AXE LAID ON THE TREE BY PASTOR TESSY

Topic: Axe laid on the Wood
TEXT :       Luke 3:8-11

“8Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: 9And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  10And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. “
 
INTRODUCTION
The challenge of Christianity in the present age keeps expanding at the breaking of new dawns. Some lay claims to the blessings of father Abraham without respect for the God of father Abraham. We are quick to hold God to ransom for our needs; we are quick to challenge His decisions; we are quick to blame Him for our misfortunes; we are quick to tell Him reasons why we must keep enjoying the benefits of His sonship without a recognition or submission to His will; we are quick to make decisions ourselves without consulting Him and thereafter blame Him for the misfortunes of our decisions
Hear me aloud O Children of the Most High God: “The axe is laid on the root of the trees and every tree that yields no fruits will be cut down and cast into fire”
The Lord hath said it in the past: “He will honour the house of our father but now, He is saying: He will honour only those who honour Him”
My rhetorical questions to you this morning are:
1. Do you deserve the faithfulness of God to you?
2. How much had you been faithful to God?
3. Are you so righteous to the extent of being holy without spot and blemish?
4. Why do you accuse God of inefficiency when you are not efficient in His commitment to you?
5. How much of God do you know?
6. How useful has the gifts given to you by God been used to the glory of His name?
7. You claim to know God, what is His influence in your life?

THE PROBLEM OF THE 21ST GENERATION BELIEVERS 
The 21st Generation Christians have been successfully deceived by doctrinal inclinations that “Heaven is sure” once you have successfully given your life to Christ. Not halting at that point; it had been driven beyond the real gospel message and many so-called believers only sought God for what He can do for them without having anything to offer to Him. Again I am asking you:
1. If God would not give you the best result, would you still serve Him?
2. If you don’t even have food on your table every morning, would you still serve God?
3. If God would not give you things you feel you need, would you still serve Him?
4. If Boko Haram comes to church every Sunday to bomb churches and you are not sure of returning home when you live for Sunday services, will you still serve God?

Hear me O 21st Generation: “God is searching for those who will not despise Him in the name of basic needs of life. He is ready to look away from all who would not serve Him genuinely without conditions”. If your answer to any of the question above is “NO”, you are ungrateful and unthankful. The gift of life you enjoy is functional to God’s infinite mercies and all you could do to Him in return is an infinitesimal commitment attached with conditions.
Hear me once again: “If you would not worship God, if you would never serve God, He would raise stones in your place”. God spent much time moulding you and also gave you breathe to exist. Then, “what should halt you from loving and submitting to Him even when He doesn’t give you all you think you need”
Listen and Listen Good, “you claimed to submit to God’s plan of salvation through the gift of His one and only begotten son and yet, after years of this self-acclaimed righteousness submission, you are still not better-off from your initial point. You are not faithful and God is warning you to take a U-turn because He would not hesitate to cut down your tree and cast you into fire.
He only needs children who would be faithful and who would submit to His divine and perfect will. Anything short of that is an unacceptable sacrifice unto him
CONCLUSION
2 Tim. 2:19-23
19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.  22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.