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[0:00] We thank you that the entrance of your word gives light. We thank you that faith comes by hearing and hearing of your word. As we hear your word, let faith rise.

[0:11] Let faith rise. Let faith rise for us to possess our possessions in Christ. Thank you for what you have made us. You have already made us in Christ.

[0:22] Thank you for our families. Thank you for marriages in this church. Thank you for our children. Thank you for husbands and wives. Thank you for mothers and fathers.

[0:33] Thank you for family members. We thank you that homes are blessed. In Jesus' name. Amen. Hallelujah. Praise God. I want to talk about the forgiveness in Christ.

[0:47] Forgiveness. The Bible says it was delivered for our offense. It was raised for our justification. Hallelujah. Say I'm forgiven. I'm forgiven. I wanted to talk about I'm forgiven.

[0:58] When you are fasting, you understand you are forgiven. That's why you are fasting. L. All right. What does the L stand for? To build a family that can have an advantage in the future. You need an altar.

[1:10] I mean, L is really obvious. I thought you should know that. Love. Love. For God's own love. For God's own love. This family in God is based on love.

[1:22] The love of God for us surpasses everything. Can you imagine? Bible says in the book of Romans chapter 5 verse 8. It said God demonstrated. He displayed his love.

[1:33] Okay. He demonstrated his love towards us. This is how he did it. That when you. You didn't have to do right. When you were still doing wrong. He died for you.

[1:46] God demonstrated his love for us. In the works we were still sinners. Christ died for us. That's demonstration of love. Bible says that no greater love has any man than this.

[1:59] That a man should lay his life down for his friends. So the love of God. Is what keeps the family of God together. And for a family to stay strong together.

[2:12] Love is very important. What do I mean by love? If there are places that you are not accepted. It shouldn't be the house of God. And it shouldn't be your family. Brothers and sisters.

[2:23] Mothers. Fathers. Sometimes our children will misbehave. Or go out of order. But we have to always remember. Love is stronger than death. Love is stronger than death.

[2:36] Sometimes people will be behaving. In a certain way. That they know they are not lovable. They know they don't deserve love. Even in our families. So when people are growing in a family. And people are in families.

[2:47] And they know that they are loved unconditionally. Do you know what? It gives them some confidence in life. If you are not sure. About the love you enjoy.

[2:59] Or how well accepted. And how well beloved you are. It makes you vulnerable. Many men and women. Most of them. The guys who are misbehaving in town and in prison.

[3:11] When you check down. They feel they are not loved. They feel they are not loved. Love gives people a sense of security. That is why.

[3:22] In the church. We don't have to deal with people based on their pockets. Based on the car they drive. Based on where they were. Where they live. How we like them. We deal with people based on the fact that they are members of God's family.

[3:34] That's all. Who are normal circumstances. You may think that is not serious for Jesus. Praise God. So if you don't take care. You judge people based on how they don't meet your standards.

[3:49] It's very common in the church. Someone has done something. Someone has not done anything. Then we rule them out. We cut them off. So we are always. You know what church. Religious people are. They are always looking for mistakes in others.

[4:02] If they find a mistake in you. They will say you are not a good Christian. Hallelujah. And so it's very important. To be able to build a family. That can take the future.

[4:13] And have an upper hand in the future. Love is strong. Love is necessary. Fathers. Let your children know you love them. Even by the way you treat their mother. Someone say amen.

[4:28] Amen. I like the way Bible puts love. Bible says that love covers a multitude of sins. Love covers loads of sins.

[4:39] So many sins. So anytime you have a relationship with people. And they are always referring you to. You did it the other time. You did it the other time. There's love deficiency. In the relationship.

[4:50] Or in their hearts. In the same way. Husbands and wives. The wife or the husband will say. You did this three years ago. You think I've forgotten. I've not forgotten. And you did it again. Last five months.

[5:00] You think I've forgotten. I've not forgotten. And you did it again. On the 27th of February. You think I've forgotten. I've not forgotten. Bible says. Love keeps no records of wrong.

[5:14] Praise the Lord. The point I want to make here is that. Because love is stronger than death. It doesn't matter how skilled people may look. We can love them out of trouble.

[5:28] We can love them out of shame. We can love them. Most of the young ladies. Who end up becoming vulnerable in life. Is people who feel that.

[5:38] Either dad doesn't love them. Mom doesn't love them. Someone doesn't care about them. And it makes them vulnerable. That's why it's always better. One of the best ways to. Create a love filled atmosphere.

[5:50] Love is not a feeling. Love is a choice. Which generates. Sense of responsibility. And so that is why. It's always good for children.

[6:01] To be born. In a loving relationship. It gives the people. In the family. A future. Alright. So. To face the future. To build.

[6:12] And raise the next generation. We need to make sure. That love is so strong. Every family. That has strong love. You can't penetrate. You can't break into their midst. You can't break their ranks.

[6:23] When the love is very strong. You can't break their ranks. May God strengthen the love. In our families. May God strengthen the. See. As soon as I talk about this. People begin to think about.

[6:34] I can't stand this one. My sister. My sister is always fighting with me. You can't win her. You can't win her. You see. Let's not confuse. Acceptance.

[6:44] With endorsement. You can accept people. But not. It doesn't mean you have endorsed. Their misbehavior. I like the way Bible talks about. It said. You and I have been accepted.

[6:54] In the beloved. We have been accepted. God forgave us. Because of love. Today our theme. Our focus of the day. Is forgiveness. We are forgiven in Christ.

[7:06] And we also. We ought to forgive others. Someone must forgive your mother. Your mother gave birth to you. And just abandoned you. Left you. And your grandmother raised you.

[7:18] Your mother was. Somewhere. Come about it. And then people grow up with the pain in their hearts. If you are a Christian. God can heal that pain. Actually God wants to heal.

[7:28] And God does heal the pain. And you can. Watch this. You can forgive. Any Christians who say. I can't forgive. There is a big question mark. About your Christianity. Amen. Because anyone who is on their way to heaven.

[7:45] Will not carry junk. You have what it takes to jettison. Or release that junk. You can forgive. Tell somebody you can forgive. You can forgive.

[7:56] Tell somebody I can forgive. I can forgive. And forgiveness is a function of love. So at this juncture. I've taken the first 10 minutes. Or so. I will jump to the next point.

[8:08] I will tell you that. I will tell you that. For forgiveness. You've got the L. Tell someone I love you. hey when we close don't go and tell the sister sister what i said i meant it i meant it hey the lord made the pastor say because of me i actually meant it from the bottom of my heart what what have you got to say about this sister how can we take it forward from there hey you're hijacking my message look at ephesians ephesians chapter one verse three that's one of our scriptures for today something is burning in my heart thank you holy spirit blessed be god the father of our lord jesus christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in christ just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love he chose us to be holy and without blame before him in what so when it comes to the issue of love he chose us that we will be without blame before him that chose us to without blame and um without blame before him in love having predestined predestined us unto adoption as sons by jesus christ to himself according as according to the good pleasure of his will to the praise of the glory of his grace by which he made us accepted in the beloved we are accepted in the beloved when the christians are going when god is counting christians when god is mentioning them you are also accepted come you are part of it don't want don't stay out you are part of it you are accepted and you look at yourself say me say yeah you are accepted me some of us know a lot of things about ourselves which people don't know and you know that if people find out some things about your past sometimes people sometimes people are in church they are born again but still they've got a lot to hide because they know if they have found out how many of you understand what i'm saying but bible says that he has made us accepted in the beloved all right in in him verse 7 in him talking about christ we have redemption through his blood let's read it let's read the next phrase together in him we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace according to on what grounds have we been forgiven grace rich god is rich in grace but it's interesting when you read chapter 2 verse 3 it talks about god who is rich in mercy okay god is a rich man he's rich in some stuff he's rich in mercy and he's rich in grace all right so ephesians chapter 1 verse 7 in whom we are redemption through the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace say i'm forgiven i'm forgiven say i'm forgiven i'm forgiven so no one of us don't appreciate it when he says we are forgiven in psalm 103 verse 1 to 3 verse 1 bless the lord o my soul and all that is within me bless his holy name verse 2 bless the lord o my soul and forget not all his benefits who this is the first one where it starts from it didn't start with food hello so those of us who are so attached to food we don't like fasting it didn't start from food it started from forgiveness thank god we started our fasting with the theme of forgiveness

[12:11] the topic of forgiveness say i'm forgiven some people because they grew up in an atmosphere where you can't speak the truth if you speak the truth you are dead you'll be butchered you'll be beaten so they grow up master liars they will lie they have to lie their way through and even when someone tells them don't worry i'm forgiving you they don't believe it because it doesn't exist and some people believe that some things that they have done there's no way god can forgive them the devil is a liar that's where i'm leading to i'm going to show you that it doesn't matter what you have done you qualify for food say food food forgiveness people may hold it against you but god will not hold it against you people and god who is stronger bible says if god be for us people are not a problem so said i like that said bless the lord oh my soul bless the lord and they said and forget not don't forget his benefit all his benefits then he says that he who forgives all your iniquities how many of them you forget forget not all his benefits and then he said verse three say who forgives you who forgives all your iniquities as i said something ago even healing is a function of forgiveness yes he forgives your iniquities heals your diseases watch this watch this god can deal with you with when sin is in your bag i don't know how many of you have traveled to airports before but if you've been to the airport recently there's something called metal detectors even you know if you have high content other places metal detectors you have some metals in your bag and you are expecting them to let you go through no you have to check what it is so if you have sin it's like metal in god's metal detector so you can't go through with sin and so for god to help you know what he starts dealing with he has to pluck so it's like you have gray hair he has to pluck pluck the sin he has to remove it now watch this sin is big the problem of sin is a big problem it's a big problem so that means that the blessing of forgiveness of sin is a big blessing some people can't sleep because of guilt some people when they are driving and they see the lights flash even it's maybe an ambulance because they don't have insurance they begin to drive right because they think that the cctv has picked them up the police is coming see guilty conscience can disturb you bad so so once you are relieved of guilt you are free from sin it's a real blessing now you can do you know what there are people who are in hospital not because of their physical condition but their mental condition has given them physical complications i don't know how many of us have been through a lot of a mental and emotional stress before or when you are feeling guilty you can't sleep you lose appetite because you feel so bad you feel so uncomfortable i don't know how many of you have sinned before since you became born again some of you haven't i mean but if you have sinned before maybe some sin you know you shouldn't at all

[16:12] maybe one day one day you went clubbing and then you ended up on some sister's bed like you know oh you wake up in the morning so god i was supposed to be at the baptist and and and you you feel like you should beat yourself god don't forgive me i don't deserve you feel so bad and then you come to church and when the pastor was preaching and you're saying that hey some of you then you are sure someone has gone to tell the pastor about me so guilt guilt is not good but bible says that god the blessing that god has given us starts with the forgiveness of sin say i'm forgiven i'm going somewhere remember that i'm forgiven okay say i'm forgiven when you are forgiven it comes with attendant blessings attendant opportunities because of forgiveness of sins second corinthians chapter five before you go to second corinthians but let me go to the romance i quoted it earlier but we'll go to second corinthians 5. romans chapter 4 verse 25 all right those of you who are writing so i quoted second corinthians chapter 5 if you're if you're if you're open already can put something there and then romans chapter 4 verse 25 you can also keep something there let's go back again to some 103 i didn't finish that oh all right let me just finish the one someone with there's some some meat there it says that who forgives all your iniquities and who heals all your diseases look at verse 10 verse 10 he has not dealt with us according to what let's all read it together let's go read it again tell someone he has not dealt with me according to my sins tell someone preach to someone he has not dealt with you according to your sins now listen to that so then why if you know he hasn't dealt with you him according to his sins why are you still holding things against him god has not dealt with us he doesn't deal with us according to our sins now that is when you come into christ why because christ changed their dynamics that's where we are going so lost christos in christ alone the dynamics were changed christ changed the dynamic completely he hasn't dealt with us according to our sins nor punish us according to our iniquities how many of you agree with that because some of us would agree if you are honest you agree should have been punished you should have been punished with some sickness or some loss of job or some headaches serious headaches sleepless nights you should have been punished with some loss of money some stuff you know what i'm talking about you should have been punished but guess what tell someone see i'm still here i'm still here so god has why are you here because he has not dealt with us according to our sins and punished us according to our iniquities because who forgives all your iniquities i'm not saying that because okay let me get ready to go for more iniquities because maybe you don't finish getting in and an enemy will step in because going for iniquities like playing on the devil's field you'll get an upper hand over you the reason why i'm sharing these things is that too many of us are ignorant about forgiveness of sins because we are so religious ignorant about forgiveness of sins second corinthians chapter 2 verse 11 says that says that we are not ignorant of the devices of the devil less it will take advantage of us did you see that less satan should take advantage the reason why some of us i think i need special prayer is because of ignorance if you are born again you are special if any prayer you say is a special

[20:17] prayer i'm special all right so if you don't know some of the things that we are teaching satan will take advantage satan only prized on christian's ignorance not christian's lack of power even when it comes to sin satan cannot use your sin against you as long as you confess it's some 130 verse 3 it says that if god should be dealing with us according to our according to our sins if the lord should mark iniquities if you if you should mark iniquities oh lord who can stand not even the nicest person here can stand so then watch this out of love god does not have a choice but to deal with us not based on our sins because if he's going to deal with us based on our sins he in romans chapter 4 verse 25 i like this one i'm going to show you something that's where i will land on it and then we pray and then we go you i want you to leave this building tonight with your chest out that i'm forgiven when you go and sleep when you go home you are rested sleep free you are forgiven when you are in the car and the driver is even driving like uh michael schumacher you know that you are covered you see sin makes people think that the devil can hate them easily when you are guilty and there's sin in your life you feel that the devil can hate you but when you are free bible says the righteousness has pulled us in proverbs chapter 28 now what did i say romans romans 425 are you sure that's what i said maybe that's not the one i'm looking for okay let me check from my scriptures and make sure i got it right oh yeah that's it huh that's already out from the screen let's go some of you are not reading loud let's go who was here because of our offenses and was raised justification now sunday this is one of the scriptures i'm going to be talking about he was raised why because of our justification but so the reason why he was raised was our justification but he was delivered he died first why was he killed delivered up offenses you go and commit an offense and he's been punished for your offense and then he knows he hasn't committed any offense but he says no please let me take it for him it's only love that can do that he's not crying no this is unfair this is unfair this is unfair he said i willingly want to take the punishment became a substitute for the punishment that had to come on us for our offense so a thief arrested about to be executed and then they grab a righteous man has never seen and said let's go and execute this one and you go like you are righteous now how come you are walking around thinking you have done something wrong what i'm about to say is the crux of the message as long as god is concerned listen to this don't miss this don't miss this don't miss this as long as god is concerned your past has been deleted so if they open the file they open their computer whatever they check your past is not there nothing nothing so what's this the key of the message is that because of forgiveness of sins every christian doesn't have a pass you didn't get it you didn't get it when you are a christian you don't have a past if they check your

[24:20] past is christ you don't have a pass so it doesn't matter what you did maybe you got born again last month and then you did something last night and then you you you ask for forgiveness tonight like during the fasting guess what as soon as you speak forgiveness the the past is gone he says that as far as the east is from the west he has he so far has he removed in some 103 verse 12 he said so far 103 is a very powerful scripture you know we read the verse 3 we read the verse 10 look now look at now look at verse 12 it's amazing hallelujah as far as the east is how far is the east from the west how far how very very very far you can't measure because infinity to infinity because scientists cannot tell how far the heavens and the east it's it's just that you can stand and just look but i can't tell and bible says that as far as the east even if he said as far as the east is from where you are that one you can't even measure so as far as the east no end it's from the west no end he says so far has he removed say it's gone say it's gone what is gone my sins forgiven god you don't have a past so long as the record of heaven is concerned and the justice of heaven is concerned they check your past clean record clean record now um like this this boy i believe you don't have a credit card rest your feet my boy do you think he has a credit card he's not likely to have it okay he doesn't have a credit card okay can you imagine in the next 10 years he still doesn't have a credit card and he's trying to apply for something and then they said oh you have 18 credit cards your name said no he doesn't have this when you look at his credit history clean clean sleds in the same way every one of us the reason why you can pray the way you are praying the way you should pray is because when heaven checks the record you don't have a past my pastor so where is the past christ has taken it all on the cross second corinthians that's where i was going to go let's read it quickly second corinthians chapter 5 verse 18 let's start from verse 47 okay therefore if anyone be in christ therefore if anyone be in christ therefore if anyone be in christ therefore is anyone who is anyone who is anyone who is anyone if anyone be in christ he is creation.

[27:20] What don't you understand about new? What don't you understand? How can you tell me new has got a past? New has never got a past. You didn't get it. New is new.

[27:33] New is new. In ascertainment abortions and so what doesn't got a past. The one you said to ascertainment abortion is the old one.

[27:46] But this one, he was in Christ. This one said if anyone, anyone conditions just be in Christ, that's all. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new Christian.

[27:57] All things are all things are how many things have become new? How many? How many? How many?

[28:08] How many? Hold on, hold on. Let me finish. Let me finish. Brother, look at the verse 18.

[28:20] You will like this one. Now, all things are of God. God, he does, he's the one with the mastermind behind this. All things are of God. Who has reconciled ourselves to himself through Christ and has given his ministry of, he, he himself came to reconcile us, get us back to himself.

[28:38] Now watch the verse 19. Ah, that is God, God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespass against them.

[28:51] If God should mark iniquity, who can stand? So he came into Christ. So, now, this is Christ. And this is sinner. God was in Christ.

[29:04] So, I'm God. Okay. In Christ, reconciling the world to himself. So, if you go outside of Christ, you don't have a chance.

[29:19] That's right. He says that, watch this, because of time, he says that, for there is only one God. First Timothy chapter 2, verse 6. There is only, how many God?

[29:31] One God. How many God? One God. There is only one God. First Timothy chapter 2, verse 5, verse 5. For there is only one God.

[29:41] And how many mediators? One. Christ alone. Someone say, Christ alone. Say, Christ alone. There's only one God.

[29:53] And only one mediator between God and man. And he said, in order not to get you confused, let me mention it here. Christ. The man, Christ Jesus.

[30:03] Christ. He brought us to God. Second Corinthians chapter 5, back to second Corinthians chapter 5, verse 19, he said, God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses against them, and has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation.

[30:20] So, God reconciled. He doesn't count sins against people once Christ comes from the sin. Say, I'm forgiven. I'm forgiven. Say, I'm forgiven. I'm forgiven. Finally, the impact of this forgiveness.

[30:34] Colossians. These scriptures are all part of our Bible reading today. Colossians chapter 2. I like that bit. Colossians chapter 2, verse 13.

[30:48] And you being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made a life together with him, having forgiven all your trespasses. Do you know what?

[30:59] This is a serious thing. He didn't say that you were doing trespasses. He said you were dead in the thing. Can you imagine? Dead.

[31:09] Dead in trespass. So, there's no hope. You. You are dead in it. So, your future is sealed. Dead in trespass. God, watch this, trespass and uncircumcision of your flesh.

[31:23] You don't have any covenant with God. God made us alive. So, this, is it okay to die on the stage? Christ, come.

[31:37] God made a life. So, Christ also, you know what? The crucifixion and the resurrection. Actually, so this is me and you. And that is Christ. He had to be like us.

[31:49] Hebrews chapter 2, verse 12, 13, 14. It says, and then the children are partakers of flesh and blood. He himself likewise shared in the same. Why? That's through death.

[32:01] So, Jesus, spirits don't die. So, Jesus himself became flesh and blood so that he can also die and be at a level. Through death, he destroyed him who has the power of death.

[32:12] And who is that? Dead. The dead one is not a problem if you are born again. I'm going to show you something. And so, Jesus also came to die. Back to that previous scripture I was talking about. And when he was, Bible says that God raised him from the dead.

[32:26] Okay? Colossians chapter 2, verse 13 says that, and you being dead in your trespasses, that's you, he made a life. So, when Christ, when he was making Christ alive, hold him, he resurrected Christ and made Christ alive from the dead.

[32:40] So, when Christ was raised from the dead, was made alive, we were made alive together. Do you see that? Together with Christ, have been forgiven.

[32:51] So, now that you are here, the state here doesn't exist again. Have been forgiven. Say, I'm forgiven. Say, I'm forgiven. Tell somebody, look at me very well.

[33:03] I am a forgiving man. Say it again, look at me very well. I don't know about you, but ask for me, I am forgiven. And I am free.

[33:13] Who descends is free, is free indeed. Shout out hallelujah. Shout out hallelujah. Hey.

[33:27] Quickly. Colossians, let me finish. Were you happy you heard about the L? Tomorrow, I'll talk about the T. And then Wednesday, we are going to do Holy Ghost baptism.

[33:40] Those who don't speak in tongues, but you are born again. You want to speak in tongues. Wednesday is for you. Going to pray. Holy Ghost will be moving some. Hey. But, he, watch this, let's finish this.

[33:51] And you being dead and treacherous, he has made a life together with him. Have been forgiven all your trespasses. Go to the next verse. Watch this. Watch this. And, I feel like clapping for Jesus. And, have been wiped out.

[34:05] I told you, the records are deleted. Hallelujah. Have been wiped out. Okay.

[34:16] Handwriting, signatures, everything. Handwrites of, requirements, that were against you. He wiped them out. Which was, this thing doesn't help your destiny.

[34:28] There are some things that is in your blind line. But, it doesn't help your destiny. Do you know what Christ did? He wiped them out. Stop telling me you need deliverance. What you need, is the understanding of what Christ has done, and begin to work in it.

[34:42] You can stand on the motorway. So long as you're a policeman. The other time I was, I was, on the way. And, these guys who use the, the speed gun. There was a guy in front of me, he was speeding, dual carriage road.

[34:54] And then, this policeman just walked in the middle of the road. And, hey. I said, this guy is not, is he not afraid? He just came, because he was wearing police uniform. He, he can look like, anyone.

[35:07] As long as he stands, you, you can be driving, an articulator. Tipper track. Loaded with goose. All he has to do is do this. What's going to happen?

[35:19] You will stop. Where's the power coming from? The authority behind him. Where you are born again. Watch this. Go to the scripture again. Christ wiped out, everything that was against you.

[35:30] And he nailed it to the cross. He took it out of the way. Having nearly took the cross. He has nailed it. So, you have full restoration of your dignity. Full restoration of what God has made you to be.

[35:42] Full restoration of what you are supposed to be in life. So, I am blessed. I am blessed. So, when people say you are blessed, it's not talking about the hairstyle you have. It's not talking about the car you drive.

[35:53] You can be driving a Bentley, but you are not blessed. And I can be driving a Ford Focus, old one. And I'm blessed. I am blessed. I am blessed. I am blessed. I am blessed.

[36:04] Now, once you understand this, it helps you to cash in on the blessings. When you are praying, you know how you pray. You pray with confidence. You pray like a forgiving person.

[36:15] When you are praying for financial breakthrough, you pray like a forgiving person because you know God is listening. So, what is fasting? Walk with your chest out. If you, if it happens that you fall to some sin, maybe you went to lie at the train station or something, quickly recover, confess, and walk because as soon as you confess, you don't have a record.

[36:40] In the name of Jesus. If you got blessed today, come on, put your hands together. Shout out for giving. Raise your feet and give the Lord some praise. He deserves all the praise.

[36:53] Come on, put your hands together for him. He deserves all the honor. Lift up your hands and begin to thank him for today. Father, we thank you for forgiveness of sins.

[37:05] Thank you that you are building us a future in our family. We give you praise, Lord. We appreciate you for what you have done on the cross. Come on, begin to thank him. Begin to thank him. Thank you for listening.

[37:16]  For more resources, please visit caris.org or call us on 0207-740-9960. God bless you. God bless you.