Welcome to NECF. We're thrilled you're here.
Make sure to stay with us till the end, where
we'll share some great resources to deepen your
faith. Now, let's dive into this week's sermon.
In Jesus' name we pray. Let's have our seat and
we'll pray some more, but let's have our seat.
Let's turn to John chapter 2, verse 7. We'll
see. Where Jesus Christ, Jesus' action was ascribed
to zeal. So this is the immediate promise that
will not help me today. No timer, no screen scriptures.
John chapter 2. Okay. John chapter 2. My neck
will turn. John chapter 2. Verse 7. Jesus said
to them. No, no, no. Not verse 7. Is it John
chapter 2? Where he cleans the temple? Hmm? Which
verse is it? Yes, verse... Down from verse 13.
Verse 17, not 7 rather. Then his disciples remembered...
Okay, rather let me read from verse 16. Or from
verse 13. Now the Passover of the Jews was at
hand and Jesus went up to Jerusalem and he found
in a temple those who sold oxen, sheep and doves
and the money changers doing business. They were
doing merchandise in the house of God. In the
house of God. When he had made a whip of coats,
he drove them all out of the temple with a sheep
and oxen. pour out the children's money and overturn
the tables. And he said to those who sold doves,
take these things away. Do not make my father's
house a house of merchandise. Now verse 17 says,
then his disciples remember. I think this is
Psalm 69 verse 9. They remember a prophecy by
the psalmist which says a zeal. For your father's
house, some translations would put, especially
the Old King James, zeal for thine house has
consumed me. Zeal for thy house has consumed
me. Hallelujah. Now, zeal is like fire. Amen?
As we pray for zeal, zeal is like fire that burns.
You can use fire for a destructive purpose or
you can use fire for what? For a constructive
purpose, right? You can use it to cook or you
can use fire to do what? To burn the house, to
destroy the entire house. But the problem is
not with fire, isn't it? The problem is what?
It's with the use, right? How it is channeled.
Okay? How it is channeled. And we see in Colossians,
we read in Colossians chapter chapter 4 verse
12 You see for verse 13 it says For I bear him
witness. That what? That he has great zeal for
you. So what we see happen in verse 13. Where
he prays fervently. His fervency. Alright. Where
we see his fervency. We see his desire for them.
What we see here. That for I bear him witness.
That he has a great zeal for you. And those who
are in Laodicea. And those in Peripolis. He has
zeal for you. Alright. And the zeal that he has.
Was channeled towards what? The work of ministry.
Towards praying for the people. But then. We
see in Romans chapter 10. I'm leading somewhere.
Romans chapter 10. Where Paul was making comment.
Concerning the people of Israel. He says. My
brethren. My heart desire and prayer for God's
Israel is that they may be saved. For I bear
them witness that they have what? They have a
zeal for God. But what is wrong with your zeal?
Huh? The zeal is not what? It's not according
to what? According to knowledge. Alright? They
have a passion. They have a desire. But their
desire is not according to knowledge. Let's look
at why he says it's not according to knowledge.
For they have been ignorant of God's righteousness.
What did they do? They seek to establish their
own righteousness. They have not submitted to
the righteousness of God. So, Instead of submitting
to the things of God, submitting to the way of
God, they carve out a way for themselves because
they are ignorant, right? They are ignorant of
God's plan. They are ignorant of God's ways.
They are ignorant of the will of God for man.
So zeal without knowledge is dangerous. Zero
knowledge is dangerous. That is why we will see
in that Colossians, back to that Colossians chapter
4, we'll see the prayer of Epaphras. We'll see
the prayer of Epaphras. What was his prayer for
the church? Verse 13. Yes, verse 12. It says,
Who is one of you, a born servant of Christ,
greets you? Always what? What is his labor? I
will go back to chapter 1, verse 9 of that same
Colossians. We see that it was the same prayer
that Paul was praying for the church in Colossae.
Colossians 1 verse 9. Being fruitful in every
good work. And increasing in the knowledge of
God. Hallelujah. So knowledge and zeal are very,
very important in doing the will of God. You
can be consumed with zeal and don't have knowledge.
You will do the wrong thing. Hallelujah. And
if you have knowledge without the desire burning
in your heart. To do the work of God, no work
will be executed. So we started talking about
the will of God for the believers on Sunday.
And we see from these things that Paul's prayer
is that what? Is that this church in Colossae
will be filled with that knowledge of God's will.
That there will be engulfed in the knowledge
of God's will. And we say that this knowledge
is not just a haphazard knowledge. Do you know
that Paul, Apostle Paul himself, was very satirical
for God, isn't it? Before he became a believer,
right? He was very passionate about the work
of the kingdom. When we read through Philippians,
the book of Philippians, especially chapter 3,
we see where he was expressing his seriousness,
his passion for God. But he says that his passion
was what? was in ignorance. And what do we see
was a result of his passion without knowledge?
He was what? He was persecuting the church. He
was against the church. So it is essential that
we understand the will of God, the knowledge.
And let me tell us, this knowledge, right, of
the will of God is not gained from special revelations.
You know, we get this zeal, we get this knowledge
from the teaching of God's word, from training
in the word of God. In 1 Peter 2 verse 5, we
saw on Sunday, 1 Peter 2 verse 4 and 5. Of course,
we say that the precise knowledge of God's will
is essential for us to fulfill in God's will.
And we saw the believer's identity in 1 Peter
2, verse 4 and 5 and verse 9. It says, acceptable
to God through Jesus Christ. But you, verse 9,
but you are a choosing generation, a royal priesthood,
a holy nation, His own special people, that you
may do what? That you may proclaim the praises
of Him who called you out of darkness. into his
marvelous light. Therefore, we say that our identity
as living stones, as God's own people, who are
built up into a spiritual house, comes with what?
With a priestly responsibility. A responsibility
of proclaiming the works of God. And for us to
proclaim the works of God, we must know the works
of God. We must know what God has... done in
Christ Jesus. We must be trained in these that
God has done in Christ. So you are a priest unto
God because you have believed in Jesus Christ.
In other words, you are a minister of God unto
good works. You are a minister of God unto good
works. Now let's look at God's plan for the earth.
What was God's plan? Or rather, what is God's
plan for the earth? Now God's plan for the earth
is to fill the earth with the knowledge of his
glory. Hallelujah. God's plan is to do what?
Is to fill the earth with the knowledge of his
glory. Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 14. Habakkuk
chapter 2. Verse 14. It says, For the earth will
be filled with the knowledge of the glory of
the Lord, as waters, does what? Cover the sea.
As waters cover the sea. Contextually, from this
text, from the original text, when we read through
the book of Habakkuk, it's referring to The destruction
of Babylon and the rescue of Israel from the
Babylonian exile. The judgment of the enemies
of God's people and their redemption from bondage.
And this will be marked further, you know, revealing
the divine glory of God in this activity of salvation
of the nation of Israel from Babylon. So the
prophet Habakkuk... was prophesying of the deliverance
of the people of Israel from Babylon. And in
this, the knowledge of the glory of God will
be seen in this act of God's deliverance for
Israel. So the nations will see the Lord as the
all -powerful Savior of his people. Of course,
we'll see a similar prophecy emphasized again.
By the prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah chapter 11 verse
9. The same prophecy. As Isaiah 11 verse 9. So
we see that this prophecy. Of the knowledge of
God. Filling the earth. Is a result of what God
has done. Especially when it comes to redemption.
In Habakkuk we see his relation toward. The redemption
of Israel from Babylon. As a result of what God
will do, the nations around will see the all
-powerfulness of God, the works of God, the salvation
of God. And in Isaiah, it says, Isaiah 11 verse
9, it says, They shall not hurt nor destroy in
all my holy mountain. From the Old King James,
I'm ready. The earth shall be full of the knowledge
of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah
11 .9 points to a future time. This prophecy
is referring to a future time under the rule
of the Messiah. A descendant of David. In this
world, in this restored world, all the people
will know and honor God. And his truth will fill
the earth just like the waters cover the sea.
The knowledge of the glory of God is from what
God has done. Hallelujah. It's from what? It's
from the activity, what God has done that men
will see the glory of God. Of course, we know
that this is from his prophecy. This is the origin
from the writings of Moses. Numbers chapter 14,
verse 20. Numbers chapter 14, verse 20 to 21.
Then the Lord said, I have pardoned according
to your word. I have what? I have pardoned according
to your word. What God has done. I have pardoned
according to your word. But truly, as I live,
all the earth will be filled with the glory of
the Lord. Hallelujah. Now the question is, how
is or how does God accomplish the task of making
the earth full? Of the knowledge of his glory.
How will God bring about the accomplishment of
his glory? The knowledge of his glory on the
face of the earth. As waters covers the sea.
Of course, we know that it's through men, right?
The modality by which God will accomplish this
is through men. It's through the activities of
men. It's through the action of men. First, we
see God becoming a man and in Jesus Christ. That
is the first step. We see God himself coming
in the form of a man, bringing us what the understanding
or the knowledge of God. We see the glory of
God in Christ Jesus. We know. who God is in Christ
Jesus. We know the will of God in Christ Jesus.
We know the activities or the intention of God
for the earth in Jesus Christ. Then Jesus dwells
in us. When he died, he rose again. He ascended
into our hearts. We who believe becomes the carrier
of this assignment. Jesus dwells in us today
and we carry the ministry of Jesus on the earth.
So as priests, we proclaim the good work, the
work of God that he has accomplished in Jesus
Christ. 1 Peter 2, verse 9, we read earlier on.
We proclaim what God has done in Christ. Now,
It is important for us to note that it is men
and not angels. Amen? It is men and not angels
that are called to the work of ministry. It is
men and not angels that are called to the work
of ministry. God has released his spirit in men
to be witnesses to men. In God's dealing with
the world, With men, he had to become man, come
in the form of man, in the likeness of men, in
order to communicate to us his plan and also
to execute his plan. And for us, for this message,
this knowledge of God's will, for this knowledge
of what God has done to be spread across the
earth, it takes men. To do what? To do the work
of spreading this message, this work that God
has done in Christ Jesus. Which means that God
is counting on man to do what? To make the knowledge
of his glory cover the face of the earth as waters
cover the sea. God has released his spirit unto
us. Let's look at Acts chapter 1 verse 4 and
see what he did when he gave the spirit. Acts
1, verse 4. Therefore, when they had come together,
they asked him, saying, Lord, will you at this
time restore the kingdom to Israel? And he said
to them, it is not for you to know the times
or the seasons which the Father has put in his
own authority. Verse 8 says, but you shall what?
You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit
has come upon you. And you shall be witnesses.
Say, I am a witness. I am a witness to what God
has done. Hallelujah. You are a witness to what?
To what God has done. To be witnesses to me in
Jerusalem and in all Judea, Samaria, and to the
ends of the earth. To the ends of the earth.
As the waters cover the sea. To the ends of the
earth. The earth will be full with the knowledge
of the will of God. The knowledge of the glory
of God. So we see through scriptures that it
is actually men that does this, not angels. Amen?
So when we are praying for the will of God to
be accomplished, know that you are a candidate
by which the will of God will be accomplished
on the earth. When we are praying, Lord, let
your will be accomplished in your church. We
are equally praying that, Lord, use us to do
your work. Because the will of God cannot be
accomplished by spirits or by men. God has decided
in eternity to collaborate with men in order
to minister to men. Hallelujah. We see examples
of of this in in the life of peter peter and
and john uh acts 3 let's go to acts 3 and see
an example acts chapter 3 from verse 1 let me
just read through it says now peter and john
went up together to the temple at the hour of
prayer the ninth hour and a certain man lame
from his mother's womb was carried from whom
they laid daily at the gate of the temple which
is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who
enter the temple. Who seeing Peter and John about
to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing
his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, So he
gave them his attention, expecting to receive
something from them. Then Peter said, silver
and gold I do not have. Hallelujah. But what
I do have, I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ
of Nazareth, rise up and work. And he took him
by the right hand and lifted him up. And immediately
his feet and ankles and bones received strength.
So he leaping up. stood up and walked and entered
the temple with them, walking, leaping and praising
God. And all the people saw them walking and
praising God. Then they knew that it was he who
sat begging alms at the beautiful gate of the
temple. And they were filled with wonder and
amazement at what had happened to him. Now as
the lame man who was healed held on to Peter
and John, all the people ran together to them
in the porch, which is called Solomon's, greatly
amazed. When Peter saw, he responded to the people,
Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Why
look so intently at us? As though by our own
powers or godliness we have made this man work.
The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God
of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus Christ,
whom you delivered up and denied in the presence
of Pilate when he was determined to let him go.
But you denied the Holy One and the dust, and
asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and
killed the Prince of Life, whom God raised from
the dead, of which we award... Which we are what?
Now, this witness here is different from my own
witness. Hallelujah. Do you know why I say so?
They were eyewitnesses. You are not an eyewitness.
Are we together? Your own witnessing, right,
is a product of revelation. of what the Spirit
has revealed to you. But in this context, their
own witnessing is what? Is that they saw, they
were eyewitnesses, they saw what happened. I
read together. And they were testifying. So take
note. And his name through faith, and his name
through faith in his name has made this man what?
Strong. Whom you see and know. Yes, the faith
which comes through him has given him his perfect
soundness in the presence of you all. Yet now,
brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance
as did also your rulers. But those things which
God foretold by the mouth of all his prophets
that the Christ would suffer, he has thus fulfilled,
he has thus accomplished. Repent therefore. Be
converted that your sins may be blotted out so
that times of refreshing may come from the presence
of the Lord. And that he may send Jesus Christ
who was preached to you before, whom heaven must
receive until the times of restoration and all
things which God has spoken by the mouth of all
his holy prophets since the world began. For
Moses truly said to the fathers, the Lord your
God, then raise up for a prophet like me. For
you, a prophet like me, from your brethren, him
you shall hear in all things, whatever he says
to you. And it shall be that every soul who will
not hear that prophet shall be utterly destroyed
from among you, from among the people. Yes. And
all the prophets from Samuel and who follows
as many as have spoken have also foretold these
days. You are the sons of the prophets and of
the covenant of which God made with our fathers,
saying to Abraham, and in your seat all the families
of the earth shall be blessed. To you first.
Of course, we know what it means to you first
because they are the oracles to which we receive
the truth. God, having raised up his servant
Jesus, sending him to bless you in turning away
every one of you from what? From iniquities.
So we see through what they did, brought about
the preaching of the gospel. And we'll see the
encounter of Philip, you know, also the encounter
of Philip in Acts 8, verse 26, where, you know,
the Ethiopian Enoch was reading the book of Isaiah,
right? And then he had... Of course, the Holy
Spirit led Philip to join him in the chariot.
Let's just look at Acts 8. Let me read from verse
26. Now, an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip,
saying, Arise and go towards south. along the
road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.
This is desert. Why didn't the angel go and preach
to the Ethiopian eunuch? Why didn't the angel
go? Why would the Ethiopian eunuch ask Philip
to go and meet? You know, some of us, we want
angelic visitation. Right? want so much of supernatural
experiences and you rather would prefer an angel
to speak to you than your brother in Christ speak
to you. Amen? You prefer, you know, this supernatural
and then there's an opening of the heavens and
then an angel appear to you and speak. You prefer,
you know, you rather that an angel appear to
you than to trust a testimony. of God in the
mouth of a brother or a sister in Christ. We
see here that God's way, right, of saving men
is through men. The angel appeared to him and
said, see, go. And we will see further on what,
you know, he will go on to do. Also in Acts chapter
10, we'll see another instance where Acts chapter
10 from verse 1. There was a certain man in Caesarea
called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called
the Italian regiment, a devout man who feared
God with all his household, who gave alms generously
to the people and prayed to God always. About
the ninth hour of the day, he saw clearly in
a vision, what? An angel of God coming in and
saying to him, Cornelius. And what was the message
of the angel? And when he observed him, he was
afraid and said, What is it, Lord? So he said
to him, Your prayers and your alms have come
up for a memorial before God. Now send men to
Joppa and send for Simon, whose surname is Peter.
He is lodging with Simon Eterna, whose house
is by the sea. He will tell you what you must
do. And when the angel who spoke to him had departed,
Cornelius called two of his servants and a divorced
soldier from among those who waited on him continually.
So when he had explained all these things to
them, he sent them. And let's jump to verse 24.
And the following day. They entered Caesarea.
Now Cornelius was waiting for them and had called
together his relatives and close friends. And
as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and
fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But
Peter lifted up and said, Stand up. I myself
am also a man. So, you know, the man, he fell
down on his knees. And who did he worship? He
worshipped Peter. And we see the action of Peter,
right? You know how unlawful it is for a Jewish
man to keep company with or go to one of another's
nations. But God has shown me that I should not
call any man common or unclean. Therefore, I
came without objection as soon as I was sent
for. I asked them, for what reason have you sent
for me? And then we'll read down to verse 34
and we'll see what happened in the house of Cornelius.
But I want to draw your attention to that. The
angel spoke to the man, Cornelius. Why didn't
the angel declare to him the works of God? Why
didn't the angel preach Christ to him? Why didn't
the angel minister? Why did the angel have to
go around and look for a man to do the work of
ministering Christ? It is because God has made
in his plan that men will do what will minister
to men. Pointing to the necessity of men in bringing
about the fulfillment of the will of God on earth.
And I want you to understand that you are necessary
or you are important in the plan of God on earth.
You are important, you know, in the plan of God
on earth. So witnessing and proclaiming the wonderful
works of God in Christ to men is for men. Hallelujah.
To witness Christ to men is a responsibility
of who? It's a responsibility of men. It's not
the responsibility of your offering. Even though
your offering is good. Some people think that
I can just give some thousands of dollars. And
then that's all I'm preaching. No, no, no, no.
It's good to support the work of God financially.
But essentially, believers have a responsibility
of doing what? Of proclaiming, of preaching,
of taking responsibility, of making ourselves
available for God to use. Because each and every
one of us that have believed are equipped. By
the Spirit of God, are empowered by the Spirit
of God to proclaim God to this world. And we
will see from the Scripture that this has been
the plan of God right from the beginning. This
has been the plan of God. God has revealed His
plan right from His dealings with the nation
of Israel. This has been His plan. Let's see
the example of Israel. Exodus chapter 19, verse
1. Exodus chapter 19, verse 1 to 6. And when
you're reading Exodus chapter 19, Verse 1 to
6. It seems to you as though you are reading
1 Peter. Because actually Peter, in his epistle,
was writing in the context of this text. In the
third month, after the children of Israel had
gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day
they came to the wilderness of Sinai. For they
had departed from Rephidim, and had come to the
wilderness of Sinai, and had come to the wilderness,
so Israel came there before the mountain. And
Moses went up to God, and the Lord called him
from the mountain, saying, First you shall say
to the house of Jacob, and tell the children
of Israel. And look at what he says to them in
verse 4. You have seen what I did to the Egyptians,
all right? And how I bore you on eagles' wings
and brought you to myself. This is the work of
God, entirely the work of God, the act of God,
attended the God doing it by himself. Now, therefore,
if you will indeed obey my voice, And keep my
covenant. Then you shall be what? A special treasure.
Is it familiar to 1 Peter 2 verse 9? A special
treasure to me. Above all people. For all the
earth is mine. Verse 6. And you shall be to me
a kingdom of priests. This sounds like royal
priesthood. A kingdom of priests. and a holy
nation. These are the words which you shall speak
to the children of Israel. And 1 Peter 2, verse
9 and 10 says, But you, a chosen generation,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, his own special
people, that you may proclaim the praises of
him who hath called you out of darkness, Who
have called you out of Egypt. Who have called
you out of Egypt. Pass you through the sea. And
the wilderness. Into his marvelous light. To
proclaim the praise of him. Who called you out
of darkness. Into his marvelous light. Who was
with another people. Once you were not safe.
Once you were not qualified. But now. The people
of God. who had not obtained mercy, who had not,
that is in the past, obtained mercy, but now
obtained mercy. So in Exodus 19, we see the word
voice in verse 5. If you will obey my voice.
That word voice there refers to a message, not
just a sound. If you will hearken to my message.
If you listen to my message, the word obey there
is translated from the word shama, which implies
to hold on to the passage or hearken to it. If
you hearken to my message, the voice there is
not just a sound, but it's a message that was
delivered. The word covenant refers to the promise
that God has made. And where did God make that
promise? God made that promise to Abraham. Even
before Moses. Before Moses came, they had a promise
which God said to Abraham. It was called, they
call it the oracles of God. And we see God reiterating
the promise, a kingdom of peace. The term peculiar
treasure refers to God's own property, God's
own... He owns them. They were at this point
yet to be God's property because there was a
condition. What was the condition? The condition
is that they will what? They will hearken. That
they will obey. That they will believe. That
they will listen and believe what God has given
to them as a promise. It will only occur when
they believe it is faith that will give God access
to man's life. It is by faith that God has access
to our lives that we can become vessels that
he will dwell in and do his work on earth. So,
if ye obey my voice, in verse 5, God's promise
here was to make them a peculiar treasure and
a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. Of course,
we've always been explaining the word holy here.
Holy here will imply sacred. People will set
apart. People that are differentiated and being
set apart is for his peculiar purposes, for purpose.
And the word nation implies a people, a definite
people. So there were men coming out of Egypt
that had been involved in all kinds of idolatry.
But God, by virtue of their believing in his
message and his promise, will set them apart
for himself. If they will heed to the promise
and they will believe the promise. And God's
dealing now for the nation of Israel is a foreshadowing
of what God will do for all humanity. It's a
picture of what God will do for all humanity.
And what has God done for the people of Israel?
He has delivered them from Egypt. He has passed
them through the sea and the wilderness. And
gave them a purpose. And that purpose is to be
a kingdom of peace. And also God has delivered
us from the kingdom of darkness. As many of us
that have believed. He has delivered us from
sin. He has delivered us from the dominion and
oppression of Satan. Into the kingdom of his
son. And he has given us a purpose. Equally the
purpose is what? is that we will be priests unto
him. Colossians 1 verse 9 For this reason we
also since the day we heard it do not cease to
pray for you and to ask that you may be filled
with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom
and spiritual understanding that you may walk
worthy of the Lord fully pleasing him being fruitful
in every good work and increasing the knowledge
of God strengthened with all might according
to his glorious power for all patience and longsuffering
with joy. Giving thanks to the Father who has
qualified us to be partakers of all the inheritance
of the saints in light. We are no longer in darkness,
but we are in light. And we have an inheritance.
And this inheritance is a responsibility. He
has delivered us from the power of darkness and
conveyed us into a kingdom. of the son of his
love, in whom we have redemption through his
blood, even the forgiveness of our sins. And
then 1 Peter 2 verse 4 emphasizes, it says, To
offer up spiritual sacrifice except to go through
Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is also contained
in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief
cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes
on him by no means shall be put to shame. Therefore,
to you who believe, to us who have belief, to
each and every one of us who have believed, he
is precious. But to those who are disobedient,
the stone which the builders rejected has become
the chief cornerstone and a stone of stumbling
and a rock of offense. That is to them. They
stumbled, being disobedient to the word which
they also were appointed. But you are a chosen
generation. What are we? We are a royal priesthood.
We are a holy nation. his own peculiar people,
his own special people, that we may proclaim
the goodness, the praises of him who has called
us out of this darkness into his marvelous light.
We were once not a people, but we are now the
people of God. We belong to God. Who had obtained
mercy? Who had not obtained mercy before? But
now, obtain mercy. Hallelujah. We are not God's
chosen people. But he has now chosen us. And
in him choosing us, we belong to him. We are
part of the family. And we have a heritage. We
have an inheritance. Alright? We have a heritage
in Christ. What belongs to Christ belongs to
us. Amen? The responsibility of Christ belongs
to us. Hallelujah. The responsibility of God
in Christ belongs to us. He is working in us,
through us, to execute His plan on the face of
the earth. The purpose is priesthood. You and
I were priests to proclaim, to preach the gospel
to people. So the salvation you receive is not
to make you a superstar. It's not to turn you
into a celebrity. It's not to turn you into a
billionaire. is not to turn you into a professional
in the field of whatever you're studying. The
essence of what God has done in you is not to
turn you into a political emancipator. The essence
of what God has done in you is not to create
in you a human rights activist. The essence of
what God has done in you Is to create in you.
A man and a woman. That through you. He will
save lives. That he will deliver. His eternal
purpose. Of saving men. Of restoring men. Of
delivering men. Just as Moses was an instrument.
The picture of Jesus. A deliverer. Who delivers
people. With the message of God. You are also
a man and a woman. That have. equally an assignment
of priesthood. That in your dealings and the
activities in your relationship with men in the
world, that you reveal to them the knowledge
of God. That you bring them into the knowledge
of God. That you teach them about what God has
done. That you explain unto them what God has
done in Christ. Yesterday in our class, I asked
a question. I said, can a man who is not born
again, accurately preach Christ. It's impossible.
You can attempt to preach Christ, but not with
knowledge, not according to knowledge. Until
Christ is revealed to you, you cannot accurately
preach him. Hallelujah. And for us that we've
come to Christ and we believe in him, we continuously
depend on him. We continuously follow his leading
in order to do his will on the earth. God's will
for his kingdom of priests on earth is to preach
the gospel of the kingdom. The primary will of
God. For us, it's to ensure that the earth is
filled with the knowledge of His will. Now, have
you surrendered to the will of God? Have you
surrendered to the will of God? Or you are passionate
about other things? We are passionate about our
careers. We are passionate about how we can build
our families. We are passionate about how we
can explore the world. I want you to think about
this. And I want you to make up your mind. By
the Spirit of God, I want you to make up your
mind. That to live this earth, you have one goal.
And your goal is to ensure that Christ is known.
Hallelujah. Your most important responsibility
on earth is not to chase after living on earth.
Your sense of purpose is not making money. The
reason why you are alive is not to gather degrees
and certificates and all your qualifications.
But your essence in life is something that is
eternal. And I equally want us to always have
eternity in mind as we go about our normal activities,
our daily activities, our endeavors. What shapes
our decisions? What shapes our... what shapes
our living on the earth is actually the will
and the purpose of the road on the earth. Because
God's eternal plan for you who is a believer,
it's not only that you are a child of God, of
course, it's only that you are part of God's
family, of course, this is all that we are. This
is our identity. This is what God has done for
us in Christ Jesus. But God equally has given
us a duty. Hallelujah. And God is depending on
you. He's depending on me. And what we do here
in church always is to remind you of this. What
we do here always in church is to prepare you
in this knowledge. It's to keep resounding to
you, number one, who you are. What God has done.
What he's doing. And what he wants to do with
your life. Is to train you. But on Sunday we'll
see. That knowing the will of God. To know the
will of God. You have to be trained. You have
to be equipped. You have to be. To be fully equipped.
So that you can do this work. So as you are with
us in church. You must know that. Whenever you
come to church. Just know that you are here.
To be exercised. So that you will be sharpened.
So that you will be prepared. So that you will
be empowered. To do your father's business. Hallelujah.
And it comes with correction. It comes with rebuke.
It comes with encouragement. It comes with edification.
It comes in different shapes. And the goal is
that you will be perfected. in all the will of
God, that you'll be equipped, you'll be enriched
with the precise knowledge, with the precise
knowledge of what God demands. Not only what
He demands of you, but with the message that
you go out to preach. Hallelujah. So I want you
to pray, and the prayer you're going to pray
is a prayer of commitment. Amen? Firstly, God
has committed to you. God is committed to you.
He has committed himself to us. God has committed
himself to us. He gave us his life. He gave us
his spirit. We've been brought into union with
him. But I want you to pray for yourself and
commit yourself to God's work. You remember what
we prayed earlier on? That a zeal for the Father's
house will do all that can consume you. That
you will be embraced, engulfed in the desire,
that the desire of God will be your desire. That
what moves God, the passion of God will be your
passion. Please, pray for yourself. Don't be
looking at me. Pray. Pray for yourself. Pray.
Your life is dedicated to one cause. My life
is dedicated to one cause. That my focus is one
thing. Pray for yourself. Pray for yourself.
Of course, we know we will be involved in careers.
We know we'll be involved in family life. We
know we'll be involved in many things. But in
the midst of all this, that I will not be distracted.
That I will not be distracted. There will be
no distraction. Our distractions are not necessarily
things that are evil. The devil is to distract
us with things that are evil. He will bring things
that are good. But I will discern that this is
a distraction. He will bring very wonderful job
offers. Very wonderful opportunities. He will
bring opportunities for recognition. Opportunities
will make us famous. Opportunities will make
us powerful. Opportunities will make us rich.
But that you will know the will of God at every
point in time. That you are a man and a woman
that is loyal and committed to the work of God.
That you are a man and a woman that is committed
to the will of God on the earth. Our decisions
will be influenced by the will of God. Our actions
will be defined by the will of God. Our choices
will be defined by the will of God. Our relationships
will be defined by the will of God. How we utilize
our resources will be defined by executing the
will of God. We look forward to having you with
us next time. God bless.