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[0:00] Thanks for checking in on this podcast. You are about to hear an inspirational teaching from Caris Ministries. If God has used this ministry to bless you in any way, please take a moment and write to us at amen at caris.org.

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[0:33] Read that last question. I'm quite interested in that question. It's interesting. Please. On the tattoo. Yes. Yeah. Please, could we have some clarification on what the Bible teaches about tattoos?

[0:45] Because some people are using Revelations 19, 13 to 16 to suggest Jesus had a tattoo and therefore the Bible endorses it.

[0:57] Alright, Revelations chapter 19 verse 13 says that he was clothed with a white robe dipped in blood and his name is called the Word of God. Talking about Jesus.

[1:08] Verse 14 says that the armies in heaven clothed with fine linen, white and clean. Followed him on white horses. Verse 15.

[1:19] Now out of his mouth goes a sharp sword. Goes a sharp sword. That with it he shall strike the nations and he himself will rule them with a rod of iron.

[1:30] He himself treads the winepress and the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. Then the 16, the verse 16 says that.

[1:41] And he has on his robe and on his tie a name written. That's all. So you say, okay, see, Jesus himself has tattoo.

[1:52] So it's good to have tattoo. Tattoo is not anything spiritual. So if this is all the scripture you can stand on to say tattoo is necessary, then I think the scripture say by the map of two or three witnesses.

[2:09] You need another witness to. Now, so what do we say about tattoo? The Bible has not said much about tattoo. And so I don't think I've got much to say about tattoo. Do you need it?

[2:22] It's up to you. It's not my skin. It's your skin. Is it decent? Check all the decent people that we know in our times.

[2:34] Where they go. What they do. Just check. If you sit around President Bush, Obama, Prime Minister on his face, his neck at there. Then maybe it's acceptable in the society.

[2:45] But if it's not acceptable in the society, if you're going for a job interview and you have all these tattoos around here in the city, it's likely that they may have an opinion about you which may not be healthy. Okay, so what I'm trying to say is that sometimes we just have to be reasonable to fit in the society we live in.

[3:01] In Saudi Arabia, they wear Magzi. The men. In UK, our men don't wear Magzi. I think it's just, you have to just maintain a good testimony. Okay. I don't have a tattoo.

[3:12] Some of you have got it. It doesn't make you bad. It doesn't make you sinful. If you can't clean it and you want to, fine. If you can't clean it, you got it. No one got it for you. So just keep it like that until Jesus comes.

[3:24] It does not have anything to do with your Christian work. It's not got anything to do. So let's not find some ways of trying to justify. Okay, Bible says. For what?

[3:34] What are we looking for? You understand that? If you want that, you go for it. Make sure that it helps you in your life. But I can't tell you because you have a tattoo, you are not a Christian. That's so pediatric and trivial.

[3:49] Yeah, because you got a tattoo, you are not a Christian. Because you got green hair. You are not a Christian. What's that? Where's that exterior coming from? Christianity has got nothing to do with that. It has everything to do with faith in your heart.

[4:01] Someone may have tattoo all over and yet it's faith. It's alive. And you don't have any tattoo. Your skin is as clean as a baby and you are as unbelieving as anything.

[4:12] So it has not got anything to do with the exterior. All right. So did I answer that question? Let's go to the next. Question two. Where in the Bible did Jesus mention that he's going to die for mankind?

[4:26] I'm not sure who asked this question. But what came to my mind first when I read this question was I was thinking maybe the person meant the mankind. It's a bit. The person was focusing on mankind.

[4:37] Either in a philosophical way. But if a person means mankind as humanity or there are too many scriptures in the Bible that for someone to ask where did.

[4:48] Then later on thinking about it, maybe the person, the question, read the question again. Let's hear it. It's a Facebook question. Okay. And it says where in the Bible did Jesus mention that he is going to die?

[4:58] Okay. So now the focus there possibly is Jesus saying, not the Bible saying or someone saying, but Jesus mentioning that he is going to die. There are quite a few places. Now if you, I initially thought where the person was trying to say that where did Jesus say or where does the Bible say Jesus died for mankind?

[5:17] Then that one, there are too many. For God so loved the word that he gave his only because, but it doesn't mean he died. Jesus came, he just came to die. All right. That's what the Bible says. Or Romans chapter five verse eight, which says that for God demonstrated his love towards us in this way, that whilst we were yet sinners, Christ did what?

[5:34] Christ died. He died for us. In first Corinthians chapter 15 verse three, it talks about how the gospel, this is the gospel. For I deliver unto you first, what was the gospel? That Christ died for our sins according to the gospel.

[5:46] All right. So when you talk about Christ dying for humanity, substitutionary death, it's all over the scriptures in the New Testament and even in the Old Testament. But here, maybe the person is saying that the question is saying, the focus of the question is, where in the Bible did Christ say?

[6:02] All right. So maybe Christ himself saying, well, Jesus said, unless a corn of wheat falls to the ground and dies, he abides alone. And he said he was going to Jerusalem to go and die.

[6:14] And Peter took him and began to rebuke him in Matthew chapter 16. You know, Peter, Jesus said he's going to Jerusalem. There will be, the son of man will be delivered into the hands of people and they will crucify him.

[6:25] And Peter, the Bible said Peter started rebuking him in Matthew chapter 16 from verse 20 down, 23 there somewhere. Peter started rebuking him that he can't go and die. And Jesus said that, get behind me, Satan.

[6:36] All right. Now, here, the Bible says that he said he was going and he will be delivered unto death. But from the question, I'm not sure what the person meant.

[6:46] The person was trying to, it was a person trying to find out, is it that Jesus really, where does the Bible say Jesus died for men? If that's it, then I've showed that. But if the person actually meant that, where in the Bible did Jesus say he was going to die, then he said a sort of corner which falls to the ground and dies.

[7:04] So he was showing all. But if the question meant that, where did Jesus himself? So sometimes, the question may read that, but you need to be just a bit philosophical to not rush and answer the question.

[7:17] Maybe the strength of the question is not all the other things I've said, but Jesus himself saying I'm dying for mankind. Do you understand? Maybe that's the strength of the question. And Jesus said that he's going to die for mankind.

[7:31] I think I wrote a few scriptures down. Yeah. Look at Matthew chapter 20, verse 28. Let's look at it on the screen. It says that just as the son of man did not come to be saved, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for you.

[7:54] Jesus is the one who's talking now. How many of you have got red letter edition? Is it in red? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. So that's Jesus talking. Okay. Mark chapter 10, verse 45.

[8:06] Jesus talking. The same thing. Mark 10, verse 45. Jesus said that the son of man came to give his life a ransom for many. Right. So he's all the fact that when he was saying that he came to die, he was going to die.

[8:20] He said he came to die. He came to die. Now we are seeing that he came to die. So he will give his life as a ransom for many. So this answers the question, where did Jesus himself say?

[8:33] This is why Jesus himself said it. Does that make sense? Yes. This is why Jesus himself said his death is to give himself as a ransom for many. Right. And I think the same thing, the ransom thing talks in 1 Timothy 2, verse 6 or so.

[8:50] It talks about the same thing. But he gave himself, 1 Timothy 2, verse 4. It says, verse 5. Let's go to verse 5. For there is one God. Let's not read. I like the scriptures so much.

[9:01] So much. Let's not read. Let's go. For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. Interesting. It's easy. The man Christ Jesus. He is Christ Jesus.

[9:12] He is there. Sitted there. But he is still man. There is man in heaven. Amen. Hallelujah. I love that. He came. When he came. Before he came, he was fully God. Not a part of.

[9:22] No man. But he had to bring God into man. And not just that. And took man into God. So at the moment, there is man seated among the triune God.

[9:33] There is man in heaven. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. That is why the Bible says that he is able to intercede on our behalf. Because he has been where we. He walked where I walked. He stood where I stood.

[9:45] I love to talk about these things. You know, there is a place in Hebrews. I think Hebrews chapter 2. Where it talks about. Verse 17. He had to be made like his brethren. Brothers. That he might be a merciful and a faithful high priest in things pertaining to God.

[10:00] To make propitiation for the sins of the people. He had to be like us. So that he can represent us. Hallelujah. Anyway. So he brought God into man.

[10:12] And then took man into God. First Timothy chapter 2 verse 6. We didn't finish reading. We just read verse 5. And then verse 6 is that. Who. Talking about Jesus Christ. Who gave himself what?

[10:24] Ransom. Ransom. So does this tie to Mark 10. 25. When he said the son of Mark came to give himself. Ransom. So he didn't say he's coming to save. He's talking about how he died.

[10:36] Because what we read from first Timothy. Is pointing to the fact that. He is a mediator. And Hebrews shows how he became a mediator. By dying and going to heaven. And then sitting at the right hand of God.

[10:48] For us. Okay. And so when he says that he gave himself. To be ransom. For ransom. Ransom. It's not like. Okay. Because I want to say. The Ransom did not come to be saved. But he came to save. All right.

[10:59] So that's why he gave. So the ransom. He's talking about. It's just to. It's about service. And he empties himself of all pride. So he can't just. No. He gave himself. Ransom for all.

[11:10] He's talking about. Gave his life. He died. So that's why he died. There are other. One or two other scriptures. We can show where Jesus himself. Said. He came to.

[11:22] Die for all. But at least. This should suffice. Because we have other ones to God. Does that make sense? Yes. If you have a question. In relating to any of the things. I say. Just indicate by your hand. And we will see. If we will be able to take it.

[11:34] How come. People who are not Christians. Who do all the wrong things. Tend to prosper. More than. The children of God. That's an issue.

[11:48] I stand to differ. There are so many people. Who are struggling. More than you. But life. Men are in.

[12:00] Sizes. And life is in faces. Okay. So. Today you may not be driving. It doesn't mean. The unbeliever. You know who is driving.

[12:11] Is better than you. Maybe when he started. His job. You were still in secondary school. Yes. So. I mean.

[12:22] You can't say that. Okay. Why is it that. I'm a believer. I'm not married. And someone is an unbeliever. He's married. And so. It seems. This life. That seems to be going on. Better than.

[12:33] You can't generally. Conclude. That unbelievers. Live better lives. So long as prosperity. Than believers. It's not true. Because there are believers. Who are fabulously wealthy.

[12:43] And are doing well. At my stage. Amongst my colleagues. Because I've been serving God well. I am doing well. Amen. I'm. I'm. I don't.

[12:54] I don't. I don't. Struggle to find food to eat. Yeah. Do you understand what I'm saying? I don't struggle to find. There are people here. Who own their house. And there are.

[13:05] Over. Millions of unbelievers. Who don't even. Have money to pay their own rent. The government has to pay. For them. So how then. Do you say that. Believers. Unbelievers. Do better than believers.

[13:16] All right. Now. I know. I understand. This question. Sometimes. It looks like. Unbelievers. Seem to prosper. Easily. Because sometimes. Their prosperity.

[13:27] Or what they are doing. Doesn't have boundaries. They can kill. To get. But you can't kill. To get. And so. Someone. Your next door neighbor. Is doing drugs.

[13:37] And it's bought all these cars. And you're not doing drugs. And your old car. Is breaking down. Now you conclude. That God is blessing. Or that they are prospering. No. That's not prosperity. That's not prosperity.

[13:50] All right. Or you can put it this way. Psalm 73. Talks about how. I think from verse one. Many people. Tend to think. That believers struggle. But believers don't struggle. Just that. It looks like.

[14:00] There are more people. Let me produce this. Like more poor people. In church. Than outside. It's because. Bible says that. God. Chooses the poor. To confine them.

[14:10] So some of us. If. You too. Maybe. If you had all the money. You didn't even come to Wednesday service. Yeah. Some people.

[14:21] If they. If they. If they. If they even buy a better car. If they begin to earn. Six figure salary. They won't be coming to church. That's why.

[14:32] I thank God. For those of you here. No. No. Wait. I explained it. Do you know why? Do you know why? Because it's not a miracle service. Yeah. I had a meeting. With a pastor friend.

[14:43] And I was telling him. You should stay away. You should be careful. You stay away from. You know. As a man of God. Let God use you. To bless people. Supernaturally. Break. Yokes. And supernatural power of God. Must be manifested.

[14:54] Through your life. As a man of God. However. What keeps people going. Is the word of God. You teach them. Right. And I told him. When we started in those days. Sometimes. A few of us. I said. Okay. Let's rise to pray.

[15:04] Oh no. As soon as I leave. I raise my voice. There she starts. There are certain people. Whose speciality. Is just to gyrate. And they think.

[15:15] That's what makes them. Watch this. What makes them spiritual. Alright. And so. Sometimes. It makes them look spiritual. Any later today. No. I am not done playing it. Because. It's good. God ministers to us differently.

[15:27] But there are certain people. You look at them. That's odd. And then. As soon as you begin to teach the word. They'll begin to sleep. They are not interested. They are not interested. Unless they don't hear their testimony.

[15:38] A miracle. They'll be going. Alright. And so. Tonight's meeting is just teaching. And people like you have come. That tells me you are serious. I think you should clap for yourself. Yeah.

[15:51] Simpson. Yes. Yeah. So. So. So. It's very important. We should understand. This. That. Sometimes. People. Have challenges.

[16:03] There are a lot of people. Who are running. You don't. Watch this. You don't build a church. Based on. Just. Receive. Receive. Receive. Receive.

[16:14] In the name of Jesus. I cast out demons. Every church you go. Who are majoring on demons. I cast out demons. It's the deliverance. Set you free. That's all they do. You. It's. It's not Christianity. Bible says that.

[16:27] Paul took them. And. Resigned with them. Daily. In the school of Theranos. For two years. Every day. And because of that. The word of God. Multiplied. Grew. And all Asia. All Asia had the word.

[16:39] Praise the Lord. So. The word is important. Okay. But. The word. The word without power. Really. People are suffering. They also need some. Amen. If.

[16:50] If you're struggling. Things are not good. It's like. Every time you are coming to marry. You have a dream. That something is chasing you. And then the. The woman leaves you. Or the man leaves you. Every time. And you can see that there's something spiritual.

[17:01] We need to pray and break that in. That's right. So there must be that dimension. All right. If you just can't wiggle yourself out of debt. And it looks like this thing has taken on a spiritual dimension. We need to deal with that spirit aspect out of it.

[17:14] But then if you still have about five credit cards. And you don't understand why. That unbeliever. Who doesn't have a credit card? Working. Serving. Is doing well. And it. Oh. Then. Then. Then. It's.

[17:25] Yeah. You are. It's just. You know something. When you go to work. And they are interviewed. They don't ask you. Do you cast out demons? Or do you believe. They just employ based on your deliverability. Your ability to deliver.

[17:37] Many people have relinquished. The ability to deliver. And substituted it. With the ability to fast and pray. And so because I fast and pray. God will supply my needs.

[17:49] How? I don't know how to do it. But see. That is why. Many people. That's what we have to be teaching. You know. For some time. I've been talking about. Why should you be thinking that. You will be living in council flat.

[17:59] The rest of your life. Do you understand that. There's nothing wrong with that. But where we are going. You must begin to say. No. It's not my portion. I'm coming out of this. I'm going to buy houses.

[18:10] Do you understand. So once you begin to think like that. Begin to work towards it. You will see that the blessing of Abraham. Is finding an expression in your life. Amen. But if you see one. Instinct in one place. I'm praying.

[18:21] I'm tithing. And God. Will open the windows of heaven. Something will happen. You are disturbing all of us. Our prayers. What. But a joke.

[18:31] Didn't you come from work. What time did you leave the house. Half seven. And he hasn't been to the house. He's already here. Let me finish.

[18:42] And every day he's been going to work. No wonder. At least he's able to afford a suit. You see. So instead of praying. That God give me money. Pray that God give me a job.

[18:53] One. Now. Give me a better job. Two. Give me ideas to own my own company. Three. Give me grace to expand my company. This is what we should be praying for. Yeah. Instead of praying that God give me money.

[19:04] Give me money. Give me money. I need money. Money does not respond to prayer. Right. Hmm. So. I stand to identify.

[19:15] Unbelievers don't do better. I know people. I was with one great man of God. Last. Three days ago. We said that we are. We have a chat. He's wealthy. He's wealthy.

[19:26] And he's so clean. He doesn't even understand why people. You still even sin in church. Christian is still sinning. That's. I mean. That's how raw he is. And the guy is blessed.

[19:37] Most of us are aware of Bishop David Oedipo. He has about four or three jets. He has. He's wealthy. He started from nowhere. God is a blesser. That's right.

[19:48] God is a blesser. And that's where I'm going. Amen. Glory. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I always say. He says I'm 73 best.

[19:58] Behold. These are the ungodly. Who are always at ease. They increase in riches. You see. Surely. I have cleansed my heart in vain.

[20:09] Oh. And washed my hands in innocence. For all day long. I have been plagued. And chastened. Every morning. If I had said. I will speak thus.

[20:20] Behold. I would have been untrue. To the generation of your children. When I thought. How to understand this. It was too painful for me. Until I went.

[20:31] Into the sanctuary of God. And saw the end of the unbelief. Then I understood their end. You see. The Bible said. Don't envy anyone. Who increases wealth.

[20:42] Through unjust means. Never envy them. All right. So then. The fact that someone. Is increasing. In wealth. And doesn't have. Have disregard. To the law of God.

[20:53] Doesn't. Uses all kinds of means. To increase his wealth. Does not mean. He's better off. The future is not peace. He said. Mark the righteous man. His end is peace.

[21:04] So. There's peace. In righteousness. Right. But the problem is. That many charismatic believers. Pentecostal believers. Have shirked. And abdicated. The responsibility.

[21:15] Of hard work. To God. God do it. Me. I'll pray. And God will bless me. Receive it. Amen. Receive it. Amen. I'm going. I'll become a millionaire. And I'm wondering. How are you going to be a millionaire?

[21:27] Even let's assume. You are not supposed to be staking lotto. Let's assume. For some reason. They went to. Do it. And then you get some millions. Or millions. It's not likely. You'll be able to sustain the money.

[21:38] It will leave your hands. Yeah. So. Life is in. Faces. Did I say that? Yeah. And men are in sizes. Don't compare your size. To someone else. Like.

[21:48] My son. Ebenezer. Just got married. A year ago. And. I was where he is now. About nine years ago. That's right. I remember one day.

[22:00] I went to one of my lectures. About years ago. I went to her house. Very lovely woman of God. I visited her in the house. An elderly woman. She's lived in this country. I think. Lived in years.

[22:11] Was in education. Top. Top. Top. And then after several years. Left it. And went to ministry. Full time. And was teaching in Bible school. That's how I got to know her. She said. How she has just redone. Nice.

[22:21] The kitchen was. State of the art. Lovely. The prayer room. To me. Lovely. Nice. And then I said. Wow. You young man.

[22:32] You just started the journey. You are standing there. Thinking. You see how. Life is. Now. I'm not saying. We shouldn't aim high. But. Don't compare yourself to people. Whether believers.

[22:43] Or unbelievers. Do not compare. Yourself to people. Run. Your own. Race. And fight. Your own fight. Because everyone. As I feel it comes. Because everyone.

[22:54] Has got. His own front. Stand here. Face there. I've taught you this before. Stand here. Face there. Who is behind who? So long as I'm concerned. He's behind me. So long as he's concerned.

[23:06] Why? Because I've got my own front. He's got his own front. I can't compare myself to him. Yeah. Stop complaining yourself to somebody. Because you've got your own track. Hallelujah. Amen.

[23:17] The Lord bless you. Amen. Unbelievers don't prosper more than believers. If we level the playing field. And we all do the same thing. They are doing it with that prayer. I'm doing it with prayer. I guarantee you.

[23:28] I'll go farther than them. Yes. Because there's God involved with what I'm doing. Hallelujah. That is why you have to secure God stronger. Because when God is on your side. No limits. Somebody should have no limits.

[23:38] No limits. Believe it. And work with God. Hallelujah. Wow. No unbeliever can have a better life than me. Never. Never.

[23:49] No unbeliever. In material things. Never. Just that I won't focus on material things. By material. In quality of life. In quality of health. In family life. Never.

[24:01] Never. I've never seen the righteous forsaken. No, it's faithless. It's a bad for bread. The devil is a liar. Hallelujah. All right. Let's move on to the next question. Did you get it? The voice of God.

[24:12] Hey. Okay. God talks to us all the time. But the devil also talks to us. How can you tell when God is talking to you?

[24:23] And how can you tell when the devil is talking to you? That's a kind of interesting question. When the devil is talking to you, we know. No. No.

[24:35] No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. But particularly when you are born again, you will know. In John 10 verse 27, that's one scripture that I just love.

[24:48] It hits the nail right on the head. Let's all read it together. Let's go. And now to be perfect by God, and I tell him, and I tell him why. Amen. So when God is speaking to you, you will know.

[25:01] God will not come and speak Latin when all the language you understand is English. All right. That is on a brother note.

[25:12] However, anything, what does the question say? God talks to us all the time.

[25:27] God talks to us all the time, but the devil also talks to us. So how can you tell when God is talking to you and how can you tell when the devil is talking to you? Everything God tells you is always in line with his word.

[25:42] Everything God tells you does not contract it to what he has told you already. And everything God tells us is not against moral norms.

[25:59] God will not tell you to cut off your child's fingers. God will not tell you to take a cane and metal rods and be beating a little child.

[26:11] He said the Lord was telling me. God is immoral. God will never tell you that go and curse your mother or go and curse your father.

[26:23] God will not tell you to poison somebody. It's immoral. Everything God tells you to do is never immoral. Okay. Okay. So maybe, okay, how would I know God?

[26:33] Because the word does not say that. If it is not against morality and humanity, then it can't be against God. Okay. I didn't say legal.

[26:45] Most things that are illegal are usually immoral. Most things, not all things. not all things, especially in these days.

[26:59] So the fact that the government can legalize something does not make it moral. The fact that police cannot arrest you based on what you have done does not make it moral.

[27:14] So something may be legit or legal, but it may be immoral. But you can't be arrested. You can't be arrested for the thoughts in your mind, the wicked thoughts that come in your mind that you are thinking about someone.

[27:27] You can't be arrested for that. But God doesn't sanction that. So all these things come from the devil. The easiest way to find out when the devil is talking is the devil does never say anything that endorses what God is saying.

[27:42] Sometimes he'll say it looks like it, but at the base of it, if you examine it very carefully, you can realize that, no, this is not of God. Now, how about situations like, okay, I'm thinking of going to Manchester.

[27:55] There's a conference, one in Manchester, one in Glasgow, but I'm not sure, God, which one should I go? How would you know God wants me to go to Glasgow? Or is the devil who is trying to make me to go? Why would the devil make you go to Glasgow?

[28:08] All right? And why would God make you, why would God want you to go to? So then, now, if you want to know what is in line with what God is telling you, God will let you know.

[28:20] If you are not hearing, watch this, this is very important. If you are not hearing anything from God, all right, I've seen two brothers. I want to marry. He looks cool. He looks hot.

[28:33] And both of them, you know, they are cool, but now, both of them are ready to marry next month. And they want me. Now, what am I going to do? How would I know which one?

[28:44] Just pray about it. Pray about it. Pastor, I've been praying, but I'm not glad that you are not praying properly. Because effective prayer always changes us. When you pray, God speaks to you. Papa, how would I know God, this is the one God is saying I should.

[28:56] First of all, as you begin to pray, follow your heart, okay, and things will begin to pan out because all of them seem to be okay. Sometimes God, if you don't hear God or your heart's beginning to tell you that, I feel uncomfortable about this.

[29:11] Sometimes one of the ways to find out God is not behind something is, the more you pray about it, the more you have this comfort. The more I pray about it, I feel like, no, there's something wrong.

[29:22] I just, or the more I pray about it, I get excited about it. Anytime I don't pray and I listen to some of these friends or some people, I feel I don't want to do it. But the more I pray, it's like God is telling you to sow a seed.

[29:33] I don't know how many of you, when God tells you to do something or bless someone, that new shoe you have bought waiting for Christmas or that, hey, God said, I'll give it to someone.

[29:46] When God is saying, give it to someone, sometimes you don't want to hear it. You think, this is not from God. But the more you pray, the more you get convinced. And the less you pray and the less you look at other things, the less you feel like, oh.

[29:59] But the more you pray, so it's easy. Some of these things, deep inside you, it's called the witness of the spirit. As many as are led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Okay? So you have the witness of the spirit.

[30:10] Now, when the devil is also at play, you feel uncomfortable about some of the things. This guy wants to marry you, but anytime you talk to him, you feel something. You don't know. You can't place your finger on it, but you don't know what, something is wrong.

[30:24] Pray more. And the more you pray, besides all that, also use your H-E-A-D. Use that big thing between your two ears. God gave it to us so that we can just, we don't always have to struggle.

[30:40] For instance, you want to go to Elephant and Castle. And you have to be there in 10 minutes. And you know, verse 171, that way, isn't it? Verse 172, this way.

[30:51] But this one is shorter than that. And you ask, okay, which one should I? Hey, how much time have you got? 10 minutes. So then, why do you want God to lead you? Use your head. Unless, of course, as you use your head, you begin to have a check in your spirit.

[31:04] This looks reasonable, but I feel in my spirit, that shouldn't be the rank. Then you have to pray about it and be sensitive to what your spirit is telling you. So what I tell people is that use your head and don't ignore your spirit.

[31:16] So use your head to make your decisions like a university or a course you want to embark or a house you want to rent or you want to buy. You're not sure which one to do. And how would you know that this house may break down later? Use your head.

[31:27] Let the surveyors do all their job. All right? But after everything has been done, all things look equal, don't ignore your spirit. So just use your head to make your decision and always be praying. If you are not, it's just like Sadnav, when you're on the motorway, if you have to turn left, it will tell you that use the exit.

[31:45] If you have not said anything, why do you have to stick? Should I keep going straight? No, use your head. Keep going. If you are on the wrong track, it will tell you. Signals will be given to you.

[31:56] Especially if you want to hear from God and you want to walk with God. Listen to this. God actually wants to speak to us more than we want to hear him because he is a speaking God. Yes. Hallelujah.

[32:09] Does that answer the question? Yes. I've talked on these things a few times. So I think let's leave that. The bigger questions, you haven't even gotten to it. When you pray for someone who is sick and they get healed through your praying for them, are you allowed to be happy that God is using you?

[32:31] Can you imagine? He said, are you allowed to be happy?

[32:45] Ah. What should even make you happier? What should even make you happier? That God is using you.

[32:56] You shouldn't be happy that God is using me. Unless maybe there's another tone of pride and it's not actually happiness, it's just to add pomposity. Someone said, I think humility is the only virtue that you lose at the very moment you think you have it.

[33:12] Oh, God is using me. Who doesn't like it? You are a Christian and you don't even desire that God will use you. You have a problem. Your heaven's reward will be majorly undermined and at stake.

[33:25] A Christian. And your prayer will not be, God use me. God use me. Oh, God use me. I want to do anything. If you can do anything, if you can use anything, Lord, you can use me. Oh, God.

[33:35] You'll be crying, God use me. That is one of my biggest prayers. I always pray that when I go born again. The biggest thing, if God asks me, David, ask me anything I'll give you, then God, I want you to use me.

[33:47] That should be your overriding. And so then, if that prayer is answered, what if I were you? Oh, man. I will be excited out of this world.

[33:59] That would be the greatest point of excitement than me too. So if God is using you, why shouldn't you rejoice? And once God use me to pray for you and you get healed, you think I'll be happy.

[34:10] I'll go and look for other people more. God, now I see that thing is working. That thing is working. All right, there's nothing wrong to be happy about God use you or God use you. If you can tell other people, not to boast, but tell them, God did this to me.

[34:24] It's God. Hey, me too. I was telling my friend two days ago, a few days ago, when Mandela died and people were texting me, I couldn't be bothered. I wasn't surprised anyway, but then I was telling my friend that I said it in church about two weeks ago that a prominent figure was about to go, a global figure was about to pass away and all that.

[34:46] And now, the people were sending me texts, but I said, at least I thank God because it's, at least it has, it boosts my credibility. Many, many people would not say it. I won't behave as if I'm not.

[34:57] It makes me feel good that at least God, I heard you right. Amen. You didn't realize last Sunday, after saying that, on the back of that, I began to say what God is telling me about to happen.

[35:13] It just gives me more confidence to know that this thing, God, I've seen it several times, but this one is very fresh, so the fresh one is better. There's nothing wrong. And out all that, I still know that it's God's prerogative and glory goes to Jesus.

[35:28] Let's look at the next question. Why is the Bible the word of God and not some other book? That's a very important question. That's the main question of today.

[35:39] And the second one, the other one about Jesus, is it narrow-mindedness for Christians to say that Jesus is the only way. That's what our wealth does.

[35:54] Now, how can you think that Jesus is the only way? Why should you think that? John chapter, we'll come back to the Bible question. I hope I will. John chapter 14, verse 6.

[36:05] This is a scripture that every believer, serious believer, must know. Let's all say, let's all read it together. Some of you are not reading. Let's go.

[36:16] Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except me. One more time, please. Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

[36:28] No one comes to the Father except me. All right. Now, Jesus said this. Now, is it not narrow-mindedness the world say for Christians to say, and actually, it's very inflammatory for Christians to claim that Jesus is the only way.

[36:47] Any other way is wrong. It leads to hell. Narrow-mindedness. Now, why do they say that? Because usually, they say, all religions are equal. Watch this.

[36:58] I'm going to teach something. Anyone who says that all religions are the same is just displaying his gross ignorance. It is logically absurd to say all religions are the same.

[37:17] Think about it. Islam says, Allah is one and his prophet is Mohammed.

[37:32] That's his last and main, major, only prophet. That's what they say. The word of God teaches us that. Jesus is the son of God.

[37:43] He died to save us from our sins. And anyone who doesn't come through Jesus can't go to God. God. How can both be true?

[37:56] Think about that. How can both be true? One must be wrong. Do you get what I'm trying to say?

[38:11] One must be wrong. One must definitely be wrong. I am facing, I'm standing on the road and I'm facing north.

[38:23] And someone is also facing south. and we are told there's a car coming and it's heading south. And you say, no, that car is not coming south.

[38:34] It's heading north. Okay, he said the car is going north and I said the car is going south, heading south.

[38:46] Both of us can't be right. Both of us can't be right. One must definitely be wrong. That is what is called the truth.

[38:57] The truth is one, it's absolute. The truth cannot be relative. They say, it's based on how you're looking at it. Oh, give me a break. Black is black. If you can't see it as black or white is white, if you are seeing red, maybe you are wearing red goggles or something.

[39:14] So you are seeing it as red, but originally, intrinsically, what it is, it's white. Do you know what I'm saying? So the point I'm trying to make is all religions cannot be true.

[39:27] Hello? Hi. And then, secondly, there are so many ways to God, as they ignorantly say. There are so many ways to God, and then they ignorantly add, Jesus is one of the ways.

[39:44] Have you heard that before? So there are so many ways to God, Jesus is a way, not the way. No, the problem that arises with that is, what makes you think Jesus is a way?

[39:59] What makes you credit him with that virtue of being a way? No, if you credit him with that virtue that he's a way, and he is saying, I am the way, then either you are wrong, or he is wrong, and if he's wrong, you can't claim that he is a way.

[40:24] You didn't get it? Jesus said, I'm God. No, you are saying that he's one of the major leaders, very, very genuine and very loyal, and very authentic. And he, this one you are saying is authentic, said, I'm God.

[40:39] Either he is not authentic at all, or he is. And if he's authentic, then he is God. So you either say he's God, or he's not at all.

[40:53] You can't say he's not God, but he's authentic. Because authentic person can say something and you are saying it's wrong. If you're saying that Jesus is a way, and whatever makes you think he's a way, the values, the credits, the integrity that makes you think he's a way, and he a way is telling you that I am actually the way, no other way works, then you must believe him.

[41:21] Now, we don't say, it's not narrow-mindedness to say Jesus is a way, because he said it. We don't say it. He said it. He said, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

[41:37] When you say I am the life, he's talking about deity, the source. No one comes to the Father except by me. And so, the point I'm trying to make here is that it's not narrow-mindedness.

[41:49] Why do you find it impossible that an intelligent person will believe that Jesus is the way? They assume it's not intelligence to believe that someone is the way, because intelligence tells you there are so many other ways.

[42:10] So then, it can't be intelligent to assume one person is the way. But in their intelligence, they say, he is a way, he is not the way.

[42:20] Then, if you are saying that he is a way and he's not the way, and that a way is telling you that I am the way, then your argument or your logic is suffering intellectual hemophilia.

[42:37] he is a way and he is the word of God. Does that make sense? It's interesting.

[42:48] Oh, man. The Bible. Why is the Bible the only book? Why the Bible, the word of God and not another book?

[43:00] Let me mention it to you because time is up. Let me mention it. I think I can't. So why do Christians say that the Bible is the word of God? I have to write some things down here.

[43:12] Are you ready for that? Number one. Because the Bible actually claims that it is the word of God. The Bible's own claims says that it is the word of God.

[43:25] The Bible claims that the word of God, the Bible is the word of God. Okay? Because of time. Number two. The perfect unity of the Bible.

[43:38] In other words, you know the authors, how many authors wrote the Bible? About 40 authors. 40 different authors.

[43:49] Okay? Whose lifespan, whose time of living spanned over 1,400 years to 1,600 years.

[44:02] All right? It's a lot. This century alone is one. And you're talking about 1,400. So you're talking about a millennium ago and more.

[44:17] So 1,400 years ago, somebody wrote something. Wrote something. And then 30 years later or 200 years later, somebody, another person else wrote something.

[44:31] Who never knew this one. They lived on different planets or different continents. They never met different people. Different backgrounds. Fishermen wrote.

[44:42] Physicians wrote. Generals wrote. Prophets wrote. Different, different backgrounds. Poets wrote. Singers wrote. Different people.

[44:54] Different backgrounds. People wrote from the palace. People wrote from the prison. People wrote from the backside of the desert. Different people wrote different things. And all these things over 1,500 years.

[45:08] Bringing them together. The people don't know. Bringing them. And it says one thing. Means one thing. It does not contract it. Ah. 66 different books.

[45:28] Over a long period of time. Over 43 different continents. And three different languages. And yet, it all agrees and speaks one language. Some of the writers.

[45:40] Kings. We have two people. Two of them were kings. Three of them were priests. A doctor. Two fishermen. Two shepherds. A former Pharisee. A statesman.

[45:51] A tax collector. An army general. A military general. A scribe. A cap bearer. Different people. From different backgrounds.

[46:03] They all wrote. Can you imagine? Think about that. Someone begins to write something in Russia. Okay. Wants to write something about religion. In Russia. And another person is writing in China. Someone else is also writing in Africa.

[46:17] Nigeria. Someone else is also writing from Peru. Or Southern America. Or Jamaica. They have never met each other. Different backgrounds.

[46:28] Different educational background. Training. Sociological background. And yet. When they collect all these things. They all say. Not the same thing. But they all don't. It's like.

[46:41] Okay. Let me give you another illustration. Let's say we want to build a statue. Here. Of Mandela. And then. They say. Okay. Bring. Carve some stone from Italy. Italy.

[46:52] Carve stones. Bring some stone from big chalk of rock from Italy. Another person bring a rock from America. Another person bring a rock from Jamaica. Another person bring a rock from Nigeria. Another person bring a rock from Brazil.

[47:03] Another person bring a rock from Russia. And then different. About 10 people bring. Or 40 people bring different, different rock. And when they. They all just brought the rock. Drove it on big cars. Brought it. We are coming to build a big statue of Mandela.

[47:15] They bring it. All the rocks just fit. Without doing anything. They just fit. Exactly. And it builds the. This tells you there must be someone behind it. An architect will show them how to shape it.

[47:30] Huh? And so. The Bibles. As I said earlier on too. The. The. The. The. The. The perfect unity of the Bible. Points to the fact that no. This is the word of God. Number three.

[47:40] Quickly. The reliable. Transmission of the. Scriptures. In other words. The scriptures. Has been. Transmitted from one generation. To the other. And. When you chance.

[47:52] On one. Which was written about. 500 years ago. And you compare it to some. That was written. Just last month. There's no difference. Everything.

[48:04] Is the same. What. Do you understand what I mean? Yeah. What is saying. Because. It's. It's been. It's not been. Adoptrated. Over the years. Because God. Guided it. Yeah. Right. And then.

[48:15] Number four. The historical accuracy. Excavations. Keep finding out that. Oh. That's it. It's true. The Bible has said it long time. They said it never existed. Then later on.

[48:25] Later on. They fall. Oh. So. More discoveries are being made. Which the Bible has already said. Which people are trying to doubt. But they can't find it out. So. What I'm trying to say is.

[48:36] There is nothing said in the Bible. Which any. The best of historians. Can challenge it. And say that. It's not an accurate historical record. Everything.

[48:47] No one. Can prove. Or disprove. The historicity. Of events in the scriptures. Every. Almost every major religion. Says that Jesus Christ.

[48:58] Lived. Every religion points that Jesus lived. Because history shows it. All the historical figures. Like pointeous pilots. You check in the scriptures. Once upon a time.

[49:08] Someone lived called. Pontius Pilate. It's. It's. Historical. Accuracy. It's. Unparalleled. So. Historicity. Tells you that.

[49:20] This thing is not. It's not. Adulterated. And then. Oh. I like this one. Number five. The scientific accuracy. Scientific accuracy. You know that.

[49:31] Years ago. They used to believe that. The earth was flat. They used to believe that the earth was flat. But the Bible has always said. That God sits on the circle of the earth.

[49:43] That's right. They. They. They. They've always believed all kinds of things. After. In fact. Years ago. They used to believe that. A certain number of stars. In the sky.

[49:54] 1,100. 1,500. Stars. In the sky. They. It was a scientist. Concluded. 100 person later. Came to dispute. Found. There. Even more than that. He also concluded.

[50:05] About. 15,000. Something. He also. Concluded. Counted all of them. Then. To Galileo. To Galileo. Galileo. From the telescope.

[50:16] And. Realize that. This. You can't number them. Bible. I said. A long time ago. That you can't number. It's.

[50:27] It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's. It's interesting. How. Science. Keeps discovering. That whatever the Bible said. Is true. There is. I hear there is one scientist.

[50:39] Um. Um. A French scientist. Called. Herbert Spencer. Who said. That. Everything in the world. Or everything in the universe. Fits into one of five categories.

[50:52] And this is scientific. Said everything in the universe. Fits into one of. Five categories. And these are the five categories. Time. Force. Action. Space.

[51:03] Matter. Now it seems I'm going a bit deeper than. I can be appreciated. Five. Okay. Time. Force. Action.

[51:14] Space. Matter. Five. It said everything in the universe. Either fits into time. It must fits into space. Or it must fits into. Force.

[51:24] It must fits into action. Or matter. Bible says. Genesis. Who knows what Genesis 1.1 says. What is beginning? Time.

[51:37] In the beginning was. No. No. No. It was the word. In the beginning. God. So. In the beginning. God. Okay. Force. Created.

[51:49] Action. Created. The heavens. Space. And the earth. Matter. Matter. So. Even that. Beginning of the Bible. The first statement.

[52:01] Tell something. So you see. Watch this. Our faith is not trying to catch up with science. That's right. Science is rather catching up with our faith. Yes. Yes. Yes. In other words. They keep discovering. Recently I heard it was discovered.

[52:14] Something was discovered. In the Middle East. About the. Noah's Ark. Or something. They keep discovering. And when they discover. And discover. In fact.

[52:25] Years ago. Some of you. How many of you have heard about Atlas? It was believed that. The globe. Is held by one. Strong. One called Atlas.

[52:37] Okay. So that's. That's the. The true belief they used to have. Atlas was holding the. Our globe. And then. So then someone. So first the question was. So what is our globe hanging on?

[52:49] And then. They said. Atlas. I can show you in the Bible. Where even the Bible says that. The earth spins. In Job. About 26 or so. The earth spins. Scientists didn't know that.

[53:00] They thought the earth is stationary. And later on. They found out. The Bible has said it already. Right. Now. Atlas. And so they said. So. What is Atlas standing on? To hold. And then. Simon was. Okay.

[53:10] It's standing on a big elephant. All right. Then it's okay. So what is the elephant standing on? Then. Then. So. A lot of snakes. So. People keep. Could it? Meanwhile.

[53:20] The Bible has already said. Later on. They found out. That the earth hangs in space. Bible has already said that. That's right. Who hanged the earth in space? No. No. No. God. So.

[53:31] They should have gone to the scriptures. Yeah. If they found out. Hallelujah. Amen. Hallelujah. There's a lot I can say about that. Let me quickly give you the last. A few ones. One.

[53:43] So. I said. Why is the Bible the word of God? Direct claims. It claims it's the word of God. Number two. The perfect unity of the Bible. In spite of the diversity. It's very united. Number three. The reliable transmission of the scriptures.

[53:55] Number four. Historical accuracy. Number five. Scientific accuracy. Number six. Fulfilled prophecies. Prophecies of the Bible keep getting fulfilled.

[54:07] Prophecies. Prophecies. For prophecies to fulfill. Prophecies are history written in advance. Prophecies. Things that God said. All right. How can you stand here and predict that next hundred years.

[54:23] Who the prime minister of the United Kingdom is going to be in his name. In his height. Can you predict that? No. But before Jesus was born. Yes. He said Nazareth.

[54:34] In Bethlehem. A virgin shall be with child. He predicted his birth. Predicted where he will be born. The scriptures predicted his death. He predicted his environment.

[54:46] How he will die. How he will even say. My father. My God. How have you forsaken me? He predicted how there was darkness on the earth. In his death. He predicted how his friend betrayed him.

[54:57] The Bible predicted almost everything. It was predicted. And this says it fits perfectly in all these predictions. And you think it's probability or chance? No. The prophecies of the scriptures are accurate.

[55:11] What is even happening in our world? Check the scriptures. You will see that there are prophecies already. All the prophecies of the Bible. The fulfillment of its prophecies are outstanding. So the Bible must be true.

[55:23] It's the word of God. Hallelujah. I said it's the word of God. Hallelujah. I said it's the word of God. Yes. Now I'm preaching. You see. The third one. The lost testimony about it.

[55:33] Jesus himself said the Bible is the word of God. Now my eight. The amazing indestructibility. People wanted to destroy the Bible years ago.

[55:44] They are dead. Their homes were used to print the Bibles. And the ethical superiority of the Bible. All the moral codes of the Bible is superior.

[55:55] Something in the Bible that tells you that don't kill your enemies. Don't go after them. Don't bomb them. The ethical morality of the Bible is superior to any other group.

[56:07] And then finally. The supernatural power of the Bible. It works. I said there's power in the word of God. There's power in the word of God.

[56:19] How many of you have read the Bible and you felt something was stuck in you? Something. You read it and something happened. You read it and you felt. Amen. So that's why the Bible is the word of God.

[56:32] Believe it. Read it. Pray it in. And pass it on. God bless you. You didn't get something today. Hallelujah.

[56:44] Praise the Lord. Thank you for listening. For more resources, please visit caris.org. Call us on 0207 740 9960. God bless you.