Embracing The Message Of Grace

[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.

[0:12] In Acts chapter 14, I'm reading Acts chapter 14, it says that, And it came to pass in Iconium that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake that a great multitude, both of the Jews and also of the Greeks, believed.

[0:39] But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and made their minds evil-affected against the brethren. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of His grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

[1:01] But the multitude of the city was divided, and part held with the Jews and part with the apostles. And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully and to stone them, they were aware of it.

[1:21] And there was an assault on the Jews and the Jews and the Jews and the Jews and the Jews and the Jews. And there they preached the gospel.

[1:34] And there sat a man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being crippled from his mother's womb, who never had walked. The same heard Paul speak, who steadfastly beholding him and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, stand up, stand up right on your feet.

[1:55] And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices saying in the speech of the Lyconia, the gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

[2:11] And they called Barnabas, Jupiter, and Paul, Mercurius, because he was their chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and gallants onto the gate and would have done sacrifices with the people, which when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard off, they rent their clothes and ran in amongst the people crying out and saying, Seth, why do ye these things?

[2:46] We also are men of like passions with you and preach unto you that you should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven and the earth and the seas and all that are therein, who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

[3:06] Nevertheless, he left not himself without witness in that he did good and gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filled our hearts with food and gladness.

[3:18] And with these sayings scarce restrained the people that they had not done sacrifice unto them. And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people and having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

[3:42] How beat, as the disciples stood around about, he rose up and came into the city. And the next day he departed with Barnabas to Debbie.

[3:54] And when they had preached the gospel in that city and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra and Iconium and Antioch, confirming the source of the disciples and exulting them to continue in faith and that we must through much tribulations enter into the kingdom of God.

[4:19] And when they had ordained them elders in every city and had prayed with fastens, they commended them to the Lord on whom they had believed. And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.

[4:37] And when they had preached the word in Pamphylia, they went down in Italia. And then sailed to Antioch from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.

[4:55] And when they had come, they had, when they had come and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.

[5:11] And there they abode long time with the disciples. Here ends the reading of God's word. Let's pray. Father, thank you. Father, thank you. Thank you and thank you again for the word.

[5:23] Take us into your word by your spirit. That your spirit will testify of Christ to us. And reveal things in your word which naturally we cannot just know but by your spirit.

[5:36] We thank you for the predetermined outcome after the teaching of your word. Let your name be glorified by the outcome of the teaching of your word. In Jesus name. Amen.

[5:47] Amen. When you are familiar with the scriptures a little bit, particularly in theological terms, there are words that you might be familiar with potentially.

[5:58] Dispensation. It might not be so strong in the word of God. You might come across dispensation. You might come across words like the goodness of God.

[6:12] You might come across the word of God. And there are certain important words. Now, particularly I want to draw attention to the word dispensation. When we say dispensation, we are talking about a period in which God operated on earth in a certain way.

[6:28] So, in theology, there are different dispensations and covenants. So, there is the dispensation of innocence before Adam fell. And they just had direct relationship with God.

[6:41] And afterwards, after the fall, we have the dispensation of the law. In other words, how God was dealing with people based on the set rules and set systems he has given through Moses by which they can relate with him.

[6:58] So, really, primarily, by the time the Jews became a people, because of sinfulness of humanity, a sinful flesh or sinful flesh cannot have relationship with God.

[7:11] But God formed his people called the Jews through faith, the faith of Abraham. And he gave them the covenant of circumcision. So that by adhering to these systems, they can maintain a certain relationship with him.

[7:27] Even though they were sinful people, sinful people can still have a relationship with him. So, he could forgive their sins in advance on credit, based on the sacrifices and the systems.

[7:39] Because the Bible says it's impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to wash away sins. So, that means that in the Old Testament, much as God was dealing with David, Moses, Abraham, Elijah, Elijah, all the Israel, much as he was dealing with them as though they were special and they were innocent, they still had sin, but their sins were covered.

[8:02] It's called the atonement. So, it was covered until Jesus came on the cross to take away the sins of the world, the historic sins and current sins and future sins of you and I.

[8:15] So, Jesus Christ is the only one who takes away sins. But God put in a system by which he can have a relationship with his people. And so, he gave them his oracles, his word, and gave them a revelation of himself.

[8:28] Because wherever you find yourself, or they travel, they'll find people worshipping a form of God. Alright? So, human beings naturally are groping in the darkness, looking for God and create and form religions to reach out to God.

[8:41] But God called Abraham and the Jews and revealed himself to them and gave them the law so that they became his people without anybody being part of it. So, in that time, the people of God, under the dispensation of law, were the Jews.

[8:57] And all the others being the Gentiles were not recognized. So, if you are even a Gentile and you want to come in, you have to convert to Judaism and you'll be at the tail end, not fully accepted.

[9:09] So, Jews didn't have dealings with Gentiles because Gentiles are not the people of God. God's people are just the Jews. Now, remember that that's very important. And how do they maintain their relationship with God?

[9:22] Based on the law. So, you have to do the deeds of the law to maintain your relationship with God. And the law was not given to the non-Jews, that's Gentiles. It was only given to Jews.

[9:34] So, Jews had special relationship with God and they had to maintain their right standing before God to a certain extent by the adherence of the law. It's called the dispensation of law.

[9:46] But what the Jews didn't realize is that God didn't have only the Jews in mind. He also had Gentiles in mind. And there was a time coming when the dispensation of the law was going to shift into dispensation of grace.

[10:01] And so, we came from dispensation of law. That's why Jesus was born under the dispensation of law. He died under the dispensation of the law. Text. Galatians 4.4 The people of God.

[10:44] And to keep the presence of God on earth. To keep a relationship between Yahweh and the people on earth until Christ comes. And so, there was the dispensation of the law and the dispensation of grace.

[10:56] Now, there's going to be a transition from law to grace. But the grace started with people under the law. Who would under no circumstance embrace Gentiles?

[11:09] Because if you are under the law and you embrace a Gentile, you are broken the law. So, that's going to be a problem. Now, God is going to include the Gentiles under dispensation of grace.

[11:20] But the dispensation of grace had to start with people who were primarily under the dispensation of the law. Why? Because they were the only people who were the custodians of the oracles of God.

[11:32] So, God would have gone outside of the Jews to go and find new people. Because the Jews were the only people on earth who had a certain knowledge and dealings and relationship with God.

[11:44] The true God. The true God. So, now, if the true God is going to reach out to others, he has to come to the Jews. But when he came to the Jews, based on the existing law, the Jews will not receive Gentiles.

[11:56] Because based on the law, they are not supposed to have interactions with Gentiles. So, that tells you there's going to be a problem. The ones who are supposed to push the main agenda of God won't do it because they are so buried in a system that is passing.

[12:11] Now, that brings us to the text we have been reading. So, I was talking about how Paul and Barnabas, they went to preach in the synagogue when they were sent.

[12:22] The first is called the first missionary journey. That's when they were sent to go and preach. What were they going to do? You'll find out from our text that there's only one agenda, one mission is to preach the word of God.

[12:35] Because that is the only conduit through which people can move into the dispensation of grace. To be embraced and to be received into the dispensation of grace, it comes by the word of grace.

[12:49] Or the gospel, it's called the gospel. Another word is the preaching of the word of the Lord. That's why they went around preaching the word. It's like campaign.

[13:00] Going around campaigning for Jesus. Campaigning for grace. Campaigning for the message. So, anyone who believes is absorbed into grace. Wow. As simple as that.

[13:11] So, they went into the synagogues first. So, Bible says in the verse 15 that they went to the synagogues. And the synagogues were asked to preach as we heard last week.

[13:23] And they preached. But when they finished preaching, the word was so good, he warned them. And look at verse 45. Acts 13, 45. Let's start from verse 44. And the next Sabbath came almost the whole city together to hear what?

[13:40] When I see this, it always blesses me. Thank you. To hear the word of God. Verse 45 says that. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul.

[13:57] Contradicting and blaspheming. Verse 46. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold. Let's all say waxed bold. Waxed bold. Say it again.

[14:08] Waxed bold. Waxed bold. And let's change it to New King James, please. Let's read the first line. Let's go. Then Paul and Barnabas be bold. One more time.

[14:19] Then Paul and Barnabas be bold. They grew bold. They prayed in Acts chapter 4 that grant us boldness. Verse 29. Grant us boldness.

[14:30] The Bible says that they grew bold. There are some things if you're going to say you must be bold. When you're going to say some things. If you're going to say some things. It's more.

[14:41] So, you know, Ephesians chapter 6 verse 19 and 20. When Paul was requesting for prayer. He says that pray for me that all trance will be given me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known.

[14:54] Because this thing I'm about to introduce. It's not easily acceptable. People will not easily embrace it. It might offend people. It might put people off. It might actually endanger my life.

[15:07] What I'm about to say is very dangerous for me. But I said give me the boldness. Pray that God will grant me boldness. So, Barnabas and Paul. The Bible says that Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said.

[15:20] It was necessary that the word of the Lord should be spoken to you. I can't hear it. To you. One more time. To you. Question. Why to them first?

[15:32] Why to them first? They are the custodians. You see, now it makes sense. They are the custodians. In Acts chapter 3 verse 26. Acts chapter 3 verse 26.

[15:43] It says that. To you first. God having raised Jesus from death. His servant Jesus. Sent to bless you. Talking to the Jews. There is a certain order.

[15:55] Not because they are more important. But because they were the primary recipients of the oracles of God. So, it says in Romans chapter 1 verse 16. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.

[16:10] For it is the power of God unto salvation. To the. For the Jews. First. First. For the Jews first.

[16:21] There is a certain order there. For the Jews first. I am not ashamed. He said the Jews first. So, Saul said in Acts chapter 13 verse 46. He said it was necessary.

[16:34] Necessary. Necessary. It is important. Of first importance. It is necessary. To speak. When God saves you. It is necessary that your family becomes the first.

[16:47] To taste of the salvation God has got to offer. He said it is necessary. Watch this. Watch this. It is necessary that the word of God to be spoken to you first. What was necessary?

[16:58] That the word of God. The word of God. Why the word of God? Because that is the conduit through which you enter the new dispensation. You enter into grace.

[17:09] You enter into salvation. You enter into God. You enter into God. He said it is necessary that the word of the Lord. Watch this. Should be preached to you first. But. Since you reject it.

[17:23] Hmm. And. You reject it. And your act of rejecting it. Is a statement saying that we are not worthy. Of everlasting life. You.

[17:34] We didn't do it. You did it. What was coming. Was bringing you everlasting life. Was bringing you a taste of God. But. You found it necessary.

[17:46] To reject it. And you rejected it. And counted yourself. Unworthy. You say I don't deserve it. I don't. You. There are some actions when you do. You have counted yourself unworthy.

[17:58] Of certain benefits. There are some things when you begin to say. You've judged yourself unworthy. You've judged yourself unworthy. You've judged yourself unworthy. Of that next move of God. Of that blesses of God. Of that blesses of God.

[18:09] What's most caring. What's most caring. the next move of God, of the blessings of God. But what is more scary, what's more scary, is not that someone has judged themselves unworthy.

[18:22] What is very scary is God accepts your rejection. You would think God would say, God, you should know better. I didn't know. Maybe you should have convinced me more.

[18:33] He doesn't have time to convince. You judge yourself unworthy. You say, I'm out of here. I'm checking out. I signed it. God says, okay. They rejected it.

[18:43] And God said, okay. And you would have thought that Paul would have said, no, guys, do you understand what you are doing? Please, no, they don't have time. Because they were in a transitional period.

[18:57] God used Peter from the beginning. So when you look at Acts from chapter 1 all the way to Paul came in, in chapter 9. And after Saul came in in chapter 9, Peter still surfaced again in chapter 10, in chapter 11.

[19:11] But when he got to chapter 12, after he was brought up from prison, he fizzled out. And then from chapter 13, Paul. Because there was a transitional period.

[19:22] It's called dispensational transition. We are moving from law to grace. We actually feed into what I'm saying now. In chapter 13, verse 38 and 39.

[19:32] It says that, in Acts 13, it said, Therefore, let it be known to you that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. Verse 39.

[19:43] And by him, everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. So something has come to replace this law.

[19:56] We are in a dispensational moment. Look at verse 43. In verse 43, it says that, And now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, whom, speaking to them, persuaded them, don't forget this, to continue not in the law.

[20:15] Because they have actually come into a new phase. And Paul's assignment was to start from the Jews and now to take the word of God to the ends of the world.

[20:27] Paul was the main one to put his feet on the accelerator of now Gentiles being received in. So look at what he said again in verse 46. Since it was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the...

[20:52] Paul, just wait. I don't have time. The Jews have had this from generations, from generations to generations. And then he said, Now it's time for the Gentiles.

[21:04] Look at Acts chapter 9, verse 15. I want to show you Acts chapter 9, verse 15. Acts chapter 11, verse 18. Acts chapter 18, verse 6.

[21:15] And then we'll go to Acts chapter 22, verse 21. Look at Acts chapter 9. But the Lord said to him, Ananias, Go for Saul, when he was called. Saul is a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name.

[21:32] You see when he was called? There was an assignment towards the Gentiles. I'm calling to bear my name before the Gentiles. But it was necessary that the gospel should be preached to the Jews first.

[21:48] Before Acts chapter 11, verse 18. The apostles found out that, oh, so God has also received the Gentiles. When they heard these things, they became silenced and glorified God, saying, Then God has also granted the Gentiles.

[22:02] They didn't think Gentiles would ever come in. This is after Peter. God used Peter to get into it. They didn't ever think the Gentiles would come in. But now they said, oh, okay.

[22:13] So the Gentiles are also part of God's plan. You are also part of God's plan. Yeah, I know you had such a bad history. Who cares? Because under normal circumstances, you shouldn't be included.

[22:28] Look at the things you have done against the church. The bad things you have done. But God said, even when you were doing those things, you were still part of the plan. And for your information, even a central part of the plan.

[22:41] Oh, hallelujah. So he says that, oh, so God has included the Gentiles. Acts chapter 18, verse 6.

[22:51] It's clearly there. But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, Your blood be upon your heads. I am clean.

[23:02] From now on, I will turn to the Gentiles. From now on, I'm going to Acts chapter 22. Look at it, verse 21. Then said he, depart, for I will send you far from here.

[23:16] This is God talking to Saul. Paul said, depart, I will send you far from here to the Gentiles. Chapter 28, verse 28. Acts 28, verse 28.

[23:27] And then we go to Romans chapter 11, verse 11. It says that, therefore, let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles. Did you see that dispensational change?

[23:39] From the beginning, the Gentiles were not part of it. And so after Jesus came and went, the Jews knew to get closer to God, don't mix it with Gentiles.

[23:50] Don't mess up because the law doesn't make provision for them, but grace makes provision for them. Grace makes provision for them. Everybody who is in God, everybody who enters the kingdom, enters by grace.

[24:03] Not by law. Romans chapter 11, verse 11. The Gentiles are included. I say then, have they, talking about the Jews, have the Jews stumbled that they should fall?

[24:16] Certainly not. But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Now, I'm just teaching you theology. That God started with a group of people, by his plan was humanity.

[24:32] He never said, for God so loved the Jews, that he gave his... For God so loved the world. For God so loved the world.

[24:43] It's called the gospel. The gospel. That's why you and I can be sitting here, thousands of miles away from Jerusalem. You and I can be sitting here.

[24:54] Nothing to do with Judaism or Jewish blood, but we are so much in God. We are his chosen generation. Hallelujah.

[25:05] It's the word of grace. The word of grace. So, there was a transitional moment, but the Jews missed it. So, see what happened. And so, it says that since it is necessary to preach first, but since you have judged yourself unworthy.

[25:20] Unworthy. That's serious. You judge yourself unworthy. The preaching is coming by saying, no, this blessing is not for me. Because you didn't see the blessing. You didn't see the blessing behind it. You judge yourself unworthy.

[25:32] So, we turn. We go into the Gentiles. And for the... Watch this. Then Paul quotes a scripture from Isaiah, chapter 49, verse 6. It said, For so the Lord has commanded us, that I have set you as a light, that you should be for salvation, not only to the Jews now, to the ends of the world.

[25:55] This is the gospel. To the ends of the world. That is why Paul was preaching. He said, I've set you as a light. Isaiah, chapter 49, verse 6.

[26:06] Indeed, he says, it is too small a thing that you should be my servant. This is talking about Jesus. But Paul quoted it to apply to himself. My servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved ones of Israel.

[26:22] I will also give you as a light to... Now, I'm going to draw your attention to something. Later on, see if I can step on it more.

[26:33] Gas into it. This is Isaiah. Over 600, I think 800 years before Jesus was born. Isaiah. What book of the Bible is Isaiah in?

[26:43] What part of the Bible? New Testament, Old Testament. So Old Testament conos the dispensation of law. Even within the dispensation of law, when you open into each feather, you will see provision have been made.

[26:56] Oh, I feel like preaching. Hallelujah. Within the dispensation of the law, provision has already been made for Gentiles and everybody. Grace started speaking not after Jesus came.

[27:09] Grace has been speaking from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy. Oh, I feel like preaching. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. So, he says that Paul goes to Isaiah to quote that he said, I've sent you as a light for the Gentiles.

[27:28] In Isaiah chapter 42 verse 6, the Bible continues to say, this is what the quotation Paul was referring to. He said, I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness and I will hold your hand.

[27:39] I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles. Isaiah. Under the dispensation of law, grace was speaking loudly.

[27:54] Grace, when you were still in sin, grace was speaking. When you were still not born again, grace was speaking. I see grace speaking loudly over your life.

[28:05] I see grace speaking loudly for your family. Grace speaking for your children. Grace speaking for our society. I speak grace speaking for you. In the name of Jesus.

[28:16] Hallelujah. So, he said, grace has already been ahead. Working. Speaking. I've given you for a light to the Gentiles. Praise the Lord. So, Paul quotes these texts and tells them that, listen, there's a light that's coming to the Gentiles.

[28:33] When Jesus was born, Bible says that in Luke chapter 2, verse 32. Let's go for verse 30. Let me show you something. Verse 30.

[28:44] This is Simeon, the great prophet. He prophesied when he heard the little boy. And he said, he says that, now, God, I'm ready to die.

[28:54] Because you told me, I will not die till I see the Messiah. Let your servant depart in peace, according to your word. Verse 30. For my eyes have seen the salvation. 31. Which you have prepared before the face of all peoples.

[29:08] Now watch this. The salvation is that, I would like to bring revelation to the Gentiles. This prophet. When Jesus hadn't even died, he looked at baby Jesus, and he said, light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.

[29:25] Jesus. Light. So, God has said, I'm sending you fire to be a light to the Gentiles. There that sat in great darkness, a great light has appeared. So, let's go back to the text.

[29:35] Verse 47. It says, And the Lord commanded us, I have sent you as a light to the Gentiles that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth. Verse 48. It's going to get interesting. Now, when the Gentiles heard this, Ah!

[29:47] They were glad and glorified. The word of the Lord. I like that. Not the pastor. The word of the Lord. They were glad. That tells you where their heart. Their heart caught something. Their heart caught something.

[29:58] And that became their motivation. That became their focus. Wow! See, when you really are in God, what excites you most is not breakthroughs and testimonies. You see something in the world, you feel like, Oh my goodness!

[30:10] If the word of God doesn't excite you, I'm concerned about your future in Christ. I don't know what excites your spiritual life. Even the songs we are singing, the content, word content should be what really makes you tick.

[30:28] Other things are naturally okay because unbelievers and people who don't have any relation with God can also get excited over the things that some of us are excited over. You can be excited over them, not wrong, but there are things that someone who has met God can be excited over and unbelievers can't.

[30:47] The word of his grace. The word of his grace. Somebody shout, The word of the Lord! The word of the Lord! And so Bible says that the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord.

[31:00] And as many, hmm, another big one. As many as, let's all read that bit together from the end. Let's go! Loudly, please.

[31:13] One more time. What does that tell you? There are people who are appointed to eternal life. That is a major theological issue.

[31:26] Many people prefer to read it like this. And whosoever believed was appointed to eternal life. That's how many people feel comfortable reading it. But really, it looks like God has already pre-planned some stuff.

[31:40] Romans chapter 8, verse 29, For those he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed into the image of his son, that he, the son, might be the firstborn among many brethren. Those he predestined, them he called.

[31:53] Those he called, them he justified. Those he justified, them he glorified. Who did he glorify? Those he predestined. In Ephesians chapter 1, verse 4 and 5, he said that we are, Ephesians chapter 1, verse 4, just as he has chosen us in him before the world began, not before your mother was born, not before your father was born.

[32:14] He said, before the world began, before my great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was born, he says that God has appointed, has chosen, I am chosen, I am chosen, I am chosen, I am chosen, I am chosen, I am chosen, long time ago, long time ago, in Genesis, I was chosen, before time began, before the foundation of the earth, some people were chosen, and was, and appointed, converted, unto eternal life.

[32:54] Why would God do that? So that no one can boast. Your salvation is not because you are smart, your salvation is because he chose you. This is how God saves people.

[33:05] He looks in you, I am saving you, not because of something you have done, but because of his own purpose and plan. By the time you are arriving on earth, he sends you because you are one of the people he has chosen.

[33:17] Ah, so then, why do we preach? We preach to find those who are chosen. But the Bible said it. Why do we preach? The text, the last text, it's there.

[33:29] Put it in verse 48. And as many as appointed, those who have been already appointed, they were those who believed. There's a correlation between your believing and God's foreordination.

[33:45] There's a correlation between that. You didn't believe because you are smart. Because the truth is, there are people who are smarter. Not because life was so bad for you.

[33:56] There are people who lives, a typical example, the two thieves on the cross. Equal status. Equal pre-existing status. Criminals.

[34:07] Condemned to death. Criminals. One believed, the other one, the other one who didn't believe, it's not like he was neutral. neutral. He wasn't neutral.

[34:18] He was objectional. He was objecting to Christ. It's a challenging Christ. On the cross. On the cross. So what made the other one challenge, what was the other one accepted?

[34:32] Appointment. Both were on the cross with him. Both. The same condition. One made it so that you know that if you have made it, it's not because you were smart, but if you have made it, it's because you were appointed.

[34:48] That is why we preach. We are not preaching to convince people. I don't need all the theology to be able to talk about Christ.

[35:02] Oh, what I need is I know him. I know him. I'm saved. And when I'm saved, the word of the Lord in my mouth is also a means for God to save somebody or bring those appointed home.

[35:16] Oh, yes. Oh, yes. So those of you who try to go and learn so much so you can argue people on the streets, argue with them, argue and prove to them, there might be a place for that, there might be a place for that, but that is not worth generous salvation because most of us are saved and you really cannot tell what, how many of you after you were saved, you still had major questions about God and about Christianity and so many things, but your mind cannot get around it.

[35:51] However, your heart is captured already. Your heart is captured. I'm gone. Somebody told me sometime ago and said, a cousin told her that you have taken this thing very far because we're not expecting her to be so deep into Christ because once you are in Christ, there are no, you know, wishy-washy.

[36:13] Once the thing has gotten into you, you can't fake it. You can't pretend about it. I'm gone. Tell somebody you don't know but I'm gone. I'm gone.

[36:24] I'm far gone. I'm deeper than you imagined. I'm deeper into this God thing, into this Christ. I'm deep in it. As many as were appointed.

[36:37] Appointed. That is why it's very dangerous. Watch this. Watch this. That's why it's very dangerous not to preach the word God. Because our appointment can be actualized by the believing of the gospel.

[36:52] That's right. So if the gospel is not preached, somebody's appointment has been suspended because the only way you come in is by the gospel. That's the only way you come into grace.

[37:03] not by tick boxes, a tick box exercise. I've done this. No, no, no, no, no. God doesn't need your tick boxes because you are still bad flesh. Coming into grace, all it requires is to hear the word of the Lord.

[37:18] So he says that since you judge yourself unworthy of eternal life and he said it was necessary that the word of the Lord, that's what brings people into the grace. That's what makes people who have been appointed get discovered.

[37:31] You want to discover those who are appointed preach Christ. Preach Christ. Preach Christ. When a church fails or refuses to preach Christ, it will be filled with a lot of weeds.

[37:47] Spiritual weeds. Only the visible church but the invisible church inside will be very small. But sometimes you can have what might look like weeds but as you preach the gospel, the invisible church will begin to emerge because we all came from the slime.

[38:05] We all came from the ghettos. Spiritual ghettos. None of us is qualified. Gentiles. You are not even a Jew. Even if Jews are not getting in outside of believing then a Gentile, your condition is bad.

[38:20] As many as were appointed to eternal life, believed. Believed. Let's go to the next verse because of it. And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region.

[38:33] Did you see what's happening? It's the word. The word. When you say the word of God of the Lord was being spread, it meant that more people were beginning to receive Jesus. The word was producing results.

[38:44] And that's what must happen in the United Kingdom. How can that happen without preachers of the gospel? I'm not talking about church goers. Church goers don't spread the word.

[38:55] It's preachers of the gospel. I'm not talking about pastors. I'm talking about genuine people who have a relationship with Jesus who can also pass the message on to anybody they meet. That's how the word of the Lord spreads.

[39:06] And the word of the Lord spread throughout all the region. Verse 50, that's the problem. But, that's the bad. The Jews stirred up the devout and the prominent women.

[39:19] Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Right? The Jews. They stirred up the prominent women there is very likely to mean the women who are married to some high-profile people.

[39:35] Big shots, high-profile people. Because they were not the chief men. And the chief men of the city. Prominent women. They are big guys, big shots. And the Jews, stirred up.

[39:48] It's always been like that in Matthew chapter 7 verse 20. The Pharisees, the scribes, and the chief priests, and the elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask for. Barabbas and destroy Jesus.

[40:01] So even though they asked for him, they were influenced by the media. They were influenced by the news. But all these people who are gathering there, they are thieves.

[40:15] All these people don't know what they are doing. They were influenced by the influences. It was an influence. They were stirred up to ask for Barabbas and not Jesus.

[40:28] You saw in Acts chapter 14 verse 2. It happened there again. Verse 19. It happened there again. See, verse 2 he said, but the unbelieving Jews, Acts chapter 40 verse 2, but the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles.

[40:41] The Gentiles. Stared them up and they poisoned the minds of their brethren. You are going to the church by your mind having poisoned about the pastor. Your mind can be poisoned by the junk you are assimilating on TikTok.

[40:59] If you have God on your side, your heart easily gets warmed by people God has sent. Jesus said, you said you are disciples of Moses and yet you want to kill me.

[41:15] Moses wrote about me. John chapter 5. Moses wrote about me and yet I was the subject of Moses. So if you really believe Moses, you will struggle to receive me.

[41:28] If you are really godly, you won't condemn godly people. If you are really godly, you are just religious. You cannot theology, but it doesn't mean you know God.

[41:39] Oh, the biggest problem of the church is the theologians. The top religious people. They are the problem. Jesus came, it was a religion, those who were supposed to be close to God are the ones who killed God when he came.

[41:53] Those who tried to close down the church and shut down the church. Saul of Tartus was a top Pharisee. He said concerning the law, he was blameless. Can you imagine? A blameless person regarding the law and yet closing down what God had started.

[42:08] They stared at their hearts. Acts chapter 14, verse 19. It's there, it's repleting scripture everywhere. They keep staring at their and then the Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there and having persuaded the martyrs, they normally have the ears of the martyrs because it's very easy to believe in a negative.

[42:29] It's very easy to believe in a negative. So you can be sitting in church and yet your heart has embraced something negative and blocked the flow of grace.

[42:43] Block, poison, that's the word it is, yeah. Poisoned the minds of people who are busy serving. Mike Medall said, what is the usefulness of a mind that cannot change?

[42:55] So your mind is susceptible to changing. People, enemies came and poisoned, Pastor, he used the word the mind of the brethren. Yeah, the brethren.

[43:05] It would have been different if he said the people. This one is the brethren. The core people, the core people. Against, okay, so poison their minds against the brethren.

[43:17] Poison their minds against the brethren. Their minds were poisoned. Is it possible I'm talking to somebody whose mind has been poisoned? Oh, yes.

[43:28] That's why your smiling has changed. Either you have been poisoned or you are being poisoned or you are about to be poisoned, they ask you.

[43:41] So why has Pastor asked you to be sitting in front? They are starting to poison you. They are starting to poison you. Thank you, Pastor. Transition.

[43:52] Dispensational transition. They will poison you. They are dispensationalists. They will poison when grace is coming. Poison. Poison.

[44:04] They will stare people up. Tell somebody, I hope you are not being poisoned. Oh! Tell somebody, I hope you are not a poisoner.

[44:17] Oh! Poison. Poison. Pastor knew you were coming.

[44:29] No, no, no, no. No, no, no. No, no, no. No, no. No, no. No, no. Pastor knew you were coming. God knows you were coming. Because the amount of junk your mind has been poisoned with, the salvation message is leaving or getting through to you.

[44:43] Your mind has been so poisoned that when you go, the pastor wears spectacles. issue... He should wear wood. He should wear wood. Think about it.

[44:57] That level of nonsense poisoned by somebody who has not contributed to your spiritual life. Who has not made any significant contribution.

[45:09] it can be poisoned by your very good close friend, your husband, your mother, your father. Yeah? You know what I'm talking about.

[45:20] Especially when you are away for a while. Yeah. Satan is looking for opportunity to poison you regarding where you are being fed.

[45:32] That's how Satan works. So, let me give you as an example. The more you keep listening to the messages, the more your heart is in line.

[45:44] But you can remember, the last time, nowadays you don't even listen again. After fasting, you don't listen to any message. You don't even to any message. Previously, every time in your car, message is playing.

[45:56] Message is playing. You don't listen. Now you are listening music. Yes. And you are having a good time. So, it's not bad in itself.

[46:07] But over a period of time. Oh yeah. So, it's easy for the heart to be poisoned. By the lead. You might be a leading woman. Prominent men.

[46:21] Yes. The prominent, especially those people sitting in the front seat. Especially when you are sitting in the front seat and you have been having discussions with people behind the scenes. Discussions with people. You are the one.

[46:31] And when they do that, they begin to recruit others. See, I believe in what he's saying, but it's not everything that, you know, you have to think. That's how this, poison doesn't come, people, everybody who has had food poisoning thought they were eating good food.

[46:53] They thought they were eating, in fact, they ate and finished everything and asked for more. They didn't know that actually, it was poison. Praise God.

[47:05] Wow, let me just run up. May your heart not be poisoned. May your mind not be stirred up in the negative eye. So, in the verse 50, it says that they stirred up the devout and the prominent women.

[47:16] These are devout, very religious. People who really should say, thank you, thank you. They were stirred to object, to oppose it. This is very interesting. This is very interesting.

[47:27] When the enemy comes into his community and into a church to attack, he goes to people whose hearts are more receptive for the things of God. And so, if you are not, if you are gallible and you are not taught some principles to spot poison fire, you realize, you bite into it thinking that it's still part of it.

[47:48] Let's start prayer meeting at home. You know, we have care group, but no, this one is P group. We are praying because we need more prayer. And the pastor was even preaching. He said, we need more prayer.

[47:59] So, God has told me I should be meeting with you and praying. I should be meeting with you and praying. By the time you realize they have a whole team of people they are praying with. And then usually, you see, sometimes people also show they already have allies in the system.

[48:15] So, when the message is coming, they show they are disapproval by the way they are quiet. And, I've been around for a long time. And then sometimes, pastor, I know what they do. Pastor says something and they start looking at somebody's face.

[48:29] So, sometimes you see a pastor and say, who are you looking at? Everybody is laughing, but they don't find it funny. They don't find it funny.

[48:41] And there are people who they have become unduly close to, privately, behind the scenes. So, those people keep looking at them. Okay, let me see my boss's reaction. Oh, that means so.

[48:52] Okay, what the pastor is saying. whatever's I say. Now, you can tell I've been listening to Bishop Dad. So, the thing is coming. It's a blessing.

[49:04] Praise the Lord. Let me finish this thing. So, they poisoned their hearts and raised up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and expelled them from their... Can you imagine?

[49:16] Now, we are reading it so it looks very bizarre. How could they do that? But every one of us, we can fall into that category. Devout people, chief men of the city, they were stirred up and persecuted the people who were bringing the word of grace to embrace us into God's move.

[49:35] They're persecuting them. Persecuting them. The easiest group of people to persecute is those who carry the word of God. Yes. They're the easiest group of people to persecute.

[49:46] The easiest group of people. Now, he says that in Matthew, let me just go over there. Matthew chapter 22. Yeah, 22, verse 8. What are the verse 8? Matthew 22, verse 8.

[49:57] They said, the wedding is ready but those who were invited were not worthy. This is told the parable of a man who threw a wedding banquet and he said, go and invite the people.

[50:09] And the people who were sent to go and invite those who were first supposed to be at the wedding, those who were invited rejected them.

[50:20] It's there. Mark from verse 1. And they beat them. One of them, the Bible says that they even beat the messengers and killed them. It's there. Verse 6. Jesus answered, look at verse 6.

[50:32] Verse 6 and verse 7. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully and killed them. Yeah. The people who were sent to bring the message, usually people who are easy, easy targets for the devil is the messengers of God.

[50:50] The messengers. You are being invited into a new season in your family life, in your career, in your grace, in your ministry life, in your work with God. You are being invited but Satan will have a way of making you kill the one who has been sent to bring you.

[51:03] And then you end up counting yourself not worthy of what they carry. It's there. Verse 8. So it's the count that Jesus said. Then the master said to the servant, the wedding is ready but those who were invited were not worthy.

[51:20] So go and bring evil and good people, anybody who is available. It's there. It's there. So it's easy to kill the messenger God is bringing to deliver you.

[51:31] And that's one prayer I pray God help me. There are people like Arch Bishop Duncan Williams, Bishop Oedepo, great men of God who God has raised and have impacted some of us our lives very much.

[51:43] I have to stay away from embracing negativity. They don't have to be perfect but that's not part of my assignment in their life. That's not part of my assignment yet.

[51:54] Part of my assignment is the grace they carry to be partaker of the grace. So it's one prayer I pray because every now and then the less I listen to great men like that the more I begin to, you know, Bishop Doug is good but yeah, yeah, yeah.

[52:11] And then somebody will say sometimes I say yeah I've noticed that. It's because I've stopped feeding on the grace it carries. And the grace is transported through the word the person carries.

[52:22] That's what they did. And they persecuted them took them out of the city and stoned them raised the persecution against them and expelled them out of the city and that was not enough. Look at it. I'm finishing.

[52:33] But they, Paul and Barabbas they shook off their feet against them and came to Iconium. They said okay why did they shake off their feet? Jesus said do it. Matthew chapter 10 verse 14.

[52:44] When they don't receive you shake off. You don't have anything. Whoever will not receive you nor hear your words when you depart from that house or city. Shake off the dust from your feet.

[52:57] I don't have anything. That's why Paul said that your blood is on your own heads. And they left the city and they went to Iconium. Where did they go? Put you on the screen please.

[53:08] Verse 51. And they left and went to Iconium. And they went to Iconium. And what did they do? And the disciples were filled with joy. So they were still disciples when they left.

[53:22] Even though there was opposition. there were still disciples. That's all. God has always got people inside. When the disciples were filled with joy. That's the end of the chapter. And I read chapter 14 to introduce you into the dispensation.

[53:39] The true switch. The true change. God is moving from one level to the other. God is introducing you into something better. Don't reject it. Don't reject it.

[53:50] Don't reject it with common sense. Embrace it with spiritual sensitivity. Spiritual sensitivity. Don't reject what God is doing. God is bringing you to something better to count you in.

[54:03] Don't count yourself out. Because if you count yourself out God will say I receive your rejection. I embrace it. And your blood is on your own head. Remember it's always easy to attack people who God sends to bring you a message.

[54:16] Sometimes no physical attack. by intellectual attack look at that. Look at that. So it doesn't matter what he said. Block your heart and your mind.

[54:28] The word comes it bounces off. It comes it bounces off. Later on people say but God you didn't help me. God says I sent a messenger. I sent you a grace vessel. I see you will not miss out on your opportunity.

[54:41] This new dispensation in your family. Dispensation in your family your marital journey. Dispensation in your career. Dispensation in your ministry elevation. This new season you are coming into I pray that nothing will poison your mind away from it.

[54:59] Nothing will distract you away from it. But God will help you to embrace the word that introduces you into your dispensation. So shall it be in Jesus name.

[55:11] Amen. Did you receive something? Hallelujah. Thank you for listening to this message by David Entry.

[55:22] We pray you have been revived towards God. You can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms including Instagram and LinkedIn. You can also hear more messages from David Entry on all relevant streaming platforms and the Karis Church app.

[55:37] Don't forget to like and share the message if you're here. Thank you for listening to this Thank you.