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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.

[0:15] We are always inspired and blessed to hear how God is blessing people all over the world through what he is doing here at Caris. Also, if you would like to support this ministry financially, you can do so online at caris.org so we can continue making podcasts such as this available free of charge.

[0:41] Father, thank you for the privilege to hear your word. We pray that reveal yourself to us. Teach us the ways of faith. Give us the word of truth that becomes responsible for the level of our faith.

[0:58] As your word is taught, heal the sick. As your word is taught, save the lost. As your word is taught, convict the sinning. As your word is taught, reveal yourself to us. As your word is taught, oh God, give us encounters and let chains be broken.

[1:14] In the name of Jesus, we thank you in Jesus' name. And somebody who believes, shout a living amen. Amen. Shout a better amen.

[1:24] Amen. My faith is working. Tell someone my faith is working. My faith is working. In the book of Matthew chapter 15 verse 8.

[1:40] Matthew chapter 15 verse 8. Thank you, Jesus. Matthew chapter 15 verse 8. A certain woman came to Jesus and was pleading with him to heal his child.

[1:56] So it's from verse 21 particularly. Then so verse 25 says that then she came and worshipped him and said, Lord, help me. Someone say, Lord, help me. Lord, help me. Say, Lord, help me.

[2:06] Lord, help me. Remember that cry of the woman. A woman who was in need, a woman who was desperate, came to Jesus and said, Lord, help me. Someone say, Lord, help me.

[2:18] Lord, help me. But he answered and said, it's not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs. And she said, yes, Lord.

[2:29] Yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their master's table. So, verse 28. Then Jesus answered and said to her, O woman, great is your faith.

[2:45] O woman, great is your faith. Let it be to you as you desire. He said, O woman, great is your faith. Let it be to you as you desire.

[2:57] And her daughter was healed from that very... Why did she come to Jesus? Because when you read from verse 21, her daughter was not well. Verse 21, verse 22. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from the region and cried out to him, saying, have mercy on me, O Lord, son of David.

[3:16] My daughter is severely demon-possessed. And she didn't receive an immediate response. But she didn't give up.

[3:28] She kept pushing. She kept pushing. Many people think that, oh, if God will help me, he will help you. I'm sorry. If God will help you, you got to push for it.

[3:40] Oh, if God will do it. Keesara, Keesara, whatever happens, happens. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. If you say whatever happens, happens, then you'll be a victim of life. I heard Papa say something recently. He said that if you don't fight in life, you'll die a foolish death.

[3:56] If you don't learn to fight in life, you'll die a foolish death. Survival of the fittest, yes. Life is unfair, yes.

[4:08] But you can choose to make sure life goes the way you want it to go. The woman came to Jesus, asked for help. Jesus didn't mind her. Not because he didn't care.

[4:19] He cared. He cared. But there were a few circumstances, situations. And so the woman didn't give up. She kept pushing. She kept pushing. So the disciples came to Jesus and said, you know, let's get rid of this woman because she's just disturbing us.

[4:33] But he answered her, not a word. And the disciples came and urged him, saying, send her away, for she cries out after us. This woman is making, everywhere we go, can you imagine you are going to town and someone is walking behind you and crying, hey, hey, hey.

[4:51] In fact, you wouldn't like it. Would you? You go to town and you go to a shopping center and even if it's your child crying after you, you have to send that child home. You wouldn't like that.

[5:01] And let alone a stranger. And a woman who is in a problem, a severe problem, you must know she won't cry a gentle cry. Because she was crying and so the disciples said, sir, can you get this woman to get up?

[5:17] Just leave us alone. She's disturbing us. Hallelujah. There are some people, any little thing at all keeps them away from church. Hmm.

[5:30] Hmm. You're not serious. If anything at all keeps you away from work, you won't have a good job. Hmm. Or ask.

[5:41] Go and ask the prime minister. Go and ask those who do their top jobs. There are a thousand and one reasons why you shouldn't go to work. But you have to go.

[5:53] Hmm. There may be a thousand and one reasons why you shouldn't come to church. But sister, you got to sort yourself out because at the end of the day, the impression will be on you.

[6:06] Yes. Not the church. shout hallelujah hallelujah I'm teaching on faith but every now and then God will speak like a pastor hallelujah so the woman came to Jesus and can you help me Jesus didn't answer her anything the disciples were telling him we got to do something about this situation because it's getting out of hands now and we have an emergency on our hands and then verse 24 but he answered and said I was not sent except to the lordship of the house of Israel then she came and worshipped him saying can you imagine he answered I'm sure whether he answered the disciples or the woman but he answered they said send her away he answered

[7:07] I wasn't sent to the lordship of Israel and this one is from the regions of Canaan so she's not part of my original assignment my my my job description doesn't cover it my manifesto doesn't cover it so I can't do really much concerning her and then after she he said that the woman came and worshipped him the time she should have gone she actually came to worship at times you should have slept at home that's when you come early to come and do praise and worship she came and worshipped and said and she said help me lord help me and then they started this discussion Jesus said I'm not sent to help I can't take the the bread that belongs to the children and give it to the dog the woman said no problem I agree with you yes sir I agree with you but um the crumbs definitely when you eat okay when you eat bread if you are sent meat maybe but bread you tend to have some crumbs so the crumbs that fall to the ground the dogs tend to enjoy that bit and and

[8:25] Jesus said to the woman you see most of us will be just watching and listening to the deliberations but what was going on was actually demonstration of faith how do you know someone has got faith look at the way they react towards God even in the face of adversities in the face of all odds against all odds they still push towards God faith but it's just that this is not an ordinary faith this is a great faith now let's look at let's look at verse 28 8 again on the screen verse 28 let's not read it out loud is that okay to read it out loud alright let's go then Jesus answered and said to her oh woman great is your faith let it be to you as you desire and the daughter was healed from that very hour she was sick the daughter was sick Bible says she was demon possessed it's not every sickness that is just medical you don't come and seek spiritual help by now you should have known that the doctors have told you we don't know the problem they've told you we are trying let's experiment maybe to work this they've tried several things

[9:45] I think it will be good you begin to look out for some spiritual help so her daughter was healed from that moment but what Jesus said was quite interesting Jesus said that oh woman great is your faith let it be to you as you have desired originally my plan was not part of it but you watch this this is where I'm going but you have desired something and I don't have a choice yes and he said this kind of great faith I can't ignore it once you place a demand it must be delivered with immediate alacrity he said great is your faith watch this Jesus verse 28 again Bible says that Jesus said oh woman great is your faith let it be as you have desired not as I have been saying not as as the disciples have taught not as situations demand oh come on your life can be it can be subject to situations he said let it be your life will be subject to your desires if you can activate and get your faith to work life will be at your command this whole thing is not about some religious

[11:04] God you keep saying life does not stop because of how you think things are still going the way they are going I remember the other time I think last month when we went to Birmingham when I was teaching Sunday I also reputed your opinion doesn't really matter you have been made to think your opinion it only affects you your opinion actually affects you but not how things run but your faith affects you and affects everything around you your faith begins to give the dictates give the direction as to how things must be for you shout my faith is working for me so the woman went home he said what happened how did you get it what do you think she told them my faith is working for me my faith is working there was another woman with an issue of blood say a woman she had an issue of blood for 12 years normally when a woman has a blood moment it should be for about five days five days usually some only just two days others three days others at most one week am I right at all yes that's normal the normal cycle of a woman but her home started 12 years ago you are complaining about your one man someone was 12 years 12 years and someone some of some of you some of you here when it's just one week you look so you look so pale you look so unwell and guess what this woman has been going through normally when I'm teaching

[13:03] I just don't appreciate the fact that people will get up people will be getting up and going up but as I grow up as a pastor I have come to appreciate that when there are ladies in their congregation sometimes you must be able to appreciate the fact that it depends on the time of the month you understand what I'm saying it depends on the time of the month so but this particular woman she goes out can you imagine if she's your church member she'll be going out every every year for 12 years every day every day every day she'll be going out she really got problem and for your information most of us who go out and stuff like that depending on your systems depending on your system most of us will go out sometimes it's just normal sometimes it's just normal other times it's but this woman's own she wasn't well because that is not healthy that was a problem and Bible said in one of the gospels that she has spent all her living but she could not get well she spent all her resources she spent all her life savings she used to have different ices and pensions and stocks she's used everything but unfortunately she still could not get well but she grew worse and not just that she has suffered many things in the hands many doctors many doctors everyone has tried helping her and if you have a gynecological problem and doctors are trying to help you know you will suffer yeah some of you didn't get what

[15:05] I mean but it can be quite quite quite demeaning sometimes but you need help so what you got to do then she heard jesus was in town and when jesus was passing she risked her life in those days if you are if it's your time of the month you are not supposed to go into the crowd because you are unclean and by adventure if you find yourself in public you have to be unclean unclean so everybody gives you way you have to announce your presence and secondly but the good thing is sometimes when you are in that season people may not know but unfortunately because she has been 12 years I'm sure the nurses the receptionists and the special all kinds of doctors everybody will know and you never know who is there and if they report you it looks like if you are reported to be found in town and in that condition you will be severely punished either you can be stoned to death and then secondly you are not supposed to touch a rabbi a teacher and this woman and two things she did no three things first she came into public number two when she came into public bible she pressed she pressed through the crowd so obviously if you are pressing through the crowd you must be pushing some people now she wasn't that she wouldn't be that strong because of her particular condition she's been losing blood regularly every day so she wouldn't be strong but I believe she gathered her last strength and pushed that's faith faith talking okay she began to push through she began to push through she began to push through and then when she got there too because she said in her heart that this man I've heard about because he walks on water when I was studying this matter of faith

[17:00] I realized that people went through the water the sea on dry ground that's where we are going to end by faith but Jesus didn't have to go through the ground he actually walked on the water himself that's serious that's serious when they when they were traveling they saw the sea they saw the Jordan they have to pass it for them to go through Jesus said oh I don't have time to pass he walked on it and Peter saw him walking on it hey master if it's you if it's you I think I can also just give me a word and tell me to come Jesus said come and he also began to walk on it so it's not just a vicious thing my faith is working for me so this woman came and pressed behind from the behind the crowd and touched his garment and Bible says that the blood ceased immediately ceased immediately she felt in her body something has happened but Jesus also felt in his body

[18:15] Mark I'm reading from Mark chapter 5 yes he felt in his body something somebody has drawn something from me many people were touching but she was drawing she drew out something from him and Jesus said someone touched me Peter said no there are so many people touching you can't be saying someone touched me and when the woman because many were touching but not only one was drawing that's the truth but when you look at those touching and those drawing you will know the difference I told you it's your faith that determines your level actually not just the actions it's the actions that are that stem out of your faith so we may all be doing the same thing but we are at different levels and different ratings many people were touching Jesus Peter said he confirmed this he said sir listen you can see the crowd he used the word thronging you Mark chapter 5 from verse 30 you can see everybody is trying to have a piece of you just like maybe a star in our modern day a star in town and then he has only one security guard and everybody was you know an autograph and people are pushing the same way if we say both appear somewhere on oak and truth there will be traffic everybody will want to have a share of him so

[19:37] Jesus was in Mark chapter 5 so people were pushing him and Peter said that but his disciples said to him you see the multitude thronging you and you say who touched me that was kind of from from from just from just the rational point of view it's kind of bizarre for Jesus to say who touched me so that's why Peter asked but the disciples you see people thronging you and asking who touched me they didn't know what he was talking about because this was not just a touch it was a touch of faith a touch of faith which taps something from me you can only tap from Jesus by faith by faith your faith will make the difference for you so Peter said and the disciples said and Jesus said no no you don't understand why but when the woman realized that she could not be hidden she came and confessed everything and said you know what this is the story and I can't hide this story and I healed now but when she finished saying the story look at verse 34 what

[20:49] Jesus said to her Jesus said let's read it aloud is that okay to read from the screen let's read it from the screen let's go and he said to her daughter your faith has made you well go in peace and be healed of your affliction what did he say to her no and he said to her daughter your faith your what what don't take lightly don't ignore that phrase your faith yours yours yours yours yours Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 4 says that the just shall live by his faith your faith but the just shall live by his faith say my faith say my faith and so it is necessary to appreciate the fact that your faith is what defines your take as long as God is concerned your faith is what defines your take as long as God is concerned

[21:58] Jesus said to her he didn't say my power has made you well even though it was his power that made her well Jesus said to her your faith hallelujah somebody's faith is making it for you somebody's faith is working for you somebody's faith is working for you they may mock you but they will see your faith working for you they may ignore you but they will see your faith working for you they may look down on you but they will see your faith working for you my faith is working for me it's interesting Jesus should have said oh lady you have made my power work for you you've got the thing bring it back you should have asked permission he said lady daughter your faith has made you who made her well who made her well who will make you well my faith so why are you giving the blame to somebody else her faith made her well the woman's daughter was healed because of her faith so why are you complaining listen your future is not in the hand of government policies your future is not in the hand of your employees your future is not in the hand of your husband or your wife so that if you say because I don't have a husband that's why it's you don't have faith not a husband that's why I'm so sad that's why things are not working for me look at the way they are treating me it's because I don't have a husband hey hey hey hey hey go look for faith build your faith and stop complaining about what you don't have when you don't have something all you need is your faith and when your faith is in place when your faith is in place what others have which is working for them your faith can do it for you

[24:14] I don't have anybody to pay my school fees you better get your faith shout my faith is working for me my faith is working for me now if if I won't say if I if you were the devil yeah not me if you were the devil when you want to fight somebody what would you do wouldn't you fight the faith instead because the faith that works for them so fight the level doesn't matter you can go to church as long as your faith is not in it that's fine keep going it doesn't matter it doesn't matter you coming to church as long as your faith will not build will not grow so you can come come to church when you come to church go and sit in the foyer behave like you are feeding a baby as long as you don't hear the way your faith is not growing that's fine that's fine come early clean the place but go and sit there the greatest desire of a genuine pastor

[25:24] I'll show you something of a genuine pastor is seeing your faith growing because we are helpers of your faith hallelujah and there's one way faith comes by hearing the word that's why we have to take our time to teach the word there are so many people who are non-tideless and it's definitely going to have an impact on them so you can't you have to give you have to give you have to give you don't stop that I don't understand why a pastor should be beating on people hey you have to give you have to give make sure you give teach them the word once faith begins to grow up they now stand the chance of either choosing the side of the word or choosing the side of the flesh Ishmael or Isaac egalitarian but how did you realize that Ishmael was not sucked out of the house until Isaac was weaned if you don't have

[26:24] Isaac you have to keep Ishmael like that so Genesis chapter 7 when God appeared to Abraham and he was saying I'm going to give your wife shall have a child Abraham said oh that Ishmael might leave because he hasn't seen Isaac everything about him was still Ishmael Ishmaelic so the job of a pastor is to give you the word option which is responsible for your faith and now if you fail to put your faith into action then you are solely responsible for the consequences then you can't blame God oh God why did you allow this to happen to me when people ask this question as though God was the one who was behind it he said let it happen to you let it happen to you let it happen to you oh God why did you let the police arrest me but did God tell you drive without insurance God didn't tell you that oh God why did you let this happen to me this man who said he loves me he married me and a year later he left me alone and I'm very frustrated my heart is broken when God was using

[27:39] Pastor David to tell you that man is a dangerous man that man is a dangerous man you didn't say God where are you now that they have broken your heart now that you are suffering and saying Jack where are you I am here God where are you the devil is a liar listen to the word now because you will lead it later shout yes yes let's get my legs and so Jesus said to her your faith has made you well in Matthew chapter 9 verse 29 verse 28 this blind man followed Jesus and then when they came to Jesus the blind man came and Jesus said to them do you believe that I am able to do this then they said to him yes Lord and then they have been following Jesus from verse 27 following Jesus following Jesus following Jesus so when they came to the house Jesus said you know did you believe that I am able to do this they said yes and look at verse 29 Jesus said okay then be it unto you this is according to your faith notice the trend your faith your faith your faith one of the things that your faith can take care of very quickly is your health faith is number one health killer or sickness killer or a sickness killer reliable very reliable

[29:06] I said very reliable someone shout my faith is working for me so Jesus said your faith do you believe I can say yes be it according to your faith when your faith is in place you actually don't need too many people to be praying for you actually when you read the bible very carefully laying hands in the new testament lay on of hands were for imparting of gifts and blessings but really not for releasing of demons read the bible new testament lay on of your hands but if you so wish because that's the easiest don't let laying on hands be just purely to cast out devils from you a christian cannot be demon possessed but a christian can be demon influenced bear that in mind so sometimes you are sleeping and you wake up at night you are feeling demons are influencing you to go and watch that thing back demons can influence you to go and do something demons can influence you because you watch some movies over the night so when you went to bed the demons took advantage of those movies you watched and entered your system so now they are influencing you are sleeping you don't understand why even you are sleeping your body is really feeling very funny wake up wake up get up get up get up get up and go and sing get up call him call him send him a text message demons so in

[30:52] Matthew chapter 9 verse 29 Bible says Jesus said be to you according to your faith okay in the book of Mark chapter 10 verse 48 that was talking about blind but my house came to Jesus Christ and Jesus said what do you want me to do and said I may have my sin then verse 52 let's jump to verse 52 Jesus said your faith has made you well so you can tell that Jesus kept telling people your faith now this wasn't the announcement or the report or the statement of the reporter for the reporter to say and her faith made her well and his faith made him well but Jesus said to the people who came to him with persistence and with the demonstration of faith those who came to him like that Jesus said to them that your faith has made you well faith is a necessary commodity it's a necessary currency to transact any godly business without your faith you can't do spiritual transactions so what happens is that you always resort to asking people to be praying for you going looking for prophets for prophets come and say hey

[32:09] I see three drafts one jumping on your right and most of us like those things that give me you like it this man is powerful those are the things some of us will like so that's why my faith is working that is why I have to take my time don't worry I will take my time and make sure that this faith thing you get it because that's what is responsible for your future it gets to a time where there's nobody with you there's nobody in your darkest moment your faith rises up you can look at the devil you can look at the situation bring it on now Satan bring it on I can handle you bring it on because I can deal with you bring it on shut yes why if you don't have the word and that kind of

[33:16] Christianity I mean there's a place where we intercede for one another but when the centrality of your Christian life is prayer centric prayer centred prayer meeting upon prayer meeting calling one special man of God to the other special man of God to be praying for you what Jesus said is your faith that has made you well it's your faith that has delivered you it's your faith that has brought your peace shout my faith is working for me so we can see we have seen in four different places how faith works for people individuals and I discovered that in the Christian work itself your rating has everything to do with your faith when I was studying my Bible I discovered a New Testament church virtually virtually every epistle Paul sent to the people in the opening comments in his opening statements he addressed their faith how he made reference to their faith it's very interesting in his opening comments so for instance

[34:25] Romans chapter 1 chapter 1 okay right in chapter 1 verse 8 he made references to faith Romans chapter 1 verse 8 he made reference to faith he says that first I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all that your faith you see that I thank that your faith is being spoken of throughout the world and then it's 1 Corinthians so from Romans you go to Corinthians 1 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 5 it talks about faith how their faith is working their faith is growing right so 1 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 5 that your faith say your faith say your faith it's personal that your faith I'll come back to that that your faith may not 1 Corinthians the early stages of 1 Corinthians it was making reference to their faith 1 Corinthians and in 2 Corinthians 2 it made reference to their faith 1 Corinthians chapter 15

[35:27] I like the way he put it chapter 15 verse 14 and verse 15 talking about the resurrection he said actually the value of the resurrection has a lot to do with your faith he said that if Christ is not raising then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty so that means that faith is not empty as long as the resurrection is valid so if you can have a little faith it can do a lot for you if you can have little faith it can do a lot for you as long as the resurrection is valid your faith is the it says that what is interesting it is the resurrection that gives credence that gives authenticity to the preaching we do and it says that if the resurrection Christ has no reason then our preaching is vain and your faith you see the progression and your faith is vain actually your faith has a direct connection to the preaching you listen to don't forget that the verse 17 talks about the same thing it's talking about if

[36:28] Christ is not resurrected then your faith is in vain it says that if Christ is not risen your faith is futile and you are still in your sin your faith is not in vain right at the opening opening parts of Corinthians he started talking about in fact in 2nd Corinthians chapter I think 5 verse 13 it talks about how you have to examine yourself daily to make sure you are in the faith 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verse 13 it says examine yourself daily examine yourself constantly examine yourself 2nd Corinthians chapter 13 verse 5 examine yourself as to whether you are in the faith it's so important you are being in the faith listen listen you may be coming to church but make sure you are in the faith make sure you are in the faith listen everything you do you may be going out to win souls but make sure you are doing it out of faith not to try and impress somebody impress your team leader or you are doing it so that that lady you are trying to win will see that you're actually a soul winner oh yeah who are you and I work miracles people will be joining the soul because they also want to listen listen to me very careful sometimes you can join this is interesting let me let's this pastoral when something good is happening and it touches your heart it's okay to do it because others are doing it

[37:56] Bible says that provoke one another unto good works so then maybe you saw that lady has gone to win his soul has gone to preach to someone and it touches your heart if this one is doing it I might as well do it it's good it's okay it's okay to be motivated by somebody's good works so you don't say anyway I want to make sure my faith has grown in my room before I move out those of you who have been Christians for a while and read your Bibles regularly you would agree with me it's not every day you read your Bible that you really feel like reading your Bible there are times you finish reading your Bible and wondering well I've just done it out of I'll just tick the box listen it's better you tick the box than not to tick the box but you have to understand that God is not upset with you because you didn't read your Bible that's legalism so if you didn't read your Bible it doesn't make God upset with you but actually just like a whole day you have an 18 it will affect your spiritual strength so these are the dynamics you have to understand it's likely to ask you have you read your

[39:08] Bible today so if that's making you read your Bible at least it's good motivation sometimes it's good to motivate the Bible says he who desires the office of a bishop desires a good the fact that you also want to be a pastor it's a good desire you don't have to be ordained to it just desire it is a good thing it's very interesting so you must know what motivates you but some people are motivated by ulterior multifleshly desires carnal intacts and political agendas so they say we are going to win so they are not interested they see her sister she is going to win that sister and when she sees that she tries to look for someone to hold her hand so he looks so spiritual you know these things happen to ordinary human beings

[40:08] I will show you you can have faith but this can happen to you I will show you in the Bible you can have faith and this can happen to you but you can be doing something just to tick a box and to impress somebody to also look very powerful isn't not the same when we come for prayer meetings some people they have never prayed for eight months they come for the prayer meeting oh you are lying the devil is lying that's okay that's okay just keep back as long as you are charging yourself and you are not trying to impress people that's fine if you are not trying to impress but sometimes people are full of impressions you never worship at home you never kneel down anything but as soon as we come to church you were fighting all day you are lying on the ball I love you praise lord see my faith is working for me is you okay if

[41:13] I teach so that we can be a bunch of Christians with authenticity authenticity some of these things people must be made aware listen sisters it happens in church you know when I got born again in my early days I overheard some people saying it in church but how can that be how can a sister come to church and intentionally be dancing to catch a man how can that be too I began to grow in the Lord and I realized Christians are very interesting and powerful Christians are ordinary human beings and if their faith goes down they will do anything others do that's the word you will easily be drifted how many of you since you have drifted before and those who can lift their hand look at them very carefully so they should come and be teaching us that's why it says that

[42:20] Hebrew chapter 2 remember take it to these things you have heard the things that pastor is telling you take it to them be careful take it to them that you do not drift they do not drift they can imagine the way you are so determined how you be so faithful to God in some things and after some time or when some persecution arose you drifted and you can't talk about it because people don't know you they don't listen it's okay don't let anybody know just just be yourself because you may not know the one sitting beside you have also drifted very bad no listen to what I didn't say listen to what I didn't say I did not say that when drifting is coming say anyway maybe some others are drifting so me to let me do it I did not say that I did not say that

[43:20] I am saying as long as you are here just keep focused and forget about don't think everybody maybe all the on your role are good you are the only one who have drifted so I think it's better to maintain that approach you are the only one who have shout my faith is working for me so it's so important to understand that faith I'm going to show you characteristics of your faith some characteristics what can happen to your faith okay but then so I spoke about 1st Corinthians or 2nd Corinthians and then chapter 1 verse 15 it says that therefore when I heard oh I like this I fear how much when I heard we said therefore also after I heard of your faith say your faith we must hear about how you are doing in your faith in your faith now

[44:27] I go to church no let's hear about your faith you go to church and so we can tell it's showing your faith work never when I when I heard of your faith right so as I said most of the epistles the opening comments faith Paul addressed your faith addressed their faith so Colossians as well he addressed their Philippians chapter 2 verse I think 17 addressed their faith Colossians chapter 1 verse 4 I like Colossians 1 4 he addressed their faith Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 3 and 8 he addressed their faith kept talking about your faith Colossians 1 since we heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints so you keep hearing your faith your faith so in 2 Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians 1 3 your faith 2 Thessalonians 1 3 your faith in James chapter 1 verse 3 your faith in 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 7 your faith kept talking about your faith these are all letters and practically none of the letters were written without your faith being addressed says

[45:40] Paul himself in 2 Timothy I like that towards the end of his life I know I'll say that but that's one of my major visions in life my major target and goal in life is so that 2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 7 I can also say like he said I have fought a good fight I have finished the race and what and what and what sister in all your testimonies you have been making noise about make sure you are keeping your faith keep your faith brother keep your faith someone has stepped on your toe yes that's it's human okay it's human to be offended it's human to react but when you are all through when you are justifying your human tendencies or human idiosyncrasis make sure you are keeping the faith when your husband has offended you so badly your wife has offended you so badly and as a faith believer make sure that you are keeping your faith the keeping of your faith is a personal responsibility no preacher no bishop no bishop no anointed no apostle prophet evangelist teacher or pastor can keep your faith for you you have to keep your own faith he said

[47:08] I've kept the faith I've kept the you know why he kept the faith even through all the the changing scenes the vicissitudes of life he went through you know why he kept his faith because without his faith there's no victory in line in view without your faith there's no victory Bible Bible says in 1st John chapter 5 verse 4 it says that whatever is born of God overcomes the world 1st John chapter 5 verse 4 it says that for whatever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that overcomes the world and he clearly may said so you don't get it wrong said our faith look at the grammar very well he said whatsoever is born I got something whatsoever he didn't say whatsoever what anything that issues out of God as long that is from God that's what God told Abraham one from your own loins will be your heir he says that the one who is from the bosom of the father

[48:13] John chapter 1 verse 18 whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory over so whatsoever whatsoever is born of God has embedded in its victory get it get it are you guys in it whatsoever is born of God it is like when you plant a viable seed when you plant a viable seed you put the seed in the ground but when the conditions are necessary when the necessary conditions are present the seed begins to germinate you see who taught the seed how to germinate apples it's all embedded it's part of the packaging so he said that anything that comes from God has the packaging in it the victory packaging whatsoever is born of

[49:15] God overcomes the world and he says that and he says for you not to get get it wrong let me show you what overcomes the world our faith our faith so whatsoever is born of God has our faith inside you didn't get it because that's anything that is born of God overcomes the world and he said this is the victory that overcomes the world our faith so anything that is born of God has victory inside which has our faith inside because the victory the definition of victory to overcome the world is our faith so anything that can shake your faith has defined your victory stop making too much noise about who is praying for you who you have on your side who you don't have on your side what is trying to work for you what is not stop making that noise because you should be too matured for that to be a bother you must know how to go to the engine room of your victory and service it and come out and have the victory this thing is not firing properly this gun is not firing properly take it back pull it apart service it let's go let's see what happens and everything is getting down because this is the victory that overcomes the world even our faith you got it you got faith that is when he was addressing them in epistles every time he addressed them he began to make reference to their faith no

[50:58] I don't have faith no you do I said you do I do I said you do so he move to do to do to operate now we are in light but we are not operating we are in darkness because we are blind because a seeing man in the dark is not different from a blind man in the light so we are just groping and by

[52:30] God's grace he has sent me to come and shine the light of the glorious gospel of Christ so that your faith when your faith comes alive you can see all the machinations and schemings of the devil and Bible says that above all taking the shield of faith and like that Ephesians chapter 6 verse 16 is about taking the shield of faith by which you quench all the fiery darts with which you will be able to quench all say all say all you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one the devil is called the wicked one in the Bible because he is wicked he is wicked he is darts and the devil the darts fiery you know when you watch your life is the bull's eye for the devil's darts and his darts are fiery full of fire so your marriage is okay and then one day you don't know what happened the enemy you didn't know and so you are walking you didn't know he's aiming at you not the way they do it he's aiming at you okay he's waiting and so you too someone upsets you in church you say go to church again then you go to church again he's waiting he's coming last week he's not going good good then you send somebody to come and upset you in church more stay out stay out don't give your time stay out so you are there one then you begin to burn it's a fiery dad what do you think he's going to do this is the victory that overcomes the world even our faith so it says that take the shield of faith it's coming you'll be able to technology can't help you for that too your ipad your iphone there's no app for that maybe there's an app called i-fate it will work that's an i-fate but it will work because this one is heart faith it's boom heart boom very that's of the devil so he said i don't have faith you do i don't have faith you do because how do you know i have pastor i will show you only two scriptures because of my time only two scriptures scripture number one ephesians chapter two verse eight he said by grace are you saved through faith so if you are saved it happened through faith through faith

[55:58] I'm yet to know about a baby who was born outside completely developed grew up developed everything outside the womb even test tube babies is just called in vitro fertilization they just fertilize it outside just for the fertilization because maybe of some biological challenges the egg is fertilized outside of the womb and then now insert and planted into a womb of a human being because a goat can't sustain a human fetus that's what she must know a dog can't so it's implanted into a womb why if it was fertilized outside the womb why doesn't it no it only develops within a womb and then after certain weeks or burns the baby is not ready to be born whether they remove the baby or it comes through the birth canal it must develop within the womb not the tomb womb praise the lord and so how come you can't be born again you can't be a

[57:24] Christian let me use the word Christian because of the misunderstanding of many so long as the word born again or the phrase born again is concerned so I met someone I was talking about he said oh me I'm a Christian but I just don't understand me born again I don't like it how do you understand so just for the sake of explanation let's just let's assume that when I say born again okay which actually that's what I mean a Christian a Christian a proper Christian who has given your life to Jesus Christ and you are saved on your way to heaven not hell okay now if you are a Christian the only way you became one is by faith God brought salvation on the table by grace the only way you can partake of that salvation grace has brought on the table is by faith so God brings grace you bring faith so when when faith meets grace you have salvation okay now now so then how come okay another illustration there is no way you can have a human being only made up of a female egg my mother's egg my mother's egg my mother's egg my mother's egg

[58:42] I'm just made up of my mother's egg even Jesus it wasn't only Mary's eggs he needed the holy ghost spalma the seed of the holy spirit okay so there can never be a human being without egg being fertilized by the spalma the seed so if you are saying you are only just one big sperm that has grown even though you may look like that yeah you you are not or if if you claim to be one big egg that has grown it's it can't be because it's it's not done in the same way you can't be a Christian just because grace found you you your name can be like my name grace but still you need faith bible said it's of faith that it might be according to grace romans chapter 4 verse 16 it's of faith that it might be according to grace so faith is what makes grace useful in our lives listen to that very important faith is what makes grace useful it was it's what what makes grace eatable enjoyable edible useful applicable if you want to enjoy the grace of God just put your faith into action does that make sense now so then having explained that does that do you understand the fact that when anybody is born again the person has got faith now according to romans chapter 12 verse 6 okay romans chapter 12 verse 6 let's look at it romans chapter 12 verse 6 it says god has dealt with everyone having them gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us let us use them if prophesy let us prophesy in proportion of our faith go to the verse 4 i want the verse 4 instead verse 4 verse 4 verse 4 verse 4 verse 4 for us we have many members in the body but all members have the same function for I said through the grace given to me to everyone who is amongst you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think alright that means you can think of yourself highly but not more than you ought to think bro don't think calm down don't think you are so that you are that so mighty and that important alright think good of yourself highly of yourself even me as a pastor

[61:21] I think I will be naive to think you just moved into your house you didn't call me to pray about the house you will see what kind of pastor is that I think I will think more highly of myself don't you know I am the man of God if I don't preach you don't get fit if I don't pray for you if I don't pray for you you will be healed I am thinking more highly of myself than I ought to as though sometimes some pastors behave like dead die to save people a pastor look at somebody say hey I pray for you for your healing for your miracle you are taking my blessing to another church you are taking my glory hey if you take it you see what happens if you don't pursue God as a pastor you keep chasing people stop chasing people chase God people will be chasing you I learned that from Bishop my days of chasing members are gone

[62:27] I am in the days of chasing the Holy Ghost wherever he goes to hide I will go there Holy Ghost I will never give him rest anymore I will chase the Holy Ghost and he as long as I keep looking for the Spirit of God he keeps me relevant in your life because he gives me your answers he gives me what he has to tell you what because he called me for you and so as long as I keep going to him I will have the fresh bread for you I will have your answers to you but if I stop going to him and start looking at you and start wanting to have parties and celebrating birthdays and just sitting down and then you you have not brought me off you now bring me bring me off you okay you are not bringing off you you are not doing well hey you haven't paid your time why oh man then a pastor a pastor goes to church remember brother this week is no good can you loan me some money Bishop

[63:28] Bishop said some pastors when they are coming the members tell their children tell them I am not there I am not there because when pastor is coming home that should be a time of joy people say ah the man is coming again he is coming with his problems so those of you those of you who are eyeing to be pastors without a calling it is a good thing to eye but get ready say my faith is working for me I think I should finish that quickly okay so he says that don't think highly of yourself than you ought to it is just like a man looking to get married and he is thinking very highly of himself he thinks all the ladies in the church like him and you are wondering is it because of his beard or because of what is it you are thinking too highly of yourself sister every man who shakes your eyes he likes me every man he likes me

[64:34] I think you think too highly of yourself alright let me move out of the let's go back to the faith because your faith will work for you tell someone my faith is working for me my faith is working for me so he says that in Romans chapter 12 verse 3 he says let everyone think of himself not too highly of yourself not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think but think soberly as God has dealt with how many of us how many of us each one how many of us each one how many of us each one dealt with each one what a measure of faith a measure of what faith everyone has got a measure everyone as soon as you come take your own take your own take your own so we all start with a measure but as to whether it grows or how it gets to it depends on you we start with a measure of faith so every Christian has faith because you are only saved through faith say measure of faith measure of faith so quickly then let me just give you about 2 3 4 5 6 how many 1 7 about your faith number 1 it can be known as I told people who know about your faith people can know ah this one has got faith number 1 it can be known 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 verse 5 and 6 it can be known 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 verse 5 and 6 for this reason when when I could no longer endure it

[66:08] I sent to know your faith alright it can be known the level the level of your faith can be known by others I don't know where it is anyone knows anyone understands me no people around you can know it can be known in Colossians chapter 2 verse 5 it also refers to something similar how our faith can be known for though I am absent in the flesh yet I am with you in spirit rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ so I am rejoicing to see your good order the way you are conducting yourself the order not just that but the steadfastness of your faith it can be seen it can be known it is not something very private and something so sickly that no one will know it can be seen and it can be known number 2 about your faith I like this one it is really nice 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 verse 2 it can be comforted you know sometimes your faith can be buffeted how many of you have experienced buffeted faith before alright now when your faith is buffeted for instance when something you didn't expect happens even though you believe in God and it happens sometimes that faith can be comforted 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 verse 2 it can be comforted

[67:28] I like that it said I sent Timothy our brother and minister of God and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith now go to giving the King James your faith can be encouraged giving the King James to comfort you concerning your faith concerning your faith he will comfort you because now the Thessalonian church was a church that had gone through a lot of affliction so in the opening comments of Thessalonians it says that God comforts you so that you will comfort others with the comfort with which God has comforted you very interesting I think it said how God comforts you in your affliction so that you will be able to comfort others with the comfort with which God comforted you when you were in that difficulty alright so the Thessalonian church was a church that had suffered a lot of heartaches and attacks and it was a letter written to encourage them and it says that we are writing to encourage your faith or to comfort your faith to let you know that listen in spite of what I said in spite of what I just said

[68:41] God will comfort you in spite of what you have been through we are writing to comfort your faith because sometimes how many of you know that sometimes you just need some faith boosters and faith encourages because sometimes it just looks like this thing is not working sometimes you wait and wait and wait and wait and wait and wait and wait and wait and wait and wait and wait that is why sometimes hearing somebody's testimony can comfort your faith maybe I know you are here you've been waiting for your next job you are waiting for your next allocation you are waiting for your next miracle maybe I know you are here you are waiting to get married and it looks like things are delaying and you're afraid some people make statements like I've done everything I could they say we should jump I've jumped they say we should sew I've sew they say we should give an altar of sacrifice I've bound the altar See, that kind of statement sometimes is a reflection of faith that has been weakened.

[69:36] Buffeted faith. So you are talking about, I bang the altar. When you are banking the altar, do you think that immediately the husband is going to pop out of the altar? You understand what I'm saying?

[69:49] So why are you talking like that? Don't talk like that. They say we should bang, I bang. They say we should give, I give it. They say we should do it, I'm done it. They say we should do it. And then you make a statement, they say. Who are the ones who are saved? Say your faith, my faith made me do it.

[70:01] When they say, and you are putting the blame on somebody. Like the instruction from the altar is not working. It's your faith. No wonder you are saying they said, because you saw it as they said. So you are doing what they are saying.

[70:12] But if you have done what your faith is telling you, you will know that it's just a matter of time. Say my faith is working for me. My faith is working for me. Those people who you have to tell, you are here.

[70:26] You are here. You are a Christian. You've been in church for at least five months. And you are not a tither. Abba. Ah. Hey. Hey. You are not growing.

[70:37] No, no, no. It's not affecting the church. It's affecting you. You are not growing. You want the pastors to say, hey. If you don't bring your tithe. Hey. So most of those people, do you know what they respond to?

[70:50] They respond to a strange move. And there's a prophet here. He said, the Lord is showing me. There are ten people here. Everyone is going to give five thousand. You see them coming. Because they haven't been giving. So they have a lot waiting.

[71:01] He said, praise the Lord.

[71:13] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hey. Are you getting something at all? Hallelujah. But please. Don't run out. Don't jump out of this boat. Because your faith is what determines your faith.

[71:23] Hallelujah. Your faith. Your faith. If I could do. I'll show you Paul. If I could do anything to get faith into you.

[71:35] I'm done. I can't sleep and rest. Because you're just winning. Winning. Winning. From one level of victory to the other. Someone shout, my faith is working for me. So number one about faith.

[71:47] Because I'm going to say faith. Number one. What did I say? It can be no. Number two. Number three. Should be in the spirit. Number three. It can be incomplete.

[71:59] In other words. It can be lacking in something. Or your faith can be lacking. Okay. It can be incomplete. In the book of.

[72:10] First Thessalonians chapter 3 verse 10. It says that. Night and day. Praying exceedingly. That we may see your faith. And perfect that which is lacking in your faith. Something can be lacking in your.

[72:22] You can have faith. You. You can have faith. I told you. Everyone starts with a measure. So you can have faith. But it can. Something may be lacking in your faith. So the fact that you have faith.

[72:35] It doesn't mean everything. That's all. You must have a complete faith. Robust faith. Comprehensive faith. Mature faith. Another way to put it.

[72:47] Perfected faith. Perfected. Perfected faith. So that it says that. That we will complete. That which is lacking in your faith. Right. So brothers and sisters.

[72:59] When we come to church. Sometimes you are dealing with somebody in church. And you realize that. The person is not behaving according to standard. Or according to your expectation. Know that maybe it's a lack of. Something is lacking in their faith.

[73:10] They have faith. But something is lacking. Somebody can tell you. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. This one. This one. I know. I believe. I believe. But let's be real. Let's be real. Something is lacking in their faith. I believe. I believe. I believe. But let's be real.

[73:22] Let's be real. Let's be real. Real. Is there anything contrary to being real about faith? So I believe. Okay. Faith. Faith. Enough. Enough. Enough.

[73:32] Okay. Okay. No. No. This one. Don't go. No. No. Let's put Bible. Bible aside. Let's put Bible aside. I'm growing. I have to marry this woman. So let's put. Oh. I need a job.

[73:43] I need to secure the job. And so. You know. What we are talking about. I need life. This is a mean life man. It's okay. Bible. Bible. Bible. Faith. Faith. Faith. Faith. That person may still be born again.

[73:54] And it will surprise you to know. That people can be. In leadership. In certain churches. Or in a church. And still be lacking. Woefully. In something.

[74:04] So long as their faith is concerned. Do you know why? I. If I don't study the Bible. And keep praying. And walking the Holy Spirit. You give me two months. My faith will not be where it is.

[74:14] And someone who just. Even got born again. Maybe. Operating in a full. Complete faith. Than me. Because faith is not. Always resident. It's not.

[74:25] I like the way. As I would put it. It's not title sensitive. You can be five years. In the Lord. And still be. Be a baby. Baby. Baby.

[74:35] Baby. In faith. In your faith. So. Every one of us. Has the responsibility. Of building up. Our own faith. Building.

[74:46] That's why. That's why I put it there. Building up yourself. In your most holy faith. Build up yourself. Jude 20. Build up yourself. Build up yourself. Don't abdicate the responsibility.

[74:59] Of developing your faith. To somebody. Because that will make you. A victim in life. A victim. And so. Your faith can be lacking.

[75:10] Oh. I like this one. Are you ready for the fourth one? Your faith can be tried. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. In fact.

[75:21] Every faith. I like what I'm about to say. I've been saying it always. And I feel like jumping before I say it. Let me hold my Bible. Every genuine faith. Sister. Every genuine faith. Will be tested.

[75:33] If you say. I have faith in God. I have faith in God. Not God who. Situations will test the faith. Every genuine faith will be tested.

[75:45] And when your faith is tested. Will it pass? First Peter chapter 1 verse 7.

[75:56] First Peter chapter 1 verse 7. That the genuineness of your faith. Be much more precious than gold.

[76:08] That perishes. Though it is tested by. Hey. You see what tests. Will test your faith. Though it is. Am I talking to people here. Who feel their faith.

[76:18] Being tested by fire. Yes. Especially. Sometimes. Sometimes. When it comes to the area of finances. When it comes to the area of health.

[76:31] When it comes to the area of your. Relationships. In church. Uh-huh. In church. Uh-huh. How many of you know that.

[76:41] Sometimes. You can tell that your faith. Is being tested by fire. Your faith will be tested. Be tried. And Bible says.

[76:52] In James chapter 1 verse 3. It says. Count it all joy. Verse 2. When you fall into diverse kinds of trials. Knowing this. Verse 3. That the trying of your faith. The trying of faith. Will be tested.

[77:03] Knowing that the testing of your faith. Produces something. It needs to be tested. The more you put. Your faith comes under pressure. The more patience is coming out.

[77:15] And the more patience is. This is how patience is developed. Faith. And the patience is developed. Do you understand? So. Pressure. On your faith. Produces patience.

[77:27] But Bible says that. You can't obtain the promise. By faith alone. Hebrews chapter 6 verse 12. It doesn't take only faith.

[77:38] To get a promise home. Oh. Let's read it. Let's go. Read it on. Let's go. How did they inherit their promise?

[77:53] How did they inherit their promises? So. You have got faith. Now. It needs to be put under pressure. For patience to grow. And then when patience grow.

[78:03] It matters your faith. And then promises. All around. You are enjoying the testimonies. But some of us. We have faith. We say. No. Hey. Now have faith. So. Pressure will come. Pressure.

[78:15] I'm going to ask you to say one prayer. Most of you wouldn't like to say that prayer. But it's good for you. Say. Lord. Test my faith. Genesis. Genesis. It says that.

[78:30] And it came to pass. After this. Genesis. After 22. Verse 1. And it came to pass. After this. That God did test Abraham. God tested Abraham.

[78:41] Your faith. Abraham. The father of faith. He was tested. He was tested. By the way. The usher spoke to you. the other time, your mother has never spoken to you in your life.

[78:53] He said, what? All during the worship, you felt like, get up and go back to the house. Your thing wanted to come back. Lord, help my faith. Your thing, yeah, yeah.

[79:09] You know you have it. But sometimes you come to church, you look like an angel. But the thing is there. Every night, he wants to come back. Your faith keeps, this is the victory of our family, we're living our faith. Hallelujah.

[79:25] So your faith will be tested. Okay. So your faith, your faith can be comforted, your faith can be known, your faith can be can be incomplete, and your faith can be tried.

[79:41] Oh, I like this. Let me give you last two and then we finish. Number five, or four. You would like this one. I like this one. Let me clap for Jesus before I say it. Now, your faith, your faith can increase.

[79:57] Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Or it can grow. Yes! Increased faith means increased victories.

[80:08] Yes! Increased victories of, chances of victories. Increased, growing faith means growing possibilities of triumphs. Increased.

[80:19] Your faith can be increased. Your faith can grow. Your faith can be increased. Say, Lord, increase my faith. Lord, increase my faith.

[80:31] So, 2 Corinthians 10, 2 Corinthians 10, verse 15. The problem is your faith must be right. Grow your faith. How many points have I given you?

[80:43] 5. And, what's the 5th point? Your faith can increase. Your faith can grow. Your faith can grow. And what scripture did I give you? 2 Corinthians 10, 2 Corinthians 10, 2 Corinthians 10, 2 Corinthians 10, Did we read it?

[80:59] No. We didn't read it. Let's read it. Put it on the screen for me quickly. Because we need to always see. It says, not boasting of things beyond your measure that is in other man's labor. But, having hope that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere.

[81:19] That text is very loaded. So, the pastor is saying that as your faith is growing, that we, our influence, our sphere of influence will be growing because it depends on your faith.

[81:29] So, if you're a pastor and you're preaching, you're teaching people whose faith are not growing, your influence is kept. What makes the impact is when the people you are pastoring, their faith is growing, they are in their office, people are wondering, wow, what church do you attend?

[81:42] You are full of faith. I like it. They are growing and that's when the influence of the church begins to grow. It's when the faith of the members of the church begins to grow, increase.

[81:53] That text is very, it's seriously loaded. Shout hallelujah. Hallelujah. So, your faith can grow. In 2 Corinthians 11 chapter 1 verse 3, in the same line, faith growing.

[82:03] 2 Corinthians 1 verse 3, it said, we are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting because your faith grows. Hey, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[82:14] I like that one. See, the pastor said, I don't have a choice. I'm bound. We are bound to thank God for you because your faith grows exceedingly. As a pastor, people, when you remember their names, this is a challenge to your pastor's work.

[82:31] Add it to when you remember their names, oh God. It said, we are bound to give God thanks for you because your faith is growing. Add it to their faith is not growing. It's actually dwarfing. And yet, their faith is actually now challenging your own faith.

[82:46] And beginning to question your teachers. Ow! Hey! So it says that we are bound, can you imagine? It said, we are bound to thank God always, no once, always for you.

[82:59] When I remember Pastor Church, oh God, thank you for Pastor Church. When I remember Pastor you, I said, oh God, thank you for this one. When I remember you, I'm talking about you. When I remember, I said, oh God, thank you.

[83:11] When I remember that one, I said, hey, God. God, help me to know what to do about this one. Hallelujah.

[83:22] But your faith is growing. It's not based on what you do or how you do this, but it's based on your faith. That is what makes pastoral work easier and better. So we are bound to give God thanks for you.

[83:34] Amen. How many of us are determined to make sure that we, the church leaders will give God thanks for you? I know some of you can lift up your hand, but that's fine. That's why I'm not watching, because that alone will also become...

[83:46] All right. All right. Let me give you only one more. And I'm down. Oh, there are two.

[83:58] Okay, quickly. One, your faith, this is a serious one, your faith can rest on something else other than God's word or God's power.

[84:09] Your faith can end up resting on something or something. 1 Corinthians 2, verse 5. It's a serious one. 1 Corinthians 2, verse 5.

[84:22] It said that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the... Did you see that? Your faith can end up being in something also. That is why, listen, that's why I've vowed to chase the Holy Spirit so I don't end up just becoming a motivational speaker.

[84:47] Other than that, your faith will rest in the wisdom of men. He said, when you start the opening of that, he said, brethren, and you brethren, 1 Corinthians 2, verse 1, and you brethren, when I came to you, I did not come with the enticing word, and I brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or with wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.

[85:10] Verse 2, it says that, for I determine not to know anything amongst yourself, Jesus Christ and him crucified. Verse 3, and I was with you in weakness and in fear and in my trust.

[85:21] You see, I imagine, the pastor is talking to you and he says, he has to be careful, he has to be careful with his words. With fear and not trouble. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, human wisdom, motivational speech.

[85:39] nowadays, it's still hot in our generation. If you can learn good one-lineness and know how to, so you'll be jumping around like the way I'm jumping around and then you'll, you have to speak with certain levels of finesse and excellence and your English, your English must be impeccable and your grammar must be grammatical.

[86:02] grammatically astute and eloquence.

[86:14] Eloquence. People listen to you and they are clapping, not because of the quotation you exposed, but because of the nice wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow.

[86:28] Then I quote from Bob Mali, Bob Mali said, you can never eat your cake and have it. They say, wow. Then I quote from, then I sugarcoat it with Winston Churchill.

[86:42] Then I add what the queen said recently. Then I add Mandela, oh, Madiba, Madiba, say. People are clapping, are clapping, so I will learn wise sayings from so called wise men and quotations from Confucius and Mahatma Gandhi.

[87:04] I began to stand. They tell you this man is well read, well learned. When he speaks, he speaks a lot of sense.

[87:18] No, no. Sorry, I don't have that. That's what you came for. I have the word of faith. Which we preach.

[87:31] He said, it's in your mouth. It's in your mouth. Hallelujah. So, he said, my preaching was not with enticing human wisdom, but my preaching was in demonstration of the Holy Ghost.

[87:46] That is why every pastor, your business is to chase the Holy Spirit. Chase the Holy Spirit. He said, my preaching was with the demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power.

[87:57] Why? That's the most important. Why? That's your faith. See, so, when we are not just full and demonstrating and preaching out of inspiration by the Holy Spirit, and you know, how do you know what is the Holy Spirit?

[88:12] it really goes deep into people's hearts. It enters their spirit, not just, it doesn't stay in the mind region. Even though the mind will be educated and know some things, it goes right into the spirit, and most of the time it doesn't leave the spirit, and it re-energizes the spirit, it re-juvenates the spirit.

[88:29] That is the Holy Ghost power, and then it's also demonstrated with the signs and wonders and other things following. You understand? He says that all these things are preached like that so that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power.

[88:47] So, what should you know about your faith? Your faith, you can have faith, but it's resting and it's in the wisdom of men, or it's in something else. Because we all start by faith.

[88:58] We start in faith. Do you understand that? So, your faith will be resting on something, and sometimes you don't take care, your faith can grow in the wrong thing. Growing but its foundation is just human sense, common sense, common sense which you don't need to pray to know.

[89:20] It's common, common sense. It doesn't require prayer. It's common sense. If you give me 10 pounds for something I'm selling for 5 pounds, how much am I supposed to give you back?

[89:32] Do I need to go and pray to know how much you give you back? It's common sense. some people believe they are called to be motivational speakers.

[89:48] But my papa, Bishop Oedipo, and his sons, including me, we are not called to be motivational speakers. We are called to preach the word, be instant, in season, and other seasons.

[90:05] You will never find us preaching without putting from the Bible. We can't do that. It's an abomination for our kind of talk. We don't preach without making reference to the scriptures, and show you what the scriptures are saying, and making sure we are quoting the scripture or interpreting the scripture accurately, truly, rightly dividing the word of truth.

[90:27] First we touch on 1 verse 21. I finish. First we touch on 1 verse 21. It said, who through him believed in God, who raised him from the dead, and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

[90:44] Your faith, where must your faith be? In God. Listen, not a man of God, but the God of men. Your faith can be in something else.

[90:57] God, there are too many people whose faith are in, ask my church, ask my church. It's good to be confident about your church. But the fundamental fact is that your faith must be in God and the Holy Ghost.

[91:10] As for my man of God is powerful. No man of God is powerful. It's the amount of Holy Spirit that is passing through his system that makes him relevant, valid, and powerful. That's what I'm saying.

[91:23] The Bible says that God confirming their word with signs, wonders, and miracles following. In Hebrews chapter 2, it talks about how God himself, verse 4 and verse 5, God himself bearing them witness with accompanying signs, wonders, and miracles.

[91:38] The miracles I was teaching the other time, dynamis. Dynamis is inherent power. Power that is inherent in something. So, dynamis, when you show up, it came with you. The power inherent in something.

[91:49] So, God himself, so when a man of God tends to be doing something very powerful, it's because of his exposure to the Holy Spirit, and I like this one, I like this one.

[92:01] The word in his mouth, the true word in his mouth, which God confirms. God does not confirm anything but his word. Did you get something at all? I want you to do me a favor.

[92:16] I want you to lift up your right hand and begin to thank God and pray that God, my faith is growing. It takes your faith to cross. It will take your faith to cross. You want to pray and say that God, I choose to walk by faith.

[92:28] I choose to give myself to what will grow my faith. I choose to stay away from what will pull down my faith. I choose to expose myself to what will grow my faith. I choose to expose myself to what grows my faith.

[92:40] Lord, I am ready to obey you. I'm ready to go to the next level with you in my walk of faith. I'm ready to walk in faith. I'm ready to walk by faith. Lord, help my faith.

[92:50] Lord, help my faith. Somebody pray that Lord, I want to walk by faith. I choose to walk by faith. I choose to put my faith. If you are not saved, you are not safe.

[93:00] Life is dangerous. Life is not under your command. I don't see why I should end this service without giving you an opportunity to say, yes Lord, pastor pray with me because I want to have this bread.

[93:12] I want to put all my confidence in him, all my hope in him. I want to give my life to Jesus. If that is your genuine desire, just lift up your hand and say this after me. Say it genuinely from your heart.

[93:22] Say, Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner. I've sinned against you. I ask you to forgive my sins. Wash me with your blood. Thank you, Lord, for dying on the cross to save me.

[93:36] From today, I will serve you. I believe in you. I put all my hope in you. I put my faith in you as my Lord and personal savior. I receive you into my life.

[93:49] I make a vow with you that I will serve you all the days of my life. Satan, get behind me. I don't belong to you. I belong to Jesus.

[93:59] Thank you, Lord, for saving me. In Jesus' name. Father, I thank you. Your word says that you know your sheep and your sheep know your voice. No one can come to you except your father brings him.

[94:11] I pray that let your grace be upon them. Help them to be strong. I pray that the grace of God will come upon you. The power of the Holy Spirit will come upon you and help you to be a strong Christian. In Jesus' mighty name, amen.

[94:25] Thank you for listening. For more resources, please visit caris.org and call us on 0207 740 9960. God bless you.