE FROM THE WRATH TO COME

“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7).

John the Baptist used the word “flee” as the appropriate method to escape from the wrath to come. To flee is to run away as from danger. It is to run so ferociously as not to be overtaken by a life-threatening danger. Escaping the coming wrath calls for vigilance and sober lifestyle. Soberness is a virtue we have almost entirely lost in the church today. Believers now compete with the worldlings in their macabre pursuit for worldly pleasures and applause. One cannot escape the coming wrath while wallowing in unruly living. Paul warned that the day of wrath will come unexpectedly like a thief in the night. “For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labour pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). The wrath to come will come upon the world like labour pain comes upon a pregnant woman. I had a relation whose labour began while we were working in the farm. Before we could get her to the hospital, her baby was born. The wrath to come will arrive unannounced at the hour least expected.  The only option open for believers is to remain spiritually alert and stay connected with Christ. Paul advises believers, “You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:5-8).

Only by trusting Jesus and Him alone can one escape the coming wrath. Our Lord Himself assured us, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18). The wrath of God and judgement of God will come upon those who rejected Jesus and followed the path of evil. Those who refuse to submit themselves to the righteousness of God in Christ but are rather going about establishing their own systems of righteousness will certainly be damned. Those who trade the grace of God for self-righteousness will end up on that day like a stubborn king who danced naked in the marketplace. The Scripture affirms ever so vehemently, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). God’s wrath is satisfied completely in Christ. At calvary, Christ became the target of God’s unrestrained wrath, consequently, those who put their trust in Him will be delivered from the wrath to come. On the strength of that reality, Paul argued, “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9). Faith in Christ is God’s eternal antidote to the wrath to Come. Believers must ever find solace in the good intentions of God towards them in Christ. The scripture assures us that “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). This is good news worthy of our limitless celebration. All true believers are destined for salvation and not for the wrath to come. To God be all the glory.

CONCLUSION

The keynote of out text is that there is a great day of God’s judgment coming upon all people. That day is the day of wrath when God will unleash His wrath against the godlessness and ungodliness of humanity. The wrath of God, which means His angry response to human disobedience is a function of His love. A God who would not punish sin cannot be love. Hence, the wrath to come is a day of God’s righteous judgement against those who persist in evil in defiance to Christ’s invitation to abundant life in Him.  Here is a vivid description of the day of God’s wrath and its concomitant cataclysmic events:

“Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:14-17).

Only those who are anchored and rooted in Christ can stand and that, only by His grace.

Thanks for listening. God bless you.