[0:00] Welcome. Thank you for choosing to listen to this Spirit-filled Word by David Entry. A time to hear God's Word is a time to be visited.
[0:11] May you receive a visitation as you listen to this message. Be blessed. Verse 22 of John chapter 20. If you don't mind, shall we all read it out from the screen?
[0:27] Let's go. And when he has said this, he breathed on them and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. One more time, please. And when he has said this, he breathed on them and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.
[0:44] Amen. The Word of God works better when it is spoken. So in Joshua chapter 1 verse 8, it says, This book of the Lord shall not depart out of your mouth, not your head, not your ears.
[1:02] Out of your mouth. Thou shalt meditate upon it day and night. That's interesting. Thou shalt meditate upon it, but it shall not depart from your mouth. So that means as you are thinking about it, you are speaking it out.
[1:13] So think about it day and night and any opportunity to speak it out. It says that then thou shalt make your way prosperous. Prosperity is not fundamentally, first of all, a product of hard work first.
[1:29] It's a product of God's way. Thou shalt make. He said, no one makes you prosperous. You, if you do this, thou shalt make.
[1:40] He said, for then thou shalt make your way prosperous. And then thou shalt have good success. Some people are having success, but it's not good success.
[1:53] It's only them anyway. So the word of God, anytime to speak out the word of God, grab it. That's why sometimes good preachers will ask you to say the word.
[2:06] Preaching is not only to tell you what God's word is saying. It's to tell you what God is saying and give you opportunity and sometimes to say what God's word is saying. So Hebrews chapter 13 verse 5.
[2:20] He said, let your life be without covetousness. Courageousness. For he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. Verse 6. So we will boldly say. So why did he say?
[2:31] He said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. So you will boldly or we may boldly say. God said it, so we will say it. It's important to appreciate homologia.
[2:44] It's important to appreciate speaking God's word. Because without speaking God's word, you will see God's works. The only way God's works can manifest is first of all, when his word has been released.
[3:00] So in Genesis chapter 1 verse 3 verse 6 verse 9 verse 11 verse 14 verse 20 verse 22 24 verse 22. It said that God said.
[3:13] The word of God must be spoken so that the works of God will be seen. It's important. Your silence is hurting your destiny.
[3:24] Even salvation is at the mercy of your ways. It says that with the heart man believes and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
[3:38] Romans chapter 10. It said what says it? The word is near you. Where? It's in your mouth. What kind of word? The word of faith. What kind of faith is it that can reflect in your mouth?
[3:50] The word of faith, which we preach. We are preaching word of faith, but it should be in your mouth. It's not. When we look for it, we will find it in your mouth. Because once it's in your heart, it shows in your mouth.
[4:03] Your mouth is the widow to your heart when it comes to the word of faith. So he said the word of faith which we preach, it's near you. Where is it? It's in your mouth. Even in your, it's in your mouth.
[4:15] And in thy heart. That is the word of faith which we are preaching by it's in your mouth. Whose mouth is the preaching coming from? Is it not the preacher? He said we are preaching it, but it's in your mouth. Then he goes on to say that, verse 9, he said that if thou shall confess.
[4:30] Ah. So there is an if. That means that not everyone will. But if. If means that the word you are hearing, if you can allow it to come out of your mouth, you will see the manifestations of God.
[4:44] It's interesting. He said if thou shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, thou shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. Confess and believe what you have confessed.
[4:55] You shall be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness. And with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. He's talking about, this you can tell, he's talking about how you should say what is in your heart.
[5:07] You should say when it hits your heart, it will show in your mouth. Then the next verse says that, look at this, this is interesting. For the scripture says, whoever believes on him shall not be put to shame.
[5:17] So now it says that he's believing. If you believe on him, you can't be put to shame. How do you say, how can someone be saying, sorry, oh sorry for you, when you are a believer? When you are a believer, they will say, wow, I wish I was you.
[5:31] Wow, I wish I was you. A believer can never be at the mercy of circumstances. So, he says that, for he who shall believe, whosoever believes in shall not be saved.
[5:44] But look at the next verse. For there is no difference between the Jew or the Greek. For the same Lord is rich over all who call on him. Oh, now he's talking about call. I thought he said believe. Yeah, he said call on him.
[5:56] You want to see how rich God is towards people? Call him and see. I'm just trying to teach you scripture. Look at where we started from. The word is near you where in your mouth.
[6:07] Even in your heart. What word? The word of faith, which we are preaching. It's near you. That if you shall confess the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart, man believes unto righteousness.
[6:19] And with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. And he says that for, the scripture says that whoever shall believe on him shall not be put to shame. Then he says that for the same Lord is rich unto all who call on him.
[6:31] I thought you were talking about believing. So is it believing or calling? Yeah, you can't believe without speaking. Genuine believing. It says that the word is in your mouth, even in your heart.
[6:44] Whatever. I told you. Your mouth is the window to what is in your heart. If you want to know what people are in their heart, just keep quiet. Listen to them. Someone say, I love Jesus.
[6:55] You just keep quiet. Listen to them. As they talk, you can tell. When did they realize that they actually love Michael more than Jesus? You can let them keep talking. Yeah. So it says that we believe.
[7:07] It says that God, the same Lord, is rich unto all. No discrimination. Whether you're a pastor, you are not a pastor. You are, you are, it doesn't matter your racial background.
[7:18] Race doesn't matter. Gender doesn't matter. Status doesn't matter. Marital status doesn't matter. Social status, education doesn't matter. God is rich unto all. And the condition to experience his riches is to call on his name.
[7:33] But he said there's a problem. The next verse, verse 13. For whosoever shall call on his name. But in the verse 14, now throws a question. He said, but how? How then shall they call on him on who they?
[7:46] Ah, oh, okay. So when you believe you call, then you will not be put to shame. Verse 11 happens. So just believing is not it. Believing and calling is what makes you see God.
[7:59] And you can't call without believing. If you call without believing, Jesus said, not all those who say, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom. Because just saying doesn't mean squat. God is first of all.
[8:09] What you are saying must be what is loaded in your heart. But the problem is that how can they, he said, how can they call on him whom they have not believed? And they said, no, no. You want to believe? Then how can they believe on him of whom they have not heard?
[8:22] That's why you need a preacher. You have to hear. Your hearing is affecting your believing. You don't do church. You will do devil.
[8:33] You will do Satan. If you don't do church, Satan will do you. You don't understand why Satan is doing you. Because you don't do church. And some people, the church, they are doing.
[8:45] They are not hearing the preaching of God's word. So you are in church. But Satan is still doing you. Because when you come to church and start for preaching, you are sleeping. When you come to church and start for preaching, you are standing outside.
[8:56] When you start in the toilet, you are in the toilet. How can you be in the toilet for 20 minutes? Are you giving birth? What is happening? I feel like preaching.
[9:09] So he says that, God is rich unto all who call on him. Because whoever shall call on him, in the name of the Lord shall be saved. But he said, there's a problem here.
[9:20] But how can you call on him, on whom you have not believed, in whom you have not believed? It's never possible. You are just making sound, but you are not calling.
[9:35] Some of you have seen a phone, the old ones, that had the quads. Yeah. You can be pressing buttons, but it doesn't mean you are making a call.
[9:45] You know, when you want to deceive somebody, you see someone, maybe in town, and you don't want them to distract you. Just, oh yes, yeah, yeah, that time, oh yeah. Oh, hey, hey, hey.
[9:55] You get busy on the phone, but it's not a call. When you give your phone to children to play with it, a fake phone or something, replica phone, it doesn't make calls.
[10:06] So, if there's no belief in your heart, you are not calling God, oh no. You are not calling, it's just replica, replica, shout, yeah, blah, blah, blah, but it doesn't go anywhere.
[10:18] So, he says that the problem is, how shall they call on him, on whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
[10:29] That's why you must learn how to celebrate preachers. Because they are God's means of visiting people.
[10:48] That's why Jesus didn't come as a carpenter. When he came on earth, he wasn't a medical doctor. He didn't come as a lawyer. He didn't come as a shepherd doing something.
[11:01] He came as a preacher. Because the only damn test that means God reaches to people is through preachers. Preaching of preachers.
[11:11] So, if Satan wants to destroy a society, a community, he will first of all attack. Don't be surprised why people like all these preachers, all these preachers.
[11:27] No, no, it's not them. Satan is behind it. Because until you silence preachers, you can't silence the move of God. So, in fact, in Acts chapter 5, they whip them.
[11:39] And the Bible says that, Acts chapter 5 verse 28, the three strictly not warn you that don't preach in this name, but you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine.
[11:51] Or your... We have to fill Chatham with our teachings. We have to fill Chatham with our teachings. We have to fill Kent with our teachings.
[12:02] We have to fill England with our preaching. We have to fill United Kingdom with our preaching. Sharia! We told you that you should not teach in this name.
[12:16] And behold, you have filled Jerusalem. So, Jerusalem was like a container. It was like a big barrel. Societies, communities, neighborhoods, they are like containers.
[12:28] Either Satan can be filled there, or we can fill it with God's word. God said, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine. And intend to bring his name upon us.
[12:39] So, Bible says that, how can they hear without a preacher? Then he says that, after mentioning preachers, then he goes to talk about how shall they preach except they be saints.
[12:55] God, you must... You can't be a preacher if you have not met God. Some of you have been trying to do outreach, but you don't read your Bible. You are trying to speak for God, but God is not...
[13:10] You are not listening to God. It's just like an interpreter. Who is interpreting what he's not hearing? Do you understand what I'm saying?
[13:25] So, preaching will lead into believing. Good preaching by a saint's person will lead into believing. Believing will lead into calling.
[13:37] Calling will lead into saving. That's why I ask you that, let's read that text. John 20, 22. He breathed upon them.
[13:48] And he said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. And do you know who said it? Jesus our Lord and Savior. When did he say it?
[14:01] Let me teach. Now, listen. Jesus spent 33 years on earth. 30 of those years was being like us.
[14:16] Eating normal food, playing football. Playing chess if they had chess. Playing ping pong if they had ping pong. I mean, playing music and doing everything.
[14:31] Normal. He was living a normal life. And then, when he was 30, his cousin was already in ministry. Baptizing.
[14:43] And then he went to his cousin. Also, not to go and meet him as my friend. No. He went to his cousin to meet him as someone in ministry. So, when he went to his cousin's church, he didn't go and say that I need to have a front seat.
[14:57] His cousin said, No, you're a big guy. You can't come. Then sit at the back. He said, No, no, no, no. I didn't come to preach. I came to submit. So, it's important to understand.
[15:09] Jesus Christ came. And for 30 years, he wasn't doing anything. Then he went and submitted to his cousin, who was a preacher, who was the leader of the day. And then, when he went, John the Baptist said, No, no, I can't baptize you.
[15:22] He said, No, suffer you to be, to be full of righteousness. I believe John the Baptist knew that there was something unusual about him. However, he didn't know that that is the Messiah.
[15:34] Because how was he going to know the Messiah? According to John chapter 1, he said, God, this is very funny. John chapter 1, John chapter 1 verse 31, he says that, I do not know him.
[15:46] You are coming to introduce to us someone you don't know. How can you introduce him to us? You don't know. He said, I knew him not. But that he might be made manifest to Israel.
[15:58] Therefore, I came baptizing with water. So, the reason why I'm doing what I'm doing, I'm baptizing, is so that the one who is supposed to be the Savior of the world, when he comes, he will be revealed through the baptism.
[16:11] He will be revealed through the baptism. You tell me you are born again, and since you became born again, you have not been baptized. So, he will be revealed through the baptism.
[16:24] Then he says that, I did not look at verse 33. He repeats it again. Verse 33, I knew him not. That guy kept him. I don't know him. But the one who sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto the one upon whom you see the Holy Spirit descending and resting.
[16:41] He's the one who baptized the Holy Ghost. And he says that, I have witnessed that this is the Lamb of God. I have witnessed. I've seen it. And I now witness and bear witness that Jesus is the one. Because he saw the Holy Spirit coming.
[16:53] That's why he came to baptize. Because the Holy Spirit wouldn't have come on Jesus unless, until he was baptized. So, it was during his baptism that the Holy Spirit came upon him.
[17:03] Don't take spiritual activities for granted. Like coming to church, serving in church. All those things will determine something that comes upon you or what comes upon you.
[17:15] So, he says that, that's why when Jesus was coming to be baptized in Matthew chapter 3 from verse 13, John the Baptist said, No, no, no, no, no. I come to baptize. Jesus said, Hey, please. Suffer I to be full of righteousness because at the moment, I'm operating as a man.
[17:28] So, allow, without the Holy Spirit, I can't work for God. So, allow me to go through this baptismal process. You are, you are a music giant. You have albums and you are a celebrity.
[17:40] You've joined the church and you said, I can't join the choir because I'm too big. No. Join the choir and you didn't join from leadership point. You don't enter an organization with a helicopter.
[17:52] Go through reception from the ground floor. Reception is always not on the top floor. It's always on the ground floor. Come lower. Come lower. The way to the top is down.
[18:05] So, when you join a church, one of the things that, signs that God can use you in His kingdom is humility. If you are not humble, God can use you. If you are not humble, God can use you.
[18:17] If you are not humble, God can use you. And if God can use you, you'll be at a loss. You'll be at a loss because on the day He comes back, He's going to question you of how you have used your life for His purpose.
[18:29] How you allow Him to use you, not the things that you think are nice, which you did. So, Jesus came and He was baptized. And when He was being baptized, the Holy Spirit came upon Him.
[18:40] But why did He need the Holy Spirit? He's the Son of God. From the womb of Mary, He is God. He wasn't like, He didn't become God after the Holy Spirit came. No, no. The reason why the Holy Spirit had to come on Him because He was a human being going to do the work of God.
[18:53] But He was a human being. But He was also God, yes. It was His human nature that was about to work for God. But His God, His divine nature was always there.
[19:04] But it was His human nature called divinity to call humanity. And that humanity, that has been, that divinity has taken on had to be anointed in Acts chapter 10 verse 38.
[19:17] How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power. God didn't anoint the Son of God. He anointed Jesus of Nazareth. Very important.
[19:27] So it was Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus, so it's like you, of learning of, like learning of tatam. That's the same thing. So when you are talking about Jesus, Jesus, I mean, everybody must have an address.
[19:43] You must be found somewhere. You must be found somewhere. If you say you don't have a place of birth, you have a spirit. Everybody must have a place of birth and a date of birth.
[19:56] That puts you within the context of history and time. So Jesus had to be, had a place of birth, was Bethlehem. And He grew up in Nazareth. So His address was in Nazareth.
[20:07] God sent an angel to a Mary, a lady called, a virgin called Mary, in Nazareth. John chapter, Luke chapter 1 verse 29. Nazareth. So Jesus was a Nazarene.
[20:18] He was Jesus Christ of Nazareth. How God anointed Jesus Christ of Nazareth. That Jesus Christ of Nazareth was the son of David, was the great, great, great son of David. He was a human being.
[20:28] So it was Jesus of Nazareth who was anointed. And if you are a human being, you can't work for God without anointing. Other than that, you'll be very annoying. Yes! So, He was anointed.
[20:42] But interestingly, even before His conception, Mary as a human being was about to catch something divine. And the angel came to Mary, Luke chapter 1, and announced to Mary that God is about to do something unique in your life.
[20:58] And Mary said that, verse 34, how can these things be? The angel said to Mary, you're about to get pregnant, even though you're a virgin. Huh? What?
[21:09] Pregnant? What? What? Who has ever heard such a thing that a virgin is pregnant? No, it can't be. So Mary said, angel, angel, I know you're an angel and I respect you.
[21:24] So with all respect, with all due respect, how can these things you are talking about be? Since I don't know a man. It doesn't mean doesn't know his father, doesn't know a father, doesn't know others in the town.
[21:35] That means that knowing that Adam knew his wife. How can these things be since I know not a man? And then the angel said, verse 35, no, this is not about a man.
[21:46] You're about to conceive for the first time in human history, somebody's about to convince a conceive without the involvement of the upper sixes or any other human being.
[21:58] and the angel said, you don't need a man for the Holy Ghost. There was the Holy Ghost.
[22:09] You see, even Mary needed the coming of the Holy Spirit before she could conceive Jesus. And then after Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit, Matthew chapter 1, verse 18 and 19, Bible says that before Joseph could know her, she was found to be with child by the Holy Ghost.
[22:31] Yeah. She was found, what was it? Now, this is the birth of Jesus. Her mother was a spouse to Joseph. Before they could come together, she was found to be with child by the Holy Ghost.
[22:42] Hey. Yeah. So Jesus was conceived of the Holy Ghost. Of the Holy Ghost.
[22:53] And now, after he had been conceived and he was living a normal life, when he turned 30, he went to be baptized. One of the reasons why he went to be baptized was that so the Holy Spirit would come upon him.
[23:05] You want the Holy Spirit, what are you doing? What spiritual activity are you engaging in? Wow. Even Jesus had to be engaged, had to engage in a certain spiritual activity for the Holy Ghost to come.
[23:18] When I say spiritual activity, I'm not saying that sitting down and thinking, imagining. No. Not that. No, no, no. I'm talking, I'm talking about he was engaged in something physical, but it has spiritual connotation.
[23:34] Do you understand what I'm saying? Physical activity, but it was a spiritual activity. Even though it's physical, it's influence and its meaning was spiritual.
[23:46] So, we are singing, here I am to worship someone think that you are just singing like Biosi. No. This one has a spiritual significance. When you eat communion, it's not normal drink.
[24:01] It has spiritual significance. When you are baptized, it's not just getting wet or getting soaked in water. It has heavy spiritual significance. So, Jesus Christ had to subject and submit himself to this physical activity, but it was heavy in spiritual meaning.
[24:23] And that was the only thing that opened. He said, listen to, John the Baptist, the baptizer, the only Baptist who was never baptized. John the Baptist. John the Baptist. Because he said, he said, I need to be baptized by you.
[24:36] So, that means he wasn't baptized. That's what he said, Jesus. He said, I need to be baptized by you, but you come down and baptize Matthew chapter 3. So, that means John the Baptist himself was not baptized.
[24:47] The only Baptist who was not baptized. Anyway, so, John the Baptist, John the Baptist said, he said that, I don't know him.
[25:00] I knew him not. John 1, 31. But that he will be revealed to Israel, therefore, I came baptizing with water. So, the purpose of John the Baptist assignment was one.
[25:17] Not to baptize all the people, even though they were being baptized. He was baptizing everybody to find out who the Holy Ghost is going to come upon during the baptism. That's there.
[25:29] He said, I knew him not, but that he should be made manifest to Israel. Therefore, I came, I'm come baptizing with water. So, then verse 33 says that, he who sent me to baptize, the same told me, upon whom you see the Holy Spirit descend, he's the one.
[25:47] So, whilst you are baptizing, it will create the platform, it will create the room, it will create the situation for the Holy Ghost to come upon him. Don't take spiritual activities for granted.
[26:00] Sometimes, there are a lot of struggles in your life because there are less spiritual activities in your life. That's why the struggles are increasing. there are a lot of harassment Satan brings on people which could have been averted or avoided had they been engaged in spiritual activities.
[26:20] If you have been engaged in church activities more, most likely, most likely, your challenges will be lesser. God, it's not every challenge that you need is necessary.
[26:34] Some of the health challenges you are going through could be severely mitigated if you have been very active with God in church. So, spiritual activities make a huge difference.
[26:48] Jesus had to be submitted to spiritual activities so that the Holy Spirit can come upon you because he says that the Holy Spirit cannot just come upon somebody and need some activity.
[26:59] So, John the Baptist, I'm standing ahead of him. Go ahead and start baptizing. through that activity of baptizing, the Holy Spirit will come upon him. So, that's why Jesus came and was about to be baptized. John the Baptist said, no, no, no, no, no.
[27:10] Matthew chapter 3. He said, no, no, no, no, no. I can baptize you from verse 13. I can baptize you. You are not the one. I'm not even worthy to untie your legs, let alone to baptize you.
[27:22] Please, you should baptize me. Jesus said, hey, verse 15 or so. Jesus said, no, no, no. Suffer it. He said, Jesus, and Jesus answering, Jesus answering and said, suffer it to be so. Now, for death it becometh act to fulfill all right.
[27:35] We have to tick all the boxes God requires. You want God to use you, you don't want to tick the boxes. If you want God to use you, there are boxes you have to tick.
[27:47] You must have a record that you have been serving in church. It's a box to tick. And you have not been creating problems in church. God never uses people who gossip to bless the church.
[28:02] No, he doesn't use people who gossip. Am I teaching you at all? You see why I needed you to sit down? Because you can be shouting and end up in error.
[28:16] Your biggest disadvantage is what you don't know. Yeah. Your biggest disadvantage is what you don't know. What you don't know is what is killing you.
[28:31] By now, you would have bought your house already if you knew how to fix your credit history. And if you knew what to save and not to spend all your money on week and makeup.
[28:44] up. Somebody let this after time.
[28:57] So, what you don't know is what you can know. That's why when we come to church it's an opportunity to know. To know what?
[29:07] To know spiritual things from God's word. that's what will give you an advantage. You are not at a disadvantage when you are in knowledge. It's that you might know that you might know the deep things of God.
[29:26] Anyway, so, Jesus Christ comes and he gets baptized. Why? Because he needed the Holy Spirit. then he resurrects from the dead.
[29:41] His assignment was to come and die. That's why he became a human being. Because spirits don't have blood. Okay? But to pay for sins, you need blood. Because the life of a thing, according to Leviticus, is in the blood.
[29:55] So, you need blood to pay for life. And Jesus had to come and die to pay for our sins. Not for his sins. He was sinless. So, he had to pay for our sins.
[30:07] And without the shedding, Hebrews chapter 9 verse 22, without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. So, in other words, sins cannot be taken away if blood has not been shed.
[30:20] Because the wages of sin is, but the gift of God is eternal life. So, anyone who sins, there is a wage that is coming, payday. So, payday comes with death.
[30:33] So, then, if the wages of sin is death, and you should be excused for giving your sins, so, who should pay that death? That's why Jesus came to die.
[30:48] Okay, Bible says, he came to give himself as a ransom for many. Yes. As a ransom for many. Mark chapter 10 verse 45, and actually in 1 Timothy chapter 2, it says that he came to give himself as a ransom.
[31:07] Died for many. So, Jesus came to give himself to die in our place. Why? So, his blood can be shed for us. That's why we take communion.
[31:18] He said, this is the new covenant in my blood. In Ephesians chapter 1 verse 7, he said, for in him we have redemption through his blood.
[31:32] Colossians 1, 13 and 14. In him we have redemption through his blood. So, when an ignorant religious person tells you that the death of Jesus doesn't matter, he is a good person.
[31:48] Why did Jesus come? So, because God wants to demonstrate his love. When he said, give his only begotten son to do, he died on the cross. Verse 15, you only read John 3, 16.
[31:59] Well, you didn't look at verse 15. Verse 15 says that as Moses lifted the serpent of the tree, so the son of man must be raised on the cross. So, he actually died. Verse 14, he said, and as Moses lifted the serpent on the cross, so the son of man must also be lifted on the tree, on the cross.
[32:16] Then, verse 15 talks about whosoever that saw that whosoever believed in him, so your belief in him must be believing because you believe Jesus died for your sins.
[32:28] Not that I believe that he's a miracle worker. I believe he says he's nice. No, he died for your sins. If you don't believe he died for your sins, you are still in your sins. So, Jesus said that unless you believe in me, that I am he, you will die in your sins.
[32:46] John 8, verse 24, I think so. He said, unless you believe that me, I am the son of God who died for, you will die in your sins. So, the only way you can be excused from dying in your sins is when you believe that he died on your behalf.
[32:58] That is why on the cross, it wasn't only him. Please, it wasn't only Jesus who died on the cross. There were over 30,000 people who died on the cross in the days of Jesus. That was the Roman favorite way of execution.
[33:11] So, they executed many people. So, it wasn't only Jesus. So, when you see a cross, don't think it's only Jesus. But, Jesus' cross was different because he was dying for everybody, including those who are dying on the cross.
[33:23] So, on the cross, watch this, on the cross, what you have to understand is Jesus didn't die for everybody who is alive. He only died for those who believe in him. I will show you. Because, on the cross, he wasn't the only one dying.
[33:34] There were two other criminals dying. One on the left, one on the right. The one of them on the side told him that if you are the son of God, save yourself and save us. And, the other one said, shut up.
[33:46] You can't talk rubbish like that. Because, he is innocent. We deserve what we are going through. And, then, after responding to the other criminal, this one, this criminal turns to Jesus and says, Jesus, please, I believe in you.
[34:00] If you, please, remember me when you come to your kingdom because I know you are going somewhere. And, Jesus said, I tell you the truth. Today, you, you, the one who are asking me, you will be with me in paradise. So, then, you can understand that there were two other people die on the cross.
[34:15] One got saved, the other one didn't get saved. So, if he really died to save everybody, he should have said that, don't worry, all of you will be with me in paradise. No. He just said to the one who believed in him.
[34:27] So, when you believe him, when he says that, for God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whosoever believed in him, it's not just saying, I believe Jesus was born by Mary, and so on. If you, you're believing I was born by a virgin Mary, it's leading to the fact that a sinless person, and a human being who was God in the human flesh, died for your sins, then you know that he has paid for your sins, so you don't have to stay in your sins.
[34:53] That is where Christianity begins. You can never be a Christian until you believe you are a sinner first. Because if you are not a sinner, why should you be punished?
[35:04] You don't need anyone to die for you. Oh, yeah. That's why Jesus made it very clear that I did not come to save the righteous people. I came to save the sinner. Good news for the sinner brother.
[35:17] Good news for the sinning sister. Good news for you. He came to save the sinner. That's good news. Don't mind the religious people. Jesus came for the sinners. Do I have some former sinners in the house?
[35:33] Hallelujah. Good news. Good news. Is someone enjoying the way that God? So Jesus Christ came and on his way to the cross, before he got to the cross, the main reason why he came as a human being was to die for our sins.
[35:56] It's very important. Bible says that God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us. So he just didn't die for himself. In fact, when John the Baptist saw him coming in John 1 verse 29, he says that the next day John the Baptist saw Jesus coming and then he says that behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
[36:16] What? The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. What? No one could take away sin. That is why in Mark, I like the scripture so much, in Mark chapter 2, verse 2, they brought someone who was sick and couldn't walk, paralyzed man, couldn't walk.
[36:34] They brought him to him and when he saw the man, he says, look at the guy and he says, son, your sins are forgiven. This is serious.
[36:45] This seems to be a serious blunder. Serious blunder. How? How on earth can you, a human being, look at another human being and tell them your sins?
[36:59] I can't even look at you and tell you what you did against this guy. I forgive you. I can't even forgive you on behalf of another human being. Can you?
[37:10] When people go to court and they are found guilty, they just punish them. But it doesn't mean they have secured forgiveness for the one they offended.
[37:21] No. That's why in the gang culture sometimes they will come to prison and also kill you in prison. Yeah. You are in prison, but when you come out, they will still look for you to kill you. Why?
[37:31] Because being in prison doesn't mean they have secured forgiveness from the other person. Because nobody can secure forgiveness or no one can forgive your ex on your behalf. Can anyone do that?
[37:43] Can anyone do that? Can anyone attempt to forgive your ex? The devil is a liar. They can't do it. But you, you can choose to say, you know, I forgive him.
[37:59] I forgive my ex. another person. I can't forgive somebody on your behalf.
[38:11] Let alone to attempt to forgive somebody on God's behalf. That is blasphemy at the highest order, out of the highest order.
[38:23] So Jesus sees, Jesus sees someone who was sick and couldn't walk. Then Jesus, when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the sick of palsy, his son. Two things I want to draw attention to.
[38:40] Jesus was a very good Jew. So that means he had been taught the Jewish tradition and customs very well. He wasn't ignorant. And number two, he was God.
[38:51] Let me leave that. He had deep understanding of spiritual things. So for him to say, your sins be forgiven, if it was against the law, he wouldn't say it. So he wasn't saying something for fun.
[39:06] He said it for real. Then the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, the scribes, they write out the scripture. They know whatever the scripture is saying.
[39:17] So look at the next verse. But when certain of the scribes sitting there, sorry, but there were certain of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts.
[39:28] Look at, how are they reasoning? Look at the next verse. Why does this man speak blasphemy? Who can forgive sins? Do you know Jesus knew that it's only God who can forgive sins?
[39:39] Because he said he's also a rabbi. He should know this. He's very taught, well taught. So if Jesus knew that, why did he say to somebody, your sins are forgiven?
[39:51] Because who can forgive sins? God. God. So if Jesus could look at someone and say, your sins be forgiven, tell my Muslim friend who said Jesus didn't say he's God, that Jesus said I am God, that's why I'm forgiving sins.
[40:10] Jesus, he was acting as God on earth. Now, when the scribes started getting worried, and wondering, how can someone say this?
[40:26] This is the place of God. They say he's blaspheming. Look at the next thing. Look at that. And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were reasoning within themselves, he said unto them, why are you reasoning like this in your heart?
[40:41] Why are you? Look at that. What? Whether it's easier to say to the sick or the person, your sins be forgiven thee, or say, arise and take up your bed and walk.
[40:51] Which one is easy? So he didn't say what I said was wrong. He was trying to tell them that I could have said it another way, but I said it this way. So then, oh, it looks like you are admitting you are God then.
[41:05] I'm thinking, but what did you think? Because which one is easy? Because if I tell your sins are forgiven, I can't prove it's forgiven. That's an easier way to say it.
[41:18] but because of you, I'll say the other way, get up and walk. That one too. That one, if I tell you get up and walk before everybody, then they know that this guy has power to forgive sins.
[41:31] Now watch this, look at the next statement. look at, but that he may know that the son of man has power on earth that you may know.
[41:45] I mean, if I have power on earth to forgive sins, then I'm God on earth. That's what he's saying. That you will know that the son of man has power on earth to forgive sins.
[41:56] He turned to the sick man and said, get up, take up. take up your mat.
[42:09] Take out your bed and walk. And he got up, took his bed in there before all of them, immediately. And they were all marveling and started glorifying God, saying that we have never, and we never saw it on this fashion.
[42:23] Yeah, because you haven't seen God at work in the physical. Why did Jesus come on earth? Why did he come on earth? That's why when he told them he was going to die, Peter, in Matthew chapter 16, Peter said, no, you can't die.
[42:38] You are a good man, you can't die. He said, Satan, get behind me. Because you are trying to block the purpose of God. You're only thinking about how it is nice among human beings.
[42:49] You're only thinking about human rights and human niceness. That's what Jesus said. He said, Matthew chapter 16, he said, Jesus tend to Satan, get behind me, Satan. He turned to Peter.
[43:01] And he said, Satan, get behind me. Peter was not Satan, but Satan was operating through Peter. Because of the way Peter was thinking, he was giving a platform for Satan to operate through him. He said to him, Satan, get behind me, you are an offense to me.
[43:13] You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. That's why you have to be careful. We have very much concern about this church. Because it's human concern.
[43:24] Have you thought about God's concern? have you thought about God's concern? You are just being political. Have you thought about God's concern? Some people in the church, God will judge them harshly.
[43:38] Because they have never thought about God's concern. Only human concerns and what is nice in the eyes of people. that's what Peter was doing. Why are you fighting your pastor?
[43:52] Because he just told somebody the way you are behaving in church. If you don't behave right, we will sack you from the church. And you decided to be offended on the behalf of the person. Meanwhile, he wasn't even talking to you.
[44:07] And sometimes a pastor is preaching. Somebody who is outside heard the recording and decided to be offended. You are not there. You are not part of those you are talking to. Alright, alright.
[44:18] You mind the things of God, the things of men. So, Jesus came mainly to die on the cross. So, after dying on the cross, that's why on the cross in Luke chapter 19 verse 30, he said, it is finished.
[44:35] That's why he came. Assignment finito. Finito. Assignment finito. I finished my job. So, in John chapter 19 verse 30, he said, it is finished.
[44:51] It's finished. So, when he finished, he died. On the third day, he resurrected because he finished his job. He resurrected. And then, when he resurrected, in John chapter 20, the disciples were afraid.
[45:05] So, they locked themselves in the room. They were in the room by themselves. Then, Jesus just comes through the door and stands in their midst, not near them. They have gathered, he appears in their midst.
[45:20] He appears in their midst. And then, the first thing he said to them is, peace be upon you. Don't worry, peace be upon you. Then, he tells them that, look, I'm not a ghost. Look at my wounds.
[45:31] I'm a real Jesus. I still have the wounds. My nail pierced and it's the evidence that I shed my blood. That's why you don't have to be worried when you get to heaven if you believe in Jesus.
[45:42] Because your hands are too dirty. But don't worry, somebody's hands are there, showing God that I paid for their price. I paid for their price. I paid for their price. So, watch this.
[45:53] So, Jesus showed them his hands. And after showing them his hands, he tells them that, he says again, peace be upon you. Then, he says, as the father sent me, so I send you.
[46:05] after saying that I'm sending you, he was trying to imply that you cannot be sent without the core ingredient that makes a sent one a sent one.
[46:18] Because, because you don't have in yourself, listen to this very carefully, you do not have within yourself what it takes to do God's work. no human being has that.
[46:32] Not even Jesus when he came on earth. So, what does it take? He said that as the father, oh, thank you, God. Watch this, watch this. He said, as the father sent me, the same way I sent you, when the father sent me, I needed the Holy Ghost.
[46:47] So, if I'm also, he said, he said, as the father, it's in your Bible. He said, unto the peace upon you, as my father has sent me, even so, send I you.
[47:06] Now, when my father sent me, I needed the Holy Ghost. So, now that I'm sending you, you will also need the Holy Ghost. So, when he, after he finished paying the price for our sins, it's now time for us to do God's work.
[47:26] And the most important thing you need in your life, after your sins are forgiven, is the ability to do God's work. And you can't do God's work without receiving the Holy.
[47:41] So, he said, as the father has sent me, so send I you. Then he breathed on them. And he said, receive ye the Holy Ghost.
[47:54] Shout hallelujah. So, you are in a major, a major error. If you attempt to do God's work without the Holy Spirit, you are left on your own.
[48:13] But you should remember there are so many things you never was able to achieve. What makes you think you can achieve the work of God? so many things you haven't done.
[48:25] Even to manage a relationship, look at the way you are struggling. Basic relationship with a man or a woman. You are struggling.
[48:37] Let alone you can do God's work to save people. Please, no human being has the natural installation to do God's work by themselves.
[48:48] So Jesus said, receive ye the Holy Spirit. So, in Acts chapter 19 verse 1 to 3, whilst Apollo's water calling it, Paul having passed through the upper coast of Ephesus and finding certain disciples, he asked them, did you receive the Holy Ghost after you have believed?
[49:14] Ah, ah, ah, ah. Watch this, watch this, watch this. So, believing is not the end. Believing is the beginning. After you believe, said, after, did you receive the Holy Ghost after you believed?
[49:32] So, now when you believe, Jesus died, when you believe that he died for you, now you are saved, then you can begin a Christian journey. So, did you receive the Holy Ghost?
[49:43] So, that means that after believing, the most important thing in your life is the Holy Spirit. Watch this, that is, that is, that is, that is why in Galatians chapter 3, verse 13 and 14, the Bible says that Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having been made a curse for us, for it is written, curse is anyone who hangs on the tree, verse 14, that the blessing of Abraham might come upon us, the Gentiles also.
[50:11] that's not the end, that we will receive the promise of the Holy Spirit. So, we are, he died on the cross so that we can be forgiven of our sins and receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit and receive the Holy Spirit.
[50:28] The Holy Spirit is when you have actually started the work of God, the work of God. So, in Acts chapter 1, verse 8, Jesus said, you shall receive power.
[50:39] Why do I need the Holy Spirit? Jesus, why do I need the Holy Spirit? Because you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you. In John chapter 16, from verse 6, the Bible says that Jesus told them that he was going to leave.
[50:52] And Jesus said, your heart is sorrowful. Why are you sad? Because I told you I am going to leave. But he says that it is expedient for you that I go.
[51:03] Jesus said, it is expedient, it is essential, it is important, it is necessary, it is critical, it is, oh, I feel like preaching. Jesus said, it is critical.
[51:17] I tell you, he said, nevertheless, I tell you the truth. Now, verse 6 says that because I told you I was going, you are sad. Because I told you I was going, you are sad.
[51:28] Jesus said, why are you sad? You don't get it. Why are you sad? This is not sad news. Because then he says that nevertheless, I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you, not for me, for you that I go.
[51:45] For if I go not away, the comforter will not come unto you. But if I depart, I will send him to you.
[52:00] Why? No, listen to it. Listen to the argument here. Jesus said, because I told you I was going, sorrow has filled your heart. But he says that, let me tell you the truth, it is in your interest, it is to your advantage, it is critical for you, it is essential for you, it is necessary for you that I go.
[52:21] He said, because if I don't go, the comforter, who is the Holy Spirit, will not come. Now watch this. In other ways, it is necessary for the Holy Spirit to come. He said, I've died on the cross, I've done my job, but what you need most is the Holy Spirit.
[52:43] It's the Holy Spirit. So he's trying to talk about the essential nature of the Holy Spirit in a Christian's life. That is why when he resurrected from the dead, and he came amongst human beings, when he met the disciples, the first thing he told them, receive the Holy Spirit.
[53:05] Why? Because the Holy Spirit coming upon a believer's life is the best thing that could ever happen to any human. The best thing that could happen to any human being, watch this, is not forgiveness of sins.
[53:26] It's the Holy Spirit coming upon you. So he said, it's expedient. For if I don't go, they're comforted.
[53:37] But if I go, I will send him. And then he says that when he comes, he will convict the world of sin. When he comes, he's going to deal with the world of sin. He's going to convict us of righteousness and he's going to, he's also going to deal with the devil.
[53:50] Yeah, it's there. He says that when he comes, he will convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment. Of sin, of sin because I do, because they do not believe in me. Of righteousness because I go to my father and you see me no more.
[54:04] That's on your behalf. Of judgment because the God of this world, the ruler, that Satan of this world is judged. So he has an assignment towards the believer, towards the world, and towards Satan of sin.
[54:17] Because listen, when you are filled with the Holy Spirit and you preach, sometimes, not sometimes, it should begin to make people feel, I need God. Convict, you can't be listening to an anointed preaching and go walk away and walk into fornication because you can, you can, but you can, you will fornicate knowing that this fornication is going to cost you.
[54:37] because when you hear anointed preaching, you can never be the same. You are either worse off or better off. An anointed preaching and the true gospel preaching never leaves people where they are.
[54:53] It makes your cares worse off or better off depending on whether you believe or you don't believe. That is why the Holy Spirit is needed. So he says that you need the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit to convict the world of sin, and then he goes on to say, verse 13, he said, but when he, the comforter, oh, I like that, how be it when he, the spirit of truth is come, he will guide you into all truth, for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak, and he will show you things to come.
[55:27] It's an amazing experience. You need the Holy Spirit. Mary needed the Holy Spirit to conceive Jesus. Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to do the work. And the early church, they needed the Holy Spirit.
[55:38] Jesus told them in the book of Acts chapter 1 verse 4, he said, wait in Jerusalem until you are endued with power from one eye. In Luke chapter 24 verse 49, he says that, but you shall be endued with power.
[55:52] After that, the Holy Ghost said, he told them to wait because they needed the Holy Spirit. And so Bible says when the day of Pentecost was fully come, in Acts chapter 2 from verse 1, they were all together in one place with one accord, and suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a mighty rushing wind, and filled the whole house where they were sitting, and clothed the tons of fire sat on each one of them.
[56:15] And verse 4 said, they were filled with their Holy Ghost. They were filled with the Holy Ghost. They were filled with the Holy Ghost. They were filled with the Holy Ghost, and they all began to speak in tongues as the Holy Spirit gave them their utterance.
[56:39] So you saw that the Holy Ghost came upon them. And then you can see in Acts chapter 4, when they were being threatened after healing somebody who was crippled, the Bible says that Peter filled with the Holy Ghost.
[56:49] It's the Acts chapter 4, verse 8, and Peter filled with the Holy Ghost, filled with the Holy Ghost. He was able to speak to them and not afraid, spoke to them boldly. And in Acts chapter 9, verse 16 and 17, Ananias went and laid hands on Saul, and he said, Brother Saul, Jesus Christ who appeared to you on the way to Damascus has sent me that you might receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
[57:16] Now, this one was filled from the beginning. Now, in Acts chapter 13, verse 9, the Bible says, and Paul filled, oh, come on, I feel like preaching. And so, who's called Paul? Filled with the Holy Ghost, looked at him and started preaching.
[57:28] and the Bible says that the first people who served in the church in Acts chapter 6, from verse 5-6, it says that and they chose Stephen, a man full of, no, no, let's go back.
[57:45] He said, choose you among people, people who have reputation, full of the Holy Ghost. So, to do God's work fully, you must be full of the Holy Spirit. You must be full of the Holy Spirit.
[57:55] And in Acts chapter 4, remember, in Acts chapter 2, verse 4, the Bible says that they were all filled by the Holy Spirit, with the Holy Spirit. But these same people, in Acts chapter 4, verse 31, when they had prayed, the place where their assembly was shaken, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
[58:12] So, that means that being filled with the Holy Spirit is not one-time experience. It is on and on. That is why in Ephesians chapter 5, verse 18, it said, don't be filled with wine, wherein is essen.
[58:25] But be, be, be filled. The Greek word is continuous, present, continuous. Be, be filled with the Holy Ghost. Serious! Thank you for listening to this message by David Entry.
[58:41] The best thing that can happen to you is being exposed to the Word of God. To hear more from David Entry, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, and subscribe to Carus Church on YouTube.
[58:57] You can also find more information about Carus Church and our upcoming services by visiting carus.org. Be blessed. Thank you. Be blessed. Thank you. Thank you.
[59:08] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.