WEBVTT 00:00:01.159 --> 00:00:06.639 Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is 00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:09.660 designed to uplift and strengthen you in your 00:00:09.660 --> 00:00:13.939 walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until 00:00:13.939 --> 00:00:17.879 the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive 00:00:17.879 --> 00:00:36.100 right in. Mark. Mark chapter 9. Mark 9, verse 00:00:36.100 --> 00:00:49.500 14. On Sunday, I was trying to explain some truth 00:00:49.500 --> 00:00:54.200 from this text. And I just want to start from 00:00:54.200 --> 00:00:56.439 this particular text. Because there are some 00:00:56.439 --> 00:01:01.520 things that I needed to not only clarify, but 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:05.409 to give evidence. Because the essence of Bible 00:01:05.409 --> 00:01:08.209 teaching is that we're able to give sufficient 00:01:08.209 --> 00:01:12.670 evidence, sufficient proof to the things that 00:01:12.670 --> 00:01:17.170 are in the scriptures, that by them we have conviction 00:01:17.170 --> 00:01:24.129 and understanding. Mark chapter 9, verse 14 to 00:01:24.129 --> 00:01:28.290 29. When he came to the disciples, he saw a great 00:01:28.290 --> 00:01:32.409 multitude around them. and scribes disputing 00:01:32.409 --> 00:01:36.709 with them. Immediately when they saw him, all 00:01:36.709 --> 00:01:40.129 the people were greatly amazed and running to 00:01:40.129 --> 00:01:44.269 him, greeting him. And when he asked the scribes, 00:01:44.290 --> 00:01:48.569 what are you discussing with them? Then one of 00:01:48.569 --> 00:01:53.629 the crowd answered and said, Teacher, I brought 00:01:53.629 --> 00:01:59.340 to you my son who has a mute spirit. Wherever 00:01:59.340 --> 00:02:04.939 it sees him, it throws him down. He foams at 00:02:04.939 --> 00:02:08.560 the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. 00:02:09.800 --> 00:02:13.780 So I spoke to your disciples that they should 00:02:13.780 --> 00:02:19.419 cast it out. But they could not. Verse 19. He 00:02:19.419 --> 00:02:23.699 answered him and said, O faithless generation, 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:28.900 how long shall I be with you? How long shall 00:02:28.900 --> 00:02:34.180 I bear with you? Bring him to me. Then they brought 00:02:34.180 --> 00:02:39.979 him to him. When he saw him, immediately the 00:02:39.979 --> 00:02:42.979 spirit convulsed him and he fell on the ground 00:02:42.979 --> 00:02:47.699 and wallowed, forming at the mouth. So he asked 00:02:47.699 --> 00:02:52.259 his father, has this been happening to him? And 00:02:52.259 --> 00:02:58.449 he said, from childhood. And often he has. Thrown 00:02:58.449 --> 00:03:03.050 him both into the fire and into the water to 00:03:03.050 --> 00:03:08.729 destroy him. But you can do anything. But if 00:03:08.729 --> 00:03:12.090 you can do anything, have compassion on us. Help 00:03:12.090 --> 00:03:16.750 us. Jesus said to him, if you can believe, hallelujah, 00:03:16.849 --> 00:03:24.349 if you can believe, all things are possible to 00:03:24.349 --> 00:03:28.759 him who believes. Hallelujah. What are the all 00:03:28.759 --> 00:03:34.699 things? Context. Amen? All things are possible 00:03:34.699 --> 00:03:44.379 to who? All things are possible. All things are 00:03:44.379 --> 00:03:49.199 possible to him who believes. Immediately, the 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:52.180 father of the child cried out and said with tears, 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:59.569 Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. When Jesus 00:03:59.569 --> 00:04:03.789 saw that the people came running together, he 00:04:03.789 --> 00:04:08.490 rebuked the unclean spirit saying to it, deaf 00:04:08.490 --> 00:04:11.689 and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him 00:04:11.689 --> 00:04:15.610 and enter him no more. Then the spirit cried 00:04:15.610 --> 00:04:19.389 out and convulsed him greatly and came out of 00:04:19.389 --> 00:04:24.230 him and he became as one death. So that many 00:04:24.230 --> 00:04:27.569 said he is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand 00:04:27.569 --> 00:04:31.230 and lifted him up and he arose. And when he had 00:04:31.230 --> 00:04:34.689 come into the house, his disciples asked him 00:04:34.689 --> 00:04:40.389 privately, why couldn't we cast it out? So he 00:04:40.389 --> 00:04:44.829 said to them, this kind come out by nothing but 00:04:44.829 --> 00:04:54.430 prayer and fasting. Hallelujah. And we say that. 00:04:55.439 --> 00:04:59.279 The reference in this verse 29 was specifically 00:04:59.279 --> 00:05:06.180 not to the demon, but actually to their unbelief, 00:05:06.180 --> 00:05:10.620 the unbelief of the disciples. Instead for them 00:05:10.620 --> 00:05:14.300 to be carriers of solution, especially to the 00:05:14.300 --> 00:05:18.620 situation at hand. And I believe so much that 00:05:18.620 --> 00:05:23.040 in our generation, God is counting on us. All 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:28.050 right. There are people that they've been oppressed 00:05:28.050 --> 00:05:37.189 in ignorance. They've been oppressed with sicknesses, 00:05:37.189 --> 00:05:43.589 by demons, and by all kinds of things, especially 00:05:43.589 --> 00:05:49.490 sometimes even in our families. And what God 00:05:49.490 --> 00:05:52.439 wants to do with our lives is that What God is 00:05:52.439 --> 00:05:54.819 making with our lives is that he makes us solution 00:05:54.819 --> 00:05:59.839 carriers. Hallelujah. That we, by the faith of 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:02.079 God that we have in our hearts, by the power 00:06:02.079 --> 00:06:04.579 of the spirit of God in our hearts, that we will 00:06:04.579 --> 00:06:06.939 be able to provide solution to all these situations. 00:06:07.120 --> 00:06:14.779 Hallelujah. And we cannot be a solution in our 00:06:14.779 --> 00:06:18.850 families, in our nation, in this campus. wherever 00:06:18.850 --> 00:06:21.269 we find ourselves if we don't believe what the 00:06:21.269 --> 00:06:24.329 word of god has said oh he's saying about us 00:06:24.329 --> 00:06:28.129 we must believe that god has walked in us that 00:06:28.129 --> 00:06:31.689 ability hallelujah now we keep saying this every 00:06:31.689 --> 00:06:34.589 day we keep saying this every week we gather 00:06:34.589 --> 00:06:38.230 here in church that we have the power of the 00:06:38.230 --> 00:06:43.550 spirit of god in us and our trust is that we 00:06:43.550 --> 00:06:47.649 will agree with what we are saying amen that 00:06:48.029 --> 00:06:50.730 we will subscribe to the words that we're explaining. 00:06:51.029 --> 00:06:54.949 It's not just enough to know that you carry power. 00:06:57.029 --> 00:07:00.790 It's not just enough to know that you are a child 00:07:00.790 --> 00:07:03.870 of God. It's not just enough to know that these 00:07:03.870 --> 00:07:06.310 are all the things that God has made available 00:07:06.310 --> 00:07:11.230 in you. But that we see that you are rising up 00:07:11.230 --> 00:07:14.110 every single day and you are living in dominion. 00:07:14.129 --> 00:07:15.769 And dominion simply means that you are living 00:07:17.110 --> 00:07:20.810 fully expressing the character of God, the power 00:07:20.810 --> 00:07:24.870 of God that is in you. That is our desire. All 00:07:24.870 --> 00:07:28.230 of us daily, we grow in the manifestation of 00:07:28.230 --> 00:07:32.949 the power of God. So we grow daily in the manifestation 00:07:32.949 --> 00:07:37.649 of the power. It's not just to know, but let 00:07:37.649 --> 00:07:41.250 what we know be seen visible and in expression 00:07:41.250 --> 00:07:45.930 in our lives. But then we see in these disciples 00:07:45.930 --> 00:07:51.019 that, They doubted, all right? They doubted. 00:07:51.959 --> 00:07:55.399 They came to him privately. Why could we not 00:07:55.399 --> 00:07:58.819 cast it out? Let it not just be that people will 00:07:58.819 --> 00:08:00.300 come to you trusting that you are a believer, 00:08:00.439 --> 00:08:05.279 you know, and then here you talk about God and 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:08.379 what God can do. But when it's an opportunity 00:08:08.379 --> 00:08:11.779 for us to show what God can do or what God is 00:08:11.779 --> 00:08:18.180 doing, then we fail because of unbelief. Hallelujah. 00:08:18.180 --> 00:08:22.379 So they came to him in verse 28 and they asked, 00:08:22.600 --> 00:08:29.720 why could we not cast it out? Why could we not 00:08:29.720 --> 00:08:35.720 cast it out? On recognizing that there was a 00:08:35.720 --> 00:08:40.039 failure, they wanted to understand why. And the 00:08:40.039 --> 00:08:48.580 why to our inability. To manifest faith is unbelief. 00:08:49.620 --> 00:08:52.639 It's not that there's no power in us, but it's 00:08:52.639 --> 00:08:57.519 unbelief. And unbelief is us allowing an information 00:08:57.519 --> 00:09:00.159 that is not the information that God has given 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:04.620 us to have preeminence in our hearts, thereby 00:09:04.620 --> 00:09:11.679 limiting the power of God at work in us. So, 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:15.350 Jesus pointed... The problem to them, the issue, 00:09:15.470 --> 00:09:18.429 and the issue is the issue of unbelief. Now when 00:09:18.429 --> 00:09:21.289 we look at Matthew chapter 17, where the same 00:09:21.289 --> 00:09:24.990 story was given and was narrated in Matthew. 00:09:25.009 --> 00:09:29.370 Matthew chapter 17, verse 20. Matthew chapter 00:09:29.370 --> 00:09:35.450 17, verse 20. So Jesus said to them, the same 00:09:35.450 --> 00:09:41.289 place. He says, because of your unbelief. Let's 00:09:41.289 --> 00:09:46.029 read. Verse 18 from verse 18. And Jesus rebuked 00:09:46.029 --> 00:09:48.950 the demon and it came out of him and the child 00:09:48.950 --> 00:09:55.730 was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples 00:09:55.730 --> 00:09:59.110 came to Jesus privately and said, why could we 00:09:59.110 --> 00:10:01.789 not cast it out? Why could we not cast it out? 00:10:01.950 --> 00:10:04.970 So Jesus said to them, because of what? Because 00:10:04.970 --> 00:10:10.850 they didn't pray and fast? No. Because This can 00:10:10.850 --> 00:10:15.470 come only by prayer and fasting. But look at 00:10:15.470 --> 00:10:19.769 it here. Because of your unbelief. For surely 00:10:19.769 --> 00:10:27.590 I say to you, if you have faith, how? If you 00:10:27.590 --> 00:10:32.649 have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to 00:10:32.649 --> 00:10:37.710 this mountain, move from here to there, and it 00:10:37.710 --> 00:10:42.919 will move. And nothing will be impossible for 00:10:42.919 --> 00:10:49.820 you. If you what? Have faith as what? As a master. 00:10:49.919 --> 00:10:54.480 Now we are not saying that faith is countable. 00:10:55.179 --> 00:10:59.139 Okay? Faith is intangible. We are not saying 00:10:59.139 --> 00:11:03.179 that faith is small faith in the sense that some 00:11:03.179 --> 00:11:07.039 people have a small quantity of faith or some 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:10.070 people have a large. You know, quantity of faith, 00:11:10.090 --> 00:11:12.309 no. What we are saying here, what Jesus is saying 00:11:12.309 --> 00:11:20.210 here is that even if your faith is as little 00:11:20.210 --> 00:11:25.450 as a mustard seed, it's sufficient enough to 00:11:25.450 --> 00:11:28.309 do what? To exhibit the power of God. Hallelujah. 00:11:29.529 --> 00:11:32.210 But we don't have a mustard seed faith. We have 00:11:32.210 --> 00:11:34.710 actually the completeness of what God has done 00:11:34.710 --> 00:11:41.159 in Christ in us. Amen? So let our mind and our 00:11:41.159 --> 00:11:44.500 heart, our mind and our heart, our consciousness, 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:52.159 our awareness, our... Let there be an agreement 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:54.100 in what God has said concerning us. Hallelujah. 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:58.600 Let there be unity with what God has said in 00:11:58.600 --> 00:12:03.679 his word and what our circumstances are and whatever 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:07.919 is happening in our lives. So the issue here 00:12:07.919 --> 00:12:11.919 is the issue of unbelief and not that the demon 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:16.139 is so powerful that in need, you know, prayer 00:12:16.139 --> 00:12:19.080 and fasting, the day might cast it out. Now, 00:12:19.120 --> 00:12:20.840 I just want to build on and give more clarity 00:12:20.840 --> 00:12:22.419 on this so that we'll move on to the next thing. 00:12:23.299 --> 00:12:30.620 If we check in the scriptures where Jesus, you 00:12:30.620 --> 00:12:34.429 know, in the gospels especially, performed you 00:12:34.429 --> 00:12:36.190 know, casting out of devils. We will not see 00:12:36.190 --> 00:12:39.309 any instance in the Bible where Jesus, before 00:12:39.309 --> 00:12:42.070 he cast out the devil, right? He first of all 00:12:42.070 --> 00:12:47.350 prayed, fasted, then he cast out the devil. You 00:12:47.350 --> 00:12:49.549 know, the manifestation of the things of the 00:12:49.549 --> 00:12:53.129 Spirit should be as natural to us as breathing. 00:12:55.549 --> 00:12:58.809 They should be to us, the church, as natural 00:12:58.809 --> 00:13:03.210 as breathing. Amen? Now, some of us have come 00:13:03.210 --> 00:13:05.169 up to a certain level that when you want to pray, 00:13:05.269 --> 00:13:07.870 you don't know when you even start. You begin 00:13:07.870 --> 00:13:12.110 prayer by praying in tongues. All right? Do you 00:13:12.110 --> 00:13:16.269 believe the tongues that you are praying? Do 00:13:16.269 --> 00:13:17.590 you believe that you are speaking to God when 00:13:17.590 --> 00:13:19.669 you pray in tongues? Obviously, you are praying 00:13:19.669 --> 00:13:22.090 in tongues because you believe that you are the 00:13:22.090 --> 00:13:25.250 child of God, so you speak in tongues. So if 00:13:25.250 --> 00:13:31.210 you can easily express The love of the Spirit 00:13:31.210 --> 00:13:35.129 in tongues, equally, it should be as natural 00:13:35.129 --> 00:13:39.370 to us as what? Demonstrating the things of the 00:13:39.370 --> 00:13:43.250 Spirit should be as natural to us as we speak 00:13:43.250 --> 00:13:46.509 in tongues. Now, let's go to Scriptures and see, 00:13:46.570 --> 00:13:48.590 then we move on to the next thing. Matthew 8, 00:13:48.769 --> 00:13:52.730 verse 16. As I said, we'll see instances in Scripture 00:13:52.730 --> 00:13:55.309 where Jesus Christ cast out devils and then, 00:13:55.350 --> 00:14:00.539 you know, he didn't have to. Pray or fast so 00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:02.480 that that will happen. Matthew chapter 18 verse 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:05.539 16. When even had come, they brought to him many 00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:09.600 who were demon possessed. And he what? He cast 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:13.120 out the spirit with a word. And heal all who 00:14:13.120 --> 00:14:18.980 is sick. So Jesus cast. He cast out the spirit 00:14:18.980 --> 00:14:24.539 with what? With a word. And heal all who is sick. 00:14:25.679 --> 00:14:29.920 Matthew chapter 8 verse 28. Another. situation, 00:14:29.920 --> 00:14:34.759 Matthew chapter 8, verse 28. When he had come 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:38.480 to another side, to the country of the Gergesens, 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:42.500 Gergesens, yes, there met him two demon -possessed 00:14:42.500 --> 00:14:46.340 men coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, 00:14:46.600 --> 00:15:00.539 so that no one could pass that way. For I, 28, 00:15:00.539 --> 00:15:04.860 29. And suddenly they cried out, saying, what 00:15:04.860 --> 00:15:08.480 have we to do with you, Jesus, you son of God? 00:15:08.679 --> 00:15:11.440 Have you come here to torment us before the time? 00:15:12.600 --> 00:15:17.159 Now, a good way off from them there was a herd 00:15:17.159 --> 00:15:22.460 of many swine feeding. So the demons begged him, 00:15:22.519 --> 00:15:27.259 saying, if you cast If you cast us out, permit 00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:31.519 us to go away into the herd of swine. And he 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:33.779 said to them, go. So when they had come out, 00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:38.080 they went into the herd of swine and suddenly 00:15:38.080 --> 00:15:40.759 the whole herd of swine ran violently down the 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:43.759 steep place into the sea and perished in the 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:50.980 water. Then those who kept the field and they 00:15:50.980 --> 00:15:53.179 went away into the city and told everything including 00:15:53.179 --> 00:15:55.669 what had happened. a demon possessed man there 00:15:55.669 --> 00:15:59.090 are several instances another one matthew chapter 00:15:59.090 --> 00:16:03.029 9 verse 32 34 and all these are instances where 00:16:03.029 --> 00:16:05.070 we see jesus christ having an encounter with 00:16:05.070 --> 00:16:08.009 a demon possessed man a woman whatever and then 00:16:08.009 --> 00:16:11.509 we see him speaking to the situation casting 00:16:11.509 --> 00:16:14.009 out the devils in the authority that he has as 00:16:14.009 --> 00:16:16.070 they went out behold they brought to him a man 00:16:16.070 --> 00:16:21.009 mute and demon possessed and when the demon was 00:16:22.809 --> 00:16:30.370 And when the demon was cast out, it was 33. And 00:16:30.370 --> 00:16:32.370 when the demon was cast out, the mute spoke. 00:16:33.049 --> 00:16:36.149 The multitude marveled, saying, it was never 00:16:36.149 --> 00:16:39.590 seen like this in Israel. Another one in Matthew 00:16:39.590 --> 00:16:46.950 chapter 12, verse 22. Matthew 12, verse 22. Matthew 00:16:46.950 --> 00:16:53.039 12, verse 22. Then one was brought to him who 00:16:53.039 --> 00:16:57.740 was demon possessed, blind and mute, and he healed 00:16:57.740 --> 00:17:02.039 him so that the blind and the mute man's body 00:17:02.039 --> 00:17:09.960 spoke and so. And all the multitude were amazed 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:14.299 and said, could this be the son of David? Now 00:17:14.299 --> 00:17:17.079 when the Pharisee had it, they said, this fellow 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:19.900 does cast out demons except, does not cast out 00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:22.579 demons except by, Beelzebub, the ruler of the 00:17:22.579 --> 00:17:26.059 demons. But Jesus knew their thoughts and said 00:17:26.059 --> 00:17:28.339 to them, every kingdom divided against itself 00:17:28.339 --> 00:17:31.900 is brought to dissolution. Every city or house 00:17:31.900 --> 00:17:35.779 divided against itself will not stand. If Satan 00:17:35.779 --> 00:17:37.960 casts out Satan, he's divided against himself. 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:43.660 Now, how then will his kingdom stand? And if 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:46.819 I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom your 00:17:46.819 --> 00:17:51.400 sons cast them out, therefore... You shall be 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:56.500 your judges. Another text, Matthew 15, verse 00:17:56.500 --> 00:17:59.779 21. You can write that down. Matthew 15, 21 to 00:17:59.779 --> 00:18:01.740 28. We'll see another instance where Jesus has 00:18:01.740 --> 00:18:05.920 cast out devils. And then Mark 1, verse 21 to 00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:10.279 28. Another instance. Mark chapter, give me Mark 00:18:10.279 --> 00:18:15.619 chapter 1, verse 39. Mark 1, verse 39. Mark 1, 00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:22.180 verse 39. Yes, and he was preaching in their 00:18:22.180 --> 00:18:25.319 synagogues throughout all Galilee and what? And 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:31.319 casting out demons. Mark 16, verse 9. Mark 16, 00:18:31.420 --> 00:18:35.940 verse 9. Mark 16, verse 9. And he was preaching. 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:39.480 Now, when he rose early on the first day of the 00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:43.299 week, he appeared. Is it the text? Yes, yes, 00:18:43.299 --> 00:18:47.839 yes. Talking about Mary. When he had cast what? 00:18:47.980 --> 00:18:49.559 Seven demons. This is just a reference of what? 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:55.259 Luke 9, verse 37 to 43. Luke 13, verse 10 to 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:57.799 17. In all these instances, we see where Jesus, 00:18:57.980 --> 00:19:03.920 you know, exercised authority. Okay? It seems 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:08.700 as though he has special affinity, so to say, 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:16.539 for demons. And wherever they are, what he did 00:19:16.539 --> 00:19:21.289 was to cast them out. And we have also been given 00:19:21.289 --> 00:19:25.849 that authority by the Spirit of God to set the 00:19:25.849 --> 00:19:30.349 captives free by the power of God. Even when 00:19:30.349 --> 00:19:32.170 we go through the book of Acts, we'll see also 00:19:32.170 --> 00:19:34.930 in the life of the apostles that the same way 00:19:34.930 --> 00:19:36.809 by which Jesus demonstrated the power of God, 00:19:37.450 --> 00:19:42.029 they also, even though, of course, prayer was 00:19:42.029 --> 00:19:46.509 characterized, characterizes their life, but 00:19:46.509 --> 00:19:49.490 recorded in personal demons themselves. The records 00:19:49.490 --> 00:19:55.809 in Acts chapter 8, verse 5 to 7. Let's read that 00:19:55.809 --> 00:20:01.650 one. Acts chapter 8, verse 5 to 7. Then Philip 00:20:01.650 --> 00:20:03.890 went down to the city of Samaria and preached 00:20:03.890 --> 00:20:07.490 Christ to them. And the multitude with one accord 00:20:07.490 --> 00:20:10.730 heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and 00:20:10.730 --> 00:20:14.690 seeing the miracles which he did. For what? For 00:20:14.690 --> 00:20:17.190 unclean spirit on the spot when we read the context 00:20:17.190 --> 00:20:21.450 and the story. On clean spirit, time with a loud 00:20:21.450 --> 00:20:24.730 voice came out of many who were possessed. And 00:20:24.730 --> 00:20:27.809 many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 00:20:28.289 --> 00:20:33.269 Right? Were healed. Yes. And then we'll see Paul 00:20:33.269 --> 00:20:37.109 also in Acts chapter 16, verse 16 to 18. Acts 00:20:37.109 --> 00:20:43.609 16, verse 16 to 18. Now it happened as we went 00:20:43.609 --> 00:20:47.390 to prayer. It's not that you were going to the 00:20:47.390 --> 00:20:50.390 synagogue to pray, okay? That exciting slave 00:20:50.390 --> 00:20:53.529 girl possessed with a spirit of divination met 00:20:53.529 --> 00:20:57.029 us, who brought her masters much profit for fortune 00:20:57.029 --> 00:21:01.490 telling. This girl followed Paul and us and cried 00:21:01.490 --> 00:21:04.950 out saying, these men are the servants of the 00:21:04.950 --> 00:21:08.750 most high God who proclaim to us the way of salvation. 00:21:09.829 --> 00:21:14.430 And this she did for many days, for many days. 00:21:14.990 --> 00:21:18.750 But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to 00:21:18.750 --> 00:21:21.910 the spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus 00:21:21.910 --> 00:21:25.710 Christ to come out of her. And he came out that 00:21:25.710 --> 00:21:30.509 very hour, that very hour. Hallelujah. So we 00:21:30.509 --> 00:21:35.170 see extraordinary miracles of casting out demons 00:21:35.170 --> 00:21:38.049 was done. Of course, there's one also in Acts 00:21:38.049 --> 00:21:40.670 9, verse 11 to 12. Let's read that one too. Acts 00:21:40.670 --> 00:21:47.109 19, Acts 19, 11, 12. Acts 19, verse 11 to 12 00:21:47.109 --> 00:21:52.650 says, God worked unusual miracles by the hands 00:21:52.650 --> 00:21:57.049 of Paul, that word, so that even handkerchiefs 00:21:57.049 --> 00:22:00.849 or aprons were brought from his body to the sick 00:22:00.849 --> 00:22:04.950 and the diseased. Diseases left them and the 00:22:04.950 --> 00:22:10.369 evil spirit went out of them. The evil spirit 00:22:10.369 --> 00:22:12.910 went out of them. So these records were not recorded 00:22:12.910 --> 00:22:16.950 for us for... For entertainment's sake. Hallelujah. 00:22:18.589 --> 00:22:21.390 It was not just recorded for us to just see the 00:22:21.390 --> 00:22:23.369 power of God and wish that we were in that generation. 00:22:24.329 --> 00:22:26.369 You know, once upon a time, there was a time 00:22:26.369 --> 00:22:31.970 when I was very, very, I was young in Nigeria 00:22:31.970 --> 00:22:35.630 before I came to Cyprus. You know, it was a conversation 00:22:35.630 --> 00:22:38.210 between believers. I don't want to give us a 00:22:38.210 --> 00:22:41.170 context because I'll share this somewhere. with 00:22:41.170 --> 00:22:42.990 the pastors. There was a conversation with some 00:22:42.990 --> 00:22:48.250 believers. I was there. And what believers were 00:22:48.250 --> 00:22:50.250 saying is that in this generation that nobody 00:22:50.250 --> 00:22:55.650 has the power as in the days before to walk on 00:22:55.650 --> 00:23:01.289 water as Jesus did. So they've relegated the 00:23:01.289 --> 00:23:04.670 Bible stories to ancient stories. Stories that 00:23:04.670 --> 00:23:08.369 has no relevance today. That when they see the 00:23:08.369 --> 00:23:11.019 things that are recorded in scriptures, They 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:13.380 see them as historic facts that has happened. 00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:15.880 They believe that it happened because they hold 00:23:15.880 --> 00:23:18.940 the Bible in high esteem as the word of God. 00:23:19.180 --> 00:23:22.000 And the records today are things that have happened 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:24.839 and they believe them. But they don't see themselves 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:28.140 in the pages of the scriptures. They see what 00:23:28.140 --> 00:23:31.000 has happened as what has ended probably in the 00:23:31.000 --> 00:23:33.839 generation that they were done. And there's no 00:23:33.839 --> 00:23:36.380 longer relevance of such kind of power at work 00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:41.339 in our generation. Now, we are supposed to be 00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:45.099 the continuity of the record of Scripture. All 00:23:45.099 --> 00:23:48.720 right? The work of God is supposed to continue 00:23:48.720 --> 00:23:52.680 with us. As much as we see in Scriptures the 00:23:52.680 --> 00:23:55.599 demonstration of the power of God in the miraculous, 00:23:55.740 --> 00:23:58.559 the healing of the sick, the casting out of devils, 00:23:58.680 --> 00:24:01.759 and all the preaching of the gospel and the work 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:04.319 of ministry that was done by the apostles, we 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:08.759 are expected... to carry on the work of ministry. 00:24:10.180 --> 00:24:13.140 And this work of ministry, as we always emphasize, 00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:17.339 is the work of faith. And we must see God walking 00:24:17.339 --> 00:24:20.019 through us and believing. Sometimes when I read 00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:22.440 the book of Acts, every time I read through the 00:24:22.440 --> 00:24:25.599 book of Acts, and I see what God walked through 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:30.140 ordinary men. Men by virtue of qualification 00:24:30.140 --> 00:24:34.140 of education in our generation today, we are 00:24:34.140 --> 00:24:39.069 much more educated than them. You know, we are 00:24:39.069 --> 00:24:41.450 the most exposed generation when it comes to 00:24:41.450 --> 00:24:46.089 information. But in the simplicity of faith, 00:24:46.170 --> 00:24:48.890 they believe what God is saying, they believe 00:24:48.890 --> 00:24:51.650 in the work of the Spirit of God, and they are 00:24:51.650 --> 00:24:54.609 able to demonstrate the power of the Spirit of 00:24:54.609 --> 00:25:01.029 God. And to us today, we must also understand 00:25:01.029 --> 00:25:03.730 the power of God. We must also come to terms 00:25:03.730 --> 00:25:08.140 with what God is doing and anticipate. In the 00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:12.500 work of God. Hallelujah. So. Here we've established 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:18.140 clearly that. The issue of unbelief was the matter. 00:25:18.279 --> 00:25:21.299 With the disciples. And of course Jesus Christ. 00:25:22.460 --> 00:25:26.819 Pointing it out to them. You know that. The matter 00:25:26.819 --> 00:25:31.980 is a matter of faith. Now let's look at another 00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:35.339 example. Where. You know doubt is an operation. 00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:40.259 How the enemy. by the power of contrary opinions, 00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:45.819 he raises issues to interrupt the work of God 00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:49.339 in our lives. Doubts, questions that God has 00:25:49.339 --> 00:25:52.940 said, doubting what God has said by what the 00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:55.079 enemy is bringing as an opinion. Now in Acts 00:25:55.079 --> 00:26:00.680 chapter 13, we see how the enemy operates also 00:26:00.680 --> 00:26:02.619 in Acts chapter 13. And I want us to look at 00:26:02.619 --> 00:26:04.980 this carefully and gently in Acts chapter 13. 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:10.400 We will see how the devil works, how he operates 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:26.140 cunningly. Acts 13, from verse 1. Now in the 00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:31.920 church that was at Antioch, there were certain 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:35.680 prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon, who 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:39.640 was called Nija, Lucius of Cyrene, Manion, who 00:26:39.640 --> 00:26:41.819 had been brought up with Herod the Tetrarch and 00:26:41.819 --> 00:26:45.099 Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, 00:26:45.099 --> 00:26:48.799 the Holy Spirit said, Now separate to me Barnabas 00:26:48.799 --> 00:26:51.099 and Saul for the work to which I have called 00:26:51.099 --> 00:26:55.279 them. So now, there's an affirmation of the call 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:58.500 of God upon your lives. Okay? And the call of 00:26:58.500 --> 00:27:00.440 God upon your lives is to go out and preach the 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:03.700 gospel. Then having fasted and prayed and laid 00:27:03.700 --> 00:27:07.099 hands on them, they sent them away. So being 00:27:07.099 --> 00:27:10.500 sent out by the Holy Spirit, now the Holy Spirit 00:27:10.500 --> 00:27:14.039 is the one that sent them. We can see the proof 00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:16.980 that the word came as they were praying and they 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:19.839 were fellowshipping and they were sent out to 00:27:19.839 --> 00:27:23.859 do what? To preach the gospel. Now the fact that 00:27:23.859 --> 00:27:27.500 they were sent out to preach the gospel does 00:27:27.500 --> 00:27:31.299 not mean that the devil will not be involved 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:33.680 in what, will not be interested in what they 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:35.339 were going to do. That's what I want to bring 00:27:35.339 --> 00:27:37.460 to our notice. So being sent out by the Holy 00:27:37.460 --> 00:27:40.980 Spirit, they went out to Seleucia and from there 00:27:40.980 --> 00:27:43.680 sailed to Cyprus. And when they arrived in Salamis, 00:27:43.839 --> 00:27:47.000 they preached the word of God in the synagogue 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:51.019 of the Jews here in Cyprus. They also had John 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:54.420 as their assistant. Now, when they had gone through 00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:58.500 the islands to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, 00:27:58.519 --> 00:28:01.740 Paul, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was by 00:28:01.740 --> 00:28:05.019 Jesus, who was with the proconsul. Sergius Paulus, 00:28:05.099 --> 00:28:08.599 an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas 00:28:08.599 --> 00:28:12.299 and Saul and sought to hear. What was he seeking 00:28:12.299 --> 00:28:17.759 to hear here? Verse 7. He was seeking to hear 00:28:17.759 --> 00:28:22.559 the word of God. Hallelujah. He was sent by God 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:25.480 to go preach the gospel. Now the leader here 00:28:25.480 --> 00:28:28.180 wants to hear what God has sent him to proclaim. 00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:33.289 So. Verse 7 again. Who was with the proconsul, 00:28:33.289 --> 00:28:37.609 Sergius Paulus? An intelligent man. This man 00:28:37.609 --> 00:28:41.569 called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear 00:28:41.569 --> 00:28:45.930 the word of God. But Elimus, the sorcerer, for 00:28:45.930 --> 00:28:49.369 Saul his name is translated, withstood them. 00:28:49.589 --> 00:28:52.890 The sorcerer withstood them. Even though, all 00:28:52.890 --> 00:28:55.349 right, they were to preach the word of God, they 00:28:55.349 --> 00:28:57.809 were to speak the word of God, there was an opposition. 00:29:00.359 --> 00:29:03.059 There was an opposition to what God has called 00:29:03.059 --> 00:29:13.660 them and have sent them out to do. Verse 8. But 00:29:13.660 --> 00:29:16.859 Elemas, the sorcerer, for so his name is translated, 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:23.019 withstood them, seeking to do what? To turn the 00:29:23.019 --> 00:29:25.359 proconsul away from the faith. Now, when we're 00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:30.930 thinking, we're thinking, this is sorcery. All 00:29:30.930 --> 00:29:33.170 of us are from Africa. You know what sorcery 00:29:33.170 --> 00:29:36.410 is. This is juju. Right? He was trying to do 00:29:36.410 --> 00:29:40.710 some spiritual things to shift away, you know, 00:29:40.710 --> 00:29:43.150 the man from hearing the word of God. This is 00:29:43.150 --> 00:29:46.730 satanic. And sometimes when you go to preach 00:29:46.730 --> 00:29:47.910 the gospel, you don't know why people are so 00:29:47.910 --> 00:29:52.130 aggressive. You don't know why some people, when 00:29:52.130 --> 00:29:53.849 they just look at you, they become offensive. 00:29:54.589 --> 00:29:57.089 Even before opening your mouth, they become whatever 00:29:57.089 --> 00:30:01.670 they are. Because Listen, the gospel is spiritual. 00:30:03.089 --> 00:30:07.369 Are we together? Faith is spiritual. It's a spiritual 00:30:07.369 --> 00:30:10.710 reality. Unbelief is also a spiritual reality. 00:30:11.529 --> 00:30:16.029 Fear is also a spiritual reality. So as you go 00:30:16.029 --> 00:30:18.710 to speak, know that what you are engaging is 00:30:18.710 --> 00:30:24.589 a spiritual activity. So when you see a physical 00:30:24.589 --> 00:30:27.599 manifestation, Just know that it is a physical 00:30:27.599 --> 00:30:31.619 manifestation of a spiritual condition. That 00:30:31.619 --> 00:30:36.059 is why when we go out for evangelism, you must 00:30:36.059 --> 00:30:38.240 understand that it is a spiritual activity. You 00:30:38.240 --> 00:30:40.680 are not just going for a social program. Walk 00:30:40.680 --> 00:30:42.819 around, you know, city center in case you see 00:30:42.819 --> 00:30:44.920 somebody you just talked to. And then, you know, 00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:47.220 try to socialize with the person. No, you are 00:30:47.220 --> 00:30:49.079 engaging in a spiritual activity. It is a matter 00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:53.500 of life. Hallelujah. So the devil, what I'm trying 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:55.500 to say is that the devil is also interested in 00:30:55.500 --> 00:31:00.480 that thing that you've been sent to do. So you 00:31:00.480 --> 00:31:03.519 must understand how the devil works. Whenever 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:06.279 it has to do with the work of God, whenever it 00:31:06.279 --> 00:31:07.980 has to do with the plan and the purpose of God, 00:31:08.079 --> 00:31:12.720 the enemy automatically is interested. No wonder 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:14.579 there's been a nod in your heart to go out to 00:31:14.579 --> 00:31:18.079 preach. But you don't just know how, you just 00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:24.180 find yourself, you know, either. slip off, right? 00:31:25.059 --> 00:31:28.299 You can remember anything you can remember, but 00:31:28.299 --> 00:31:30.039 when it comes to evangelism, you easily can't 00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:37.240 forget. Or immediately fear comes into your heart, 00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:41.200 you know? So we must understand that it is a 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:45.140 spiritual activity. The devil equally is interested 00:31:45.140 --> 00:31:48.180 because his plan is to oppose whatever God does. 00:31:48.819 --> 00:31:52.130 So we see in the case of Elemas here, The sorcerer. 00:31:52.329 --> 00:31:55.630 He was seeking to turn away the man. Away from 00:31:55.630 --> 00:31:58.029 the faith. Because when they preach to him. They 00:31:58.029 --> 00:32:00.569 are bringing the message of faith. And when the 00:32:00.569 --> 00:32:02.349 message of faith comes to him. He is going to 00:32:02.349 --> 00:32:06.710 believe. And he will what? And he will come into 00:32:06.710 --> 00:32:12.910 union with God. So. Verse 9. Then Saul who is 00:32:12.910 --> 00:32:16.690 called Paul. Still with the Holy Spirit. Looked 00:32:16.690 --> 00:32:21.410 intently at him. And said. Full of deceit and 00:32:21.410 --> 00:32:26.049 all fraud. Does it look like Genesis 3? Does 00:32:26.049 --> 00:32:28.509 it look like the character in Genesis 3? The 00:32:28.509 --> 00:32:34.009 serpent that comes subtly, deceitfully, cunningly, 00:32:34.029 --> 00:32:38.349 fraudulently. And that is the consistency of 00:32:38.349 --> 00:32:44.369 what? Of the activity of Satan. Hallelujah. So, 00:32:44.390 --> 00:32:49.230 he says, you full of all deceit. And thought, 00:32:49.369 --> 00:32:56.210 you son of who? Son of the devil. You, enemy 00:32:56.210 --> 00:32:58.910 of what? All righteousness. These are all characteristics 00:32:58.910 --> 00:33:04.069 of the devil. You, enemy of all righteousness. 00:33:04.890 --> 00:33:08.730 Will you not cease perverting the straight ways 00:33:08.730 --> 00:33:11.769 of the Lord? Which means that Elymas was trying 00:33:11.769 --> 00:33:14.970 to make it crooked. Elymas was trying to bring 00:33:14.970 --> 00:33:18.150 about diversion to the truth. Will you cease 00:33:18.150 --> 00:33:25.750 to do what? To perverting the straight ways of 00:33:25.750 --> 00:33:30.009 the Lord? And now indeed, now, Paul, you know, 00:33:30.049 --> 00:33:33.369 walk in authority. The hand of the Lord is upon 00:33:33.369 --> 00:33:37.329 you. And you shall be blind, not seeing the sun 00:33:37.329 --> 00:33:39.970 for a while. For a while. Pastor Victor and we've 00:33:39.970 --> 00:33:42.150 been training center. We said that this is for 00:33:42.150 --> 00:33:46.990 a while. All right? We suspend the activities 00:33:46.990 --> 00:33:49.529 of the devil with the authority of God in us 00:33:49.529 --> 00:33:51.309 for a while. We are not saying that with the 00:33:51.309 --> 00:33:55.490 Spirit of God you can tell people, you can do 00:33:55.490 --> 00:33:58.529 wicked things. No. We say for a while, which 00:33:58.529 --> 00:34:01.069 means that he will receive his side later. But 00:34:01.069 --> 00:34:04.490 for standing against the work of God, he has 00:34:04.490 --> 00:34:07.490 to use the authority that he has in Christ. And 00:34:07.490 --> 00:34:12.050 bringing down the argument, bringing down the 00:34:12.050 --> 00:34:16.170 opposition, uprooting the perversion from elements. 00:34:16.929 --> 00:34:19.510 And now indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon 00:34:19.510 --> 00:34:22.309 you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun 00:34:22.309 --> 00:34:25.269 for a time. And immediately a dark mist fell 00:34:25.269 --> 00:34:27.710 on him, and he went around seeking someone to 00:34:27.710 --> 00:34:30.190 lead him by the hand. Now look at verse 12 carefully. 00:34:31.309 --> 00:34:35.250 Look at verse 12. Then the procreant said, what 00:34:35.250 --> 00:34:40.710 did he do? He believed when he saw what had been 00:34:40.710 --> 00:34:43.710 done, being astonished, At what? What did he 00:34:43.710 --> 00:34:45.429 believe in? Is it in the casting out of the devil? 00:34:46.369 --> 00:34:49.150 I believe that a man at that level has seen spirit. 00:34:49.469 --> 00:34:56.070 He has interacted with spirits. Alright? So, 00:34:56.150 --> 00:34:59.030 those miraculous things, the Bible was very specific 00:34:59.030 --> 00:35:02.389 about what he believed. He believed what? Astonished 00:35:02.389 --> 00:35:06.590 at the teaching of the Lord. Hallelujah. Now, 00:35:06.610 --> 00:35:13.690 we'll move down to verse 12. We'll see that they 00:35:13.690 --> 00:35:18.670 left that place. Okay, verse 12. Then the procurator 00:35:18.670 --> 00:35:20.769 believed, yes, yes, it was starting. Now when 00:35:20.769 --> 00:35:23.769 Paul had and his party set sail from Paphos, 00:35:23.849 --> 00:35:27.469 they came to Perga in Pamphylia and John departed 00:35:27.469 --> 00:35:31.710 from them, returned to Jerusalem. But when they 00:35:31.710 --> 00:35:35.429 departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in 00:35:35.429 --> 00:35:40.130 Pisidia and went into synagogue on the Sabbath 00:35:40.130 --> 00:35:47.239 day and sat down. Yes. And after that, after 00:35:47.239 --> 00:35:49.800 the reading of the law and the prophets, the 00:35:49.800 --> 00:35:51.699 rulers of the synagogue sent to them saying, 00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:54.780 men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation 00:35:54.780 --> 00:35:58.880 for us, for the people, say on. Then Paul stood 00:35:58.880 --> 00:36:03.280 up, mounting with his hands, said, men of Israel, 00:36:03.440 --> 00:36:08.260 and you who fear God, listen, the God of these 00:36:08.260 --> 00:36:11.619 people, Israel, choose our fathers and exalted 00:36:11.619 --> 00:36:14.159 the people. When they dwell as strangers in the 00:36:14.159 --> 00:36:18.599 land of Egypt and with an uplifted arm, he brought 00:36:18.599 --> 00:36:21.000 them out of it. Now he began to tell them the 00:36:21.000 --> 00:36:24.119 message of the gospel. Okay. But I want you to 00:36:24.119 --> 00:36:27.960 look at verse 38. Down to verse 38 is his explanation 00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:31.300 of the gospel message. Okay. Now look at verse 00:36:31.300 --> 00:36:38.179 38. Yes. Verse 38. Yes. Therefore, let it be 00:36:38.179 --> 00:36:40.500 known to you, brethren, that through this man. 00:36:40.619 --> 00:36:43.170 Now. He gave a history from, and that is how, 00:36:43.250 --> 00:36:45.849 listen, go and read this text, the entire chapter. 00:36:46.090 --> 00:36:49.989 That is how the gospel is preached. From what 00:36:49.989 --> 00:36:52.630 God did in the Old Testament, right? From the 00:36:52.630 --> 00:36:55.449 prophets down to, explaining down to the person 00:36:55.449 --> 00:36:57.710 of Jesus Christ. Verse 38. Therefore, let it 00:36:57.710 --> 00:36:59.530 be known to you, brethren, that through this 00:36:59.530 --> 00:37:02.550 man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins. 00:37:02.829 --> 00:37:05.730 And by him, everyone who believes is justified 00:37:05.730 --> 00:37:09.389 from all things from which you could not be justified. 00:37:28.769 --> 00:37:31.849 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the 00:37:31.849 --> 00:37:34.670 Gentiles begged that these words might be preached 00:37:34.670 --> 00:37:38.440 to them the next Sabbath. The Gentiles also wanted 00:37:38.440 --> 00:37:41.320 to hear this message again. Now, when the congregation 00:37:41.320 --> 00:37:45.619 had broken up, many of the Jews, devout postulates, 00:37:45.820 --> 00:37:49.340 followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to 00:37:49.340 --> 00:37:51.980 them, persuaded them to continue in the grace 00:37:51.980 --> 00:37:55.059 of God. So, there are people that encouraged 00:37:55.059 --> 00:37:58.579 them to continue in the grace of God. Everything 00:37:58.579 --> 00:38:03.539 was moving fine. Verse 44, on the next Sabbath, 00:38:03.900 --> 00:38:07.440 almost the whole city came together. To hear 00:38:07.440 --> 00:38:09.460 the word of God. You see, the progress of the 00:38:09.460 --> 00:38:11.960 gospel, the prosperity of the word of faith, 00:38:12.199 --> 00:38:15.119 right? But when the Jews saw the multitudes, 00:38:15.219 --> 00:38:17.760 what happened now? The devil comes in, right? 00:38:17.940 --> 00:38:21.079 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were 00:38:21.079 --> 00:38:24.559 filled with what? Envy. Is it by the spirit? 00:38:25.639 --> 00:38:29.679 No, the devil is walking here. They were filled 00:38:29.679 --> 00:38:33.400 with envy. With envy, what did they do? Look 00:38:33.400 --> 00:38:35.300 at the next verse. The last seems like what the 00:38:35.300 --> 00:38:41.010 devil... He's doing? Contradicting. Okay? The 00:38:41.010 --> 00:38:44.730 patterns of the enemy. Contradicting what? Contradicting 00:38:44.730 --> 00:38:49.570 and blaspheming. What did they oppose? They opposed 00:38:49.570 --> 00:38:55.010 the gospel. What Paul? Opposed the things. What 00:38:55.010 --> 00:38:58.250 are the things Paul was speaking about? The things 00:38:58.250 --> 00:39:03.110 concerning Christ. They were what? Contradicting. 00:39:03.590 --> 00:39:06.250 That is, Paul would say, hey, They will say it's 00:39:06.250 --> 00:39:10.710 not true. It's B. Contradicting what Paul is 00:39:10.710 --> 00:39:15.090 saying. Opposing what Paul is saying. Blaspheming 00:39:15.090 --> 00:39:19.489 what Paul is saying. And that is what the enemy 00:39:19.489 --> 00:39:24.469 does. To the gospel. The word of God. He comes 00:39:24.469 --> 00:39:27.090 contradicting what God is saying. Blaspheming 00:39:27.090 --> 00:39:29.650 what God is saying. Opposing what God is saying. 00:39:32.909 --> 00:39:38.969 Verse 46. Then Paul and Barnabas be bold. Opposition 00:39:38.969 --> 00:39:44.190 should not be an excuse, right? These men were 00:39:44.190 --> 00:39:47.070 called. These men were sent by the Holy Ghost. 00:39:48.489 --> 00:39:51.409 And we see almost every step they move, there 00:39:51.409 --> 00:39:54.650 is an opposition to the word of faith. And also 00:39:54.650 --> 00:39:56.309 the one that you receive as a believer, there's 00:39:56.309 --> 00:39:58.849 an opposition. In your heart, there's an opposition. 00:40:00.070 --> 00:40:03.250 And the goal is to ensure that there is no progress 00:40:03.250 --> 00:40:07.199 in your life. The word of God does not. Find 00:40:07.199 --> 00:40:12.239 free course in your life. Then Paul and Barnabas. 00:40:12.300 --> 00:40:16.000 Be bold and say. It was necessary. That the word 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:17.920 of God should be spoken to you first. That is 00:40:17.920 --> 00:40:21.320 to the Jews. But since you reject it. And judge 00:40:21.320 --> 00:40:27.840 yourself. Behold we turn to the Gentiles. For 00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:31.739 so the Lord has commanded us. I have said. I 00:40:31.739 --> 00:40:34.059 have said to you as a lie to the Gentiles. You 00:40:34.059 --> 00:40:36.980 should be for salvation to the ends of the earth. 00:40:38.019 --> 00:40:40.519 Now, when the Gentiles had this, they were what? 00:40:40.599 --> 00:40:42.820 They were glad and glorified the word of the 00:40:42.820 --> 00:40:45.260 Lord. And that is how we should, that is should 00:40:45.260 --> 00:40:47.920 be our disposition to the word of God. And as 00:40:47.920 --> 00:40:50.280 many as had been appointed to work to eternal 00:40:50.280 --> 00:40:53.019 life, believed. I don't want to talk about that 00:40:53.019 --> 00:40:55.619 appointment, but, and the word of the Lord was 00:40:55.619 --> 00:40:58.579 being spread to all the regions. So the opposite, 00:40:58.639 --> 00:41:03.289 see, the word of God always tries. The Word of 00:41:03.289 --> 00:41:06.809 God has the power to triumph above whatever form 00:41:06.809 --> 00:41:09.590 of doubt. What I want you to see is the authority, 00:41:09.849 --> 00:41:14.110 the power of the Word of God. No matter the resistance, 00:41:14.389 --> 00:41:17.789 imagine in ages, over 2 ,000 years, there has 00:41:17.789 --> 00:41:22.150 always been a rise of opposition against the 00:41:22.150 --> 00:41:25.309 gospel. But what we see is that the gospel has 00:41:25.309 --> 00:41:33.010 continuously expanded. irrespective of the opposition. 00:41:33.269 --> 00:41:35.989 In fact, opposition actually split the gospel 00:41:35.989 --> 00:41:43.070 by opposition. Hallelujah. I saw somebody, someone 00:41:43.070 --> 00:41:45.789 is a very intelligent professor, I think in America 00:41:45.789 --> 00:41:49.690 or wherever, that he's afraid of the, he made 00:41:49.690 --> 00:41:53.070 it this way, that he's scared of the gradual 00:41:53.070 --> 00:41:59.150 coming to the end of Christianity. Because if 00:41:59.150 --> 00:42:02.139 Christianity ends, you know the world because 00:42:02.139 --> 00:42:04.079 in his own i don't know whether he's a believer 00:42:04.079 --> 00:42:07.159 in his own you know perception that christianity 00:42:07.159 --> 00:42:09.599 has brought order in society and the development 00:42:09.599 --> 00:42:11.280 that christianity has brought about you know 00:42:11.280 --> 00:42:13.340 men believe god and all these things but he's 00:42:13.340 --> 00:42:17.039 he's he's beginning to feel that he said it is 00:42:17.039 --> 00:42:18.619 coming to an end many people are not believing 00:42:18.619 --> 00:42:20.500 like before i said no this man does not understand 00:42:20.500 --> 00:42:24.559 the bible doesn't understand what works it's 00:42:24.559 --> 00:42:26.519 his own perception about what god is doing hallelujah 00:42:26.519 --> 00:42:33.659 amen So opposition does not stop the Word of 00:42:33.659 --> 00:42:35.719 God from having its power and its authority. 00:42:36.079 --> 00:42:40.539 So even in your own life, the contradictions, 00:42:40.659 --> 00:42:45.239 the contradicting things that the enemy brings 00:42:45.239 --> 00:42:48.619 does not have power. You are the one that can 00:42:48.619 --> 00:42:50.260 limit the Word of God from finding expression. 00:42:51.800 --> 00:42:53.980 You are the one that can limit the Word of God 00:42:53.980 --> 00:42:56.880 from what? From finding expression. And the word 00:42:56.880 --> 00:42:58.860 of the Lord was being spread throughout all the 00:42:58.860 --> 00:43:02.159 region. Verse 50. But the Jews stayed up the 00:43:02.159 --> 00:43:05.179 devote. Look at the enemy. They stayed up the 00:43:05.179 --> 00:43:12.579 devote. And prominent women. Prominent women. 00:43:14.800 --> 00:43:19.000 And the chief men of the city. Power. Now it's 00:43:19.000 --> 00:43:26.940 political now. It's political. Rays of persecution. 00:43:27.440 --> 00:43:30.820 Against who? Against Paul and Barnabas. And what 00:43:30.820 --> 00:43:33.400 did they do? They expelled them from their region. 00:43:34.480 --> 00:43:37.280 But they shook off the dust from their feet against 00:43:37.280 --> 00:43:40.719 them. And came to Iconium. Hallelujah. The word 00:43:40.719 --> 00:43:43.000 of God must spread. The word of God has power. 00:43:43.239 --> 00:43:46.380 It has ability to move us. And the disciples 00:43:46.380 --> 00:43:49.480 were filled with joy. And with what? With the 00:43:49.480 --> 00:43:52.019 Holy Ghost in the midst of the opposition. Hallelujah. 00:43:53.119 --> 00:43:56.190 So the devil. He's interested in what we have 00:43:56.190 --> 00:43:58.150 and he wants to steal it from us. Let's look 00:43:58.150 --> 00:44:00.889 at Matthew 13 as we begin to run up. Matthew 00:44:00.889 --> 00:44:09.789 13. Matthew 13, the operation of the enemy. That's 00:44:09.789 --> 00:44:12.170 what we're investigating to see how he operates 00:44:12.170 --> 00:44:15.309 through his devices and how he works. Matthew 00:44:15.309 --> 00:44:20.190 13, verse 1 to 11. On the same day, Jesus went 00:44:20.190 --> 00:44:23.340 out of the house and sat by the sea. And great 00:44:23.340 --> 00:44:25.539 multitudes were gathered together to him, so 00:44:25.539 --> 00:44:27.760 that he got into a boat and sat, and the whole 00:44:27.760 --> 00:44:30.980 multitude stood on shore. Then he spoke many 00:44:30.980 --> 00:44:33.480 things to them in parables, saying, Behold, a 00:44:33.480 --> 00:44:37.800 sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some 00:44:37.800 --> 00:44:40.500 feet fell by the wayside, and the birds came 00:44:40.500 --> 00:44:43.539 and devoured them. Some fell on the stony places, 00:44:43.760 --> 00:44:46.420 where they did not have much earth, and they 00:44:46.420 --> 00:44:49.260 immediately sprung up, because they had no depth 00:44:49.260 --> 00:44:54.800 of earth. But when the sun was up, as they were 00:44:54.800 --> 00:44:59.400 scorched, and because they had no root, they 00:44:59.400 --> 00:45:02.639 withered away. And some fell among the thorns, 00:45:02.800 --> 00:45:06.539 and the thorns swung up and choked them. But 00:45:06.539 --> 00:45:09.000 others fell on the good ground, and yielded a 00:45:09.000 --> 00:45:16.880 cup from a hundredfold, sixty from thirty. He 00:45:16.880 --> 00:45:21.449 who has ears to hear, let him what? Let him hear. 00:45:22.329 --> 00:45:25.429 And the disciples came and said to him, why do 00:45:25.429 --> 00:45:30.250 you speak to them in parables? He answered and 00:45:30.250 --> 00:45:32.550 said to them, because it was been given to you 00:45:32.550 --> 00:45:35.449 to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. 00:45:35.809 --> 00:45:42.170 But to them, it was not been given. Hallelujah. 00:45:45.909 --> 00:45:52.139 Let's move down to verse 18. Therefore, hear 00:45:52.139 --> 00:45:55.000 the parable of the sower. They came to him. Give 00:45:55.000 --> 00:46:02.239 me verse 17 rather. Verse 18, yes. Which verse 00:46:02.239 --> 00:46:14.619 is that? 14. 13, sorry. Yes, therefore I speak 00:46:14.619 --> 00:46:16.260 to them in parables because seeing they do not 00:46:16.260 --> 00:46:18.659 see and hearing they do not hear, nor do they 00:46:18.659 --> 00:46:21.650 understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah 00:46:21.650 --> 00:46:23.889 is fulfilled, which says, Hearing you will hear 00:46:23.889 --> 00:46:27.289 and shall not understand, and seeing you will 00:46:27.289 --> 00:46:31.250 see and not perceive. For the hearts of the people 00:46:31.250 --> 00:46:35.309 have grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, 00:46:35.449 --> 00:46:37.969 and their eyes they have closed, lest they should 00:46:37.969 --> 00:46:40.590 see with their eyes and hear with their hearts, 00:46:40.650 --> 00:46:44.010 so they hear with their hearts, lest they should 00:46:44.010 --> 00:46:46.849 understand with their hearts and turn, so that 00:46:46.849 --> 00:46:51.019 I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes 00:46:51.019 --> 00:46:55.059 for they see and your ears for they hear. For 00:46:55.059 --> 00:46:58.119 surely I say to you that many prophets and righteous 00:46:58.119 --> 00:47:00.980 men desire to see what you see and do not see 00:47:00.980 --> 00:47:03.260 it and to hear what you hear and do not hear 00:47:03.260 --> 00:47:06.519 it. Therefore, hear the parable of the sower. 00:47:06.659 --> 00:47:08.800 Now he began to interpret to them the parable. 00:47:10.840 --> 00:47:15.699 Verse 19. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, 00:47:16.170 --> 00:47:17.909 Because he's trying to explain to them a spiritual, 00:47:18.070 --> 00:47:21.210 a kingdom matter. The story of the sower and 00:47:21.210 --> 00:47:24.010 the plant is not agriculture he's teaching them. 00:47:25.070 --> 00:47:27.150 He's not agriculture planting and sowing and 00:47:27.150 --> 00:47:29.389 reaping that he's teaching them. He's not crop 00:47:29.389 --> 00:47:32.030 rotation that he's teaching them or soil science. 00:47:32.590 --> 00:47:34.869 He used natural things that they could understand 00:47:34.869 --> 00:47:39.030 to bring about the communication of a spiritual 00:47:39.030 --> 00:47:43.889 reality. And here he's interpreting what he has 00:47:43.889 --> 00:47:46.780 just given them in a parable. When anyone hears 00:47:46.780 --> 00:47:49.679 the word of the kingdom, the word of the kingdom, 00:47:49.880 --> 00:47:53.739 the message of God, the word of God, and does 00:47:53.739 --> 00:47:58.539 not understand it, then who? The wicked one. 00:47:58.699 --> 00:48:01.000 That means we hear the message of the kingdom 00:48:01.000 --> 00:48:04.760 and you lack the understanding of it. Then the 00:48:04.760 --> 00:48:08.920 wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown 00:48:08.920 --> 00:48:13.679 in his heart. This is he who receives it by the 00:48:13.679 --> 00:48:20.110 wayside. Okay? But he who received the seed. 00:48:21.230 --> 00:48:31.070 I skipped verse 18. Verse 18. Okay. Go back to 00:48:31.070 --> 00:48:34.250 the previous verse. But he who received the seed 00:48:34.250 --> 00:48:38.070 on the stony place is he who hears the word. 00:48:38.170 --> 00:48:41.130 Which means that the seed in the parable is the 00:48:41.130 --> 00:48:42.730 word of God. It's the word of the kingdom. The 00:48:42.730 --> 00:48:44.469 message of the kingdom. But he who received the 00:48:44.469 --> 00:48:47.769 seed on the stony place is he who hears the word 00:48:47.769 --> 00:48:51.250 and immediately receives it with joy. Yet he 00:48:51.250 --> 00:48:53.690 has no written himself, but endures only for 00:48:53.690 --> 00:48:56.469 a while. When tribulations or persecutions arise 00:48:56.469 --> 00:48:58.329 because of the word, immediately he stumbles. 00:48:59.269 --> 00:49:02.030 Now he who receives it among the thorns is he 00:49:02.030 --> 00:49:04.969 who hears the word. And the cares of this world 00:49:04.969 --> 00:49:07.510 and the deceitfulness of riches shock the world, 00:49:07.570 --> 00:49:10.289 and he becomes unfruitful. Now the desire of 00:49:10.289 --> 00:49:14.449 God is that we become fruitful. We become fruitful. 00:49:15.659 --> 00:49:18.820 The things of the spirit. Okay? That we become 00:49:18.820 --> 00:49:23.280 fruitful in the things of the spirit. In the 00:49:23.280 --> 00:49:24.900 things of the spirit. That we are fruitful in 00:49:24.900 --> 00:49:28.480 the things of the spirit. So, Satan steals the 00:49:28.480 --> 00:49:36.800 word when taught and not understood. When the 00:49:36.800 --> 00:49:41.360 message is taught and not understood, Satan comes 00:49:41.360 --> 00:49:43.460 in and then he takes advantage of what I have 00:49:43.460 --> 00:49:49.829 preached. Okay? He steals it away. What brings 00:49:49.829 --> 00:49:52.230 lack of understanding? Lack of understanding 00:49:52.230 --> 00:49:56.750 can come from teaching. Okay? When the word of 00:49:56.750 --> 00:49:58.929 God is not taught properly, when the word of 00:49:58.929 --> 00:50:02.710 God is not explained properly, the devil will 00:50:02.710 --> 00:50:04.429 take advantage of the word when it's not properly 00:50:04.429 --> 00:50:07.610 explained. When any message is taught without 00:50:07.610 --> 00:50:11.030 understanding of Christ Jesus, the devil comes 00:50:11.030 --> 00:50:14.389 and he steals the word. How does he steal the 00:50:14.389 --> 00:50:17.340 word? Of course, we know what he does. By bringing 00:50:17.340 --> 00:50:22.059 contradiction, right? Accusations, imaginations, 00:50:22.320 --> 00:50:27.539 mockery. Steals the word away from the heart 00:50:27.539 --> 00:50:31.119 of he who is and does not understand. Which means 00:50:31.119 --> 00:50:34.159 that it is necessary that we understand. When 00:50:34.159 --> 00:50:37.300 we don't understand, the devil takes advantage 00:50:37.300 --> 00:50:40.820 of what has been spoken. Okay? Stealing the word 00:50:40.820 --> 00:50:42.940 is figurative. It doesn't mean that he comes 00:50:42.940 --> 00:50:45.320 and he takes the word. No. He rendered the world 00:50:45.320 --> 00:50:49.420 ineffective. That's what that still means. He 00:50:49.420 --> 00:50:50.980 renders the world ineffective in the life of 00:50:50.980 --> 00:50:53.599 the man because the goal of the world is to bring 00:50:53.599 --> 00:50:57.840 about fruitfulness in our lives. For example, 00:50:57.840 --> 00:51:00.380 on the concept of prosperity, you know, when 00:51:00.380 --> 00:51:03.420 the idea of prosperity, some of us have been 00:51:03.420 --> 00:51:06.260 in an environment so much that when we hear the 00:51:06.260 --> 00:51:09.500 issue of prosperity, we think, no, this man wants 00:51:09.500 --> 00:51:12.860 to be cunning here. And we have so much belief, 00:51:13.119 --> 00:51:15.179 we've positioned ourselves that we don't believe 00:51:15.179 --> 00:51:19.099 that God prospers people. Alright? We believe 00:51:19.099 --> 00:51:21.380 so much that we've come to a place that we don't 00:51:21.380 --> 00:51:24.440 think that God prospers people financially. Why? 00:51:25.059 --> 00:51:27.280 Because the enemy has taken advantage of the 00:51:27.280 --> 00:51:30.880 message of prosperity. And he has tweaked it. 00:51:31.360 --> 00:51:34.920 He has rebranded it with his own ideas. He has 00:51:34.920 --> 00:51:41.119 sprinkled it with a lot of inaccuracy. And then 00:51:41.119 --> 00:51:42.960 it becomes a message and the order of the day. 00:51:45.039 --> 00:51:47.860 But the will of God is that we prosper, using 00:51:47.860 --> 00:51:50.679 prosperity as an example, to tell us how when 00:51:50.679 --> 00:51:53.179 the world is not preached properly, when the 00:51:53.179 --> 00:51:55.880 world is spread, and there's no understanding, 00:51:56.000 --> 00:51:57.860 and lack of understanding can come by lack of 00:51:57.860 --> 00:52:05.699 proper teaching. Okay? So, God's will for us 00:52:05.699 --> 00:52:08.949 is to prosper. But the devil comes and steals 00:52:08.949 --> 00:52:12.030 this idea of prosperity. He pollutes the idea 00:52:12.030 --> 00:52:14.710 of prosperity by the lack of understanding. People 00:52:14.710 --> 00:52:18.050 could be ignorant concerning what God is saying 00:52:18.050 --> 00:52:24.230 about our finances. Okay? We look at lack of 00:52:24.230 --> 00:52:26.829 money and poverty as a sign of righteousness. 00:52:29.010 --> 00:52:32.989 What is God's idea about prosperity? For instance, 00:52:36.650 --> 00:52:39.550 The essence of wealth and finance should be understood 00:52:39.550 --> 00:52:45.010 within the context of the word of God. The idea 00:52:45.010 --> 00:52:47.250 about prosperity should not come from the world 00:52:47.250 --> 00:52:49.809 because that is where the church has gotten it 00:52:49.809 --> 00:52:53.309 wrong in many instances where we measure our 00:52:53.309 --> 00:52:58.230 success financially with the lenses of the people 00:52:58.230 --> 00:53:03.989 of the world. What influences our desire for 00:53:03.989 --> 00:53:09.530 material wealth? is the worldly system, not the 00:53:09.530 --> 00:53:13.090 word of God, not the word of God. Read 1 Corinthians 00:53:13.090 --> 00:53:16.750 1, chapter 6, verse 7. Give me 1 Corinthians 00:53:16.750 --> 00:53:20.710 6, verse 7, one of the scriptures. You see, Paul 00:53:20.710 --> 00:53:22.710 was writing to the church. And what is he saying? 00:53:24.309 --> 00:53:30.670 Now, therefore, it is already 1 Corinthians 6, 00:53:31.349 --> 00:53:37.949 verse 7. Yes? Now, therefore, it is already an 00:53:37.949 --> 00:53:41.190 utter failure for you that you go low against 00:53:41.190 --> 00:53:43.110 one another. Yes. Why do you know that? I don't 00:53:43.110 --> 00:53:45.909 know. This is a wrong one. 2 Corinthians 9 verse 00:53:45.909 --> 00:53:55.010 8. 2 Corinthians 9 verse 8. Sorry. Yes. So Paul 00:53:55.010 --> 00:53:57.130 was writing today. He says, and God is able to 00:53:57.130 --> 00:54:01.130 make all grace abound towards you. And you, always 00:54:01.130 --> 00:54:03.929 having all sufficiency. Because this is the purpose 00:54:03.929 --> 00:54:06.630 of God for the believer. That a believer, having 00:54:06.630 --> 00:54:11.289 all sufficiency, will do what? Will abound, right? 00:54:11.710 --> 00:54:14.809 In all things may have abundance for what? What's 00:54:14.809 --> 00:54:18.030 the essence of having sufficiency? That you will 00:54:18.030 --> 00:54:20.690 be abundant, that you abound in what? For every 00:54:20.690 --> 00:54:24.489 good work. Okay? So the desire of God is that 00:54:24.489 --> 00:54:26.710 the believer prospers. So what does the enemy 00:54:26.710 --> 00:54:29.090 do if this message is not understood? He took 00:54:29.090 --> 00:54:33.130 this message of prosperity, okay, and then he 00:54:33.130 --> 00:54:36.800 twists it. And then it becomes unfulfilled even 00:54:36.800 --> 00:54:40.420 to the believer. Philippians 4, verse 19. Philippians 00:54:40.420 --> 00:54:47.480 4, verse 19. Philippians 4, verse 19. And my 00:54:47.480 --> 00:54:50.539 God shall supply all your need according to his 00:54:50.539 --> 00:54:52.860 riches in glory by Christ Jesus. There are several 00:54:52.860 --> 00:54:56.539 scriptures. Matthew 6, verse 33. Of course, we 00:54:56.539 --> 00:54:59.179 know about how God prospers the righteous man. 00:54:59.280 --> 00:55:05.230 3 John, verse 2. 3 John verse 2 that talks about 00:55:05.230 --> 00:55:07.730 the prosperity of the believer. But there are 00:55:07.730 --> 00:55:09.869 several scriptures that speaks about God's desire 00:55:09.869 --> 00:55:12.969 for the believer to prosper. Not only in the 00:55:12.969 --> 00:55:14.849 things of the spirit, but in material things. 00:55:15.769 --> 00:55:20.230 Alright? But when the devil comes against this 00:55:20.230 --> 00:55:24.090 world, he seals it, the world, and renders it 00:55:24.090 --> 00:55:29.550 unfruitful. He renders this message of God's 00:55:29.550 --> 00:55:31.250 plan and purpose for the believer unfruitful. 00:55:31.630 --> 00:55:36.110 And of course, In Matthew chapter 13, we see 00:55:36.110 --> 00:55:39.289 where Jesus Christ is explaining a parable, a 00:55:39.289 --> 00:55:41.230 second category of people, verse 20, particularly 00:55:41.230 --> 00:55:43.730 says, but can you receive the seed on stony place? 00:55:44.150 --> 00:55:46.989 This is he who hears the word and immediately 00:55:46.989 --> 00:55:50.210 receives it with joy. Yet he has no root in himself, 00:55:50.369 --> 00:55:53.230 but endures only for a while. When tribulation 00:55:53.230 --> 00:55:56.309 or persecution arises because of the word, immediately 00:55:56.309 --> 00:55:59.250 he stumbles. The first category of people are 00:55:59.250 --> 00:56:01.730 people that do not even understand the word. 00:56:02.849 --> 00:56:06.269 Alright? Not understanding the word becomes an 00:56:06.269 --> 00:56:09.070 opportunity for the devil to take advantage of 00:56:09.070 --> 00:56:11.730 the righteous word of God. Not understanding 00:56:11.730 --> 00:56:14.190 it. Secondly, we see somebody here that have 00:56:14.190 --> 00:56:16.909 received it with great joy. Yet, what happened? 00:56:17.090 --> 00:56:19.469 He himself is not rooted in nothing that he has 00:56:19.469 --> 00:56:24.230 received with joy. So, understanding is key. 00:56:25.130 --> 00:56:28.730 Being rooted is important to being fruitful. 00:56:29.289 --> 00:56:32.460 For a while, for one tribulation, because Tribulation 00:56:32.460 --> 00:56:33.960 will come on the account of what you've received. 00:56:34.900 --> 00:56:37.599 Are we together? Tribulation will come on the 00:56:37.599 --> 00:56:40.599 account of what you've received. For when tribulation 00:56:40.599 --> 00:56:43.500 or persecution arises, because of what? Because 00:56:43.500 --> 00:56:47.519 he stole something? Because if the word that 00:56:47.519 --> 00:56:51.219 you have, immediately he stumbles. So those who 00:56:51.219 --> 00:56:54.059 received the word accepted, but there was no 00:56:54.059 --> 00:56:57.940 root, no foundation, no conviction, no decision 00:56:57.940 --> 00:57:02.619 to do the word. We see challenges coming on the 00:57:02.619 --> 00:57:04.820 account of the world that they have. You know, 00:57:04.880 --> 00:57:07.300 you probably look at the scriptures and you see, 00:57:07.360 --> 00:57:10.340 oh, God's plan for you, for example, let's go 00:57:10.340 --> 00:57:11.980 back to the issue of prosperity. God's plan is 00:57:11.980 --> 00:57:14.119 to prosper you. He will tell you that, you know, 00:57:14.159 --> 00:57:17.440 God will prosper you. Your hand should be, you 00:57:17.440 --> 00:57:19.059 should get a job and do something. And you went 00:57:19.059 --> 00:57:20.619 to Sinai, you get your job and you're doing, 00:57:20.679 --> 00:57:22.659 you believe that God has given you, God has led 00:57:22.659 --> 00:57:24.800 you to having a job. God is prospering you in 00:57:24.800 --> 00:57:28.400 the place of work. Suddenly they sack you. Then 00:57:28.400 --> 00:57:31.059 you begin to wonder. Is it not the prosperity 00:57:31.059 --> 00:57:37.380 of the Lord? Why did I lose the job? Because 00:57:37.380 --> 00:57:41.079 probably you have no real understanding of what 00:57:41.079 --> 00:57:43.559 God has done. Suddenly you have a problem in 00:57:43.559 --> 00:57:46.059 your finances and you begin to question about 00:57:46.059 --> 00:57:53.000 whether God exists. Suddenly a loved one in the 00:57:53.000 --> 00:57:56.039 family dies and you begin to question the character 00:57:56.039 --> 00:57:58.320 of God, the God that you've loved and worshipped. 00:57:58.839 --> 00:58:00.820 The God that you've gone out to preach about. 00:58:01.300 --> 00:58:03.659 Suddenly, one thing comes up and then you begin 00:58:03.659 --> 00:58:05.119 to question the character of the God that you 00:58:05.119 --> 00:58:08.480 serve. Because you have no root in what you've 00:58:08.480 --> 00:58:13.980 received. You stumble because of what? On the 00:58:13.980 --> 00:58:19.400 account of the what? Because of lack of understanding. 00:58:21.500 --> 00:58:23.460 And the third category of people in verse 22. 00:58:23.599 --> 00:58:25.260 Now, he who received the seed among the thorns 00:58:25.260 --> 00:58:28.610 is he who hears the word. And the cares of this 00:58:28.610 --> 00:58:31.650 world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the 00:58:31.650 --> 00:58:36.210 world, and he becomes unfruitful. Now, those 00:58:36.210 --> 00:58:38.630 who already have their own desires, this is talking 00:58:38.630 --> 00:58:41.090 about those who have desires. The believer can 00:58:41.090 --> 00:58:43.489 have the word of God, but he has, he's still 00:58:43.489 --> 00:58:47.150 holding on to fleshy desires. We're together. 00:58:47.570 --> 00:58:50.530 Holding on to desires that are not in alignment 00:58:50.530 --> 00:58:53.139 with the will and the purpose of God. That also 00:58:53.139 --> 00:58:55.400 is a mechanism by which the devil, because you're 00:58:55.400 --> 00:58:56.980 holding in your heart what belongs to the devil. 00:58:57.860 --> 00:59:00.500 And even when the word of God comes, it becomes 00:59:00.500 --> 00:59:06.820 unfruitful. It becomes unfruitful. So, they already 00:59:06.820 --> 00:59:10.360 have their own desires. They are lustful, you 00:59:10.360 --> 00:59:13.079 know, lustful worldly things. Worldly desires. 00:59:14.179 --> 00:59:17.260 Alright? So, when a world, listen, when somebody 00:59:17.260 --> 00:59:21.690 has a lustful desire in his heart, okay? What 00:59:21.690 --> 00:59:25.969 is inspiring his heart is the loss of the flesh, 00:59:26.150 --> 00:59:30.389 the loss of the eyes, and all that is in life, 00:59:30.429 --> 00:59:33.010 the preaching of life. If you preach that man 00:59:33.010 --> 00:59:35.630 the gospel of prosperity, you will not think 00:59:35.630 --> 00:59:37.369 with the mindset of the man that is in Christ, 00:59:37.570 --> 00:59:41.789 even though he's a believer. So what is already 00:59:41.789 --> 00:59:45.630 in his heart influences how he will receive the 00:59:45.630 --> 00:59:47.829 word of God and how the word of God will be fulfilled. 00:59:48.570 --> 00:59:51.639 Because of the desires that is already in, embedded 00:59:51.639 --> 00:59:54.400 in his heart. That he has allowed desires that 00:59:54.400 --> 00:59:56.980 are excellent to be in his heart. Therefore, 00:59:57.179 --> 01:00:05.099 making the word of God ineffective. Lossful desires. 01:00:05.340 --> 01:00:08.480 What did they do? They choked the word. For example, 01:00:08.480 --> 01:00:12.679 in 1 Timothy 6, verse 17, you see where Paul 01:00:12.679 --> 01:00:17.039 speaks to believers concerning the same matter 01:00:17.039 --> 01:00:21.019 of prosperity. Same matter of prosperity. 1 Timothy 01:00:21.019 --> 01:00:23.739 6, verse 17. It says, command those who are rich 01:00:23.739 --> 01:00:26.300 in this present world not to be haughty, not 01:00:26.300 --> 01:00:29.659 to trust in uncertain riches, but in the living 01:00:29.659 --> 01:00:32.619 God who gives. What does he give? He gives us 01:00:32.619 --> 01:00:38.500 richly all things to enjoy. Verse 18. Let them 01:00:38.500 --> 01:00:41.539 do good. Okay? That's the essence of having the 01:00:41.539 --> 01:00:45.019 riches. Let them do good that they be rich in 01:00:45.019 --> 01:00:48.380 good works, ready to give and to share. That 01:00:48.380 --> 01:00:52.980 is the essence. Of a believer prospering. It's 01:00:52.980 --> 01:00:54.739 not that you will buy bags. Because you've seen 01:00:54.739 --> 01:00:58.139 a Gucci bag somewhere. Maybe you saw my sister 01:00:58.139 --> 01:00:59.840 here. The black dressing. Well you've seen her 01:00:59.840 --> 01:01:01.800 clothes. She's wearing a very nice gown. And 01:01:01.800 --> 01:01:02.980 you're converting this in your heart. If you 01:01:02.980 --> 01:01:04.340 hear the message of prosperity. That's where 01:01:04.340 --> 01:01:06.460 your mind will go to. Because deep in your heart. 01:01:06.519 --> 01:01:08.139 There's a lustful desire for what is not yours. 01:01:09.920 --> 01:01:12.400 So even when the word of God is preached. It 01:01:12.400 --> 01:01:13.920 doesn't become fruitful. Even when you have. 01:01:14.539 --> 01:01:16.340 You can't share. Because your heart is somewhere. 01:01:18.199 --> 01:01:21.489 Hallelujah. So we must check the desires that 01:01:21.489 --> 01:01:23.630 are in our heart because there is a system built 01:01:23.630 --> 01:01:26.010 by which the enemy can take advantage and render 01:01:26.010 --> 01:01:29.030 the word of God ineffective in our hearts. And 01:01:29.030 --> 01:01:33.610 of course, the fourth category, 23, but he who 01:01:33.610 --> 01:01:36.329 received the seed of the good on the good ground 01:01:36.329 --> 01:01:39.510 is he who hears the word. And what? He didn't 01:01:39.510 --> 01:01:42.769 only receive it, he understands it. Amen? That's 01:01:42.769 --> 01:01:44.210 the plan of God for you. That's the plan of God 01:01:44.210 --> 01:01:46.869 for me. He understands it. That means it has 01:01:46.869 --> 01:01:49.210 been properly taught. That means that deeply 01:01:49.210 --> 01:01:52.849 in his heart are not lustful desires for the 01:01:52.849 --> 01:01:57.369 things of the world. Okay? In his heart is an 01:01:57.369 --> 01:02:00.929 understanding the word is properly taught in 01:02:00.929 --> 01:02:04.409 the light of Christ. Okay? The word of God is 01:02:04.409 --> 01:02:06.269 taught properly in the light of Christ. He understands 01:02:06.269 --> 01:02:11.670 it. Who indeed bears what bears fruit and produce 01:02:11.670 --> 01:02:14.429 some eight hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some 01:02:14.429 --> 01:02:20.280 thirty and... So when we hear the word, whatever 01:02:20.280 --> 01:02:23.480 word that is preached in Christ, properly in 01:02:23.480 --> 01:02:26.179 the light of Christ, with good desires in our 01:02:26.179 --> 01:02:29.260 hearts, the word of God grows and prospers. And 01:02:29.260 --> 01:02:31.579 we see the effect of God's word in our life. 01:02:31.940 --> 01:02:38.480 Hallelujah. So how can we deal with doubt? How 01:02:38.480 --> 01:02:40.420 can we deal with that? Because all this, how 01:02:40.420 --> 01:02:42.400 can we deal with this mechanism of the enemy? 01:02:42.539 --> 01:02:46.789 How can we deal with this? schemes of the enemy 01:02:46.789 --> 01:02:50.530 hallelujah let me read this one version we close 01:02:50.530 --> 01:03:00.570 philippians of the one verse six there must be 01:03:00.570 --> 01:03:02.409 a level of persuadedness in the heart concerning 01:03:02.409 --> 01:03:07.829 the word of god see paul will say i am give me 01:03:07.829 --> 01:03:11.789 verse five for your fellowship in the gospel 01:03:11.789 --> 01:03:16.429 from the first day until now Being what? Confident 01:03:16.429 --> 01:03:21.250 of this very thing. Okay? That he who has begun 01:03:21.250 --> 01:03:24.929 a good thing in you will complete it the day 01:03:24.929 --> 01:03:27.369 of Jesus Christ. Now, what I would have expanded 01:03:27.369 --> 01:03:30.349 on is the issue of his confidence. All right? 01:03:30.750 --> 01:03:32.510 There are scriptures I would have read that Paul 01:03:32.510 --> 01:03:38.750 would say, I am persuaded. Confidence and persuasions, 01:03:38.769 --> 01:03:41.710 okay, is what will deal with the issue of doubt. 01:03:42.699 --> 01:03:44.860 Confidence and persuasion in the word of God. 01:03:45.099 --> 01:03:48.780 Paul would also write about Abraham that he did 01:03:48.780 --> 01:03:51.179 not stagger. That text, whenever I come across 01:03:51.179 --> 01:03:53.480 it, every day I read it, it challenges my faith. 01:03:54.019 --> 01:03:58.079 It stirs me up. Because of the confidence he 01:03:58.079 --> 01:04:04.239 has in God, he didn't stagger. Hallelujah. That 01:04:04.239 --> 01:04:07.159 is where God will bring us into. As we give ourselves 01:04:07.159 --> 01:04:10.019 to the ministry of the word, as we expose our 01:04:10.019 --> 01:04:12.300 faith to God's word, understanding the word of 01:04:12.300 --> 01:04:14.699 God, and allowing the word of God to have preeminence 01:04:14.699 --> 01:04:17.980 in your hearts, we'll see our faith strengthened. 01:04:18.119 --> 01:04:20.860 We are strengthened in faith that we stand against 01:04:20.860 --> 01:04:23.659 opposition, we stand against the plans of the 01:04:23.659 --> 01:04:26.679 enemy, and by no means the enemy will have place 01:04:26.679 --> 01:04:31.739 in us. Hallelujah. We appreciate you being here 01:04:31.739 --> 01:04:34.820 today. We hope you carry this word with you throughout 01:04:34.820 --> 01:04:37.699 your week. Don't forget to check the show notes 01:04:37.699 --> 01:04:40.469 for additional insights. stay connected with 01:04:40.469 --> 01:04:43.170 us through our website or follow us on social 01:04:43.170 --> 01:04:46.829 media if you are encouraged share this message 01:04:46.829 --> 01:04:50.489 with someone you care about until next time stay 01:04:50.489 --> 01:04:50.909 blessed