KINGDOM RESTORATION PROCESS

The devil’s antics against the Church were already predetermined when God passed judgment on the serpent after the fall of man. In Genesis 3:15 it is written: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” This divine declaration pointed to Christ’s redemptive work, and it began to play out in full measure when Jesus died for the sins of the world on the cross of Calvary. Colossians 2:15 records: “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” From that point onward, Satan has pitched his tent against the Church so that its divine purpose might appear fruitless, as Revelation 12:17 testifies: “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

The devil began his assault on the Apostolic Church at its very inception by introducing dissension, deceit, persecution, religion, sectionalism, and tradition. His intention was to distract the Church from the great commission given by the Lord Jesus Christ. These vices gradually intensified, leading to open state persecution before the exit of the Apostles and spilling into the era of the early disciples. History bears witness that by the close of the second century, the Church had already shifted from Holy Spirit–led and liberal worship to formalized teaching and ritualized gatherings. Soon, the structure of the papacy emerged, and any believer who opposed it was branded a heretic and often put to death. Freedom of worship was curtailed, forcing the Church underground. Scripture became scarce, accessible only to the privileged few, and misinformation began to flood the body of Christ.

By the fourth century, Satan further advanced his scheme through the imperial church established under Emperor Constantine. Though Constantine granted the Church freedom that had long eluded it, he also united the Church with the world. This so-called marriage allowed the enemy to inject pagan practices and worldly systems into the faith. Over time, numerous additions crept in: the construction of church buildings that diminished the truth that our bodies are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16), the rise of professional pastors, infant baptism, religious titles, fixed orders of service, clerical collars, Sunday schools, choirs, the celebration of Christmas and Easter, the use of the cross as a Christian symbol, salaries and allowances for ministers, denominationalism, Bible colleges and theological institutions, central headquarters rule, clerical and laity distinctions, priests dressing differently from the laity, and one-man bishop structures. All these gradually distorted the purity of the faith.

The devil also propagated the notion that the Church in the days of the Apostles and early disciples was immature and therefore needed to evolve into a more established institution. Yet the truth remains that the Holy Spirit is still at work today as He was then (Hebrews 13:8). Modern churches have added further distortions such as cross-free Christianity, prosperity doctrines, faith as fantasy, miracles treated as magic, tongues as the sole mark of spirituality, music carnivals, the rise of lady ministers as ceremonial figures, the first lady syndrome, and the exaltation of man above Christ. With modernization, technology, and cultural trends, the enemy has entrenched the Church further into worldliness, consolidating its derailment from the kingdom mandate.

When the Church shifted to formalized worship and teachings introduced by the enemy, it lost focus on the great commission, which is the proclamation of the kingdom of God. The apostles and disciples were witnesses first and foremost, not builders of mega gatherings or grand auditoriums. They were willing to be martyred for Christ, confessing Him and standing for truth. Today, however, the emphasis has shifted. Messages of the kingdom and the cross are rarely preached. Believers are not adequately equipped to be true citizens of God’s kingdom. The god of Mammon has replaced the centrality of the cross, leading many to worship wealth, fame, and worldly possessions.

Leaders now impose burdens on members for projects such as massive auditorium constructions, with little effort toward building believers for the kingdom. These structures and ceremonial events only deepen the poverty of congregants while enriching the worldly image of religious institutions. I am reminded of my own conversion under Brother Joel Ayodele Adelani in 1989 at Abeokuta. Though I was born into a Christian home and lived morally, I read the Bible merely as a storybook. When Brother Joel shared the gospel with me, I was embarrassed and asked if his Bible differed from mine. He replied no, but asked whether I had ever confessed Jesus Christ as my Saviour and Lord. That day, I confessed Him, just as Romans 10:9-10 declares: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Thereafter, he taught me how to study the Bible as God’s living Word, how to sing from the Scriptures, how to pray, and how to understand sound doctrines. These shaped my Christian walk to this day. This is how discipleship ought to be, not merely inviting people to denominational programs.

When Jesus sent out the twelve apostles and later the seventy disciples, His instructions were clear. Luke 9:2-3 says: “And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.” Likewise, in Luke 10:8-9 He commanded: “And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” Their mission work was without burden or financial pressure upon others. Early believers gave voluntarily, not under compulsion.

The trend of converting idol temples into church auditoriums later birthed the practice of constructing buildings specifically for worship, requiring steady funding. The devil used this opportunity to raise an altar to Mammon within the Church. Today, with the way the Church succumbs to satanic tactics, the sobering words of Luke 18:8 come to mind: “Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Sadly, true faith is scarce, and impurity has infiltrated the ranks of believers, causing the love of many to wax cold, just as Matthew 24:12 declares: “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”

May the Lord deliver His Church from the grip of deception, restore her to the message of the kingdom, and prepare her as a pure bride awaiting the return of the Bridegroom. Amen.

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