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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.

[0:33] Father, we thank you for the privilege to hear your word. We pray you speak to us, inspire us, import yourself into us in the name of Jesus Christ.

[0:43] Impart more of yourself in us. Let us see you. Let us have an experience and an encounter in you as we hear your word. Thank you that as your word is delivered, sicknesses are being healed, sin is being convicted, the lost are being saved.

[0:59] In the name of Jesus, the confused are being directed, and discouraged are being encouraged. Thank you, Lord. This month is a month of compensation and divine elevation.

[1:14] God is a God who compensates. God is a God who elevates. Today, we are here to experience the elevation of God and the compensation of heaven.

[1:31] And now, this month being a month of divine elevation, divine compensation, what are some of the things that when we do, we can guarantee and facilitate God elevating us and God compensating us?

[1:44] All right. Those are some of the things I will be, by the grace of God, sharing this morning from God's word. Hallelujah. So, as I said earlier on, one of the things to do to enjoy compensation and elevation is to walk with God.

[2:02] You know what I discovered in life? I discovered that God does not just do anything arbitrarily. When God wants to bless anyone, he leaves the person with a responsibility.

[2:17] So, when God wants to bless you, he tells you, do A, B, C. And so, divine elevation, for instance, let me just say, for instance, if God wants to give you, let's say, a house, all right, he would not, where you are living, throw a house, drop a house from heaven.

[2:38] He would actually tell you, go to A, B, C, go there, you'll meet someone there, call this name, say to this person, and do this, and do this, and then get the keys, and when you get the keys, take the first left, and you know what I'm talking about.

[2:56] So, then after he says that, what happens if you don't go and sit there? You'll never get a house. So, if you say, I'm God, but where is the house? God, you promised me the house. The house is in your hands.

[3:07] So, anytime God wants to bless someone, he leaves the person with a responsibility. Now, if God is about to elevate someone, if God is about to compensate someone, he will also leave you with a responsibility.

[3:24] Now, there are things to do in order to experience God. So, if you sit down quietly, or if you sit down in your house, in your room, and not do anything, and fold your arms, and waiting for the train to come and pick you from home, chances are that you will never go anywhere.

[3:44] But you have to get up, and do what you got to do, in order to see what you have to see. None of us woke up this morning, closed your eyes, and chanted, and you appear here.

[3:56] You can't. Even if chanting can make you appear somewhere, not here. No, no, no, no. That thing that will bring you here, will run away before it even gets here. Because there's too much power here.

[4:08] For demonic entities to come here. Because when you do that, it's demonic. That's not how God has arranged things. All right. So, what I'm trying to say is that God will give you a responsibility.

[4:19] Now, what are some of the things we got to do, in order to experience divine elevation? Number one thing I want to talk today, is divine direction. It is nice to, you know, I know, I'm very sure, some of us here, some of us who drive, have sat-navs.

[4:42] Why do you need a sat-nav? Because you don't know everywhere. So, you need a sat-nav to guide you, to help you, please stand left.

[4:53] Some of the sat-navs are very gentle and very respectful. Some of them said, stand right now. The other thing I was with Pastor O, and this sat-nav said, please stand left.

[5:06] Pastor O said, this sat-nav is very gentle. Because others say, stand right now. Stand right now. One day, someone will say, I said, turn right now. Didn't you hear what I said? Turn right now.

[5:22] But, but sat-nav will tell you, turn right. If you don't turn right, some of it will tell you, it will give you another option. Or it will tell you, do a U-turn, if possible, and come back.

[5:33] Now, God will be guiding some of us, but the problem is, most of us, don't want to do it God's way. So you relocate to Birmingham, and you want to use landing A to Z, to navigate the streets of Birmingham.

[5:45] And then you are saying that, even these streets are not good. No, it's not the streets. It's the map you are using. Now, God, in the same way, in the month of elevation, and in the month of compensation, he will show you some things to do, in order for you to be compensated.

[6:01] But if you don't do them, guess what? Your compensation still stays, in the realm, of the supernatural, or in an ethereal realm, and you'll never be in the physical realm, because you haven't taken the steps, you have to take.

[6:15] So, divine direction is necessary for anything. Anyone who wants to enjoy from God, enjoy your work with God, divine direction, is necessary. Everyone needs divine direction.

[6:27] In the book of Proverbs chapter 3, verse 5 and 6, he says that, trust in the Lord, with all your might, and lean not on to your own understanding, but in all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will direct your path.

[6:43] Trust in the Lord, with all your might, and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your way, acknowledge him, and he shall direct your path.

[6:57] So then, if you acknowledge God, he will direct you. God is interested, in directing us. God is interested, in speaking to us. God is interested, in pointing where we should go, so as to stay away from trouble.

[7:11] You know, there are certain contracts, there are certain businesses, there are certain agreements, some people must not sign, but you may not know. One of the things, that matters to us most, my wife and I most, is the school our children will attend.

[7:31] Attending a private school, does not guarantee, your success in life. You say, my child will go to a private school, and we'll meet a monster. And the monster will quench, his light in life.

[7:45] Because you don't have control, over who will be friends, your friend, or who your child may like. So you take them, to a certain school, and maybe there is a, someone the devil has sent, waiting for them.

[7:59] You know my dad, my dad vowed, that no child of his, will go to a certain school. Because my, elder sister went to that school, and gave my parents help.

[8:12] My dad said, I've regretted, letting my daughter go to such a school. That will not be your testimony. Amen. But you know, some of these things, you don't know what will turn out tomorrow.

[8:24] Yeah. You don't know, we are, we human beings, are not all knowing. We are very restricted, and we are very limited, in the scope of our knowledge. Yeah. So you, you just don't know.

[8:36] Because you just don't know, it is good to let the one who knows, take you where you got to go. Yes. Hmm. It's just good. But nowadays, when I'm driving, I try to lean, depend to a certain extent, on the traffic news.

[8:54] Because I don't know, what I don't like, is to be in a hurry, and to end up in a serious traffic, especially on a dual carriage road, where you can't do a U-turn. Right. And you are stuck, for a long time.

[9:06] Honey, was it last week? We went to, we went somewhere, we went somewhere in Kent, and we were coming, and the traffic was so bad, we decided to go the opposite, with not knowing, we were actually, driving into the aisle, the stop, making, making matters worse.

[9:21] And so, in life, you don't want to take a turning, that will cost you, four more years. Right. Right. Right. You don't want to, enter into a relationship, that will set you back, ten more years.

[9:35] You've struggled enough. Hey. Hmm. So now, how can you avoid these things? Divine direction. Right. Divine direction. And the good news is that, Chanel, God is always interested, in directing us.

[9:50] Right. So what's the problem? Because we need direction, and God is interested, in directing us. So what's the problem? What does interfere, with the communication? Our readiness, yes, to receive communication.

[10:02] Now, what are some of the ways, God speaks to us, or directs us? Some of the ways, through one, God does this, through prophets, or through his servants, number one, through his servants. So sometimes, a man of God, a servant of God, can tell you, maybe he may not even be, a financial analyst, but you're about to make a, a major, take a major step, make an investment, and in prayer, he can tell you that, no, I feel you shouldn't, you shouldn't take this step.

[10:29] Like Paul, in Acts chapter 27, from verse one, from verse, particularly from verse five, six downwards, they were traveling, and Paul is not a meteorologist, he wasn't a meteorologist, but he was just a spiritual man, and he told them, that I perceive, that this voyage, is going to bring us, a lot of loss and harm, but, but the master of the ship, who knew, the weather, so that everything was, what is this crazy man, talking about, my friend, go stay with your Bible, and leave us to do, my business, and he went, according to expect advice, and it costed him so much, because then Paul said, you should have listened to me, when I spoke to you, Paul said, I perceive, that this voyage, will become odious, and so sometimes, God uses, servants, his servants, he uses servants of God, to speak into our life, I know, someone is seated here, before I started preaching, you've already heard from God, you know, God is telling you something, oh, I mean, the one who God is speaking, because what,

[11:31] Pastor Brian, you know what I like about God, when he's speaking to you, you will know, if you speak French, you come and speak, Cantonese, he will speak French to you, you will speak in such a way, that you, you, it will be so clear, that God is trying, to tell you something, is someone listening to me, so God speaks to his servants, and so be, be expectant, as I speak, God will be speaking to you, amen, it may not be a direct, I may not call you out, but, those who have ears, will hear what God is saying, so God speaks through his servants, the prophets, and then number two, God also speaks, through what we call, symbols and tokens, symbols and tokens, signs, he will give some symbols, he will give some tokens, so symbols and tokens, are like, elements, and, signs, he will give you certain signs, some people, I'm not saying zodiac, I'm not saying the, what do you call it, go and read the star, it's a horoscope, no, no, no, God has been speaking to me, the devil speaks to people, through horoscope, if the name even tells you, horror is coming,

[12:34] God speaks through, sometimes, not all the times, sometimes, he can speak to us, through signs and symbols, there was a, there's a lady amongst us here, right now as I speak, that's about seven years ago, eight years ago, minister, it's about eight years ago, she, we were about to do baptism, she, she, she was baptized previously, I think so, but, it wasn't a baptism, that she had, after becoming a Christian, and then she wasn't sure about it, should I baptize, or should I baptize, and so after the service, when it was announced, she was thinking, should I come for the baptism, should I register for the baptism, and on her way back home, she said she was just thinking, thinking, should I do it, should I do it, then you know what she saw, she just saw someone, walking in the, behind the shed, is in front of the shed, in front of the shed, they've written, just do it, am I right, just do it, and she has never regretted, doing it, after she did, she knew that that was all God, so God used that sign, to just speak to her, just do it, now I'm not saying, go around looking for, what is written in front, of people's t-shirts, maybe God is saying, something to me, so let me look, let me, what's written on your t-shirts, no, but I'm saying that, when God speaks to you, you know he's speaking to you, and in that particular, it was very unambiguous, that God was telling her a message, right, so God speaks to us, through signs, and symbols, and number three,

[14:11] I like this, the most, the most reliable way, God speaks to us, the most, the surest way, is his word, the word of God, the word of God, let's not say, the word of God, read your Bible, pray every day, pray every day, pray every day, when you read, when you read your Bible, you will hear God, how many of you, have experienced that before, sometimes something, you are taking your, you read your Bible, you know God is trying, to tell you something, it's so clear, you know, there was a gentleman, I said this story, a few times, but let me say it again, every time, he just reads his Bible, instead of, you see, I've been quoting a few scriptures, instead of writing it, you write it, and then, anytime he reads it, he wants to read his Bible, what he does is, he takes the Bible, rolls it, rolls it, rolls it, rolls it, open it, open it, and closes his eye, puts his finger there, and whatever he finds, he reads it, alright, so, that's what he's been doing, one day he just did it, he did it, you know, oh, what does God want me to do,

[15:13] I need to divide direction, and put his hand there, and he read, and Judas went to hang himself, this is irrelevant, this is not the one, so he did it again, rolled it, rolled it, rolled it, and open it, I need another one, direction, a divine direction, put his finger there, and said, go, he, and do likewise, you just went to hang himself, go and do likewise, no, no, no, this cannot be for me, close it, and until the last time, he said, this is the last chance, let me see, open it, put his hand, whatever you have to do, do it quickly, but read your Bible, God will speak to you, number four, is through dreams and visions, God speaks through dreams and visions, it does not suppose that every dream you have is from God, that okay, because the devil can also give you dreams, dreams come from, actually, let me say, four sources, number one,

[16:23] God can talk to us through dreams, number two, the devil can give us dreams, number three, what we are preoccupied with, so have you realized something, maybe you are going to buy a new house, or you are going to write an exam, and you have a dream, that you are already at the examination room, it's because you are preoccupied with it, you are going, you are planning on going to marriage, or maybe you are planning your wedding, you have a dream, you saw yourself in your wedding gown, in your wedding gown, you know what I'm saying, so sometimes, sometimes, what preoccupies you, you can take it into a dream, all right, and then the last source is overeating, the food you eat can give you dreams, and there are some people, when you look at them, you can tell that, they have a lot of dreams, you go to the food, so before you wake up, and say that, God has told me, I shall marry you, why, because I saw you in my dreams, check the food, you have been eating, years ago in Africa, someone told the story of, he was having, he was always having, strange dreams of, horses, and cows, running after him, and he wasn't stopping, he wasn't stopping, every time, he was having that kind of dream, so one day, he just went to, some spiritual man, to go and ask,

[17:47] I don't understand these dreams, what's the meaning of the dream, and the master, what kind of bed, have you been sleeping on, now in Africa, they have this bed, not with mattresses, it's stuffed, yeah, stuffed with straw, that kind of, it's very, very relaxed, and so the master, they have been chasing you, because you have been lying, on their foot, so dream comes, from different sources, but then the fact, is that the Bible says, that you're, according to, Joel chapter 2, verse 28, said your young men, shall dream dreams, and your old men, shall see visions, or the other way around, all right, so God speaks to us, through dreams, someone say dreams, dreams, God speaks to us, through dreams, so he speaks to us, through prophets, he speaks to us, through, signs, and symbols, he speaks to us, through his word, speaks to us, through dreams, he also speaks to us, through events, sometimes certain events, happen, and you can know, that God is talking to you, you can know, that God is talking to you, there's a gentleman, who wanted to marry, a certain lady, he's a Christian brother, he wanted a lady, it's why he didn't have, the boldness, to propose, and say to the lady, so, you know, some guys are like that, they can't talk,

[19:04] I don't understand, you want to marry her, but you can't tell her, you better, don't go and take some alcohol, go and drink, so he'll be tasty, so he, no, no, you are not a man, if you are a man, first a woman, so, he couldn't say so, in his room, I think he wanted to know, whether God, is the will of God, for him to marry the woman, so the woman was coming, to visit him one day, and he asked, it's just a studio flat, small room, only one bed, and one chair, okay, and, he has packed, a lot of laundry, on the chair, so he prayed, he said, if the woman comes, and sits on the bed, that means, that is a sign, that maybe already, there's no way, she can sit, there's no way, she can sit, so you have already, defined your answer, so, but God can speak, to us through events, things happen, and then God, will be speaking, to somebody, through the situation, that happened, is it possible, that maybe, this morning, you were dragged here, you had a drug problem, so you were dragged, to church this morning, is it possible, you were dragged, and realized, that the one, who dragged you here, has done you a good, a lot of help, and God is trying, to tell you that, always listen to me, because anytime, that person invites you, to some place, it turns out, for your good, and the other people, anytime they invite you, somewhere, is harming you, maybe God is giving you, a message, so God speaks to us, through events, as well, number six,

[20:36] God speaks to us, through people, and objects, people, and objects, God speaks to us, through people, and objects, he can use people, sometimes, they don't, they may not even, be Christians, but God may speak, to you, through them, and God, oh this one, this last, but one, is not quite nice, but it's true, sometimes God speaks, to us through trials, Bible says, that he learned, obedience, through what he suffered, the Bible talks, about a good father, chastises the child, the son he loves, so sometimes, God will allow you, to go through some things, just to teach you something, or just for you, to learn some things, and it's good for your, for your health, and safety, right, so sometimes trials, may come, I'm not saying, that every trial, is a sign from God, that he's telling you something, I'm not saying that, what I'm saying, is that sometimes, some of the things, that we go through, or God,

[21:44] God may, God doesn't bring trouble, let me make that very clear, okay, God does not bring, life is already stressful, for God to ask more, if it needs to, stress will come, naturally, it's just like, we're growing, in your garden, just leave it, you don't have to go, and buy special weeds, to plant, just leave it to come, life is like that, alright, so stress, and troubles, come naturally, so God will not, add to your trouble, but what, when you work with God, what you enjoy, is he protects you, he shields you, so some things, that should have befallen you, or brought you problem, God will protect you from it, you understand what I'm saying, yeah, so God, but there are times, where God will allow, some things, just to come on you, so he can teach you, a lesson, it's not that he's punishing you, but he can allow, some things, just for a season, so that you can learn, some of us, is it possible that, you haven't learned your lesson, so you are repeating the class, you are repeating the class, and it is prolonging, the suffering, and the trial, maybe, this is one of the things,

[22:49] I do, when I go through things, I don't understand, I pray that God, anything I have to learn, from this, help me to learn it quickly, so I can check out of here, because I don't like it, so sometimes too, and then finally, God speaks to us, through his spirit, his spirit, let's all say the Holy Spirit, God speaks to us, through the Holy Spirit, through the Holy Spirit, in Romans chapter 8, verse 14, Romans chapter 8, verse number 14, shall we all read it, from the screen, is that okay, is that okay, let's all read it together, let's go, these are the sons, can I have, let let this read it out, let's go, can I have the men, let's go men, for as many, us are led, by the spirit of God, these are the sons, man you didn't read it, out loud at all, let's read it out loud, man let's go again, for as many, us are led, by the spirit of God, these are the sons, of God, so when you are, a son of God, the spirit of God, leads you, the spirit of God, will lead you, divine leadings, the other time,

[24:15] I spoke about, how sometimes, the spirit of God, lead us, you know, I gave, I think, one lady's testimony, when someone, visited their house, and, it was very, disturbing, the person, who visited their house, got the person, medals in the occult, and all kinds of, spiritual things, around the person, and they just had this baby, and when the person came, they knew that trouble, had come, everyone knows the person, in the family, the person came, when the person left, the whole house, they were worried, now this baby, this person has come to be, this, oh God, when the person called, they said, I'm coming, they started prayer meeting, oh God, hey God, hey God, don't let this person come, hey, trouble is coming, as soon as the person, came and left, the place was, they were all worried, in the house, you heard the testimony, and then, after the person had left, I struck, one of the gentleman, who were with me, in the office, called them, I didn't know, called this person, tell them, I'm coming to visit them, if he does fine with them, that's after midnight, that is very, unlikely, for someone, to come and visit, but when they heard, he said, tell him to come quickly, imagine, now, that was God, sending me there, to go, and, to crunch some fires, but I didn't know, it's just divine leading, divine leading,

[25:35] God will just lead you, he will guide you, take some steps, once you walk with God, you will take some steps, and you will know, that God is leading you, one of our brothers, last Thursday, was it Thursday, or Friday, I think it was Thursday, Thursday night, Pastor O and I, went out, and then on our way back, I felt in my spirit, that, let me just pass by their house, so I called him, that was almost, half 11, 1130ish, I called him, it was late, I said, let me check if the, the wife is not asleep, and he's not asleep, we can, I just felt in my spirit, just go and step day, go into the house, because brothers and sisters, I am aware of what I carry, I'm aware, so sometimes, entering your house, has what it brings, right, so, I just called a gentleman, that I wanted to come to the house, and, I said, is that okay, is your wife asleep, so she's asleep, then I said, I said, polite person should do, I said, oh, if she's asleep, then maybe, I wanted to come, I will do another time, waiting for him to, what I don't like, is when I call you,

[26:36] I want to come, and so pastor, if it's convenient for you, I don't operate on convenience, I don't operate on convenience, I don't operate on convenience, pastor, if it's convenient, then come, I don't want to trouble, I said, I am available, but I don't want to create inconvenience for you, in the name of a pastor, you know what I'm saying, and so the, when I told the gentleman, I was waiting to see, whether he wants to, I would have gone, but, he said, that, well, my wife is asleep, but if you do, you can come, I said, oh, if your wife is asleep, then let's make it another time, he said, okay, pastor, okay, but that's okay, because there's nothing, the next day, he came to office, he said, pastor, you should have come, because my wife went out, and had an accident, I believe, there was something, that was moving you, to come to the house, and spare us some trouble, you know, so as many as, are led by the spirit of God, and it's not only pastors, you too, God can just lead you, go in some way, God can just put you, on your heart, to pray someone's, food shopping for them, not knowing, it's Bill Gates' cousin, wow, see what I'm saying, so, so, as many as, as many as, the spirit of God, will lead us, in John chapter 14, let's look at that, in John chapter 14, verse 26,

[27:59] I want to finish that, we are going to look at, John chapter 16, verse 10, 12 and 13, but John chapter 14, verse 26, he says that, but the helper, who is the helper, who is the helper, I can hear, who is the helper, so Jesus said, but when the Holy Spirit, whom the Father, will send in my name, when he comes, he will teach you, all things, and bring to your, remembrance, things that I have said to you, the Holy Spirit is a teacher, he will teach you, go this way, go that way, go this way, go that way, in Isaiah, before we come back to John chapter 16, look at Isaiah chapter 30, verse 21, Isaiah chapter 30, verse 21 says that, I like that text, it said, your ears shall, your ears shall hear, a word behind you, saying, this is the way, walk in it, whenever you turn, to the right hand, or whenever you turn, to the left, you will be going, but something will be guiding, pass here, pass here, now we just read, it said, when the Holy Spirit comes, he will teach you, he will guide you, into the truth, so it is the Holy Spirit's job, to guide us, and teach us, divine direction, is necessary, for peace in life, if you want to enjoy, your peace of mind, seek divine direction, seek divine direction, seek divine direction, in John chapter 16, verse 12, and 13, let's have a look at that, still I have many things, to say to you, but you cannot bear, them now, verse 13, however, when he, the spirit of truth, did you see the name, the spirit of truth, when he, the spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you, into all truth, for he will not speak, on his own authority, but whatever he hears, he will speak, and he will tell you, things to come, you need the Holy Spirit, we need him, more than ever before, for the Holy Spirit, to be guiding us,

[30:03] Holy Spirit, teach me, show me, so the spirit of truth, comes to guide us, he comes to teach us, he comes to show us, where we must go, what contract you must sign, what job, it's not every job, you must accept, you know, yeah you are desperate, but some jobs, are coming, I know, there have been people, who come to me, pastor I've got two offers, I don't know which one, this one the money is good, but the people are not nice, this one the people are nice, but the money is not good, which one, unfortunately me too, I don't know, the only one who knows, is the Holy Spirit, so that's where we have to, we have to get to the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit, show us what to do, show us which way to go, show us what to choose, hallelujah, now, now, so in the last few minutes, I've got, I want to talk to us about, how do you hear, from the Holy Spirit then, I want you to know, pastor, you say you don't know, so how do I know, the Holy Spirit, but how can I hear, from the Holy Spirit, that's what I'm going to talk about, how can I hear, from the Holy Spirit, this one is foundational, what I'm going to say, it's not one of the points, but it's, it's, it's, it overshadows, every point, all the points,

[31:21] I'm going to give, a hinge on this one, you must be born again, if you are not born again, God can't speak to you, what he will tell you is, be born again, if you are not born again, if you are not giving your life, to Jesus Christ, you can't be enjoying, fellowship with the Holy, Holy Spirit, because he's holy, hallelujah, so that one is, fundamental, but, having said that, now that we are born again, how, because I've been born again, but I can't hear, are there people who are born again here, I can't hear you, yes, but how many of you agree with me, I'm born again, I don't hear, the Holy Spirit sometimes, I don't know what to do, that's why I'm going to show you this, number one, number one, so, how, how, do you, hear, how, do you, get yourself, to walk with the Holy Spirit, to hear, what the Spirit of God is saying, number one, practice the presence, of the Holy Spirit, practice his presence, practice, be conscious, of his presence with you,

[32:27] I like the way, John chapter 14, I think verse 17, he said that, the Spirit of truth, will abide with you forever, forever, say forever, forever, the Holy Spirit, will never leave you, if you are born again, he will never leave you, okay, he says that, the Spirit of truth, who the world cannot receive, because, it neither sees him, nor know you, you see, so if you are not born again, you cannot receive the Holy Spirit, you are not part of what, I'm talking about, right, so whom the world cannot receive, okay, the world cannot receive, but you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you, right, yeah, that's it, verse 16 says, verse 16 says that, and I pray the Father, and he will give you, another helper, that may, that he may abide with you, how long, forever, how long, forever, how long, so the Holy Spirit, when you are born again, the Holy Spirit, abides with you forever, when you are going to the nightclub, he's with you, when you are changing figures, in the office, he's with you, when you are lying, and gossiping about someone, he's with you, not that he's helping you, there are two different things, he's with you, do you know, you can have a dog, in your house, a very wild dog, and people can come, and they won't know, that there's a dog in the house, because you've kept the dog, somewhere, in the basement, somewhere, some people, the Holy Spirit is with us, but we have put him, under the third floor, basement, third floor, and I say, oh, the Holy Spirit can't speak to me,

[33:57] I don't think he likes me, he's with you, but you have put him, somewhere, very far, so, one of the ways, to get the Holy Spirit, to speak to you, or to hear from the Holy Spirit, is to practice his presence, practice the fellowship, with the Holy Spirit, but he puts it this way, he wakes up in the morning, he said, good morning Holy Spirit, everywhere he's going, he's everywhere you are going, you must be conscious, that he is with you, because he's abiding with you, always, he's always with you, he said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you, the Holy Spirit is with you, even in difficult times, the Holy Spirit is with you, in good times, the Holy Spirit is with you, to help you, so, practice his presence, because, watch this, what do you mean by practice his presence, be conscious, he's with you, being conscious, he's with you, the conscious, he's with you, when you go on the train, be conscious, he's with you, when you go on the bus, be conscious, he's with you, when you go to Sierra Leone, be conscious, he's with you, when you go to,

[35:02] Liberia, be conscious, when you go to Nigeria, when you go to South Africa, be conscious, be with you, when you go to America, be conscious, if you go to Syria, be conscious, he's with you when you go to Kuwait.

[35:17] Be conscious he's with you. Now, once you know he's with you, you then begin to depend on him. I know you are here. Tell me something. When you go for the interview, be conscious he's with you.

[35:31] Be conscious. Don't be afraid. When you go into the examination room, be conscious he's with you there. So when you are writing the exam, what you have learned before you go. But what you have learned as you are writing, as you are writing, be conscious of the Holy Spirit as many answers are led by the Spirit.

[35:47] Why didn't you answer question number 8? But you chose to go to number 9. You were actually going to answer number 8, but you just answered number 9. That's why what I did was usually not conventional. I was doing the naming ceremony and I said, I don't understand why someone wants to marry and you don't want to submit to a husband or a wife. I interrupted what I was doing. I'm conscious he's with me. So things that I say, I'm conscious.

[36:09] He's trying to talk to someone. Then you left the church and said, I think someone went to tell something to tell pastor. No, the Holy Spirit is conscious. He's with me and I'm conscious. That is why he told me to tell you.

[36:27] Practice the Holy Spirit. Practice his presence. Number 2. So number 1, how do you engage the Holy Spirit? Practice his presence. Number 2, the Word.

[36:38] Read the Word. Read the Word. When I say the Word, I mean the Word of God. Read the Word of God. Usually when I'm directing someone to Graceland and the person says, oh, I know Pomeroy Street. I say, oh, then it's easy.

[36:58] But the person doesn't know Oaken Road. Doesn't know Pomeroy Street. Doesn't know Elephant and Castle. Doesn't know anywhere in London. It becomes a lot of work. I have to try and guide the person.

[37:11] Can you imagine you want to direct someone to Pomeroy Street and the person says that, I know there's the street there. They sell some cars at the junction and there is a warehouse, a plant.

[37:25] As soon as you say, oh, you know a plant? Next, right after a plant, we are there. You don't have to talk about Oaken Road and anything again. Now, when you familiarize, you know yourself with God's Word, you know God's Word, it is easy for God to just direct you.

[37:39] It's easy. It's easy. Because you are familiar with the area. So once he speaks, you know he's spoken. You know he's spoken.

[37:50] You know he's spoken. You know he has spoken. Because you are familiar with his Word. I'm not saying you have to be a theologian in order to hear the Holy Spirit. But be a Christian who reads your Bible every day.

[38:02] It makes it easy for the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Bible says that in 2 Timothy 2, verse 15, it says, Steady to show yourself approved unto God. A workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.

[38:16] Verse 15, rightly dividing the Word of truth. So you have to steady. You have to be diligent. Steady means that be diligent. Do something. Steady God's Word. It helps you not to be ashamed.

[38:29] You will not be put to shame. I said, you will not be put to shame. In 2 Peter 1, verse 19 to 21, 2 Peter 1, there's a very interesting text there.

[38:41] 2 Peter 1, verse 19 to 25, 21, it says that, and, thank you Jesus. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed.

[38:55] When you read King James, it says, we have the sure word of prophecy. Okay? We have the sure word of prophecy. We have the prophetic word of God confirmed, which you do well to heat as a light that shines in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your heart.

[39:15] So it's like, as you keep your eye on God's Word, you are guaranteed that the light is going to shine on you. The day star is going to arise. Knowing first, verse 20, knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation.

[39:29] For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by God. So the Word of God is the sure word of prophecy. Once you go the Word of God, you won't go wrong because you know why?

[39:42] There are a lot of people who go around and say, God told me, God told me, God told me. Anytime you feel God is telling you something, the Spirit of God is telling you something, and you can't find its roots in God's Word, forget about it.

[39:53] It's not from God. God will never say anything outside of His Word. Does that make sense? You see someone's husband, you believe that God is telling you that's going to be your husband very soon.

[40:06] Do you know where you're coming from? The devil is speaking to you, not God. Because it's against God's Word. Does that make sense? Some people didn't like what I said. Is anyone here timing sounds?

[40:21] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. All right. Number three. Hey, this one is a strong one. Number three. Let's all say holiness. Oh, you say it. Say it out louder.

[40:33] Yeah. Holiness. First Peter chapter one, verse 13. It says that, therefore, get up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

[40:51] Verse 14. As obedient children, not conforming yourself to the former lust. Did you see that? Say former. Former. What does that mean?

[41:02] It's in the past. It's in the past. So when you get born again, some things must be former. You must have a former lust. It's not a current lust.

[41:13] Put it back on the screen, please. Former lust. Okay. As in your ignorance.

[41:25] Lust was raining your life because we are all ignorant. But now things are different. Go to the next verse and see. But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.

[41:40] Verse 16. Because it is written, be holy for I am holy. Right now. This, what did I say? Who did I say we have to listen from? Holy Spirit.

[41:52] He said I'm holy. So to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit, there's the need for you to clear some things out of your life. Because those things can choke your ability to hear from him. Can choke your ability.

[42:05] He's trying to talk to you but your line is busily, is engaged. Like it's busy. Me, me, me, me. Even if you are not out of coverage area. So, so, watch this.

[42:18] The reason why people can't receive and can't hear from the Spirit of God is because of infiltrations in their lives. Which they are comfortably entertaining. It's one thing having a struggle with something, fighting it off and you know, every now and then run away from it.

[42:36] And it's another thing having it and yes, you are okay, you are comfortably enjoying. It's to grieve the Holy Spirit. So, once the Holy Spirit is grieved, he withdraws. Bible said, don't grieve the Holy Spirit.

[42:49] Grieve him with things that we do. Conduct. He will accept holy in your conduct. What you do matters. Even though it didn't take what you do to be saved.

[42:59] But what you do after you have saved, you have saved matters. And so, I mean, how can the Holy Spirit speak through you into this brother's life to bless him when you are busily gossiping about him?

[43:15] See what I'm saying? And so, the things we do can block the Holy Spirit from speaking to us and we end up becoming casualties in life. And you say, God, where are you?

[43:27] I've been always where I've been. And so, look at, listen to how Paul puts it. This is a scary one. Okay, are you ready for this? 1 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 1 to 4.

[43:40] Albert, that's a very interesting one. Seriously. He said, I, brethren, could not speak to you as spiritual people.

[43:51] In other words, there's some spiritual things, Holy Spirit. Say Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit. Holy and Spirit. Okay. So, this Spirit wants to give something to you. I could not speak to you as spiritual people but as karma, the big C, as to babes in Christ.

[44:07] You are just infinite in Christ. You can't trust anything with a baby. You can't, baby, you have to take care of it. No, you can't tell baby, get up, go to the kitchen, bring me.

[44:17] You can't do that. Or the baby is hungry. If you leave your baby in a room and the baby is hungry and you travel without getting someone to take care of the baby, you come and find a baby not alive because the baby can't, it doesn't matter how much food you have left for the baby.

[44:31] It's the same thing that's happening to many people. The Holy Ghost has left a lot of food around you but you have a baby. So you need a prophet or a pastor to come and receive it, receive it. Now they've laid hands on you so much that you are not becoming a boy even though you're a woman.

[44:46] So, so, it says that I could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to can, can now, as to babes in Christ. Why? Why? I fed you with milk and not solid food for until now you were not able to.

[45:00] You mean I can't take it? Why? You're not able and even now you are still not able. Hey, so what's the problem now? Go to the next verse. For you are still carnal. You are still carnal for where there are heavy, strength, divisions amongst you are you not carnal and behaving like mehemen.

[45:20] He said mehemen can receive spiritual meat. Mere men. So, the things we do our mindset, our carnality, our lack of holiness.

[45:33] You see, carnality is even that serious. how much more purity. Carnality is not being in line conformity with what God is saying. So, anytime you are not in line with what God is saying, the mindset of God that you are being carnal and impurity is when you are going opposite.

[45:52] You are doing the things that doesn't please God, that doesn't honor God, you are doing that impurity. Alright? And carnality is even blocking you from receiving from God.

[46:03] Then how much more impurity? You understand what I'm saying? How much more impurity? When you are at Elephant and Castle, you are finding it difficult to get to Landing Bridge.

[46:14] How much more now that you are in Carchford? And so, impurities will choke us from receiving from the Holy Spirit.

[46:27] Pastor, you know why I'm saying these things? Because someone desperately needs to hear from the Holy Spirit. You need to. Before the end of this month, you must hear God telling you, take this step, start this business, do this, you must hear God.

[46:40] But how can you hear Him once you block your ability to hear from Him? That is why God wants us to know because Elevation is coming. Compensation is coming.

[46:51] But God is telling you, this is the way. I've read the provision already. This is the way to get into it. And if we don't bend our ears to the Holy Spirit, we can receive from Him. Carnality will choke your ability from receiving from the Holy Spirit.

[47:06] See, I couldn't tell you anything because you are canal. you couldn't receive. 1 Corinthians 2, verse 13 and 14. Very interesting text as well.

[47:18] 1 Corinthians 2, verse 13. It's better to read from verse 12 because I actually wanted to read verse 12 earlier but I left it. Verse 12 says that now we have received not the spirit of the world but the spirit who is from God that we might know the things that have been given freely to us by God.

[47:36] So the Holy Spirit has come on us so that we will know what God has given to us. So without the Holy Spirit you don't even know what's available for you. Go to the next verse.

[47:46] Watch this. This is the best scary one. The next verse. It says that these things, the things that God has given freely to us, these things we speak not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches.

[47:58] Comparing spirit. Holy Spirit operates in the spiritual realm. Comparing spiritual things with spirit. Please be careful who has been advising you. Be careful who has your ears because if you, some people, if you keep listening to them, you will miss the voice of the Holy Spirit.

[48:15] I know, yes, I know you are suffering in your marriage but be careful who you are listening to. Dr. Phil is good but the Holy Ghost is better. Oprah may be good.

[48:31] Some people are building their marriages based on what they hear and they see from Jerry McHale. Tell me I'm lying. Jerry Springer.

[48:44] You know, some of us, some of us, their family we are coming from, they didn't have the privilege of working with God. So their philosophy about marriage is questionable.

[48:57] So, hey, listen to this. Some of us, watch this very carefully. I'm speaking as a pastor. Okay? Some of us believe, you've been told that, you see, look at your sister's marriage.

[49:10] Look at your auntie's marriage. Look at your mother's marriage and the same thing is happening to you. There is a generational curse. Maybe it's not generational curse but it's farming of God's word.

[49:23] So once you familiarize yourself with God's word and you get God's way of doing it and stop doing it carnally, you will sell through and it's not a problem of demons. It's a lack of understanding of scripture.

[49:34] I said it's a lack of understanding of scripture. I'm not saying all of it. But even most of the demonic ones, once you understand scriptures and you apply scriptures, you are safe.

[49:47] You are safe. If demons are so powerful, why wouldn't they kill Obama? See what I'm saying? And so, familiarize yourself with God's word.

[50:00] I know your auntie has good intentions but you know what? Her understanding is not wholesome. Her understanding is what is killing you.

[50:13] Some of you, some of us are friends. Your mother has been trying to advise you that you know what? This is how you handle a woman. Your father has been telling you, you know, I made some mistakes and sometimes when you are married to a woman, there is a way to be a wise man.

[50:28] Handle it like this. Handle it. You say, oh, that's for my wife. And you go and listen to your friends and tell you, hey, don't let any woman take you for granted. Be a man. You are the man.

[50:39] You are the man. And you are a man and it's killing your marriage. You should have listened to that. So, sometimes, bad counsel, which is not good, it's not wholesome in God's word, is the problem we are going to suffer.

[50:51] So, carnality is killing more people than the devil. carnality. I'll do it my way. I don't know it my way.

[51:03] And your way is not helping you. There is a way that seems right to man but the end thereof is hell, is death. Right. So, it is necessary, please, listen to me very carefully.

[51:17] Some of us, the Lord has been telling you to forgive somebody. But you are not ready to do that. But you are ready, God, bless me with her. If you don't bless me. I am in your blessings now.

[51:28] Bless me now. Stop that dancing and go and forgive. That song is even not a praise song. It's not a praise song. We dance because we are praising God.

[51:39] But you have come to see it. I am in your presence. Like God owes you. Bless me now. I am in your presence. You think you've done so well for coming to church. Bless me now. I am in... You have been done well, you're just helping yourself.

[51:50] Bless me now. I am in your presence now. And the angels are telling you, sister, go and forgive. Go and forgive. Sister, go and forgive. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

[52:02] Hallelujah. Hallelujah. And as I am in your presence, I will not be excited. If I have been crucified, receive miracles, you will be jumping. You will be jumping. But the miracles are coming after you have taken the steps.

[52:14] But it's impossible Holy Spirit is speaking to somebody. Let me finish this quickly in the last few minutes. So, God speaks to us when we walk holy.

[52:28] Bible says that perfect holiness in the fear of God. Amen. So, holiness. Number four. I like number four. Number three is cool, man.

[52:41] Holiness is a big thing. Now, number four is simple, but many people ignore it. Have the desire that Holy Spirit speak to me. You must have the desire.

[52:53] You must have the desire. God, I want you to speak to me. Because actually, God wants to speak to you. So, have a desire that God speak to me. God, speak to me. I want you to speak to me.

[53:04] How I want you to speak to me. Lord, as I'm going for this interview, order my steps. Not only when you are going to benefit, but in every area of your life. Proverbs says, trust in the Lord with all your might and lean not on your own understanding, but in all your ways.

[53:20] Not only when you are going for interview. In all your ways, acknowledge him and he will direct your path. So, tell God, God, I really want, I don't want to make a mistake.

[53:31] I want to, I want to go where you want me to go. You know what Jesus said? He says that he who, Jesus said, he who sent me is always with me and has not left me because I do the things that please him.

[53:43] God will not leave you nor forsake you. And you have to pray that God, Holy Spirit, speak to me. You'll be shocked. You'll be shocked. Pastor, what was telling me this morning when she was going to bed last night?

[53:55] She, she was up all night. I went to bed after I think three or four. So, so when she was going to bed, she said, two things she said, Lord, I want to wake up again by six to pray.

[54:07] That's one. And then, the other one is, God, speak to me through dreams. Holy Spirit, speak to me. When she woke up, I was in the study getting ready and pray.

[54:19] She came and interrupted my studies. She said, can you imagine? I asked God, I wanted to wake up at six. I didn't set alarm. Six a.m. I was awake. Six a.m.

[54:31] No alarm. Even though she went to bed after three. And he said, not that. I had an interesting dream. I told God, God, speak to me through dreams. Give me a great dream. And she said, I had this dream.

[54:44] It was a very interesting dream. Very, you know, there's some dreams when you have, you know that God has spoken. So, when you have the desire, God will meet that desire.

[54:55] Because he wants to speak to you. So, that's number four. Number five is prayer. Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. The one who prays gets closer to God. Jesus was always praying.

[55:07] Is it surprising why he didn't make any mistake? No. Because he was a prayerful man. That's scripture again. Proverbs, you can put this scripture. That's very. Proverbs chapter three, verse five. He said, trust in the Lord with all your mind.

[55:19] Don't lean not on your own understanding. Verse six says, but in all, but in all, acknowledge him. That's calling on him. God. Call him prayer. The one who spends time with God easily hears from God.

[55:36] Pastor John, look, don't you think that our generation is being done a great disservice so long as working with God is concerned? Because of these are tablets and are smartphones.

[55:47] smartphones. Mother, don't you think you are spending too much time on Facebook? I'm not saying go on Facebook because we are all there.

[56:01] But don't you, isn't it possible you are spending too much time behind the computer not doing anything by just browsing and watching things in the world? You know, sometimes you don't have anything to do. You just want to browse.

[56:11] Browse. Then you put in on YouTube, you type in helicopters from Russia. Then you are just watching. Here, just watching. You know, supersonic jets.

[56:24] Then you are watching. You don't have any other thing. How to make, a man, you are tapping how to make hair. You're tapping. You know what I'm saying? How to, how to do a beautiful makeup.

[56:39] So the point I'm making is that sometimes we must be, thank you Jesus. Oh, sometimes we must be, disciplined enough. That's the key word. You must be disciplined enough to draw the line.

[56:53] There are sometimes I don't listen to my voice messages. Sometimes I don't check my WhatsApp. I have about hundreds of them. I won't check it. I can see the signal that they are there.

[57:04] I won't check it. There are sometimes I won't check my text messages, let alone Facebook. I won't. In fact, there was a time I determined that, there was a time I was on Facebook a lot every time I check.

[57:16] I got to a time I said, me, there are certain days I will declare Facebook free day just to bring myself under discipline. What if my computer breaks down? I'll be okay because it's not broken down.

[57:28] My friends will send you messages and if they don't hear from me, they will not be happy. If they see you going down, that's what I want to affect them. But if your friends don't hear from you later on, they see that you are making it.

[57:39] Even though they don't like you, say hello, hello, because they are making it. If someone is listening to me, close the computer and open your Bible. Someone to tweet for me, once they open the Twitter, close your computer or shut down the WhatsApp or Twitter, go and read your Bible.

[58:00] They will go. Then when you finish your Bible, come and read it. Am I speaking sense at all? Because some of you look like I'm really boring you. But I'm very happy.

[58:10] We need to say these things because it has a subtle way, subtle way. It erodes God consciousness from us.

[58:22] In a very subtle way. In a very subtle, even television. Some of us watch television too much. There is no movie star you don't know. But if we ask, you cut one scripture from everyone. Disaster.

[58:37] You know every football star who lived for the past 50 years. You know everything that is going on everywhere. Including Ukraine, Syria, and about ISIS.

[58:55] But you really don't know a lot about what God is saying now because you won't bother to read your Bible because it's too much work. It's too much work. It's too much work. Sometimes the Bible is boring.

[59:07] It will be boring until you're in trouble. Because when they're in trouble they go and take the Bible. God, speak to me. Oh God. You say, oh God, no, you can't do this to me. God, tell me something.

[59:18] God, tell me something. And I will tell you. Pastor David was telling you some weeks ago you didn't listen. I don't have anything. Praise God. Prayer.

[59:30] Tell us I want to pray. Prayer. Let me mention the last ones quickly because obedience, spiritual mindedness and your company is very important.

[59:41] Obedience. When God tells you something, once you obey it, it authorizes him to tell you the next one. But he told you something. Well, forgive your former boyfriend. You don't want to do it.

[59:54] Tell God, this one, tell me something else. He'll keep telling you the same thing. Because the more you shut your ears to his directions, the less he will be directing you.

[60:06] Does that make sense? But I see divine direction coming to someone. What did I say? The last three. Obedience. Spiritual mindedness.

[60:19] You know, it's very similar in the line of carnality. Be spiritual in your approach. The way you view things. The way you assess things. Be spiritual. I said we compare spiritual things to spiritual.

[60:29] And then the last one I said? You didn't hear it? So the last one is company. Your company. The people you hang around with can choke your ability to hear them from the Holy Spirit.

[60:43] And the people where places you find them. That's why, I don't know why if we have cell meetings you won't go. Go for cell meetings. Go. Now, this message, we are going to tweet it on Wednesday in cell meetings.

[60:55] The same thing. Everything. The outline is there. We are going to be treating it at cell meetings. Make sure you report yourself at the cell meeting so that you can have like-minded people sit down, discuss it more and learn more.

[61:09] Your company will help you hear from God faster. Did you get something? Put your hands together for Jesus. Thank you. Thank you for listening.

[61:20]  For more resources, please visit caries.org or call us on 0207 740 9960. God bless you.