Manifesting the Kingdom of God 1 | The Believer's conference 2025 day 1

Hi there. Welcome to NECF. We're excited to share

today's message with you. Don't go anywhere.

Stay with us till the end for some valuable resources

to enrich your faith. Here's today's sermon.

Amen. Hallelujah. Let's have our seat. You are

welcome in Jesus' name. Indeed, this is a wonderful

moment, and I'm so delighted, I'm so happy, you

know, for what God has begun. I'm so, so, so,

so expectant, and I'm full of expectation in

my heart. Hallelujah. Now, don't look down on

what God is doing here. Amen? Don't look down

on what God is doing here. Time will tell. The

kind of man and the kind of woman that you will

become when you make yourself available for God

to work on your life. When you make yourself

available for God to transform your life, it's

only time that will reveal the men and the women

that will become. So I want you to sit with an

understanding of Who you are. As a child of God.

I want you to sit. You know. Trusting God for.

What he will do. With our lives. Hallelujah.

God has a plan. And the plan of God. Include

us. We are part of God's plan. And I trust that,

you know, all that God will do in this conference,

from the beginning to the very end, is that we

will be efficient. We will be equipped. We'll

be prepared and equipped to participate in what

God is doing in our generation. Hallelujah. It's

a blessing to be in this place. And I want you

to be alert as well. As the meeting goes on,

there are things that God will be relating to

us. And there are specific instructions that

may come to you as a person. And I want you to

take note because every single part of this meeting

is important. So I want you to take note. Some

inspirations, some specific instructions will

be for you and you will be convicted in your

heart about what to do. Hallelujah. So please,

don't lose focus. Don't lose... Don't be absent

-minded. Don't be here and then your mind is

somewhere. Amen? Don't be here physically and

your mind is somewhere. Try and be here and then

participate in whatever we do, whatever instruction

will come that you obey. Amen. And for those

following us online, this is the day one, the

first session for the Catetismus 2025. And I

trust that as well, you also follow us duly and

enjoy every single thing that God is doing in

this season. Hallelujah. So I'll be just giving

us an opening, you know, and laying the foundation

for all that God will be doing in the course

of the conference. Everything that we'll be doing,

every ministration is connected. Hallelujah.

So whatever that, you know, I will lay the foundation

and even the next ministers that will come, just

know that it's a build -up one upon another.

Hallelujah. So in the end, we're going to see

how everything will unfold. So I want to encourage

you, please, to follow, you know, and be diligent.

Amen. So the theme for the conference is actually

manifesting the kingdom of God. Manifesting the

kingdom of God. And it's also the theme for the

year in the church. Manifesting the kingdom of

God. Manifesting the kingdom of God. Let's turn

to Matthew 16. Matthew chapter 16. Matthew 16.

Matthew 16 · chapter mention

And I will be reading from verse 13. Matthew

16 from verse 13. Now when Jesus came into the

region of Caesarea, Philippi, he asked his disciples,

who do men say I? the son of Manam. So they said,

some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah, and

others Jeremiah, one of the prophets. He said

to them, but who do you say I am? Simon Peter

answered and said, you are the Christ, the son

of the living God. Jesus answered and said to

him, blessed are you, Simon. But Jonah, for flesh

and blood has not revealed this to you, but my

father who is in heaven. And I also say to you

that you are Peter. And on this rock, I will

build my church. And the gates of Hades shall

not prevail against it. And I will give you the

keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatever you

bind on earth will be bound in heaven. And whatever

you lose on earth will be lost in heaven. Hallelujah.

So this is a text that will be... handling in

the course of the sessions that will be taken.

Hallelujah. Now, the background of this text,

for us to have a background of this text, we

have to collaborate it with other records in

the Gospels so that we can have the entire picture.

I want us to look at the record in Mark chapter

Mark 8 · chapter mention

8, the same story, but in Mark chapter 8. Mark

Mark 8 · chapter mention

also captured the same story. Mark chapter 8

Mark 8:27

verse 27. Mark chapter 8 verse 27. And Jesus

Mark 8:27

and his disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea,

Philippi. And on the road he asked his disciples

saying to them, who do men say I am? So they

answered, John. the Baptists, but some say Elijah,

and others, one of the prophets. He said to them,

but who do you say that I am? Peter answered

and said to him, you are the Christ. Then he

strictly warned them that they should tell no

one about him. I want us to move to Luke as well.

In the book of Luke, Luke chapter 9. We'll see

Luke 9 · chapter mention

the same story as well recorded by Luke. Luke

Luke 9 · chapter mention

chapter 9. Verse 18. And it happened as he was

alone praying. That his disciples joined him.

And he asked them saying. Who do the crowd say

I am? So they answered and said. John the Baptist.

But some say Elijah. And others say. That one

of the old prophets has risen again. Verse 20.

He said to them. But who do you say I am? Peter

answered and said. The Christ. of God. Hallelujah.

Now this is the same account of the same story.

Amen? But given by different writers of the Gospels.

Now for us to understand and have a complete

picture, to have a better picture of the entire

story, it's important for us to do, to corroborate

these scriptures together. Because without bringing

these scriptures together, our understanding

of the picture will be limited. Hallelujah. Oftentimes,

you know, people say, you know, the writers of

the gospel are contradicting each other. For

example, as we saw, you know, one said that Jesus

was coming from after Jesus finished prayer,

then they came to him. Another account saying

that they were on their way to somewhere. And

it seems sometimes that it's a contradiction,

isn't it? But, you know, it is important for

us to note that People give a different account

of the same event. Amen? For example, now if

I ask you to write a story, to write a report

of what happened in this hall this morning, everybody

has a goal in writing, isn't it? Everybody has

a specific audience that he's writing to. And

everybody has a perception and, you know, what

would I call it? He has his own inclination.

Our stories cannot be exactly the same. Your

report, the report that you write and the report

that another person will write, even though it's

of the same event, but probably the details that

you capture are different from the details that

another person will capture. So, for us to be

able to understand or to have a better understanding

of the entire context of what happened, we have

to put the stories together and corroborate them

as a puzzle. Hallelujah. So also in the law,

in the court of law, you know, when there's an

event that is an event that happened and then

we bring in witnesses to testify of the same

event. If witness A and witness B, witness C

said exactly the same thing without any form

of any variation at all, right? Then It's okay

for us to be suspicious that maybe this testimony

is a doctor testimony. If not, why would you

say exactly the same thing, the same language,

the same tenses, the same expression and everything.

It means that probably you've been coached to

give an account and there's a possibility that

this record of the testimonies you give may not

be accurate. Hallelujah. But then the beauty

of scripture, especially but we have different

records, especially in the gospel, is that when

we're able to put the entire picture together,

we're able to, you know, collaborate these stories

together, it helps us in understanding the entire

picture of the conversation in that particular

text. So, when we look at the pretext in Luke,

especially from chapter 1, Luke chapter 9, Luke

Luke 9 · chapter mention Luke 9 · chapter mention

chapter 9, it will give us a background. Of what

happened prior to this conversation. Luke chapter

Luke 9 · chapter mention

9. Luke chapter 9. From verse 1. Let me read

Luke 9 · chapter mention

from verse 1. Then he called his 12 disciples

together. And gave them power. And authority

over all demons. And to cure diseases. He sent

them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal

the sick. And he said to them, take nothing for

the journey. Neither staff, no money, and do

not have two tonics apiece. Whatever house you

enter, stay there. And from there, depart. And

whoever will not receive you when you go out

of that city, shake off. The very dust from your

feet. As a testimony against them. So they departed.

And went through the towns. And what were they

doing? Preaching the gospel. And healing everywhere.

Now Herod. Herod the Tetrarch. Heard of all that

was done by him. And he was perplexed. Because

it was said. By some. There was a rumor in town.

It was said by some that John had risen from

the dead. That John has risen from the dead.

Verse 8. And by some Elijah had appeared and

by some that one of the all prophets has risen

again. Herod said John I have beheaded. But who

is this of whom I hear such things? So he sought

to see Jesus. He sought to see him. Verse 10.

And the apostles, when they had returned, told

him all that they had done. Then he took them

and went aside privately into a desert place.

belonging to the city called Bethsaida. But when

the multitudes knew it, they followed him and

he received them and spoke to them about the

kingdom of God and healed those who had need

of healing. When they had begun to weigh away,

the twelve came and said to him, send the multitudes

away that they may go into The surrounding towns

and country. And lodge and get provisions. For

we are in a desert place. But he said to them.

You give them something to eat. And they said.

We have no more than five loaves and two fish.

Unless we go and buy food for all these people.

For there were about 5 ,000 men. Then he said

to his disciples, make them sit down in groups

of 50. And they did so and made them all sit

down. Then he took the five loaves and the two

fish and looking up to heaven, he blessed and

brought them and gave them to the disciples to

set before the multitude. They all ate. And were

filled. And a 12 basket. And 12. And a basket

of the. Okay. So they all ate. And were filled.

And 12 baskets of the leftover fragments. Were

taken up by them. Hallelujah. So this is the

context. Of. Where we read previously in Matthew

16. So from Luke. From verse 1 to 5, we see that

Jesus has sent out the twelve to go and preach.

And what they are to preach is the kingdom of

God and to heal the sick. He sent them to preach

the kingdom of God, verse 2. Luke chapter 9,

Luke 9:2

verse 2. He says he sent them to go to preach

the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. To preach

the kingdom. To proclaim the kingdom. To announce

the kingdom of God. To proclaim the kingdom of

God. And also to do what? To heal the sick. There

is an association. Between preaching of the gospel.

Of the kingdom. And healing of the sick. And

healing of the sick. Verse 6. We see. The disciples

departed in obedience and going into the towns

and preaching the gospel and doing what? And

exactly doing what he asked them to do. So they

departed and went through the towns preaching

the gospel on the basis of the authority of Jesus

Christ. Preaching the gospel and we see the healing

of the sick. Hallelujah. Now, it's important

to note that Jesus sent out disciples. Okay?

Not just random people from the crowd. Not just

some of the people that he fed among the 5 ,000.

It's not everybody that he sent out to do or

to preach. Jesus was very peculiar about the

people that he sent. And these are the people

that he has given them authority. Verse 1 says,

he gave them power and he gave them power and

authority over all demons and to cure diseases.

Not just random people from the crowd, but specifically

disciples. Disciples are those who have been

qualified to do what? To go and to preach the

gospel of the kingdom. Now for us to be qualified

as well, to preach the gospel of the kingdom,

we must in the same way be disciples. It takes

only disciples to do the work of ministry. If

you are not a disciple of Jesus Christ, doing

ministry will be difficult. It is impossible

to do the will of God. If we are not, you know,

yielded to discipleship. And discipleship is

not just like school that we go to for a period

of time and then we graduate. No. We must be

lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. That we are,

you know, students that are yielded to learning

the things of God, learning the ways of God,

and doing the things that God is leading us per

time, per season to do. So you must be a disciple

in order to do the work of God. A disciple is

someone who is devoted to learning the word of

God. A disciple is someone that is committed

to not just glancing through, not just reading

for reading's sake, but the devotion of a disciple

is to learn of the master. And we see power and

authority. Power and authority come from the

place of instruction from the word of God. It

takes a man and a woman that has been with God,

that is staying with God, that is learning from

God, that will receive specific instruction and

the authority to do the work of ministry. It

is important for us to see also that miracles

and healings are essential and a mandatory part

of doing the work of ministry. Jesus Christ sent

them to preach, and not only to preach, but to

demonstrate the preaching of the gospel, to demonstrate

the preaching of the kingdom with accompanying

signs, especially healing. Healing of the sick.

Miracles were performed by them. And also, you

know, healing of the sick. So, also know that

their ministry, the ministry of the apostles

or the disciples here is a pre -resurrection

ministry, isn't it? Jesus Christ has not yet

died and he has not yet risen. But then, by virtue

of He's been with them. He gave them authority

to do what? To preach. Yet, they preach the message.

They preach the message. They announce the message

of the kingdom with signs and wonders following.

So if men that we can, that they never had, you

know, the indwelling of the spirit of God in

them could preach the gospel, right? They could

go and preach about the kingdom of God. In announcing

the kingdom of God, in proclaiming the kingdom

of God, we see signs and wonders accompanying.

What of us who have the spirit indwelling in

us? Amen? How about you and I that are living

in the reality of the kingdom? It means that

as we as well preach the gospel, it is expected

that we see demonstration. If you read through

in the... In Mark, you know, Mark chapter, give

me Mark chapter 16, from verse 16. We see the

Mark 16 · chapter mention

instruction that Jesus will later give after

his resurrection. It says, he who believes and

is baptized will be saved. But he who does not

believe will be condemned. And these signs shall

do what? Shall follow those who believe. So signs.

Shall follow those who believe. As we go about

preaching the gospel. As we go about announcing

the gospel of the kingdom. Or announcing the

kingdom of God. Signs will accompany. The work

of preaching the gospel. In my name they will

cast out demons. They will speak with new tongues.

They will take up serpents. And if they drink

anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them.

They will lay hands on the sick. And what will

happen to the sick? And the sick will recover.

Hallelujah. Now this is after his resurrection.

And this is a mandate to all of us. That what

God is doing here is that he is preparing us

for this kind of ministry. Amen. God is preparing

you. He is preparing me for this kind of ministry.

And in the course of this meeting, in the course

of this cataclysm from now until Saturday, what

God will be doing in our lives is that he will

be revealing his finished work in our lives.

He will be revealing to us what he has accomplished.

He will be revealing to us, you know, the finished

work that he has done in us. We will realize

who we are. Hallelujah. We realize who we are.

We realize what he has done. And in it, we know

our responsibility. We will know the authority

that we carry as ministers of God. Amen? So God

is counting on you. He's counting on us to do

what? To carry on the ministry of preaching the

gospel of the kingdom of God. Hallelujah. So

in Luke chapter 9, verse 7 to 9, you know, we

Luke 9:7–9

see a lot of rumors going around. It gives us

the rumors in town, what people are saying concerning

who Jesus is. Let's go back to Luke chapter 9.

Luke 9 · chapter mention

Luke chapter 9. What were people saying about

Luke 9 · chapter mention

Jesus? People have different perception of Jesus.

Now Herod the Tetrarch heard of all that was

done by him. By who? By Jesus. And also of course

what the disciples were doing. And he was perplexed.

Because it was said by some that John had risen

from the dead. How come they are thinking that

John has risen from the dead? Is there any explanation

in scriptures that John will die and rise again?

But these are the rumors in town about. What

is happening? And by some, that Elijah had appeared.

And by some others, that one of the prophets

had risen again. So all these were speculations

about who, about who Jesus is or about what has

happened. And it's important for us to not these

speculations because we'll go back, you know,

to look at it later on. We also see in verse

10 to 17, verse 10 to 17 of that same Luke, you

know, the apostles, and in this context here,

including Judas. Hallelujah. Judas was part of

the 12. It means that Judas Iscariot went out

with them and possibly do all that they did.

He proclaimed about the kingdom. He preached

about the kingdom. All right? Signs and wonders

were done. All right? Amen? Are we here? All

right. Verse 10 to 17. And the apostles, when

they had returned, what was their testimonies?

They told him all that they had done. They reported

to him and said, this is what we did. Then he

took them and went aside privately into a deserted

place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.

But when the multitude followed him and he received

them and spoke to them, the multitude gathered

again. And what did he do? We see him also doing

what? He spoke to them about what? About the

kingdom of God. Now, we're not even specifically

looking at the preaching that he did, but we

are so sure that what he spoke to them, or the

teaching he taught them, the preaching Jesus

taught them, is about what? It's about the kingdom

of who? Of God. And what did he do? He healed

those who had need of healing. What is really

the relationship between healing and the kingdom

of God? What is really the relationship between

healing and the kingdom of God? We will see that

in the course of this meeting. Then they began

to weigh away. The twelve came and said to him,

send the multitude away that they may go into

the surrounding towns and country and lodge.

And get provisions for we are in a deserted place.

But he said to them, you give them something

to eat. You know, this is a teaching experience.

He said, you give them something to eat. And

he said, we have no more than five loaves and

two fish. Unless we go and buy food for all these

people. For there were about 5 ,000 men. 5 ,000

men. And we know, you know, theologians have

told us that in census, during those times, that

when they do census, you know, they only count

men, right? Adult men. They don't count children.

They don't count women. They count men. Then

he said to his disciples, make them sit down

in groups of 50. And they did so. And made all

sit down. Then he took the five loaves. And the

two fishes. And looking up to heaven. He blessed.

And broke them. And gave them to the disciples.

The disciples are the ones that were. Responsible

for what? For serving the multitude. For serving

the multitude. All these things are very, very

important. Listen, there is no miracle that is

recorded in scriptures that is just casual. Every

miracle, every parable, every teaching is pointing

toward to something that Jesus will do in his

resurrection. Hallelujah. So whenever we go through

stories in the scriptures, let's be very keen.

These were not just recorded for us for just

entertainment, no. Every single record of Jesus'

miracles, of his teachings are important in revealing

what he will do in the resurrection. Hallelujah.

So, when the crowd followed them, Jesus received

them and what did he do? We saw that he spoke

to them about the kingdom of God and he healed

the sick. He further performed the miracle of

what? Of feeding the multitude. He healed the

sick and then he fed the multitude. The preaching

of the gospel I said, we see in Jesus' ministry.

All true. was accompanied by healings, by signs

and wonders. Now, since we have also received

the same ministry in the resurrection, we must

also manifest the kingdom of God in the same

way he did, healing the sick and working in signs

and wonders. As we often say in church, you know,

we are prophets, we are kings. All that we are,

we occupy the office of Jesus Christ. By identification,

by believing in Jesus Christ, we do what? We

come into the office of Jesus Christ. Amen? So

it is expected that whatever he, because Jesus

is the same yesterday, isn't it? He's the same

yesterday. He's the same today. And forever he

will be who he is. And this same Jesus Christ

is the one that lives in us. Hallelujah. He lives

in you, he lives in us. So if we are carrying

on the ministry of Jesus Christ, if we are carrying

on to do the works that he did while he was on

earth, even the apostles, they were, will classify

them as not born again in the context of where

we are today. In doing the works of ministry,

in preaching the gospel, they walked in signs

and wonders. It is also important for us that

are in the reality of what Christ has done. To

do what? To see this manifest in our ministry.

In our ministry. It is expected of us. Hallelujah.

Because that is what the preaching of the gospel

entails. As we go, signs and wonders ensure the

preaching. Of the gospel. Afterwards we will

see Jesus Christ. You know. Questioning them

in verse 18 to 20. Asking them. About who. Do

men say he is. Now let's go back to Matthew.

Matthew chapter 6. Matthew chapter 6. Matthew

Matthew 6 · chapter mention Matthew 6 · chapter mention Matthew 6 · chapter mention

chapter 6 from verse 13. When Jesus came into

the region of Caesarea Philippi. He asked his

disciples saying. who do men say that I, the

son of man, am? Now, Jesus was not just asking

these questions to know. All right? He wasn't

asking this question because he doesn't know

who he is. Maybe his identity crisis. He wanted

to be sure whether, you know, who he is. No.

He wasn't asking this question to build an image

for himself. You know, one of the common, you

know, things that, from where I come from, from

the part of the world I came from, you know,

one of the common phrases we use in intimidating

people is, do you know who I am? Or who are you?

Do you know who I am? And all this, you know,

is just showcase, you know, or try to build an

image, an ego for ourselves. No, no, no. Jesus

Christ was not trying to, you know, Inquired

to know. He was not looking for. It was not a

desire for self validation. Of who he is. Who

will see subsequently. But every question. That

Jesus will ask. Is geared towards a teaching.

Hallelujah. Whenever we see questions. In scripture.

Let's be careful. Especially. You know, even

in Genesis, let's look at some instances in Genesis.

Genesis chapter 3 verse 9, where God appeared

Genesis 3:9

to Adam. Genesis chapter 3 verse 9. Then the

Genesis 3:9

Lord God called Adam and said to him, where are

you? Is it that God is not aware of where Adam

is? He's asking so that he will know where Adam

is. Is it that God is not all -knowing? He doesn't

know the location of Adam that he's asking Adam.

Adam, where are you? But rather we know that

the questioning is for what? It's for Adam to

realize. Isn't it? The focus of the question

is for Adam and it's not for God. Hallelujah.

And we'll see also another one in chapter 4 verse

9. When God was asking Cain. Chapter 4 verse

9. Then the Lord said to Cain, where is Abel

your brother? Is it that God does not know or

is not aware of what has happened to Cain, to

Abel? The all -knowing God, the all -sufficient

God, the God that knows everything. He says,

where is Abel your brother? He said, I do not

know. Am I my brother's keeper? Of course we

know that this is a lie, right? Hallelujah. And

then let's look at another one in the Gospels,

Matthew 22. Matthew 22, verse 41. Where Jesus

Matthew 22:41

Christ was asking the Pharisees, because there

was a bit of a controversy about the identity

of Jesus. While the Pharisees were gathered together,

Jesus asked them, look at the way Jesus asked

them. He says, what do you think about the Christ?

Amen? What do you think about the Christ? Now,

it is important to know that the Pharisees, they

are scholars of the scripture. Alright? They

are scholars of the scripture, which means that

they know that in the scriptures, there is a

promise for the Christ. The scriptures have given

an explanation about the Christ. So Jesus was

asking them, he says, what do you think about

the Christ? Whose son is he? Whose son is he?

That is to say, what does the scripture teach

us about the Christ? And whose son does the scripture

say? That Christ, the Christ is an office. Now,

when we go to the Old Testament, what we call

the Old Testament scriptures, we'll discover

that there's a promise for a Christ. The Christ

is an office. Are we together? The Christ is

an office that someone will occupy. There was

a proclamation. There was a prophecy in scriptures

from Genesis to Malachi about the Christ. It's

a Christ. So Jesus is the Christ, right? As I

always say, the Christ, the word Christ is not

his surname, right? It is the office which he

occupies. The Christ. The Messiah. The one who

will do a function. And a function is a deliverance

of the people of God. Hallelujah. So he asks

them, he says, who does the scripture says? What

do you think, rather, about the Christ? Whose

son is he? And what was their response? They

said to him, the son of David. Of course, the

scripture says that the Christ will come through

the lineage of David. So Jesus was not asking

because he does not know that he is the Christ.

Oh, he wasn't asking because he wants to know.

Whose son is the Christ? No. But he was geared

towards revealing a truth. Amen? Towards revealing

a truth. Now, the next verse. He said to them,

how does David, how then does David in the spirit

call him Lord? Saying, the Lord said to my Lord.

Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies

your footstool. If David then calls him Lord,

how is he his son? How is the Christ the son

of David if David calls him his Lord? Amen? And

then no one was able to answer him a word. No,

from that day on, did anyone dare question him

anymore? Now, I want you to realize that these

Pharisees understood the implication of what

Jesus was saying. Amen? His question was revealing

to them something that they don't want to believe.

You know, they are fond of asking questions.

And most of the time, when they ask questions,

it's to put Jesus in a box, right? It's to set

a trap for him with a question. If a man dies

and he has a wife, and then he dies, and then

his brother marries his wife, and then another

marries, and then another marries, at the resurrection,

whose wife will she be? Foolish question. Jesus

would tell them, have you not read? Which means

that even the scriptures, you are scholars, but

that means you don't believe the scriptures that

you are reading. So oftentimes when they ask

questions, it's out of ignorance. It's out of

sheer foolishness. I mean the scribes and the

Pharisees, because they want to put Jesus in

a, they want to set a trap. But whenever we see

Jesus ask questions, it's because he wants to

reveal a truth. Hallelujah. So, physically or

humanly, we know that the Christ will come through

the lineage of David. And Jesus Christ is the

Christ. But Jesus Christ is not just a son of

David. He is God. Hallelujah. He is God himself.

Amen. And that was what he was revealing to them

that they were shying away from agreeing with.

And of course, his quotation is from Psalms 110

Psalms 110:1

verse 1. So it was important for Jesus, especially

in Matthew 6, 13. It is important that those

who will preach the message of the kingdom of

God, the ministers of the message of the kingdom

of God, better understand who the message is.

Because the message is a person. Alright? The

message is what? The message is about a person.

The message is about a person. So when Jesus

was asking who do people say the son of man is,

the goal is to reveal to them who the son of

man is. Because Those who preach the message

of the kingdom of God should be able to know

who the message is. Now the testimonies of the

ministers of the kingdom of God must be different

from the testimonies of the crowd. Amen? It is

important for us, right, to have a different

testimony from the crowd. Our understanding of

who Jesus is cannot be rumors. As ministers of

God, our knowledge about Jesus Christ cannot

just be Google information. If our understanding

of who Jesus Christ is cannot just be charged,

you know, charged if he can give you anything.

Amen? Recently, is it last year, we're looking

at a church, is it in Germany or in France, where,

you know, they said, oh, right now in ministry

they can have an AI as their pastor. And then,

you know, I was just laughing. I saw the news

that people would just come to church and then,

you know, they would play and AI would give them

salmon. You know, we are in the age of technology.

See, there's something that technology can never

replace. You see, the preaching of the gospel,

it can never be replaced. Men can never... be

replaced when it comes to the preaching of the

gospel of Christ. If God could not use angels,

do you think that God is limited in technological

advancement? Do you think that God is not wise,

is not all -knowing from the foundation of the

world? He decided to trust you and I with the

salvation of men. In gospel land, it is men who

preach the gospel. Not machines, not angels,

but men. Hallelujah. So it is necessary that

we are very, very equipped with the knowledge

of what the message is because it is us who have

been redeemed. That have been qualified. Through

our relationship with God. Through discipleship.

In order to preach the message of the kingdom

of God. So our testimony. Must be different from

what we hear from the street. You know. Our opinion

about Jesus Christ. Cannot be the opinion. Of

what we see on social media. Some of us. The

formulation. of our ideologies about God is a

product of, you know, media. Media, rumor, what

is on the street. If you must be an efficient

minister of the word of God, you must go beyond

what you just hear on the street. Not people's

experiences. Even if it's experiences, we must

be able to know whether this is right or this

is wrong. Because what the people are saying

is not true about Jesus. He is not Elijah. He

is not one of the prophets. He is not John that

died and rose again. Amen? So you and I cannot

go and be preaching rumors about Jesus. Jesus

called himself what? Son of man. Who do men say

I, the son of man, am? What does son of man mean?

We'll look at it shortly. So in verse 14, Matthew

16, 14. So they said, some say John the Baptist.

Some say Elijah. And others Jeremiah. Or one

of the prophets. If I was Jesus. I would ask.

What did you tell them? What did you counter?

With the information you've been hearing. Or

they say Jesus is Jesus. What did you tell them?

I the son of man is. That is a mission. That

we've been called. To do. Alright? That is the

mission we've been called to do. To announce

who Jesus is to the world. And in announcing

Jesus, we reveal what he has done. Hallelujah.

So you cannot go and tell the world that Jesus

Christ is one of the prophets. Or, you know,

just like Mahatma Gandhi. You know, he's one

of those great men. Just like, who else? Nelson

Mandela in Africa. He was an emancipator of his

nation. He was sent to prison. Mandela did not

die. But this one, he was. No, no, no, no. We

must have an accurate knowledge of Jesus. If

we must present. Listen, brothers and sisters.

Our generation is a smart generation. Full of

information. That's what I mean by smart. There's

a lot of information around our generation. You

must be sophisticated in order to confront a

sophisticated generation with a message of the

gospel. This morning I was just going through

a media chat somewhere about someone gave a story

about Jesus Christ. It's a video. He was trying

to share the gospel. So I just went down to see

what people are saying. Somebody said that He

just wrote a comment. He said, why is it that

God will not just forgive sin? Why must someone

have to die? That this story is not adding up.

If Jesus will forgive, has the power to forgive

sin, if God has the power to forgive sin, why

must somebody die? Now, my brothers and sisters,

if you don't know how to give an answer to this,

and let me tell you, some of your questions are

genuine. Amen? Some of your questions are genuine

questions. So you and I are the ones that must

have the answers to those questions. For you,

you see this question as a foolish and a stupid

question. But these are genuine questions that

people have in their hearts. There's a brother

that is finding it difficult to agree that Jesus

Christ is God. Because he has listened to some

debates. He has listened to some arguments. intellectual

arguments about religion, about God, and then

he reached a point that he's doubting about the

divine nature of Christ. See, if we are not equipped

with knowledge, with understanding, that's what

we trust God to do in the course of this cataclysm,

that we will have the ability To do what? To

rightly present Christ to our generation. And

in presenting this Christ, listen, we must do

it in signs and wonders. Amen? We must do it

what? In demonstration of the Spirit of God.

That is why I kept emphasizing about the importance

of the miraculous. The importance of what? Of

healing. The importance of Of seeing the signs

following the preaching of the gospel. What difference

will be your preaching from a man that stands

to motivate and collect money and go? What makes

you different? Paul will say that I didn't come

to you with lovely speech. Because there are

others that will come with lovely speech. In

fact, some of them are more eloquent than us.

Have you ever seen a man trying to sell a course

online? The way they will present it, you don't

even know when you go and click, click bits,

right? You go and click to subscribe. Because

they know how to market it very well. And this

is the kind of generation we are confronting

with the message of the gospel. Hallelujah. Verse

14. Some say John. The Baptists, some say Elijah,

others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. Now

the disciples in their going out to preach, they

didn't just go from coast to coast, from one

angle to another, shouting, repent. But they

must have taught from the scriptures. Amen? They

must have what? Taught from the scriptures. Are

we together? For them to preach the gospel of

the kingdom, they must do what? Preach or teach

from the scriptures. And of course, we could

see that even in that generation, the people's

perception, even though it was flawed, let's

look at it clearly. Nevertheless, they mentioned

Elijah, they mentioned Jeremiah. mean that the

disciples probably may have preached from the

Holy Scriptures. And also the peoples were aware

of the Scriptures. We agree, right? That these

people, these people bringing out the rumors

about who Jesus is, they are probably aware of,

because the names they called were scriptural

names. Alright? They didn't call one of their

governors. They didn't say it's Herod. But they

mentioned the prophets. They mentioned, Elijah

they mentioned. So they have an idea of scriptures.

But it's not accurate. And why? These people

do not have faith in the scriptures. That's why

I'm headed. Because if these people have believed

the scriptures. They would have believed. The

message that the prophets spoke. Right? They

would have believed. The mission and the ministry

of the prophets they were mentioning, which means

they never had faith in the scriptures. Their

statements are a product of ignorance and unbelief.

Because if they had believed what the prophets

taught, especially John. John is the closest.

John is the closest because John is a contemporary

at that time. Of course, they didn't see Elijah.

They didn't see Jeremiah. But at least they saw

John the Baptist. And they would have known Jesus.

If they have believed John, what John taught,

they would have known who Jesus is and whom John

preached. Amen? They would have known who John

was preaching. What was the ministry of John?

The prophets all wrote about and taught about

Jesus. Luke chapter 24. Let's look at this. Luke

Luke 24 · chapter mention

24. Verse 25. 27. Jesus at resurrection said

this. He says, then he said to them, all foolish

ones and slow of heart to believe all the prophets.

Which means that all the prophets that they mentioned,

they were speculating that it was Jesus. All

the prophets have spoken. What have they spoken?

Ought not the Christ, the Christ, to have suffered

these things and to enter his glory? And beginning

at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to

them in all the scriptures the things concerning

himself. That is to say, That the writings of

the prophets, the communication of the prophets,

all that the prophets were teaching, the function

that they did was to announce the coming Messiah.

Verse 44. Verse 44. Luke 24, 44. Then he said

to them, these are the words which I spoke to

you while I was still with you. that all these

things must be what? Must be accomplished, must

be fulfilled, which were written in the law of

Moses, the writings of Moses about Jesus and

the prophets and the Psalms concerning me. So

if these men that were bringing these rumors

about Jesus believe in the writings of the prophets,

They believed in what the prophets were teaching.

They wouldn't have a crisis in understanding

who Jesus Christ is. Hallelujah. This is important.

What about John? Who is their contemporary? The

entire ministry of John was about introducing

Jesus Christ. That means that they didn't believe

John. Let's look at John. John chapter 1 verse

John 1:19

19. It means that they didn't believe in the

ministry of John. They didn't believe in what

John was preaching. They know John to be a prophet.

Even the Pharisees knew that John was a prophet

of God. Now this is a testimony of John. When

a Jew sent a priest. This is a testimony of John.

This is the ministry of John. This is what John

did. This was the purpose of the ministry of

John. When the Jews sent priests and Levites

from Jerusalem to ask him, who are you? They

want to know who is he. Right? He confessed and

did not deny but confessed, I am not the Christ.

Because I told you earlier on, The nation of

Israel was expecting the Christ. And the Christ

is a man. Is a man. That will come as the redeemer

of Israel. To redeem Israel. To save Israel.

So they know that this person. Will function

in the teaching ministry. So they saw John. They

were guessing. Who are you? Are you the Christ?

He said no. What then are you? Are you Elijah?

He said, I am not Elijah. Are you the prophet?

That means the Christ will be the prophet, right?

And he answered, no. Then they said to him, who

are you that we may give an answer to those who

send us? What do you say about yourself? He said,

I am the voice of the one crying in the wilderness.

Make straight the way of the Lord. Which means

that this is in Isaiah. John was able to look

through the prophecies of Isaiah. And see his

role in the prophecy of Isaiah. And say, this

is who I am. This is who I represent. As the

prophet Isaiah said. Verse 24. Now, those who

were sent were from what? Pharisee. And they

asked him, saying, why then do you baptize if

you are not the Christ? Which means that the

Christ will do what? Will baptize. Now, I didn't

say baptize in water. But the Christ will have

a function to do. If you are not, why then do

you baptize if you are not the Christ? nor Elijah,

nor the prophet. John answered them saying, I

baptize with what? With water. But there stands

one among you whom you do not know. It is he

who coming after me is preferred before me. That

means he's greater than me, which is he has a

superior ministry than mine. Whose sandals traps

I am not worthy to lose. These things were done

in Bethabara, beyond the Jordan, where John was

sucking people in water, was baptizing with water.

Right? 28, 29. The next day, John saw Jesus coming.

And he said, behold the Lamb of God who takes

away the sin of the world. This is he of whom

I said, after me come a man who is preferred

before me. For he was before me. I did not know

him. But that he should be revealed to Israel.

So this is the... The context of John's ministry,

the revelation of the Christ, that he will point

to Israel and say, this is the one that the prophets

have been talking about. This is the one that

what? That Moses spoke about. This is the one

that the prophets wrote about. This is the one

that David even talked about. This is the one

that has, this is the one that the scripture

has been communicating about. I did not know

him myself. But that he should be revealed to

Israel. Therefore I came baptizing with water.

And John bore witness. He bore witness saying.

I saw the spirit descending from heaven like

a dove. And he remained upon him. And I did not

know him. But he who sent me to baptize with

water said to me. Upon whom you see the spirit

descending. And remaining on him. Is he. Who

baptizes. With what? With the Holy Spirit. And

I have seen. And do what? And testify that what?

That this is what? Is a son of God. That was

a summary of John's ministry. So. If these people.

knew who John was. It simply means that they

didn't believe in what John was doing. It simply

means that they didn't put faith in what John

was teaching, his explanation, his baptism, his

telling them to repent because the kingdom of

God has arrived. That was his message. That was

his teaching about shouting and compelling them

and rebuking them that they will repent. Repentance

simply means change your thought, change your

idea, change your mind because the kingdom of

God has arrived. The kingdom of God has arrived.

But they were not in faith. They didn't believe

what John was teaching. So, if you don't believe

the scripture, I can assure you that you will

never come to a place of what the revelation

of who God is. Because the knowledge of God,

first and foremost, is by faith. Amen? It's by

faith. That is why no matter how intellectually

sound a man is, if he does not come to the scripture

by faith, he cannot know God. The scriptures

is not known by the prowess of your understanding

of Hebrew as a language or Greek as a language.

It's by what? It's by believing what the scripture

says. You don't need Hebrew and Greek to know

God. Amen? There are people that are so sophisticated

in theological seminary. They're atheists, but

they're teaching the Bible. You know? They are

atheists. They don't believe in God, but they

are experts in explaining the scriptures. So,

first of all, the revelation of God comes by

what? By faith. By faith in what the scripture

says about who God is. So we must respond always

in faith. agreeing in faith that whatever the

scripture says is what we believe about who God

is. Matthew 16, 15, it says, but he said, okay,

this is all that the people have been saying

about me. All right? This is all the rumors.

You've brought all the conversation and all,

you know, the Google searches you've made about

Different stories about who Jesus is. Now, he

said to them, but who do you say? Let's leave

what people are saying. You, who do you say I

am? Who do you say I am? Jesus shifted from the

confession of others and his focus right now

is what? It's on the disciples. Moving away from

what the crowds have been saying to what the

disciples know about him. Now the Christian life

and of course the work of ministry must be founded

on what? On a personal knowledge. Now when I

say personal knowledge, I'm not saying a personal

interpretation. I'm saying that you must be able

to know God as an individual. Not on what my

pastor believe or what my pastor said. A personal

knowledge of God, who he is and what he has done.

Not the God of my father. Some people say, I

have a praying mother. So I will never fail.

You will fail. Don't pray. You walk away from

the will of God for your life. What prayer does?

Prayer aligns with the will of God for your life.

Your mother needs prayer for herself. Amen? Of

course we pray for one another. Alright? We are

encouraged to pray for one another. But as a

believer, you must seek to know God and to know

the will of God for yourself. Because nobody

can do the work of God on your behalf for you.

You, as an individual, are called to do. So it's

not the God of my pastor. No. The God of your

pastor must move from just being the God of your

pastor to what? To your own God. Your own God.

Your own God. He must be your own God as well.

And that comes by knowledge. Not just what my

pastor said. It must move from what my pastor

said to what I believe. What the pastor teaches

us must be believed on, personalized and practiced

in our lives. Because exploits in the kingdom

of God comes from knowing God. Hallelujah. It

comes from what? It comes from knowing God. Daniel

11 .32. Let's see that text in the Amplified.

In the Amplified. Daniel 11, 32. It says, And

such as violate the covenant, he shall pervert

and seduce with flatteries. But the people who

know their God, they shall prevail. They shall

prove themselves strong. Strong against what?

Against the violent, the perverted one. They

shall prove themselves strong and shall stand

firm and shall do what? And they shall do exploits

for God. Which means that it must come from a

point of what? Knowledge. Knowledge. Our faith

is a knowledge -based faith. Right? Christianity

is a knowledge -based faith. If you are an ignorant

person, you will not thrive as a Christian. If

you have an allergy for knowledge, sorry, Christianity

is not for you. You can be born again, but you

will not do much in this kingdom. So there must

be a high level of hunger. To know. Because knowledge

is essential. There must be a transformation.

Of our mind. Your mind. Is not born again. Hallelujah.

Your soul is safe. Your spirit is safe. But your

mind needs to be renewed. By what? By information.

By knowledge. That what has happened in your

spirit man. consumes your intellect, your mind.

And how does that come? It comes by the study

of God's word. That's what we're doing today.

That our mind is transformed and we acquire the

knowledge, the knowledge of God. Remember the

parable of the talents? You know. That one servant,

Matthew chapter 25 verse 24. Matthew 25 verse

Matthew 25:24 Matthew 25:24

24. Then he who had received the one talent came

and said, Lord, I knew you to be a hard man.

Talking about the master. Which means that he

has no knowledge of who the master is. Because

if he knew who the master is, he will do what?

He will have done well with what the master gives

him. He says, I know you to be a hard man, reaping

where you have not sown, and gathering where

you have not scattered seed. And then he gave

you one to keep. I mean, thank God it's a parable.

Amen. Thank God it's a story, right? It's a parable.

But unfortunately, some of us, our life is just

like this parable. It says, I was afraid. Fear

comes from where? The lack of knowledge of who

the master is, of who God is. I was afraid and

went and hid your talent in the ground. Look,

there you have what is yours. And look at what

the master says. But his Lord answered and said

to him, you wicked and lazy servant. You knew

that I reap where I have not sworn, which is

not true anyway. Right? And gathered where I

have not scattered seed. So you ought to have

just deposited my money with the bankers. And

at my coming, I will have received back my own

reward with interest. Therefore, take the talent

from him and give it to him who has ten talents.

To everyone who has more will be given. And he

will have abundance. But from him who does not

have, even what he has will be taken away. So

we see that the conduct of this servant is from

what? It's from a distorted knowledge of who

his master is. He couldn't be productive. He

couldn't become efficient in the utilization

of what he was given. Others were productive.

Others went and then they traded, as the scripture

would say, with what was given to them. But this

one, because he lacked knowledge and understanding

of who the master is, what the master is expecting

for him to do, he went and ducked and then he

hid. May that never be a testimony in Jesus'

name. That our lives will be spent about the

father's business. Hallelujah. That our lives

will yield profit in the kingdom. See, God seeks

profit from our lives. And the profit is souls

that will be able to what? Multiply. Will be

able to multiply. Hallelujah. Now let's look

at the reply of Simon Peter. Matthew 16. Simon

answered and said, you are the Christ. Amen?

Hello? What is his answer? Let's read verse 16

together, all of us. One, two, go. Simon Peter

answered and said, you are the Christ, the son

of the living God. Hallelujah. Christ. He was

able to give an accurate answer different from

that of the crowd. You are the Christ. Son of

the living God. And I believe so much that God

intends to reveal himself to us. Amen? for each

and every one of us, that, listen, I'm so sure

about this, that our eyes are opening to know

who God is. That the confidence we have in preaching

Christ, people will be asking, why is this brother

so passionate about evangelism? Why is this sister

so passionate about this Christ? Someone asked

me that. In the office, while I was working some

years back in the office here, my boss walked

into my room and she was asking, are you being

paid from anywhere? I said, no. Then why are

you so passionate about this fellowship of a

thing? And I told her, you see this fellowship,

I can leave school because of this fellowship.

Because I've come to a point that I'm convinced

that this is life. Amen? And a person does not

just walk into this and I'm hoping that I will

grow more every single day in the knowledge of

God. I will grow deeper in the knowledge of who

God is. There's a place of knowledge you come

to know about God that it is impossible to deny

God. Amen? It's impossible to Even the disciples

went away with him. Later on we'll see. When

everybody was walking away, they said, will you

also go? Peter, who is their spokesman, said,

unto who shall we go? We've come to realize,

we've come to know that you are the one that

have eternal life. So where are we going? Where

else are we going to go? Even if it's hard. You

see, the people that will walk away from the

faith are people that don't have fruit. Right?

They remain at the surface level. When trial

comes, what happens? It swifts them away. When

temptation comes, what happens? It takes them

away. But for you, your testimony is that you

know God. Amen? And the knowledge of God you

will have. You will be like that house that is

built on the rock. And you are grounded. You

are firm on the rock. Your root goes down into

the ground. Hallelujah. The wind will blow. The

temptations will come. The challenges will rise.

On account of the truth, you will be persecuted.

Oh, some of you, they will fire you from your

jobs on account of the truth. Some of you, you'll

be rejected by your loved ones. It will happen.

But your testimony will be that, see, I've come

to know who God is. And it's too late for me

to say what? To say I'm going back. But you see,

it takes a man, it takes a woman that knows God.

To reach this place of conviction. Sometimes

when I read. Or read a little bit about. The

men who gave themselves. Why will the apostles.

First of all let's begin with the apostles. What

do you think would be so convincing. If you look

at how. Each and every one of them was killed.

Except John. Some of them the Bible says. History

rather. Says that they were sworn into pieces.

How can a man believe a lie to the point of giving

his life? How can a man be willing to say, see,

even if you shoot me, you kill me, I will not

deny the faith. The history of the church will

see men that have laid down their lives for the

gospel. Some were excommunicated. Some were boiled

in hot oil. Some were burned with fire. And the

only condition they were given was to renounce

what? To renounce the gospel. And they were not

willing to because you know what? They have come

to know God. They have come to know the truth.

To the point that they are willing to lay down

their lives for the truth that they know. And

I see God moving us to this place of knowledge.

I see God moving us to this place of intimacy.

I see God bringing us to a place of conviction.

Men that will do exploits are men of conviction.

And conviction is a product of knowledge. The

knowledge of God. The knowledge of what he's

doing. The knowledge of what he has done. It

would take a man and a woman of conviction to

say, see, this job they're going to give me,

right? I may be making $100 ,000 annually. But

what this job will do for me is that it will

take away Christ. It will take away, you know,

an opportunity for me to know, it will affect

my relationship with God. It will take a man

and a woman of conviction to say no to such kind

of an opportunity for a source of livelihood

and say, I choose to trust God for something

else because I know that this will be a hindrance

to me serving God and living for God. It's not

just casual knowledge. It's not just casual knowledge.

Amen? It's not just casual knowledge. You always

see the crowds. The crowds will come around and

there will be 5 ,000. They will give you loaves

of bread. You know those ones? Jim, Jim, Jim

in church. Oh, this service was powerful. It

is a crowd. I'm not saying that singing and dancing

is bad. That's not what I'm saying. But if you

take away the instruments, the drums and the

keyboard, will you still sing? Or your devotion

for God is musically stimulated. If we say now

in this church we no longer play the keyboard,

we only come and clap. Will you dance and sweat?

Let's move away from the crowd and then come

into a place of intimacy, a place of relationship

with God that will know him in discipleship,

that will build this knowledge of him that will

be able to execute his will on the earth. Hallelujah.

It is crucial. Knowing God is important. And

that is what God is doing right now. Even Moses.

You see the story of Moses. When Moses was called

in Exodus chapter 3. That was a challenge he

Exodus 3 · chapter mention

had to cross. Exodus chapter 3 verse 1. Now,

Exodus 3:1

when Moses was tending the flock of Jethro, his

father -in -law, a priest of Midian, and he led

the flock to the back of the desert and came

to Horeb, the mount of God. And the angel of

the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from

the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold,

the bush was burning with fire. But the bush

was not consumed. Then Moses said, I will now

turn aside and see this great sight by why the

bush does not burn. So when the Lord saw, he

turned aside to look. God called him from the

midst of the bush and said, Moses, Moses. And

he said, here I am. Then he said, do not draw

near this place. Take your sandals off your feet.

For the place where you stand is holy ground.

Moreover, he said, I am the God of your father.

You see introduction? God was introducing himself

to who? Because you see, if Moses would go and

preach the people of God in Egypt, he must know

who this God is. He must know because there are

many gods. There are many gods out there. But

this God is a God of Abraham, the God of Isaac,

and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face,

for he was afraid to look upon God. And the Lord

said, I have surely seen the oppression of my

people who are in Egypt, and I've heard... their

cry because of their taskmasters. For I know

their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver

them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to

bring them up from that land to a good and large

land, to a land flowing with milk and honey to

the place of the Canaanites and the Hittites

and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites

and the Jebusites. Now, therefore, this is his

call. Now, therefore, behold, the cry of the

children of Israel has come to me, and I have

also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians

oppressed them. Come now, therefore, I will send

you, that you may bring my people, the children

of Israel, out of Egypt. But Moses said to God,

Whom am I that I should go to Pharaoh, that I

should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?

So he said, I will certainly be with you. And

this shall be a sign to you that I have sent

you. When you have brought the people out of

Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.

Then Moses said to God, indeed, when I come to

the children of Israel and say to them, the God

of your fathers has sent me to you and they say

to me, what is his name? What shall I say to

them? And God said to Moses, I am who I am. And

he said, first you shall say to the children

of Israel, I am has sent you, sent me to you.

Hallelujah. So Moses was inquisitive about who

God is. Who is the God that is sending you? Do

you know him? Do you have a relationship with

him? Which God are you going out there? Listen,

Egypt is a picture. Alright? In scriptures, Egypt

is a picture. It's a picture of operation. Operation

is a picture of sin. And Moses is a deliverer.

A messenger has been sent to deliver them from

darkness, to deliver them from oppression. And

we equally have that ministry as Moses. To go

and deliver people from darkness. To deliver

people from oppression. To deliver people from

the works of darkness. To save them from what?

From wickedness. From oppression. But how are

we going to save them? Because what will save

them is a message. What are we going to tell

them? Who are we going to tell them? What will

save them is a message. And the message is a

who. The message is a person. Hallelujah. Now,

do you know that person? We must know that person.

Because the knowledge of God is important. If

not, Do you know what will happen to us? Let's

look at what will happen. Acts 19. We will not

be able to do it if we don't know God. Acts 19

Acts 19:11

verse 11. Let's see a story here. Now God walk

unusual miracle by the hands of Paul. So that

even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from

his body to the sick. And what happened? Diseases

left them and the evil spirit went out. Then

some of the Iteran Jewish exorcists saw what

Paul did. They said, this is good stuff. We're

going to do something. They took it upon themselves.

To call the name of the Lord Jesus over those

who are evil spirits. Saying, look at what they

say. We exercise you by the Jesus. Whom who?

Whom my pastor preach. We cast out these demons

in the name of the God of my father. Also there

were what? Seven sons of Siva. A Jewish chief

priest. Who did so? These were seven young men

who did. And what happened to them? And the evil

spirit answered and said, Jesus I know. Paul

I also know. But you half one. Who are you? Who

ghost you? And what happened? Then the man in

whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered

them, and prevailed. But remember, those who

know their God shall what? Shall what? Shall

be what? Shall be what? Shall be strong and what?

So these ones, what happened to them? They were

what? They were prevailed against. They were

overpowered. So that they fled out of that house

how? Naked and wounded. This is shame. Naked

and what? And wounded. Why? Because they were

trying to do something that they don't have shame

in. They are trying to do something that they

don't have authority to do. They were trying

to do something that they don't have access to

do. But have they heard about Jesus? Yes, they

did. Do they believe Jesus? I doubt if they did.

Amen? Do you know that there was even a time

when they brought some sick people to the disciples?

To heal. And what happened? They couldn't heal

them. And Jesus made reference to their unbelief.

How many times will I be with you? So for us

to be effective, for us to be able to carry out

the work of ministry, listen, I can tell you

this, that ministry is warfare. Are we together?

It's life and death. A minister is always a target

by the enemy. Hallelujah. A target, number one,

your faith is a target. Your life is a target.

Your stability is a target. And what will establish

you is a knowledge of God. It's a knowledge of

God. So for us not to suffer disgrace, disgrace

to the name of God, disrepute to the name of

God, shame to the kingdom, shame to the family,

it's essential that we give ourselves to knowing

God. It's essential. And in knowing him, we are

in a relationship with him. We are in a communion

with him. We are in intimacy with him. That we

will know what to do. We will know where to go.

We will know how to go. We will know the message.

Hallelujah. Let's rise on our feet and pray a

little bit. Let's rise on our feet. The intent

of God is to reveal himself to us. I want you

to pray. Pray that God will reveal himself to

you. Pray. Pray for yourself. That your eyes

will be enlightened. That your eyes will be enlightened.

That was the prayer of Paul to the church. I

don't know God. Let's pray. Let's pray. Pray

for yourself. Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ,

that I will know you. That I will know you. That

I will know you. The revelation of Jesus is essential.

To manifesting the kingdom of God. Lord, that

I will know you. That I will know you, that I

will know you, that I will know you. Lord Jesus,

this is my prayer. This is my desire. For me

to represent you in this generation, I must know

you. This is our heart cry, Lord Jesus, in this

generation. That we will know you. That at least

amongst us here will know you. Not just by rumors.

Not just by hearsays. Open your mouth and pray,

and pray, pray, pray, pray. Listen. It is the

intention, listen, it is God's will to reveal

himself to us. It is God's intent to reveal himself

to us in this meeting so we can better represent

him, so we can better preach him, so we can better

better and better do the work of ministry thank

you Jesus thank you for listening to today's

sermon your journey matters to us let's keep

walking together visit our website for more resources

And follow us on social media to stay updated.

Feel free to check the show notes for additional

insights. If today's message was a blessing,

share it with a friend. Till next time, be blessed.