God’s Patience Is Salvation

[0:00] Welcome. Thank you for choosing to listen to this Spirit-filled word by David Enshu. When you catch a word, you have caught God. May you catch a word today that will cause God to change your story.

[0:13] Be blessed. 2 Peter chapter 3, reading from verse 12. Looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, where in the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.

[0:39] Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace.

[0:59] Without spot and blameless. And I count that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation, even as our beloved brother Paul, also according to the wisdom given unto him, has written unto you.

[1:15] As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable rest, as they do also the other scriptures unto their own distraction.

[1:35] Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.

[1:48] But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever.

[2:01] Amen. Last week, I spoke more about how knowing that these things are going to happen, the earth is going to pass, the earth shall be dissolved.

[2:16] Knowing that these things are going to happen, he said, what manner of persons do you have to be? So, your life, your living, the way you conduct yourself as a Christian, should be influenced by knowing that everything on earth is passing.

[2:36] And not just that, also knowing that the promise of God, looking forward to the promise of God, that we shall, verse 13, that nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for, wow, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

[2:59] In this new heaven and the new earth we are about to go in, there can never be war, there can never be evil. So, when people say, if there's God, why are there so much evil?

[3:10] Wait till we get to the new heavens and new earth. And then you will know that God can do something about evil. But now, he's bearing for long, so that, not willing that many, they should perish, or not willing that any should perish, but come to repentance.

[3:26] So, it's annoying that these things shall be dissolved. What kind of persons ought ye to be? Then it goes on, verse 13 again, it says that, nevertheless, we, according to the promise, look for the new heavens and the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

[3:42] wherefore, wherefore, beloved, since ye look for such things, be diligent, let's all say diligent. Say it again, please.

[3:53] Yeah. Diligence, conno's responsibility. It's yours, God won't do it for you. You have to put in an effort to do that. So, he said, be diligent, be diligent, that he may be found of him in peace.

[4:14] That's very interesting. In peace, without support, and blameless. That when he comes on you, oh, everything is fine. You are, you are the way you should be.

[4:26] Else, this brings up the question, I know somebody will ask. So, okay, what if he comes and he doesn't find me diligent? Am I no more born again? Am I going to lose heaven?

[4:36] What's going to happen? Oh, there, there's going to be time of reward, and time of disciplining. When you are a believer on this earth, God will constantly put you through programs and systems of disciplining.

[4:53] So, it's not always that things will work for you. When God loves you, things will start working against you to a certain extent on earth. Yeah.

[5:05] Bible says that in Hebrews chapter 12, a father chastises their child. It's like, if you are without chastisement, you are living in fornication, and you are still breaking through, you are a prop there, you are a bastard there.

[5:17] I know some of you wouldn't like to see this scripture. But if you are without chastisement, where are all partakers, ye are bastards and nonsense.

[5:32] If you are without disciplining, God must discipline us as believers. He must discipline us to bring us on track. He does that to a pastor a lot of the time.

[5:47] Sometimes when you hear a pastor is in some trouble, and sometimes, most of the time, before he got into trouble, God was trying to correct him. He's a genuine man. But we all can fault.

[5:59] And when you are working with God, you can't have a free fall. It doesn't happen. Anyone who gets free fall, and finally finds yourself on the pit, and then many years later, you realize you are falling, you actually were not working with God.

[6:14] These things I'm teaching, if I'm going off within a few weeks, I must know. If I'm working with God. I can't teach this for many, many, many years. Many, many years.

[6:25] And then later, I said, I miss God. What's going on? Think about what I just said. What's going on? Was I doing my own thing?

[6:38] Because when you are working with God, and God has a message, is speaking through you, and you are teaching his people, when you are going off, he will tell you very quickly. Galatians chapter 2, verse 11. Paul, he rebuked Peter.

[6:51] Peter didn't go off. He almost went off by following Judaistic ideologies and behavior. And when Peter came to Antioch, I stood him to the face because he was to be blamed.

[7:05] Because before the Jews came, he was eating with the Gentiles. As soon as the Jews came, he believed like that. Me, I'm not. So what is the duplicity? To the extent that even Barnabas was also falling.

[7:15] He was misleading people. Peter, you are too senior to be left to go off like that. But the others who went off, but they didn't matter. They were not working with God. So many, many years later, they say we went off.

[7:27] You actually were not working with God. That's interesting. So it's important to understand that when God is with you, and when God is working through you, things will begin to show as well.

[7:46] There is nothing like a free fall for a believer. How many of you, listen, if you are living in sin and nothing is happening and going and going, you actually are, likely you are not born again.

[7:57] Slightly. Because any of us who fell in sin, who are born again, it wasn't comfortable. From the beginning, it wasn't comfortable. Sorry, I need to put a caveat.

[8:08] From the beginning, it wasn't comfortable. But if you stayed there, if you stayed there, you become very comfortable with it. And so you'll be broken without remedy. That's scripture, Proverbs.

[8:19] He who often gets corrected and without, it doesn't change. Suddenly, Proverbs chapter something verse something. Yeah, 29 verse one.

[8:31] He, he that being often reproved, hardiness his neck, reproved, hardiness his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy.

[8:42] It will get to a time where you have lost your ministry completely. It will get to a time where you have lost your family completely. It will get to a time where your health is now gone off and nothing can be done.

[8:57] Just prepare to die. Because when you started, God started correcting you. But you turned a deaf ear to the corrections of God. And if God loves you, you won't have a free form.

[9:08] Yeah, yeah. No. The love of God necessitates strict corrections when we go off. Yeah, yeah. That's why any church that doesn't carry out church discipline is not doing the work of God.

[9:22] Church must have church disciplines and restrictions. You can't be a church leader or a church member and do this and do that. The leadership must call you to account. That you can't do it.

[9:32] Because of this, you can't be a leader for some time. Because of this, you can't carry on like this. Because of, it is part of Christianity. But people who cannot submit and be discipled cannot be corrected.

[9:44] And they go, they log on and I start attacking pastors, attacking their pastors. I'm going to the next church. I'm going to. It's because you are not being discipled. That's why you change churches like shoes.

[9:58] And in this generation, a lot of people don't like discipleship. Libertinism. Freedom, I have to do what pleases me. What pleases me.

[10:09] Whatever I want to do. Leave me, let me do. That is the core of the modern day philosophy. Not on Monday, the western modern day which is being shipped around the world.

[10:21] And if you try to block it, they make it a political issue. If you are without chastisement, then you are a bastard.

[10:32] Bastard. let me tell you something. You are disobeying God in some things he's been talking to you about. If you are a genuine Christian, expect him to give you a slap on the wrist.

[10:47] You might lose your job. You might lose something dear to you. But none of us know where he can come from. Because he's the master. He knows how to handle you.

[10:58] So he will not break you without remedy. But he will discipline you. Sometimes, you might lose your hair. I know some people say, it doesn't matter. The pastor.

[11:09] So pastor, why did he lose your hair? Was it because? Something. Something. Something. Something.

[11:20] If God loves you, he will chastise you. A father chastises a child he loves. It's said in Proverbs and Hebrews also picked it up.

[11:31] Okay. Back to the text. So, it says that wherefore, verse, I'll make sure, yeah, verse 14.

[11:46] Wherefore, beloved, seeing that he look for such things, be diligent that he may be found of him in peace without support.

[11:57] Oh, I like that one. Whose job is it to make sure by the time Jesus is coming, you are without support? I said, B, you have to do the diligence. It's not your pastor. It's not the Lord.

[12:08] The Lord will help me. He will help you. But you have diligence. You have to take responsibility. Oh, you know, that's my weakness. You have to take responsibility. The reason why we have the Holy Spirit is because we have weakness.

[12:24] He's a helper. So, he said, therefore, when I'm weak, I am strong. In Zekeldar, Corinthians chapter 12. So, you can't be making, using human weakness as an excuse.

[12:36] I'm not talking about flawlessness. We all can make mistakes. But, you see, it's not my job to be on you for your mistake.

[12:49] It's my job to share fellowship to help us or both of you and I to work right. When you go wrong, my job is to try and get you back on track.

[13:01] But the one who is going wrong is your job to fight to get back on track. It's not my job to be trying to police you. Are you perfect? Are you doing? It's not my job.

[13:12] My job is to love you. We share fellowships that we can both build together and concentrate on my personal struggles. Some people don't have struggles. Their problem is what people are going through.

[13:27] Jesus said in Matthew chapter 7, take the love that is in your eye before you can see so you take somebody's face. so long as other people are concerned, it's very small. You see the size of the moon?

[13:41] Some of us here, you know, my head is bigger than the moon. When you look at my head, you are close to my head and you look at the moon, my head is bigger because it's very far.

[13:55] It's very, very, very far. When it's far, it's small. But when it's close, somebody's simple hair and head can block you from seeing a lot of things on the stage.

[14:14] The stage is very wide. But somebody head. Why? Because when it is close to you, it's bigger than when it's far. So your problem, your weakness is bigger than the weakness you see in others.

[14:27] So take the lung from your eyes before you can see that small pegs away. So let me come back because I've got quite a few things to explain.

[14:43] It says that be diligent to be found of him in peace and without spots and blameless. Verse 15 says, and account that the long suffering of the Lord is salvation.

[15:00] Account, consider it like that. Don't think God is weak. Don't think God doesn't care about the way you are going.

[15:13] Don't think he doesn't. He does. But account that is salvation. Now, let me go into theology a little bit. When I talk about salvation, what kind of salvation is this? Because does that mean some people will lose their salvation by the time Jesus is coming?

[15:28] What he says, account that the long suffering of the Lord is salvation. If you remember in 1 Peter, I taught on the three stages of salvation. I taught about the initial salvation in 1 Peter.

[15:41] Some of you have forgotten, but if you go back to listen to the message, 1 Peter chapter 1. I spoke about initial salvation. I spoke about the progressive salvation.

[15:54] The title was actually progressive salvation. And I spoke about the complete salvation. All right, so what's the difference? You know, in John 3, 15, John 3, 15 talks about how whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

[16:18] You'll be saved. when you believe in Jesus Christ, you'll be saved. John 3, 16, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten and whosoever should not perish.

[16:30] John 3, 18, John 3, 18 says that he that believes on him is not condemned. That is very important.

[16:40] You remember, Paul said, there is now therefore no condemnation. The means to that no condemnation, Romans chapter 8, verse 1, the means to Romans chapter 8, verse 1, where they say there's now no more condemnation is John 3, 18, where he says that he that believeth on him should not, is not condemned.

[17:00] But he that believeth, know, is already condemned. You understand? So, if you believe that Jesus is the son of God, the only begotten of God, you are not condemned. That is the initial salvation.

[17:11] That is what brings us our salvation. Romans chapter 3, verse 24, 25, 26. Romans 3, 24, 25, 26. Being justified freely, hallelujah, by the grace, by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

[17:31] Verse 25 and 26. Who God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood. So, we put faith in his blood and it becomes a propitiation to declare his righteousness.

[17:43] That's God's righteousness for the remission of sins that are passed through the forbearance of God. The 26 says that to declare, I say, at this time, his righteousness that God might be just and the justifier of those who, that's what?

[18:01] Believe. Did you see the belief? The Roman, John 3, 18. Believing. Believing brings you into justification. It brings you into sanctification. Or it brings you into redemption.

[18:12] It brings you into regeneration. It brings you into reconciliation. All this salvation, reconciliation, justification, regeneration, propitiation, all these things that we talk about, when you believe, those who are believers, that's what we get.

[18:31] And we've taught what justification means. Justification means you are right to God that just shall live by faith. God said you're okay. God said you're okay. Despite all the things you did in the past, it doesn't matter.

[18:42] Now you believe that Jesus died on your cross and he's the son of God, you're fine. That's how come the thief could go to the thief on the cross to make it to paradise. He hasn't done anything good in the past, but he believed good.

[18:54] He believed good and that's the, so that is what we call the initial salvation. All right. But we also have the progressive salvation.

[19:05] First Peter chapter one, verse five. It says that who are kept by the power of God through faith unto, uh, uh, unto what? What kind of salvation? Ready to be revealed.

[19:17] So, there's a certain salvation that hasn't come yet. There's a salvation that is ready to be, we are being kept anyway. Unto a salvation. Look at verse nine.

[19:29] The verse nine talks about receiving the end of your faith. Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, what's your spirit? Your soul.

[19:40] Spirit is saved. Soul is being transformed. So, the entirety of your Christian life on earth is going through this transformation, progressive salvation. We are being changed gradually, so we can be conformed into the image of Christ.

[19:54] So, you have, I guess the time after being in the Lord for some time, you realize that you have actually changed, you have been saved from this kind of behavior, saved from this kind of feelings, saved from this kind, I used to, I used to, we are, sometimes, but it still is going through salvation.

[20:10] We are being saved. So, we have been saved, we are being saved, and we shall be saved. Let, let me jump, jump and just move on to, um, the, progressive salvation.

[20:26] And so, complete salvation. Now, complete salvation is when, um, Romans chapter 8, verse 23, it talks about, we ourselves, we are groaning, because this, you see, there are times you are tired, we'll be saved from this, you know.

[20:43] We'll be saved from this. So, saved from the body, this thing, the body is going through. So, it says that, not only that, but we ourselves, which have the, we have the first fruits of the spirit, even we ourselves, grown within ourselves, waiting for the adoption to which, the redemption of our bodies.

[21:06] That, that is the ultimate salvation. Where you, in Philippians chapter 3, verse 21, we are transformed. Hallelujah.

[21:18] He said, we shall be, who shall change our, vile, this is, how many of you know your body is vile? If you don't know, you don't bath for three days and you see your body is vile.

[21:31] Look at the way you look, posh, posh, and wonderful. Nice, nice rice enters your body. Within few hours, you have changed that thing. Hey, what kind, what kind of body is this?

[21:49] We get tired. We get weak. We get hungry. We get angry. We get frustrated.

[22:00] Different, different things happen to us. It's because we are human. Nobody is superhuman. We are human. So, if you want 40 people, you're always fine.

[22:13] If you want fault, the only one who was faultless was Jesus. Pastor, that thing touched me one day when I saw it. He said, which of you accuses me of sin? That thing touched me.

[22:26] I saw that about three years ago. I said, you see, a pastor should begin to aim towards that. In the book of John, I think chapter eight or chapter five, there's a chapter eight. Which of you convicts me of sin?

[22:39] So, which of you convicts me of sin? You can say that you saw me do anything wrong. Hey, that's Jesus. Which of you? And he was telling his enemies.

[22:52] Who scrutinized everything? In Hebrews chapter four, verse 15, Bible said, he was tempted at all points just like us. And yet, what? Yet, without, without, yet, it was impeccable.

[23:08] That's why it says that, I'm going off, but is that okay? In Hebrews chapter seven, verse 26, or so, it's that such a high priest is fitting for us who has passed through the heavens.

[23:22] So, without is holy. Who is holy, harmless, undefined, separated from sinners. Hey, he's, he's different. He's different. Angel didn't appear to him to tell him anything before he became something.

[23:36] He is different. He's God in the flesh. That is why, Bible says that, for you will not suffer your holy one. His holiness meant, there's no way sin can hold him down.

[23:48] Death could hold him down. Because the handle of death is sin. Bible says in 1 Corinthians chapter 15, 56, the sting of death is sin. Without sin, death can sting.

[24:01] It's in your Bible. The sting of, let's read the other. The sting of death is sin. One more time. The sting of death is sin. For the last time. The sting of death is sin.

[24:11] Death looks for sin inside you to execute. So, that's why sin is a personal problem. It's not somebody's problem. It's your problem.

[24:23] Because it's killing something godly in you. A godly marriage that you are going to have. A godly family life you are going to have. A godly promotion you are going to have.

[24:35] A godly opportunities that are coming your way. Sin is killing it. Had it not been for the problem of compromise. We're compromised in the areas of sin. I believe many people in the church would be, have been married.

[24:50] Who are still in waiting. You compromise your Christian stance. And it's, it's, it's disengaged God's involvement in your pursuit.

[25:04] And later on you went and went and realized that you are on your own. And then the enemy begins to disappoint you. Then you go, God please help me. God please help me. He will. But just take your time.

[25:15] He's trying to build something in you first. It's just general and everything. The sting of death is sin. You tell me I, it's my life.

[25:30] I'll do what I want to do. That's okay. But, the sting, but guess what? Because Jesus did not have sin, death couldn't hold him.

[25:42] Bible said, for it was not possible for death to hold him. Acts chapter 2 verse 24. Because it was possible that he should be holding by death.

[25:55] Why? Because there's no sin in him. There's no sin in him. God said, for you will not suffer your holy one. He was so holy, sinned.

[26:05] Bible said, he was resurrected by the spirit of holiness. Romans chapter 1 verse 4 and 5. Declared to be the son of God according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection.

[26:22] So, Jesus Christ is the only one, was the only one who was without fault. That's why I could ask the people, that's powerful, sir. God, help us all to get there.

[26:34] Which of you can accuse me or convict me of sin? Wow. But the same person told the people, whichever of you is without sin, let him just do the first.

[26:49] That's why he's fitting to be our savior. It's there, it's there. For such a priest, it's fitting. It's there in your Bible. For such a high priest, for such a high priest, was fitting for us.

[27:06] Fitting. Sir, you have a very appropriate, qualified savior. Anyway, so, ultimate salvation, it says that, for those, verse 29 of Romans chapter 8, for those he foreknew, he predestined to be conformed into the image, that's where we are going, that's ultimately, to be conformed into the image of his dear son.

[27:34] That he might be the first one among the brethren. Verse 30, moreover, whom he predestined, they will call, they will also justify, they will justify, glorify, that's the ultimate.

[27:45] But if you are not careful, you won't enter into the glory and the joy of the Lord. So you are, you are saved, you are being saved, but because of your compromise, when it comes to the reward, and enjoying, and reigning with Christ, you will be disqualified.

[28:01] That's why Paul speaks about, I beat my body, 1 Corinthians chapter 9, verse 26. I don't fight like I'm someone beating the air. My Christian life must have purpose.

[28:12] Don't say, okay, they say we should fight, let me fight. They say we should fight, let me fight. Somebody said tight is no good, really? I've been waiting for something like that already, so let me. Let me just go and blow my money.

[28:27] I've always believed that somebody must say this thing is wrong. It's the last of your heart. That's making you choose your teachers like that. Anyway, you are fighting like someone beating the air.

[28:42] Paul said, I don't like someone beating the air, but I break my body under. Hey, that's very, he said, but I keep under my body and bring this body, this body that has fought into subjection.

[28:58] Sometimes, when you are fighting somebody and you manage to wrestle him, you pin him to the ground, try and get up, but you see, get up, make sure you are getting up. Listen, sister, that's what you will be doing with your Christian life.

[29:12] Keep your body under, brother, keep your body under. He's getting up always, but keep you under. Don't think one month fasting will stop it. After fasting, he will try to rise up again.

[29:25] After eight hours of prayer, it will try to rise up. So he said, I put it on the screen. Some of you didn't know that that's in the Bible. So he want the pastor's prayer to do it for you. No. I keep, this is the pastor talking apostle.

[29:39] I keep my body and bring in his subjection. I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, what does that mean?

[30:03] Be a cast away. Cast away. Well done, that good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your Lord. That wicked servant be cast into outer darkness.

[30:15] They are all servants, same servants of the Lord. So the, the, the complete salvation, if you miss it, that's why God will delay that you will be able to prepare yourself for the complete salvation.

[30:31] Work yourself. Other than that, when the supper of the lamb, you will not be in the appropriate garment. You'll be thrown out. That's what Jesus said. Go and bring everybody. And then they found a guy who was not wearing the appropriate garment.

[30:45] He said, sir, how did you come in here without the appropriate garments? They said, take him, bind him, hand and foot, and cast him into outer darkness. You are free to come in, but the way you stay in will determine how the ultimate. And that's not hell.

[31:01] That's not hell. It's a place of chastisement. You will enjoy the glory of the Lord. In 2 Timothy 4, 18, Paul was talking about, and the Lord shall deliver me from every evil way, and preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom.

[31:18] That's one. That's it. To whom we go. There's a place that God wants to bring us into. In Hebrews chapter 2, verse 9, he says that, in bringing many sons into glory.

[31:30] The ultimate salvation. He's bringing us into glory. He's bringing us into glory. And so, when we talk about, now let's look at the text again, in the context of this salvation thing. Accounting that the long suffering of the Lord is salvation.

[31:47] God is delaying for your salvation. Not the initial salvation, because the initial salvation, you won't perish, according to John chapter 10, verse 28 and 29.

[31:58] Look at it. John 10, 28, 29. This is a very important text. It says that, and I give, I give unto them, that's talking about verse 27, he says, I know my sheep. Look at verse 20.

[32:09] Let's get into context. My sheep hear my voice, and I know my sheep, and they follow me. Look at the next verse. I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish.

[32:22] Neither shall anyone be able to pluck out. So, this eternal life, for whoever believes in him, should not perish. This is what he's talking about. So, when you believe and you are saved, you are not going to be plucked out of his hands.

[32:36] But, that is the initial salvation. Look at the next verse, verse 29. My father which gave them me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my father's hands.

[32:51] So, he said, those who are believed and God has given them to me and are saved, they are eternally saved. That's eternal salvation. But, we are being saved, and the ultimate is to enter the glory.

[33:04] Those he glorified, he justified, he glorified. But, that glory, some people will not enter when Jesus is coming. So, that's what Paul was talking about. And, that's what Peter is talking about.

[33:17] That you have to, consider it that God's delay is actually giving you opportunity to enter into the ultimate salvation. Now, let's go to Ephesians 15.

[33:29] Even as our beloved, he used the term beloved. It's like dear brother. Our beloved. Our beloved brother Paul, also according to the wisdom given unto him, has written unto you.

[33:47] Watch this. Let's go back to that. What we are talking about. We are talking about what is going to come. There's a new heaven coming. There's a new, there's a new earth coming. The old one shall pass away. And, because of that, there's a certain way we should live.

[34:00] And, he says that, counting that the long suffering of the Lord is salvation. Even as our beloved brother Paul, according to us, the wisdom given has also written unto you. So, look, this is very interesting.

[34:12] Now, Peter starts by always making reference, if you remember, making references to the prophets. So, Peter, in 1 Peter chapter 1, he spoke about how the prophets, verse 10 into 12, how the prophets of old inquired this salvation.

[34:25] That same salvation thing. Remember? Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and said diligently who prophesied. And he spoke about, he made reference that what this prophet spoke about is no different from what I'm speaking about.

[34:38] And, then you come to 2 Peter, and he still picks up on the prophets in chapter 1, verse, all the way from verse 12, where he spoke about, verse 21, he says that, the scripture was not given by man's prophet in the private interpretation, but holy men of God.

[34:54] The prophets, when they spoke, they were, the holy men of the prophets were moved. So, Peter is trying to, in his presentation, in his submission, he kept making references to what the prophets have said.

[35:05] And, what he was saying is that, all the false prophets tried to challenge what the prophets have said. But, what I'm writing is in line with what the prophets have said. Because, you know, I remember, I think chapter, the beginning of chapter 3, second meter chapter 3, please, from verse 1.

[35:24] This again, Peter, I'll read it on to you, in which I still have your pure mind. Verse 2, that they may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets. Did you see that? By the holy prophets and the commandments of the apostles.

[35:37] So, now he's trying to say that. These things I'm writing is in agreement with the apostles and the prophets and the apostles of Jesus Christ, which Jesus Christ has commanded. Now, this is very important. So, he never distanced and separated himself from what Scripture has already been saying.

[35:55] Then he gets to verse 15 and he says that these things, our beloved brother Paul has written about these things. You know what's beautiful? He was trying to lend credibility to what Paul was saying.

[36:10] How can you talk about the New Testament ministry without making reference to Paul? He wrote about 13 letters in the New Testament out of the 27.

[36:22] He wrote a lot. So, you can't be talking about the New Testament ministry without making reference to Paul. That's one. And number two, he was trying to say, there's really no difference between what Paul has been saying and what I'm saying.

[36:35] Corinthian church. The Corinthian church always brings division. Now, what this one is preaching is different from what this one is preaching. They are all calling the preachers.

[36:47] First Corinthians chapter 1 verse 11 and verse 12. It has been reported to me for it has been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe that there are contentions amongst you.

[37:02] Look at verse 12. Look at verse 12. Verse 12 said that, now this I say, that every one of you said, I am of Paul. I am of Paul. Give me another version.

[37:14] New international version. Save us. Okay, that one told you. Give me another, new NIV. Save us. Which is Peter actually. Right? Save us there. So someone said to me, I'm in Paul's camp.

[37:27] Others are saying I'm in Apolo's camp. Others are, you are bringing division. What Paul is saying is no different from what I'm saying. Peter was making reference to the fact that Paul's letters are also addressing these things I'm addressing.

[37:41] The message of the ministry, watch this, number one, is in line with what the prophets have said. And number two, it's the same. If you're an apostle, you won't say something different from what the other apostles are saying.

[37:54] If you start saying something different from what the other apostles are saying, your apostolicity is questionable. So, you are saying something different.

[38:07] And so, Paul said, what I am saying, our beloved brother, I like that terminology, beloved brother. He was telling the people who are listening to him that, our beloved brother, Paul.

[38:19] has also written about these things. He says that, even as our beloved brother, Paul, according, he used the word, the wisdom given to him. Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 10, he said, I, as a wise master builder, the man had some level of wisdom as a wise.

[38:39] 1 Corinthians chapter 2, verse 7, verse 8, verse 9. He said, we speak wisdom, but we speak the wisdom of God in the mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God has ordained before the world unto our glory, verse 8, unto our glory, which none of the princes of this world knew for ever.

[38:57] I know they will not have, look at verse 9, verse 9. Eye has no sin, no ear, none has sin. So, he was making reference to the fact that we speak wisdom. No wonder Peter says that the things which Paul wrote, which, give us Peter again, the second Peter, according to the wisdom given unto him, God gave him some wisdom and he wrote something, now this is getting very interesting.

[39:24] He has written unto you, I'm writing to you, he has also written some things unto you in this day. Look at the next statement, verse 16, verse 16. Also, as in, eh, all his epistles, can you imagine, he puts his stamp print on all his epistles.

[39:41] He says, everything Paul has written, I endorse. I recommend. That's, that's, that's, that's apostolic unity. They were one. The message is one.

[39:53] The message, sometimes it's very easy to want to preach a message others have never heard. So that you are very, you have deep inside. Revelation, I'm coming with revelation.

[40:06] They continued in the apostles' doctrine. There's nothing new. The controversies of Christianity has, didn't start today. It started in the days of the apostles.

[40:18] The same, one saved, forever saved. Baptism. This, most of the tongues and all those things, it has been going. Listen, Antioch at a point in time was the center of Christianity.

[40:29] It moved from Jerusalem to Antioch. It was the center and today, and then all those, the letters to the seven churches of Asia. That's modern day turkey.

[40:41] Modern day turkey is 99.8% Islam. That was at a point in time when Jesus was writing a letter to the church. That was the center of Christianity. But you know what has caused the problem? It wasn't the preaching.

[40:52] They began to get divided and wrong doctrines. That's why Peter started inoculating them very quickly. Wrong doctrines destroy the church than anything. It even destroys the church faster than sin.

[41:05] Because when your doctrine is wrong, your sin will be cool. You will sin comfortably. So that is, the church declines when we deviate from doctrine.

[41:19] That's why Peter was so strong on false teachers. False teachers. The things they are teaching. Let's watch them. Let's watch them. Let's watch them. And sometimes people want to be the one to teach something nobody has said.

[41:33] We have to be wary of such. Deep. Hmm. I know our generation will like deep. Especially, there's a brand of new generation Christians.

[41:46] New generation. They want deep things. And most of them are not committed to any church. Yeah. And they actually want revelations that downplay the church.

[41:58] Your revelation is weak and porous and is not authentic if it downplays the church. And I know what, I know what they will say. The church is not just gathering in a building.

[42:12] The church, oh, look at you, look at you, look at you, look at you. Paul didn't talk about some things. But when he was writing the letter, he said, when you gather. When you gather.

[42:23] He didn't, he didn't touch on it, but he was talking about gathering. Christian gathering is part of Christianity. If you don't belong to a gathering, you are not living a Christian life.

[42:36] You are not. You are not living the full Christian life in full. And you are definitely likely to miss the ultimate salvation. He said, do not forsake the gathering of it.

[42:49] They continued the apostles' fellowship. He said in Acts chapter 4, verse 23, 24, when they were let go, they went to their own company. And it was when the company had prayed where the place shook.

[43:00] It wasn't when one person, when Paul was praying alone, he had a vision to leave the city. God said, leave, they will kill you. Leave the town. But when you are talking about church moving revelations and movements, check, the only girls came into a company.

[43:15] Jesus even didn't send them one by one. Send them two by two. Because the Christian life, he didn't, that's why I keep saying, never say my father who asked in heaven. It won't work. So Paul, Peter makes reference to Paul that our beloved Paul has written based on the wisdom of God, wisdom given to him.

[43:36] Verse 16, verse 16, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things. That's different.

[43:48] This is too much, so I have to, I probably have to follow. He was speaking in them of what, these things. What are these things he's talking about? The things I'm teaching. And time will not permit me, maybe I have to pick it up. The spectrum of Peter's teaching.

[44:00] Do you know what Peter was teaching from the beginning? You notice that he kept talking about foreordained, our salvation. First Peter chapter one, verse two. Based on the foreknowledge of God.

[44:11] According to the foreknowledge of God. This is before everything started. So Peter takes his teaching, first Peter one, 20, the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the earth. He takes his teaching from eternity past.

[44:22] Starts making references from eternity past and all the way to eternity future. That one day everything will go and new heaven and heaven. So Peter's, the spectrum of his teaching was brought from eternity past to current living and eternity future.

[44:36] And he says that these things I'm talking about, Paul also wrote the same things. The interesting thing is that Paul focused on the grace of God. So the core of Paul's message he spoke a lot about the grace, the grace, the grace.

[44:51] The core of John's message was the love of God, love of God, love of God. The core of Peter's message was the righteousness of God, righteousness of God, righteousness of God. Paul spoke heavily about the grace of God.

[45:02] Peter spoke heavily about the righteousness of God. And John spoke heavily about, but they were all speaking the same. Same. And he spoke about, he also spoke about these things which he said, some of the things he said are hard to understand.

[45:17] What? Paul wrote things that are hard to understand. Which they that are not well taught. They that are unlearned and unstable.

[45:29] Some people are very unstable according to the church of 2 verse 14. Unstable. These are unstable. They rest. Let's say Peter. They rest. They twist.

[45:40] When I was, I normally don't like going to New Living Translation and Message Bible. Especially when I'm trying to break text down. Because most of the time it might not do it justice.

[45:52] People say, oh, let's see how it's put in modern day language. But sometimes it doesn't do justice to the, it's not to the integrity of the text. But really New Testament strong, really Christ-centered, cross-centered teaching.

[46:06] You are better off staying on New King James, New King James, New International Version, English Standard Version, New American Standard Version, and I rest there. How about Amplify?

[46:18] That's not bad. It's kind of. You must hear this from your pastor. It's good to hear this from your pastor. But as I end, in the message, should I use the message on NIV?

[46:32] NLT. Which one do you prefer? Okay, should we use the two? I like the way message puts it about how people have misinterpreted Paul's statement. Paul writes, some things Paul writes are difficult to understand.

[46:49] Irresponsible people who don't know what they are talking about, twist them. Twist them every which way.

[47:02] Paul is saying things, if you are not careful, you will tell something Paul is teaching and twist it for a political move. Thank you for listening to this message by David Entry.

[47:15] When God speaks, works show. And the works will surely show in your life. To hear more from David Entry, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and subscribe to Karis Church on YouTube.

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