[0:01] 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. May you receive a visitation as you listen to this message.
[0:14] Be blessed. Colossians chapter 2. I'm reading from verse 5 all the way through to verse 15.
[0:42] For though I be absent in the flesh, yet I am, yet am I with you in the spirit, enjoying and beholding your order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ.
[0:55] As ye have therefore received Christ, Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the flesh, sorry, established, sorry about that, established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
[1:18] Beware, lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit after the rudiments, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
[1:31] For in him dwells, dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principalities and powers, and power, in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without, made without hands, in putting of the body of sins, of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him, through the faith of the oppression of God, who has raised him from the dead.
[2:11] And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has he quickened together with him, having forgiven all your trespasses, blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that were against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to the cross, and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shoe of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
[2:46] Here ends the reading of God's word. Father, what we don't know, teach us. Where we are not, take us. Who we are not, make us. Through the delivery of your word of faith, your word of grace, your word of life, and word of truth, all to the glory of your majestic name, in Jesus' name, Amen.
[3:08] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Someone listening to me right now, has, is dealing with the issue of cancer. As I was, we were praying, I saw cancer being healed.
[3:22] Amen. I saw cancer. I saw it. I saw cancer being healed. Socially before you. In the name of Jesus Christ.
[3:34] Don't forget, Christians, that our God is a healer. Amen. If you believe God forgives sins, then you also have to let your believing be complete.
[3:45] You can't believe he's a forgiver of sins, and you don't believe he forgives, he heals sicknesses. Because he says that, he forgives all your iniquities, and heals all our diseases.
[4:00] Psalm 103. So God forgives our iniquities, not only that, who heals our diseases.
[4:10] So God forgives and he heals. I see the healing power of God, virtue of God, reaching out to somebody in Jesus' name. Amen. Well, the text we read, as I explained, Paul's agenda, I always underscore that point.
[4:26] Paul's agenda was to immunize the church, inoculate the church against infiltration of wrong doctrines that will eclipse Christ.
[4:41] And the problem was that they were not putting Christ aside. they were just adding to Christ. That was the problem. And it's a very big problem when you when you think that it must be Christ plus something to encounter and experience the fullness you can ever get from God.
[5:05] Paul said Christ plus nothing equals to everything. So that was his main purpose for writing the Colossians to help them to because at that time they were battling with all kinds of opinions and ideologies that were infiltrating the church just like today.
[5:28] To the extent that even people who were supposed to be teaching Christ were now beginning to add other things to Christ like angel worship in those days. They were you know what we read last week beware less verse 8 Colossians chapter 2 verse 8 saying that beware lest any man spoil you.
[5:48] See someone will be teaching you some other things and it will be spoiling beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy. Philosophy philosophy in itself is not bad but if you now bring philosophy and make it part of what Christ is that okay you need Christ but you also need philosophy because it's good then they are beginning to spoil you.
[6:16] So it says that in those days the philosophies they were dealing with was the oriental ideologies and philosophies and Jewish mysticism and Greek philosophy Greek mythology you know the Greeks have a lot of philosophy and everything must be intellectualized so when the Bible says that to the Greeks foolishness the gospel we preach 1 Corinthians chapter 1 is verse 18 it says that to the Greeks verse 23 verse 18 23 says that to the Greeks it's foolishness what does verse 18 say it says that to them that perish is foolishness what we are preaching is what kind of nonsense is that that someone died on the cross and he saved me from my sins 2000 years ago come on I'm above that I'm better than that so they rubbish it and make it very stupid because they are so intellectual but those of you were in church last Thursday
[7:19] I thought about how there's no intellectual pathway to God the pathway to God is not based on intellect intelligence or human intelligence pardon me or purely intellectual intellectual doesn't mean being a believer means you become unintelligent or no far before the Bible says that we have the wisdom of God we have the wisdom of God in fact so sorry I'm going off a bit but I'll come back is that okay so this scripture I just quoted about the foolishness the preaching of the cross which is foolishness 1st Corinthians chapter 1 verse 23 23 look at the very next verse but unto those of us who are called both Jews and Greek Christ is the power not only power it's also the wisdom of God so it's not that we are not dealing with wisdom then you go to chapter 2 then in chapter 2 he begins to say that when I came to you
[8:26] I did not come to you with the enticing ways of man's wisdom see the problem is not general wisdom there's a way human philosophy outside of God so he said I didn't come to you with enticing ways of man's wisdom but I came in demonstration of the Holy Spirit and in power why so that your faith will not rest will not rest on wisdom of man he kept saying wisdom of he clarified the wisdom or he made sure that I'm talking about the wisdom of man which is just basic philosophy outside of what God has got to say this is we've done research and this is what we have come up with this is what we think and this is what we tradition and all that so he said that so your faith will not rest in the wisdom of man what sounds wise and right in the eyes of man does not necessarily mean it's right in the sight of God but there are times that people can make you build your faith for instance that the teaching on love for everybody which is not wrong in itself but it can be so overemphasized that Jesus is now pushed to the corner and it's all about love for humanity love for animals and love for creation and it can there are some
[9:46] Christians that's the essence of Christian life is about love of creation love of whatever God has created it's about love it's about love and some writers say what's love got to do got to do with you know but the love that most times are being projected is based on human philosophy so now Paul says that your faith will rest the scripture says that so that your faith will rest watch this on the not on the wisdom of man but on the power of God then look at the very next verse next two three verses he says that how be it we actually speak wisdom it's not like what we say is stupid so we are not dismissing wisdom so how be it we speak wisdom among those who are perfect so when you come to church they'll begin to teach you other things that you realize it doesn't start from just common sense it starts from spiritual enlightenment it starts from a changed heart then when you come in there based on that changed heart we can communicate the wisdom of God let me tell you a born again man who is married and a born again a non born again man who is married they can all be good people but I'm telling you the one who is building his marriage based on the word of God will go far it doesn't matter how nice the other one is there are things in life that human wisdom cannot handle there are things in life that human wisdom cannot handle sometimes some time ago somebody's wife really frustrated him and he has had enough he wanted to walk away walk out he said
[11:30] I can't take this anymore some time ago and the person said I can't take this anymore but pastor whatever you say I will obey whatever what else can I say and within months the guy comes to me and thanking me for I didn't tell you my personal opinion because I can't operate with my own I have to we all have to submit to this thing because my feelings will be also different might be might be different but we all have to submit to the authority of God's way months later this gentleman calls me and he's besides himself in fact their marriage is not the most romantic oh it's so nice it's so nice you look at it and you actually wonder am I actually doing my marriage properly but this someone who's at a break you're walking away but obeyed the word of God and so it's not like we don't have wisdom
[12:37] God does not have wisdom they make it look like when you have faith you don't have reason they don't understand faith that because they are skewed they are warped they are they are they are one sided they don't understand the dealings of faith so they assume that the fact that you sit in church you are not actually thinking there are many top professionals in church and many more unemployed people out there who are not nothing and they still think they are wiser than the ones in church because the fact that someone is sitting in church means that it's stupid Satan has really deceived you it says how be it we speak what wisdom and he said yet not the wisdom of this world not of the of the prince of this world that comes to a not it doesn't take you anywhere the worldly wisdom okay let's do it many of the things that people are celebrating it's important it doesn't lead anywhere it doesn't lead anywhere it has a dead end it's a cool sack it's just just going going how many of you have tried to do traffic before and you get into a cool sack it happens to me quite a few times because I don't like traffic all right but so coming back to what
[13:59] I'm saying someone can spoil you with philosophy philosophy is good tradition of men is not bad but when you are working with Christ you have to be careful the tradition does not get ahead of Christ the tradition doesn't head so it says that we read it last week Mark it says that okay Matthew chapter 15 rather verse 6 said you make now the word of God of none effect by your traditions that's a very serious thing you have made the commandments of God of none effect by your tradition so Paul said unless anyone is a nice thing they are sharing with you but it's a bad tradition it's spoiling you and it's not building you according to Christ someone say after Christ because Christ is everything Christ is the center of it all as I mentioned last week
[15:03] Colossians 127 it says Christ in you this whole thing is about Christ in Colossians chapter 2 we just saw in the verse 6 that it said if you look at the verse 6 verse 6 says that as ye have therefore received Christ Jesus so this thing is Christ when you look at Colossians chapter 2 verse 2 that their hearts being comforted being knitted together in love unto all the riches of the full assurance of understanding I think I prefer the English standard version the English standard version it says that to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of ghost mystery which is Christ this whole thing is Christ Christ is the center of it all it is about Christ and when you look at verse 17 the same chapter chapter 2 verse 17 it says that which verse 16 talk about don't be deceived don't be distracted by traditions and ceremonies and
[16:09] Sabbath day and all that they are all a shadow look at verse 17 they are a shadow of things to come but the body is of Christ this whole thing is of Christ Colossians chapter 3 verse 4 when Christ who is your life Colossians chapter 3 verse 11 Christ is all so this you can to God it's not about people's comfort it's about it's not about our world saving the world it's about Christ it's not about social justice It's about Christ.
[16:58] It's not about prosperity. It's about Christ. It's not about, I need to say this, it's not about marriage. It's about Christ. It's not about religion.
[17:12] It's about Christ. For someone to come and tell me, all religions are the same. So, you are religion, religion, that's religious. No, please, I'm not doing religion. I'm doing Christ. I am doing Christ.
[17:24] So, that is what makes genuine Christianity very different from any other religion. Because genuine Christianity is really about Christ. Actually, you can't safely take it out of the realm of religion.
[17:38] We are fundamentally different from every other religion. Many religions, it's like, you have to behave well to be saved. In Christianity, it's like, come to Christ.
[17:50] It's a big difference. That's why a criminal, a murderer, a thief on the cross could be saved hours before he died. He didn't have to come down from the cross.
[18:02] He didn't have to do anything. All he had to do is put his faith in Christ and say it. That's all he did. He didn't give anybody money.
[18:12] He didn't repair the things he has stolen, which he has saved. He has hidden for his girlfriend to go and use. He didn't confess it. He didn't confess anything.
[18:25] He just confessed Christ. And he was saved. So, is this Christianity? Is this what it is about? Oh, yes. That's what the Christianity is about.
[18:38] The Christianity is Christ. It's a Christ in you. That's all. Amen. So, be careful lest anyone spoil you through philosophy, through vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the basic elements of this world.
[18:57] It sounds okay. But it's just basic elements of this world and not the problem is, it's not after Christ. It's spoiling you. Then he goes on to talk about, this is, this is, this is, ah, I've been waiting to get to this one.
[19:12] Let's, help me do this. Let's read the verse 9 together from the screen because verse 9 is so sweet. Is that okay? Let's go. Let's read it one more time, please.
[19:29] This is a serious statement. Who is the hymn? Jesus. English Standard Version. American Standard Version. New American Standard Version. For in him, the whole fullness of deity, he's trying to tell, dwells bodily.
[19:47] That's, let's go to New American Standard Version. For in him, all the fullness of deity, and the deity is capital D. The fullness of deity dwells in bodily form.
[20:05] I like the bodily form. When you look at it, let's, how does the NIV put it? The NIV says, the NIV says that, for in Christ, all the fullness of deity lives in bodily form.
[20:16] Twirls. Now, what is he talking about? Now, before Christ was incarnated, I don't want to use the word, before he was born. Because really, God was never born.
[20:28] So, today's reading, if you remember, he made a statement to his disciples. He said, I came from the Father, and I'm going to the Father.
[20:39] So, he just didn't, we didn't come from anywhere, we were just born. He said, I came from the Father, and I am come into the world.
[20:50] Again, I leave the world, and I go to the Father. So, before he came from the Father, what was his name? Because it was, the angel said, when he, you shall give birth to a boy, a son, and you shall name him, Emmanuel, Matthew chapter 1, verse 23, and then you shall call his name Jesus, Matthew chapter 1, verse 21.
[21:11] So, they shall call his name Jesus. So, that's his name. So, before he was born, he wasn't called Jesus. That's what Romans chapter 1, verse 4 says that, the gospel of God, the gospel of his son, sorry, verse 3, I'm sorry, verse 3, the gospel concerning his son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
[21:32] Then watch this, which was made the seed of David, according to the flesh. So, according, you see, in human terms, he became, the great, great, great, great grandson of David.
[21:45] But obviously, David cannot give birth to God, cannot father God. So, God cannot be fathered. But when you're talking about humanity, you are not real human, if you don't have a mother or a father.
[21:57] You are not a real human, if you can't trace your genealogy. That's why the Bible starts with, the New Testament starts, with a clear trace of the genealogy of Jesus, all the way to Abraham.
[22:08] And all these people who were mentioned, were historic figures, who, human beings, who actually lived. And Jesus Christ came from their roots. All right. So, he came, so not their roots.
[22:21] Jesus was their root, but they were, yeah, they were the roots of Jesus. And Jesus was their roots. Jesus was their fruit. Yeah, he was their fruit and their roots. Very interesting. He was their fruit and their roots.
[22:33] So, Jesus was the fruit of David and the root of Jesse. In Revelation chapter 22 verse 16, he says that, I, Jesus, I sent my angel to testify unto you these things in the church.
[22:49] I am the root and the offspring. I sprang off, but yet I am his root. This poses a problem. So, now, the point I'm making is that, what was his name before he was born?
[23:04] He is the eternal word. In the beginning was the word. Then, verse 12 says that the word became flesh. Then they call him Jesus when he became flesh. So, now, when you're talking about Jesus, Jesus is actually the son of David.
[23:17] Because Jesus, you're talking about a human being, a hundred percent human being. And yet, from Colossians chapter one, chapter two, verse nine, we realize that he wasn't just a hundred percent human being.
[23:30] This hundred percent human being was containing hundred percent God. It didn't say parts of God. It said, in, so, you see, that word bodily, that word bodily, in the, the, I think the New American Standard Version, the way it puts it, it can, in, in bodily form.
[23:50] So, in other words, John chapter four, verse 24 says, God is a spirit. How can you see a spirit? You can't see a spirit. You took a picture of a spirit, you took yourself, you know, you can't see a spirit.
[24:03] That's why you can't tell me I saw the Holy Spirit. Anybody who tells you he saw the Holy Spirit has seen a demon. The Holy Spirit can never be seen.
[24:15] You can feel the effect of the spirit. It says that in John chapter one, chapter three, from verse 10, it says that the wind blows, where it lists, I like the kid, you say, where it listed.
[24:28] Verse one, verse eight, it says, the wind blows, where it listed. That's a very interesting Shakespearean English. It listed. Wait, let's go to something better than this listed.
[24:40] So, it listed means wishes. So, sometimes, when you're wishing somebody happy, you can say, I list you. The wind blows where it wishes, and you can hear the sound of it, and cannot, but cannot tell where it is coming from, and where it's going.
[24:57] So is everyone born of the spirit. When the spirit is having an impact on somebody, you just see the effect. But you can't trace the source.
[25:09] You can't take a picture of the spirit. So, if God is a spirit, then no one can see God, and you can't see God. So, you only experience the attributes of God.
[25:20] And the Bible says that, yet, in Christ, dwells all the fullness of deity. The fullness, not part of it, the fullness.
[25:33] The fullness of, in fact, King James said, the Godhead, dwells in him bodily. Godhead means, the deity of God.
[25:45] God the Father, God, anytime you see the word Godhead, this is what it means. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, the totality of God. So, when it was in eternity, Bible says, in the beginning was the word, the word was with God, the word was with God.
[25:59] So, here, the Bible says, the word was God. All right. So, this eternal word, who is God, who is the totality of God, becomes flesh, and wraps, totality of God, in humanity, and gives God, a physical form.
[26:18] A physical form, and a visible form, and, the, the, the beauty of it, is that, it's visible, but you can't see God in him.
[26:30] So, he says that, if you don't believe me, for what I say, let my works tell you that, who I am. Because his works were pointing, that is why, he could forgive someone of sins. He was just trying to tell them that, I am God.
[26:43] I am just God, because, they said, who, Mark chapter 2, verse 5, he said, look at the man, and he says that, son, your sins be forgiven. Then the scribes, and the, the teachers of the law, and the Pharisees, started having a problem, because this is, this is a serious, theological error.
[27:00] It's not right. How can a man, who is claiming to be a teacher, tell another man, your sins are forgiven? So, they were thinking, who, why does this man, why is this guy doing all these things?
[27:14] Who can forgive sins? Now, you are taking this thing too far. And him, they didn't say it to this, they were reasoning this in themselves. And him knowing, what they are reasoning, asked them, which one is easier?
[27:28] He asked them, which one is easier? To tell someone, your sins are forgiven, or tell someone, rise up and walk. Because if I say, sins are forgiven, I can't validate it. But if I say, rise up and walk, it doesn't work, it's going to be a problem.
[27:41] But I said, the easier one. Now, I'm going to say, the harder one. So that you will know, that the son of man, has power on earth, to forgive. Now, that is why he said, the easier one, the difficult one.
[27:51] He said, I'm saying it, so you will know, that me, I have the power on earth, to forgive sins. That means that, I am God on earth. That's what he said.
[28:03] I am God on earth. Then he turned to the man, the paralytic, and he said, get up, take up your mouth, and just go. And he got up in their presence, and they were, oh, glory, oh God, this is too nice.
[28:16] Amazing. Amazing. We have never seen anything like this before. He said, today our eyes have seen straight. Why? It was not, watch this. It was not about the man's sickness.
[28:28] It's about a statement he was making, that in him dwelleth, oh, the fullness of the God, and so on earth, he could say, your sins are forgiven. He cannot preach from the God's status, that your sins are forgiven, and yet, he can suffer from the man's status, on the behalf of man.
[28:46] So when you look at him, on the cross, it was man who was suffering, on the behalf, so no one can say, but you sent a spirit to suffer. No. Because a spirit cannot pay the debt of man.
[28:57] Animals cannot pay the debt of man. Because spirits don't have blood anyway. So that's why he talks about, he shed his blood. So human beings that have blood now. Animals also have blood, but their blood is lower than our own.
[29:09] I hope you know that. I hope you know that. I know some of you prefer your cats to human beings, or prefer your dog to human beings, but human beings are valuable.
[29:21] More valuable than, even a prison, is more valuable, than an elephant. Or more valuable than a lion.
[29:33] A human life is sacred. Well, so, he, he, he was so human, and yet, fullness of deity, was dwelling in him.
[29:47] No, do you, do you understand why he says, that great is the mystery of godliness? This thing is quite, you're trying to wrap your mind around it. To understand God, you're trying to wrap your mind around it.
[29:58] Meanwhile, even you yourself, you have not finished understanding you. I don't know if you still sometimes, you don't understand yourself. Why, why, why you just come get emotional, at the wrong time?
[30:11] Why you say some things you shouldn't say, you vowed I would never say this thing. You vowed I would never go here. You vowed I would never do it again. You vowed I would never touch this again. You vowed I would never watch this thing again. You vowed I would never kiss it again.
[30:23] But you did it! Yes, you vowed that this guy don't like you, but I would never kiss him. I would never kiss him. No! Rather, you held his head.
[30:37] Hey! Human frailty. It's, it's, it's, it's, that's why you're very careful, you have to careful your pointy fingers at people. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because, for all you may know, you have much more issues.
[30:50] But you know, I think we enjoy talking about people's weaknesses. Yeah. It makes them look good. Yeah. Actually feel good. Yeah. Yeah. Whether they work in BBC or in government, we just enjoy talking about it.
[31:02] Yeah. We just, we just, we found it. Meanwhile, we are doing worse things. Some of us have worse things. Yeah. But that's human nature. Yeah. Human nature. So, you look at Jesus, see, I'm telling you something, this is the beauty of Jesus Christ.
[31:17] Number one, Bible said, great, first Timothy chapter, chapter one verse, chapter three, sorry, verse 15, 16, great is the, without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, that God was manifested in the flesh.
[31:30] Let's all say that bit together. God was manifested in the flesh. Yeah. I mean, that's what, let's all say it together. Let's go. God was manifested in the flesh. No, it's not a trick, you know, don't be afraid to say it.
[31:41] You are reading the word of God, not for me, for your soul. Let's read it together. Let's go. God was manifested in the flesh. Louder. God was manifested in the flesh. For the last time.
[31:52] God was manifested in the flesh. That is the basis of Christianity. It's a serious thing. Yeah. It's a serious thing. That's what makes us very far, and very far, and completely different from Islam.
[32:10] Come from Jehovah's Witness. They have a Bible, but the Bible doesn't contain these truths. A man cannot save man.
[32:24] It's only God who can save man from God. Can I say that again? Yes, sir. How can a police officer, because I'm a policeman, I'm going to, one time I'm going to go and release the police, because I'm a police officer.
[32:40] You even get close. They will dig, or go to Russia and say, I'm going to overtake Putin, overthrow Putin, because I'm a police officer in UK. I've been trained. I know how to fire God. You won't get there, because you are dealing with higher powers.
[32:54] Higher powers. Now, what do I mean? God can, man cannot save you from God. Man cannot deliver man from God.
[33:05] No way. When you have a case, God has a case with you. Another man says that, I will, no, leave it with me. I will search God. Now, do you understand why the teachers, the lawyers, the top guy said, who can forgive sins?
[33:21] How can you tell someone, you are sorting God out on your behalf? You can't do that. So, man cannot save man from God. God cannot save man from God.
[33:34] Neither can angels save man from God, because angels are no stronger than God. The only one who can save man from God is God himself. So, that's why God himself has to come down.
[33:45] And he says, I'm going to meet my own standards, because God has a demand. It's called the law of God. God's demands, the way we should behave, the way we should go about things. God, you want to relate with me, he said, these are my demands.
[33:57] But we couldn't meet it, because it's way above our standards. God, it's like you are a professor in maths, and your son who, year five, or year six, the teacher said, he's done very well in maths.
[34:09] So, suddenly your son thinks, he can begin to teach you maths. He said, dad, bring me some of the questions you can solve, I'll solve for you. And, okay, dad said, okay, you let me just take it lower, for first year maths.
[34:21] Solve it. And you can't solve it. So, dad himself has to come and solve the questions. So, God, places demand on us, he knew we can't meet the demands, and yet he gave us the demands, just to make us shut up.
[34:35] That you can't get anywhere. That's why the Bible says, the law was given, so, all math will be silenced, will be stopped, according to Romans chapter three, verse 19. And then, verse 20 says that, 20, Romans chapter five said that, the sin may abound.
[34:50] They gave you the law, so that you actually can look more, you can look, let me use the word, badder. Can use, you can look more terrible, in the sight of, you are already, in the sight of God, he knows who you are, by your eyes.
[35:03] In your eyes, when you now, want to come to God, because you think you are so good, and then you see God's, God's standard, you realize how bad you are. That's why I say, oh, wretched man that I am.
[35:14] Romans chapter seven, verse 24, oh, wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me, from this body of death. So, then, God gave us the law, or his standard, the law is the standard of God.
[35:27] He is the only one, who can meet the standard of God. So, when people, when humanity comes to, at which end, based on the, attempting to fulfill the law of God, like that man, who came to Jesus, in Mark chapter 10, 16 down, Matthew chapter 19, 16 down, Luke chapter 18, 16 down, he said, what must I do, to inherit eternal life?
[35:49] Jesus said, do, what does the commandment say? That shall not, verse 19, that shall not, still, that shall not kill, that shall not matter, or not your father, and the man said, I've done these things, for my youth.
[36:01] And yet, I don't, I know I don't have eternal life. Because, you can't keep the law, to the perfect level, where you can have, secure eternal life. So, now, God gives his standard, we can meet his standard.
[36:15] And then, God comes. So, Romans chapter 7, again, I like talking about Romans chapter 7, because it's important to understand, Romans chapter 7, verse 24, says that, oh, wretched man that I am, who can deliver me from this body of death.
[36:26] And he said, thanks be to God, through Christ Jesus, so that through my mind, I serve the spirit, by the spirit, I serve the law of the spirit. But then, when you go down, verse, chapter 8, verse 1, there's now no more condemnation, to those who are in Christ Jesus.
[36:39] Right? For the, verse 2 says that, for the spirit, for the law of the spirit of life, in Christ Jesus, has set me free, from the law of sin and death. Verse 3 is a very interesting one, I keep quoting it.
[36:51] For what the law could not do. Why? Because it was weak through the flesh. Through humanity, you can't fulfill the standards of God. But God, who did?
[37:02] Said, God sending his son in the likeness of sinful, sorry, God sending his son in the likeness of sinful flesh, for sins. Condemn sin. So, what the law could not do, because it was weak through the flesh, God sent his son to do it.
[37:17] How does the New King James put it? The New King James, in the weak through the flesh, God did. Let's all say God did.
[37:27] God did. What the law couldn't do. Why couldn't the law do it? Because, when the law meets the flesh, it's too weak. It can't please God. It can't please God.
[37:38] How many of us have tried pleasing God before, and realized you made a mistake? Like, you, you, you actually, you, you, you, you, yes, that's a very interesting. How many of you have been sad before, trying to please God, and you've disappointed yourself so badly?
[37:51] Big time. Big time. There are people sitting here. What happened to you last night? Hey! Oh. A minute. It has made you very sad. Yeah. Because you thought you are now a serious Christian.
[38:02] Yeah. Oh, yeah. So you can't even say, oh, yes. Oh, yeah. It's a nice thing to be a Christian.
[38:15] Oh, yes. You can't even say it because, because of how you, how you feel you've let yourself down. You've let God down.
[38:26] And Satan likes it. He likes you to feel guilty. He's using your guilt against you. Yeah. When you are a genuine Christian, and you stumble, or you break God's law, just rise up.
[38:40] Don't lie to that. Rise up. And no, I have forgiveness in Christ. And start going. Satan will keep reminding him, but how about what you did? Ignore him. Yeah. He said, there's no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
[38:52] Yeah. Why? Because God is not relating to you based on the law. Yes. Yes. He said, for what, therefore, what the commandment, what the law could not do, that it was weak to the earth.
[39:05] God did. Let's all say, God did. God did. What did God do? What the law could not do? God gave the law, and who did the law? God. God gave the law, and who did the law?
[39:17] God did. Wow. Wow. So, when Jesus was on earth, what was he doing? Because if he came to die, why didn't he allow, why didn't God allow Herod to kill him when he was a child?
[39:29] God, every dead be dead, isn't he? He would have died on Abiel. No. He had to live the full spectrum of human life. Wow. So, in Hebrews chapter 4, verse 15, it says that, he was tainted, he's a high priest, we don't have a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of, but he was tainted at all points.
[39:49] That word, the key word for now is, but was in all points. All points. All points. Point A was tainted points. Some of us, just a few points.
[39:59] But he has been tempted in all, so whatever you have been tempted by, you said I've been tempted by it, and he has gotten the tick. So, just leave yourself, put yourself in Christ, and God has seen that you have already ticked it.
[40:12] You have already ticked it. So, I want to, what I want you to understand is that, Christ came to live a human life so that he can meet all the legal requirements to please God.
[40:24] Because no human being can please God in themselves. Because at some point, he will break the law of God. So, Jesus is the only one, that's why he says that he was tempted at all points.
[40:35] But that was not the end of the story. Yet, yet, yet, unlike us, he was without sin. Yet, unlike us, he was without sin. He is the only sinless one who has ever lived, who will ever live.
[40:48] Yes. Unlike us, he was without sin. So, he said, what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh. I like that. Say that phrase together.
[40:58] Let's go. Oh, come on. God did. Let me read it again. What the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh. God did.
[41:09] Satan doesn't like to hear you say that at all. Because when you say that, you are covering your own weaknesses. Yes. You are putting the strength of your righteousness in Christ.
[41:21] Right. Not in your behavior. Yeah. Satan doesn't like that. For what the law could not do in that it was weak to the flesh. God did.
[41:32] Oh, yes. How did God do it? By sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh. Likeness of sinful flesh. It doesn't mean he was sinful. He was so much like a sinful flesh that you will see him you will never think that this is fullness of God.
[41:45] He was so much like sinful flesh that there's nothing in the sinful flesh apart from the sin that could not be found in him. The pain in the sinful flesh, the frustrations, the weaknesses, the humanity, everything human could be found in him apart from sin.
[42:07] That's why I said he was tempted at all points just like us. It's very interesting the way he said that. He was tempted like as we are. Just like you.
[42:18] He also went through it. That's why he understands what you're going through. Angels don't. Angels don't. They never lived a human life. But God does because he's lived a human life.
[42:32] In Hebrews chapter 2 verse 17 it talks about this our high priest he's also able to save. Therefore in all things he had to be made like his brethren.
[42:44] Okay. So that he might be a merciful and a faithful high priest. Hallelujah. A judge, a judge, a court, a judge who is into pornography.
[42:58] When someone is accused and brought to his court for porn the judge will be very merciful. So what I'm saying is that our high priest he is because he was like look at therefore in all things he had to be made like us.
[43:20] It was necessary that Jesus becomes a human being. It was in essential for your sake because of the way you have been sinning. Thank you Lord. He's been sent to come and save a sinner like you.
[43:33] You. You. And Satan is constantly accusing you that you are useless. You are a hypocrite. You are a liar. You are a thief. And you know Satan has a point.
[43:45] How many of you know what I'm talking about? You are a thief. That's what some people say to me I don't want to do church because I'm waiting when I break up with my boyfriend then I can do church. When I break up I get... Please do it now and receive the strength to break up.
[43:59] But some people cannot clap for this like this. But please please it's okay it's okay. If that guy is going to leave you go anyway so get ready. I'm just preparing you ahead of time.
[44:10] Many guys leave. Many guys you spend a lot of romantic heavy time with they don't stay. Just to let you know. Because they've got you free without commitment.
[44:20] If you if you if you big buffet and you tell people come and eat how many of you are coming if they don't make any payment if they don't show up it doesn't cost them.
[44:34] Because anything you have not paid for you don't struggle to lose it. I know you didn't want me to say that but I've just told you. Ouch! You're about to lose them.
[44:47] Anyway sorry you won't lose them. I think you should I don't know. So he had to be made like us in all things.
[45:02] That's very important as well. He was tempted at every point all points. And so he had to be made like us in all things in all things so that he might be a merciful and a faithful I praise in things pertaining to God to make propitiation for what?
[45:22] The sins of the people. He's going to speak on the behalf of sinners. He better know what it means to be a sinner. What it means to be in the flesh. Because it's being in the flesh that makes us a sinner.
[45:34] He also came and put on this flesh. The word became flesh. He put on flesh. But when he was wearing flesh he was still God wearing flesh. Hey! Hallelujah! God was wearing flesh.
[45:46] God was wearing flesh. God had tailor-made shoes for him. A body that has prepared for me. Hallelujah! And he was walking and people thought he was one of us.
[45:57] Yes he was. But in one sense. But on another hand he wasn't one of us. He was one of us so he could save us. He could be merciful towards us. He wasn't one of us so that he can be high, his blood can be high enough to save us.
[46:11] Amen. So Bible says that as you saw Jesus walking in him dwelt the the that word the fullness the completeness of the Godhead the word bodily means physically.
[46:32] Physically. So he when you see that's why he said if you have seen me you have seen the Father. When you see him go you have seen God move. You want to know how God works? Look at Jesus.
[46:43] If Jesus works like this that means that's how God works. Watch this. Let's go back to the foundational text. Bible says that where lest anyone spoil you through philosophy and being after the rudiments of this world tradition of this world tradition of men after the rudiments of this world and not after Christ in for next verse for in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead of the Godhead bodily.
[47:16] Pastor I thought this is exciting enough. Isn't it so? Yes. Because when you were in verse 8 it was so nice to know that people can spoil you and not after Christ.
[47:28] Then he said the Christ in Christ the fullness of wow that's big news it's exciting. Ah! Then I realized the next verse is even more getting more exciting.
[47:39] Do you want to see what is there? He said and you good God and you are complete in him if you are not in him you are not complete.
[47:53] You are not complete. Now people are making them feel it's not enough to just go to church. It's not enough to just be in Christ. It's not enough to just be a Christian.
[48:05] You have to be more. You have to be you know multi multi multi multi you know you have to be and one of the things you have to understand is we keep coining new ways to express our human desires.
[48:26] More ways are coming. Yeah. More ways. And it depends on the generation some ways become key ways. Mm. So nobody wants to be told it's a bigot. Yeah.
[48:37] You got bigotries are no no no. So it's not so much about whether you are bigot like no one wants to be told you are racist. Yeah. Especially if you are Caucasian. Yeah. Usually black people don't care if they tell you you are racist.
[48:51] If they don't. Because it doesn't intimidate them. Yeah. But many Caucasians white people really gets to them. Because in the society when they tell you you are racist it's like you are a certain strange bad human being.
[49:03] maybe Osama Bin Laden is even better. So no one wants so these are but in those days if it doesn't I can't be bothered. But now these things are becoming very sensitive and then very soon we'll have some different words you know like different words being coined and depending on the mindset and the direction of society.
[49:25] Yeah. And so if you are not careful sometimes now just what you are doing in Christ is not enough. you have to prove so I have to do extra in my preaching to prove to you that I'm not a racist.
[49:41] I'm not racist. I have to prove to you by saying things that are not even scripture. That's just social. That's just traditional. Saying things that people want to hear so they will know that oh you are trending you are very you know you are very open you are very sensitive you are it's not even got anything to do with my assignment.
[50:02] Wow. So then he says that listen you are complete in Christ. What is more important is that you are found in him. Thank you Lord.
[50:14] You can be in church and not in Christ. Oh. How many of you know that? A lot. I mean I thought my story is a classic one. Many years ago about 34 35 years ago I was in church morning evening morning evening every morning 6am every evening 6pm every morning 6am every I'm talking about every morning not like certain days every morning of the week Monday morning Tuesday morning Wednesday morning Thursday Friday Saturday morning and then when it's midday I will still go and ring the bell Wow.
[50:48] So I was making a journey to church 21 times Wow. And then going into practicing being in church services 14 times Wow.
[51:00] Wow. Every week and yet if I had died I would have gone straight to hell because I was in church but I wasn't in Christ. So when people say I've done church I've been in church please it doesn't mean anything or I even believe in God it still doesn't mean anything you can believe in God and go to hell you can believe in God as I said the other no I didn't say the Bible says James chapter 2 it said demons also believe and they take it to another level so the fact that someone is saying that you know I'm not an 80s not being an 80s doesn't mean anything not being an 80s doesn't mean anything it doesn't it doesn't have saving values virtues that's what I mean when it comes to salvation believing that Jesus is the son of God he's the Christ the Messiah he died on the cross for my sins that is what brings salvation that's the entry point of salvation and what as soon as you believe that you know what happens you are now in Christ 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 30 said we are in him as soon as you believe that said but of him are ye in Christ hallelujah we are in
[52:15] Christ so as soon as you believe that you are in Christ and he says that for you are complete in him that's a very important thing can I say to you somebody my brother or my sister who is not yet married marriage is not what makes you complete you are complete in Christ your job is not what makes you complete you are complete in Christ your children are not what makes you complete you are complete in Christ your financial status is not what makes you complete you are complete see this is the Christian message and when you really find it's not okay it's not something just to be told it's something to experience it becomes your reality it doesn't mean that when I'm in Christ now all the money in the world is mine but what it means is that everything in Christ is mine everything in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead and I am in Christ so what it means is that you see the righteous life Christ lived
[53:17] I told you he could have died when he was born because he came to die but why did he die why didn't he die because he came to live a certain life for us so in Romans chapter 5 verse 10 verse 9 talks about how we are reconciled verse 9 much more being justified by his blood yeah that's the one I'm looking for actually 10 talks about reconciliation being just no verse 9 please verse 9 being justified by his blood we shall be saved from the wrath to him so God has wrath okay from wrath God has wrath God is always angry what did you say yes God is always angry I said God is always angry so every time God is always angry at the same time God is always happy every time God is smiling and at the same time God is always merciful every time he's merciful at the same time God is always forgiving
[54:19] At the same time, God is always righteous in judgment. And at the same time, God will always punish sin. Bible says, by no means, God will by no means spare the guilty.
[54:38] In Exodus chapter 17, I think so. God will by no means, chapter 34 rather, God will by no means clear the guilty. You are guilty and God says that, it's okay, it's okay.
[54:49] Today, I'm in a good mood. Today, I'm in a good mood, so no problem. No! God will never do that. So then, why did he clear the gift?
[55:02] Amnesty. God never gives amnesty. No. So, all right. Pastor, I see you are conflicting yourself. Why did Jesus on the cross tell somebody, you'll be with me in paradise?
[55:19] But that's a guilty person. Yes. Because that, how about the other one? The other one was in his way to hell. It's also both of them. He was telling just the one who put his faith in Jesus.
[55:30] So, as soon as he put his faith in Jesus, you know what happened. Look at verse 10 of Romans chapter 5. Verse 10 of Romans chapter 5 says that, if we have been justified by his, Romans chapter 5 verse 10, please.
[55:41] For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son. The death, when Jesus was on the cross, it was a big thing. The center of the universe was what happened on the cross.
[55:55] It was a big thing. We were really reconciled. The dying of Christ was us being reconciled to God. Why? Because God can, we can be reconciled to God because he will never spare the guilty.
[56:09] He will never, he has to punish the guilty. He has to vent his anger on the guilty. And Jesus Christ had to become like us. So, on the cross, he didn't die his death. He was dying the death of the guilty.
[56:21] Hallelujah. He died on the cross to pay for our sins. So, the wrath of God was executed, was downloaded on him on the cross on your behalf.
[56:32] So, he said, I will take it. I will take it. I will take it for Loretta. I will take it for him. I will take it. I will take it. And then, he gave it to him and said, Ali, Ali, why have you forsaken me? He forsook the sin on the cross.
[56:46] So, whilst he was on the cross, through his death, we were being now reconciled because what the barrier between man and God was the sin. And he took away the sin.
[56:57] So, that's why on the cross, he could look at someone and say, today you shall be with me in paradise. As long as you put your faith in me. Why? Because he was paying for the man's sins. It is not your good behavior that takes you to heaven.
[57:12] It's being in Christ that takes you to heaven. It's being in Christ. So, what happened is that Christ absorbs all our sins, all the wrath of God.
[57:24] So, Romans chapter 5 verse 10. I like Romans chapter 5 verse 10. It said, for if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
[57:38] What life? The life he lived. Watch this important. The life, the human life Christ lived. He obeyed the law to the marks.
[57:51] He obeyed God. He pleased God. And he accrued this righteous equity. That's why he had to live that life. And then when he lived the life, his testimonial.
[58:06] All right. His credit score. When you come to him, now that credit score becomes your credit score. His testimonial becomes your testimonial.
[58:20] So, now when God is dealing with you as long as you are in Christ, you don't. When Christ was healing the sick, when you come into Christ, God sees that it was you who healed. You were the one who was healing the sick.
[58:32] Do you understand? You were the one who was healing the sick. You were the one who was helping the, feeding the hungry. Everything Christ did when he was physically on earth. When you come into Christ in heaven on the records of God, it looks like you were the one who was doing it.
[58:46] So, we are saved by his life. The life he lived. That's why he said you are actually, uh-oh. You are actually complete in Christ. So, I'm complete in him. I'm complete in him.
[58:58] Thank you. I think the Greek word complete is pleru, which means fool. You are made fool. You are made complete. You are brought to a standard in God that you don't need any other thing to please God.
[59:13] Hallelujah. You are pleasing to God. Not when you give offering. Not when you give tithe. Not when you are nice to people.
[59:25] Not when you sing praise and worship. As long as you are Christ, you are in Christ, you are complete in him. Shout hallelujah. Hallelujah. So, are we not supposed to do the other things?
[59:36] Just be in Christ. When you are in Christ, it begins to show in the things you do. I'm complete in Christ. Tell someone I'm complete in Christ.
[59:48] I'm complete in Christ. You can use that as your status. Complete in him. If your heart has been broken before, or maybe recently you are going through a broken heart, just put, I'm complete in Christ.
[60:02] I'm complete. Oh, yeah, yeah. Let's be real. Yes. Oh. I'm complete in Christ. I'm complete. If you fail an exam, just put, I'm complete in Christ. Yeah.
[60:12] If you lose your job, I'm complete in Christ. Yeah. Even when you are sick, and you feel weak, you feel tired, I'm complete in Christ. I'm about to say something even stronger.
[60:26] When you get up from the wrong bed, I know some of you can't sit. You can't sit. You can't sit.
[60:41] Did you understand what I meant? Yes. When you, sir, when you get up from the wrong side of the bed, maybe you didn't know what happened, you found yourself, you were in your ex's bed.
[60:51] What are you doing here? You know, sometimes you wake up, you're like, where am I? Archbishop said something to me. Archbishop, he said, he said something to me, where are we? He's a blessed father.
[61:03] I thank God for his life. He said, you can't be sleeping with what you don't know. Yes. Archbishop, the man who impregnated Tamar.
[61:13] No, yeah. Jacob, Jacob, Jacob. Jacob slept with his daughter-in-law without realizing he was sleeping with. Archbishop said, you can be sleeping with somebody you don't know who you are sleeping with.
[61:24] Yeah. Don't you have an everyday? Some of you know what I'm talking about now. You know, you've been sleeping with the person you never knew who you are sleeping with. He said, you can be sleeping with a person you never know who you are sleeping with.
[61:46] Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up. Open your eyes.
[61:57] You are lying by the wrong person. Wake up. Wake up. He said, Jacob married Leah. Wake up. And in the night, they were sleeping till the lights came.
[62:08] Hey, what is this? They had a wonderful time throughout the night. And then when he woke up, he woke up in the morning.
[62:21] You see, that's why when you came to church, now you realize that you are with the wrong person. Because when light dawns, you realize, who am I with? Because you are sleeping with people in the night.
[62:33] Even when you wake up from a ghetto like that, the light comes on.
[62:50] Just remember, this is a very strong Christian point I'm making. Religious people can't take it. But what is a Christian doing in that bed? Live long, you will understand what the flesh can do to you.
[63:03] If you don't stay in the spirit. And you are not prayerful. You don't read your Bible. And you're thinking that you live your Christian life based on your willpower. No, your willpower is not strong enough.
[63:16] You live your Christian life based on your inner strength. So Ephesians chapter 3 verse 16 says that he will strengthen you by his spirit in your inner. There is an inner man that needs to be strengthened. He will strengthen you by his spirit in your inner man.
[63:33] You got an inner man when you are born again. And you have to make sure your inner man is strengthened. It helps you to be able to say no to what you shouldn't say. You should say no to. Sometimes you're no go on a holiday.
[63:46] You just can't say no. You just can't say no by the time you realize it. And when you are a Christian, it can so much frustrate you. It can make you feel so bad.
[63:56] It makes you feel... And then when you know other very pious Christians, whose job is to make people see how bad they are. Some Christians, all there is to them is just nice things they do.
[64:15] But the other things we don't know. But I don't want to sound like it's okay to be some way. But what I want you to know is when you find yourself in a compromised state, just come to yourself and say, I'm completing.
[64:31] I'm not saying why you are staying there. You know that stuff I'm saying. Just make a U-turn because... The time will not leave you back.
[64:41] You two, don't stop confessing you are completing. Don't stop. Thank you. Do not stop confessing you are completing. That the word the scripture said, you are complete in Christ.
[64:57] He said, for in him dwelleth the fullness of the Godhead bodily and you are complete. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principalities and powers.
[65:10] He is the head. Anything principalities is above it. Principalities are talking about spiritual authorities. He's above it. So which authority is bringing a charge against you, which Christ cannot lift you above?
[65:24] Yeah. Romans chapter 8 verse 34. Who will bring a charge against God's elect? Who shall bring a charge? Who is he that condemnant? Is he not Christ?
[65:34] Yeah, rather that is risen and which is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Amen. Amen.
[65:45] On the grounds of his righteous living, he can stand on that and make intercession for us. And Bible says that if you confess our sins, he is faithful. God is faithful and just. If he says, I can't forgive you, he's unjust because your sins have already been paid.
[66:01] Your sins have already been paid. Someone say, I'm complete in him. I'm complete in him. We are complete in him. Let me just add one verse and then let me.
[66:11] We are complete in him. Verse 11. We are complete in him. He says that in whom, in whom also ye are circumcised with circumcision made with our hands.
[66:25] Huh? Wow. In putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. In whom ye are also, or in him also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made with our hands.
[66:46] Now, let me just, it won't take long. Let me just cover this a little bit. You can't have a relationship with God without circumcision. Wow. Wow.
[66:57] It's just a covenant position. Why do you need circumcision? Okay, I know. I heard what you were saying in the choir.
[67:07] The ladies were talking about circumcision, but the ladies are not circumcised. No, circumcision. Circumcision. Watch this.
[67:18] When God came to Abraham, he said, you want to have a relation with me? Put away the foreskin of the flesh. So circumcision represents get rid of the flesh because God does not like the flesh.
[67:34] What's the flesh? The flesh doesn't necessarily mean bad. It means it's not based on the life of God. So I know you are a chief executive of Barclays.
[67:47] You have become born again. So you say we should make you a pastor. Why? Because of your experience in building business. Excuse me. It's just like going to somebody's house and telling the family that, you know, I am a chief executive of a motion national company.
[68:05] So let me be the husband in the house. And the children say, yeah, we are happy. You are a new daddy. You are a new daddy. Listen, it just cannot happen like that.
[68:20] So it doesn't matter your attainment and your achievements in the flesh. Your completeness is not in the flesh. Your completeness is in Christ. It is the attainment of Christ God works with.
[68:36] Anything outside of Christ is not usable by God. Don't forget that. Anything outside of Christ is not usable for God's purpose. God has an agenda.
[68:48] God has a plan. God has a purpose. For his purpose to be fulfilled, the only things he can use is in Christ. So put away the flesh. Now when you come to, so told Abraham, Abraham, I don't want the flesh.
[68:59] You want to give birth to a promised child? You must be circumcised. Ishmael is a child through uncircumcision. Isaac must be circumcised. You must be circumcised. And he said, when the child is born, on the eighth, every male in your bloodline must be circumcised.
[69:15] That means that they have entered into their dealings with me. And so that is why in Galatians chapter, no, Romans. Romans chapter 4, verse 11 and 12.
[69:26] He spoke about Abraham had to. It says that, and he received, Abraham received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness of faith, which he had while he was still uncircumcised.
[69:37] He had some righteousness of faith while he was not circumcised. But God said that just for the sake of the community, anyone who is going to come into covenant with me must be circumcised.
[69:51] So Abraham, you start it as a sign. But now we are in Christ, and when we come into Christ, the Jews in those days were demanding that people who come into Christ, what if you are not a Jew, you must be circumcised.
[70:03] And Paul said, you don't get it. We are not talking about circumcision of the heads. Then in Romans chapter 2, verse 28 and verse 29, it said, we, look at it, that's a very strong text.
[70:14] Romans, it said, for he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly, neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh. So he's not talking about the people God is dealing with.
[70:27] It's not based on this outward thing you have done. It's based on the in Christ thing that has happened to you. So then it says that, look at it, verse 29. Verse 29 says that, but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly.
[70:41] And circumcision is of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men, but of God. So this circumcision, now that we are dealing with, we still get circumcised.
[70:54] But it's not a fleshly circumcision. So in Colossians, it says you are circumcised. Let's go back, verse 11. In whom you are also circumcised. Look at Philippians chapter 3, verse 3.
[71:07] Philippians chapter 3, verse 3 says that, For we are the circumcision, oh, oh, we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence where?
[71:20] In the flesh. Hallelujah. Our confidence is not in the flesh. Not because of who I am, not because of my parents, not because of my background, not because of my tradition, not because of my education.
[71:31] When I come into Christ, when I come into Christ, all those things don't matter. What matters is Christ. I am in Christ, and that's what matters. We are not boasting in the flesh. We are only boasting Christ, and we are circumcised.
[71:43] Circumcision in the flesh is put aside in Christ. So he says that, for we are the circumcision. We worship God in the spirit, rejoicing, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
[71:56] So he said, in him, Colossians 2, verse 11, in him, for in whom also you are circumcised, with circumcision made with our hands.
[72:08] That's what it means. Normal circumcision. If you have a boy, most of the time when a boy is circumcised, you need hands. But I said, we are our own, no hands was involved.
[72:21] No hands. No blade. The blade is actually the word of God. Shout hallelujah. Circumcised with our hands.
[72:31] In putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision that is in Christ. When you come into Christ, what happens is that the body of the sins of the flesh, you don't now live based on that.
[72:46] So you don't tell people, you know who I really am. No. If you are in Christ, you are nobody. You are just someone who is found in Christ. Paul said, all the things, Philippians chapter 3, whatsoever were given to me, I count them lost.
[73:00] The verse 9 is so beautiful. It says that, verse 9, it says that, and I want to be found in him, not having my own righteousness. Be found in Christ. Be found in Christ.
[73:11] When they are looking for you, where can they find you? In Christ. What's your real address? In Christ. Your real address, your spiritual address is in Christ.
[73:24] That's why we are completing him. I don't know what you might be going through in life. Life always comes with challenges. To be alive. When I was growing up, my mom and the community I grew up in, they used to say, a truism, it's a truism, that life is war.
[73:46] Life is war. The older you grow, the more you realize life can be. That's why when you are a child and your parents are telling you, go to school. Because they are telling you from the point of, life is war.
[73:59] Good job is war. Good living is war. Some people didn't take it to you and they went and followed friends and they didn't do school. Now look, you are old and you are fighting battles that you could have fought when you were younger.
[74:13] It's true. Life is war. What am I trying to say? Listen, as long as you are alive, fighting will never end. Because you never know what's just around the corner.
[74:26] In spite of all that, remember, you are completely... Did you receive something? Give the Lord a shout! Hallelujah!
[74:38] Somebody shout, I'm completing him! Shout, I'm completing Christ! Thank you for listening to this message by David Entry. The best thing that can happen to you is being exposed to the Word of God.
[74:53] To hear more from David Entry, follow him on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn and subscribe to Karis Church on YouTube.
[75:04] You can also find more information about Karis Church and our upcoming services by visiting karis.org. Be blessed.