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[0:00] Thank you for choosing to listen to today's message by Reverend Dr. David Entry. We know you will be blessed as you seek and serve God. We believe that this message will stir up a desire for more of God even as you listen.

[0:13] Be blessed. Amen. But we thank God for today. I started something. I started talking about Romans chapter 12, the church life.

[0:23] Let's all say the church life. The church life. Please say it again. The church life. Someone asked me, what do you mean by the church life? The church life. You see, yesterday when we were doing the workers' meetings, someone asked a very interesting and a very good question.

[0:36] Don't worry. I'm going to go to football. Okay. Don't worry. He asked a very interesting question and a very important question because I made a statement. And listen, I'm going to repeat that. I said that when Christ comes, he's not coming back for me.

[0:50] He's not coming to collect Christians. He's coming back for the church. And then someone asked me the question, but what if you say that? What's the meaning? Because Christians, church is made up of Christians.

[1:02] So if you say Christ is not coming for the church and for the, sorry, for the, for Christians, just Christians, but for the church, what exactly do you mean? And I explain this because we have to understand that, you see, we have been called into a church life, not just a Christian life.

[1:19] A church life. The church is a community of people. One. We share, we have, listen to this very beautiful thing.

[1:30] You know the difference between a body and a business? The church is not a business. The church is a body. That's why it's a problem when pastors, some pastors run the church like a business.

[1:46] Because the church is not a business. It's different from Tesco. Though the same people you see in Tesco are the people you see in church.

[1:57] Or Asda, or Morrison, or Sainsbury's, or wherever. The same. The same people you see at the train station, the pastor, the same people you see in church. So what's the difference between a body and a business?

[2:10] A business has not got a life. The body has got a life. That's one. Number two, the church is not just an organization. Okay.

[2:21] But the church is an organism. The difference between an organization and an organism, watch this. An organization is the assembling of different parts together to make one unit.

[2:35] So different, different, different aspects, different departments, different parts. We come together and it's kind of a one unit. Whilst a body, watch this, a body is different in the sense that a body has one shared life.

[2:50] So if you cut my fingernail, or if you cut my finger, the blood that flows out is the same blood that will flow out if you cut my ankle.

[3:02] Same blood. Because one life, you do realize that when we were children, malaria was quite my common friend.

[3:12] So every now and then. And sometimes you are sick or you have a headache. You go to the hospital and then they give you injection. No, my problem is not here.

[3:24] My problem is my head. Why do you give me the injection there? I've got a major, some big problem in my legs. And you are giving me some intravenous infusion from here.

[3:38] The problem is not here, it's there. But you know what, anything that enters here affects every part of the body. A body is one shared life. So anything that affects the ear, guess what?

[3:50] Affects the whole body. Anything that affects the toe, guess what? Affects the whole body. That's the difference between a body and an organization. Sorry, a body and an organization.

[4:03] Or an organism and an organization. An organism is one shared life. So if the life lives, the whole organism is wasted. But whilst an organization is different, a conglomeration of different paths.

[4:18] Bringing them together to make one. So when I talk about the church life, Jesus is not coming for individuals. Jesus. Jesus. He says, there's no way in the Bible you find.

[4:29] The Bible says that God is coming back for a me or a him or a she. Or a her. He's coming for an us, U.S. An us because no one can be by yourself.

[4:43] so Jesus died for big church so there is a problem if you are a Christian and you are not part of a local church which is a local expression of a universal church there is a problem about a big question mark about your Christianity it takes Christians to make a church alright so when it's coming it's not about okay you are not like this you are not like this when I was growing up we were made to feel that when Christ comes he will leave you no he's coming once you are part of the church it's like you are in a plane if the plane is bound to Heathrow or is going to land in Heathrow whether in first class, second class third class, fifth class we are all going to go to Heathrow remember the story about that gentleman who was traveling to Lagos and he was told that this is your first time on the plane as soon as you sit in the plane don't get down or don't get up just sit down to the plane arrives so as soon as he entered the plane he went and sat in the business class and they came and told him that sir you are not supposed to sit here because this is your seat is over there he said no I'm not going anywhere he said no no you have to leave me alone why it's discrimination because I'm black why why it's racism no they did everything they said if you don't move the plane is not taking off everybody tried for 30 minutes this man all kinds of display and they even brought some airport officials security officials to come and get him off the plane if he would not move he said I'm not moving anywhere and he became a and the guy was a very strong man who's been eating a lot of pounded yam and a bat so everybody was careful about it and guess what one brother in the plane said don't worry leave him for me I know what to do so he went to the guy and whispered something in his ears as soon as he whispered the guy this guy who said I will not get up got up took his back and then he went straight to where he was going went and sat down a few seconds everybody was surprised what did you tell the man he said don't worry I just told him that this part of the plane is not going to Lagos it's going to Abuja if you are going to Lagos the other side this one is going to Abuja little did he know that once you are in the plane and he lands wherever he lands you are dead once you are a member of the church once you are a part of the church and Jesus said I'm coming for the church then when he's coming provided you are still in church you are still in faith ah this is interesting theology isn't it we were taught all kinds of religious ideas and so God this is a good one

[7:52] God is the God of the church God is a church God let's say that together God is a church God one more time please God is a church God so if you don't like the church I'm sorry God can't help you because God is he loved the church so much that he had to come and die for the church at the end of the 5 Bible says that husbands love your wives just as Christ loved the church not the people he loved God so loved the world but Christ loved the church and died for the church not for the world he gave himself so that anyone in the world can become part of the church right yeah so when he's coming back guess what he's coming for the church he's coming for what he died for and nothingness and so those of us who have had the privilege it's a privilege to be in church don't let our modern day community society make you feel like oh being in church you are waiting your time don't make church second class don't make church like when you have time make church make your worship center in your life if you make God central he'll make you central in life but if you make God second class in life you will remain where you are you are on your own our community and our society and our generation makes people feel it's a mistake to place worship and make worship important but brothers and sisters worship is important don't wait till you get to a certain stage in your life and you realize that all your life is vain and empty without God without God your life is empty there's no meaning to your life doesn't matter you can spend it doesn't matter how much you spend on your hair guess what last three months you did it spend so much money now you have to make another do another one

[9:56] I know some people they are only about six months but that's okay depends on who you are but then it doesn't matter how much money you spend on your car life is meaningless without God may I tell someone life is meaningless without God life is meaningless without God life is mean I don't believe I don't believe it's your own problem I'm telling you life is meaningless without God it doesn't matter whether you believe or not you will find out later but life is meaningless without God yes yes that is meaningless without God so don't let anybody bully you and intimidate you out of worship no one qualifies don't give anyone that privilege of intimidating you out of worship later on only to realize that they have gone ahead you are now struggling

[10:57] Bishop David Oudeppo said you can't place God first and be last in life it can't happen it cannot happen it is not possible it is not possible happening church life say church life so he has called us into the church oh oh ah so he saved us so he can be in church yes sir really why is it that church people are so funny because you are one of them he is not dealing with us based on our physical strength other than that he wouldn't have saved us he is dealing with us based on our relationship with him through Christ so what is the definition of the church the definition of the church is Christ in you Christ in her Christ in me Christ in them Christ in us that is the church so now this church life we have been called to live how do we live the church life

[12:05] Romans chapter 12 I want to submit to you the five aspects of the church life five aspects Romans chapter 12 right from verse 9 Romans 12 verse 9 and 10 says that let love be without hypocrisy I told you the other time on Wednesday that the Greek word translated hypocrisy is anupokritos and anupokritos is like let it be not fake let it be genuine if you are loving let it be genuine okay when you love it says that let love be without hypocrisy abhor what is evil anything that's the church life anything that looks evil abhor it but let me just be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love in honor preferring one another yeah in honor preferring one another so now the first first aspect of the church life is one the is towards others towards others okay so we have the church life is towards others the second

[13:34] I will explain it all the second one is towards God the second one is towards ourselves sorry the third one towards ourselves fourth one towards the persecutors and enemies and the fifth one towards people in general all men in general so if you are a church woman a church man or a Christian for that matter which many of you understand and appreciate it better if you are a Christian then first of all you have a responsibility towards others other Christians so a Christian who can relate to other Christians is a questionable Christian answer me hmm hmm hey hmm this church thing I go I don't like anybody these people they are all hypocrites and you are the biggest one talking if you have been forgiving your sins then you appreciate the value of accepting others because in the first place

[14:40] God didn't have any business accepting you I mean if you look at yourself and look at the things you've done in the past even people are sitting here right now the kind of thoughts that have been going through your mind if people find out what you are thinking hey in church at least wait after you leave church why are you thinking like that about that lady why are you thinking about that brother why are you thinking about that brother about that food so we are very interesting creatures human beings so then if God should relate to us based on who we are we will not have any chance so I always tell church people stop pointing fingers at people why do you think that's for you it's okay for you to be in church but this person ah hey leave them to God and concentrate on yourself because I think there's a few mess around you it doesn't sound nice at all isn't it but it sounds so true so stop focusing on others and thinking

[15:48] God shouldn't listen to others thinking God shouldn't bless this person the way he's blessing him thinking that God look at this I mean I even fast better than this one God I think I deserve a better husband I deserve a better wife because you see somebody's wife you think you should have her you see that tells us who you are so first of all is relationship towards others or towards others so the church life has everything to do with how we treat other believers that's where it starts from because the church life is a community life it's a corporate life do you know one thing I discovered about God very interesting God doesn't work with many doesn't is not interested in collecting many individuals he's interested in working with one person another one one one man all of us are one have you thought about this why didn't he create many Adams think about it

[16:52] I mean God could have done that it's very easy look at the animals he just created them they were there they were just coming so God could have even Eve he could have said okay Adam Eve come he could have created Adam and Eve or could have created a few of them first family so he created Adam and Eve he created some nice other daughters and nice other sons create all of them together then boom then it starts no but he created one that's how God works he created one man and then when that one man needed another person because you see actually listen God did not create Adam to be by himself he created Adam for a relationship because God is a community even in himself God I've said it before God is the self-contained community three in one God the father God the son God the Holy Spirit because God believes in community God is a family God he calls himself father family terminology please let me digress to say this if you have the privilege of having children or being married please don't be in a hurry to leave that man or in a hurry to leave that woman or don't be in a hurry to leave that children because God has family on his mind

[18:14] God blesses families so when you are doing something that is going to pull family down and expecting God to bless you anyway it's going to be a problem I'm tired I can't handle this woman again I'm tired the children will manage it I love them it's not just about that commitment to their future and their family blessing and the legacy of heaven over the family means that some of us need to pay extreme prices to keep family going somebody say family God thinks about family why did he say that honor your mother and your father so it will be well with you think about it mother and father family terminology God is a family God he describes himself God the father God the son he's a family God so anyone who trivializes family is trivializing something that is at the heart of God that is why he has to even call the church a family it's serious so brothers and sisters those of us who are not yet married don't be in a hurry to grab someone because once you start family you get God's attention and if you break family you get God's attention in a different way right right does that make sense so that's why don't jump to start making family with somebody because you just love his body or like her body like the way she dresses that's not what life is about is it true and so

[19:44] God is a family minded God let's all say that together one more time please brothers and sisters let us speak out speak up and possibly use our votes anything that marginalizes family is destroying our community and our society some people can't clap but that's fine because I can understand no don't let us break down family don't let us be quick to take the children from their parents to take I'm not saying that we shouldn't do what protects people and helps and keeps people's safety at heart but I'm saying that let us be careful we don't break families let us be careful we don't replace anything we don't replace family values with some socialist ideologies because it will come back to bite us it's like shooting ourselves in the feet that's why we celebrate the big dedication we celebrate families coming together these things are important we will stand by you to make your marriage work we will stand by you to make your family work your boys need you to be together your girls need you to be together it's nice mom dad let's go it's nice sometimes situations don't always turn out like that as you grow in life you realize that because some people are dangerous but what I'm trying to say is we have to fight as much as we can to make sure the family unit is up is upheld because it's very important when you do that it gives better position for the society to move on so as I said in the scriptures in

[21:46] Romans chapter 12 verse 9 it said love so you realize that one aspect of the church life is towards others verse 9 talks about how let love be without hypocrisy hate what is evil think what is good be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love in honor preferring in honor giving preference to one another in honor that's church for you have you noticed how I've been in several conferences where church service may close or the conference may close and cars are driving out or you know and then someone is just crossing you and people are even struggling people are coming for church and they are fighting over car back Bible says in honor preferring others that one is not part of this I break through gospel at all why should I prefer someone you fight with someone for a seat why have you come to sit on my seat this is my seat because they've written my name on it this is my seat in honor doing what giving preference to one another in Philippians chapter 2 verse 3 says something similar

[23:03] Philippians chapter 2 verse 3 it says something similar it says let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit but in loneliness of man let each esteem others better than himself that is the church life so the way we relate to people why would you be a Christian in a church and a Christian in Christ and you are fighting with another Christian first aspect of the church life is towards others say towards others towards other believers in particular towards other Christians brothers and sisters let's be sympathetic towards one another someone will step on your toe yes but let's be sympathetic that's the Christian gospel the church life it's very important so say towards others and the second one is towards God in the verse 11 look at verse 11 in verse 11 of Romans chapter 12 it said not lagging in diligence fervent in spirit serving God let's all say that together fervent in spirit serving God one more time fervent in spirit serving God

[24:20] I wanted you to say I wanted to notice those who are not serving God fervently let's say it again let me check let's say fervent in spirit serving God fervent in spirit burning in the spirit keep your spiritual temperature up it's the Christian life you can't live a Christian when people say I can't I can't be bonded they serve they go and there are people who are in church but they don't do anything and you are growing you don't do anything when you are absent no one notices your absence you can go for three weeks losing weight no one but there are some people they are so useful if they miss words everybody will be looking for them that tells the value if if your absence in the community of believers is not noticed I think it's a problem you are not fervent in spirit enough we must belong because when you are when you belong to a house and you are not there people must notice that you are not there or it's 3pm and you have not come out of your room people must notice that you have not come out of your room fervent in spirit in our

[25:42] Christian work it is incumbent on us to do anything that lies within our power to charge ourselves find your flame find your passion for God find your passion for God find your passion for God it pays to be passionate about God and not sleep in church find your passion for God find your passion for God find your passion for God Pastor David I hear people say that God knows my heart it's just in the heart so it doesn't matter one day I know I will do something or one day I know I will serve God more one day I know I will be regular one day I know please today is the tomorrow you were talking about yesterday today is the day find your passion for God so he said fervent in spirit is the church life watch this that means that we have been called to love one another we have been called to love

[26:48] God and be on fire for God when you are on fire for God demons find it difficult to harass you which is no problem when you are going to bed you when you are labored you can scream that's the Christian life when you are fervent in God no demon can take you it's you yourself how can a Christian be afraid of demons think about it afraid of demons how you don't understand where you are you don't understand your placement in God Bible Bible says that we are seated in heavenly places far above principalities and powers Ephesians chapter 1 verse 20 that was he lifted him far above principalities Ephesians chapter 2 verse 6 said we are seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus we are seated with Christ Jesus so if

[27:48] Jesus is far above principalities and powers verse 19 and 20 far above principalities and powers and in verse 2 chapter 2 verse 6 of Ephesians said that we are seated together with Christ Jesus in heavenly then we are far above principalities and powers he says that for we wrestle not against flesh and blood put on the whole armor of God that you haven't done all things be able to stand the devil is not a problem which is at the least should be the least of your problem which is they are the cheapest the least of demonic powers so they should be the least of your problem they should see you and run away they should see you instead of you we are afraid of what but when you are the problem is many people when you are fervent two things first of all who is teaching you it's so important you are as good as your teacher if you are not taught what God's word is saying your spiritual destiny will always be suffering because the devil likes that you must know what the documents are saying find out the terms of your engagement from the scriptures that's one so you must be taught and then two you must be on fire because if you know everything

[29:20] Bible is saying and your spiritual life is on fire you are not you you try and be like the sons of skiva in the name of Jesus we cast you out we cast you out by the Jesus who poor preaches and he says hey Jesus I know I admit that he's powerful Paul I know the God is fervent in the spirit by you who are you you know what I've discovered don't this is a good one don't miss this one listen to this don't be so much tense or trying to not to fall into temptation be on fire and you fall into temptation you want to avoid falling to temptation stop trying to stop falling to temptation because most of the time it's not successful keep your fire burning that's why you have to be in church be in prayer meetings be in

[30:22] Bible studies find yourself in a place where your fire can be activated it's easier when you are on fire to deal with all the cold stuff but if your oil has congealed or coagulated and has become like butter you know when you go to the breakfast English breakfast or the hotel some of the butter because it's hard in the fridge you're trying to put on the bread and the bread is suffering the butter is hard some people's anointing is like that it's hard it has congealed so you need some Holy Ghost heat you have to fan into flame second Timothy chapter one verse six it said that stay up stay up the gift you have to do the staring not the Holy Ghost fan into flame your fire fan it up stir it up stir it up stir it up sister don't just look at me like that but stir your fire so your love towards

[31:29] God or is towards God number three I'll have to just end now number three towards others no no first one towards oh sorry towards ourselves towards yourself that's why I took time to teach on identity in Christ your attitude the way you understand who you are your attitude towards yourself and he said don't be lazy laziness spoils a lot of potentials and opportunities how many of us have discovered that by now some haven't discovered don't worry as you grow you'll find out laziness spoils a lot of potentials that's in verse 12 but I don't want to elaborate on that because of time because of time and then verse in the verse 14 17 to 21 talks about towards the persecutors and our enemies when you are a Christian the church life it shows you how to live your life towards your enemies bless verse 14 says bless those who persecute you bless and do not curse did you see that

[32:39] Romans 12 14 bless those who persecute you bless and do not curse verse 17 verse 17 says that repay no one evil for evil have regard for good things in the sight of all men if it is possible as much as it depends on you live peaceable peaceable with all men live peaceable with all men beloved do not avenge yourselves but but rather give place to wrath for it is written vengeance is mine I will repay says the Lord alright therefore if your enemy is hungry what should you do feed him hide the food Christian life Christian life church life therefore if your enemy is hungry feed him if he's thirsty give if you know he's thirsty okay it's different he's not thirsty and you're trying to go and give him water and things like that's different if you know someone is genuinely in need and it's in your power to help don't say this one is not

[33:54] I don't like him so I won't help him do it that's Christianity that's the church life feed him give him to drink for in so doing what happens whether you are heaping coals of fire on his head can you imagine someone has been gossiping about you has fought you and one day it's raining so bad and no no all the buses are not working properly and it's in a hurry to go somewhere you are driving this your nice car and then you see I give the person a ride they will be sitting in their car but feel very uncomfortable and you are just cool you are loving them so do good to those who hurt you alright that's Christian message and then I like the verse 21 so much let's all read the verse 21 together I want you to read it out loud let's go but overcome evil let's again please loud can we have the ladies read it ladies louder please let's go man okay all of us together do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good how do you overcome evil how do you overcome evil how do you overcome evil someone is doing you evil don't do evil back overcome evil with good who says who says no people don't have to take themselves no Bible says are you a believer that's what the word

[35:31] God says oh but I don't believe in the word of God at this point that's why you miss God do not overcome do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good and then finally towards in general before all men your attitude the aspect it relates to all men the verse 17 let's look at verse 17 again in the verse 17 of Romans chapter 12 repair no evil for evil have regard for good things in the sight of how many people in the sight of all men and as you do that I see God blessing you when you do that you give credibility to your dancing in church you give credibility to your praying and fasting and everything begins to fall in perspective because then you engage heaven because you are living the church life and God is committed to the church not to anybody all things work together for good to those who love the Romans chapter 8 verse 28 all things work together for good to those who are called of the Lord who love God and are called according to his purpose so your love for him first and then his purpose not our purpose

[36:50]  I speak a blessing over your life I speak that God will empower you the grace of God will be strong on us to live the Christian life in all its aspects in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ every weakness in our body the Bible says that my strength is made perfect in weakness we tap into the grace of God that gives us strength that makes God strong where we know we are weak in the name of Jesus just begin to pray and say God strengthen me to walk with you just pray just pray that prayer we thank God for using his servant Reverend Dr. David Entry to share this awesome word if this message has blessed you in any way please spread the word by sharing it and send us an email to amen at caris.org remember to stay connected with us on Facebook Instagram YouTube and Twitter for regular updates on what God is doing here at Caris Ministries stay blessed