Pergamos - The Hidden Manna & Approved Stone

[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. Hallelujah. In the book of Revelation, Revelation starts, the revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to show his servants, things which must shortly take place.

[0:36] And he sent and signified it by his angel to his servant John. Now, I think in the Amplify, the Amplify, the word signify.

[0:54] And he sent and communicated through angel, as mentioned to the born. All right. They gave it to him to disclose and make it known to his born servant certain things which must shortly and speedily come to pass.

[1:15] All right. All right. It's Amplify. Okay. It didn't, one of the translations, I think it's either, it can be the message, but instead of using the word signify, he said he sent it through by signs.

[1:35] So it's actually signify. So everything that was said in the book of Revelation was presented in signs and tokens and symbols.

[1:46] So everything you see in Revelation is, in fact, another translation put in symbols.

[1:58] Right. So it's more symbolic. It's not actual. Now, the letter was sent to churches that were existing at that time in a region called the Asia Minor, which is modern day Turkey.

[2:19] So modern day Turkey is what in those days they said they used to refer to as Asia Minor. So when the Bible says that in Acts chapter 19, and all Asia had the word, it's included all these areas.

[2:35] So for instance, the church of Titeria, Bible talks about how Paul met, in Acts chapter 16, met a certain woman called Lydia.

[2:48] Called Lydia, who sold purple. Okay. Who, she came from the city of Titeria. And so those, when I come to Titeria, I'll talk a bit more about that.

[3:01] But the letter was written to all these churches. There. But God used seven of the key churches because it is believed by scholars and theologians that these churches were, or these cities were in the apostate region.

[3:19] So you start from Ephesus. That was the starting point. So if a postman is sending letters, it starts from Ephesus and goes to Smyna, and then goes to Pergamos.

[3:31] From there goes to Titeria. From there it goes to Sardis. Then from there, Philadelphia. Then from there, it goes to Laodicea.

[3:43] And then come back to, they are major cities, but connected together. So the letters, does that mean there were no other churches in that region?

[3:55] There were many more churches in those regions. There were many more churches in those regions. But these letters were written to these churches. And it says that those who have, he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said to the churches.

[4:11] So it was written specifically addressing issues in these local churches. But the message was for the whole church, all the churches. And so, but what is interesting, the reason why I even made us read Revelation chapter one, is it says, the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants, things which must shortly take place.

[4:39] And he sent, and signified by his angel, to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

[4:52] Blessed is he who reads, watch this, blessed is he who reads, who reads, and those who hear, the words of what?

[5:04] This prophecy. So even though it was a letter sent, practically, to churches which were existing, and addressing problems within those churches, they were not just letters which were incumbent, but they were letters which were also, which are also prophetic dimensions.

[5:26] So even though it was, so in the Bible, theologians have something called, the law of double reference, or duality. So he's writing a message to you, but it's not just you.

[5:39] The message is to you, but like God told Abraham, or Abraham told Isaac, God would provide for himself a lamb. When he told Isaac, that God would provide for himself a lamb, he wasn't, he was actually, directly talking about, the lamb for the sacrifice, which he was going to embark on.

[5:58] And in his mind, he knew that Isaac was going to be, the sacrificial lamb. But when he said that, that statement was so prophetic, it was actually referring to the lamb of God, who one day will come, as the acceptable sacrifice, the only pleasing sacrifice to God.

[6:14] Because no human being can offer a sacrifice, that can please God enough. So when Abraham said it, that statement referred to the sacrifice, or the sacrifice he was going to offer to God, at Mount Moriah, in Genesis chapter 22.

[6:30] However, it was, it was referring, much more, to the lamb of God, Jesus Christ, the ultimate sacrifice of God. So, in the scriptures, there's so many times, something will be said, that was relating, that related to a group of people, but it had a prophetic dimension, related to more people.

[6:49] Does that make sense? So the letter was written, to these letters, were written to specific churches, which were existing at that time. But it says that, it was prophet, and blessed is the one who reads, and hears, the prophecy of the book.

[7:05] So, the book of Revelation, is a book of prophecy. It's a book, that was dealing with things, that are yet to happen, in science. So now, we come to the book of, the chapter of, the chapter two.

[7:19] And, it starts the letter, to the church of Ephesus, as we have dealt with, to the church, sorry, not to the church, to the angel, chapter two, verse one, to the angel of the church, to the messenger of the church, of Ephesus.

[7:36] Right. And how does it start? I like it. Now, as I told you previously, he, he had a vision, in chapter one. John, chapter one, verse 12, he said, and I tend to see, who that, he was speaking to me, and behold, I saw, seven golden lampstands, and I began to describe, and I saw somebody, walking amongst them, he began to describe, a vision he saw.

[8:04] Now, when Jesus came, to speak to his church, chapter two, Jesus borrows, the imagery, in the vision, he saw, to describe himself. So, this time, it's no more like a vision, but Jesus was saying that, chapter two, verse one, he says, to the angel of the, to the angel of the church, of Ephesus, right, these things say, he who holds the seven, the seven stars, in his right hand, and who walks in the midst, of the seven golden lampstands.

[8:31] Now, why did he know that? He saw it in the vision. So now, when Jesus was coming, to talk to the church, he said, he always presents himself, and borrows the description, from one, one of the, one or two, or from the, the, the vision he had, in chapter one, Jesus now borrows, the imagery, and said, this is what, he doesn't say, this is what Jesus is saying, but he says that, this is he, who, who holds the seven golden, seven, seven stars, and then walks amongst, the seven golden lampstands.

[9:03] And then, so, then he writes to the church, and interestingly, every church he writes to, he describes himself, with a, he gives a particular description. Now, in Ephesus, how did he describe himself?

[9:17] This is the church of Ephesus. How did he describe himself, from the screen? He describes himself, as he who holds, the seven stars, in his right hand, and then, who walks in the midst, of the seven golden lampstands.

[9:30] Then he began, he began addressing them. Verse eight, verse eight, the church of Smyrna, how did he describe himself?

[9:43] He said, I'm the first, and the last, he who was dead, and came to life. How did, how did he describe himself? Let's try it again.

[9:57] How did he describe himself? He who was dead, and came to life. Some of you don't have a desire, for God's word at all. Especially, some ladies, they were just looking at their nails, they're sitting down like, a, Egyptian mommy.

[10:13] We are reading. We will go, we will open your Bible very soon, but let's, let's do that again. How did he describe himself? The first, and the last, who was dead, and came to life.

[10:25] So, then he starts to address them, and I think, I spoke about why, he presented himself, as the first and last, in this case. And now he comes to the church, of Pergamos.

[10:36] Okay, or Pergamum. It's the same. Pergamos. Let's see. Verse 12. Let's go. Let's read together. Let's go. How did he describe himself?

[10:56] How did he describe himself? Can you imagine you receive a phone call, and you are told that, this is Johnny, the one who walks around with a gun in his pocket.

[11:12] And it's, would you want to listen to what he's got to say? Very, very threatening description.

[11:26] He didn't come and say, he who has a big heart, he's writing to a church. He's writing to a church. He who is full of grace. That would have been nice.

[11:38] That's what this generation would like. Oh, Jesus, describe yourself as a man of grace, so I can mess up, and you are full of grace. He won't come and describe himself as a Hail Mary.

[11:52] It's interesting, when he came to the church of Pergamos, he said, this is he, and that's all he said. This is he. He said, to the church of Pergamos, these things say, he who has the two sharp, two-edged sword.

[12:08] And in the Revelation chapter 1 verse 16, the two-edged sword was from his mouth. Two-edged sword in his mouth. Out of his mouth went out two-edged sword.

[12:18] And I think we have to find out what he was doing with the sword that comes out of his mouth. You'll find out. So if I tell you that this is, you know, sometimes you watch movies, and you see somebody has been kidnapped, or hijacked, but he's going quietly, and the kidnapper or the hijacker is behind him.

[12:38] And you don't see anything at the airport. But he alone knows what he's saying, because there's a gun in the closet. He's seen the gun. Sometimes they show you the gun. Come on.

[12:51] Follow me. Let's go. So you behave, because they showed you. When he was coming to talk, he said, you know who I am? He showed them the sword, two-edged sword. He said, now come on.

[13:02] Some of you, I think, you prefer an actual vision when you are going to spend that one night.

[13:14] And for God, because sometimes, why would you go and spend a night with a woman or a man? Plan, you take your church clothes, spend the night, and then wake up, shower, and then he'll drop you at church, and then you'll come and join the host team.

[13:36] You'll need a vision of the world, the two, sharp two-edged sword in his mouth. Yeah. Yeah. Am I not?

[13:48] Am I not? It's been happening, it's hard to say, that, hmm, that the world, the church has become so worldly in our generation, that pastors can be going to preach, or coming to church to preach, and has girlfriends with them in the car, with short, short skirts, and yesterday, I learned about black long boots that come here.

[14:23] I learned, I heard, there's a name for it. Boots, ladies' boots, with high heel, and very high, and comes, is it right? High. What?

[14:35] Thai high boots. Yeah, I hear it's called a name. It has a special name. Some of you know what I mean. It's sad that it's been happening in our times where a pastor has a girlfriend in the church, the wife knows, and other of the some leaders know, that's pastor's girlfriend.

[14:59] Oh, some of you, some of you used to be a girlfriend or something, somewhere, or some of you have heard, I've seen, you have cousins, a cousin who is, and, and it was normal.

[15:12] It's normal. Some go on holidays with their girlfriends. And there's no sense of conviction.

[15:27] Oh, I'm actually saying some serious things. So the church has lost, some aspects of the church has become so wealthy, it has lost its purity. Any church growth in spite of impurity is not church growth.

[15:42] It's church swell. It's not church growth. Because when you read, when you read the New Testament, the book of Acts, there was rapid church growth.

[15:53] And impurity attempted to come in. They killed them instantly. God, judgment of God came instantly and removed the impure elements in the church.

[16:04] And Bible said that many more were added to the church. Genuine godly church growth is a function of purity. Don't tell me we are trying to reach out to unbelievers.

[16:20] The church is supposed to be sinner frightening, not sinner friendly. You can't be sinning anyhow, don't care, and living anyhow, and still feel comfortable in church.

[16:37] There's a problem with such a church. The church is supposed to be, let me say it again, sinner frightening. So when you go and sin, I'll calm down anyway.

[16:49] When you go and sin, and you come to church, you feel that you may be caught. If you are not caught physically, you must be caught to the heart.

[17:03] Then we can tell this, that's church. That's actual church. No, I'm not talking about condemnation. I'm talking about conviction. You can't be walking with the Holy Spirit and sinning without conviction.

[17:16] It's not the Holy Spirit you're walking with. because he's Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit. Actually, holy comes before the Spirit. So if you are walking, you are claiming to walk with the Holy Spirit and there's no purity in your life and normal impurity in your life and it's like no conviction, it's an evil spirit that is operating with you.

[17:42] Start to say, some people prophesy. They need praises. They sing songs and people are like, oh, you're blessing me and you think it's the Holy Spirit.

[17:53] It's not the Holy Spirit when there is sin in your life and you are accommodating sin comfortably. Something is wrong. The Holy Spirit doesn't operate like that.

[18:09] Until we and so bye-bye to sin, our church will become a victim of worldliness. The comforting of worldliness.

[18:22] The church of Pergamos, Pergamos means marriage and a high tower. Marriage to the world. He said, I know where you dwell, where Satan lives, where Satan's throne is.

[18:36] I know your works and where you dwell. I know where you pitch your tent. where Satan's throne is.

[18:46] You have pitched your tent where Satan rule is. He said, I know your works. I like the way the place is quiet.

[18:59] because the attraction to worldliness is becoming too normal in a modern day church.

[19:13] Too normal in a modern day church. People are in churches and sleeping with one another. Yeah. And it's okay. It's okay.

[19:24] Meanwhile, sexual immorality has never been taken lightly by God in any generation. Now, it's very interesting. This letter being written is after Jesus died and went to heaven.

[19:38] It's not before he died. So Old Testament history. When he went to heaven, he addressed, he said, you are saved by grace. But he said, I know your works. I'm concerned about your behavior, your works.

[19:48] He said, I know your works. Read it. He said, I know your works. You are saved by grace, but I care about your works. Because it takes your works to glorify me.

[20:05] You can't say you are married to me and be sleeping with the devil. That's what. I can't wait to teach on the harlot, great harlot in Revelation chapter 17 and the great Babylon.

[20:20] It's that the harlot and it's the church. It's not any, the church is the one described as the great harlot in Revelation chapter. It's not the devil. The church, Revelation chapter 17 said, I saw the great harlot, great Babylon is the church.

[20:35] It's not a nation. The church that has married, has been married to the world and has lost their testimony. Married to God by sleeping with the enemy and his agents.

[20:50] and his agents and this is even not one, different one. Harlot sleeps with more than one. It's wrong to be an adulterer but it's very strange to be a harlot.

[21:05] It's another level. An adulterer is somebody who's gone away from commitment but a harlot is someone who's available for many.

[21:17] PhD. and sir, it's nice to see you, Pastor. The message was written to the church. If it was the world, it's okay.

[21:28] To the church. Yesterday, I was sharing a scripture that let me just throw that in for your information about how Paul in 1 Corinthians 5, verse 8 and verse 9 and verse 10.

[21:46] It says that, Therefore, let us keep the feast, okay, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

[21:59] Look at verse 9. You'll like this. I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Watch this. He's talking to the church. He said, we should keep quiet about it.

[22:10] What Bible is under your Christianity? This is New Testament Christianity.

[22:22] He said, I wrote to the church. I wrote an epistle to... I wrote to you in an epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.

[22:35] Why are we comfortably entertaining them in our midst? We don't have to say anything about it.

[22:48] We know something is wrong. It's okay. Many pastors, all they want is you come to church. It's okay. No, it's not okay. Come to Christ. It's not just come to church. If this is only what we would do, let's treat this and let's be Christians.

[23:11] They say, okay, you're always against sexually immorality, but everybody does it. We are supposed to be a different people. We are supposed to be different.

[23:25] Pastor, we come to church. Look, things are hard. Why are you making people so guilty? I wish I wouldn't talk about that, but I'm not afraid of you. I have to be a servant of God and a messenger.

[23:37] You must know what you get when you come to church. So when you are fornicating, remember you will be coming to church and we'll meet you with the word of God. Look at the text again.

[23:52] Not to keep company with sexually immoral people. What should we do with them? Go to the next verse. Yet I certainly did not mean the sexually immoral people of this world. God, you'll be working with them.

[24:04] They are not your business. How they live their sexuality is not so much your business. You work with them. They drive your bus. They repair your car.

[24:15] They sell at the shop. They do your hair. You can't attack them. The problem is not what is in the world because the world will always be the world.

[24:25] But the problem is when the world comes into the church. He says that, you know, well, this world, or with the covertures, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then, you would need to go out of the world because you always find the poor world like that.

[24:44] Okay? But where is the problem? Look at verse 11. Verse 11. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother.

[24:55] In other words, a fellow Christian. A brother who is sexually immoral, covetous, or an idolater, or a reveler, or a drunkard, or a extortioner, not even to eat with such a person.

[25:11] And you are telling me, your boyfriend comes to church and he likes so much sex, but I like him. He said, don't keep company with such a person.

[25:25] Don't keep company with such a person. What don't you understand by this? You are so desperate to be married that you violate God's purposes and his program for your blessing.

[25:38] And God, you are desperate to get. Then you see, you are not depending on God. And that's why when we are in trouble, we come to God and some of us get upset with God. Why did God kill my mother?

[25:48] Why didn't God save my job? Why did He? We just want to use God. You should be asking God, what do you want me to do? I surrender to you. He said, to the worldly church, tell them, this is the one who has too sharp, sharp, two-edged sword in his mouth.

[26:09] This is what I say. I'm saying, I should go and remove the two-edged sword from his mouth. Am I not just a mailman, delivery man?

[26:23] Why should I keep your letters in my house? I will deliver it. I will deliver it. I will deliver it.

[26:34] And God will add to the church daily, those who are being saved. Those who are being saved. It will be so nice to come to church and that we can have a church in United Kingdom, have a church in London that is a healthy community of the saved.

[26:51] the community of the, we know that you actually saved. You are not a worldly person who is coming to be entertained. We don't come here for entertainment, we come here for edification.

[27:01] Yes. Yes. Yes. That's why we are not, we are not going to just solely focus on our methodology.

[27:14] Okay. How to reach out to our methodology. No, we will focus on our theology. Yes. Praise God. Yes. That's right. Yes. I'm not, I'm not asking for a clap.

[27:26] Mm. But I'm not surprised some of you can't clap. Mm. I came to deliver you. Yeah. Before one day you stand somewhere and say, oh God, oh God, please help me.

[27:41] I shall not know. Now you know. Yeah. Yeah. You either keep him out of your life and continue the way you are going or change your approach and engage him.

[27:53] If you are struggling, believe him to help you and change your direction. Yes. Sometimes we struggle with temptations not because we don't want to overcome it, but we struggle because of our association and our direction.

[28:08] Yeah. Your problem is your friends. Yeah. That's true. You love worldly friends and you expect to stay safe. You expect to be able to deal with temptation.

[28:19] You can't overcome temptation in the company of worldly friends. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You can't. You can't. So you struggle. You know, I really like how I'm genuine, but I don't know why.

[28:33] I don't know. I know why I'm telling your friends and the things you are watching and the things you are hearing. It's building, it's rising, it's raising, building, stirring something in you that you don't want to be generated.

[28:46] Some of you know the reason why you struggled is because of the guy you are working with. You quit smoking, but every time you are standing with the smokers when they are smoking.

[29:01] Meanwhile, smoking was your struggle. How can you survive in your smoking-free journey? No. Some of you need to break some relationships, some romantic relationships.

[29:15] You are too addicted to romance. Break it. You are not born to live for romance. You'll be okay. Tell somebody, this one is really good for you. I hope by now you have realized that I'm not afraid of your face.

[29:42] I have a message from the Lord. I have a prophetic word for somebody. But let's start with the instruction. He says that I know your works. So when he came to the church of Pergamos to address them, he describes himself as the one who has the two sharp-edged, sharp sword.

[30:02] I've got sharp sword as I'm coming to speak to you. Can you imagine? He didn't say, I'm the one with the gown. In Ephesus, he said, I'm the one who holds the seven stars in my hands and I walk among the candlesticks.

[30:13] to the church that one of the churches that didn't have anything negative to be said about them, the church, the suffering church, the church of Semina, the chapter, verse 8, it didn't say anything negative.

[30:29] Rather, he said, I'm he. I'm the first and the last. The one who died and behold, I'm alive forever. I'm the one. Don't worry. I'm with you. He didn't have anything negative. Seven churches, only two of them received positive recommendations without anything negative.

[30:43] The rest, every one of them might have something against you. Every one of them might have a concern about you. So, out of the seven, two, they didn't have anything negative to be said about them.

[30:55] And one of such is the church that was suffering, the church that was hated, the church that was being persecuted, the church that was being harassed by the world. And they maintained their testimony.

[31:11] Read me. It's the nature of success to lose friends. I'll say it again. Some of you haven't realized that. Some of you know what I mean.

[31:28] It's the nature of success. Okay. It comes with success. Losing friends. Being marginalized or being isolated.

[31:39] It usually comes with success. And some of you, you need isolation for you to do better in life. Most of the time, when God wants to really bless you and doesn't want anyone to claim ownership, he allows you to be isolated like Joseph.

[31:57] People will abandon you. Sometimes, it will hurt you when you realize that they've actually had the party already. a new one. You are the one who usually organize. This time, no one.

[32:08] They've had a big party. You only saw a picture of Facebook. You're wondering, ah, when did this happen? And then, out of curiosity, you're going to check who else was there.

[32:19] Hey, this was there? This was there? Then in Italy, you realize that you have been isolated. I don't know if you know what I'm talking about. And so, it's the nature of success to suffer isolation.

[32:33] Because once you decide to go beyond your comfort zone, some people will not be comfortable with you. And some of you, you have to take responsibility for your life and change your direction.

[32:51] God is too wise to tie your future to somebody who will leave you. So, some people will leave you and actually, they must leave you.

[33:02] It's a breakthrough. It's a breakthrough. You will feel it. You will feel the rejection. Rejection is never pleasant. I felt it before.

[33:13] And I feel it every now and then. When we started Pesthia Revival, I felt rejection. And I remember one day I was talking to my friend, Pastor David Oedipo. We're having a chat. I said, I'm surprised.

[33:25] People who I thought were my friends, you can tell. It's not direct, but you can tell people have abandoned you. They are not interested. I was telling you, he smiled and he said, he said, welcome to the club.

[33:40] He said, and it's a long journey. Pastor Warren, I suffered severe rejection from close friends we grew up with. Close friends and even some family.

[33:53] severe rejections. But as I grew up, I realized that, ah, it was for my good. Sometimes the less friends you have, you know, you need some healthy friends.

[34:09] But sometimes the less friends you have, the more time you have. the more time you have to do important things for your life.

[34:21] Some of the parties you can't say you won't go. Because, but you know that when you go, there will be, what's it called? Bashment. Bashment. There will be bashment.

[34:34] Is this whining? Whining and daggering. Daggering. Daggering. Daggering. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Yes, yes, yes. It helps.

[34:51] It helps. You know, you know, you know this meeting is going to happen. And some places when you are going, you know you need to, you better go get a shorter skirt.

[35:04] Not because you are malicious or you have bad, but you will fit in. You have to get a shorter skirt and get, you know, the women wear something that I don't know how they do it. It shows the middle of this whole area, their skin, but it's like you don't see anything.

[35:20] You know, you don't see any strap or anything. I don't know. I don't know. Invisible. They tape it. I've been wondering how they do it. But... Is it a special tape or normal cello tape or brown?

[35:39] It's a special tape. It must be a special tape. Hey! Hey! So, to be honest, some places when you are invited to go, you know the code of ethics.

[35:58] Yes. Yeah. You can't wear a jumper. You know you won't fit in. And actually, people used to look up to you. And now, you are changed. Yeah. So, you should be happy they have stopped inviting you.

[36:14] You should be happy. I'm sorry. You should be happy. Other than that, and you go there by the time you... the night is over, they have slept with you.

[36:25] Or you've slept with somebody. Oh, you know what I'm talking about. By the end of the night, they have... They have sectioned you already.

[36:36] And then Sunday morning, you have to come to church and do hosting. Now it's a problem. Because you know what you're coming to meet. He has a two-hand sword in his mouth.

[36:52] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. There are times when people are young, they have argument at home, and they walk out.

[37:04] And the father will just leave them, and the mother will just leave them. But they don't... Less than two hours. They'll come back. And some of you who have been influenced and encouraged by societal norms to walk out of home, walk out on your parents, and went, I'm going.

[37:24] You went to live with your friends. You couldn't even survive one week. You run back. Mom, can I come back home? No, no, no. And mom said, but I didn't send you. I didn't ask you to go. No, no, no. Because sometimes you have an overestimated opinion, exaggerated opinion of yourself.

[37:40] Yes, yes, yes. You think that life is easy out there. Yes. Don't say you won't come to church because actually, church is benefiting you than it's benefiting us. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

[37:50] It's benefiting you. Yes, yes, yes, yes. Ah, well, okay. I don't want anybody to talk about my business. No one's talking about your business.

[38:01] We are talking about God's business. The church is God's business. It's not my business. Neither is it your business. Okay, I'll go somewhere else. Go there. That's not a church. But if you can't hear God's business, you haven't been to church.

[38:17] That's right. Yeah. That's right. Ah. So he said, this is what he who has the two-edged self says.

[38:28] I know your works. I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. And you hold fast my name and did not deny my faith.

[38:39] You see, my name, my faith, personal. Not your faith. It's my faith, my name. Even the days in which Antipas was my, faithful man.

[38:52] Antipas, theologians believe Antipas was the pastor of that church. Right. Right. The church that had become worldly. And Antipas means against all.

[39:05] So everything the world was doing, he stood against it. So they killed him. They, they, they, they, they, they martyred him very mercilessly. They, they, they, they fry, they roasted him in a big pan.

[39:20] Wow. They put him in a pan and they set fire on him and he was roasting, dying like that. Oh, they were wicked. They roasted him. And he didn't change his confession.

[39:31] And God, God said, my faithful witness. My faithful matter. And so it's just a job. They give their life for their, for their, their faith, convictions.

[39:46] Yeah. You will protect your job and later ask God to keep your health. Why don't you remain faithful with your life?

[40:01] And then he becomes responsible for your life. Not just an aspect of your life. Because it does not work like that. It's either Lord of all or Lord of, Lord of none.

[40:17] Oh, the place is very quiet. It's a message. It's a message. All this kind of, oh, just by the grace of God, by the grace of God, by the grace of God.

[40:33] You are living anyhow. And yet you call yourself a Christian. Christianity is not a tag. No. It's a community of sanctified people.

[40:45] So when, people must walk amongst us and can sense an aura of purity. Yeah. Yeah. Somebody shouldn't walk to church with her husband and become very concerned about her husband's safety.

[41:01] You know what I'm talking about. She can't be concerned about her husband's safety. She can just leave her husband and be busy. Her husband is interacting with people, even giving holy kiss.

[41:14] And they wouldn't even explain. No, because they can't tell it's safe. Some of you came. We invited a boyfriend to church.

[41:27] And you are very concerned because the ladies, you see some ladies eyeing him. And so every now and then you make sure you watch her too and let her know that you are also watching her.

[41:45] You give her the look. And the women understand that. I want to talk. Wow. I want to talk. Isn't it? I want us, let's believe God, you know, that let's pursue God so much that Ephesians chapter 5, I think verse 3, will be our testimony.

[42:06] Amen. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named amongst you as it's fitting.

[42:16] It won't be a problem when people will say it happens here. Do you understand what I'm saying? We have to receive grace, pursue God so much, love God so much, and be determined to work with him so much that certain things is not common to be happening amongst us.

[42:36] Amen. The way it's not common in the United Kingdom for somebody to go to hospital and he's throwing up or he's very unwell and people know what I'm saying.

[42:51] No, some things are not common in the UK. No, you can't, you can't. It's not common for, I mean, it's not common in the UK for a police officer to stop you.

[43:03] And then when he stops you, he brings you a wallet and then you're counting on you. No, it's not common. You understand that? It's not common. But the people in the UK, are they not human beings like the ones in Nigeria?

[43:18] Are they not human beings like the ones in Ghana? Actually, in Ghana, I don't know if it's changed now, but a police officer can stop you and can, where's your license?

[43:31] Everything's okay. He says, yes. He says, but we know we have to eat. Bring something. And so you can be driving recklessly and a police officer stops.

[43:42] He said, let me see your license. And before you give the license, you package some money, slot in the license, give it to him. He opens, he takes it out. He says, you can go. But it's not because they are stupid.

[43:57] It's human nature. Human nature. But all human beings are the same. But there are some of you here who were born and bred in some of these nations I'm talking about.

[44:10] But you have come here, you won't do that. Because it cannot be named in UK that a police officer has stopped a car and is collecting bribe on the road. It cannot be named.

[44:22] It's not common. If you hear something, it's big headline news. Because, ah, ah. They may even call on the police commissioner to resign. Why?

[44:33] Because it's not common. That's how church should be. Something should not be common. Something should not be common.

[44:48] Sexual immorality should not be common. Sad to say it was common in the church of Pergamos. So we can have it commonized amongst us. Yeah. Depending on which doctrine we are hearing.

[45:02] Yeah. Either the teachings of Balaam or the teachings of the Nicolaitans. Oh. And I'll show you in Titaria, it became even higher. The teachings of Jezebel.

[45:14] Wow. Jezebel now herself became the teacher. And seducing God's servants to commit fornication and adultery.

[45:25] Oh. Verse 20 is there. Oh, when we go there next week or something. You will like it. Revelations 2.20. He said, Jezebel herself, he says that, Nevertheless, I have a few things against you because you allow that woman, Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess to teach and seduce myself.

[45:42] He was teaching the people to commit sexual immorality and eating sacrifice to idols. So now the teachings of Balaam have moved to the teachings of Jezebel.

[45:57] And not just that. Now it's moved in 24. It moved to the deep things of Satan. Deep things. Deep. Deep. In church. Practicing the deep things of Satan.

[46:08] Deep. Deep. Yeah. Deep things. The depths. And you know the depths of Satan. When you read something, they say that the deep things of Satan are there.

[46:19] And I put, and I will put on you no other bedding. So, the deep. It is a replica of, Bible says that Holy Spirit teaches us the deep things of God.

[46:32] Satan said, I also have deep things. Suddenly, church have begun to pursue the deep things of Satan. And it's not like something that you see evil cutting people's neck.

[46:42] No. But some practices have come to the church comfortably and it's normal. That's where it starts from. That's where it starts from.

[46:54] So, did you hear what I said? God does not endorse sexual immorality. What is sexual immorality? Sexual immorality. All kinds of sexual activity outside of the marriage between a male and a female.

[47:10] That's a sacred card I've touched. Even things I haven't said. You will hear it. Because now, even in church, you are not allowed to speak and say, this is what the word of God is saying.

[47:29] And most of us here, some of us here, are so worldly that we buy into that philosophy. That you can't live your life by the Bible. What are you doing in church then?

[47:39] Leave the church. Is it too strong?

[47:55] I love it. One of these days, I have to teach how to identify a true church. Marks of a true church.

[48:07] It's not screams. It's not ashes. It's not music. It's not the hosting. It's not the sound system. It's not the suit of the pastor. It's not the theological exposition of the pastor.

[48:22] Those are not the defining marks of a true church. Can I tell you what the defining marks are? One of it is the worship of Jesus.

[48:36] Jesus is held at a high esteem. It's like we have to do everything informal. There is some sense of awe, reverence, and solemnity around genuine worship.

[49:06] That you don't handle, when it's worship, there should be some sense of solemnity. What's the other word I was trying to say?

[49:18] All, there must be awe, solemnity, and reverence. Worship has a sense, it shouldn't be frivolous. Because it's a worship.

[49:32] Together we honor. And one of the major signs of a true church is the place of the word of God. If it's not built around the word of God, the truth of God's word, please watch it.

[49:50] To the extent, to the extent, to the extent, pastor, to the extent that Jesus, who is the owner of the church, when it comes to the church of Laodicea.

[50:00] In fact, now they kick him out of the church. So Jesus was standing at the door and knocking. Revelation 3.20. We use that to win souls. No, it's not for unbelievers.

[50:12] It was for the church. He was knocking at the door. He said, behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door. Jesus speaking. I will come in.

[50:24] He's standing outside of the church. They kick him out of the church. And if we don't stay true and elevate the word of God, true doctrine, and true biblical, Christocentric theology and doctrine, we will kick Christ out of the church.

[50:42] Because we are looking for members. And we have to create an atmosphere that is so cozy for sinners. So sinners can come and say, oh, that's what this church, I like the church.

[50:55] The music is nice. Oh, there's all that. There are lights. So it makes them feel like they are in a theater. And there's no way to tell the sinner you have to repent from your sins.

[51:12] Turn from your sins and come to Christ. No way. And we are, wait, wait, wait. And there is more interest in your attendance and your offering. God forbid. You're tight and you're offering.

[51:26] So we spend a lot more time talking about offering. And people feel very valuable based on their pockets. That can't be the true church. Your pocket shouldn't give you your value in church.

[51:39] No. Your value in church should not be determined by the depth of your pocket or the state of your account. It is not a true church. You have money.

[51:50] We don't care. Today I came to really, I wanted to bless the church. Keep the money. We didn't know you were coming.

[52:02] Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I get you what I'm saying. Yes. Allow us to be true to the one who called us. We can't keep you in and keep him out.

[52:13] Not at all. Wow. Wow. You know, I told you this kind of church. That's why I don't like going to this kind of church. Those persons are very arrogant. And they just talk. And, you know, they're always talking about sin, sin, sin, sin, sin, sin, sin, sin.

[52:27] We should be talking about girls, girls, girls, girls, girls, girls, sex, sex, sex, sex, sex. That's what you like. You should come and stand here and say, oh, I see God bless you. And you scream, amen.

[52:37] And then you go and sleep with your girlfriend. And you are living an unholy life. That doesn't honor God. We should endorse it by praying miracles and testimonies for you, prosperity for you.

[52:50] That is not the gospel. The gospel starts from repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Hey!

[53:06] Hey! I know some of you want me to talk about, what was that, what was the name of that song again? Bashment. Bashment. That's what you want.

[53:33] Can I say something? Watch this. Some of us are Christians. And you enjoy the party atmosphere more than the church atmosphere. It throws your Christianity to your question. You enjoy party atmosphere.

[53:47] When you come to church, then you are sleeping. And then you sit in church with a watch. But you go to party without a watch.

[53:58] Oh! The more you love the Lord, the less you love the world.

[54:10] Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Thank you. Thank you. This is, some of you have been realized, those of us who are real Christians, this is our natural habitat.

[54:27] Yes! We just feel like fish in water. We feel, we feel red. This is our natural. And when the word of God is coming in purity, we just, we just, sometimes you need someone to preach you out of your sins.

[54:38] Yes! Yes! How many of you have been in a state where a word comes and you are happy, at least this word is provoking something in you before?

[54:49] Yeah, it's a sign of genuine Christian life. That's right, man. Christian heart. That's right. Yeah. That's right. Hey! All right, let's go back to the text.

[55:02] Am I still a friend? I almost said I really don't care, but it's nice. It's nice. I told you I'm a dead man walking. I died some time ago.

[55:14] I gave up everything. And I realized that I don't deserve anything. I died. And I said, God, now all I'll do and die, I don't care what I lose anymore.

[55:32] It helped me to stay pure. You can be preaching, but the girls can get you. I said, God, now all I'll do is send in the girls.

[55:48] Make sure you send some with big, big, big, big bumps. What's it called? No, no. Sorry.

[55:59] Back off. Back off. Send the girls with strong backoffs. Hey! Hey! Hey, Jesus. This place that was young men, they will see.

[56:11] Send in some girls with strong backoffs and... What's it called? The one on the side. The side... Side boobs.

[56:23] So let them cover just as... And leave the shining side. That place can shine. Man! Send in.

[56:37] Send them in. Let them sit down. Let them cross their legs. And let them show the side. Yeah. And let him continue preaching.

[56:47] We'll see what will happen to him. Jesus said... In John chapter 14. The God of this world comes and he has nothing in me. That's why I stay far away.

[57:02] I run away from anything that will stay up desire for pornography or new detail. I run away from it because human beings like it. We all like it. As a man, it will appeal to you.

[57:13] I run away. I die daily. God. I see I run away. I run away because if I entertain it, I'll begin to entertain. The temptations. And yet be preaching.

[57:31] Tell somebody, flee for your precious life. Flee. Flee. Flee. When it comes to youthful temptations and lust, don't manage it.

[57:49] Flee. Flee. Don't go back to that room and say, this time, no, you can't manage it. Flee. Flee. Flee. You don't have what it takes to manage it. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I don't have what it takes to manage it.

[58:01] Yes. Nobody. It doesn't matter how much tongues you speak. You don't have what it takes to manage it. The only way to manage it is to flee. Run. Run. Second Timothy chapter 2 verse 22.

[58:13] It says, flee. Flee also youthful life. Run for your life. And pursue, whilst you are fleeing, pursue righteousness. Pursue faith. Pursue love.

[58:23] Pursue peace. With those who call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart. You can tell. This lady is genuine. Some of you don't like people who are Christians and are genuine. Because they don't look push enough.

[58:35] You like the worldly ones. Worldly ones. So your friends are very worldly people. And you say, oh, as for some of the church people, I don't really get on with them. It's because you have not really converted properly. When you are genuinely converted, your heart is drawn to the people who love Jesus.

[58:52] Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Wow. But I'm preaching on.

[59:03] You're preaching on. I'm telling you. You're preaching. I'm telling you. I'm preaching. All your friends are practical, top, top rated unbelievers. And they are your key allies.

[59:19] You hang around with them. You go to movies with them. You go to everywhere with them. The only thing is Sunday you'll get up and come to church. That's why you are so tired. Because they get to rest a bit more. And you are coming to look for a job.

[59:36] Not even Christ. All right. Let's get back to that. Is someone receiving something at all? You know I love you. I love you.

[59:47] I love you. What verse did I get to? All right. Let's leave the verse. Okay. Let's just read through verse 14. But Antipas was killed.

[59:57] And then verse 14 says that. But I have a few things against you because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam. Who taught Balaam to put stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality.

[60:14] Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of Nicolaitans. Which things I hate. Then verse 16. Repent. Somebody say repent. Repent.

[60:25] You see that? Because God will not throw his church away. God will not give up on his church. No. Because amongst them there are they.

[60:41] Amongst them there are us. Or amongst us there are them. So God is talking to certain individuals who know they belong to him. Out of the many who have become married to the world.

[60:55] So he was talking to the general church. But he began to address some. He says that repent or else. Watch this. If you don't repent.

[61:06] I will come to you quickly. And what am I coming to do? Now the coming to you is not referring to the second coming of Christ. Okay. It's not the second coming of Christ.

[61:18] The coming to you is talking about the church. God is going to come and cleanse. The Bible says I think in either James 4.17 or 1 Peter 4.17.

[61:30] Where it says that judgment will begin in the house of God. For time. James 1 Peter 4.17. For the time has come. Let's all read it aloud.

[61:41] Are you ready to read it? Yes. Oh. If you are not very accepted with God's word. Then let's read the word of God. Okay. Is that okay? Yes. All right. Let's read it out. Let's go. For the time has come. Judgment will begin in the house of God.

[61:53] Where will it begin? At the house of God. Where is the house of God? Church. So the time has come. Tell somebody the time has come. The time has come. You know when you are in a plane and it's about to land.

[62:03] They tell you that fasten your seatbelts or take off. Why? Because the time. When we finish taking off. You can release your seatbelt and walk to the toilet. But when the plane is taking off or landing.

[62:16] You are supposed to be seated and fasten your seatbelts. Now it says that the time has come. That means there's about to. There's a change. It's about to okay. Change of the. Changing of the guards.

[62:27] It's about to okay. So you have to fasten your seatbelt. Change your approach. The time has come. The time has come. He said for. The time has come for judgment to begin.

[62:39] Where is it going to begin? In the house of God. So I'm preaching as a prophet. Witnessing to somebody that the time has come.

[62:49] Judgment is coming. And he said. I will come to you. And. And I said. If it starts with God's house. Then people outside. He said. So don't go out. Because it's worse out.

[63:00] Than in. Worse out than in. Now. So Revelation chapter 2 verse. Verse 16. He said. Repent. Or else. I will come quickly. I won't delay at all. I will come quickly. And I will fight against them.

[63:13] You see the them. I will fight against them. With the sword of my mouth. So the sword of the mouth. Is not for fun. Is not for fashion. Is for fighting.

[63:24] Revelation chapter 19. Verse 12. He said. Verse 15. I'm sorry. 19 verse 15. I saw. He says that. And out of his mouth. Goes. A sharp sword.

[63:35] That with it. He should strike the nations. We have to know this. Our Lord. We are seven. We have to know him.

[63:48] Because. He says that. The time has come. He's coming to judge. And they said. When it was time to come. When. This revelation. Which is. The Bible says that. Salt.

[64:00] Sharp sword. Went out of his mouth. And we saw. Revelation chapter 1. That we saw this Monday. To. Sharp to a sword in his mouth. Out of mouth. Proceeded. The Bible said. That he came.

[64:10] Out of his mouth. He came out of his mouth. And went. Went to a sword. And. Sorry. No, no, no. Sorry. I mean. Revelation 19. Back to 19. 19.

[64:20] 1915. Now. Out of his mouth. Goes. A sharp sword. That with it. He should strike the nations. So when he says to the church.

[64:31] I'm coming. Church. I'm coming. I'm coming to you. With the sharp. Two-edged sword of my mouth. And he said. If you don't repent. It's conditional. If you don't repent.

[64:41] He said. I am coming to you. And I can't imagine. So. Say. The church. Early church. They had a serious problem. Do you know the problem. In the church of Smyna. What was the problem.

[64:52] They were going through. Suffering. And persecution. There was so much. Now. I'm telling you. Oh my God. In Pergamum. Pergamum. Pergamum was a very important city. And it had idolatry.

[65:03] All around. All kinds of temples. And. And there was a temple dedicated to Caesar. And every time in a year. You have to go. Everybody has to go. And has to go and sacrifice. Or.

[65:15] You go. Take a sacrifice. And then you say. Caesar is Lord. And the Christians said. So you can't do that. And one. One interesting thing about Pergamum. Is that. It was a very serious commercial hub.

[65:27] And so. You have to. When you are part of the. Associations. There are. See. It's not. Nowadays we say. Separate religion from. Public life. No. In those days. It was the same.

[65:37] Okay. So in their public life. When they go to association meetings. And federation meetings. It was sacrifices. And. Sexual orgies. And a Christian. Now. If you don't go.

[65:47] You are losing your job then. I'll talk about more. I'll talk about it more. When it comes to Tachira. But it was. That's the atmosphere there. And so. If you wanted to be a Christian.

[65:59] You risk losing your life. Losing your job. Losing your peace. A lot. A lot. A lot is working against you. They hated the Christian community. In those days.

[66:09] So the pressure. And the battle. Was from the world. But when the church. Became. Worldly. God said. The pressure from the world. Is not.

[66:20] Is not the problem. The pressure. And the battle. Is going to come from me. Myself. He said. Now. It's not the world. I'll be fighting you. I will fight you. Didn't you see that?

[66:31] Verse 16. He said. Repent. Or else. I will come. To you. He said. Repent. Or else. I'll come. To you. Quickly. And I'll fight. Against them. With the sword. Of my mouth.

[66:41] I'm going to do the fighting. How. Will God. Fight. Against people. In church. Are you getting.

[66:52] The picture. It's a very serious thing. Yeah. Jesus. That is coming. To the church. To fight against the church. Against them. That them. Who have become. So worldly.

[67:02] And they don't want to repent. It's a warning. It's a warning. But it was beautiful. Then he said. Amongst the them. There are those.

[67:14] Who will hear. And overcome. Verse 17. He was an ear. Let him hear. What the spirit says. To the churches. See.

[67:25] The spirit is not saying. To just this church. What is being sent. Is for all the churches. By using this church. As the recipient. Of the letter. For it to be. Disterminated around.

[67:36] So he said. That he who has an ear. Let him hear. What the spirit says. To the churches. To him who overcomes. Somebody will overcome. Yeah. And God wants us.

[67:47] To overcome. I pray that. May you receive strength. To overcome. Amen. Yeah. Don't walk out of here. And go and struggle again. Amen. I pray that you receive strength.

[67:58] To overcome. Amen. Amen. How many of us. Have overcome sin before? How does it feel? Fulfilling. You feel so close to God.

[68:10] But when sin overcomes you. Oh boy. Oh boy. That's when you come to church. And you look like a stranger. You are sitting in a chair. But you are. It's like. And then when the pastor.

[68:21] Like me. Some pastors. They don't walk. They stay up. It's very good. Unfortunately me. I walk. And I have my Bible. My nose are there. But I'm fine. And I'll be walking.

[68:33] Amongst you. You see. That Bible. Because Jesus. Says that. Bible says Jesus. He walks. Amongst the. He's walking in the church. He says. That's just a joke. Okay. But. So.

[68:43] So. If you have a pastor. Who walks. Works. And is coming here. You are saying. Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God. Like the way I come. And touch her. Oh my God. Only God knows. Why.

[68:55] She wouldn't want me to touch her. Only God knows. What has happened in the past week. And then later on. She'll conclude. This man of God. Is very sensitive.

[69:06] How did you. Where you went and stood. How did you know. But. When you get overcome.

[69:18] By temptation. It feels so. Uncomfortable. Especially the sexual ones. I don't know if you know.

[69:28] What I'm talking about. Some of you. I know you. Especially those at the back. They don't know at all. They don't have a clue. They don't have a clue. When you are overcome. By sexual temptation.

[69:39] It's not easy. After a hot masturbation. Forgy. Oh today.

[69:52] I feel like sitting there. I just. I just. It's not nice. Especially if you are a genuine Christian. And you are in church.

[70:05] And you come to church. That's why sometimes. People. Don't come. Early. Oh. A lot of it. Sin is part of it. Please.

[70:17] Those who came late. Let them know. I'm speaking the truth. I see God blessing you.

[70:30] I see God strengthening you. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. To overcome. Amen. Because the truth is. You actually belong to Jesus. Amen. You actually belong to Jesus.

[70:41] And you haven't. You haven't learned how to work with God. And to keep overcoming. So Satan is managing to convince you that you are a hypocrite. Satan is managing to convince you that you are useless.

[70:52] Satan is managing. He's an accuser. Ah. I announce to you that. God loves you. Amen. And he wants to help you to work with him.

[71:04] Let me finish this. There's something in verse 17. Are you learning something? Yes. He who has an ear. Let him hear what the spirit says to the churches.

[71:15] To him who overcomes. I will give some of the A. To eat. You have to overcome. I found out the other time when I was studying my Bible.

[71:29] I found out that God actually rewards. He will never let you go the same when you obey him.

[71:40] He will do something. Yeah. God rewards. So it's worth the price. Because the reward is always above the cost.

[71:52] With God. The reward is always above the price. Or the cost. For that reward. The reward is always above it. Because he adds his goodness to it.

[72:04] Amen. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Lord. Amen. He who has an ear.

[72:14] Let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes. I will give some of the hidden manna to it. And I will give him a white stone.

[72:26] And on the stone. A new name written. Which no one knows. Except him who receives it. What a name.

[72:38] So he says. First of all. He who has an ear. I spoke about. Extensively about. He who has an ear. Let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. And now he says that. In this worldly church.

[72:49] There are people in it. Who will overcome. Based on. First of all. Take. Paying heed. To what God is saying. So your overcoming. Starts with hearing.

[73:02] That's why. Without. A preacher. To tell you. What God wants to hear. You are doomed. Yeah. Because. Yeah. Yeah. Because. Because. Your testimony. So long as God is concerned.

[73:13] Starts. From. Your hearing. Even salvation. It says that. How can they call on him. whom they have not heard. Romans chapter 10.

[73:24] Verse 14. How can they call. On him. Of whom they have not heard. Okay. It says. How can. Shall they call on him. In whom.

[73:34] In whom they have not believed. And how. Can they believe. In whom. Of whom they have not heard. So your believing. Is a function of your hearing. And your salvation.

[73:45] Is a function of your believing. So you got to hear. So you believe. And be saved. But you can't hear. If there's no one to say. And someone.

[73:57] Need to say. For you. To hear. So you will believe. And be saved. So he says. He who has an ear. Let him hear.

[74:08] What the spirit says. Is not the pastor. Saying. Is the spirit saying. Is the spirit. Speaking to you. And some of us.

[74:20] When God is speaking to us. We use. Human ideology. And human reasoning. To block the voice of God. But it's the spirit. Who is speaking to you. The spirit of God.

[74:31] Knows you more. And he knows. The plans. God has for you. He does not want you. To miss out. On the plan of God. Because later on. You'll be saying. God. I thought you loved me. If you loved me. No. That's why.

[74:41] He's coming ahead. Of your problems. He's coming ahead. Of the sorrow. He's coming. Anybody. Anybody who works with God. And ends up in sorrow. Will always remember.

[74:51] God spoke ahead. Before you go to where you are. That's true. So he says that. He who has an ear. Let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. All right.

[75:02] Let him hear. What the spirit says to the churches. To him who overcome. I'll give some of the hidden manna to eat. What is this hidden manna? What is manna?

[75:15] When. Okay. Let me go on to talk about. Food. Say food. Food. Food. Food. You are overcoming to eat. You haven't thought about it.

[75:26] Overcoming to eat. Overcoming wellliness. To eat. Something specially packaged. In. In. In numbers. Chapter 11. Verse 5 to 9.

[75:37] It talks about how. God told them. God told them. That the manna will fall. Gather some of the manna. And put it aside. And cook and eat. And they were eating the manna.

[75:47] Eating the manna. But in Exodus chapter 16. Actually from verse 1. It talks about the manna. But when you get to verse 32. Let's look at that from the. For our Bibles. Exodus chapter 16.

[75:58] Verse. 32. Thank you Jesus. Thank you. Father we love you.

[76:10] Then Moses said. Verse 32. Then Moses said. This is the thing which. The Lord has commanded. Then Moses said. This is the thing which. The Lord has commanded. Fill an armor with it.

[76:23] To be kept for. Your generations. That they may see. The bread which. The bread with which. I fed you. In the wilderness.

[76:34] When I brought you. Out of the land of Egypt. And Moses. Said to Aaron. Take a pot. And put an armor. Of manna in it. And lay it up. Before the Lord.

[76:45] To be kept. For your generations. As the Lord. The Lord commanded Moses. So Aaron laid it up. Before the testimony. To be kept.

[76:56] So. God told them. That I have provided. Manna for you. They were hungry. In the wilderness. Watch this. This is very important. Let me start from Genesis. God created man.

[77:09] And. God created man. And. The first commandment. He gave man. Genesis chapter 2 verse 16. Is that. You shall eat. So.

[77:20] As I taught you. God created us. And gave us. A commandment to eat. Why is eating important? Look at Revelation. Eating and feeding. Has showed up again.

[77:31] Again. There is something. About feeding. Humanity. Feeding. And God. God has always. Wanted. His people. To feed.

[77:42] Oh. God. Created us. To feed. What you are feeding on. Will determine. The outcome. Of your life. I'm not talking about. Just physical.

[77:53] Physical diet. God. And so. God created us. To eat. And then. We went. And ate. The wrong food. And we. Broke. Relationship.

[78:03] Fellowship. With God. And then. God. Called Abraham. And God. Formed. The people. Of Israel. And they. Ended up. In Egypt. And they. Were fully. Formed.

[78:14] In Egypt. And he. Called them. He said. That I'm not. Watch this. I'm going to. Bring you. Out of Egypt. But I can't. Bring you. Out. I can't. Redeem you. Without blood.

[78:25] Oh. God. I cannot. There cannot be. Redemption. Without blood. Bible says that. Without shedding of blood. There's no remission. Of sin. Hebrews 9.

[78:36] 22. Without shedding of blood. Blood must flow. For life to be saved. Blood must flow. For life to be saved. Blood must flow. For life to be saved.

[78:48] And so. When it was about. God was about. To redeem them. From Egypt. He told them. Everybody. Egypt. I said Egypt. Exodus chapter 12. From verse 1.

[78:58] He told Moses. Tell them. Everyone get a lamb. For yourself. Every family get a lamb. What are we going to do with the lamb? Get a lamb. And then keep the lamb. On the 14th day of the month.

[79:10] Bring out the lamb. Keep the lamb. Examine the lamb. Make sure it has not got false. And sickly. It's not sickly. Keep the lamb for three days. And on that third day. Slaughter the lamb.

[79:21] And what should we do with the slaughter lamb? He said. Take the blood. Take the blood of the lamb. And the houses in which you are living.

[79:31] Mark the house with the blood. Don't eat the blood. The blood is not for eating. The blood is for redemption. That is why amongst Jews.

[79:42] Blood must flow before the animal is qualified to be eaten. You don't stunt the animals or choke them. You have to cut and let the blood flow. Because we are not supposed to be eating blood.

[79:54] Blood is for God. For redemption. For paying the price of sin. So that has been the tradition. And so he told them that. Kill the animal.

[80:05] In Exodus chapter 12. Kill the lamb. Say the lamb. Say the lamb. Kill the lamb. And shall take some of the blood. And put it on the two doorposts.

[80:16] And on the lentil of the houses. Where they eat it. So he said. And then eat the flesh. Why do I need to eat the flesh?

[80:29] What we need is the blood. But why the flesh? Because God has always wanted his people to eat. But not any ordinary meal. We have to eat a particular meal.

[80:40] They are eating of the meal. They are eating of the flesh. Was typifying the communion we eat in church. For our redemption.

[80:51] Now watch this. He said eat. So they had to. Watch this. I need you to slaughter the lamb. Use the blood. And feed. Eat the flesh in the house.

[81:02] Now when they came out of Egypt. They went into the wilderness. And he said. I'm going to provide food for you again. And he provided them manna. And the manna. He said. Everybody you are free to eat the manna.

[81:12] Make sure you don't keep it overnight. So they were eating the manna. Eating the manna. But he said. Excuse me. Part of the manna. Moses tell Aaron to collect part of some of the manna.

[81:24] Put it in a pot. And store it away. God has always wanted us to eat. So when Jesus showed up. In the book of John.

[81:34] He told them that. You see. They started by telling Jesus that. Our fathers. John chapter 6 verse 31. Our fathers gave us manna to eat. Our fathers. Sorry. Our fathers ate manna in the desert.

[81:46] As it is written. He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said. Verse 32. Then Jesus said to them. Most assuredly I say to you. Moses did not give them the bread from heaven.

[81:58] But my father gives you. The true bread from heaven. He said. It is not them. They didn't. What they ate is just ordinary manna. But now God is giving you. Listening to me. He is giving you the true manna from heaven.

[82:11] Look at the next verse. Verse 33. For the bread of God is he. Who comes down from heaven. And gives his life. So he is saying that. You are supposed to be eating me.

[82:21] I came so you can eat me. Think about it. God is interested in our feeding. So that's why he said. Those who overcome. I will give them to eat.

[82:34] So God. Jesus. Look at verse 57 of John 6. 57. Jesus said that. As the living father sent me. And I live because of the father.

[82:45] So. He who feeds. Did you see that? Yes. Let's read the last bit from the soul. Let's read it out. Let's go. So. So. He who feeds on me. Will live because of me.

[82:56] What are we supposed to do with Jesus? Feed. Feed on him. He said. I came as bread for you to feed on me. And when you feed on me. You will live. The reason why your Christian life is dying.

[83:07] Struggling is because you are not feeding. You are not feeding. You are only receiving prayers. Ah. Jesus. Feed. Yes. Yes. Pastors are not like.

[83:20] Soothsayers. Pastors job is fundamentally. Not the one you consult for prayers. Even though. It's okay.

[83:30] They can do that. Pray for you. It's fundamentally the one. It's the one you should go and seek the word of the Lord from their mouth. The quality of a pastor in the sight of God.

[83:42] Has everything to do with the word in his mouth. So instead of being a pastor and boasting about your fasting. Boast about your studies.

[83:55] Wow. Did you get one? Yes. You better look for a pastor.

[84:05] Who is sound in the word of God. And gives himself wholly to prayer and scripture. Than someone who is a guru in fasting. If a pastor is not supposed to fast.

[84:20] You know. You know. You know. I live a fasted life. I fast more than many of the fake pastors in town. I'm telling you.

[84:33] I fast regularly. So I'm not dismissing fasting. But as I walk with God. I realize that he didn't call me to fast.

[84:47] He called me to feed. Because he wants his people to feed. That's the pastor's job. So. What is the usefulness of a pastor who does not study?

[85:01] Some people will tell you. It's not all of us have been called to teach. So what are you doing behind the prophets? Oh. You don't know that? In 1 Timothy chapter 3.

[85:13] Verse 1. It said. Anyone who desires the office of a bishop. That says. A pastor. Desires a good job. And then it says. Then began verse 2. Talk about the qualification. What. If you are going to be a pastor or a bishop.

[85:23] This is what we must see in your life. It said. A bishop then must be blameless. A husband of one wife. Temperate. Super minded. Of good behavior. Hospitable. Able to teach. That's the only skill.

[85:36] In the list he gave. That's. Ability to teach is the only skill. All the rest is behavior. So if you are supposed to be a church leader. You must be able to teach.

[85:47] Else you are disqualified. And you can't teach if you don't study. That's why it says. Study to show yourself approved. Unto God. A work man. That needs not to be ashamed.

[85:58] Rightly dividing the word of truth. You have to study. Second Timothy chapter 2 verse 15. You have to study. In first Timothy chapter 5 verse 17.

[86:10] It says. Let the elders. That's the church leaders. Be counted worthy of double honor. Especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. Not those who fast.

[86:23] Not those who cast out devils. Because casting out of a devil is a basic. Basic requirement for every believer. He says that these signs will follow those who believe. So. Casting devils is a sign that follows believer.

[86:37] That's it. Mark 16. 17. And these signs shall follow who? Pastors. Pastors. Prophets. Evangelists. Bishops.

[86:49] No. Believers. Are you a believer? This is a sign. Those who believe. In my name. They will cast out. The first one. If you are a believer. You should be able to cast out devils.

[86:59] Sometimes you have to be able to walk to the family home. And they said. There's a problem in the house. Somebody can't sleep. And they are shaking. Doctor said. They don't know. He said. I command that fast. Leave him. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[87:09] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[87:20] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[87:32] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[87:42] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. problem somewhere. Oh, my cousin's house is haunted. So I'm going, why do you know the cousin? What has that got to do with your life? You become like the sons of Skiva.

[87:55] See, Proverbs, he who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ear. Don't go and get yourself because you are a superman.

[88:07] I pray for people to get healed. I'm going to hospital. Send me to any hospital. I want to pray for all the sick people. God does not work like that. I should have been in the hospital by now and then praying for sick people instead of preaching.

[88:22] But when your child is sick and you can tell, sometimes at night, the problem comes only at night and she's shaking, you're giving the medication, nothing is happening. Doctors have seen nothing is happening. Oh, come on, curse the devil. Lay hands.

[88:34] Don't call a pastor. Lay hands. Are you not a believer? Lay hands. Say, I command this harassment to cease now. This demon of sickness, demon of harassment, sleeplessness.

[88:47] I command you to go. If you're at work and your work colleague tells you that I'm struggling to sleep. I don't know, for three weeks, for five weeks, for months, I haven't slept.

[89:01] You're a believer. Ask him, can I pray with you? And then when you pray and she still can't sleep, you didn't start the problem. You're just trying to help.

[89:14] Hold their hands. Say, let me pray with you. If it's your boss, it's better. Yeah, if it's your boss, it's better. And pray. Say, close your eyes. Tell them, close your eyes. Instruct them, close your eyes and I'll pray for you.

[89:28] Why are you looking at me? Close your eyes. And then pray. And when you are praying, pray with authority. I command this sleeplessness to go. In the name of Jesus. The next day said, what did you do to me?

[89:42] I slept like a baby. When promotions come, I think you should. So, casting out of devils is a basic, basic believer's human right.

[90:00] Basic believer's human right. You see in the Bible, if you're a believer, this is basic. Mark 16, 17, those who believe that they shall cast out devils. So, it's easy.

[90:13] Just cast out devils. You didn't bring them. But cast them, you have authority. Jesus said, I've given you power over all the works of the enemy. And look, in Luke chapter 10, verse 19 also.

[90:23] He said, behold, I saw, behold Satan fall like lightning. He said, behold, I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Verse 19. Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy.

[90:40] And nothing shall by enemies hurt you. Tell someone, fear not. When you see a demonic situation, cast out the devil. How many of you attempt casting devils this week?

[90:54] But no, it doesn't go hand in hand. Sexual immorality and casting out devils, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Maybe you should start from your computer. Cast out that devil of pornography.

[91:08] Isn't that a good idea? Start the casting out of devils from your own room and remove the sex toys from under your pillow.

[91:20] Throw them away. Nice, pretty lady. Christian lady. You have different type of sex toys under your pillow.

[91:32] Bullets, rabbits, the ones with two, I think a fucking knife. Vibrate them. Christian sister.

[91:51] Why? Christian brother. You have watched porn and porn, watch porn and watch porn and watch all kinds of hot movies. Your sky. When you turn on the sky, you know YouTube.

[92:03] When you log on, the favorites comes. YouTube, your sky or satellite television, when you turn it on, it's hot babies. And you can't do that and say, I'm going to cast out devils.

[92:19] In fact, Satan will be very happy you attempted. Because Satan does not take instructions from rebels. Bible says, submit yourself to God, resist the devil and you flee.

[92:32] You haven't submitted, you are going to resist. You will end up fleeing. Well, let me run this, let me just, are you learning something at all?

[92:43] Oh, is that the time? Oh. Oh. Alright, let me just, so, how come I, I finish so quickly?

[92:58] Alright, alright. Am I allowed to, just let me run that quickly. Can I run it up? Please, pardon me. So, now, he said, if those, the one who overcomes, but what I want to draw attention to is, when you give them the manner to eat, he reserved some, specially, and he said, keep that one in the ark of the covenant.

[93:23] That manner, keep it in the ark of the covenant. What for? What? I've always been wondering, but what for? Then I go to Revelation chapter 2, verse 17, and I realized that it was kept and reserved for the world overcoming believers.

[93:38] Oh. Oh. Oh. World overcoming believers. He said, to him who overcomes, to him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna to eat.

[93:51] And not only the hidden manna. He says that, and I will give him a white stone. Oh, man. Ah. We were created as clay, regenerated as stones, transformed as precious stones.

[94:06] Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. According to Romans chapter 9, verse 19, 20, and 21, it talks about, you said to me then, why does, why does he still find fault?

[94:23] For who has resisted his will? Verse 20, but indeed, oh man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thin form say to him that form it, why have you made me thus?

[94:35] Look at 21. Ah. Ah. Does not the porter have power over the clay? Ah. Oh, okay. So he formed us like the way clay is formed. That's why the Bible said he picked the dust of the earth. So we were formed as, created as clay.

[94:48] But when Jesus saw Peter in John chapter 1, verse 52, he said that you are Simon, but from today you'll be called Cephas because you are a stone. So we are, we were created as clay.

[95:01] When you, watch this. Can I teach you something? Anytime you read the Bible and you see stones, what does, the significance of stones, stone appeared first in the Bible in Genesis chapter 2 around the river, the garden, precious stones, okay, that's the first time.

[95:16] The second time stone appeared in the Bible was when Bible says they break, Genesis 11, 3, they break bricks as stones to build. And they said, come on, come, let us make bricks and, and, and they break, what Jesus said, they, and they had bricks for stones.

[95:34] It wasn't bricks they were supposed to use. They used brick for, that's the third. But the third time, oh, I like the third one. The third time stone appeared in the Bible, Genesis chapter 28, verse 12.

[95:44] Bible says, then Jacob took the stone of the place and used it as a pillow and he slept on it. And then when he woke up, that stone, he used it to build the house. Okay. So anytime you read the Bible and you come across stones, usefulness of stones, stone is for building.

[95:59] Stones are for building. So when you call Peter, he said, you are a stone. Uh-uh, that means that I'm about to build something. That's why when Peter said that you are the son of the living God, he said, you are Peter.

[96:11] I know you are called Cephas, but I, no, you're sorry, you are called Simon, but I changed your name to stone, Peter. He said, you are Peter. Upon this rock, I'll build my church. And so Peter, when he was writing his first epistle, according to 1 Peter, chapter 2, verse 5, Peter then says that we all are living stones.

[96:27] Did you see that? Peter says that you also, as living stones, are being built up into a holy house. So when you get born again, you are transformed or you are regenerated as stone.

[96:40] Why stone? Because God uses stones to build his house. In the book of 1 Corinthians, chapter 3, from verse 12, he says that, let it take heed how you build.

[96:50] Now, if anyone, oh my goodness, if anyone builds on this foundation, gold, silver, ah, precious stones, precious stones.

[97:03] God, in the Bible, stones are used for building. Precious stones. So he says that, he who overcomes, you will eat.

[97:15] When you eat, you are going, I said, I'll give you a white stone. Why white? In the Bible or in the Revelation, when you come across the word white, it stands for justification.

[97:33] And it stands for approval. The worldly church will be condemned and rejected. The overcoming church will be justified and approved.

[97:46] So, white stone means the approved stones. Some stones are not useful for the building. They will not pass quality control. The way you are messing up in your Christian work, I'm sorry, mate, you will not pass quality control to be an effective building material.

[98:14] Is someone getting what I'm saying? Yes, yes, yes. approved stones. Now watch this. Let me say what I said again. We are created as clay, regenerated as stones, and transformed as precious stones.

[98:32] We were not originally precious stones. We are just stones. When you become born again, being built. But when you eat of the hidden manna, which is Christ himself, and you keep feeding on Christ, you keep feeding on Christ, you become transformed.

[98:51] I didn't get to, you can write this scripture, and when you go home, you can check it. Revelation chapter 21, verse 18, 19, and 20. It was talking about the heavenly Jerusalem, the new Jerusalem. It was talking about every building, every component of the building was made up of practically stones.

[99:08] Precious stones. Precious stones. Someone say precious stones. Say approved stones. Now, so when you become born again, you are regenerated as a stone, but as you eat Christ, walk with him, feed on him, you begin to be transformed into a precious stone.

[99:26] The precious stone is what the approved one, that is what is called the white stone, approved stone. And he said, ah, man, he said, and I'll give you a name, which no one knows.

[99:39] Somebody asked his pastor, when his pastor was preached, he said, and Bible says, Jesus said, and I'll give him a name which no one knows, except him who receives it.

[99:51] He said, pastor, what name is it? But Jesus said, no one knows this. You're asking your pastor what name is it? He said, I'll give you a name.

[100:02] I think in Revelation 19, verse 12, I think in Revelation, it says that it's actually a flavor that on his head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except he himself.

[100:14] Now, do you want to know what this name is which no one knows? How many of you want me to explain it? Now, what is a name that no one knows? That name is subject to your experience.

[100:27] As you overcome and walk with God, all the things you go through is so peculiar to you that when God gives you a name based on that, it's only you who can understand what you have been through.

[100:40] Let me, this is illustration. One, two, three, four, five.

[100:51] Dealing with maybe the spirit of fornication or resisting against temptation. What he has to fight with to resist against temptation may be slightly different from, but maybe this one is his cousin's friend which he has to deal with.

[101:03] who is in the quay? We have to do it. Guys, can I ask you a question?

[101:17] Sometimes when I'm preaching and I hate you, how do you understand? Because I hate myself and the thing is still... what?

[101:28] I receive my healing. So, we have all overcome temptation at the point before. Different temptation.

[101:39] Some of you lying, stealing, cheating, drugs, smoking, fornication, masturbation, pornography, fighting, jealousy, something.

[101:52] Gossip, thank you. Gossiping and the like. How many of you have overcome a temptation of some sort before? Do you know that, let's say, she overcame temptation of gossiping, she overcame temptation of gossiping, she overcame temptation, but what she had to go through in overcoming may be very different from what, even though they are all overcomers, there are different levels of crisis and different conditions upbringing, backgrounds, feelings, ability to resist, different things, so everybody's overcoming is very peculiar.

[102:28] That's why you can't, you can't base your Christian life on what other person is. Because the stone that will be given to you is a personal stone with your name written on it, in which no one knows, no one can experience it, because even if you are twins, it's different.

[102:48] If you are twins, your experience, maybe you are called Johnny, your twin brother is called Jake. Okay, Johnny and Jake. You grew up with the same parents, same school, same everything, guess what?

[103:03] One thing your brother, you have which your brother doesn't have is you are called John. He doesn't have a brother who is called John, a twin brother who is called Jake. Your twin brother is called Jake, his twin brother is called John.

[103:15] That brings a difference. When both of you are walking, they say, Jake, it's not you who are turning, it's him. You may turn, but he knows that they are calling him, in your mind, they are calling my brother.

[103:27] So, every human being's life, challenges, battles are very different even though life is very standardized.

[103:39] So, the principles for overcoming are very generalized, the same. What helped me to overcome sexual temptation, brother, is the same principle you can also overcome.

[103:51] So, if that guy has overcome sexual temptation, you can also overcome. Why? Because the same principles, the same principles.

[104:03] Am I preaching to somebody? He said, I'll give you an approved stone, the approved stones. I want this church to be full of approved stones.

[104:15] somebody shout amen. I thought your amen would be louder than receiving money. When I say you're getting a job, you're getting a husband, you're getting a wife, your amen usually is stronger than that.

[104:33] But this time I'm talking about you will receive an approved stone. You will receive an approved stone. In the name of Jesus, so shall it be.

[104:50] We are the community of the saved. We are the community of the redeemed. We are the community of the believers. We cast our devils. We are the community of the saints.

[105:01] We are the community of the overcomers. Do I have an overcomer here? Do I have an overcomer here? Do I have an overcomer here? Shout thank you Jesus. We thank God for using this sermon, Reverend Dr. David Entry, to share this awesome word.

[105:19] 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.

[105:35] Stay blessed.