Life in the Spirit: The Walk and the Work (Part 2)

Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is

designed to uplift and strengthen you in your

walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until

the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive

right in. Yes, so we're going to continue from

where we left on Sunday. Where we left on Sunday.

On Sunday we started to discuss about Galatians,

the book of Galatians. And before we go into

the book of Galatians, I just want us to see

the background or the pattern in which the apostles,

Jesus Christ, taught. Because when you go to

the book of Galatians, there are many things

you see. The way it is built, you find that most

of what is said, it is... in the scriptures.

In fact, all in the scriptures. That is from

Genesis to the book of Malachi. So, let's open

to the book of 2 Timothy 3 verse 16. 2 Timothy,

2 Timothy 3:16

the book of 2 Timothy 3 verse 16. It reads, okay,

2 Timothy 3:16

let's start from verse 14. But continue thou

in the things thou hast learned and hast been

assured of. knowing of whom thou hast lent them,

and that from a child that hast known the holy

scriptures, which are able to make thee wise

unto salvation through faith which is in Jesus

Christ. All scripture is given by inspiration

of God, and it is profitable for doctrine, for

reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

that the man of God may be perfect. and thoroughly

furnished unto all good works. So one of the

things we see is the scriptures are profitable

for what? For doctrine. And doctrine there has

to do with teaching. It has to do with explanation.

It has to do with explanation. And what he's

saying, he said that the scriptures are profitable,

that is advantageous. If you have your B .O .B.,

you see the word ophelimos, which means the scriptures,

they are there for a systematic teaching. And

what we find there is that doctrine will lead

to what? Will lead to reproof. That is when the

word of God is preached, what we see there is

there is reproof. There is persuasion. Then we

see also that it is for correction. That is to

strengthening. A restoration... So, when the

Word of God is taught, what we find there is,

number one, there's persuasion. Number two is

that there is correction. We have ideologies

or we have knowledges. Maybe we got them somewhere.

But when the Word of God is taught properly,

what happens is that there is a correction that

comes about. There's a persuasion that happens.

And later on, what you see is... spiritual growth

in the life of the believer, if you are preaching

to the person who is a non -believer, what you

see is a positive response to the word of the

Lord. So, we're going also to see, well, this

is a pattern. Later on, you say in Psalm 16,

it says, for correction, sorry, the fan is blowing

in my Bible. Say, for correction, for reproof,

right, and instruction in righteousness. One

of the things you've been looking at since Sunday,

is discipleship. And this can only be achieved

through the teaching of the word of the Lord.

So when you see that word, which is instruction,

it has to do with nurturing. It has to do with

nurturing to nature, to teach, to raise a child.

It carries that idea of raising a child. And

what comes with it also, if you see where it

is used across, that same word, it also has to

do with chastisement. You'll find... Statizement,

rebuke also has to do with that. What is the

result of it? It's that you grow. So let's look

also how the apostles taught from the Scriptures.

That is Acts 13, 16 to 41. I'm not going to read

it. Just write it down. It's too long. So it

says, what you see there is that Paul was preaching

from the Scriptures. Paul taught from the Scriptures.

If you read Acts 13, 16 to 41, then this one

we're going to read it. Acts 17, 2 to 3. Acts

17, 2 to 3. The reason why we are looking at

this is when we go to the book of Galatians,

we'll better understand how the apostle taught

and how he was building his argument in that

letter to the Galatians. Acts 17, verse 2 to

Acts 17:2–3

3. It reads, And Paul, as his manner was, went

unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with

them out of the Scriptures, opening and alleging

that Christ must needs have suffered and risen

again from the dead, and that this Jesus whom

I preach unto you is Christ. So where was he

teaching from? He was teaching... from the Scriptures,

meaning that the persuasion was coming from the

Scriptures. That is Genesis to Malachi. Another

instance also is Acts 28 verse 23. Acts 28 verse

Acts 28:23 Acts 28:23

23. It reads, And when they had appointed him

a day, they came many unto him, unto his lodging,

to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom

of God. persuading them concerning Jesus, both

out of the law of Moses and out of the prophets,

from morning to evening. And some, what happened?

Some believed the things which were spoken, and

some believed not. So, Paul's position was from

the Old Testament. He was explaining about the

sufferings and the glory of Jesus that follows

from the Scriptures. And from there, that was

where persuasion came. Also, there is eyewitness

accounts also, because it took place during their

timeline. Also, let's see Acts 4, 25 to 26. Acts

4, 25 to 26. Who by the mouth... Okay, verse

23. This comes after John and Peter, they were

going to... the temple during the time of prayer.

And at the beautiful gate, they met a man who

was crippled from the mother's womb. And they

prayed for the person and he was healed. Then

later on, they brought them in, they persecuted

them. Then they told them not to preach in the

name of the Lord. That's the background of the

story. But let's see from verse 23. It says,

and being let go, they went to their company

and reported all the chief priests, all that

the chief priests and the elders had said unto

them. And when they had heard, they lifted up

their voice to God with one accord, and said,

Lord, thou art God, which has made heaven and

earth, and the sea, and all that is them. Who

by the mouth of thy servant David hast thou said,

Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine

vain things? The kings of the earth stood up,

and the rulers were gathered together against

the Lord, and against his Christ. For if it should,

thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed,

both Herod and Pontius Pilate, were the Gentiles,

and the people of Israel were gathered together.

So, where did they go to? They say, whom by the

mouth of the prophet David, or the servant David.

So, where did they take this from? From the scriptures.

Yes, sir. Then, Acts 1 .20, lastly. Acts 1 .20.

Acts 1 .20. For it is written in the book of

Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let

no man dwell therein, and his bishopric let another

take. So, this is after Judas Iscariot had betrayed

Jesus then, yet committed suicide. So, where

did they go to when they wanted to appoint a

replacement for Judas Iscariot, they went back

to the scriptures. Because immediately, it says,

Wherefore of these men which have accompanied

us all the time, that the Lord Jesus went in

and out amongst us, beginning from the baptism

of John, unto that same day that the Lord was

taken up, must we appoint or ordain one as a

witness. So, before then, where did they go to?

That is, some. And what happened in the psalm

is that there is a similar occurrence that happened

in the, if you see Psalm 109 especially, there's

a similar occurrence. And what happened there,

that actually closely describes Ahithophel, more

closely, because that's a psalm of David when

he talks about one of his trusted counselors

who had taken side with Absalom, his son, in

rebellion against him. So that is when they went

to and that's where they understood it and applied

it. That was an application. But there's a similar

occurrence and immediately they wanted to choose

another person in the replacement of Judas Iscariot.

So what we have seen so far is that whatever

they wanted to do or whatever was taught, it's

not something new. They went back to the scriptures

and they came back. And you see application also

happening in the New Testament as in Matthew

to Revelation. So, the Epistles never replace

the Scriptures. Rather, the explanations of all

the letters or all the Epistles were coming from

the Scriptures. So, there's nothing called, I

don't like the Old Testament, I'll start in the

New Testament. There's nothing like that. Because

that, position or that portion of the scripture

right now let's say ephesians you will not understand

it or we're going to read galatians much more

you will not understand galatians if you do not

have understanding of where apostle paul was

teaching from where he was building his argument

from so and one thing we are going to see is

that the new testament uses some expressions

right which are contained expressions that carries

a bigger narrative in the Old Testament. Why

is it happening? It's because they assume that

we are much more secondary audience. We are not

the primary audience. So I mean that when the

epistle was being written, Apostle Paul didn't

really have us in mind. I mean, many years down

the line, that was not the intention. He was

writing to his immediate, that is the primary

audience, his primary audience. So wherever he's

teaching from, He assumes that his audience knows

where he's teaching from because he has been

a pastor in that local assembly. He has taught

them from the scriptures. So whenever he's coming

to teach them back, he will use some expression

and the people's mind immediately goes back to

what he has taught them before, right, from the

scriptures. So we also, we should assume the

same position for us to be able to understand

what they understood properly. So now we are

going to see. The Galatians, the book of Galatians.

So, like I said, when we begin to read the book

of Galatians, we must sit where they sit. It's

an expression by a preacher. Sit where they sit

and hear how they heard. That is how we get to

understand what they really understood. So, Paul,

in writing the book of Galatians, one thing to

note is that he's writing to a people. who are

already trained in the scriptures, meaning Genesis,

Exodus, much more. That's where you find many

of the terms you use from Genesis and Exodus,

much more. So, he assumes that those people know

it. They know also the prophets, the writings

of the prophets. So, now, we are starting the

book of Galatians. So, in the book of Galatians

Galatians 2 · chapter mention

chapter 2, we see the concept of circumcision.

We are not going to start the book of Galatians

in depth. We're going to focus in Galatians chapter

Galatians 5 · chapter mention

5 more. But before we arrive, they want to see

how he was building his arguments, right? So,

Galatians chapter 2, there's a discussion of

Galatians 2 · chapter mention

circumcision there. So, circumcision is not a

New Testament subject. It is found in Genesis.

It began actually in Genesis 17, and it was a

sign of covenant. The reason why he's going to

circumcision there is because there's an issue

that happens. Whereby some people were saying

that, believers also had to be circumcised. So

he does not pick it randomly. There is an intention

of how he's going. The intention is he wants

to correct that, but you use it to build so that

people will be persuaded that really, oh, no,

you don't need to be circumcised because we're

going to see why and how he was building that

argument. So you see circumcision in chapter

two of Galatians. And you go to Genesis 17, that's

where you find that. Then immediately you see

also in chapter three, he talks about righteousness,

right? He talks about the works of the law and

righteousness. Chapter three, verse six, let's

read it quickly. We are not going to spend more

time here. Galatians 3, 6. Galatians 3, 6. It

reads, even as Abraham believed God and it was

accounted for him for righteousness, So, also

you see that he's teaching from Genesis. We're

going to see it progressively. He's teaching

from Genesis. So, Paul here is quoting Genesis

Genesis 15:6

15 verse 6, right? Where we see the words, etc.

So, when Paul is writing to Galatians, his audience

is reading Genesis in their mind. In their mind,

what they are seeing is what? Genesis. So, they

are not reading something else new. Then, He

goes on further, then he talks about the gospel

that was preached to Abraham, that is Galatians

3, 7 to 8. It says, They which are of faith are

the children of Abraham, and the scripture foreseeing

that God would justify the heathen through faith

preached before the gospel unto Abraham. So one

thing we see is that the gospel was preached

to Abraham. The gospel was preached to Abraham.

So the gospel did not actually begin in the book

of Matthew. It was also preached to Abraham.

So the gospel... That means in the book of Genesis,

you'll find the gospel in the book of Genesis.

So Paul, later on, he also teaches about the

seed, the seed. And where do you see the seed

concept? In Genesis, progressively through the

prophets. Then how does he teach it? Back in

Genesis, you see the seed is collective also,

as in the nation of Israel. Whatever. We have

Isaac, later on from Isaac, we have Israel, right?

But when Paul comes in, he explains it not as

menaces, exactly like how he interprets it, but

seeds as pointing to Jesus, which is a fulfillment.

We're not going to stay here. We're going to

fight. That's why I'm just trying to ration it

so that we have it in the ground. What he's teaching

for is in the scriptures. Then, We now go to

the concept of walking. That's chapter 4, 5 now,

where we are teaching from. Chapter 5. So, since

he's building his argument from the Scriptures,

when the audience of Apostle Paul hears words

like walk in the Spirit, what comes in their

mind, where is he teaching from? From the same

Scriptures. So, if I am an audience of Apostle

Paul, when he now comes and says, let's read

5, 16. It says, these are said then, walk in

the spirit and you shall not fulfill the lust

of the flesh. Since it's progressing from Genesis

in the scriptures, right? What comes to my mind

is, okay, in the scriptures, we have the walk,

walking with the Lord being explained much more.

Let's see. So Genesis 5 .22, Genesis 5 .22, walk

there is W -A -L -K. Not W -O -R -K. We are talking

W -A -L -K. Walk. So their mind is going there

when they say walk in the spirit. Genesis 5 .22.

Genesis. Oh, they are ahead of me. 5 .22. It

reads, And Enoch walked with God after he begat

Methuselah three hundred years and begat sons

and daughters. And all the days of Enoch were

three hundred. and 65 years. And we say it in

the previous that that walk is a Hebrew idiom

describing Enoch's relationship with God. That

is also ordering one's life according to God's

will. That's figurative. It can have actually

a literal meaning also. Because you see the word

halak there. It's the Hebrew word for walk. Then

Genesis 6 verse 9, Genesis 6, 9. So what did

Genesis 6:9

we say is that it describes what? A relationship

between man and God here from Genesis 5, 22.

One, like a way of life, order in your life,

right? According to God's will. Genesis 6, 9.

These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a

just man. and perfect in his generation. And

Noah walked with God. This is figurative also.

Talking about Noah's relationship with the Lord.

That's fellowship there. Participation also in

God's plan. Because all these people we've read,

you'll find that they were prophets. They were

announcing the gospel in their generation. They

were spokespersons. What were they speaking about?

God's plans and purposes for man. So, and again,

we're going to read something. We see also God

walking. God walking. God walking. And you see

that later on is a tabernacle language. God walking.

Genesis 3 verse 8. Is that there? Genesis 3 verse

Genesis 3:8 Genesis 3:8

8. And they heard the voice of the Lord walking

in the garden in the cool of the day. And Adam

and his wife hid themselves from the presence

of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Literal or figurative. Was the voice of the Lord

literally walking in the garden? That is a figurative.

That's a figure. Yeah, that's a figurative. What

is he talking about? That is, God desired to

have a communion, a fellowship with man. That

is what is being explained there. Right. So,

you see, the garden is a place where God dwells,

right? We've been told this in Genesis. I think

that should be 2023 by Sister Lizzie. She also

took time to preach here. But we're not going

to stay more. So, the garden, we know that it

was a place where man and God were dwelling together.

That is Gideon. So, what was happening there?

Man is in the Garden of Eden. God's voice was

walking in the Garden of Eden. What does it describe

a fellowship? Let's also read Leviticus 26, verse

Leviticus 26:11

11. Leviticus 26, verse 11. We also see God walking.

Leviticus 26:11

Leviticus 26 verse 11. It reads, And I will set

Leviticus 26:11

my tabernacle among you, and my soul shall not

avoid you. I will walk among you, and I will

be your God, and you shall be my people. So that

is God seeks for a relationship with man. When

you read this. Then also Deuteronomy 23 verse

Deuteronomy 23:14

14. So whenever you hear walk, immediately the

audience of Galatians, their mind will go there.

Deuteronomy 23 verse 14. Deuteronomy 23 verse

Deuteronomy 23:14 Deuteronomy 23:14

14. It reads, For the Lord thy God walketh in

the midst of thy camp. to deliver thee and to

give up thine enemies before thee. Therefore,

shall thy camp be holy and he sin no unclean

thing in thee and turn away from thee. Right?

Yes. So, he's still talking about God's dwelling

with man. That's fellowship. That is happening

there. Participation. Man and God in the same

place. Then also, lastly, let's read also 2 Corinthians

6 .16. 2 Corinthians 6 .16. 2 Corinthians 6 .16.

And we see how Paul also takes the same, the

same, and he was explaining it to the Corinthians.

2 Corinthians, oh, they are already there. And

what, 2 Corinthians 6 .16, yes. And what agreement

had the temple of God with idols? So what was

he talking about now? The believers. Yes. So

in the Old Testament, you see, God also was dwelling

in the ministry of the people. And one thing

he was telling them that they should be holy.

But now we see something. And what argument,

this is now Paul, going back to the same text.

That's where he was drawing all this from the

scriptures. And he said, what argument had the

temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple

of the Lord. What happens in the temple of the

Lord? You see God and man. You see fellowship.

Ye are the temple of the living God. As God has

said. I will dwell where? In them. I'll walk

in them. Moses is writing, right? I'll walk in

them and I'll be their God and they shall be

my people. Where was it building from? The argument

that is from the scriptures. So, God's walking,

right? It's equal to God's dwelling with his

people. God's walking is equal to God's dwelling

with his people. From there, what we read about

Israel, God always desired to stay in their camp,

walk amongst them. So, that is God's dwelling

with his people. That is where Paul also comes

and writes from there. Same text. So, back to

Galatians. We see walk in the Spirit. So, what

happened there is, before we go further, I want

you to see that one of the persons, Paul takes

time to explain about is Abraham much more. Meaning

that Abraham takes a bigger part of the book

of Galatians. So, he's using Abraham to build

his argument. So, one thing that comes in, how

did Abraham walk with the Lord also? So, Galatians

5 .16, walk in the spirit and you shall not fulfill

the lust of the flesh. Walk in the spirit and

you will not fulfill. the lust of the flesh.

So, what is he talking about? Conducting oneself,

right, in the spirit. It's conduct, not literal.

That's conduct. That's conduct. So, let's read

there. Let's go, all of us, to Galatians 5, then

we continue reading down up to the end of it.

Galatians, chapter 5. Let's read from verses

Galatians 5 · chapter mention

14. It's important. For all the law is fulfilled

in one word, even is in this, thou shalt love

thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour

one another, take heed that ye not be consumed

one of another. This I say then, walk in the

spirit, and you not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

For the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the

spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary,

the one to the other, so that you cannot do things

that you would. But if ye be led by the spirit,

ye are not under the law. Now the works of the

flesh are manifest, which are these, adultery,

fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry,

witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath.

strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders,

drunkenness, ravelings, and such like, of which

I tell you before, as I have also told you in

the time past, that they which do such things

shall not inherit the kingdom of heaven. But

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,

longsuffering, gentleness, boldness, faith, meekness,

temperance, Against such there is no law. And

they that are Christ have crucified the flesh

with his affection and lust. If we live in the

Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. So, when

he says walk, the result of a person not walking

in fellowship with the Lord, by that I mean participation,

there is a place of you responding. Right? Obedience.

It has to do with obedience. Walking with the

Lord. Walking in the Spirit has to do with obedience.

So, that is one thing you see when a person is

not walking in obedience to God's Word. You see

the manifestations of things that are contrary.

But when a person is walking in fellowship with

the Lord, in obedience to God's will, the result

of it is love. So, sometimes you just need to

check the way you reacted. Are you walking really

in obedience to the word of the Lord? Then adjust.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in

the Spirit. So, then chapter 5, verse 14, where

we read, what does it say? It says, For all the

law is fulfilled in one word, thou shalt love

thy neighbor as thyself. This is from Leviticus

Leviticus 19:18

19 verse 18. Leviticus 19 verse 18. That is where

Leviticus 19:18

Apostle Paul took it from. Leviticus 19 verse

Leviticus 19:18

18. Thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge

against the children of thy people, but thou

shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. I am the

Lord. So the Galatian church, they know this.

They are familiar to the scriptures. So whatever

Apostle Paul said is not something new. to them.

So whenever I say walk in the street, what comes

in their minds? One thing that comes is conduct.

But those that worked with the Lord where we

read Enoch and Noah, you find out that also there

was a work that they were doing. They were prophets,

if you read. Abraham also is a prophet. Same

thing. Israel, God wanted to work with them.

That was also responsibility. So, number one,

you see, what is The fruit of the Spirit is what?

Love. Right? And when there's love, you see service,

you see ministry work within the believers. So,

other scriptures you can look at is Romans 13,

Romans 13:8

verse 8. Romans 13, verse 8. Romans 13. Talking

Romans 13:8

about love. Romans 13, verse 8. All no man anything,

Romans 13:8

but to love one another. For he that loveth another

has fulfilled the law. Okay, we just read Romans

Romans 13:8

13, verse 8, right? To 10. Okay, 9. For this

thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not

kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear

false witness, thou shalt not covet. And if there

be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended

in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor

as thyself. So, one thing that is key is when

a person is walking in fellowship with the Lord,

what you see is love and manifestation. Also,

John 3, 34. John 3, 34. This is the Lord Jesus

talking to the disciples. John 13, 34. Sorry,

13, 34. John 13, 34. And your commandment I give

unto you, that ye love one another as I have

loved you, that ye also love one another, that

ye also love one another. Yes. So, love is the

emphasis. Love is the emphasis. And also, we

go back to Galatians 5 .22 -23. Galatians 5 .22

-23. Galatians 5 .22. 22 to 23. But the fruit

of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long -suffering,

gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against

such, there is no law. So, the word there for

fruit is the word kapos. K -A, I don't know whether

the pronunciation is right, but you can check

it. K -A -R -P -O -S. K -A -R -P -O -S. This

is as a result of the dwelling of the Spirit.

So that is the fruit of the Spirit is what grows

naturally from the life in the Spirit. It grows

naturally from the life in the Spirit. It is

not forced. It is not manufactured. It's natural.

It grows natural because of the dwelling of the

Spirit of God in us. So we are not looking at

it. It's not missing. We just need to walk in

it. Galatians 6, verse 2. In continuation, Galatians

Galatians 6:2 Galatians 6:2

6, verse 2. Galatians 6, verse 2. Be ye one another's

Galatians 6:2

burden, and so fulfill the law of Christ. When

man thinks himself to be something, okay, go

back to what I was saying. Be ye one another's

burden, and fulfill the law of Christ. That is

what love towards one another. Love towards one

another. Okay. So, we're going to look at something.

We're going to look at a case study. Maybe we'll

call it a case study. And we're going to look

at Solomon. We're going to spend some time there.

Look at Solomon, conduct, compromise, and the

consequences of it. Right. Solomon. We're going

to spend a bit of time there. 1 Kings 10, verse

1 Kings 10:23

23. So, Solomon... We are going to see him as

an example of conduct, compromise and consequences.

Compromise, consequences and conduct also. 1

Kings 10, 23 to 24. 1 Kings. So King Solomon

exceeded all the kings of the earth for riches

and for wisdom. And all the earth sought to Solomon

to hear his wisdom which the Lord had put. in

him. Let's go down. And they brought, yes, and

they brought every man his present, vessels of

silver, vessels of gold, garments, armor, spices,

horses, moors, a retier by year. And Solomon

gathered together chariots and horsemen, and

he had a thousand and four hundred chariots,

and twelve thousand horsemen, whom he bestowed

in the cities for chariots. and with the king

at Jerusalem. And the king made silver to be

in Jerusalem, and stones and cedars he made to

be as the sycamore trees that are in the vow

for abundance. It means that he exceeded in riches

a lot. God blessed him, but it was not the blessing

of the Lord. So he was rich. If you go and study

more, you'll find out how he became rich. Yes,

he was a king. They were giving him tributes.

If you are not a king, go and work. So shortly,

you'll be shown chapter 11. This is the same

king, chapter 11, 1 Kings chapter 11 from verses

1 Kings 11 · chapter mention

1. Okay, let's open our Bibles. 1 Kings chapter

1 Kings 11 · chapter mention

11. Let's open your physical Bible. 1 Kings chapter

1 Kings 11 · chapter mention

11 from verses 1. And King Solomon loved many

strange women. Hmm. And King Solomon loved many

strange women together with the daughters of

Pharaoh. With the daughter of Pharaoh. Singular.

Women of Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians,

and Hittites, and of the nations concerning which

the Lord said unto the children of Israel, You

shall not go in to them, neither shall they come

unto you. These are the ones he loved. For surely

they will turn away your hearts after their idols.

Solomon cleaved unto this in love. Compromises

started. And he had 700 wives, princesses, and

300 concubines, and his wives turned away his

heart. For it came to pass when Solomon was old

that his wives turned away his heart after other

gods. Solomon, who breathed the... House of the

Lord. Now they are turning his heart. It says,

And his heart was not perfect with the Lord his

God, as was the heart of his father David. For

Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of

Zidonites. That is because of the wife's party.

Zidonites. And after Amalekom, the abomination

of the Ammonites. And Solomon did evil in the

sight of the Lord and went not fully after the

Lord. as did David his father. Then did Solomon

build a high place for Chemorosh, the abomination

of Moab, and the hill that is before Jerusalem,

for Molech, the abomination of the children of

Ammon. We did this in, you know what was happening

there. There are child sacrifices now involved

in it. The man of God. So, 9. And the Lord was

angry with Solomon because his heart. was turned

from the Lord, God of Israel, which had appeared

unto him twice. Ah, you see the Lord twice, as

conveys to the Lord, and yet commanded him concerning

this thing, this very thing, and commanded him

concerning this thing, that he should not go

after other gods, but he kept not that which

the Lord commanded. Where we are going to? I

don't know when it's like this, but I want to

show. The result of unequally yoking yourself

with unbelievers. You might be doing good, but

the moment you unequally yoke with unbelievers,

the result of it is that there is compromise.

There is compromise. So, if you go to Deuteronomy,

before we go, let's go to Deuteronomy 17, 17.

Deuteronomy 17, 17. You see an instruction. You

did what you were supposed to do. And you knew

it. So that is the result of unequally yoking.

So there was compromise and later on there was

consequences. Digital means 1717. They called

one of my friends who is here, his first NDF.

I had people calling me Solomon, Solomon. I asked,

I had these people calling me Solomon. But this

behavior is not like this one. They still call

him Solomon and he's here. Okay, so. Deuteronomy

17, 17. Can we start in 15? Thou shalt in any

way set him king over... 14, 14. When thou art

come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth

thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein,

and shalt say, I will set a king over me, like

as other nations that are about me. Yes. Thou

shalt in... And thou shalt in any way set him

king over you, whom the Lord thy God shall choose.

One from among thy brethren shalt thou set king

over thee. Thou must not set a stranger over

thee, which is not thy brother. But he shall

not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the

people to return to Egypt. To the end that he

should multiply. Horses. Solomon did this. He

went back. Not physically. For as much as the

Lord our God has said unto you, ye shall henceforth

return no more that way. 17. Neither shall he

multiply wives unto himself, that his hearts

turn not away. Neither shall he greatly multiply

to himself silver and gold. This is where the

problem of Solomon started. He built high places

for his wives because he unequally yoked himself

with the people who the Lord had told him that

he should not. So what was God doing? He was

protecting them and he was protecting Israel.

He knows the consequences of this. But Solomon,

he did all that he was instructed not to do.

That is what he did. For what reason? I wonder

why he didn't fight war. Because he was in -law

of those people. These people could not fight

him because their daughter was there. Yes, they

could. It was those people that were against

him back then. He's in -law. They could not fight

him. So there's a strategy. If you want to look

at it, it's a strategy to some degree. But it's

a compromise. It's a compromise. So, If you read

chapter 8, which you're not going to look at,

Solomon built the temple of the Lord. Chapter

8, 29, you see him praying. Then Solomon expanded

in royalty. Then immediately you see compromise

happening. Compromise happening in his life because

of what? He equally yoked himself when people

he was not supposed to. So sometimes as believers,

in our lives. I mean, you know, it is very recommendable

that your friends should be fellow believers.

Your friends should be fellow believers. These

specialists from your local church, you protect

yourself from anything. I want you to see a person

behaving anyhow. Go and check their followed

blood company. They'll tell you, mine has to

choke. Or mine has to find my name. I was sharing

with Pastor Fred one day. I went for evangelism.

I met one guy. I was so eager. That was Pastor

Imai. He preached a fire message about evangelism.

He said, I'm going for evangelism. I was with

a brother. He's now in Nigeria. I will not say

his name. So we went to EJT. We met a guy. We

went to preach. Ah, I will not give him space.

I wanted him to give me time. So I asked him.

I asked him. He agreed. He looked at me now,

at this brother. He says, young people, nations

are suffering. and you are here. You should be

looking for my name. Look at me. Look at that.

Yeah, I come to preach. I didn't come to talk

about economy. So, I'm not saying it's a bad

person. I mean, if you hang out with such people,

those are people you preach to, you leave them.

Right? I mean, not leave them as an outsider.

I mean, if they don't believe, it's better for

you to protect yourself. They shouldn't be your

friends. continue again preaching until they

believe that's when they will become friends.

That's the qualifying factor. One thing happened

is that if that person I brought him in, you

see, it's the person who said, you should wait

for your economy. We need to change Africa. We

need to change the Bible. You know, my country

is the one they attack most because of that one

billion notes. With one billion notes. So, 2008,

it's no longer there. One note, one billion.

Less than one dollar. So, one dollar was greater

than one billion dollars. Okay. So, If you hang

around those kind of people, before you know

it, you'll join again. Man has to work. Man has

to talk. Sunday service, your boss will say,

come and work. We'll give you extra 200 data.

200. 200. You'll go. You'll even be the one who

asks for work during Karate Smash. What's up?

Is there work? I'm free. No, I'm free to work.

So, be careful about it. It's not only about

marriages where you see an equal looking ex -husband.

No. Your friends, the people you keep around,

your housemates, you run away from brothers in

your house because they tell you, you won't join

those that are drunkards. Okay. We'll see. You

will stop attending church and you will know

you followed bad company. Okay. So, the scriptures

does not leave us in dark. We'll see examples

to follow. There are examples to follow. Right?

There are examples we should follow. The examples

we should follow. I'll start with this intentionally.

Your pastors. Hebrews 13 verse 7. We are not

Hebrews 13:7

in doubt for you know people who to follow. You

know people who to follow. Hebrews 13 verse 7.

Hebrews 13:7

Hebrews 13 verse 7. Remember them which shall

Hebrews 13:7

rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word

of God, whose faith follow. whose faith follow,

considering the end of their conversation. It

also puts a challenge on us, our cell leaders,

team leaders. Conduct yourself in a way that

is worth our calling. They may believe that the

people you are leading, they don't want to be

like you. That's one. That's Hebrews 13, verse

Hebrews 13:7

7. 1 Corinthians 11 verse 1. 1 Corinthians 11

1 Corinthians 11:1 1 Corinthians 11:1

verse 1. 1 Corinthians 11 verse 1. Be followers

1 Corinthians 11:1

of me as I also am of Christ. This is his church.

Listen. Apostle Paul is a pastor here. Here will

be Pastor Fred, Pastor Emmanuel, Pastor Chidi.

Right? Yes. Philippians 3 .17. Philippians 3

.17. Brethren, be followers together of me and

mark them which walk so as ye have asked for

an example. Look at how your pastors conduct

themselves. Look at how your pastors treat you.

That is how you are supposed to do it. Follow

them as they follow Christ. Philippians 4 .9,

then we'll see allowance. Philippians 4 .9. These

things which ye have both learned and received,

and heard and seen, where? In me. Do. And the

God of peace shall be with you. Which is, you

cannot go and, okay, this is, he's also a pastor

here. Don't go and do it and follow him. I want

to be like that, start here, the pastors. If

they are coming for meetings, that's how we see

whether you are learning really. And again we

see Sarah. In Sarah's life you see submission

and you see honour. Sarah, the wife of Abraham.

1 Peter 3 verse 5 to 6. Pastor Victor has taught

1 Peter 3:5–6

us also here. 1 Peter 3 verse 5 to 6. For after

1 Peter 3:5–6

this manner, in the old time, the holy women

also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves,

being in subjection unto their own husbands.

Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord,

whose daughters he are, as long as you do well,

and are not afraid with any amazement. Even as

Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him Lord, whose

daughters... Okay, I don't think it changed.

Then Hebrews 11 .11. You can hear that? Hebrews

11 .11. Though through faith, also Sarah herself

received strength and conceived seed and was

delivered of the child when she was past age

because she judged him faithful, who had promised.

So what do you see there? Faithfulness. Right.

Then also we see James 5 verse 10. James 5 verse

James 5:10 James 5:10

10. James 5 verse 10. Still on examples. James

James 5:10 James 5:10

5 verse 10. and the name of the Lord, for an

example of suffering affliction and of patience.

Job also, we see in Job chapter 1, verse 20 to

Job 1:20–22

22. Go to James 5, verse 11. Go one verse after

James 5:11

10. That's one. Yes. Behold, we count them happy

which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of

Job, and have seen the end of the Lord. And have

seen the end of the Lord. That the Lord is very

pitiful and of tender mercy. One thing we see

there is perseverance on Job's side. Then, lastly,

the last one. 1 Peter 2 .21 -23 about our Lord

Jesus. 1 Peter 2 .21 -23. 1 Peter 2 .21 -23.

Can I have it in amplified AMP? For as a believer,

you have... Yes. As a believer, you have been

called for this purpose since Christ suffered

for you, leaving you an example so that you may

follow in his footsteps. He committed no sin,

example, nor was deceit ever found in his mouth.

While being reviled and insulted, he did not

revile or insult in return. The Father. While

suffering, he made no threats of vengeance, but

kept trusting himself to him who judges fairly.

Verse 24. He personally carried our sins in his

body on the cross, willing offering himself on

it as an altar of sacrifice, so that we might

die to sin, becoming immune from the penalty

of the power of sin, and live for righteousness.

For by his wounds, you who believed have been

healed. So, that's an example of Christ, right?

There's no screen today. Okay. Last test. I think

there's still like 10 minutes. It's finished.

Oh, okay. So, just write this down. No, they

didn't put screen today. So, just write this

one down. We are not going to open. You open

when you get home. Examples not to follow. 1.

Genesis 4, 3 -8. Genesis 4, 3 -8. 1 John 3, 12.

What you see there is hatred and murder. With

itself, it despises spiritual things. It's called

a profane person. Genesis 25, 29 -34. And also

Hebrews chapter 12, 16 to 17. Then we have Balaam

Hebrews 12 · chapter mention

grieved. And Balaam, we put grieved. Numbers

Numbers 22 · chapter mention

chapter 22 to 24. 2 Peter 2, 15. Jude 1, verse

Jude 1:11

11. So, later on, as we go in the near future,

we'll see that when people don't walk in love,

in the local assembly, you see a problem similar

to that of the Corinthian church, which later

affected even the flow of the gifts of the Spirit.

So we'll look into that in the future. So let's

just close our eyes as we pray. Just thank God.

We appreciate you being here today. We hope you

carry this word with you throughout your week.

Don't forget to check the show notes for additional

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care about until next time stay blessed