Life Lived By Faith - Thanksgiving

[0:00] Thank you for choosing to listen to today's message by Reverend Dr. David Etrie. We know you will be blessed as you seek and serve God. We believe that this message will stir up a desire for more of God even as you listen.

[0:13] Be blessed. I want to preach kind of two messages in one. I said kind of. So not really.

[0:23] Actually, the brother title is Life Lived by Faith. Life Lived by Faith.

[0:39] And then I'm focusing on Thanksgiving today. Because Thanksgiving is an aspect, it's a function, it's an expression of faith.

[0:49] So the scripture we just read, Jesus said, go thy way, thy faith. Verse 18 and 19.

[1:02] Rise. Go thy way for thy faith has made thee not somebody's faith.

[1:12] Your faith has made you whole. But what did the guy do to constitute faith? He came back giving thanks. So he wasn't healed because of his faith.

[1:27] He was made whole because of his faith. So that tells you that there is a direct correlation between genuine Thanksgiving and expression of faith.

[1:40] Oh, let me put it this way. Faith. Oh. Thanksgiving is an expression of faith. Yeah. Oh, I believe God.

[1:53] I believe God. So ungrateful. Every time you have 72 prayer requests. 72.

[2:04] Every time. Your prayer request is always long. Your prayer returns.

[2:15] Scarcely do we find it in your prayers. Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be your name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is.

[2:25] Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses. That's the request there. The request that we've. It kind of thy will be done. It's like a request, a plea, or a declaration.

[2:39] All right. Hallowed be your name. Theologians believe part of it is a request. Let your name be hallowed. But the real request is give us.

[2:52] Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us. Give and forgive. Give. Give is making a plea.

[3:03] Or a demand on grace. Forgive is making a demand on mercy. It's not everywhere grace can reach.

[3:16] Just like favor. Favor can reach everywhere. Anyway. If you are. A criminal.

[3:28] You are looking for a job. Because. Of your criminal reports. They are actually looking for you to take you to court. They can't give you a job. They may.

[3:39] They might have wanted to favor you and give you the job. In spite of your. The fact that you are not very qualified. But now there's a problem. There's. A criminal. Case. That has not been settled.

[3:50] Or let's say illegal. You. Do you know what I'm trying to say? So now they have to. Take care of the case first. Finish your sentence.

[4:02] Now mercy. Is the only one that can go. Where you are guilty. Grace can go. Where grace. Favor. Can just cover you for. Give you. What you don't deserve.

[4:15] But mercy. Grace. Gives you what you don't deserve. So you don't deserve the job. Grace will say. Okay. Will give you. But actually. Before we even consider giving you the job. There's a problem. You are guilty.

[4:26] So you need to be punished. Mercy goes and says that. What he deserves. Don't give it to him. So that now. When you are. Mercy has covered you. And you have come to the place.

[4:37] Where you can be favored. Then grace can work for you. Does that make sense? Yes sir. So that's why the guy said. Lord Jesus have mercy on you. Many people always call out for mercy. Not grace.

[4:50] Because most of the things that we go through. Much of it. We deserve it. If it's not you. Maybe your father. What your father did. Or what your mother did. Your mother took somebody's husband.

[5:01] And married him. And married him. And gave birth to you. You don't know what I'm. You are innocent. But sorry mate. It's your lineage.

[5:14] And so every now and then. Your health. And your. Things that. Because that woman said. You. This woman who has taken my husband. You and your children will never do well. And so you are born.

[5:25] And you are very innocent. You are very innocent. So you need really mercy to speak for you. Yes. Yes. You are innocent.

[5:36] But there is a legitimacy of the situation over your head. Because it's to you and your descendants. Your blood line makes you guilty for something.

[5:51] Why do you think you are not a royal? It's because of your blood line. It's the problem. It's your blood line. It's not you. You haven't done. You were born. You haven't done anything wrong. It's your blood line. It's mercy.

[6:03] That can excuse you from what you deserve by virtue of your blood line. So forgive us. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us. Our trespasses.

[6:15] Our transgressions. As we also consider our death. And forgive them. Lead us not into temptation. Deliver from you. For thine is the kingdom. The power and the glory.

[6:25] Forever. For thine. You deserve it. So whatever. The glory belongs to you. So all these things must always happen in the context of your glory. Oh God. So.

[6:39] Giving God thanks. And showing gratitude to him. Is actually an aspect of faith. Or a function of faith. Most of us. Every time. You have so many requests.

[6:51] But not for thine is their glory. You don't even. Meanwhile. It is just. Divine protocol. Spiritual.

[7:03] Godly protocol. To enter into his gates. With thanksgiving in your hearts. He said. Come before his presence. With singing. Enter his gates. Some 100 verse. Three and four.

[7:13] Some 100. He said. Enter his gates. With thanksgiving in your hearts. So your ticket. For entering. Is thanksgiving. Enter his gates. With thanksgiving. Into his courts.

[7:24] With praise. Be thankful to him. And bless his name. It's not a suggestion. It's a command. Your ticket. To enter God's presence. Is a heart of gratitude.

[7:36] The way you believe. God hasn't helped you much. I think. Is the reason. For why he will help you next. Don't join.

[7:49] Complainers and memories. I will show you in a minute. I will. I will. I will. I will. I will. I will. Because. You keep God far from you. When you complain. In fact.

[8:00] Paul puts it this way to Timothy. He said. Godliness. With contentment. 1 Timothy chapter 6. Verse 6. Somewhere there.

[8:11] He said. Godliness. With contentment. Is a great game. He said. Once we have food.

[8:21] And raiment. At least you are alive. The reason why you are alive. Is because you've eaten. That's why you are alive. You are here. Because you have eaten. At least the last time you ate.

[8:34] I don't need to be a rocket scientist. To know that it wasn't last week. Okay. I know you get technical. Last week was last night. So. Know what I mean. The last time.

[8:45] Is not about seven days ago. Definitely is not. Some of us have eaten this morning already. Some of us ate. Some of us ate. Three. Course meal.

[9:00] Alright. So. So. You are here. Because. It says. So. Hebrews chapter 13. Verse. Five. Having food and raiment. Let us therewith be content.

[9:12] Let us conduct ourselves. Without covetous. Be content. With such things as you have. For he himself has said. He will. Not leave you. I will not leave you. Don't forsake you. So. It says that.

[9:22] Be content. Alright. And I think it's. The one I was trying to quote. Is. First Timothy chapter 6. Verse. I think five. Before the six. Having food and raiment.

[9:33] Let us therewith. Be content. Be content. If you are not content. You always complain. You always complain.

[9:46] Why is it that for me? When I'm going to. I was going to get a wife. I only got a woman. Who doesn't have nice legs. Hey. You. Even. You don't deserve a goat.

[9:56] You don't deserve a goat. And you have gotten a human.

[10:07] Human mean to marry. You. You are complaining that. My wife doesn't have hair. My wife is not like. Hey. Stop it. Stop it.

[10:20] Stop it. Stop it. Stop it. I always say. The Israelites. Did not. Enjoy the sweetness. In the manna. Not because. It did not contain.

[10:31] The sweetness. But whilst they were. Eating the manna. They longed for something better. You will never. Enjoy your marriage. As long as you think. Somebody would have been. Better for you. Never.

[10:43] Never. You have relegated. Yourself. Into imprisonment. The marriage. Will constantly be a chore. Because you are seeing.

[10:54] Too many. Mistakes around. About the person. You are married to. Remember. It will help you. This entitlement spirit. Is a bad thing. But remember. That you.

[11:05] Even a goat. Is a blessing. That will help you. I'm telling you. That will help you. Even if God.

[11:16] Has given you a goat. To marry. It should have been. A blessing to you. Because who. You. Once you think like that. It will help you. To appreciate. The little you have.

[11:28] It's a whole human being. It's a whole human being. You are not grateful.

[11:41] You are always complaining. Complaining about your house. Can you imagine. Someone is homeless. And you let the person. Come and spend weeks. In your house. Which happened to me. Some time ago.

[11:51] I brought a certain couple. To my house. Whilst they were. They were. Eating. My. My. Lazane. You know.

[12:04] My wife and I. Live basic. Basic and simple life. Basic and simple life. Some of you don't know. I have never used my own money. To buy.

[12:15] One big bottle of avian water. It's too expensive. No. I buy the Tesco brand. The other ones. It's too expensive.

[12:26] I find it too expensive for me. Too expensive. Those times. I used to spend money on. Maybe. Juice. Nowadays. I don't drink much juice. Because. It's just a sense of responsibility.

[12:38] When you are growing. Cut down that intake of. Sweet. And drink more water. So you don't come for us. We pray for your health. Yes. It's a word.

[12:49] It's a word. It's a word. It's a word. So. Those times. I never bought. The other one.

[13:00] Not Copela. The other one. Tropicana. No. It's just me. I only buy it when it's on office.

[13:11] Yeah. And I buy a lot. It's twice. Yeah. It's too expensive for me. No. I know some of you can just buy like that.

[13:23] Yeah. Don't care. Don't care. As I was saying. Me and my wife. We live basic life. There was a time. Our kitchen pastor Joe came. He said. Oh pastor. How? Our kitchen was practical. Everything was falling.

[13:34] We didn't even realize it. Because we were busy doing God's work. That's better. That's better. That's better. That's better. That's better. That's better. That's better. That's better. That's better. That's better. That's better. That's better. That's better. That's better. That's better. Thank you. One of the top.

[13:48] I know him very well. He came to my house about 10 years ago. And so two years ago we were having a chat. He's a big man now. I mean he was big when he came. And he's still doing well.

[13:58] And I think as the custom of pastors. I normally. Especially black young people. We always try to grab, grab, grab, grab, grab, grab. And we call it upgrade. So he.

[14:10] We were having a chat that just last two years or so. And he said. Oh. He was asking about my house. I said. Yeah. You know. He said. Do you still live that same place? I said.

[14:22] Yes. He said. Oh. Wow. You live there? The same place where I came? 10 years on. When the church is doing so well? Uh-huh. And I realized that I'm dealing with some crazy persons.

[14:37] What has it got to do with the church? That is completely different. Nothing has got to do with the church. We eat. We drink. We are having babies. I mean. That's okay. Hey.

[14:53] I mean. Sherrick house. I mean. So. I said. Wow. I just. But. You. You were.

[15:04] You were almost homeless. I said. Come and live in my house. And I give you. I sacrifice. Sharing. My bathroom with you. Hey. Wow. You know. You know. It's very private.

[15:14] Yes. Yes. Hey. Why else? You were in my house. Even. Oh. Even there. Tonight is not nice. You know. In the bathroom. Sometimes. I want to wake up. And there's somebody there. Hey. And started.

[15:25] Started. Complaining against me. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Hey. That. That. That experience. I'll never forget. Oh. Oh. Oh. It's true.

[15:35] How? It's true. They complained against me. I was wondering. What? You're wrong. Why? I had to. Complaining about your life. I had to. I had to.

[15:47] I had to just adjust so much. It's not Atlanta. It's not Atlanta. It's not Atlanta. So some of us. We are doing worse to God. Yeah. Worse.

[15:58] He has. He knows what he had to go through to protect you from that witch. That witch from your mother's back. He protected you from catching cancer.

[16:11] He literally had to do something to protect you. And you are complaining about your salary. So when we come.

[16:21] Sometimes we come to God. We have a whole list of things we expect him to do for us. And the ones that he hasn't done. We are not happy with him. But we don't have a choice. So we just.

[16:32] Most of us are complaining secretly in our hearts. Kissing God. God. I don't know why I should be going through this. Another year has ended. I don't have a husband. God. God.

[16:45] I'll give you an automaton. If you don't do something about it. Hey. I'll take my test into my own hands. I'll take my test into my own hands.

[16:57] It's like. It's like somebody from Sudan or Syria has managed to swim through the English channel. And he said, oh, if you don't change your immigration situation, I'll be very upset with you.

[17:11] Do something. I need to be in the UK. If you don't do something, I'll take drastic measures against you. He said, I'll swim to America. He said, I'll swim to America.

[17:29] Take your UK. You know, they'll be laughing at you. They'll be looking at you and laughing at you. Is it possible that some of us are making ourselves laughing stocks for angels?

[17:41] Wow. Wow. That's deep. They look at you and they laugh at you. That's deep. Look at this one. You are still complaining against God. Please, may I advise you.

[17:55] Never, never for once. It's just like maybe you tell the way a husband who is not wise can tell a wife that you and I married you.

[18:06] I favored you. Please, never do that. In the same way. So, do you know if you do that to a woman, you have actually abused her. Yes. And I married you and look at you today.

[18:21] Hey. Hey. Ingratitude. Never. Never once. Let it enter your heart that you would tell God, God, you haven't done it.

[18:33] Look, I've even paid my time. Hey. Look at the amount of offerings. Please, don't use that. Don't do that. It's just like marrying a woman telling you, you're favored to have married you.

[18:46] Don't use that because God does never need anything from you. Never. Never. Look at the way I've been paying my time and this year nothing has happened. So, why were you paying?

[18:56] So that things will happen. Stop it. Stop it. Stop it and see if anything stops in the hands of God. And watch your own life.

[19:07] Amazing. Don't hold God to ransom. You should be thankful that you even had the privilege to give. Yes. Yes. Yes.

[19:18] Yes. That's you. Because there was a time when people were giving, you couldn't be added. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. And you're behaving like you gave your whole, you jump your life.

[19:29] you put it in the basket. If you give God thousand pounds, that means at least you had thousand one. And the way most of us are, you will never give God thousand when all you have is thousand one.

[19:48] Is that how we run? If you give God hundred pounds, maybe you had thousand. Most of the times. So for you even to have, to be able to give, you will have the more and you gave the least.

[20:03] So why don't you be grateful to God for the more you've had than the least complain about the least you have given which hasn't brought more again.

[20:16] Church giving, many pastors have made it look like that. Church giving is not like lottery. So you are giving so you can get more. Don't give if that's your reason forgiving. Don't give. The church will be fine without your giving.

[20:30] Don't give. It should first of all emanate from a heart of gratitude. Somebody say, I'm grateful, O Lord. I'm grateful, O Lord.

[20:43] You can't believe it. I don't even start my message. Wow. It's a function of faith. The year we are about to enter, believe you me, it will be a good year.

[20:55] Amen. It will be a good year. Tell me. It will certainly be a good year and it will bring all kinds of favors for somebody.

[21:08] Yeah. Yes. But you have to access it by faith. It is accessible through faith. Yes, yes, yes.

[21:19] I found out that God makes, God is able, can I use King James, God is of power. That's King James English. But God is able to make great.

[21:33] So, in Revelation chapter 5, verse 9, he said, you have redeemed us by your blood. Okay. Thou, thou art worthy for thou was, was slain and has redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred and every tongue and every people and every nation.

[21:53] Look at verse 10. And every nation and has made us unto our God kings and priests. So, you redeemed us and made us priests and kings or kings and priests.

[22:08] So, part of the redemption package is greatness. Yes. elevation, king to reign. And watch this. Verse 10, it said, and we shall reign not in heaven.

[22:22] Reign. Taking dominion on earth. God is part of the redemption package for you to reign. Amen. Look at how God did it.

[22:35] God told Abraham, Genesis chapter 12, verse, one and two. Get out of your, now the Lord said unto Abraham, get thee out of your country and from your kindred and from your father's house and unto the land which I will show you.

[22:54] Verse 2, and I will make thee a great nation. Let's all say, I'll make thee great. I'll make thee great. Or let's all say, I'll make thee a great nation. I'll make thee great. So, it says, I'll make thee a great nation and I'll bless thee and I'll make thy name great.

[23:10] Did you see that? He said, I'll make you a great nation. I'll bless you and make your name great. You can be a great nation and then have a great name.

[23:21] I hope we all remember that in our world, names sell. Oh yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's why now in commerce, branding is very important.

[23:36] Very big. Branding. Branding. Branding. Endorsement. There are people who, let's say they are tailors and they will say they sold for the queen or they sold for Prince Charles.

[23:51] That alone is serious. Prince Charles' name. But there are some hotels when you go, they will show you who has slept here. Clinton was here. Yeah. Michael Jackson was here like when we went to Goldman Towers.

[24:02] Yeah. Michael Jackson had been there. Some serious stars and stuff have been there. Presidents have been there. Why? Name. God said, I will make your name great.

[24:14] What makes you think God can make you great and make your name great? I'm trying to draw your attention to something that, see, God is an all-inclusive God. He's not only taking care of only one aspect of your life and leave the others.

[24:29] The prosperity gospel has just sometimes can overemphasize on what God is doing for you and for you and for you and what you are getting. And so it goes on in a tangent when people are in church and they are pursuing and their focus of being in church and doing is all gain.

[24:46] Gain. Material gain. Physical gain. Physical acquisition. Material gain. for aggrandization. That's what the other side of the prosperity gospel have emphasized.

[24:57] But God actually makes prosperous. God makes prosperous. God blesses. So those of us who are pursuing Christ and sacrificing our lives for Christ, we should expect some prosperity.

[25:13] Fruitfulness is part of the coding in life. God has coded fruitfulness into life. Anything that has life must be fruitful.

[25:25] So your life must produce on all fronts. Am I communicating something to you? So God told Abraham, I'll make you great and make your name great.

[25:36] In fact, Isaac, Isaac, they told Isaac that you are greater than us. Leave us alone. They are a whole nation. They came and said, listen, you are too great for us. You are great.

[25:46] You are too great. It's greater than us. Genesis chapter 26, verse 16. They told Isaac that. Abimelech said to Isaac, Abimelech said to Isaac, go from us for thou art much mightier than we.

[26:01] It's the same God. Watch this. I'm trying to draw attention to this. That God who was behind Abraham is the God who showed up in Isaac. Does that make sense? Why? Because his covenant with Abraham which manifests in his seed.

[26:17] So the covenant was not just to Abraham. Let me reuse the word promise. The promise was not just to Abraham but to Abraham and his seed. That's why Isaac showed up on the scene he was prospering.

[26:31] Jacob went to Laban's house and Bible says that Laban said, what I had was few, was little before you came. But after you came, I've learned by experience. Genesis chapter 30 verse 30, 31, 32, 29 to 32, somewhere there.

[26:45] He said, I've learned by experience that since you're coming God has blessed me because of you. God has, I've learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake.

[26:58] Whose sake? Jacob's sake. Why? Because he was carrying the Abrahamic blessing. Now, where do we come in? You and I come in because we are people of faith.

[27:13] All right. So the Bible says that those who are in Christ, the same are blessed with Abraham. Those who are, the same are the seed of Abraham actually.

[27:24] Galatians chapter 3 verse 29. The, those who are in Christ, so if you are in Christ, if ye be in Christ, then ye are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.

[27:34] What is the promise? The promise of greatness. I'm telling you that there's greatness in your life. And coming, the coming years, it must be unlocked.

[27:49] I want to show you the route to unlocking these things. So he says that if you are in Christ, then, see, it is scripture.

[28:00] If you are in Christ, if, or if you are Christ, then you are Abraham's seed. What does that mean? And heirs according to the promise God gave to Abraham which we saw manifest in the life of Isaac and Jacob, is that you also, you are heir.

[28:15] Greatness. I see greatness coming to you. I see somebody within the one year, within the next one year, your greatness will astound everyone who knew.

[28:28] I see greatness coming to somebody in the name of Jesus. It's covenant greatness. the greatness that comes from Abraham, our father. Galatians chapter 3, verse 7.

[28:40] He said, if ye are of faith, then you are Abraham's seed. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children. Come on.

[28:52] Who are the children of Abraham? Who? From the screen. He says that what? Let's use the New King James slash it.

[29:04] Oh, therefore know, know that only those who are of faith are disability. So who are the sons of Abraham? Those who are of faith. Who are the sons of Abraham?

[29:15] Those who are of faith. I can't hear you louder. Who are the sons of Abraham? Those who are of faith. Your faith is what entitles you to what God will do for you. Yeah. Your faith is what entitles you to what God can do for you.

[29:32] Those who are of faith, the same are the sons of Abraham. So this promise of greatness which is about to manifest in your life respects your faith.

[29:48] Your faith must be activated. According to Habakkuk 2, verse 4, the just shall live by his faith. Sadness, the just shall live by his faith.

[30:00] Habakkuk 2, verse 4, Romans 1, verse 17, the just shall live by faith. Galatians 3, verse 11, the just shall live by faith. Hebrews 10, verse 38, the just shall live by faith.

[30:15] He said, the just shall live by faith. Now the just shall live by faith. Now the just shall live by faith. A life lived by faith is more rewarding than a life lived ordinarily.

[30:30] You have to live by faith. Carice, we are here by faith. Listen, there are times you won't even know where the next help is coming from.

[30:40] But if you can put your faith in God and keep going and put your faith in God's word, you'll be surprised that God never runs out of resources. It's human beings who run out of resources.

[30:52] Even if God is running out of resources, all he has to do is let there be. Ye of little faith, why did you doubt?

[31:05] He began to sink and Jesus said, oh, ye of little faith, why did you doubt? Matthew chapter 4 from 28 down west, why did you doubt? Ye, oh, ye of little faith.

[31:18] Some of you are too afraid, too afraid. You are too afraid. If it's going to be God, then it must be by faith.

[31:33] If you are going to enjoy the promise God gave to Abraham, then you better walk in faith. This life is lived by faith. What do I mean by faith?

[31:44] Obedience to God's word, believing God, trusting that if he has said it, he will do it in spite of what you see around you. There is a difference between living by faith and living by senses, natural senses.

[32:00] Those unbelievers cannot live by faith. Unbelief. So you just live by natural. The sensory perceptions, what you see, what you hear, what you feel, what you taste.

[32:16] Sensory perception as things appear. The Bible says that we walk by faith. 2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 7. We walk by faith and not by sight.

[32:26] So you can walk by faith or by sight. If you walk by faith, you connect yourself to the promise of God to Abraham. If you walk by sight, you just are normal. So what will work will work.

[32:38] Say your certificates, your job. You just live like every normal person. But you will not produce supernatural results. There are certain physical results which has supernatural source.

[32:54] Like what is happening in this church. What you are seeing is not ordinary. It's not human calculation. It's not the hand of man.

[33:05] It's the hand of God. 1 Kings chapter 8 verse 24. He said, what God promised with his mouth, he has fulfilled with his hand.

[33:18] You have kept what you promised your servant David, my father. You have both spoken with your mouth and fulfilled it with your hand. As we are seeing this day, this is a fulfillment of what you have said, God.

[33:33] So there is a supernatural dimension to what's being seen. Others may have other things that are just based on natural orchestration, natural arrangement. But I am here to announce to you, I know what we see today is just a supernatural hand of God.

[33:49] Common sense can produce this. Right. Human calculations and smartness can produce this. We don't know anyone in our church who has a lot of money.

[34:07] We don't, maybe they are hiding. That's what I'm saying, we don't know. At the moment. But the greatness is coming. We don't know anyone in our church who has a lot of money and yet we don't lack money to run to do what God wants us to do.

[34:23] And the things we do are big things. Money demanding, money coming. And God provides supernatural. God provides supernatural. If you see the budget for tomorrow evening's service, you'll be wondering, but how can a church do this?

[34:43] In fact, I remember when we started having our services here, after three months, some of the staff were asking, are you sure you guys are a church? Because only multinational companies and big companies that keep, and even they come maybe twice a year.

[34:58] We are every week here. Just three years ago, within three months, they are wondering. And three years on. And we've been to better places like Landmark.

[35:11] We've been to Jumeirah. We've been to Hilton Metropole. How are these things getting done?

[35:24] No. If you ask me to ask the same question, apart from by faith in God, whose supernatural hand is manifesting physically. Amen. It's God. It's God.

[35:37] Time will not permit me to tell you, obstacles we have met and seen, and yet, just when we get there, God's hand comes. Obstacles. There are obstacles.

[35:48] Life is full of obstacles. Life is full of barriers. Life is full of blockades. Life is full of restrictions, limitations, hindrances.

[35:59] You will always meet them. Yes. Yes. You will always meet them. Sister, instead of thinking you are not married because of your hair, or because of your body, or because of something, you better believe God and start operating by faith.

[36:14] And be thankful and let God know that you are so thankful that you always return. You will return to, I'm telling you. I don't understand why on your wedding day, the wedding Sunday, instead of saying, God, I'm married, I'm going to bring my wife to church, or my husband to church, the first Sunday, you're already out.

[36:34] After spending so much time dancing in the night, party, Sunday morning, you will even say, God, thank you. You see, you are not grateful. You know that it's not God who is behind what you've got.

[36:46] Yeah. It shows in a lot of things, a lot of things, because we trivialize, oh, that doesn't matter. You know, I know what I'm doing.

[37:03] Hallelujah. The just shall live by faith. You will make it in the coming year. You see, your amen is an expression of your faith.

[37:16] Listen, listen. I don't need it. It actually takes from my time. I don't need it. But you need it to connect your heart to the word spoken.

[37:28] You say, God has spoken by his mouth. He has spoken and he has established it by his hand. So, first of all, he starts by speaking. Bible says that, Sarah said, for God has done what he said to Abraham.

[37:41] God has done it. Genesis chapter 21, Abraham. Verse 1 and 2. Bible says that, for what God spoke to Abraham, he has done to Sarah from somewhere there, I think.

[37:53] Yeah. The love is as he has spoken. And Sarah itself said it in, I think, verse 5 or verse 6. So, so, God starts by speaking. And where do you start?

[38:04] You start by hearing. It says, how can they believe on him in whom they have not heard? Romans chapter 10. Verse 14.

[38:16] How can they believe in him on whom they have not heard? So, you have to hear and then when you hear, you can believe. But before you hear, it must be spoken. For faith, verse 17 says, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

[38:29] So, you can tell what, what the focus on is the word of God spoken. Because when the word of God is spoken and you believe God, the spoken word of God, now, you leave the rest for God to fulfill it.

[38:42] For what he has spoken with his mouth, he has fulfilled it. First Kings chapter 8, verse 15. I quoted verse 24, but look at verse 15 again. First Kings 8, 15.

[38:53] And he said, blessed be, it's part of this quotation, I'm going, blessed be, let's already, I think it's, let's already from the screen. Let's go loud. And he said, blessed be the Lord of God.

[39:04] He's right. Who spoke with his mouth to my father David and with his hand he has fulfilled it. So, he spoke with his mouth and he's fulfilling, he's fulfilling with his hand.

[39:15] Anything God has spoken which you have believed, I see it being fulfilled. How? By the hand of God. The magicians of Pharaoh also mimicked, also produced the miracles Moses was doing.

[39:33] When Moses did it, they also did it. When Moses did it, they also did it. But it got to a time, they said to Pharaoh, Pharaoh, I think this thing is not magic, it's the hand of God. They backed off.

[39:43] They said, that thing has gone to another level, we can't. So, they backed off. In Exodus chapter, I think, 7 or, from 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 9, somewhere there. It says that, they said to Pharaoh, Pharaoh, this is the finger of God.

[39:59] They noticed that this thing, we could produce it, but it's gotten to a place. So, all along, when Moses started, we thought it was just Moses doing it. Little did we know that it was God's hand until it got to a place where the going became tough, where natural men couldn't go beyond and God was still going.

[40:20] So, there's a time where your physical strength and physical acquisitions and physical abilities will end, will fail you. But if you learn how to trust God, where physical strength, in some parts of Africa, they have something they call, is it D-U-M-S-O?

[40:42] S-O-H or something like that. S-O-R. Yeah, S-O-R. On, off. On, off. On, off. On, off. They have power in Nigeria. In Nigeria and Ghana is like power rationing.

[40:59] So, the power goes like we are in church and the power goes. Wow. Electricity is gone because they are rationing it. So, now, I should go and then maybe Victoria will have it for maybe the shadow.

[41:15] Oh, you didn't know that. Yeah, you are an equal. You don't know what God has delivered you from. Oh, it's normal.

[41:27] Like you are here. You know what I'm talking about. Like we are here and then zoom. It's gone. And it's normal. You expect it. So, you are having your wedding and then zoom.

[41:39] So, if you are wise, you invest into standby generators and plants. And many of the hospitals, like most of our hospitals here, I think part of the regulation, you can't have a hospital without a plant in this country.

[41:54] Because what if you are doing surgery and the power goes off? So, you can't, there's a plant. And the plants here, the way they operate and now in some African places, yeah, the plants, as soon as the power from the national grid goes off naturally.

[42:09] So, you will notice it. So, that's what I'm trying to tell you. You have to trust God so much so that, not a standby. God is not like standby generator or spare time. But God is with you throughout.

[42:21] So, even when human strength ends, you, you wouldn't realize that. It's like that. You get to a place and then people begin to watch you because people who knew, they knew that you couldn't have gone far.

[42:33] They are watching you and say, ah, there's something about you and you are wondering, what is that about me? Yes, yes. It's just how I've been living my life. And they didn't realize that when you were in stage one, you were trusting God.

[42:44] Yeah. They waited for you to get to stage nine. But you were in stage one, trusting God. Stage two, trusting God. Stage three, trusting God. Stage four, trusting God. Stage five, trusting God. Stage six, trusting God.

[42:56] Stage seven, trusting God. Stage eight, stage nine, trusting God. Stage ten, and everything was seamless. You didn't realize it because that's how you've been journeyed. Yes. But they noticed that no one goes past stage nine.

[43:06] Mm. And they say, hmm, there's something about this person. Mm. They will say, this is the finger of God. Ha, ha, ha, ha. I see that happening for you.

[43:18] Yes. I see that happening for you. Yes. May you experience the finger of God. Yes. In the name of Jesus.

[43:30] Yes. Yes. Hey. The finger of God. The finger of God. The finger of God. And it requires faith. Yes. From, ha, ha, I like this.

[43:41] Faith from first to last. Yes. Not midway. Mm. Romans chapter one, verse 17. And I will put it, faith, it says righteousness of God is faith to faith.

[43:53] And I will put it, for the, for the gospel, so, for in the gospel, the righteousness from God is revealed. A righteous, a righteousness, that is by faith from first to last.

[44:04] So, it's not from midway to last. Not towards the end, then your faith comes in. Before you get married, you have faith, you have your children.

[44:15] When you are married, you have faith, you have your children. When you have your first child, you have faith. You don't say it's because you are fertile. You say it because you know that your God is faithful.

[44:26] Amen. Don't believe God for a child because of your fertility. Believe God for a child because of your faith. Amen. Amen. So, when they say, nowadays, women from your background, women from whatever, and fertility has been compromised, you know that, no, you are not depending on fertility.

[44:47] So, when they are giving those reports, people are panicking. You know, it's not your report because you have never, you have never. It seems like, like when they tell you if your car is diesel, and they tell you that from next year, petrol is going to be, well, the price of petrol will be times five.

[45:06] You know, really, you will not be too bothered. Why? Because your car is diesel. So, it's for the petrol, petroneers. So, in the same way, if you are operating by faith, certain information that governments, organizations will bring, you know that, that's not, this one, you are not operating by that national economy.

[45:28] Yeah, yeah, yeah. Brexit, or, or, break deal. Without a deal, or with a deal, you know, it doesn't matter.

[45:41] Well, I'm not saying that it's irrespective, or it doesn't matter to the nation. It may matter to the nation, but so long as what God has promised to do with your life next year is concerned, whether it's Brexit or it's not Brexit, it won't affect it.

[45:55] That's what I'm trying to say. Amen. Amen. Amen. I see it happening for you. Amen. Remember, just in case you have forgotten, the gentleman said, he didn't, he didn't get the chance because it's not necessary to go into the details of his documentation.

[46:12] Yes, yes. Because it wasn't documents that should have passed. At all. Totally inadequate. Totally inadequate. What words did you use? Feather and better particulars.

[46:24] But did you remember what he said? He said, when pastor declared, I held on to the word.

[46:35] I held, in spite of feather and better particulars, I held on, I held on to a word because what God has spoken, he will fulfill with his hand. The gentleman said, all pastor said was that it's sorted.

[46:49] What did I say? All right. See, I don't remember. That means that it wasn't conscious. I didn't have to plan, okay, when people say, this is what you have to say. It's not, it wasn't rehearsed.

[47:00] I don't remember it. To be honest, I don't remember telling him. But because he held on to the word, he remembered when I said it. Yes, yes. Because, do you know why I don't remember?

[47:12] Because it wasn't my word. Yes. It wasn't my, it was his word. It was his word. Watch this. Next year, by now, there are people here who will remember something I said today for which reason the result has come.

[47:28] So shall it be for you. So shall it be for you. So shall it be for you. In the name of Jesus.

[47:41] Please be seated. Faith. Faith. You need your faith. Habakkuk 2, he said, for the just shall live by his.

[47:52] No, no, no, no, don't rush. His faith. Not another person's faith. His faith. You are not going to borrow somebody's heart to live. You live with your own heart.

[48:04] As I said the other time, you can't drive in the night with somebody's headlamps. Oh. You need your own headlamps. Okay, so your faith is necessary.

[48:18] He said, Peter, Satan has sought to save you like you, but I pray that your faith faileth not. Luke chapter 22, 31 or 31, 22. Sorry, 22, 21, 32, yeah, 22, 31.

[48:32] I prayed for you. Someone, someone, in this, Satan has asked for you that he will save you like wheat, but I have, Jesus said, I have prayed for you that your faith, say my faith.

[48:43] My faith. Say it again. My faith. Say it louder. My faith. Say it with conviction. My faith. So, it's until it becomes your faith, it can produce for you.

[48:54] Wow. You can't use your mother's faith. Don't be depending on other people's faith. It's your faith that can do it for you the way it needs to be done.

[49:06] I know some of us here, you have hair which is not yours. And everybody thinks it's your hair. They see, they think it's your hair.

[49:20] The other time, I was preaching and then the anointing was to me and I held someone. I didn't realize I'm taking somebody's hair with me. Because hairs don't move. This particular one, it moves.

[49:34] It was a cap, it wasn't a hair. It was a hair. It's mobile hair. It's mobile hair. It's mobile hair. It's mobile hair.

[49:45] It's mobile hair. So, say my faith. My faith. Say my faith. My faith. Listen, you have to exercise your faith.

[49:58] that's the essence of your being a Christian. That's the essence. It's not because you come to church. Excuse me. What's the point of coming to church and you don't have faith?

[50:10] Why sometimes Satan shows up? Most of the Nazis show up in church. Apart from one or two old teen people. But, Satan does not show up.

[50:26] He shows up when you have gone home. When situations arise. When what looks like a crisis hits. That's when your faith is tested.

[50:47] So, you need your faith. The size of your faith will determine the size of your testimony. That's how it works in God.

[50:59] I'm not talking about religion. But, if it has to do with God, if it has to be from God, then it has to be by faith. If you are expecting anything from God, you better trust him.

[51:14] Colossians chapter 2 verse 7. Somebody say, thank you, Jesus. Before we go to Colossians 2, I think let's go to Galatians 2 first.

[51:25] Then we can go to Colossians 2. Galatians chapter 2. Thank you, Jesus. Galatians 2, 20, here.

[51:39] The word of the Lord. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.

[51:50] And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

[52:01] How do I live? By faith. You see, I'm crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I am still alive. No, yet not I. So, the person said, I'm crucified, you are still there.

[52:12] You are telling me you are crucified. How can you say that I've been killed? You can't say I have been killed. We can see the person is dead, but the person can't tell us, listen, I've been killed.

[52:28] Do you understand that? A dead person can't give witness, can't tell what has happened to them. But we are dead people who can tell.

[52:43] Because, he said, I'm crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I'm still living. And he said, yet, it's not me. That's Christianity. Oh, you don't know me.

[52:53] We don't want to know you. Ask for me, ask for me, when things go like that, ask for me. The me is supposed to have been dead, so maybe you are not a Christian. this kind of Christianity who is always talking about for me, and when people talk to me like this, and when I'm hungry, and when I'm under pressure, when I have a hunger problem, you know, my parents, when I was growing up, they were always worried about me, because they knew one day I would kill somebody.

[53:19] Listen, listen, listen, listen, listen, listen. That, when you are a Christian, you are a different person. Pastor, let's be real.

[53:30] I'm being real. As a real Christian, if you are a Christian, then let's also get real. Possibly, you are not a Christian. You've just been declared saved.

[53:44] You come forward. If you want to give your life to Jesus, come, and you come forward. Let's say this after, Lord Jesus, I want to give my life to Jesus. I pray, you are saved. Listen, the pastor declared you saved, but you are not saved.

[54:00] Because if you are saved, you repent, and other things will fall over. I don't want to go into that. So, he said, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yes, not I, not I, and the life I now live, I live by faith.

[54:18] Someone say, I live by faith. I live by faith. Say it louder, please. I live by faith. For the last time. I live by faith. This is what she should be doing. Tomorrow, by God's grace, just before we cross over, I'll take my time and talk about live by faith again.

[54:36] Because if it must be God, 2019, then it must be your faith. Living by faith, speaking. The things that you say, the things that you think about, the things that you hear, I'll probably, just before we cross into 2019, because 2019 is going to be a year of amazing dominion.

[55:02] That's why it's been declared a year of sacrifice. The year of sacrifice is not because we are just going and sacrificing. No. We are sacrificing to gain. Jesus said, except a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it abides.

[55:17] But when it dies, it brings forth. So we are dying to bring forth. So there's nothing like, even Bible, Jesus said, because for the joy that was set before him, endure the cross. So we don't endure just for enduring's sake.

[55:30] Because of where we are going. God has shown me by his spirit that it's going to be a year of some amazing, phenomenal, astounding results. Results that don't come cheaply.

[55:45] That don't come to ordinary people. It comes to people who are going to live a certain lifetime of faith. Dominion. Yes. Wow. Wow. Thank you.

[55:56] Somebody shout, I live by faith. I live by faith. Very soon, people who are around you must know you live by faith. Yes. They may not understand. They don't have to.

[56:07] Yeah. They don't have to because they don't, they may not know much about the document. And even there are priests. People can be priests and pastors who will not. You see, faith is not based on how long you have been a Christian.

[56:20] Wow. No. Okay. Okay. People can be, there are people who used to be walking by faith. Now they are backsliding. There are preachers who are afraid to do some things where David saw, King Saul was killing people in battle.

[56:36] Goliath shows up he was afraid. But David said, who is this Goliath? He just walked. He took a stroll. He said, give me this guy. I will deal with him. And everybody was afraid. The war generals, people who are experiencing war, they are saying, this guy doesn't know what he's doing.

[56:53] Yeah. That's why he's doing what, because he doesn't know what you know. He knows one thing. He knows that God is a God who gives results. And that's why when he appeared, approached Goliath in 1 Samuel chapter 17, he said that, you come to me with a spear and an arrow, but I come to you in the name of the Lord.

[57:12] God, that's all. He said that name. I mean, I'm not going to depend on my ammunition. I'm depending on God. Whether I have sophisticated ammunition or not, I'm depending on God.

[57:24] I'm telling you, there are people here who will be getting certain jobs and contracts which are way above your qualification. Way above. Because you are not going just because of your qualification.

[57:36] You are going in the name of the Lord. You are believing God. You are believing God. God is about to surprise you with a husband who is like, what?

[57:47] A wife who is like, what? It shall happen for you. He said, and pastor spoke it and I held on to the word.

[58:02] And I held on to the word. Many times when pastor said, and I held on to the word. I don't remember which one. Because it's their word. That's right. Some of you, is it possible that I'm giving you the key for 2019?

[58:16] That's right. Is it possible? I'm giving, but you are not holding, you are not taking, you are not grabbing it. Oh yeah. You are not grabbing it. Yeah. Because Satan is competing for your attention.

[58:26] Yeah. With intellectual, he said, watch this, he said, we work by faith and not by sight. That's right. Ordinary, watch this, this is what I wanted you to say. I said, I live by faith. I live by faith. You can either live by natural senses.

[58:39] Yeah. Okay. Natural senses. Or, the spiritual life, if you want to live the spiritual life, then that can only be lived by faith. Yeah.

[58:50] So when you are spiritual, people look at you and they look at your steps and they are thinking, but why is he taking this step? Because this is the normal step. Yeah. Yeah. This is the normal.

[59:01] It gets to a place you are not living just, Jesus told them, just, you have run out of wine, you need some wine, pour water into, into the, into the basins and then pour it back and serve it.

[59:13] And Mary told them, whatever he tells you, obey. John chapter 2 verse 6, whatever he says to you, obey. And so they just, they just did it. And guess what? They had the finest wine, better than what the natural meats have produced.

[59:29] So you, you don't always have to depend on natural senses. Listen to what I didn't say. I didn't say be presumptuous and be unreasonable.

[59:41] I don't want to use the word stupid. Because there are people in the name of faith who are being stupid. That's right. You are not looking for a job. You are staying at home and you are believing that you will never lack money.

[59:54] It doesn't work like that. It doesn't work like that. It doesn't work like that. You speak to your wife like you are speaking to some useless fellow.

[60:10] Speak to her, don't respect her, don't appreciate her and you are believing that you will have peace in your marriage because God has said it. Oh, come on. Did you understand what I'm saying? So that is, that's presumption, presumptuous faith.

[60:24] That is, that's not wise. I don't want to use that word. But that's not wise. That's not wise. So what I didn't say is that go against every reasonable projections.

[60:41] Don't, I'm not saying go against reason. But faith can, when you are walking by faith, it is not always that you can explain it by reason.

[60:53] The typical example is that he went for the interview knowing, holding on to the word. I mean, why are you doing that? He has a reason for doing that so it's not stupid. But, but if, someone can try to explain it away.

[61:09] But he knows that this is how I got it. Did you understand? So, sometimes people can, like somebody, I think I heard Reinhard Bonnke said, he met somebody who said, he doesn't believe in prayers.

[61:24] and he said, Reinhard Bonnke said, but when I pray, I've discovered when I pray about things, they happen, things happen. And then the man said, oh, these are just coincidences.

[61:35] It's a coincidence. I said, it's amazing that when I pray, coincidences happen. So then, I'll pray for the coincidence to keep happening. You call it coincidence, I call it answer prayer.

[61:46] And I know what to do to repeat that coincidence. So, if it is repeatable and observable, it's scientific. It's scientific because you can do it.

[61:58] You may not be able to explain it by natural process. All right. A miracle is the intervention. Miracle is not anything that happens naturally with a supernatural cause.

[62:12] So, the cause cannot be explained, but yet the results cannot be denied. Does that make sense? And I'm believing God for a miracle for you.

[62:25] I'm believing God for a miracle. How many of us are believing God for a miracle? Amen. As you believe God, may it be so for you. In the name of Jesus.

[62:38] In the name of Jesus. Yes! Please be seated as I try to run up this thing. Don't let your heart be troubled. That's what Jesus told his disciples just before he was getting ready to leave.

[62:53] In John chapter 14, verse 1 and 2, verse 1 says that, let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. Would you do me a favor by turning to somebody if you are okay with it and tell the person, let not your heart be troubled.

[63:09] Let not your heart be troubled. Say to another person, let not your heart be troubled. Let not your heart be troubled. The point here is, I don't know what is threatening you.

[63:19] I don't know what you are afraid of. But listen, let not your heart be troubled. Amen! It's not complete if you leave it at let not your heart be troubled. It will be more troubled later.

[63:30] Okay. Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Yes. Ah. Believe in God and complete the process. Believe in God and believe in his representative who is speaking to you.

[63:43] Yes. Believe in God. Believe in God. Let not instead of worrying trust God. Yes. Everybody, every now and then in life, there are things that will rise up against you you don't have answers for.

[64:01] That's right. But believe in God. Listen, 2019 will be a good year. Amen! Because in the political circles in United Kingdom it has been forecasted that it's likely it's going to be very rocky and shaky.

[64:18] I know about that. I know. It's not just yes. I know. By sensitivity, I know that things are going to be very interestingly rocky in this country.

[64:29] There's going to be a lot of uncertainties. Things are going to be very interesting. I'm telling you. So, listen. It's going to be it's going when there's a casting down you say there's a lifting up.

[64:41] Listen. It's going to be very chilling. Chilling or chilly. Cold. Out there. But you have to go out with your own heat inside.

[64:54] That's right. That's right. Yeah. I'm telling you. 2019 is going to be many politicians are worried. Many businesses are worried. there's so much uncertainty in the air and it's not going to go away.

[65:08] There's so much uncertainty. Things are likely to be harder and harsher but not for you. Amen. Why would things be different for you?

[65:23] Because I live by faith. Why would things be different for you? Why would things be different for you? I live by faith.

[65:33] Live by faith. You are living by faith means that you are living by supernatural realities. Yes. That's why I said whilst we look not at the things that are seen but the things that are not seen.

[65:44] 2 Corinthians 4 verse 16. Looking. How can you look at things that are not seen? How can you not look at things that are seen and look at things that are not seen? Verse 18 rather.

[65:56] Whilst we do not look at things which are seen at the things you are seen. He said don't look at it. In other words don't focus on it. Don't consider it. Don't make it the determining don't make what you are seeing or experiencing become the determining factor of the outcome of your tomorrow.

[66:14] I know the doctors have said some worrying things but that is not the determining factor. There is a higher reality. There is a higher reality. The other time because this is my personal testimony don't take it on me and don't clap for me.

[66:32] You know sometimes it is easy not to exercise because you think you will be fine. That is a sign of laziness to a certain extent. So when you are supposed to wake up get up and stretch you are not doing it.

[66:45] You just wake up hit the road and you are going like a car. Most of you men here you don't realize you are growing older than you are. So if you don't exercise you I am telling you but I have not been exercising so I can't be telling you let me think about myself.

[67:05] And last month I was I think what was the last month I went to a preacher? Last month I was dropping the children at school so I just had to pick just pull something from another bed but I don't know what happened I just after getting up I felt like my back was not the same.

[67:22] The muscles have not been stretched. And after sat in the car when I got up I was like this. Oh it was bad.

[67:33] The pain. In fact that Sunday when I came to church when I was going I have to be exercising so when I was going on the stage like this but when you start preaching the faith kicks in. It persisted for a while.

[67:45] For the first time I had to go and buy ibuprofen because it was bad. I don't take medication I have to because this one is not a matter of faith. I knew why. I knew why.

[68:01] I know I might be advising somebody because the way you have been feeling weak and weak and weak it's not Satan attacking you just you are not exercising. the way you are growing fat and fat and fat and fat next year I mean start after Christmas you have eaten all your best.

[68:20] Enough is enough. There's no fatness without food. Every fat person eats a lot.

[68:35] they will say I don't know what I don't know I don't eat a lot my friend you have been eating too much. Oh but you don't want me to say it.

[68:48] Control your appetite believe God. Believe God and deal with this appetite thing. That I was telling somebody do you always have to keep putting food in your mouth?

[69:02] Somebody in church they have food in their back. Alright let's get serious. Let's get serious.

[69:14] Please let's leave it at that. So and I want to preach I want to preach in Master Seed Melton Kings and on the Friday was it Saturday or Friday?

[69:27] It was three days Thursday I preached and then Friday so which one do you remember when I the second day as I was preaching the Holy Ghost when I finished the preaching the place was charged and I knew there's a spirit of healing here.

[69:43] Suddenly I felt something in my back. I felt not any pain but I felt like a relief. I felt so I tell the congregation there's a spirit of healing here.

[69:53] There's healing happening here. And you know sometimes afterwards you go and I went hey everything is gone. I went to attack my wife the thing is gone.

[70:06] I realized the thing was gone. I realized there is power somewhere. even though I felt there was a legitimacy or legitimate reason why that should happen in the presence of God as the word was being delivered God just and I find it quite interesting because it's not accidental.

[70:32] I find it very interesting. And that's why I'm telling you that you God will take care of you. God will take care of you. Don't be afraid okay. Don't be worried. What do you have to do?

[70:43] Live by faith. Live by faith. Tomorrow I'll speak more about how to live by faith before we cross over into the new year. But as I run up did I quote Colossians chapter 2 verse 7 we didn't read it.

[70:56] Let's look at that and then. Oh thank you Jesus. Is someone learning something? Yes. This is talking about being in Christ. Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith.

[71:11] We are supposed to be rooted and built. This is a very interesting terminology. This is very interesting. Rooted that is botanical terminology. And then built up that is architectural terminology.

[71:24] You should either be one. You should be one of them. So you are either rooted but you can't be built up because we build a building.

[71:34] Buildings don't grow. It's trees that grow. That's why they need roots. But we in Christ we have roots. We are like trees and at the same time we are like buildings. Rooted and built up in him and established in the faith as you have been taught.

[71:53] Watch this. So you should be established in the faith as you have been taught abounding in it with thanksgiving. The reason why your faith is becoming questionable is because of thanklessness.

[72:09] Abound in faith with thanksgiving. God I was believing you to be married before the end of this year. It doesn't happen. I thank you so much. Thank you that it actually worked for me. Thank you that it didn't happen that way.

[72:22] When we left Graceland we lost that property. Most of you were crying. And I told you that stop crying. Let's thank God because it's going to work out.

[72:33] Look it has worked out for us times 10. Worked out for us times 10. Thanksgiving. Stop the memory. Every time you have something to complain about.

[72:46] How can you be walking by faith and complaining? You are not walking by faith. You only can abound in faith with thanksgiving. Thankfulness in your heart.

[72:59] Abound in your faith. Increase in your faith. Flourish in your faith with thankfulness. Whether things have happened the way you wanted it or not. Be thankful to God.

[73:10] Be thankful to God. Things that will undermine your thanks. Number one is complaining. Write it down. 1 Corinthians 10 verse 10. It said because they murmured.

[73:22] It said don't complain as some of them also complained and were destroyed by the destroyer. Bible said but with some of them God was not pleased because of the spirit of complaint.

[73:39] Numbers chapter 14 verse 26. Numbers 14 26. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron saying how long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against me?

[73:52] Can you imagine? God said they are evil. They complain against me. So that means that your complaining will block God from doing anything for you. He told Moses and Aaron how long will I bear with this evil congregation who complain again?

[74:10] I've heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against me. Hang on. I'll be paying my tithe and nothing has happened. You are complaining today? God I was expecting that by now things will be better by nothing.

[74:25] You are complaining against me today? He said I've heard it. Okay I've heard it. I've heard it. Go to the next verse. Say to them as I live says the Lord just as you have spoken in my hearing so I will do to you.

[74:47] Don't complain against God. God. The songwriter says count your blessings. Name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done for you.

[75:03] You could have been dead by now. Yes. You are complaining about a new shoe you don't have. Have you thanked God for the leg you've got? Do you understand that?

[75:20] You are complaining about the fact that your hair is not growing. Have you thanked God for the invention of wigs? And some of the wigs are from hostiles.

[75:34] Yes. Thank God for the hostiles. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Thank God. My legs are not nice.

[75:46] But at least your ears are nice. Do you understand that? So there is listen count your blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what God has done for you.

[76:00] And the second thing I realized is that David said in the in I'll come back to complain right now. David said that if I go to the grave there's no praising to God in the grave. So what's up?

[76:11] God. He said God let's make a deal. Keep me alive so I can praise you. I think some six verse five or so. I think that's five.

[76:21] Said the grave there's no praise or so. Six verse five. For in death there is no remembrance of you. In the grave who will give you thanks. So whilst you are alive do it. Do it because when you go you can't say thank you Lord.

[76:36] Thank you for all the things I did. Thank you for now I know better. Let's look at the complaining bits. Numbers chapter 24. I'm sorry chapter 14.

[76:49] Say to them as I leave says the Lord just as you are spoken in my hearing so I will do. Go to the next verse. The carcasses of you who have complained against me shall fall in the wilderness.

[77:02] all of you who were numbered according to your entire number from 20 years old and above. So you complain against me?

[77:14] I brought you out of Egypt. You are complaining against me? You complain against me? You are complaining for what I haven't done yet? Say tell them there.

[77:27] They will never go. I was taking them to the promised land. Me I promised them but I won't take them there. Their children will go instead of them. He said none of you will get there. Verse 30. None of you will get there.

[77:39] Except Caleb. Oh so some people are going to be exempted. Except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. You shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.

[77:51] And I swore to you that you will dwell in this land. Now I'm telling you you will never dwell there. Your children will go so it will look like the same thing. I'll keep my word but not in your lifetime.

[78:05] Because of complaining. Verse 32. Look at 32. But as for you your carcasses shall fall in the wilderness. That will not be your testimony.

[78:22] I feel like saying this. I have to say this. Listen. Next year the last Sunday of the year you will be here thanking God. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

[78:32] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Jesus. Thank you Lord.

[78:43] Thank you Lord. Somebody scream thank you Lord! Thank you Lord! Screaming louder thank you Lord!

[78:54] Lord! Next year by now, we are still bouncing. It will not be the case of we are here but you can't be in jam, because when you jump you are in pain, you are not well.

[79:08] No, no, no, no, you'll be even healthier. Jumping, giving God praise, giving God thanks. Shout hallelujah! Hallelujah!

[79:19] Please be seated as I finish. Thank you Lord. Complaining! The second thing that will block your thankful heart, or will block the flow of your thanksgiving, is pride.

[79:35] Pride! I don't know, I'm a very important person. Come on! You!

[79:46] That important? You! It's just that people don't know about you. That's right. The information that have been kept quiet about you, if it is brought in the public, you will not be important.

[80:01] I'm not talking about your medical records. No, I'm not talking about your medical records. No, I'm not talking about your medical records. I'm talking about your credit history. Hey! Your life history, things that have happened, things that you have done and have to be covered.

[80:14] Hey! And by God's grace must remain covered. Yes! Listen, some things must remain covered though. Hey! Hey! Hey! You don't cry for the mercy of God and be thankful that it doesn't come out.

[80:29] Yes! It doesn't come out. Yes! Some things must remain covered. Yes! Thank you! You see that gentleman who gave his testimony about his documents.

[80:43] If it had got into somebody else's hands and said, oh, can we ask for all this? He could have been found wanting. Yes! But God knows how to make sure that the coat you left in Potiphar's wife's house is not being used against you.

[81:02] Why? Because you have left your coat somewhere. My God. There is a trail. Yes! Yes! You think you have cleaned the internet history?

[81:14] Yes! That's a trail. Yes! May it not come out. Amen! Yes! Are you getting what I'm trying to say? Yes! Yes! Right!

[81:25] Let me just, let me just, let me just, throw a bit more light on the pride. Let me give you a scripture. See, see what's, before I even go to Solomon, there is a man, there was a man, his name was King Nebuchadnezzar.

[81:41] He was powerful. He was powerful. He was more, listen, he was more powerful than President Trump. Yes! Yes!

[81:52] President Trump and the Queen combined. Yes! He was more powerful. Very powerful. Yes! He had absolute authority. No one can question him. Yes! His jurisdiction was brought. Yes!

[82:03] Nebuchadnezzar. Yes! And he believed he was, he believed himself that, do you know what he said? He said, see what my hands, my might has gained for me.

[82:14] Yes! Eh? Eh? Daniel chapter four, verse 30. Mm. Mm. Mm. Mm. Mm. Mm.

[82:25] Mm. The king spoke, saying, it's not this great Babylon that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty.

[82:36] Ah! Okay? You have built it for yourself. Mm. Mm. When, listen, when people tell you you are doing well. Mm. Mm. Point, that is not your, it's, it's wrong delivery.

[82:48] They brought it to the wrong address. Yeah! Yeah! Don't take delivery of someone's package. Yeah! Re-address it, assign it to God.

[82:59] Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Learn how to say, it's the grace of God. Yeah! It's the grace of God. Yeah! It's the grace of God. Yeah!

[83:10] It's the grace of God. Yeah! Look at the way you are looking, where you've raised these children very well. It's the grace of God. Yeah! Because you remember your cousins, their children are like vagabonds. Yeah!

[83:21] Your own brother, look at your brother's son. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Brother's son can't ever come out of prison, comes and goes like that. Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! Do you understand that?

[83:33] Yeah! Yeah! I'm telling you! Yeah! I'm telling you, God, give me grace, so my children will make the right friends. Yeah! Because I'll be pouring so much into them, it will take one friend.

[83:45] One! One friend. And I won't be there to dictate. No, no, no. If he says that this is my friend, I like this one. There's not much you can do about it. It's a taste problem. It starts the battle.

[83:56] You can't change it. So, those of you who have been able to raise your children, your child is with you in church, and please, when they say you have done well, say, ah, it's a grace.

[84:07] He said that my might has built this kingdom for my own name. Wow! What?! Nebuchadnezzar! Even if you don't respect God, at least, don't take what belongs to Him.

[84:19] Because in Isaiah, he said, I will not share my glory with any man. Look at verse 31. Verse 31 says, while the...

[84:30] He didn't finish speaking, no. While the word was still in the king's mouth, a voice fell from heaven. King Nebuchadnezzar! Nebuchadnezzar! Nebuchadnezzar!

[84:41] To you, it is spoken. The kingdom has departed from you. Look at the next verse.

[84:52] And they shall drive you from men. Amen! And you would... Your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen.

[85:03] Oh, hey! And seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the most high rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomsoever he chooses.

[85:16] God has to get involved to tell him that, my friend, you are too arrogant. You are too proud. Haven't you noticed that sometimes women who look very gorgeous, it takes a long time to get married.

[85:31] Or sometimes women who look very sophisticated, beautiful, it's like perfect, perfect model. It takes a long time.

[85:43] Right? Because if you are not careful, it enters your heart that it's just you. And sometimes, another woman who doesn't have a lot of things, when you see her face, it's like she used to be a boxer.

[85:55] And she has a very wonderful husband.

[86:07] She has a... And the husband is happy with her. Content! Most... Most... Most... Not all. But sometimes, men, when a man gets foolish, excuse me my language.

[86:22] When a man gets stupid, and cheats on his wife. Most times, that woman, cheating woman, is nowhere nice like their wife.

[86:34] Most times. But you see, the cheating one has a way of humbling herself. Hello, my lord. Hello, my... Then he steals the man's heart. Yes. Some of you who have done it before, with a church on your girlfriend.

[86:48] Remember that one. She wasn't that beautiful. But just that, like she gave you so much. She was so humble to you. Whatever you wanted, she was available. Yes. Be Lord. Be Lord.

[86:59] Nebuchadnezzar! Nebuchadnezzar! Nebuchadnezzar! Nebuchadnezzar! Nebuchadnezzar! You are too important. Yes.

[87:10] His God didn't react. And one day, he got up to give a public speech. Acts chapter 12, verse 21. He's called Herod. He gave a powerful speech. And the people started saying, no. Wow.

[87:21] This is not the voice of a man. It's a God. Ha ha ha. And the people kept shouting, the voice of a God, not a man. The voice of a God, not a man. And he was very happy with it.

[87:32] Yeah. Go ahead. The voice of a God, not a man. Wordens. Give him some money. Other people would say he was blessing them. Because, yeah, keep saying. The voice of a God. Do you know what? Heaven reacted immediately. Instant.

[87:43] Instant. That was a quick one. In Nigeria, they would say, instanta. Yeah. Yeah. Then, immediately, an angel of the Lord struck him. Because what's this? Why is he struck him? Why is he struck him? He died. He died.

[87:54] He died. He died. His name. He died. He died. He died. He died. He died.

[88:15] He died. He died. He died. him. That was where the problem was coming from. He was taking what belongs to God for himself. He was too proud. He was too proud. Mark a proud man and see their end. A proud woman, see their end. Mark them and see. Too proud. Even in heaven resists you. That's why I beg you, when you come to the people of God, when you come to church, I know you are a posh person. I know you live here. Excuse me, we don't need any of that. You don't need any of that. The value of your clothing is not a reflection of the value of your life. We know you have some exposure. We know you are an OB. Yes, MB. CB. ABC.

[89:14] We know you are united. We know you are a Dane. Dane, sorry. Dane. We know it. We know it. But listen, we don't care. We will give you the honor that it requires. But please don't use that to determine how you relate to us because it's not necessary. God will react to you. Don't come to church with your car. Into the building with your car. That's what I mean. All right. You know what I mean. You drive a Bentley. So what? What has that got to do with us? What has that got to do with us? Listen, just in case someone drives Rolls Royce here, how would you know? In fact, you may think it is G5. You may think it's me because of my tire. You think I will be driving. No. Some of the people you see, they look very pretty, very nice. You may think they drive Rolls Royce. Or you may think they live at KCity Palace. Go to Peckham and see.

[90:15] Behind the market. The point I'm making is that it doesn't show. It's not part of who you are. Don't let it enter your heart. I'm not saying if you have nice things, don't worry. No, I didn't say that. If you have labored for it or if yours, why not? Life is short. Just use it. But don't let it make you feel you are better than somebody. Especially when we come to worshiping.

[90:48] When I say lift your hand, you can't lift your hand because me, I'm a graduate. You know what I'm talking about? When we say, oh, let's all give God thanks. No, no, no, no, no. I don't do that. Please, shall we all rise? No, no, no, no. How can you be telling me to rise?

[91:04] No, no, please. Please, don't get God involved in that case. Why are they shouting like that? Am I making it? Pride. Bible says in Romans chapter 16, verse 18, that pride goes before a fall. Pride goes before distraction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Before distraction, pride will come. So when you entertain pride, know that following is a distraction is following.

[91:32] One of the things that will block your gratitude, your thankfulness is pride. Solomon, when he became a king, as I quoted before, he said, Solomon said that God, what you spoke to my father, your hand has before, it has not got to do with me. So he was humble as he sat on the throne. 1 Kings chapter 8, verse 15. He acknowledged the source.

[91:54] I'm done. Acknowledge the source. We thank God for using his servant, Reverend Dr. David Entry, to share this awesome word. If this message has blessed you in any way, please spread the word by sharing it and send us an email to amen at charis.org. Remember to stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter for regular updates on what God is doing here at Charis Ministries. Stay blessed.