Podcast
[0:00] Hallelujah. Thank you for tuning in to this powerful message by David Entry at Caris Face 2, our Christ-centered youth services. You can never find Christ outside of the open word of God. May Jesus Christ reveal himself to you as you listen.
[0:18] Father, we thank you. In Jesus' name, amen. Please be seated. I have a feeling today is going to be an exciting time.
[0:40] Yes, there's a lot I believe God has got in stock for us. Amen. Yes. Ephesians chapter 2.
[0:53] Permit me to indulge myself in reading from verse 18. Ephesians chapter 2, reading from verse 18.
[1:09] For through him we both have access by one spirit unto the Father. Now therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles, sorry, of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom all the buildings fitly framed together, grows into an holy temple in the Lord, in whom ye are also built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
[1:49] Verse chapter 3. For this cause I, Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles, if ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given to me to you, Lord, how that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery, as I wrote afore in few words, whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
[2:29] Here ends the reading of God's word. Amen. Amen. Praise God. Hallelujah. So, built on the foundation of the apostles.
[2:40] What's the foundation? Put it on there. I want... Okay. Let's look at the text very carefully. Having been built on the foundation of the apostles, the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.
[3:00] NIV. Then we go... New America, N-S... N-A-S-B. Then we go to E-S-V. Then we go to... New King James.
[3:11] All right. So, it says that... This is NIV. Built on the foundation of the apostles, and prophets. With Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.
[3:25] So, from what you are saying from here, the foundation of the apostles and prophets, the foundation of the apostles and prophets from here is not the same as Christ.
[3:40] It seems to me like... Because it said, with Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. So, it seems like... There's a kind of... Something different they're talking about.
[3:51] Let's look at New American Standard Version. New American Standard Version. Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone.
[4:04] So, he is the cornerstone and then there. So, we are talking about two things. There's a cornerstone and there's the foundation of the...
[4:16] Of course, maybe the cornerstone is embedded in the foundation. But then that means that the cornerstone is not the whole foundation.
[4:29] Because Christ himself is the cornerstone and there's a foundation and there's a... So, the cornerstone can be part of the foundation, but it might not be all of the foundation. Right?
[4:41] Grammar. Or logic. And what other version? He has been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
[4:51] Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone. Same, same, same. All right. Let's go to Amplified. Amplified Version. Says that having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Jesus, Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.
[5:13] All right. So, whatever you look at it, it seems to suggest that there's a foundation in this prophet.
[5:26] For many years, for over 20 years, I was teaching on Ephesians alone. Ephesians. So, Ephesians is my hotspot.
[5:37] Not acts, not collusion. Ephesians is my main staff. Right? I love to talk about Ephesians. And even when I was on TV, I did a lot of research, reading.
[5:51] I've always said, when you go to... A pastor friend of mine called me to explain this text to him. Ephesians 2.20. So, because here it says that the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
[6:04] But when you read 1 Corinthians 3.11, it also talks about no other foundation can any man lay except that which is lay, which is Jesus Christ. Clearly, it tells us that Jesus is the foundation.
[6:17] But Ephesians 2.20 says that on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, that Jesus is a cornerstone. So, which one is which? And so, I explained it to him that...
[6:32] That's how I've always explained it. It's true. The foundation of the apostles and prophets is the things the apostles taught and the things the prophets prophesied.
[6:44] That's what the church is built on. Do you understand that? And Jesus himself is the amalgamating force. The bonding, the unifying force that holds us all together, even on the foundation of what the prophets have taught him.
[7:01] Without Christ, we can't sit on it. He holds us together and holds everything. Jesus is the unifying force. You know, when you are building... How many of you know when you are building a house, you need some bricks or blocks?
[7:16] But that's all. You can't arrange bricks and then finish. No, the house, a small boy can push it in the house. What you need is you need mortar, which is made up of cement, water, and sand.
[7:30] You mix them. And then when it dries up, that's what holds the house. It becomes down solid. So, as it were, Jesus, we can say it's the mortar. You can build it.
[7:41] If you put blocks on a foundation, it's still not safe. It can be pushed down. But once you put it, you use the mortar and stick it on and stick it on. It's like glue.
[7:52] So, Jesus is the book himself. A corner stone is a stone in a corner that holds two walls together. I've always said that. And don't forget it. So, it's holding two, it's in a corner to hold left wall and the right wall.
[8:05] Or walls that are at right, that are angled. Whether they are right angled or a certain whatever angle or parallel.
[8:16] They are not parallel, but they are running on the same line. You still need something to hold them together. So, like you put block next to other block, the blocks are all in one line.
[8:29] Jesus is the mortar. Jesus is the corner stone that holds. Push them together. Right. Now, so this text says that the foundation of the apostles, I explain it to me, what the apostles teach.
[8:44] Anybody who is doing whatever church, any group of people who are having church, and it cannot be traced to what the apostles have written. It is not church. It's not apostles church.
[8:56] That's why in Acts chapter 2 verse 42, they continued in apostles' doctrine and fellowship. It must be, watch this, this is very important. It must be something that came, started with the apostles.
[9:08] Anything that it is start with the apostles is not part of the church of Christ. The church of Christ can only be built on the foundation of the apostles. When I say apostles, please, I'm talking about the apostles of Jesus Christ.
[9:20] The apostles replaced, Judas replaced by Matthias, and then later on, apostle Paul was added to them. So as it were, 13. Right. The things they taught, the things Peter taught, the things James taught, the things John taught, or the people who worked very closely with them.
[9:37] For instance, the book of Mark was not written by an apostle. It was written by Mark. But Mark worked very closely with Peter. So theologians believe that his writings were either supervised or influenced by Peter.
[9:51] Luke was a traveler. He always traveled with Paul. Luke was always with Paul. And so what he wrote was influenced by Paul, Paul's philosophy. So everything any of them wrote, if they were not direct apostles, direct one of the 13, then they must have had close contact and relationship or not relationship, association with the apostles.
[10:17] Else it cannot be that the technical language is canonized. So when we say it's canonized, some of you who believe that you do a lot of research, you believe that there's a book called The Gospel of Thomas, written by Thomas.
[10:35] Okay. Did Thomas write a book? Well, if I should tell you my genuine opinion, I don't care. But it's not about me.
[10:46] I don't matter. Right. So facts and history. Let's even assume. I don't believe he did. But let's assume he did. And so what? Didn't other people write books?
[10:59] So the fact that some, Paul even wrote other letters to a church called Laodicea. And they never included it in scripture. Because it was Paul's letter, but it wasn't scripture.
[11:11] So now for it to be scripture, it's called, it's canonized. There's canon. There's a measuring standard. They used to judge this is scripture. This is scripture.
[11:22] This is scripture. One of the standards is in line with what Jesus said. Other standard is it doesn't contradict what Jesus has already said. Or what the other canonized scriptures are saying.
[11:33] So analogia scriptura means that the scripture speaks with one voice. This is very important. So that is what all the other religions target about Christianity.
[11:44] Target to vandalize the scripture. That the scripture contradicts. Have you noticed how Muslims like to talk about the Bible? Focus on your Quran.
[11:54] They like to talk about the Bible. I don't know why. I've never spoken to a Muslim about the Quran. Look, I don't have time. It's not necessary.
[12:05] It doesn't save. It's not the word of God. But they will come and say, this one is not the word of God. They always start getting the Bible. And one of their popular things is the Bible contradicts itself.
[12:20] Ignorant. And they quote someone from here and here, which an imam has told them. And they say it contradicts itself. Typical example is someone may, and they don't even, they don't see these words.
[12:33] They say that, you say the church is built on the foundation of apostles and prophets. But in 1 Corinthians it says that Jesus is the foundation. So then we try to say the apostles and prophets who are the foundation of Jesus. You see, it's the Bible contradicts itself.
[12:45] It's you who doesn't understand it. We can explain it to you. You see it as contradiction. Because of your limited understanding. So, the canonized scriptures, the ones the apostles wrote, is the basis for Christianity.
[13:03] And it's not only that. The prophets, when we talk about the prophets, there are people who can function in the office of a prophet. But not at the canonized level. Not like prophet Elijah.
[13:14] Not like prophet John the Baptist. Not like prophet Amos. Prophet Zachariah. Prophet Moses. Prophet David the prophet. Those people, they spoke scripture.
[13:25] They wrote scripture. You being a prophet or apostle, you can't come in here. If you attempt to write the scripture, you are a false prophet. If you attempt to write the scripture, you are an antichrist.
[13:39] So, the scripture is closed. We don't need to add to it. We don't need to take from it. The Bible says if you add to it, God will add to your life the plagues of this world. And if you take from it, you also will be taken out of the book of life.
[13:51] It is there in your Bible. Revelation chapter 22. Everyone who hears the words of this prophecy. For I testify to everyone who hears the words of this. The words of the prophecy of this book.
[14:03] If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plague that is written in this book. Yes. You can't add to it. It's sealed. The book is sealed.
[14:15] It's completed. All right. Now, back to the foundation of the apostles and prophets. So, the apostles, what I explained to my friend and I taught on TV some time ago is, the apostles' teaching becomes the foundation of the church.
[14:33] Why do we baptize? Because the apostles taught it. Why do we do communion? Because the apostles taught it. Why do we gather to fellowship? Because it's what the apostles taught. If it cannot be traced to what apostles taught and practiced, it is not Christian.
[14:52] That's a very serious one. So, if we are burning candles and we didn't see the apostles burning candles, that is not Christian. It is not.
[15:03] If we can't trace it to the apostles, then it is not. If we are singing praises and we didn't see the apostles sing praises or they didn't write about us singing praises, then it is not.
[15:15] Somebody who quotes from the Old Testament, but they used to do it in the Old Testament. Check if the apostles did it. If the apostles endorsed it. Circumcision.
[15:26] It was done in the Old Testament. So, we should circumcise for people to be saved. No. The apostles didn't teach that. So, the church is built. We are a holy building built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
[15:42] What are the prophets? What the Old Testament have said about Christ and the church. It does not divorce itself from what the apostles have taught. For the Bible speaks with one voice.
[15:54] Amen. Now, this is what, and it's true. The explanation I just gave you is true. I taught, I explained it on television many years ago, and I explained it to my friend many years, a few years ago.
[16:08] It's true. But recently, as I was meditating on the Word of God, I came across an understanding and insight, which I have never seen in the books I've read.
[16:20] I've never seen it like that. And that's why I want to submit to you. Having been built, what I've been built, I think, sorry, I'll go back every 21, just 19 to make a bit of sense.
[16:31] Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household. So God has a house, and that household is built.
[16:45] We are members and we are all, we, the members of this household, are being built. Okay. We are building. Do you remember Jesus said, upon this rock I will build.
[16:56] All right. So who is doing the building? Jesus is the builder. He's building us, and we are the blocks or building blocks or better biblical word, stones.
[17:08] The lively or living stones. 1 Peter 2, verse 5. We are the living stones being built. He said, you also as living stones are being built.
[17:22] Did you see that? What are we being built into? Built up a spiritual house. Oh, wow. Not a physical house. It's a spiritual house. A holy priesthood to offer up.
[17:34] The house is meant to be a priesthood to offer up sacrifices. We are being built. So we are stones that are being used for the building of God's house. Back to Ephesians chapter 2, verse 19.
[17:48] Being built on the, we are members of God's own household. And then verse 20, it says that having been built on the foundation of the prophets and prophets and prophets.
[18:13] Now, this is what I found out recently in my meditation, in my studies and prayer. It said we are being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
[18:25] It didn't say the apostles and prophets are the foundation. They are not the foundation. They have a foundation. Do you understand that?
[18:39] They have a foundation. So, the apostles have their foundation. But now we are being built, not on our foundation, but on their foundation. The foundation of the apostles and the foundation, what made them apostles?
[18:58] What made a person a prophet? The reason why John the Baptist says, sorry, Jesus, I'm sorry. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 11, he says, excuse me, in the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of God.
[19:15] So, verse 13, I think verse 13. Matthew chapter 11, verse 13. And yeah, it's not 12, definitely. So, it's verse 13. All the prophets prophesied unto John.
[19:26] The prophets and the law prophesied unto John. So, the law was also prophesied. Right? Now, let's look at the next verse. Verse 14. Okay. So, the one I'm looking for is the verse 10 and 11.
[19:39] Talking about John the Baptist. So, this, you see, one something, when you know where some stories are, it's easy to look for where a verse will be. Because those stories, Jesus, John the Baptist was in prison from verse 1.
[19:51] And he sent the disciples to come and ask Jesus, are you the one to come? Oh, should I express another one? And Jesus didn't tell them that, yeah, I am the one. He didn't say anything about John the Baptist. And then, rather, you know what he said to the disciples?
[20:02] Go and tell him the blind are seen. The lame walk. And the gospel is preached to the poor. And then he added, blessed is he who is not offended in him.
[20:14] Oh, John the Baptist, he looks like he is offended. Blessed is he, he is not offended because of me. And they left. The disciples left. Did they say? They left. As they departed, Jesus then began to tell the people who were innocent.
[20:28] He began to tell them about John the Baptist, how wonderful he was. He should have said it to the hearing of the disciples. When they left, he began to tell them concerning John.
[20:42] He said, what do you go out in the wilderness to see? A reed shaking by a wind? Is that what you see? Then you continue, look at the next verse.
[20:53] The next verse says that, verse, verse. Yes. Yes. But what did you go out to see? A man, that's the kind of man you went and saw. When you went to the wilderness.
[21:05] It's wild honey. Wild locusts and honey. It's very interesting. Then look at what he just said, verse 9. Verse 9. He says, but what do you go out to see?
[21:18] A prophet. Yes. I say to you, more than a prophet. Saying that that guy was not more than a prophet. What does he say? Verse 10. John the Baptist.
[21:29] For this is he of whom it's written. Before I send my messenger before your face. Sorry. Before I send my messenger before your face. Who will prepare your way before.
[21:41] Talking about the coming of the Messiah. Someone will come first. And he's telling them that John the Baptist is the one who came ahead. He says that he's the Elijah who was to come. Look at the next verse. Verse 11.
[21:52] Then this is what he said about John the Baptist. Surely I say to you. Among those born of women. Is there anyone here who was not born by a woman? The only legal way to be a human being on earth is to come through the birth canal.
[22:08] Now, you must be developed in a woman's womb. Even what is called IVF. In vitro fertilization.
[22:21] Is just to fertilize the egg. They insert the egg for it to develop. The point I'm making is that everybody here grew up or developed in a womb.
[22:32] That's what Jesus is saying. That amongst all. He says that. I say to you. Among those born of women. Is there anyone who was never developing a woman's womb? No.
[22:43] Born of women. There has not risen one greater than John the Baptist. You should have said it for the disciples. His disciples to hear. Even though he was in prison.
[22:56] Jesus said there has not been one greater than John the Baptist. But it looks like Moses is great. Was Moses not great? He was great. But Jesus said John the Baptist is greater than Prophet Moses.
[23:09] It wasn't bad. Up to now. Up to now. The Jews make references to him. No one makes references to John the Baptist. Because they don't have revelation. They would have been making reference. Because Jesus made a lot of reference to John the Baptist.
[23:21] More than all the others. But why is he greater than everyone? Is it the kind of prophecy he prophesied? I have taught this several times. It's because all the prophets. Their foundation is a message about Christ.
[23:35] That's the foundation of the prophets. The foundation of the apostles is their message about Christ. If you want to know whether God has sent you.
[23:49] We have to check what you are saying. If we don't find Christ in what you are saying. You have not been sent by God. The foundation of your. The authenticity of your apostolicity.
[24:02] And prophetic ministry. Is repository. On the message of Christ in your mouth. So this is how Paul puts it.
[24:15] Can I give you another scripture? Paul said in Galatians chapter 1 verse 16. When he pleased God. To reveal his son in me. That's what makes him an apostle. I know he didn't get it.
[24:28] What made him an apostle is that Christ. Christ would be revealed. Christ. He says that. He says that. When he pleased God. To reveal Christ in me.
[24:40] That's what made him an apostle. The apostles only had. One assignment. To be witnesses of Christ. So through their teaching.
[24:52] Christ would be revealed. In Acts chapter. 10 verse 39. It talk about witnesses who were with him. We. And we.
[25:03] We are witnesses of all these things. In Acts chapter. 5 verse 32. It said. We are witnesses. With the Holy Spirit. We are his witnesses of these things.
[25:17] In Acts chapter 10. Verse 41. Revealed. He was. Manifested to. Witnesses were chosen. Witnesses.
[25:28] Witnesses. Say witnesses. Witnesses. Yeah. Witnesses. And in Acts. Chapter. 3. It talks about. I think verse 15. It talks about. And we are.
[25:39] His witnesses. Or we are witnesses. Of all these things. That have happened. 15. Of which we are witnesses. Their witness. Was just to. Give evidence.
[25:50] About the living Jesus. Who died. And resurrected. And is working. In the life of man. The foundation. Of their ministry. Jesus himself.
[26:02] When he called. Paul. He told. Ananias. Go to him. I've. I've chosen. To be my witness. I've chosen.
[26:12] And I'll show you. Him. How many things. He will suffer for my name. He says that. I've chosen. He's a chosen vessel for me. He'll be. A witness for me. And Acts chapter 22. 22.
[26:23] From verse 14. Acts 22. From verse 14. He said. What are you doing then? What are you waiting for? Verse 14. 15. 16. For.
[26:33] I will show you. For. You will be his witness. To all men. All men. Of what. You have seen. And heard.
[26:44] He said. Verse 16. What are you waiting for? Get up. Be baptized. Calling on the name of the Lord. So. Now. Paul's. Paul's calling. Was to be a witness. Of Christ.
[26:56] And he said. When. It pleased God. To reveal his son. In me. That's what made him an apostle. That's what. When him a messenger of Christ. Why? Because of the revelation.
[27:06] Of Christ. That was happening. To his life. That's the foundation. Of an apostle. That's the foundation. Of a prophet. And that's the foundation. Of David A. So if I.
[27:17] Watch this. If I come. And I'm preaching. The reason why. Our church is healthy. Is because we are built. On the foundation. My. The foundation. I know. The foundation. Of the apostles.
[27:27] And his one foundation. The revelation. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. The revelation. Of Christ. The revelation.
[27:37] Of Christ. That is our foundation. That's our foundation. Now. He said. John the Baptist. Is greater. Than all the prophets. And that everybody. In what sense.
[27:49] Because all the prophets. Said he's coming. He's coming. They're always talking about Jesus. He's coming. The prophets points. To the coming. Of the Messiah. John the Baptist. Said. Behold. I present to you. The Lamb of God.
[27:59] Who is closer. To the Messiah. The one who is introducing. And now. But it says that. But. The least. In the kingdom of God. Put it back on the screen.
[28:10] Verse. Verse. Verse. No. No. No. That's one. Matthew chapter 11. I'm talking about John the Baptist. There's no one greater. Matthew chapter 11. Verse 11.
[28:21] It's easy to remember. Almost like Hebrews 11. 11. Matthew 11. How many of you. Who knows what is Hebrews 11. What's there? Sarah. Sarah. So Matthew 11.
[28:31] 11. Matthew 11. 11. Matthew 11. 11. 11. It says that. We are being built. Oh sorry. It says that. John the Baptist. There's none greater.
[28:43] Raising one. Greater than. John the Baptist. But he who is. Least. In the kingdom of heaven. Is greater than. John the Baptist. He who is.
[28:54] Who is. He who is. Least. In the. Kingdom of heaven. What. What. What does he mean by kingdom of heaven? I taught. I taught you. In Matthew. Matthew didn't use kingdom of God.
[29:06] Because his. His. His audience were Jewish. And Jews don't mention the name of God. Mark will. Because his audience were Romans. So. Matthew was careful about.
[29:16] So most of the time. He used kingdom of heaven. Some teachers will tell you. There's a difference between kingdom of heaven. Kingdom of God. It's the same. Generally speaking. It's the same. So.
[29:26] Kingdom of heaven is kingdom of God. What is the kingdom of God? It's not some country somewhere. The kingdom of God is the jurisdiction where Christ reigns. And that is. The church. That is.
[29:37] The heart of the believer. And he said. The least. In the church. Is greater than John the Baptist. How can that be? The least. The one who has just. joined church. Who has just.
[29:48] Entered church. Is greater than John the Baptist. Ah. I didn't mean you just entered a building. No. That's not what I mean. Because you can enter the building. But Christ has not entered you. What makes you member of the church.
[29:59] Is Christ in you. Right. So. If everybody. The big. The prophets will say. Christ is coming. John the Baptist said. Behold. I present to you. He's bigger than them.
[30:09] Because he's closer to Christ. How about the one who Christ lives inside? Oh. You are certainly bigger than John the Baptist. Jesus. So. It. This thing has. Everything to do with. Your relationship.
[30:19] Association. And proximity with Christ. So that. If we say. We are being built. On the foundation. Of the apostles and prophet. Their foundation. Is the revelation of Christ. Let me teach you something else.
[30:32] I think you will like this. Who do men say I am? Matthew chapter 13. Verse 13. Easy to remember. Is it 13. 13. Yes. Matthew 13. 13. Who do men say I am?
[30:43] And who do you say I am? And then verse 15. Peter says. Verse 16. Sorry. Peter said. You are the Christ. The son of the living God. And Jesus said. Blessed are you.
[30:54] Verse 17. Blessed are you. Simon Barjona. For flesh and blood. Has not. For flesh and blood. Has not. What was revealed? That Jesus is the son of God.
[31:05] That's the revelation of Jesus. That's what determines the quality of your Christianity. The quality of your Christian life. If you are Christian. What shows you a Christian. Is not the way you are screaming. You are dancing.
[31:15] You are jumping. And the way you are behaving nice. No. That's not what determines the quality of your Christian life. The quality of your Christian life is determined by the revelation of Jesus. Do you know him?
[31:26] How well do you know him? Who is Jesus to you? That is what determines the quality. Your spiritual maturity. And the more you know him. The more it begins to affect your definition of life.
[31:37] It begins to affect your behavior. It begins to affect the way you can. When you know Christ. You don't struggle to forgive. Oh yes. The way you are struggling to forgive. And you are so bitter.
[31:48] You have a long way to go. In your spiritual maturity. It doesn't mean you are not a Christian. You are still a Christian. But you are not growing. So. It has everything to do with the revelation of Christ.
[32:01] So he said. Flesh and blood. Oh. What determines what you are. Your blessing. What determines the blessing in your life. Is. The revelation of Christ you have.
[32:13] Jesus said to Peter. He said. Blessed are you. Verse 17. Blessed are you. Simon. He didn't say all of you. Simon. By Jonah. Yes.
[32:25] Son of Jonah. Simon. His father's name is Jonah. Okay. Not the one who was swallowed by the whale. Simon. By Jonah. Simon.
[32:37] By Jonah. Why are you blessed? Because the revelation you have got. Was given to you from above. Preachers cannot give you that revelation. So why are they preaching?
[32:47] I'm preaching that the Holy Ghost will use my preaching. To give you a revelation of Jesus. So. Blessed are you. Simon. By Jonah. For flesh and blood.
[32:58] Has not. Revealed. This to you. Flesh and blood. Has not. Revealed. It must be. Unveiled. So that's why when a Muslim tells you.
[33:12] How can you say this? I don't believe the Bible. Because. He's blind. It's not unveiled to him. That's why when. Some professor tells you. Oh this is nonsense. Oh yes.
[33:23] Because your mind is futile. Yes. It's not me who say. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 17. He said. In the futility of their thinking. Yes. If you don't have Christ.
[33:34] There's a certain level of futility of your thinking. It is not productive. When I say productivity. I'm talking about. It doesn't produce the life of God. That makes life better.
[33:45] It says that. I say this. Therefore I testify in the Lord. That you should no longer walk. At the rest of the Gentiles walk. In the futility of their minds.
[33:58] 2nd Corinthians. 2nd Corinthians chapter 4. Verse 3 and 4. Talks about how. The God of this world. Has blinded the minds.
[34:09] Not the eyes. Not the eyes. The minds. The minds can be blinded. Than they be talking about the Bible. And talking about Christianity. And talking about the church. Blind. Don't take it personal. Because you don't know.
[34:21] You don't know. You don't know. Jesus said. Father forgive them. Luke chapter 23. Verse 35 or so. Father forgive them.
[34:32] For they don't know what they are doing. Father forgive them. Why should I forgive them? For they do not know what they are doing. So instead of Jesus blowing them.
[34:45] I will say. Oh please forgive them. I will cover them. Because you don't know. So that's why. People can insult Christianity. And they will never come under attack. Because we know so much.
[34:56] That we know that. This is in the futility of their minds. Some of you know people. Who are. Bastard in Christianity. And some of them.
[35:07] Are family members. And you. Sometimes you know that they are so ignorant. Because they come and they pass. They don't know. They don't know. They don't know. They were killing Stephen. Stephen said.
[35:17] Father do not hold this against them. To their church. Acts chapter 7. Verse 59. He called on the name of God. He said. Father do not. Lord.
[35:28] Do not charge. Charge them with this sin. Don't charge them. Why? They don't know what they are doing. They don't know what they are doing. In Acts chapter 13.
[35:39] Verse 27. Too many scriptures. In Acts chapter 13. Acts chapter 13. Verse 27. He said. Because. They did not know him. Mm-hmm.
[35:51] They did not know him. They were ignorant. About the holy one. In Acts chapter 3. Verse 17. And verse 18.
[36:03] Acts chapter 3. Verse. Yet now brethren. Acts chapter 3. Yeah. I know that. You did this. You did it. Well. In ignorance.
[36:17] People don't know. When they say. I don't be. I don't believe in the Bible. Look at that. That's ignorant person. That's ignorant person.
[36:27] It's not just ignorant person. But blinded in their minds. For the God of this world. Has blinded the minds of who? Of who? Of who?
[36:39] It's in your Bible. Has blinded. The God of this age. Has. Okay. Has blinded their minds. So it's the verse before. Okay. Verse 4. Is there. Who do not.
[36:50] So once I want to say. I don't believe. Is displaying the blindness of their mind. I don't believe. It can be a bishop. I still displaying the blindness of their mind.
[37:02] I don't believe in the Bible. I agree with you. Because you are blind. You are blind. There is nothing.
[37:13] No color like blue or green. Since you are born. You have never seen. So I agree with you. In your world. There is nothing like colors. In your world. There is nothing like a mirror.
[37:23] Because you were born blind. The God of this world. Has blinded. The mind. So. Christ.
[37:33] Oh. Christ. You don't get to know Christ. Purely because. Somebody was telling you. You get to know Christ. Purely because.
[37:44] The Holy Spirit helps you. For him to be revealed to you. But it cannot be revealed. In isolation. It must be revealed. Through. Anointed teachings. Amen.
[37:55] Like this one. Oh yes. No intent teaching. Blessed. When revelation comes on you. That's the beginning of your blessings. It's not the hands that are laid on you.
[38:08] It's not the prayer that was prayed for you. It's not the offering that you gave. It's not the tithe that you gave. It's not the evangelism that you did. It's the revelation you got. About Jesus.
[38:18] That's the beginning of your blessings. Wow. Forgiveness of sin. Is based on your revelation of Jesus. Say it again.
[38:31] Your sins are forgiven. Because you found out who Jesus is. You found out that Jesus bore your sins on the cross. And you believed in it. Then your sins were forgiven. So your sins cannot be forgiven.
[38:44] If you don't find out. If you don't realize that Jesus bore your sins. On what grounds should your sins be forgiven? Is somebody learning something at all? Or is it too much?
[38:55] I love it. I love it. So. Revelation. Jesus said. Blessed are you.
[39:06] Simon Barjona. For flesh and blood. Has not revealed this unto you. Ah. That was not the end. Verse 18. He said. And I tell you. You are Peter. Upon this.
[39:19] I will build. The building is supposed to be mint. It's supposed to be an intersecting rock. The building is meant to be on a rock.
[39:30] And that rock is supposed to be about the revelation of Jesus. Who do men say I am?
[39:40] That's where church starts from. Who do you say I am? That's where church starts from. Sorry. Who you discover Jesus to be is what determines whether you are born again or not.
[39:50] Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. It's not your behavior that determines whether you are born again or not. It's not your behavior. Because it doesn't matter how well you are behaving.
[40:02] Somebody is behaving better. Wow. There are others who are well behaved than you. And still they will find their way to hell. On an elevator. Fast track.
[40:14] Straight. Straight. Because if you can behave to be saved. Why must Jesus go through something so heinous? Then Abraham and all the rest should have been saved by that.
[40:31] If salvation can come by obeying laws. Why would God send his only begotten son? Revelation of Jesus.
[40:45] Ah. He says we are the household of God built upon the revelation of the apostles and the prophets.
[40:56] Christ himself is the chief cornerstone. He is the amalgamating force. He is the unifying force. He is the glue that glues everything together.
[41:08] Everything you know about Christ is until you have him. That's a deeper one. Thank you Jesus. Everything you know about Christ will not benefit you until you have the person of Christ.
[41:27] You must have Christ as the person. That's important. You can know about his works. But you might not have him as a person. You might not have him as a person.
[41:45] You cannot have him. You cannot enjoy Christ. Ah. Ah. This is a good one. There is no way you can enjoy Christ until you have him.
[41:57] When you have Christ, then you can enjoy Christ. Most people have knowledge and ideas about Christ.
[42:07] But because they don't have the person of Christ, they are aware of the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. But because Christ himself must be in their life to be what makes it work.
[42:21] The cornerstone is holding everything together. That's why he said Christ himself. Jesus. Oh, yes. Christ. Please. Look at the word he used.
[42:33] Himself. He used Christ being a chief. He said, they're talking about his person. The person of Christ. What's the gospel? The gospel is the story about the person of Christ and the works of Christ.
[42:44] There are two things. There are two things. Some people know the works of Christ, but they don't know the person of Christ. And when you come to meet the person of Christ, now the rest of your life, you have to spend knowing his works and knowing him as a person more.
[42:58] That's what Christianity is about. Preaching. Preaching. Yes. Let me know you more and more.
[43:11] When I know you, I'll find me. Oh, I want to know you more and more.
[43:25] When I know you, when I know you, I'll find me. Jesus. May I know you more and more.
[43:39] When I know you, when I know you, I'll find me. No life outside me.
[43:54] No one beside you. Let me know. Let me know you more and more.
[44:06] Listen. That should be your biggest cry. That should be your biggest heart desire. Your greatest vision in life. Your greatest drive in life. Your greatest purpose in life.
[44:18] Must be, I want to know you, Jesus. I want to know you, Jesus. I want to know you. That's where real blessing starts from. The more you know him, the more you are blessed.
[44:30] The more you know him, the greater you are in life. Your greatness in life has a lot to do with your proximity of Jesus. And he says that without controversy.
[44:42] The lesser is blessed by the greater. Yes. Yes. Hebrews chapter 7 verse 8. You have to be great to pronounce blessings.
[44:56] Oh yes. Less ones receive blessings from great ones. And the great, Hebrews chapter 7 verse 7 and 8. And the great ones. And now, beyond all contradictions, the lesser is blessed by the better.
[45:11] Some translation used by the greater. John the Baptist is greater. Greater. Greater. Greater in the sense that your revelation of Jesus is deeper.
[45:23] Your connectivity with the person of Christ is closer than others. The reason why I stand before you and preach, and the reason why the anointing of God is still in my life, than many here, is because of my closeness to the person of Jesus.
[45:42] And my revelation about Jesus. Jesus. And watch this. The more you know him, guess what? Oh my goodness. Oh. The more you know him, the more he's being formed in you.
[45:54] Oh. Galatians chapter 4 verse 19. Say, I travel in prayer. Unto Christ be formed in you. Something is forming in you. There are women.
[46:06] You see a woman walking around normal, but a baby is being formed in her. Yes. Baby is being formed. Nine months later, you find the baby has been born. Well, how did the baby enter there?
[46:16] No. The baby was being formed in her. Baby was being formed. And Paul said, my little children, I travel. I travel in bed. Unto Christ.
[46:27] I travel in bed again. Unto Christ be formed in you. Now, when Christ is formed in you, he gets revealed in you. Wow. When Christ is formed in you, then you can say that unto Christ he was revealed in me.
[46:44] That when he pleased the father who separated me from my mother's womb. Galatians chapter 1 verse 15 and 16. When he pleased the father who separated me from my mother's womb to reveal his son in me.
[46:57] Wow. He pleased God to reveal his son in me. He cannot be revealed in you until he is formed in you. The foundation of the apostles is this secret.
[47:10] Christ in you. The hope of glory. There's even heavy meat in chapter 3. Ah, no. Ah. Ah.
[47:21] Ah. Ah. Ah. Ah. We've been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
[47:32] Christ himself being the chief cornerstone. Now, let's move out quickly before he catches me back there. Let's move to 21. In whom? When you see the in whom, he's talking about Christ. In Christ, the whole building.
[47:44] What's the building we're talking about? This building I'm talking about. The house of God. The whole building being fitted together. This building is growing into a holy temple of the Lord.
[47:57] Wow, a growing building. No, man cannot build a building that can grow. That's why when David said, I want to build your house, God said, no, no, boy. I've never asked anyone to build my house because no man, no human being has the equipment, the installation, the accoutrement.
[48:17] The accoutrement. No human being has the capacity and capability, the inherent ability, the empowerment to build a house that can grow.
[48:34] Some of your grandfather's house has been like that since it was built in the early 50s. Nothing has added to it.
[48:45] Because it doesn't grow. Buildings don't grow, but the house of God grows. Why? Because it's built with living...
[48:57] It's built with living stones. So the building keeps growing to a holy temple.
[49:10] Please. Verse 21. Which grows into a holy temple in the Lord. It's all happening in the Lord Jesus. Holy temple. Jesus said, destroy this temple.
[49:23] John chapter 2, verse 22, 23. So you want me to give you a sign? They asked him, by what authority? So that you said, what sign do you give us to show us, to show us since you do these things?
[49:38] Jesus said, destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. They said, how? See the blinded minds, the blinded minds, the blinded minds.
[49:49] The blinded minds. Inshallah. How? How? How? Look at what they said.
[50:00] It has taken 46 years to build this world. This world. So the subject matter was a temple.
[50:11] It has taken 46 years to build this temple. And when you raise it up in three days, the cheek of it. The cheek of it.
[50:25] They were really upset. So when he was brought to the judgment seat, they asked, what crime has he committed? He said, this guy said he would destroy the temple and raise it in three days.
[50:37] Did he say that? Yes. But they didn't understand what he said. That's how a lot of people are reading the Bible. They read the Bible. What he said is that, but that's not, the meaning they are reading to it is wrong. That's why not everybody is allowed to be teaching you in the scriptures.
[50:51] They can easily mislead you. He said, to me, listen, listen. When it comes to interpreting the Bible, can you, excuse me, can you please stop saying to me what this is what he means?
[51:03] Who are you? Did you write it? If you didn't write it, why are you telling me what it means to you? Why don't you find out what it means to the one who wrote it? The one who brought it? What did he, what was he trying to say when he wrote it?
[51:16] What was the author trying to say when he wrote it? Find out what he meant. You know what you think? So, okay, that's your interpretation. That's his interpretation. Hey, there's nobody, the only one whose interpretation is valid in this matter is the one who wrote it.
[51:32] That's how we interpret the Bible. Forget about, that's for me, to me. Who, who, excuse me. Who are you?
[51:42] Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ the Messiah, he said, in whom the whole building, the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple.
[52:01] And I was telling you about, Jesus said, I will destroy, he said, destroy this temple, and in three days, I will raise it. They said, ah, ah, you?
[52:14] Oh, look at the cheek of it. And because of that, they determined they will kill him. Look at the next verse. But he was speaking of the temple of his body.
[52:26] Watch this. That he was talking about his body. So, when he said temple, they thought it was that building. But he was talking about a certain type of temple they didn't know.
[52:38] So, they should have asked him, for goodness sake, can you tell us what temple you are talking about? When you are reading the Bible, don't come with your own preconceived ideologies. The less you are trained to understand texts, the more you are likely to butcher the word.
[52:57] Because the word is text. It's textual. It's textual. So, if you are not trained to handle texts, you might see this text and interpret it to mean what it never meant.
[53:11] That's what they did to Jesus. They said, you said you will destroy this temple. How? How? How? 46 years we built this. And you say you will raise it. How can you say that?
[53:22] How can you say that? How can you say that? He said, you destroy it. They said, give me a sign. They asked him, what sign do you give him? He said, the sign I will give you is destroy this temple and I'll raise it. And he was talking about his body, which they will destroy.
[53:34] And in three days, he will raise it up. Look at the next verse. Therefore, when he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said, he had said this to them.
[53:47] And they believed the scriptures. They believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had said. So they believed that the scripture has already been pointing to this. So there's nothing he said that would not agree with the scripture.
[54:01] Because he is the scripture. So everything, everything that was said, he came to fulfill it. And the things he was saying was directly in line with what has been said. But because men were blind, they didn't know.
[54:14] The ignorance of men prevented them from knowing what was written. So when he says something, they took it out of context. Like people are still doing today. People are still doing today.
[54:27] Oh, in the temple, they were sacrificing animals. So he also sacrificed animals here. Would they allow you to bring it to the hotel? Even if they are allied, the police will have to come here now.
[54:42] Because some people are doing something illegal here now. You have to understand what was meant when it was said. That's how to interpret scripture.
[54:54] So Jesus said, destroy it, I will raise it in three days. And now, Paul the apostle is saying that we are being built into a holy temple.
[55:05] A building. This whole building is fitted together and grows into a holy temple. Grows into a holy temple in the Lord. That's exactly the temple Jesus spoke about. And this couldn't have taken place on the other side of the resurrection.
[55:19] It could only take place on this side of the resurrection. The building could only happen. That's why he said, upon this rock, I will build my church. But he can only stop building after he is gone in the grave and resurrected.
[55:30] Now he will raise the temple that grows. Being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
[55:40] Christ himself being the cornerstone. In which the whole building fitted together. Grows into a holy temple in the Lord. Let me finish it.
[55:51] 22. 22. 22. In whom also you are being built together. You remember? You remember? Habitation. You remember? You are being built.
[56:05] Let me, can I dwell on one word there? Very important. Together. Together. Can we all say it together? Together. Together. Please say it again.
[56:15] Together. Together. Can you say it again? Together. You are not being built alone. This Lone Ranger Christianity, it's not true Christianity.
[56:29] This isolated, segregated, insulated Christianity is not Christianity. You are too insulated to be able to live the Christian life. You are too isolated and segregated to be able to live the Christian life.
[56:44] You are not meant to live it by yourself because you can't. How can your finger decide to live by itself? It dies from the day it separates itself from the rest of your limb.
[56:57] Not even your heart. As soon as they remove your heart, it says, I'm done. It's gone. Your eye. No organ of the body continues to exist once it's detached from the body.
[57:09] What kind of Christian is this? Who believes that you can live your Christian just by myself? It's between me and God. It's not between you and God. It is between us and God. It's us and God.
[57:23] Being built together. In whom we are being built together. That's why it's dangerous to stay at home when people are, your people are.
[57:37] Dangerous. That's when you begin to atrophy. Is that the right word? Yes. It's a medical terminology. Atrophy. Doc, what's the meaning of atrophy?
[57:49] Atrophy is when something wither away. It's shrinking. It's dying. It's dying. So when you stay in hospital for a long time and you don't use your arm, that's when you need a physio.
[58:02] Because the muscles are atrophy. They become, they don't work. Because you have not been using it. Remove yourself from church and with time you are atrophy. You shrink.
[58:17] You shrink. You become useless. You become useless. You become ineffective. Because we are only as effective as our koinonia.
[58:31] I'm teaching you a lot of things. Oh, we love it. We love it. Yeah? We are being built together.
[58:48] Not just by yourself. Not just by yourself. Anytime you feel like being by yourself, Satan is beginning to win. Anytime you feel like being by yourself.
[59:02] You see, it is not your good behavior that determines your effectiveness in God. It's your good connection. It's your good connection.
[59:13] Good connection. Connection. Connected. We are connected together. We are knit together. He uses the word in Ephesians chapter 4. Knit.
[59:24] Knit. Knit. Knit. Every joint. Knit together by what every joint supplies. Knit. Knit. Like tapestry. Tapestry.
[59:35] Well woven tapestry. Woven something. You know, the women, they use this. They weave it. It's nice scarf.
[59:46] If you pull one thread out, the whole thing will begin to join. Especially some of you, the way you're, sometimes, you're. What's it?
[59:57] Is it like? Is that it? What's it called? Tights will become ladder. The ladder. The ladders. Yes. You decided to pull one of the strings. And the whole TV car going like this. When you leave church, you become like that.
[60:14] You are shrinking. You are shrinking. Have you seen anyone who has stopped fellowshipping? See the way they start shrinking. Yep. Yep. But they start by saying that I'm fine. The fact that you're not seeing me, that's me.
[60:25] I'm not doing okay. I'm reading my Bible. I'm even reading my Bible more. I'm reading my Bible more. It doesn't take reading your Bible to be strong. That's right. That's right. It takes koinonia.
[60:37] Koinonia. And then as you read your Bible, it is now beginning to make you strong. Wow. Build together. Build together. Build together. Build together.
[60:48] That's the definition of church. Build together. Church. You alone are not a church. You cannot be. You are just a stone. You are not a house.
[61:03] Dwelling place. We are built together into a dwelling. That's also another word. Dwelling place. Dwelling place. Dwelling place. Habitation of God.
[61:14] Where God dwells. We are being built into a place to house God on earth. Wow. We are God's apartment. Ah. Wow. We are God's chamber.
[61:26] Hallelujah. We are creating a habitat for God. Habitation and habitat. He comes and he feels so comfortable. We create it for him and he lives in us.
[61:39] So we are being built together into a dwelling place. So you alone cannot be the dwelling place. I alone. It doesn't matter how much theology I know. I can never be the dwelling place. I thought you said Jesus lives in you.
[61:51] Yes. His spirit lives in you. But his actual dwelling is together. We've been built. That's why he said when you pray. Say our father. Our father.
[62:01] Not my father. What is he? You don't have a father. He's not. If your father is lost. Go and look for him. But God is not my father. He's our father.
[62:14] You can't go alone. You can't go alone. We both have access by one. We both. We don't go alone.
[62:27] We don't go alone. Efficiently. Through we both have access. We both. We go together. Togetherness is the core aspect of the Christian life.
[62:41] Don't exempt yourself from fellowship. It will bite you. I know you were in Dubai. But. Do.
[62:54] When you go there. You end up doing. Bye. God looked from heaven.
[63:05] And he said there's nowhere I want to be. There's nowhere I want to be. So before he created. Man. So there's nothing on earth for me.
[63:16] Then he created man in his image. So that he can have a habitation. Then Satan came in through the disobedience. And he inhabited man. He thought. It's finished.
[63:27] I'm finished with God. God said no problem. The seed of the woman is coming. The seed of the woman. David said I want to build you a house. Hi. I said David. Nobody has asked to build me a house.
[63:38] How did you know that all I wanted. Is a house. Because you have said this. I'll build you a house. And the one who is going to build the house for me. Is going to be your son. That's why Jesus is called.
[63:48] The son of David. Who do men say I am. Who do you say I am. You are the Christ. The son of the living God. So Jesus came. As the son of David.
[63:59] The son of David. The builder of the house of God. The erector of the building of God. So he came. And built. And today. You and I.
[64:10] When God was calling Moses. He was living in the bush. There's no way. There's no way. He was living in the bush. Can I tell you something? That's why he spoke to Moses. Out of the burning bush.
[64:21] In the book of Deuteronomy. Chapter 33. When Moses was blessing. No. Genesis rather. Yeah. Deuteronomy 33. When Moses was blessing the children of Israel.
[64:33] He made reference to Joseph. That the blessing of the one who dwelleth in the bush. Now the blessing of the one who dwells in. Moses referred to God. As the one who dwells in the bush.
[64:44] Because he was homeless. On earth. Not in heaven. But on earth. He was homeless. Watch this. That's why he told Moses. Go and bring my people from Israel.
[64:56] So when they come out. I'll have a place to stay amongst them temporarily. I'll have a people. Because God only dwells in the 15. That's correct. And for the precious things of the earth.
[65:08] And the fatness thereof. And for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush. God dwelt in the bush. He was in the bush when he met Moses.
[65:21] So he saw a bush that was on fire. But was not consumed. That's what God is attention. In Acts chapter 7 from verse 32. He saw a bush that was on fire. God appeared to Moses from a bush.
[65:34] Why a bush? Because he didn't have anywhere to dwell. So the only place he could dwell is in the bush. So he said go and get the people out of Israel. When they come. Let them build me a tabernacle.
[65:45] So I can dwell amongst them. Because God only dwells amongst people. Amongst his people. So I can dwell amongst them. But the tabernacle was the temporal figure.
[65:56] Because no one can build anything to house God. According to Acts chapter 7 verse 48. You cannot build anything to house God. God does not dwell in temples made by hand.
[66:08] Acts chapter 17 verse 24. God does not dwell in temples made by hand. So you can't build for God. He has to build in his own house.
[66:19] That's why Jesus came. He said destroy this temple. And in three days. And in three days I will raise it up. And I'll raise it up. I need to be called the church. I'll raise it up. And you'll be a human entity on this earth.
[66:32] Accommodating me. God has always looked for a house. God has always looked for a house. From the beginning of Genesis. It's always looked for a house. So when Jesus died for us.
[66:45] Finally in Matthew chapter 27 verse 51, 52, 53. The Bible says that the temple in the curtain. Sorry.
[66:55] The curtain in the temple. Sorry. The veil in the temple was torn in two. The veil signified what was separating God from man. Not everybody can come into the temple.
[67:06] But you can go behind the veil. Because that's the dwelling place of God. You will die if you go there. And no human being was given access. Access. Say access. Access. No human being was given access.
[67:17] Behind the curtain. Behind the veil. Until Jesus died on the cross. And when he died on the cross. And he said it is finished. The curtain was torn from top. Not from bottom.
[67:28] Not from bottom. God himself held it from the top. God ripped it apart. And he said finally I'm no more in temporal housing.
[67:45] Finally I'm no more in temporal accommodation. I'm no more living in a hotel. Finally I'm about to live in my people. Finally I'm about to have a house.
[67:55] I'm about to have a house. I'm about to have a house. Shout hallelujah. In Hebrews chapter 3 verse 6. It says whose house we are.
[68:08] Whose house we are. But Christ came as a son over his own house. Whose house we are. Say whose house we are. Whose house we are. Say it again.
[68:18] Whose house we are. Whose house we are. We are the habitation of God. The dwelling place of God. So when we gather. Don't let anybody be fooled. When we gather.
[68:30] God's house has come. He said when you pray. Our father. Who acts in heaven. After saying hallow be your name.
[68:41] Say thy kingdom come. That can only happen in the church context. The kingdom of God is in our midst. God is with us.
[68:54] Thy kingdom come. That's the essence of the church. It's built by stones. How do you become a building stone? When Christ lives in you.
[69:05] You become a living stone. So we all. As lively stones. In 1 Peter 2 verse 5. We all. As lively stones. Have been built up.
[69:17] A spiritual house. Oh. We have been built up. A spiritual house. You make my life. So beautiful. Shall we all rise to our feet?
[69:31] And as you are. You have made me here on earth. Did you receive something? Yes. Hallelujah.
[69:49] Thank you for choosing to listen to this message by David Entry. We hope you were blessed by it. You can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms. Including TikTok and Threads.
[70:01] There's also many more messages to listen to from David Entry. On all relevant streaming platforms. And on the Karish Church app. Be blessed.