During Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, particularly in the Beatitudes, He made a profound statement in Matthew 6:24, as mentioned in Matthew 6:24 “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Here, Jesus foresaw a future reality where Satan would introduce the god of mammon before His disciples, that is, the Church. He warned them in advance because of the tendency for believers to attempt serving both God and mammon simultaneously. Such worship, however, is void, for there is no neutrality in the worship of God.

Mammon represents riches, wealth, and worldly glamour through which the world system operates under Satan’s influence. Satan even attempted to tempt Jesus with this same bait before the commencement of His earthly ministry, as mentioned in Matthew 4:8-9 “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.” His intention was to bring Jesus under his dominion. However, Jesus rebuked him firmly, as mentioned in Matthew 4:10 “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

Jesus reaffirmed God’s supremacy, which aligns with the foundational commandments, as mentioned in Exodus 20:3-4 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.” Satan’s attempt was strategic, knowing that Jesus came to restore man’s lost dominion and reconcile man back to God. This mission would establish a kingdom that would directly challenge Satan’s dominion over the earth, which he assumed after the fall of Adam and Eve.

When Satan failed to subdue Jesus, he redirected his efforts toward the Church, through which the Kingdom of God is advanced. Jesus declared the Church’s authority and endurance, as mentioned in Matthew 16:18 “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” To secure this victory, Jesus fortified the Church through His death, resurrection, and the shedding of His blood.

Jesus lived a life of humility. He did not select the wealthy or influential as His disciples, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 1:26-27 “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.” Even when approached by a potential follower, He emphasised the cost of discipleship, as mentioned in Matthew 8:20 “And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”

In His teachings, Jesus consistently warned against earthly treasures and encouraged eternal focus, as mentioned in Matthew 6:19-20 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth… But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” Yet, He did not condemn wealth itself, as seen in His interactions with individuals like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea.

Despite Satan’s repeated attempts throughout Church history to derail the Church, his ultimate strategy has been to subtly introduce mammon into the Church system. Over time, especially in recent decades, there has been a shift where wealth, glamour, and material success have become central measures of spiritual success. This shift has led to covetousness, greed, and misplaced priorities among believers.

As Scripture warns, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” This deception has caused many to shift their focus from Christ to material gain, justifying it with selective Scriptures while neglecting the full counsel of God.

The consequences are evident. The Church, in many places, has become entangled with worldly systems. The pursuit of wealth has overshadowed the pursuit of God. Reverence has been replaced with entertainment, and consecration has been diluted. As a result, the distinction between the Church and the world is increasingly blurred, reflecting the condition of the Laodicean Church, as mentioned in Revelation 3:15-16 “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot… because thou art lukewarm… I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

God’s ultimate desire is to present a pure and spotless Church, as mentioned in Ephesians 5:27 “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” To achieve this, the Church must return to foundational truths:

1. The Church must repent and renew her commitment to God’s truth, as mentioned in Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
2. The Church must contend earnestly for the faith, as mentioned in Jude 1:3 “that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
3. Believers must embrace separation and consecration, as mentioned in 1 John 2:15 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.”
4. Believers must remain focused on Christ, as mentioned in Hebrews 12:2 “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.”
5. There must be a renewed emphasis on eternal values, as mentioned in Mark 8:36 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”
6. Believers must embrace self denial, as mentioned in Luke 9:23 “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.”
7. Every believer must live to please God and examine their faith continually, as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.”

This message is a clarion call to all Christians to awaken and return to the true faith. As written in 1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.” Let us remember that only those who endure to the end shall be saved. The time to return is now.

May God restore His Church to purity, power, and truth in Jesus name.

To be continued in the subsequent posts…..

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