The Revelation Of Christ 3

[0:00] Thank you for choosing to listen to this message by Reverend Dr. David Enchie. The mystery of the ages continues in this sermon. Be blessed as the importance of the local expression of the universal church is revealed.

[0:13] Father, thank you for the privilege to hear your word. We pray that you alone who are worthy to break the seals and open the scrolls because you have prevailed.

[0:25] Lord, open the book and give us illumination. Give us understanding. Let us encounter you and your purpose as we teach your word in Jesus' name.

[0:39] Amen. Hallelujah. Last week and the week before, I spoke about, what did I speak about? The revelation of Christ.

[0:52] And I spoke about the mystery. The mystery of the ages. What's the mystery of the ages? Christ and the church.

[1:05] Okay, Christ and the church. So the mystery of God is Christ. The church is the mystery of Christ. So mystery, things that have been hidden in God until someone prevailed to open it.

[1:20] And when Jesus asked his disciples, who do men say, I, the son?

[1:35] Jesus, thank you, Lord. John chapter, sorry, Matthew chapter 13, verse 12. When he came to Caesarea Philippi.

[1:47] Mark 16, I mean, I'm sorry, please pardon me. I mean, chapter 16, yeah. Verse 13.

[1:58] Okay. So when he came to the riches of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciple, who do men say that I, the son of man? Isn't that interesting?

[2:09] You could have said, who do men say I am? He chose to call himself son of man. Son of man gives reflection to his humanity.

[2:23] Son of God, his divinity. Jesus' favorite title for himself is the son of man. So he's called the son of man.

[2:36] It's a divine title for his humanity. So he said, the son of man. Who do men say I, the son of man, am?

[2:48] He said, some said you are John the Baptist. Some said you are Elijah. Some said you are Jeremiah. And others said you are one of the prophets. And he said, who do you say I am? And they said, Peter said, verse 16, thou art the Christ.

[3:01] The son. Jesus answered and said, thou art the Christ, the son of the living God. The son of man is the son of God. Thou art the Christ.

[3:12] The Christ is the son of the living God. And Jesus said, it can only take God for you to know this. And as I told you two weeks ago that it takes only God to reveal Jesus.

[3:26] Because it's only God who knows the son. According to Matthew 11, I think 27. He said, only the father knows the son and he can declare him. So he said, all things have been delivered to me by my father.

[3:39] And no one knows the son except the father. So Jesus said, when Peter said you are the Christ, the son of the living God. Jesus said, blessed are you, someone by Jonah, son of Jonah.

[3:53] For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you. So who revealed Christ to Simon? Who revealed Christ to Simon? He said, flesh and blood has not revealed to you.

[4:04] But my father who is in heaven. So who revealed Christ to the father? God himself revealed Christ. And then Christ said, okay. Flesh and blood. And he said, thou art Peter.

[4:17] Or thou art save us. And then he said, thou art Peter. And on this road, I'll build my church. This is the first mention of the church in the Bible. Matthew 16, 18.

[4:29] So when Jesus, when Peter spoke, discovered who Jesus was by the father. When it was revealed. Jesus was, when Jesus was revealed to Peter.

[4:42] Jesus also revealed the church to Peter. So he said, your vision is not complete. If all you see is just me. All this thing is just about Christ.

[4:56] I'm here for Christ. It's incomplete vision. Incomplete understanding. Incomplete perception. Your true Christian perception starts with Christ.

[5:09] And gets completed in the church. You need to see what the church is. Who the church is. To appreciate what Christ has done.

[5:21] Christ came from the church. So Christ is the builder of the church. And the revealer of the church. So he said that. Upon this rock, I will build my church. Say my church.

[5:33] Oh. Have I lost you so quickly? Say my church. My church. Say louder. My church. My church. Now. Upon this rock, I will build my.

[5:46] Give me the New King James. I'm fed the New King James. For the New King James. What the New King James does is. Because it's new. Usually, all the pronouns.

[5:58] Of the pronouns that were fed to God. Was capitalized. All right. In italics. Sorry, sorry. Capitalized. I'm sorry. Capitalized. But the old King James.

[6:09] Look at the old King James. They just put. I'll build my church. So in the New King James. Even when something is that. The Holy Spirit.

[6:19] When he comes. Bible will not use. New King James will not use. When he. He will be capitalized. Because talking about a deity. All right. Okay. So I will build.

[6:30] My church. In the gates of hell. I will not prevail against my church. Say church. Church. Say my church. Please say it again. My church. Say it for the last time. My church.

[6:41] My church. It's talking about. Do you know what this is referring to? It's called the universal church. Church. So. When he said my church. He's not talking about. Carice. He's not talking about.

[6:53] The church of England. Down the road. He's not talking about. Presbyterian church. He's not talking about. Redeemed Christian church of God. He's not talking about.

[7:04] Weeners. Lighthouse. He's talking about. All. All. Of us. All. All. All. Of us. Together. So. The church.

[7:15] This. Is talking about. The first mention of the church. Was talking about. The universal church. It's called the universal. Say the universal church. Universal church. So. The universal church.

[7:28] Is. Made up of. Or comprises. Anybody. Who is born again. Since Christ. Died. And resurrected. So.

[7:39] Peter. James. Bethlehem. Paul. Timothy. Epaphroditus. Not Demas.

[7:54] John Mark. You understand that. Priscilla. And Aquila. Apollos. Eunice. Lois.

[8:06] All. These. Great. Guys. Philemon. Philemon. Tychicus. That's the one I was looking for. Tychicus. Epinatus.

[8:19] That's the one other one. Onesiphoros. Second Timothy chapter 1 verse 13. Onesiphoros. Tryphena and Tryphosa. Romans chapter 16. Yes. Oh there are names in the Bible.

[8:32] Typhos. Yeah. Yeah. Julia. Julia. Linus. And so many of that. So. This. All of them. Including Mary.

[8:42] The mother of Jesus. The natural mother of Jesus. Right. Mary. James. Judas. Not that one who died. The other one. All of them.

[8:56] When we talk about the church. Including TDJX. Myself. Bishop Oyedepo. Your mother if she's born again. Your uncle if he's born again. Your cousin. Your neighbor who you don't get on with.

[9:07] If she's born again. Yeah. Your boss who made sure you lost your job. If he's born again. Someone said he's not.

[9:18] But. All. Of them. Are part of the church. And Christ.

[9:29] Died for this church. And he's coming. And Bible says he nourishes the church. Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 5. Verse.

[9:40] 26. 27. And 28. It says that. That he might present him. Unto himself. That he might present him. He might present him. Sorry. To. Is he there himself.

[9:51] Unto himself. A glorious church. That church. That glorious church. Is not. St. St. Andrew's church. It's not. K.

[10:01] I. C. C. C. Right. It's. It's not. Porter's house. Dallas. Right. It's not. Carice. It's not. Church of England.

[10:12] Yeah. All right. That church is. What does it mean? Universal church. Universal church. Church. It's all Christians. In all ages. Those who are not yet born again.

[10:25] The one. Who. Took. Your boyfriend. Hey. Or that boy who broke your heart. And all. And. Later on.

[10:36] Because you did something to somebody. And today you are in church. Hey. Today you are in church. Church. So when you talk about. The universal church.

[10:46] It includes. Everybody. Who has Christ in them. The. The. The. Requirement. And the condition. Is Christ must be in you.

[10:57] If Christ is not in you. Doesn't matter how long. You've been in church. You can be the church janitor. Right. You can be. The one who declares the church. That's everything. You can be a keyboardist.

[11:09] You can be. It does not matter. If Christ is not in you. You are not actually part of the church. Wow. On our books. We may have you on our books. But in his book. You are not registered. Wow. Wow.

[11:21] It's called. The Lamb's Book of Life. One day the book will be opened. Hey. And the names that were not found in the book of the Lamb's Book of Life. Were cast into hell.

[11:33] Into the lake of fire. According to Revelations. Whoever's. I think Revelations are 22 verse 12. I think so. Or chapter. Somewhere. Somewhere there like that. Whosoever's.

[11:44] Whose name is not found. Written in the Lamb's Book of Life. Was cast into the lake of fire. So. We may have you on our books. And you may even have.

[11:55] A certificate. What's it called? Membership certificate. But if Christ is not in your heart. You will still die and go to hell. Wow.

[12:08] Why? Because you are not part of the church. It's not that he's upset with you. He's just coming for his church. Are you part of his church? When I finish preaching. I'll give you an opportunity.

[12:19] To actually sign up properly. We may not know. But you will know. If you are in the heart. If Christ is not in your heart. You will know it. Also. Sometimes I feel like. No, no, please. If he's in your heart.

[12:30] You will know it. And once he's in your heart. He registers your name. In the Lamb's Book of Life. It's a Book of Life. Wow.

[12:42] So. All those whose names. Are in the Lamb's Book of Life. Are part of the church. Is it not amazing? Is it not fantastic?

[12:59] It's not fantastic. What a shock. So that's called a universal church.

[13:17] The first time the Bible was mentioned, the church was mentioned in the scriptures, it was mentioned by Jesus Christ. And it was making reference to the universal church in Matthew chapter 16 verse 18.

[13:27] However, Matthew chapter 18 verse 17. Look at Matthew 18 verse 17. And let's see if we can all afford to read it from the screen. Is that okay? All right.

[13:38] Let's read it out loud. Let's go. And if he refuses to hear them, send us to the church. But if he refuses to hear the church, let him be to you.

[13:49] Now this is talking about a brother who has, go to the, go before. Let me show you something. Go to verse 15, 15 or 14.

[14:00] Moreover, if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between the two of you. Between the two of you. Don't go and tell the other person. Tell her.

[14:13] Sisters, are you listening to me? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. So someone has sinned against you. So you know we can sin against people. Someone has done something against you.

[14:25] Go and tell the person, I don't like what you did. This is what you did, blah, blah. Now if that person is a Christian, the person will say, oh, I didn't, maybe the person doesn't see anything wrong.

[14:36] But okay, I hear you. But if he's a Christian, but not a serious Christian, his spirit is low. He'll say, what do you mean by that? Church, he's a Christian.

[14:46] He said, what do you have to do now if you go to that person? More of a, a wide screen, please. Go and tell him against you.

[15:00] Go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. Tell someone, one on one, one on one. Alone.

[15:16] If he hears you, you have gained your brother. What means that? Matai said, he said, oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that he offended you that much.

[15:27] It's okay. It's sorted. So now let's move on. That thing is self-treatening. You are still going around telling people. The person you talk, the person says, I'm sorry.

[15:39] You trouble the church when you do that. You see, if you trouble the church, it's not a pastor you are troubling, and it's not a member you are troubling. Jesus himself is going to come after you. Go to the next verse.

[15:52] But if he will not hear, some people will know hear. How many of you know yourself sometimes? Some people, they will hear. If he will not hear, take with you one or two more. And by the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word must be.

[16:06] So take someone else. One person or two, if you get, let's go and talk to this person. I don't like the way he's been hugging my husband. So go and talk to the person.

[16:29] Now I said, if the person does not listen to the two of you, no, that's not the end. Okay, let's look at what he said. But if you, here, take with you one or two, that by the mouth of the, verse 17.

[16:44] And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. Now here, it's not like, give me a microphone.

[16:56] No, that's not what it means. It doesn't mean, you see for your testimony or your preaching. Tell it to the church means authorities in church.

[17:09] Right. The leadership of church reported to senior management. Escalated. But if he refuses, some people, we talk, they won't even listen to us.

[17:24] If he refuses to hear the church, then we will treat him like he's an unbeliever. That's all. If you have to, if someone is owing you, you've told, please, I need my body. He said, I can't be bothered.

[17:35] He brought two other people to, I need my body. He said, you tell church, I need my body. Now just, he said, get him to the death collectors. He said, Christian brother, or throw him out of the house.

[17:48] Because if you tried every means to solve it, and you use the money to pay the rent, and he's living there, you have to pay the mortgage, and he said, we are all Christian brothers. No, we don't take tons to pay mortgage.

[18:00] It's money. So if he's not paying, and first, don't maltreat a Christian brother. Tell the police, the mortgage is due this. Please, I will need it.

[18:11] It's one-on-one. Not with anger, one-on-one. It really is spoiling a lot. And now they want to repossess their property. If he doesn't listen, get other people involved. Please come.

[18:22] Let's talk to this guy. If he doesn't listen, now get church leadership involved. I want you to draw your attention to something. Tell it to who? The church. The church. Now, this is not talking about universal church.

[18:36] It's called the local church. The church you are part of. Yeah. We are all part of universal church, but we definitely need to be part of a local church. You need to belong to a local church.

[18:49] As for me, anytime I wake up in the morning, where I feel like going, and I go, who are you going to tell when there's something to tackle? Universal church.

[18:59] How are you going to happen? Where is the universal church? Where? On this note, let me take my time and explain something to you. In the book of Acts, Acts chapter 8 verse 1, it talks about the church in Jerusalem.

[19:18] Local church. Acts chapter 13 verse 1, church in Antioch. Acts chapter 15 verse 41, the churches in Cilicia and Syria.

[19:31] Acts chapter. Acts chapter. He just got them. When he got Cilicia, and then he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. These are local churches, not universal churches.

[19:43] In Acts chapter 20 verse 17, Paul, he called for the elders of the church in Ephesus. Elders of the church in Ephesus. He called Ephesus and called the elders of the church.

[19:54] It's that local church. Local churches. So, I find something very interesting about the significance. So, when Jesus asks them, who do men say I am?

[20:07] They say, you are the son of the living God. He said, I tell you, I'm going to build my church. And the gates of hell will not prevail. Jesus' focus is on the church. Why? I want to explain something.

[20:17] Jesus Christ is the expression of the trying God.

[20:30] Physical expression. So, John chapter 14. John 14. He said, Philip said, show us the Father. Is this enough for us? And Jesus said, have you seen me?

[20:42] You have not been with you all. That's why you don't know me. And he said, if you have seen the Father, if you have seen me, you have seen the Father. Jesus said to the disciples, verse 8, I think. So, John chapter 14, verse 8. If you have seen me, you have seen the Father.

[20:53] Okay. And Philip said, Lord, show us the Father. He said, you don't know me? He who has seen me has seen the Father. I am the expression of the Father. In Hebrews chapter 1, verse 3, it says that he is the express image of the person of God.

[21:06] Right. So, when you want to know how God is, look at Jesus Christ. In John chapter 1, verse 1. In the beginning was the Word. The Word was God. And the Word was God. The Word. The Word was God.

[21:17] So, that Word, that is God. In the verse 14. John chapter 1, verse 14. The Word became flesh and dwelt. So, when you see the dwelling Word amongst us, that is actually the expression of God.

[21:27] Physical expression of God. So, Christ is the Word expressed. God expressed. In fact, verse 18 says that no one has seen the Father at any time.

[21:37] But the Son, who is from the bosom of the Father, he has declared him. He has expressed him. He has defined God to us. So, Christ is the expression of God. In fact, how about this?

[21:48] In Colossians chapter 2, verse 9. Colossians 2, verse 9. I think it will be now we all read it. It's nice. Because it's powerful. Let's read it. Let's go. Everybody, let's go.

[21:58] For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead. So, in him, Jesus Christ, dwells all the, not some, all the fullness of God himself.

[22:10] The God, the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. It's called the Godhead. Okay? Anytime you see the word Godhead in the Bible, it is not the head of God. But it means that God the Father, God the Son, the Trinity.

[22:21] He said, in Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. The word bodily means physically. So, when you see him, everything you want to know about the Godhead is expressed in Christ.

[22:39] In him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. But this bodily expression of God died, was buried, resurrected.

[22:51] And when he resurrected, the Bible says in 1 Corinthians, I'm just giving you some, I think you need to know. 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 45, Bible says that the first Adam was a living soul and the second Adam became.

[23:06] And so it is written, the first Adam became a living soul. The last Adam, talking about Christ, became what? A living spirit. The last Adam became what?

[23:16] A living spirit. Oh, please read it. The last Adam became what? A living spirit. So, this is the last Adam. Let's say the last Adam.

[23:27] Okay? So, Adam, the last Adam died. Oh, he died, died, died. And, watch this. The last Adam was crucified.

[23:39] He died. He was buried. Is this so? Was Jesus buried? Yes. And then, on the third day, what happened? He rose again. Now, when he rose again now, he rose. When he was rising, he rose and he became.

[23:53] That's a very interesting text. Put you on the screen. Some of you haven't realized that. The last Adam became, not worse. He became a life-giving. He became what?

[24:03] A life-giving spirit. A life-giving what? Spirit. Spirit. Spirit. So, through death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus resurrected and he became a life-giving spirit. Spirit. Spirit. So, when you are born again, that's how Jesus is in you.

[24:15] By the spirit. Hmm. He became a life-giving spirit. So, 2 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 17 says that the Lord is the spirit.

[24:26] Amen. Please see that. The answer. Now, the Lord is what? The spirit. So, actually, there's a close relationship between the spirit and the Lord.

[24:40] After resurrection, when he came on earth, he was the expression of the Father. Then he died. Buried. Resurrected. And he became a life-giving spirit. That is everywhere in us.

[24:52] Now, look. And so, the Lord is the spirit. But, John chapter 14, verse 16, 17, and 18.

[25:03] Look at this. John chapter 14. I will pray the Father and he will give you another helper that he may abide with you forever. Go to the next verse. The spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because neither sees him nor know him.

[25:17] But you, watch this, watch this. But you know him. How? For he dwells with you. He will be in you. He will be in you. He was talking to them. He said, you know the spirit because he's living.

[25:29] He dwells. He lives with you. And then he will be in you. When he was talking to them, he said that I am with you. Now, I will be in you. I have to go.

[25:41] Because when I go, then you can be with me. That's why he told them from John chapter 14, verse 2. He said, don't be worried because in my Father's house are many mansions. If it wasn't so, I'll go.

[25:53] He said, no, verse 1. Let's look at verse 1. Let me show you something. Let not you have me. Believe in me. Believe in me. Verse 2. All right. For in my Father's house are many mansions. For if it were not so, I would not have told you.

[26:04] I go to prepare a place for you. Go to the next verse. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself. Most people think he's talking about Jesus is going to sit in heaven.

[26:20] And one day he's coming back again to take us to himself. No, that would be too late. He was going into death, burial, and resurrection. And once he comes out of resurrection, now we and him, he receives us to himself to become the house of God.

[26:38] That's why I said that in my Father's house. Doesn't it make sense? Oh, it's too. So, he says that, I'm talking about the Spirit.

[26:50] Jesus Christ, the Spirit, the Spirit, watch this. If you want to, John again. John chapter 16, verse 17. John 16, 17. Is that what we're reading?

[27:00] John 16, 17. No, 14, 17. I'm sorry. But you know him because he will be with you. Go to the next verse, verse 18. Verse 18. I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you. What are you talking about?

[27:13] Think about it. Go to verse 16. I just, just, just. Am I confusing anybody here? If I'm confusing you, we'll do it again later during the week. But I don't see why you should be confused.

[27:23] I'm saying that simple. Now, listen. I will pray the Father and he will give you another helper. That he may abide with you. Verse 17. I want to say on verse 17. The Spirit of truth. Say the Spirit of truth.

[27:34] The Spirit of truth. Everybody say the Spirit of truth. The Spirit of truth. Okay. What do you say about the Spirit of truth? Who the world cannot receive the Holy Spirit. Right? The Spirit of truth. Who the world cannot receive.

[27:46] Because it doesn't see him nor know him. But you know him. Ah. Do we know the Spirit? How do we know the Spirit? He said, when he was talking to the disciples, he said, you know him. Why?

[27:56] Because he dwells with you and he shall be in you. So, now, he didn't say he dwells in you. He said he dwells with you as I'm speaking. But he's about to come inside you.

[28:10] When he comes. When the Father sends him. Look at verse 17. He shall be with you. Verse 18, I'm sorry. Verse 18. I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you.

[28:21] He didn't come. He came back as the Spirit. Does that make sense? So, what am I trying to say? Christ is the expression of God. The Spirit reveals Christ.

[28:36] And if you want to experience Christ, it will take the Holy Spirit. If you want to experience Christ. Romans chapter 8, chapter 8 verse 9.

[28:48] If you want to experience Christ, it will take the Spirit. Romans 8, 9 says, but you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit. If indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now, if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he's not.

[29:00] None of his. So, it takes the Spirit to experience Christ. Alright? That is why there can't be a church without the Spirit.

[29:13] It takes the Spirit to have the church. Listen. Christian sister. That message I preached in Lighthouse Master Seed.

[29:28] That message is very strong. I was talking about, I preached on the fact that you can't build the church or do anything for the church with the flesh.

[29:42] Because according to John chapter 3 verse 6, whatever is born of the flesh is flesh. Whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. So, if it's just your human abilities, your human intelligence, your human acumen, it is not building the church.

[29:56] We may socially, organizationally like it, but really, you are not building the church. The only thing that builds the church, as God wants it, is spirit.

[30:09] And so, we all must learn how to engage our spirits. You have to be a spiritual man and a spiritual woman. I didn't mean you have to be a nice person.

[30:22] Religious folks, hear me. Christianity is not about being nice. Christianity is about being spirit. The spirit is finding an expression in you.

[30:33] So that you will be the expression of God. So, now let me go back to what I was trying to say. So, Christ is the expression of God. Okay?

[30:44] God is expressed through Christ. Let's all say Christ is the expression of God. Christ is the expression of God. Christ is realized and experienced through the Spirit. But the church is the expression of Christ.

[31:01] That's where I've been trying to go. So, when you read Ephesians chapter 1, verse 22 and 23. Look at it on the screen.

[31:15] Can we all read it out loud together? Verse 23.

[31:30] So, what is the church? The church is his body. Do you understand that? No. Go back to verse 22 again. I think sometimes... Is someone getting confused about this thing?

[31:42] No. Read it again. Let's see. Okay, don't read. Let me read it for you. And he put all things under his feet. Is he the his? Who is the his? That's the his over there. Christ. Capital H. He put everything under Christ's feet and gave Christ the him.

[31:56] Gave him to be the head over all things to who? The church. So, Christ is the head over all things to who? To the church. Now, what is the church? The next verse.

[32:07] What's the church? Which is his body? What is the church? His body. What is the church? His body. Whose body? Christ. Christ. The church is Christ's body.

[32:18] The church is the fullness of Christ. Who fills all things in all. They're all filling Christ. His body is the church.

[32:29] So, we, the church, is the expression of Christ. That's right. When God looks down on, from heaven, he doesn't just see human beings, cut that. He sees Christ.

[32:40] The body of Christ. The church is, okay. Romans chapter 12 verse 12. Romans chapter 12 verse 12. Romans chapter 12 verse 12. Romans chapter 12 verse 12.

[32:51] Romans chapter 13. Romans chapter 13. Romans chapter 13. What a shock. I love you.

[33:08] For us, watch this. For us, the body is one and has many members. How many of you know that your body has many members? Members mean parts, body parts.

[33:20] What are some of the body parts? Scapula. Your ears. Your nose. Wig is not part of the body parts.

[33:32] Wig is not body parts, okay? For us, the body is one and has many members. But all the members of that one body, being many, are one.

[33:44] So one body, so also is Christ. So if you are born again, you are a member of the body of Christ. Everyone, and that body of Christ, talking about the universal body of Christ, we are all members of the body of Christ.

[33:58] Ephesians chapter 4 verse 4, it says that one body, one body, there's not many bodies. There may be Church of England, there may be Catholic Church, there may be Lutheran Church, there may be Presbyterian Church, there may be Carice Ministries, there may be Work Ministries, there may be this one, KICC, there may be Lighthouse, Redeemed Christ's House, Winner's Chapel, Porteous House.

[34:21] Many, many, many, many, many, many. Only in London, so many. But even though we are many, we are one. There's only one body. That's right. There's only one body of Christ.

[34:33] See, there is one body. Say there is one body. There is one body. Say louder. There is one body. The overwitness is not part of it.

[34:43] No. A different body. That's a different body. Permit me to say this.

[34:54] You need to understand it. When we say the church is a body, it's not in the same way we say a body of lawyers. A body of surgeons.

[35:05] No, no, no. That is a different expression. A body of lawyers is like an organization. But the church is not, when we talk about a body, it's not a body in the sense of organization.

[35:21] But a body in the sense of organism. Like your body. So anything that affects, if we inject something into your ears, and it's dangerous, it will go through the whole body.

[35:36] Because it's one body. Are you guys in it? It's one body. Say one body. One body. So anything that affects the body at any point affects, listen, your little toe.

[35:47] I didn't even know about corn some time ago. Your little, ladies understand it better. Or some of you wear shoes and it's bruising your heel. It's hard.

[35:58] But guess what? That little toe can throw your whole body into confusion. You can lose appetite because your little toe is hurting. How about your ear?

[36:10] It's hurting. Any part. Sometimes the little finger, just the tip of it, because you're trying to shape the nails.

[36:21] And you ended up cutting yourself. And it hurts so much. What is it? My friend, my little toe, coach me. You can see blood.

[36:33] You are saying little. Little what? So the body is one. It's an organism. Do you realize that children, when they are born, they look very little.

[36:45] A child's finger is little. But the finger doesn't grow or some parts doesn't grow and they leave the finger. Even the head. When they are growing, the head, I think, grows a little bit more.

[36:57] The ears grow. The ear is growing. The nose is growing. We only, everything must grow in proportion. You know. So, say one body.

[37:08] One body. So we, the church, is the body of Christ. Not the bodies. There's a body here. There's a body here. There's a body. No. We are one. Tell someone we are one.

[37:20] We are one. We are one. It's one body. So the church is made up of one body. So what am I trying to say? Watch this. Christ is the expression of God.

[37:31] The Holy Spirit makes Christ our experience. Gives us the experience of Christ. And the church is the expression of Christ. This is so important. This is what Christianity is about.

[37:42] Christianity is about God in the flesh. Say the son of man. Say the son of man. He came to be a man amongst us. Emmanuel means God with us.

[37:54] And actually he said they shall call him. His name is Jesus or Yeshua. But he said they shall call him. We shall identify him as God with us.

[38:05] It's interesting. I was just listening to something. And I realized that Jesus Christ when they announced his birth in Matthew chapter 1 verse 23. The angel said that his name is Jesus.

[38:17] And they shall call him Emmanuel. Behold the virgin shall be with child. And shall be called his name Emmanuel. Which means God is with us. Translated God is with us. And can you imagine when Jesus finished his work and he was going ascending.

[38:30] He told his disciples. Go into the world and preach. Matthew chapter 28 verse 18. Go into the world and preach the gospel to all creatures. That's the great commission. And then verse 19 says that.

[38:42] Go therefore into the world and preach the gospel to all creatures. And verse 20 says that. Verse 20. Teaching them all after. He said, look, I am with you always. Emmanuel, God with us.

[38:53] When he was going, he said, I'm with you always. Jesus is always with the church. So when Saul of Tarsus was persecuting the church. Jesus Christ appeared to him. And he said, why do you persecute me?

[39:05] He said, no, I don't persecute you. Anytime you touch the church members, the Christians. I am inside them. You are touching me. You are touching me. And he said, it's very hard to kick against the ghosts.

[39:19] Against the pricks. So the church is so important in the eyes of God. That is why I quoted Ephesians chapter 5 verse 26. Ephesians 5 verse 26.

[39:29] That he might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word. Verse 27. That he might present the church to himself. A glorious church.

[39:41] Not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. But that she should be holy and without blemish. The next verse. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies.

[39:53] He who loves himself loves. Sorry, his wife loves himself. The next verse. For no one ever hates his own body but nourishes and cherishes it.

[40:04] Now he's saying that Christ does that to the church. So Christ nourishes the church. Let's say Christ nourishes the church. Christ nourishes the church. Christ cherishes the church. Christ cherishes the church. What does it mean to nourish?

[40:14] Feed. Feed. And what does it mean to cherish? Love. Treasure. Watch this. If Christ treasures and loves and cherishes the church.

[40:28] You dare not temper with the church. How can you temper with the church? In fact, Bible says that Ananias said. I've heard by many that this man is causing havoc.

[40:39] Say havoc. And he has received instructions to come. He has persecuted those in Jerusalem. Now, so interestingly. And what Ananias said in Acts chapter 9.

[40:51] I want to show you something. Is everyone here with me? I just want to show you something. What Ananias says. It's very interesting. Acts chapter 9 verse 13. And Ananias has said. Lord, I've heard from many about this man.

[41:03] How much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. Saints in Jerusalem also mean the church in Jerusalem. Hello.

[41:15] Say church in Jerusalem. Church in Jerusalem. He didn't say church everywhere. The church has always been city based. So long as God is concerned.

[41:28] The church is a church in Jerusalem. Church in Antioch. Church in London. We are the church in London. Hallelujah. So all churches based in London.

[41:40] God doesn't know them by name. He doesn't classify them by name per se. He classifies us as church in London. Church in Leeds.

[41:50] Church in Birmingham. It's very important. So God classifies churches with cities. Where the church are. Not church names. You never see it anywhere in the book of Acts.

[42:05] Where a church has been classified by name. A church was told. The church of Antioch. The churches in Cilicia and Syria. The church in Ephesus.

[42:16] The church in Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem. The church in Jerusalem. So now. When. When. When. When. When. When. When. When. When. When. When. When. John.

[42:26] I'm drawing this message to a close. This is the cracks of what I'm trying to teach. All right.

[42:37] Revelation chapter 1. Verse.

[42:48] All right. Let's start from verse 2. Who bore witness to the word of God.

[42:58] And to the testimony of Jesus Christ. To all things. That he saw. Let's start from verse 3. Blessed is he who reads.

[43:10] And. Those who hear the words of this prophecy. And keep those things which are written in it. For the time is near. Verse 4. Let's keep going. John.

[43:21] To this. Watch this. John. To the seven churches. To what? The seven churches. To what? The seven churches. Seven churches which are where? In Asia.

[43:32] In Asia. Now. Dennis has mentioned these cities in Asia. Seven cities in Asia. He may start. He has. He will mention them later on.

[43:43] But. Grace. And peace. From him who is. And who was. And who is to come. And from the seven spirits. Who is before his throne. Now. So. This was addressed.

[43:54] Watch this. The book of Revelation. Was addressed. To the seven churches. In Asia. Which one? I'll explain a bit more about that. But. When you read the New Testament.

[44:05] All the pieces. Were not written to. The body of Christ. They are written to. Local churches. Apart from.

[44:16] Some that were written to. Individuals. Like Timothy. Titus. Philemon. But the rest. Were written to. First Corinthians. Is the church in Corinth. Yes.

[44:27] Ephesians. The church as Ephesus. Philippians. The church at Philippi. Colossians. Colossians. Colossians.

[44:38] Colossians. The church. At Colossians. Colossians. Colossians. Colossians. Okay.

[44:49] Thessalonians. Thessalonians. Thessalonians. Galatians. So. These. Were written. To. Galatians. Galatians. See.

[45:00] So. These letters. Were written to. The church. In that area. The church. In those cities. It's very important. God. Doesn't just deal with. Us. As a universal church.

[45:12] Right. He now. When he is dealing with us. He comes down to the local church level. So. Until. You are actually. In a local church.

[45:22] You are going to miss. God. The local church. Is. The physical. Expression. Of the universal church. Where is the universal church?

[45:34] How will you be part of the universal church? You got to be part of the local church. To get the attention of God. Ah. As for me. I do things for God. In what way? Where is God? How do you do it for God?

[45:47] Find a local church. And express your love for God. In a local church. You know. You know. Listen. Listen. Someone will tell you that. Oh. Me. I like people. I like people very much.

[45:59] I don't think it's nice for someone to say I like men. Isn't it nice? Men. I like men. Or I like girls. You have to find one. And love.

[46:11] If you are genuine about love. You have to find one and love. Am I right? Those of you who are trying to love too. You are phony. You can't love too effectively.

[46:23] Bible says that no one can save two masters at the same time. Good. Three. Two. Wow. You are good. You can't love one. One. You can't be attracted to many. How many of you are sometimes attracted to many?

[46:44] Look at the Hebrew Greeks. since we came to church you've been either so you can be so you can love one so I get what I'm saying so you love watch this you can't just get up and say I'm full of love what do you mean how can you give it a context give your love a context I'm a footballer which team give us a call I'm part of a I mean I'm part of a football federation association of footballers I mean for them to even accept you as one of them you must have a team you need a club before you can be recognized by FIFA before you can be recognized by FIFA you need a club so universal church as for me I just do anything for God excuse me it's a religious jargon nonsense what do you mean by doing anything for me find a look at and now listen the reason why marriage is important is marriage is a test of character if you love somebody marry the person let's see if you really love them because listen listen because of my time

[48:03] I need to finish this the reason that is is if you love somebody there are bad days ahead there can be bad days ahead there are times where you don't feel like loving there are times you are very upset with a person just like your mother or those of you who are mothers your children your children can sometimes upset you so much and you're really upset with them but that being upset doesn't go to a certain level because you just you can be upset but you won't allow anyone to mishandle your child you can discipline a child you can be upset you won't have your chocolate today I won't do anything I don't you can cry and cry I won't do it yes but you won't allow any other person to handle her like that no if you are full of love your love must be contextualized with somebody somewhere a marital love marriage love is always to one so if you claim you love Christ you must be committed to a church not churches for those of us who are church supermen church shoppers and church hoppers church butterflies move from nectar to nectar oh this place

[49:29] I like their music so I just go there for the praise and worship and I go here I like their life you are not serious you are an unserious Christian or you actually you lack understanding of the things of God so if that is how marriage is and church and Christ you can see that please it's like marriage why is it that you become part of a church and you want everything in the church to be perfect everything must be perfect everything must be perfect their preaching must be perfect their pastor must finish on time what a shock you want the church where they laugh where they laugh and they have fun sometimes they don't close early because half of the time is laughter we are having fun in Christ isn't it not a package you want a church that has its own building most of the churches that have their own cathedrals it's very boring you go there and you are sleeping and you want to finish quickly and go home but some of you sometimes when I say oh my time is up hey it's already two because you didn't realize that you are having so much fun that you who claim you can't stay one hour in church you are three hours you can't really feel it you want to join the choir even if you join the best choir in the world you will find out that there are difficulties there you go to cabinet meeting you see the way they don't get on everywhere there will be tension amongst human beings so stay on your own and build it stay on your own and build it you must be part of a local church and stay with the local church the most important thing in a local church is Christ being expressed

[51:49] Christ being the center not money for heaven's sake not money and not distribution for prosperity you don't go to church because you want to be prosperous get a job exactly exactly that's all you go to Christ you go to church because you want to know Christ and you want to serve God you want to give your best to God that's why you go to church the chief reason you don't go to church because you are looking for a woman to marry or a man to marry you and so you have joined the ashes because you want to be seen you've joined the choir choiristers because you want to be seen on stage very soon a choirister will not be coming on stage only a few leaders will come the rest will stay at them and back sink from this floor and some people as soon as they get a man they will leave the choir you watch you watch what I say watch it some people are encouraged on campus because of so you don't come to church because of demons chasing you church can deal with it because we have a prevailing lion amen alright church but we come to church because we are the church we are the body of Christ and he has called us as his people and every time we must come together and continue in the apostles fellowship apostles prayers acts after 2 verse 42 apostles prayers apostles fellowship can I show you one more thing and then I finish is someone learning something stay stay committed marriage means commitment that's right amen stay committed those of you who don't stay committed to a church it may reflect in your marriage yes it will end up reflecting in your marriage and chances are that in this morning the way marriage is so much brutalized and vandalized chances are that if you get married you are likely to divorce because text of character you can't stay through anything to stay married you have to go through some things you have to be tough and be resolute that I'm staying through things and work on yourself and when you work on yourself it will affect the one you are in a relationship with that's what marriage is about just yummy yummy yummy the church is like yummy yummy you are in the church but every time you have something negative to say about the church it is very unscriptural it's very unchristian and it's very satanic yes yes yes

[54:29] Jesus watch this you what I do understand is the people who say they love Jesus but they are church problem causes the truth is it's incongruent you can't love Jesus and can't stand a church because Jesus is busy nourishing and cherishing the church he nourishes he cherishes the church and it's not the universe it's the local churches how it's the local you must be part you can't say I love everybody no you must so are somebody there must be somebody in your life you are sure some of them are hateful some of them you can't stand but that is the sign that you are full of love the church tell someone build the church build the church don't say I give it I do it some people their monies go to charities but not church yeah it's true and this charity this charity which is social social responsibility is good social responsibility is good but it does not guarantee any reward from heaven stay with one church where you are growing where the book must be open a place where book is not opened you won't find Christ because in the beginning was the word everything must hinge around the word of God am I preaching at all

[56:00] I want people to understand and have a holistic approach to church life the things of God let me finish this in revelations as I said revelation chapter 1 were we reading revelation chapter 1 yeah 5 revelation chapter 1 so from verse 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness first born of the from the dead and the ruler over all the kings of the earth to him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood verse 6 in his own blood and has made us kings and priests to his God and father to him be glory and dominion forever and ever let's keep going I want to show you forever and ever behold he's coming alright let's go to verse 9 I think I want to pick from the 9 I John both your brother and companion in tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ was on the island the island that is called

[57:09] Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ okay now go to the next verse see where we're going I was in the spirit and on the lost day time will not permit me to talk about the lost day the lost day means usually it's Sunday John chapter 20 verse 1 talks about Acts chapter 20 verse 7 is on the issue they talk about the lost day the day of the Lord or the first day of the week is the same thing the lost day the day of the Lord so I was so it's John 21 Acts 27 I think we should just 1 Corinthians 16 verse 2 but let's go revelation let's go to revelation I need to finish this my time is up oh man man revelations I was in the spirit on the lost day when was I when was I in the spirit on a Sunday like this you gotta get in the spirit dedicate make sure that you are entering the spirit because when we come to church it's a good opportunity to hear from God it's a good opportunity for God to readjust and realign your perspective it's very important so don't come to church and stay in the flesh get in the spirit tell someone we supposed to get in the spirit get in the spirit and I heard behind me a loud voice as of a trumpet okay alright now let's go to the next verse listen as of a trumpet saying

[58:36] I'm the alpha and the omega the first and the last and what you see write in a book and send to the seven churches which are in Asia Ephesus Smyna Pergamos Titeria Sardis Pamphylia Philadelphia Sardis Philia and Laodicea seven seven churches in Asia mention the name the cities are called the cities that's what you see there Ephesus Smyna Pergamos Pergamos Titeria Sardis Philadelphia Laodicea these are the churches he said write to watch this he said watch this write to the churches which are in Asia so local churches God starts dealing with local churches local churches which are in Asia okay and I mention them by name look at verse 12 verse 12 then I turned say I turned I turned say I turned I turned say I turned

[59:38] I turned learn how to turn don't stay in one position turn turn turn and see who is speaking to you you need first of all you need to be in the local church life and align yourself while she turn shit from the natural way of doing things turn then I was in the local church this message was sent to local churches God deals with the local churches okay you got to be part of a local church yeah he deals with the local churches he said I'll give them pastors after my heart local churches local churches so he said I turned you have to be in a local church and not just that sometimes you can be in a local church but not turning turn turn turn to see who is speaking you might you might have heard the voice but it's time to turn shift your focus get the right angle I turned and I saw seven golden lampstands and what I saw you know what the lampstand stands for the lampstand verse 20 says the lampstand stands for the churches but let me show you something

[60:46] I don't see the lampstand golden lampstand seven stars are the angel and the seven churches okay seven churches the seven lampstands which you saw are the churches you see that alright so go to the verse 11 verse 12 let me finish this I need to finish this oh man oh man he said I turned and I saw I turned to see the voice of the one who spoke to me and having turned I saw seven lampstands okay go to the next verse see this and in the midst of the seven lampstands one like the son of what like who he didn't say son of God he's in heaven still as the son of man son of man has to do with his humanity he relates he wants to relate with the church still with his humanity because we are humans that's why he understands he understands I turned and I saw and in revelation don't turn to it you can write this text down just showing that Jesus Christ is still the son of man while he's in heaven revelation chapter 14 verse 14 you can write the text down revelation 14 14 he's the son of man first

[61:54] Matthew chapter 24 verse 30 he's the son of man in Acts chapter 7 verse 56 Stephen said and I saw heavens open and I saw the son of man he's still in heaven as the son of man the son of man so when Peter said you are the son of God Jesus asked who do you say the son of man I am yeah he's the son of man so he said I turned what is revelations he said and I turned and I saw one like the son of man clothed with garments a garment down to his feet and gated about the chest with a golden sash a golden belt a golden when they win the battle sorry the contest where do they put the title belt belt is for the waist but this man to wear a gown to wear a gown or a garment is a sign of high priestly rule so he was in heaven as the high priest he's a high priest watch this you don't have to miss this

[62:57] I'm ending on this he's in heaven as a high priest according to Romans chapter 8 verse 34 and Hebrews chapter 7 verse 25 and 26 he said for we have a high priest okay so he's in heaven interceding on our behalf as the high priest Jesus is in heaven as the high priest but we just when he said when he saw Jesus in heaven he saw this man okay with the high priestly garments and he had a belt sash golden golden is the nature of God in his not his waist waist means readiness to deal and fight chest stands for heart love so his belt is around his heart Thomas he was I saw in the midst of the seven lampstand in the middle of the church there is one cloth with this garment and he was walking in the church in the local churches the seven churches Christ is so he's he's seated in heaven interceding for us but he's also in us amongst us loving us caring for us nourishing us cherishing us his breast the belt is on his chest his heart is for the church and so he has not left us he said

[64:17] I'll be with you always so much as he's in heaven as our high priest he's also amongst us as our lover as our nourisher as our cherisher that is why when you are a Christian and Satan throws his waist blow you can believe God that this is your God of love God will arise to defend you so what does that mean if God Christ is in the church loving us in the church no wonder when Saul of Tartus attacked the church he came after Saul why do you persecute the church because he's busy loving us expressing himself walking amongst us he said he was among the candles he's inside us Christ is inside us loving us and as the lion of the tribe of Judah fighting and defending his church as the lion of the tribe of Judah and so I don't know what you might have been through this past week and I don't know what is threatening your peace is it your health is it your family is it your finances is it your marriage oh we have a lover yes we have a lover if you are part of his church he will rise to your defense all I need you to do is to learn how to turn and see him turn be connected with him and get interested in also building his church yes because he's busy loving his church building his church helping his people developing the church get busy and know that this God of the church the God of the church he is the son of man walking amongst us he is the light the bright and the morning star

[65:59] God told me to tell somebody don't be afraid because God will kind of fight for you don't be afraid about your health about your job about that letter you have just received some of you are seated here you are very worried and confused about things actually you don't know what's happening what's going on with me I don't know I don't know what's going on Lord help me you are in the right place yes you are in the right place amen because this our God our Jesus the Lord he is rich unto all he is rich unto all who call on his name yeah let's do where the covenant where old well in many and we still we want to my to reap understand then the world that remember that the lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed. Weep not! Weep not! Fear not!

[67:38] Because the lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed. He didn't prevail for himself, he prevailed on our behalf. God is your helper. 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 that this is our year of knowing Christ and making him known. Don't forget to stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter for regular updates on what God is doing here at Charis Ministries.

[68:15] Stay blessed.