Podcast
[0:00] Hallelujah! Thank you for tuning in to this powerful message by David Entry at Karis Phase 2, our Christ-centred youth services. You can never find Christ outside of the open Word of God.
[0:14] May Jesus Christ reveal himself to you as you listen. I want to continue Ephesians chapter 1 from verse 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.
[0:27] Let me read from my Bible. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation and the knowledge of him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us world who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrote in Christ when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principalities and power, and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all, all in all.
[1:54] Amen. Father, thank you for bringing us together and giving us the privilege to hear your word. As we get into your word, we pray that you will get into us through the teaching of your word, and reveal Jesus to us, and let us be filled with the Holy Spirit, so we can be useful in your hands, to your glory in Jesus' name.
[2:16] Amen. Hallelujah. Last week I got, what did I think I spoke about? Wisdom or Revelation?
[2:27] I went on Wisdom? Yeah. So wisdom is a principal thing. And it says, in all your getting, get understanding. It says that I pray that the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
[2:51] So not only wisdom, but revelation. Revelation is the Greek word, it's apocalypto. That's apocalypse. Apocalypto is like to unveil.
[3:06] Wisdom is one thing, but revelation, apocalypto. He said, I pray that you'll be given the spirit of wisdom and apocalypto.
[3:20] Wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. As you know him. So it's not just, deep inside, some people say, there are things you don't know.
[3:33] They are not telling you. As you grow in your knowledge of Christ, I'm not talking about just intellectual knowledge, revelational knowledge. It means everything to you.
[3:45] It means, because of, that's when you can say, the love of Christ constrains me. I love Jesus, so I can't just do anything. I can't just say anything. I can't just go anywhere.
[3:57] I love him. And it makes me, I don't struggle not to do some things because I love him. Do you understand that? Because you love him, sometimes, the love is enough to keep you in check.
[4:08] Wow. that, I said, I pray that the God of our Father, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, will grant you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of him.
[4:24] If there's anything that should happen in your Christian life, it's that you should know him. That's why we come to church. One of the main reasons why we come to church is to fellowship with one another and fellowship with him.
[4:38] and to know him more because I can't know Christ entirely and in a comprehensive way by myself. I need you to know Christ.
[4:49] I need, we need one another. That's why Bible studies is a good thing where a group of people are sitting down like we do encourage care group or even chaos is very good.
[5:00] You have people you are interacting with. We are studying the Bible, discussing the Bible and it's not a toxic discussion. Am I, some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.
[5:13] Well, spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. He said, that's my prayer that God will give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him that the eyes, oh, the eyes of your understanding.
[5:32] what's the meaning of that? Your understanding has got eyes. Oh, I see. Yeah, you got it. Say, I see.
[5:43] Sometimes you'll be talking to a blind person. Say, yeah, I see, I see, I see. Ah, his understanding has got eyes and he says that God will enlighten who, that God does this by his spirit and his spirit is the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
[6:07] When that spirit is granted, he said, I pray that God will give you or grant you, he used the word in King James, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight into the true knowledge of him.
[6:26] That's Jesus Christ. For we know the father through the son. Then you know, you have a deep and personal, no one can take that away from you. It's too late for anybody from any religion to try and, try and say anything different from what I know in scripture and I would think, oh, wow, that, hmm, I'm exchanging my mind.
[6:47] I have known him too personally because it's not just in the realm of the intellect. It's called an experiential knowledge.
[6:59] Knowledge by experience. It cannot be taken away from you. So, when you read the text very well, King James or New King James, it says that God will give you the spirit of wisdom and that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom, may give to you what?
[7:17] The spirit of wisdom. What? The spirit of wisdom and revelation. it's a spirit. The spirit of wisdom give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
[7:32] So, it's talking about this spirit that is given to you is the spirit of wisdom and revelation as you know him and the knowledge of him. So, it's a spirit. The Holy Spirit is the spirit of wisdom and revelation.
[7:44] Are you getting it? So I'm praying for you that God will give you the spirit of wisdom. So let me put it, let me try and shorten it and say, God will give you of his spirit.
[7:57] Which spirit is the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him? So God will give you his spirit or death spirit. Why? The next verse, verse 17.
[8:08] So that the spirit, this one, this spirit is giving you so that the eyes of your understanding is enlightened, not open.
[8:18] Because when you are born again, your eyes are open. Those who are not born again, their eyes are blind. John 3, 3, except a man is born again, he cannot see. So born again affords you to begin to see.
[8:31] John what? John what? And 2 Corinthians 4, 4. Oh, it's nice. 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 3. Isn't it nice?
[8:42] Yeah. 2 Corinthians 4, 4, 4, 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10, 10. For in whom the God of this world has blinded their minds. So their minds have been blinded. It's not their eyes. They see, they can read, but they can't see.
[8:55] Their minds have been blinded. Do. The people who are not in Jesus. Those who are not born again, their minds are blinded. And some of them will sit on social media and describe churches to you.
[9:07] With blinded minds. My book comes in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 17. In the futility of their thinking.
[9:19] Futility of their minds. Their minds are futile. When they say something is futile, what's the meaning? Empty. It's not productive. It's futile.
[9:30] In the futility of their minds. King James said, in the vanity. Vain. When they say something is vain, that means really you can do without it.
[9:42] You can do without it. The vanity of their minds. Who are those? Those people who are not in Christ. Their minds are vain. But why did he say Gentiles? He could have said other Jews who are not in Christ.
[9:53] The Jews are people who are raised with biblical norms. So when you are a normal Jew, you have to recite the Torah. They teach you.
[10:03] They talk about it. So you cannot be a Jew without knowing about the Torah. Three things that you are supposed to know. Let me briefly mention one. And then we'll continue.
[10:14] The number one that you will know is that you will know the hope of his calling. That you may know what is the hope of his calling.
[10:27] If you are a Christian, you are called for those he foreknew. He also predestined to be conformed into the Romans chapter 8 verse 29. To be conformed into the image of his son.
[10:38] That he will become, he will be the firstborn amongst many brethren. Verse 30. And those he predestined. Them he called. He has called us.
[10:49] He has called us. He has called us. We are called. Hebrews chapter 3 verse 1. My holy brethren. Consider the apostle and the high priest of our confession.
[11:00] It says Hebrews chapter 3. Wherefore holy brethren partake of the, you are partakers of what? The heavenly calling. It's a heavenly calling. I'm called. Tell somebody I'm called.
[11:10] I'm called. The first Peter chapter 2. He said you are a chosen generation. A royal priesthood. A holy nation. Oh, first Peter chapter 2 verse 9. Chosen generation. A royal priesthood.
[11:21] A holy nation. A peculiar people. That you should show forth the praises of him who has what? Called you. Hallelujah. The name church. The Greek word for the name, for the word church is ecclesia.
[11:36] Ekeleu. Ekeleu. And so ecclesia. So when you see ecclesiastes, it has to do with church. Ecclesiology is telling you about church. Okay. Ekklesia. So ecclesia is two words.
[11:49] Eke and keleu. Eke. Eke. So it's like out of. Some of you have X's. Yeah. So you have come out of them. So Eke. Eke. So ecclesia is X.
[12:01] Ekeleu. Paraclet. Paraclet. You know paraclet? I lost paraclet. The Holy Ghost is called comforter. Come along. So paraclet.
[12:12] So it's been called parallel lines. It's called alongside you. So paraclet. You know paramedics. But this one is paraclet. Paralegal.
[12:23] Paraclet. So it's like it's not really loyal, but they work alongside the lawyers. Paramedics. Paramedics. It's not really a medic, but it works alongside them. So parakeleu is someone called alongside you to offer you assistance anytime you need it.
[12:38] So parakeleu. So keleu has to do with call. And ek is out of. So when you are in a church, it's called out. The church has been called out.
[12:49] So there is a group of people in your family, in your nation, but they are not all part of the church. God calls you out. He calls you out. He calls you out. Say, I'm called.
[12:59] I'm called. In Philippians chapter 3, he said, I press on. Verse 12. He said, I press on towards the mark of the price of the high calling of Christ.
[13:14] Verse 40 says, I press on towards the mark of the price of the high. Say, high calling. High calling.
[13:49] Timothy talks about chapter 1 from verse 7. Somewhere there. He talks about how he has called us not because of our works, our good works.
[14:02] But he has called us based on his own goodness. He says that who has saved us and called us with. He called us with a holy calling.
[14:14] Holy calling. It's a very unique, exclusive call. Holy means something that is separate from every other thing. It's an exclusive call. Why do you walk as a Christian with your head bowed?
[14:26] No. Shut us up because you have a holy calling. You have a heavenly calling. You have a high calling. For those he predestined, he called. And those he called, he justified.
[14:38] Those he justified, he glorified. You are called to be glorified. The fact that you are Christian means that you are called. In John chapter 6 verse 44, Jesus said that no man can come to me except the father draws him.
[14:53] Draws him. Parlementarians are called out people. That's what a church is. That word church, ecclesia, in the Roman Senate, there's especially called people from there.
[15:05] So every jurisdiction, every constituency, there's one that's called to represent their call. And so when they gather, it's called the church, ecclesia.
[15:17] So before Jesus, the church was born, the word ecclesia was already being used to represent specialized people who are called to make decisions and gather.
[15:28] It's an assembly of people who are called out. Single, like handpicked. You, yeah, come. You, yeah, come. You, yeah, come. And they've gathered all of them to meet, to make decisions and to have an assembly.
[15:43] So it's an assembly. So the church, that's the idea behind the church that that's why you have a seven-member family, but only two of you are called. That's why your neighborhood, there are quite a few people there, but you are the only one who goes to church on a Sunday.
[16:00] You are the only Christian on that road. But the good thing is there are others who are called, but they don't know. As God uses you to speak to them, they begin to hear the heavenly calling. Because it's a heavenly calling.
[16:12] You did not come to church because someone said, just come. You came because God was thrown. That's John chapter 6, verse 44.
[16:28] John 6, verse 44. Let's read it. Let's go. Let the man come to me, except the father which has sent me to go again. And I will raise him up at the last day.
[16:38] The father sent me. And he, people are supposed to come to you, but they can't come. Because natural human beings cannot come to God by themselves. So, the father who sent Jesus to come and save us, he said, he himself will not do that wrong.
[16:54] So, you came today not because you wanted to, your friend is bothering you. I have to come. I have to go. No. But actually, even though you desired to come, there was a higher calling working on you.
[17:07] That's why, when they said, oh, you want to work with Jesus, you are so genuinely happy to say, yes. Yes, I want to. Yes, pastor, pray for me.
[17:18] I want to. It's not because of the preaching of the pastor, but it's a heavenly calling. Why? You came with a friend. Your friend said, oh, she was sleeping or he was sleeping when he had preaching. But how come you were so engaged?
[17:30] Because the man is saying things that you seem to be hearing more than he's saying. Why? It's a heavenly calling. Partakers. You are part of that heavenly calling.
[17:41] He said, partakers of the heavenly calling. Hallelujah. Hebrews 3.1. Partakers of the holy calling or the heavenly calling.
[17:53] Holy brothers. What? Holy brothers and sisters. Brother means brothers and sisters. Holy brethren. Partakers of the heavenly calling. You are part of this specialized call.
[18:04] Ekeleu called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. Wow. Now, Paul said, I've been praying for you.
[18:14] That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Father of glory may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. That the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you will know the hope.
[18:30] You will know what is the hope. This calling comes. It's one. It's not your calling. It's his calling. He in the...
[18:41] A pastor can't call you. A preacher can't call you. When the preacher said, do you want to walk with Jesus? Do you want to take a decision for Jesus?
[18:52] And he said, yes, yes. You are not saying yes to a preacher. You are saying yes to a heavenly calling. You are saying yes to a heavenly sound. You say yes. Why would you say yes?
[19:04] Because God actually gave you the willingness. Because naturally you are not even willing. You didn't even want to come. You just want to finish quickly and go. But suddenly you feel, oh yes. Oh yes. God, yes.
[19:15] Yes to you, Lord. Yes to you, Lord. He says that it's his calling. And he says that my prayer is that you will know the hope. What is the hope of his calling?
[19:26] In other words, this calling is not a hopeless calling. Hope always points to something ahead. Points to victory ahead.
[19:37] Why do people commit suicide? When they are hopeless. When they feel there is no hope anymore. You can't be alive without hope. The Bible says in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1.
[19:47] Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for. You even need to have hope for faith to work. Oh yeah. Hebrews 11 says, now, faith is the substance, the hypostasis.
[20:02] Substance of things hoped for. In Romans chapter 8 from verse 23, 24, somewhere there. It says that what you already have, you don't hope for it. Hope that is seen is not hope.
[20:16] Oh. It says that for we are saved by hope. But hope that is seen is not hope. What does that mean? I can't be standing here and hoping to be in Kershinty.
[20:30] I'm already in Kershinty. I can't hope to be in Kershinty. Do you understand that? The days of hoping to be a married man for me are over. So, the Bible says in Romans chapter 8 verse 24, that hope that is seen is not hope.
[20:47] If you've seen it, you can hope for what you have already seen. For what man, for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? Give us New Living Translation.
[21:00] We were given this hope when we were saved. If we already have something, we don't need to hope for it. You see that? You don't need to hope for what you already have. You don't need to hope for it.
[21:12] You don't need to hope for it. But, so, it says that every calling comes with a hope. So, the point I'm making is that every calling comes with a promise ahead of you.
[21:25] Something, a promise of something you have not yet experienced. Get it? There is something ahead of you you have not yet experienced. Those who are mocking you, let them mock you.
[21:35] God will be making you. Amen. Amen. So then, what helps to make your Christian life a strong Christian life is the hope of his calling.
[21:46] When he called you, he called you with the hope attached to it. That right there, that's where we are going. So, when you keep your hope alive, he said, my prayer for you is that you will know the hope, not the calling.
[22:01] The hope that comes with the calling. Other than that, you will be struggling in your Christian life. You will fall for temptations easily. When times are hard, you will run away from church.
[22:13] Why? Because you are not aware of the hope of his calling. You are not aware of the hope of his calling. If you lose hope, you will give up.
[22:29] Christianity can be so much fraught, fraught with discouragement. Some temptations are so big, you are wondering, but why am I punishing myself? Let me get on with this thing. Hello?
[22:39] Why? Why am I restricting myself and punishing myself? And other, my friends are enjoying. Why don't I enjoy? Come on, I can't be burdened. And your job is funny. Dad is that.
[22:51] And sometimes you are not happy because you are late for choir rehearsal. And so many things. It's a very serious thing I'm teaching. It's the sins I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.
[23:05] I do not cease to make mention of you or give thanks for you. Making mention of you, my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Father of glory will give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him.
[23:19] That the eyes of your understanding being enlightened. That you will know. What? Number one, the hope of his calling. I am called, but not without hope. This calling comes with hope.
[23:31] It's like you are embarking on a career or you are going to do some course. And they've told that in maybe AI. That AI, anyone who has a degree or even diploma in AI, the starting salary is 95,000 pounds.
[23:48] You know? So it's three months crash course. So you are not sleeping. But guess what? You are doing it because of the hope of this course. The hope. So when your friends say, ah, we are going to Abiva.
[24:03] Are you not coming? No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm studying. You are studying again. What is it? No, I'm trying to do some AI crash course. Oh, no. You already have a PhD or master's in computer programming.
[24:17] They don't understand. So it doesn't matter what they say. They can't talk you out. Why? Because of the hope of the calling of this course. And he says that when it comes to Christianity, it's very easy to lose sight of the hope.
[24:32] So he said, I'm praying for you. That the Holy Spirit will come on you. That you'll be given the spirit of wisdom and revelation. That the eyes of your understanding will be enlightened.
[24:42] That you will know. The first important thing is the kind of hope you've been called into which you didn't know. That's why most of the time when I'm teaching, I keep talking about I started serving God early. And I know you have a future.
[24:54] But sometimes you don't know. But where I started, and some of you have even started earlier. You have a better advantage. And I want to tell you, listen. If I, from 17, I've been so faithful with God.
[25:07] And God has been super faithful to me and brought me this far. Then you have a better chance. But sometimes, if you don't see people like us. Who have paid the price. Disconnected ourselves from nonsense worldliness.
[25:20] Disconnected ourselves from fleshly activities. And work with God purely, truly. Serving in the church all my life. And has brought us this way. It becomes a platform for your hope.
[25:32] That you can look at it. But even that, sometimes, Satan will be clouded. Your touch. You are so confused that you need prayer. But the Holy Ghost will enlighten the heart of your understanding.
[25:44] The eyes of your heart. That you will know. Oh, actually, I am coming to this day. Say the kingdom of heaven. It's like a man. Matthew chapter 13. Verse 43 and 44.
[25:57] Put it up. Hmm. Someone get you something. I'm talking. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hit in a field.
[26:08] Which, when a man has found. And for joy over it. Goes and sells all that he has. And buys it. So, he has this.
[26:19] He has this. He has this. But he has found this treasure. He goes and sells. So, once he sells. People will say, why are you selling that? Why are you selling that? He'll say, don't worry. I want to sell it. Because why? My eye is on this.
[26:29] I've seen something here. I've seen something here. And I want to sell everything. I want to break ties with those bad friends. I want to break ties with those unchristian attitudes. I want to break ties with all those things that are not helping me.
[26:41] I don't care. Let them laugh at me. But tomorrow, I'll be laughing. Tomorrow, I'll be laughing. You can't make those decisions without seeing the hope ahead. Without seeing the hope.
[26:53] You'll go back to that boy. You'll go back to that girl. Look at the next verse. Again. Verse 45, please. Again.
[27:05] The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearl. The pearl is like a precious stone. Who, when he has found a pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.
[27:19] Until you see the price and the value in that pearl of the kingdom, you struggle to sell all that you have to buy it. That's why we need to know the hope.
[27:31] The hope of his calling. Did you receive something? Thank you for choosing to listen to this message by David Entry.
[27:42] We hope you were blessed by it. You can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms, including TikTok and Threads. There's also many more messages to listen to from David Entry on all relevant streaming platforms and on the Karish Church app.
[27:59] Be blessed. Thank you.