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[0:00] Thank you for tuning into this message by David Entry.! Every true revival is a product of the strong preaching of God's Word. May you receive a word from this message that will spark a revival in you.
[0:15] All right, Acts chapter 8, and I'll read all the way from 1 to 25. That's a bit of a read, but we thank God for His Word. And Saul was consenting unto his death.
[0:29] And at that time, there was a great persecution against the church, which was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria except the apostles.
[0:44] And devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house and hurling men and women, committing them to prison.
[1:02] Therefore, they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them.
[1:16] And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits crying with loud voice came out of many that were possessed with them.
[1:34] And many taken with palsy and that were lamed were healed. And there was great joy in that city. But there was a certain man called Simon, which before time in the same city used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that he himself was some great one, to whom they all gave heed from the least to the greatest, saying, this man is the great power of God.
[2:07] And to him they had regard, because that of a long time he had bewitched them with sorcery. But when they believed Philip, preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
[2:27] Then Simon himself believed also. And when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondering, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
[2:38] Now, when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, whom, when they were calmed down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost.
[2:55] For as yet he was fallen upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
[3:08] And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hand the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.
[3:25] But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast taught that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, therefore thine heart is not right in the sight of God.
[3:40] Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thoughts of thine hearts might be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity.
[3:57] Then answered Simon and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.
[4:21] Here ends the reading of God's word. Father, we thank you for gathering us. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you. As I teach and announce the good news of the kingdom, I pray that let revelation be granted us.
[4:40] Let clarity and illumination be granted us. that we will all travel together into your word for the purposes of arriving at the unity of faith and to the knowledge of the Son of God unto the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ to your glory.
[4:57] We thank you that the deliverance and the ministry of your word will accomplish deliverance in the life of many. Will accomplish and will bring to bear revelation and will bring to bear healings and will bring to bear salvation in the lives of many who hear the infallible word of fewest thoughts.
[5:17] Glorify your name in Jesus' name. Amen. Hallelujah. Well, we saw how chapter 8 verse 1 starts with and Saul was consenting unto his death.
[5:33] Who starts a conversation with end? So it looks like chapter 8 is, okay, look at the previous verse. Before, in chapter 7, the last verse in chapter 7, talking about Stephen, and he kneeled down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.
[5:54] And when he has said this, he fell asleep. And Saul was consenting. So it's just a smooth continuation. When the original authors who got used to pen scripture, they didn't have verses.
[6:08] There are no verses. There are no verses. Verses were inserted to make for ease of reading and of smooth flow. So really, chapter 8 verse 1 and early verses are really parts.
[6:21] It's a flow. It just tells you that it's a continuation. And Saul, so talking about Stephen died, and Saul, consenting unto his death. And at that time, there was a great persecution arose.
[6:32] There arose great persecution against the church, which was in Jerusalem. And they were all scattered abroad, which we heard about last week, throughout the region of Judea.
[6:43] And Bible mentions Samaria. Everybody say Samaria. Samaria. That's Acts chapter 8 verse 1. In Acts chapter 1 verse 8, you shall receive power. After that, the Holy Ghost has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem and in Judea, and in Samaria.
[7:04] Then from Samaria, it says that to the uttermost parts of the world. So Jerusalem, it's both in Jerusalem and Judea. So Jerusalem and Judea was one territory.
[7:16] Jerusalem was the capital, was a city, and Judea was the province, or the jurisdiction. So both in Jerusalem, so it's like, we are talking about both in London and England.
[7:28] London is part of England, right? But Scotland is not part of England. So both in London and England, and Scotland, and every part of the world.
[7:39] So Samaria was clearly distinguished from Judea and Jerusalem. And it says that, when the persecution arose, they scattered abroad, throughout the regions of, everywhere in Judea, not only in Jerusalem, the thing was passing through everywhere.
[7:56] Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. And the Bible says that, then those who scattered, verse two, says that devout men, which I didn't get to mention, is not necessarily believers.
[8:09] So in Acts chapter two, when the Holy Ghost came, verse six, and he spoke about the different types of people who were there, somewhere along the line, he also mentioned devout men. Now, so we have the Jews, and then we have the proselytes.
[8:23] Proselytes are those who have, are not Jews by birth, by genes, but they wanted to practice Judaism. So they have to go through some rituals, like baptism, circumcision, if you are a male, adult male, circumcision, baptism, and the rest.
[8:42] And, yeah, it's for adult male, it's not for babies. Because you have to decide, you are coming, a child cannot make that decision.
[8:54] So you decide, you want to practice Judaism. And so we have the proselytes, and then we have, the devout men. Devout men were believed to be people, who are very religious. Sometimes, they might be Jews, and sometimes maybe not Jews, but very religious, and very devoted to the things of God.
[9:12] So, in this instance, devout men, they were not, Bible didn't say they were believers, but they saw what was going on, and they felt that this is not fair. This ain't fair. So, devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation.
[9:28] Now, the believers were running away. They scattered. So, devout men, who were not part of the believers, had to sort out Stephen. They felt that Stephen, needed a befitting burial.
[9:41] So, they buried him, and made great lamentation over him, believing that what these guys did against that guy, was not fair. It wasn't fair. Then, Bible talks about how, ask for Saul, and Saul, consent to his death, ask for Saul.
[10:00] God was watching him. This guy, this guy, all right, he seemed to be having fun. He was just, really hard to have, in the time of his life.
[10:12] Whilst others were lamenting, he felt like, let's take it further. Made havoc. It is like, you send, you know, sometimes I've seen, I think on Facebook, or some places, where, some elephants, when they go wild, they walk in the, farms, and causing rampage, reckless.
[10:32] It's like a hurricane. Yeah, so Paul was like that. That's havoc. The word, that's what it meant. Indiscriminately causing trouble, mayhem. So, Paul was like a hurricane, against the church.
[10:46] Was indiscriminate. That's why it says that, entering into every house, and hurling men, and women. He doesn't care. Once you are part of it, he was causing havoc, and committing them, to prison.
[11:00] So, therefore, they, that were scattered abroad, went everywhere, preaching the word. Let's all read that verse together.
[11:10] Let's go. Therefore, they, that were scattered abroad, went everywhere, preaching the word. So, it seems like, that was God's plan. God said, it works. It's working.
[11:21] It's working. So, they were not dead. Dead men, don't preach. Preaching is, so, those who are alive, the message had to go out.
[11:32] So, he said, let's send them out. Saul was very instrumental. Later, he himself would join them. I said, for now, let me cause them to scatter. Not purposely trying to get them to preach.
[11:44] By his hatred against them, everybody was running for his life. And Bible says that, they, that were scattered. Who are those who scattered? In the verse one. You, you, you see that there's some who didn't scatter.
[11:58] Bible says in the verse one, that, and they were all scattered. All, except. Now, who were these apostles? They were the leaders of the church.
[12:10] You can actually even call them the, the professionals. For the work. They were in charge of the, they didn't scatter. But you would have thought that it was the apostles who would preach.
[12:21] It wasn't the clergy that had to preach. It was the laity. This tells you that preaching is not for only church leaders.
[12:33] Or pastors. Apostles were there, but the rest, Bible said, they, they, that scattered. And he said, they scattered. It's not the apostles. So, every believer, preaching, you see that Christian life is not supposed to be like a, a secret service.
[12:51] Every believer is our lifestyle. Wherever you find yourself, you are supposed to announce Jesus. It is not only based on Jesus' campaign.
[13:06] When we have mobilized ourselves together, let's step out. No, that is good, but there's something better. When, when we finish church, we have to scatter.
[13:20] We all, thank God we all don't live in the same house. Thank God we all don't work at the same place. Thank God we all don't use the same transports. Thank God we all don't shop from one place.
[13:32] We all go to different, different places. And that is emblematic or symbolic of our scattering. wherever a believer gets to, the early church Christians, they preached all, they announced Christ.
[13:51] So, he says that all those who scattered, wherever they go, and it's becoming increasingly, increasingly, um, a fact that, just for your information, a time is coming where United Kingdom, preaching, will be banned.
[14:09] No, sorry, not preaching, preaching of the gospel. There are places in United Kingdom, you can't preach. I mean, you know, currently, I mean, currently, there are places you can't, you can't go and preach.
[14:22] Some people of some religions will attack you, and the police cannot defend you. The police will tell you, just move away. But, other religions can preach anywhere. Up for streets, when you go right now, you see some people preaching.
[14:35] They've said they are still. You go and stand there, and try and play guitar and preach. The police will be telling you, they're public nuisance. But, I believe that metropolitan police is good, so they are sorting all those things out.
[14:45] But, it's not that the police is bad, it's the human nature. Human nature abhors the gospel of Christ. Human nature.
[14:55] So, it's not government, it's not politicians. Human beings are naturally anti-Christ. The gospel is, let me put it this way, the human nature is hostile to the gospel of Christ.
[15:12] If you are quiet, they will get up with you. But, if you begin to preach, it doesn't matter how much nice things you say. Human nature is hostile.
[15:25] The falling heart. The falling heart is hostile to the gospel. Bible says, none seeks after God. For all have sinned, and have fallen short of the gospel.
[15:41] We naturally move away from God. When Jesus Christ met his early disciples, I think in Luke chapter 5, people like Peter, who were fishermen, Peter and John, who were fishing, and couldn't have the thought all night.
[16:00] And, Jesus comes to them, and he said, can I use your boat, to help me in my preaching? They said, why not? It is not even working for us. And, afterwards, Jesus said, launch out into the deep, for a catch.
[16:14] Peter said, oh boy, we have toiled all night, and caught nothing. However, at your word, we will give it a try. And, Bible said, and when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fish, and their net began to break.
[16:31] What's that? They knew that, no, there's something special about this. And so, when they came ashore, and they knew that, this man is not an ordinary man, Simon Peter, a Jewish businessman, should have come into an agreement, let's do 50-50, or, if you can have 60, I have to, we have, can we sign a contract?
[16:49] That's how Jews think. A businessman who won fish, why do you tell someone, who has brought you business, please go away from us? He fell, the Bible says that, and Simon Peter saw it, he fell at the feet, of Jesus, on his knees, saying, depart from me.
[17:05] Why? Sinful people don't want God. That's why many weddings, I just, if I attend a wedding, I just don't really have to be at reception, most of the time, because people are not free.
[17:26] Most of the time, people can dance. There are places, if you represent God, as soon as you get there, all conversations, all activities cease.
[17:39] They wait for, you actually are knowing, I just get out of here. The human nature, runs away, from God. Adam, where are you? Adam, I heard your voice, in the garden, and I was afraid.
[17:53] Genesis chapter 3, from Bethlehem. And so, I ran away, I was afraid. I heard your voice, in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself, from God. People come to church, and hide in the congregation.
[18:08] That's why, it's good for, sometimes, the pastor to calm down, and come close, because people are hiding. So, we have a way, of hiding from God.
[18:21] Romans chapter 3, says that, none, verse 11, none seek, after God. None. It's not natural, to seek, after God. It's natural, to create your own God.
[18:34] That's called religion. It's natural. There is none, that understand. There is none, that seek it, after God. For all have gone astray.
[18:46] He said, we all are as sheep. Isaiah chapter 53. For we all as sheep, have gone astray. We all. All we like sheep, have gone astray.
[18:59] Shall we say that together? All we like sheep, have gone astray. Some people are hiding, so they won't say it. Shall we all read it together? Let's go. All we like sheep, have gone astray.
[19:11] That's why salvation, has to be a gift. You can't earn it. You can't merit it. Excuse me, can I ask you a question? How much good, can you do, for you to be good enough, for God?
[19:24] Even your mom, you are not good enough. You are not good enough, for your husband. He's not saying it, but, you are not good enough, for your wife, because, she's civil, and she's good, she's a nice person, she won't tell you.
[19:44] There are things, she won't talk about. She will take it like, you are not good enough, for yourself, you know it. You know it, you know it. That's why sometimes, your confidence is something, you look very bold, but you know that, you lack confidence, because, all of us, are not good enough.
[20:01] How, how can you be good enough, to merit God's applause? God look at you, I'm so impressed, by your behavior. It doesn't matter, how you try, it can happen.
[20:13] So, salvation must not, be a merit. It must be an act of mercy. God looks at you, and you know what, I'll just do it for you. I'll just do it for you. That's why we are here.
[20:25] Because, Kim said, okay guys, I'll do it for you. I'll come and live, and die for you, because I gave you the loss, you can't keep it. You can't keep, you can't keep my loss, so, let me come and keep it for you.
[20:36] Then when I finish, you, a criminal, a convicted felon, you are supposed to die, and I will die for you.
[20:47] That's the gospel. So, I will die for you. So, God came to die for us, because it's only God, that can face God. When God asks, a question, it will take God, to answer the question.
[21:01] It's only God, that can meet, the demands of God. So, as it were, it's unfair for God, to make demands on human. By his righteousness, required, that there must be, a standard, protocol, before you come to him.
[21:15] And when he gives us, his protocol, he's making us, look very dirty. So, he himself said, I'm coming to meet, all the standards, the protocols. And then, instead of you dying, I would die.
[21:27] Jesus didn't die for his sins, though. He didn't have any. It's clear in scripture. Christ died for sinners. He died for sinners. It's clear in scripture.
[21:39] 1 Corinthians 15, 3, he died for sinners, not for himself. In 1 Corinthians 2, he says that Christ died, for sins. According to the scripture, he died for sins.
[21:52] He died for our sins, not for his sins. In Hebrews chapter 6, I think 926, he died for sins, our sins. In 1 Corinthians 2, verse 24, so it talks about, how Christ died for our sins, on the tree.
[22:09] He himself, he died for our sins. Christ, being dead to, 1 Peter chapter, by his stripes, he himself bore our sins, not his sins. And in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 21, I like that, it's even stronger.
[22:24] It says that, for he, God, give us the new key, so you can see the he, the first he, is talking about God. For God made Jesus, him, Jesus, who knew no sin, Jesus knew no sin, to be sin, not for, for us, that we might, that's the good news.
[22:42] That's the good news. That's what makes church, church. The good news. It's good for everybody. It's good for everybody. Somebody shout, hallelujah.
[22:54] Hallelujah. Well, so back to the text, we see how, wherever they went, they preached. Because, if you are saved, you have a message. Anyone who is saved, has a message of salvation.
[23:07] How can you be saved, and you don't have anything, to say about Jesus? Salvation, salvation means, that you have embraced, the testimony of Jesus, and he's washed you, and you have something, to say to somebody.
[23:17] It's so good, that you can't be selfish. It's so good, that you want others, to hear about, and taste, and see, oh, taste and see, the Lord is good, taste and see. People who smoke, during break, they hand, sticks of cigarettes, free.
[23:31] Free. Then they open the box, take one, take one, take one, and you are born again, you tell somebody, take one of Jesus, take one of Jesus, take one of Jesus.
[23:47] It looks like, you actually don't have, a testimony of Jesus. Those who scattered, went everywhere, saying take one, take one, take one, it's good, it's good, take one, it's good, it's good.
[23:58] So, people, I want you to talk, verse four again, and there's a word, I need you to take, notice of. The last, the last word today, what's the last word there? Word. What's the last word there?
[24:09] Word. So, what were they preaching? Word. What were they preaching? Word. Come on, let's do it, what were they preaching? Word. What does that mean? Philip went down to, verse five, and Philip went down, to the city of Samaria.
[24:25] From Jerusalem, to Samaria, is actually not, Samaria, is not, lower. You will see, that Jerusalem is south, Samaria, Samaria is northern part of Jerusalem.
[24:40] So, you don't go, up, you don't go, down, north. You go up north, you go, down south. That's what I'm trying, Bible, so, really, Philip went, it should have been up, to Samaria.
[24:57] My Bible says, he went, down, to Samaria. Okay, Philip went, down, to the city of Samaria. So, you'll notice that, but why did he say, he went down?
[25:07] Because Jerusalem is up the hill. It's higher, so long as, land, altitude is concerned. So, he went, down, to Samaria.
[25:18] Even though, Samaria is northern part of, Jerusalem. But I want you to notice something. You'll notice that, Galilee is above Samaria. And Samaria is above Judea.
[25:30] And Jerusalem is in Judea, even from the little they showed us. So, Jesus was a man of Galilee. So, anytime he wants to go to Jerusalem, much, maybe one day I'll teach you that, much of the gospel of John, seemed to have been written, when Jesus was, in Jerusalem.
[25:50] Even though he spent, much of his life here. He was a man of Galilee. He was a man of Galilee. So, John chapter 4, John chapter 4, from verse 1, you'll notice that, Jesus was moving to Jerusalem.
[26:05] So, therefore, he left Judea, and departed again, so, sorry, so he left Judea, he goes there, and departed again to Galilee. Now, if you are from Judea, going to Galilee, you, it's kind of, you have to go through, Samaria.
[26:19] But the Jews don't go through Samaria. They have to go around, Samaria. Yeah. Because, Samaria is not a good place. So, for Jesus to tell them, you'll be witnesses of me, in Jerusalem, in Samaria, it was like, telling, it's a swear word.
[26:36] Samaria is like a swear word to a Jew. So, Jesus said, you'll be, uh, uh, witness in Judea, and then in Samaria. Now, Acts chapter 1, verse 11, talks about, Jesus' disciples were all Galileans.
[26:51] Yeah. Judas was the only southerner. Yeah, he came from the south. All of them are from the, they are not nest. Jesus was a notner. Yeah.
[27:05] Jesus was a not, Galilee, where is Galilee? Galilee is in the north. Jesus was a notner. And the rest, so, and they killed him in the south.
[27:17] Because that's where Jerusalem is. And he needed to die around that area. He couldn't die, he couldn't have died in the north. So, you see, the angel told the disciples of Jesus Christ, the apostles, as we are going, gazing into heaven, the angel said to them, um, as they gave us a like manner, men, he men of Galilee, they are all Galileans.
[27:36] Are these not, knowing they were speaking in Acts chapter 2, they are speaking different tongues. They said, are all not these Galileans? How can we hear them speak in our language? Ah, and, and, and they were all amazed and marveled, saying, one to another, behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?
[27:56] So, Peter was a Galilean. Jesus was a Galilean. Bartholomew was a Galilean. John was a Galilean. James was a Galilean. They were all Galilean apart from Judas.
[28:08] So, some people believe that he used to feel very awkward amongst them. But Jesus allowed the minority to keep their money. But it doesn't always work.
[28:21] He kept their money and he betrayed them. You see, it doesn't mean he can do a good job. But Jesus also, it's a good thing to involve everybody.
[28:32] Everybody must feel involved. All right, let's look at it. I want to show you something. what about Samaria? I think it's good to, let me take this first opportunity to just tell you, a little bit about Samaria and the Samaritans.
[28:45] You keep seeing it in the scripture. John chapter 4, verse 4. John chapter 4, verse 4 said, Jesus must need, go through Samaria.
[28:56] But if you are going to the north, it's, why did he say must need? Because they don't go through Samaria. Then, in Samaria, he was tired. He was sitting by the wall.
[29:06] His disciples have gone to the city to go and buy food. Then, a woman comes to fetch water. In the verse 9. And, Jesus asked her for water. And, look at what the woman said in the verse 9.
[29:17] The woman said, how is it that thou being a Jew, hast a drink of me, which I'm a woman of Samaria. Because, first of all, Jews and Samaritans, that's why we have the good Samaritans.
[29:31] Jesus told the problem of the good Samaritans, because Samaritans were natural enemies of the Jews. They don't mix. And, now you are talking about a good Samaritan.
[29:42] What's a good Samaritan? A good, saw a Jew who was at the point of death, and came to help him. So, that's why the word Samaritan. Why? Because Samaritans are not supposed to help Jews.
[29:55] And, then Jews don't have any dealings. You don't, Jews don't even go to their land. Okay, where did all this come from? Because, in the days of David, David, God gave him the kingdom, the kingdom of Israel.
[30:06] David was the best king of Israel ever. That's why, everybody was expecting the Messiah, to be like David. Because, he's supposed to be a son of David. He was the best king. And, he died.
[30:17] But, one of the problems David had, was the issue of sex. Yeah, yeah. Bathsheba. And, it invaded his family, with something, that he never foresaw coming.
[30:32] After going to, sleep with somebody, and killing, arranging the man's execution, and, he sinned against God. He repented, but the resource, didn't repent.
[30:44] He paid for it, for the rest of his life. His family life, was never the same again. Commotion, and trouble, in his family life. Because, he went, to have sex with somebody.
[30:55] He shouldn't have sex. And, then married, it became a mess. It was messy. It was messy. I like the way, the place is quiet. It was, it was, it was, it was, it was, it was, it was, it was, he didn't plan for that.
[31:12] But, he didn't realize that, that's what he was purchasing. Trouble, for the rest of his life. Anyway, and then, guess who, his son, who inherited him, by God, Allah, Solomon, the wife, of the man he killed.
[31:28] You know, but, God is a very, wonderful God. Solomon became, but, you see, like his father, Solomon took it to another level. He loved, Bible say, he loved women, but not only women, strange ones.
[31:44] Some, he loved, strange, there are women, who are strange. They will make you be estranged, from God.
[31:59] In the same way, men, some of you, your biggest worry, is the man you went out with. He has stripped all your spiritual testimony away. Solomon loved, strange women.
[32:12] But, King Solomon loved, not only a few of them. Many, you tell me, Pastor, I love girls. You are in trouble. Yes.
[32:24] Can you imagine, to even love, one strange woman, is a big problem. And, love, maybe three. Why would you, three? He said, look, then Solomon, Solomon loved, many, strange women.
[32:39] And, he even went first, the daughter of Pharaoh. Yes. Not only a, women, of the Moabites. Ammonites, Edomites, Zedonians, and Hittites.
[32:53] Solomon. It's a collection. Solomon. Solomon. Solomon married, thousand women.
[33:07] That was the problem. Anyway, so, quickly. So, what happened? Bible says that, the women turned his heart away from God. And, he now brought, a king of, the first time.
[33:18] Even Saul, he didn't do that. King Saul. And, Solomon, Bible says that, and of the nations concerning which the Lord has said to the children of Israel, ye shall not go in unto them, neither shall they come unto you.
[33:32] For surely they will turn, they shall turn, and they shall come, and turn your heart, away. After turn, away, your heart, after their God.
[33:44] Solomon. Solomon. But, Solomon claimed unto these women. You can't let them go. So, Lord have mercy.
[34:00] Anyway, Solomon. And so, God said, I will take the kingdom from you. You are not qualified. But, when God wanted to act, he said, because of your father David.
[34:11] Because of my covenant, with your father David, I can't do this. I can't do this. For David, your father's sake. He said, I will not do it. However, after your days, I will tear the kingdom apart from the hands of your children.
[34:26] Yes. Notwithstanding. Notwithstanding. In thy days, I will not do it. For David, thy father's sake. But, I will rent it out of the hands of your sons.
[34:37] So, when Solomon died, from that time, the kingdom divided. So, we had the northern kingdom of Israel. And then, the southern kingdom, which became called Judah.
[34:48] But, it was made up of Judah and Benjamites. So, two were usually called, that's where we have the Jews. Judah. Judea region. And so, the northern kingdom, they, there was not even one righteous king.
[35:03] All the kings were idolaters. Ahab, all of them came from there. There was one called Hosea. He was very cruel and wicked. And, his capital city, he made Samaria, his capital.
[35:17] 1st Kings chapter 16, verse 24. 1st Kings 16, 24. Look at what happened. And, he bought the hill Samaria of Shema, for two talents of silver, and built on the hill, and called the name of the city, which he built, after the name of Shema, owner of the hill, Samaria.
[35:38] Okay, look at verse 29. And, in the 30 and 80 years of Asa, king of Judah, began Ahab, son of Omri, to reign in Israel. And, Ahab, the son of Omri, reigned over Israel, in Samaria, 22, 22 years.
[35:53] So, that became the, capital city, of Israel. So, sometimes you hear Israel, is not talking about, all of the people of Israel. Israel now became, the name for the northern kingdom.
[36:05] And, then the southern kingdom. The southern kingdom, is Judea, or Judah. Now, so, Zerubbabel was king of Judah. Not all of Israel. When they were going to fight, and the king of Israel, came and told Zerubbabel, come and stand with me.
[36:21] Because, he's a king of Israel, but there was king of Judah, as well. And, when you look at, 2nd Kings chapter 17, verse 6, see what happened. In the days of Hoshia, God said, I'll punish you people.
[36:33] I'm talking about Samaria. I want to give you the, sorry, quickly. God said, I'll punish you people. So, anyway, in the ninth year of Hoshia, the king of Assyria, took Samaria.
[36:45] So, Hoshia was the king of Israel, and the king of Assyria, took Samaria, and carried, what they used to do was, when they capture you, they take the people away. And then, do you know what they do?
[36:56] The verse 24, they then go and bring others, Samaria, it's not Samaria, Syrians, and other people they've conquered, to come and populate the place. And so, Samaria became a hub of, mixed, mixture of, so, only a few Jews who stayed, ended up intermarrying.
[37:14] So, they were seen as kind of, half-breed, a mixed-breed. So, Samaria became, the hub for mixed-breed, which was, an abomination before God.
[37:25] So, the original Jews, who were in Judea, would not have, any dealings with Samaritans, because, you are a different breed. And so, they knew that Samarians, or Samaritans, would not even be saved.
[37:37] That is why, now, the Samaritans, the Jews that stayed, had their own form of, Judaism. And so, they don't go to Jerusalem, but they had their own. So, it's like, Judaism mixed with, Syrian, foreign religion, a mixture of all things.
[37:52] That is why, the Samaritan woman, told Jesus in John chapter 4, that you Jews, you say we should, verse 20, the woman said, our fathers worshiped, on this mountain. And ye, the Jews, say that, in Jerusalem, is the place, where men ought to worship.
[38:08] But the Samaritans, will not go to Jerusalem. They don't have dealings with them. They were like, enemies. So, that's how we got, the Samaria, and Samaritans. So, when you are going to, Galilee, from Judea, you have to go around, Samaria.
[38:23] So, it was interesting, that Jesus went through Samaria, and sat there, and started having, this course, with a Samaritan one. That was not right. Let alone, a woman.
[38:35] A woman. You can't be having, a conversation, a woman privately, around the world alone. You can't. So, he said, how is it that you, being a Jew, ask me, a woman of Samaria, water?
[38:49] We, you don't, we don't deal it. Jesus said, if you knew who it was, who was asking for the water? You ask me, and I'll give you. He said, but you don't have anything, to fetch the water, and all that. That's the history, of the Samaritan.
[39:01] So, now, when you hear Samaria, it gives you a picture. So, when they scattered, from Jerusalem, they spread, into Judea, and then, but Philip, went down, to Samaria.
[39:13] Why are you going, to preach to Samarians? Because, they are not supposed, to be saved. Jesus started the work. Jesus started the work, and, he preached, to the Samaritan woman, and she went, to the city, and told the men, I've met a man, come and see a man, he sees them, is this not the Messiah?
[39:30] And the men, came, and Jesus preached, to them, and eventually, verse 40 and 41, the men told the woman, now we don't only believe, because you have told us, but we have sinned, for ourselves, and we believe, that he's the Messiah, the Savior, of the world.
[39:43] Hallelujah. And so, Jesus had to, start some projects there, to pave the ground. So, Philip was also, a very unique person, just like Stephen.
[39:54] Stephen, was the one, who sparked the persecution, based on his death. However, Philip, when they scattered, he went to Samaria. And when he went to Samaria, Bible says that, he went to, let's all read it together, verse 5.
[40:10] Then, Philip went down, to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ. What did he preach? How about those who scattered? Those who scattered, weren't preaching the word.
[40:24] The word, is preaching Christ. So, Stephen, and there's even more. And Philip went down to Samaria, and preached Christ, unto them. And then, the next verse says that, and the people, with one accord, gave heed, to those things, which he spoke.
[40:40] The things he was speaking, the people were listening. Now, before I even go there, let me just tell you about preaching. Preaching. Preaching. Somebody say preaching. When you hear the word, preaching, it's actually, he announced Christ.
[40:52] He announced Christ. He won, gelizo. That's when we get the word, evangelize. He announced Christ.
[41:03] And you see, he did it again. Maybe we'll throw a bit more light, when we go for it. But let me just, so Philip went down, Samaria, preached Christ, announced Christ. And, the people, with one accord, gave heed, gave heed, unto those things, which he, which Philip spoke, hearing, and seeing the miracles, which he did.
[41:21] So, Philip was doing miracles. He was doing miracles. Bible didn't tell us, the nature of the miracles. They heard it, and they saw it. And not just that. Bible said, unclean spirits, the next verse, verse seven says that, an unclean spirit, crying with loud voice, came out of many, not only one person.
[41:40] A lot of people, have unclean spirits inside them. Yes. Is it possible, maybe your boyfriend, is it possible, tell your girlfriend, your boyfriend, your cousin, your brother, your sister, you won't see it on their faces.
[41:58] They don't have to, mark their faces, and look strange, like a Dracula. No. No. Spirits, people have spirits, unclean spirits.
[42:09] A lot of people in town, Bible spoke about many, people of all walks of life, because demons like to stay inside people. It's their favorite location.
[42:20] So when you're looking for demons, don't go into a mountain or a shrine. Just, they're around you. The demons are around you, hiding. They always hide, because you don't see them.
[42:32] So how do you know they are there? You observe people very carefully. Sometimes, they can be a very nice person, but they react negatively towards the things of God. Demons can be nice in a lot of ways, but react negatively towards the things of God.
[42:46] Yes. So the fact that you are not sick doesn't mean a demon might not be inside you. Every addiction is a sign of demonic encroachment, or demonic siege. Yes.
[42:59] Every addiction, let me say it again, just for you to understand. Every addiction is an evidence of a demonic siege.
[43:10] Every addiction. Addiction. Because if you are not in control, and something is controlling you, what is that something? You say, I won't smoke again. I won't smoke again.
[43:20] But for some reason, you don't want to smoke, but something is making you smoke. There are spirits responsible for your smoking. Responsible for your humanizing. I'm talking about unclean spirits.
[43:36] Unclean spirits. Let's all say unclean spirits. Unclean spirits. They're crying with loud voice. When spirits are living people, most of the time, they live with a lot of...
[43:48] They don't like living. But when they are coming, they come very quietly. They come very quietly. They come through different means. Should I tell you how they come?
[43:59] See, some of them means. We don't have the time for that. Do your research. Different means. The fastest and the easiest means they come through. One of the...
[44:10] Is through sexual relationships. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I like the way the place is quiet. A lot of demonic transactions take place through sexual relationship between people who are not married.
[44:26] I don't believe it. Go on. No, no. I'm not telling you. I'm just telling you how it is. Maybe you don't believe. That's fine.
[44:36] That's fine. That's fine. Later on, we'll find out whether I'm sure or not. But spirits, they inhabit people. Jesus said, if an unclean spirit leaves a man, he goes around looking for places and then when he, he will come back later to check if you have not been occupied by God's spirits.
[44:54] He said, when an unclean spirit leaves a man, he goes through dry places. You see, dryness is not a good thing. Goes through dry places seeking rest and finding none because those places are not restful.
[45:10] And finding none. Says, they can say, so they're intelligent. Say, I will return onto my house. He's calling you his house. Are you like, you look like an apartment.
[45:22] Some of us, we are more than a hotel. Block of a, different chambers inside us. And they don't pay rent. When demons leave, he said, you are not a parent.
[45:41] Okay, quickly. It looks like some of you are a bit uncomfortable. When it comes to demons out there. seeking rest. And when he finds none, he said, I'll go to my house.
[45:52] And then when he comes and he realized that you have started coming to church, but you have not actually opened your heart for Jesus. He said, oh yeah, the preaching made us leave. But after we left, this guy didn't do anything serious about it.
[46:06] So he goes to, now bring seven stronger devils. Demons and their ranges. More wicked. Archdemons.
[46:19] Those was when they come. They are like, they are like super restless. They come. And say, more wicked. Seven. And then he says, the man's condition.
[46:31] When you see people who leave church and backslide, don't you notice that they are worse than before? Yes. So when Philip was preaching, demons, unclean spirits were crying out with loud voice and coming out to people.
[46:43] Every unclean spirit, I preach you out in the name of Jesus. There is something when they say amen, I mean the act. No, no. Say it, okay. It's good. You say it for your cousin. I'll say it for your brother.
[46:54] I preach every demonic and it's the other people in the name of Jesus. Preaching has a way of making demons uncomfortable. Jesus was teaching in the book of Luke chapter 4, verse 32, somewhere there.
[47:11] And in the synagogue, in the synagogue, synagogue where we do worship. And Jesus went there and he was preaching and in the synagogue, there was a man which had a spirit of unclean devil and cried out, what have you got to do with you?
[47:25] What have we got to do? They reacted towards the preaching. He was just preaching. He was just preaching. He said, God has anointed me to preach deliverance to the captives. Preaching has a way of setting people free.
[47:38] Preaching has a way of, I believe somebody is being set free this morning. I believe somebody is being set free this morning. In the name of Jesus. He preached and Dave Riemann was screaming out and coming out and people were amazed.
[47:53] And Bible says, verse 7, for unclean spirits crying out with loud voice came out of many that were possessed with them and many taken with paralysis and that were lame were healed.
[48:05] That's amazing. Now, paralyzed people, lame people, many of them were healed through this man's preaching. He didn't go there to go and do miracles. He went there to go and preach Christ. As we preach Christ, Christ gets to do the work.
[48:19] God was working with them. Mark chapter 16, verse 20. God was working with them. They went everywhere preaching. God was working with them, confirming the word with signs following.
[48:31] So it's God who does the work. All we have to do is to do the preaching and be true to God's word. God's word. So, he says that when he was preaching, demons were coming out and the beautiful thing is, look at the next verse, verse 8, and there was great joy.
[48:50] And there was, let's all read it out loud. Let's go. And there was great joy in that city. I can't hear you. And there was great joy in that city. Louder, please. And there was great joy in that city.
[49:02] Which city? Samuel. Can you imagine? No Jew would have thought that Samarians would also experience this. No Jew. Don't write people off. Don't write people off.
[49:14] Nobody's useless for God to reach out to. You never get to a state in life where you are useless or you are beyond God's reach or God's mercy. No human being. It doesn't matter what they have done, where they are coming from, who gave birth to them, the conditions of their nature and their nature.
[49:30] God can still reach out to them as long as they are human beings. God can reach out to anybody. And God is interested and God saves from every area. He saves from every nation because God of all nations.
[49:41] He's not only the God of the Jews. He's not only the God of the Europeans. He's not only the God of the Africans. He's not only the God of the Americans. He's the God of the Arabs. He's the God of the Chinese. God of the Indians.
[49:52] He's the God of all nations. because he intends to save somebody then because he's the God of all nations.
[50:07] And there was great joy. When demons leave, people are free. Many times people can't be free and can't smile, can't laugh. Sometimes when you sit on the train Monday morning, UK, I don't know why, everybody's sad.
[50:20] You meet people in the lift, they are sad. You meet them on the bus, they are sad. You meet them on the train, they are sad. There have been times, I'm just walking, you see somebody, you are confused because you want to smile and they're upset.
[50:34] You want to say hello, good morning. They're upset. Some of them will not, you can't tell. I didn't, I thought I'd done a gage, I just said good morning, but it's upset. Because people are not free. People are not free.
[50:46] What demons do in a territory is make people depressed, make them sad, make them oppressed. But wherever the gospel gets to, wherever the gospel gets to, wherever the gospel gets to, there is freedom.
[50:59] We who deserves free is free indeed. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. That is why we are increasingly and constantly joyful in this church.
[51:15] Oh, it's the word, the word, the word, the word, the word cast out devils. The word makes demons back off. And when demons back off, people become free and they become joyful.
[51:27] Because you can laugh, but it doesn't mean you have joy. Bible says that the joy of the Lord is my strength.
[51:39] It's demon free environment. Expose yourself to the preaching of God's word. Expose yourself to the true word of God.
[51:50] And you will test what is called freedom. You will test what is called joy. You will test what is called happiness. You will test true happiness. Shout yes! True joy!
[52:04] True joy! Real happiness! It's a product of the word of God. It's a product of the word of God. Sometimes you can even, have you seen a genuine Christian who is enjoying Jesus, who has lost his job before?
[52:20] They've lost their job, but they are still happy. Some things have happened to them and what happens to others and they sink and are grounded. It can happen to a believer and it's still flying high.
[52:33] Joy! Joy! Joy! Joy! That's why we allow ourselves to dance. That's why we allow ourselves to come. That's why we, that's one of the reasons why I like to look good when I come to church.
[52:47] because I'm not sad. Anytime I get to the word of God, I feel excited. I have the excitement. I have the joy.
[52:59] I have the joy of the Holy Ghost. I've got the joy of the Holy Ghost. I've got the joy of the Holy Ghost. I might not have your money.
[53:12] Yes. I might not have your access. Yes. I might not have your privileges. Yes. But I've got something. I've got something. I've got something.
[53:24] Silver and gold have I now. But such as I have. Such as I have. Please note.
[53:35] Please note. I love you. This joy we have. We are not faking it. We are not faking it. We are not faking it. As I sat down, I came in the service.
[53:46] This week has been super demanding on my body. As I came into the service, as I sat down, I felt like it's different from you feel sleepy.
[53:57] And this time, I felt sleepy. But what is it? I felt like I need to sleep again. I need a rest. I need a rest. And I bent over to my wife. I said, I feel sleepy.
[54:09] And she said, welcome to the club. But I said, no, no, not that I feel just sleep. She said, no, you need rest. It's, you can tell. But she said, but once the word kicks in.
[54:21] Come on, come on. Once the word again kicks in. Somebody shout hallelujah.
[54:36] Shout hallelujah. If you are not in church where God's word is open, you are missing out big time.
[54:48] You are missing out big time. You are missing out big time. If you are not in an environment where the word of God is open, I tell you, you are missing out big time.
[55:03] Come on. Give me the word. Come on. Come on. You, the only certain is you, what you don't know, you don't miss. So you are not aware how much you are missing out.
[55:16] Some of you, the first time you stepped here, you feel like, is this what actual church is about? And you said to yourself, if this is what church is like, I am in.
[55:28] Am I talking to somebody at all? Am I talking to somebody at all? Come on. There was great joy in the city.
[55:39] Not because of Stephen, but because of what he spoke. Because of his preaching. Because of, and it wasn't, oh, it wasn't motivational speaking.
[55:52] It wasn't motivational speaking because that can be replicated by people who are Christless. Motivational speaking don't disturb demons.
[56:05] It doesn't irritate and unnerve demons to move out. It doesn't unlogue or dislodge devils. Oh, but when Christ is preached, when Christ is preached, when the gospel of the kingdom is preached, when the word is preached, when the word of God is preached, demons are dislodged and joy invades anywhere.
[56:35] voy voy voy! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
[56:49] Great joy. There is joy in the house. There is joy in the house. There is rejoicing in the house.
[57:00] There is true celebration in the house. Because God is in the house. By His Word, Jesus is in the house.
[57:11] Hallelujah! They spoke, Acts chapter 6, they spoke about, the Bible speaks about the synagogue of the liberties.
[57:23] We are the church of the liberated. Have you heard about the Liberation Day?
[57:35] Yes! Liberation Day in America? I'm telling you, we have it every day. We have the real Liberation Day. For today, somebody is here! Or somebody is listening to me and God is inviting you to join this Liberation Team.
[57:50] This Team of the Liberated. The Team of the Joyful. The Team of the Happy. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! The Team of the Happy people! I am joyful! I am free! I am happy!
[58:08] In South Africa, we say happy! I am very, very, very happy! Oh, come on, tell somebody, I am very, very happy! I am happy! I am happy!
[58:21] I am happy! I am happy! You give me joy!
[58:40] I am happy! I am happy! I am happy! I am happy! Thank you for listening to this message by David Entry. We pray you have been revived to all as God. You can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms, including Instagram and LinkedIn.
[58:56] You can also hear more messages from David Entry on all relevant streaming platforms and the Carish Church app. Don't forget to like and share the message. Be blessed!