Living Worthy of the Kingdom pt 3

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Hallelujah. Thank God for the opportunity to

be in church. living worthy of the kingdom, the

kingdom of God. You know, we've been studying

the book of Philippians for, this is the third

time today. And the last time we stopped at,

where did we stop? We stopped at chapter 2, verse

what? All right, verse 2. Chapter 2, verse 11.

Amen. So we, in case you are new here, we've

been considering a topic, living worthy of the

kingdom. And as a background, what we've been...

we've been seeing or we've been studying together,

as believers, we've established that we belong

to the kingdom of God. Now, when you become born

again or when you become a believer, what we

mean by being a believer is someone that believes

in Jesus Christ as his Lord and as Savior. We

call you a believer because you believe in this

truth that Jesus Christ is God who became man

and came down on earth. And then he died for

the forgiveness of the sins of men. This is what

embodies the Christian faith. Without this foundational

truth, then we cannot consider you a Christian.

Because what makes you a Christian is the faith

you have in this truth. But first of all, God

became man. And in his humanity, he died. He

suffered and then he died. He died on the cross.

And the reason why he had to die... was for the

sins of men. He became a substitution for men.

So all who believe in this truth come into a

union with God. They come into fellowship with

God. And so we that believe are called Christians.

In chapter 2 from verse 5 thereabout, we see

where Paul was using the concept, was using the

example of Jesus Christ to explain the humility

that we often have as men. He says, let this

mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

Who is this Christ Jesus? Verse 6, he said, who

being in the form of God, rather we'll say, who

is God, did not consider it robbery to be equal

with God, but made himself of no reputation.

This is what Jesus Christ went through. He made

himself of no reputation, taking the form of

a born servant and coming in the likeness of

men. So Jesus Christ, was not created. Jesus

Christ is not part of the creation, but he is

God. Who decided to take the likeness of men,

was it? And being found in the appearance of

a man, he humbled himself and became obedient

to the point of death. And this death is the

death of a criminal, the death of someone that

has committed an offense. that the consequences

of that offense is death on the cross. Therefore,

in this death, God also has highly exalted him

and has given him the name, not a name, but specifically

gave him the name, which is above every other

name, that at the name of Jesus, every knee should

bow of those in the heaven and of those on the

earth and of those under the earth. And that

every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord

to the glory of God the Father. So we pitched

our tent here last time. And we established that

as kingdom citizens, we have to live in peace

and harmony with one another. This was one of

the content of Paul's letter to the Philippians.

As kingdom citizens, we have to live in peace

with one another and harmony with one another.

having the same mind and your full accord, because

a kingdom that we belong to, when it is divided,

when we are separated, when we are not in unity,

when we are not living in harmony, there is no

how we will fulfill the purpose of God for our

lives. There is no how we will be able to do

the biddings of God on earth, except we walk

together, except we are united. Nobody can serve

the purpose of God alone. Nobody has the ability

to serve the purpose of God alone. So we saw

how important it is for us to live in harmony.

And we said also that the kingdom of God is a

kingdom of honor. We live honoring one another

regardless of status. Whether you are young,

you're old, whether you are rich or you're poor,

whether you are European or African, whatever

country you're coming from, whether you're a

leader or you're a worker, whatever your position

is in society, we live. honoring one another.

And honor is our culture as Christians. Honor

is our lifestyle as Christians. We honor one

another because God dwells in each and every

believer. So we honor one another because God

lives in us. And we said that this kingdom is

a kingdom that is also defined by selflessness.

Sacrificial living is what defines the culture

of This kingdom of God we belong to. And we saw

this exemplified in the early church where they

lived their life sacrificially. They gave their

all. They ensured that none among them was in

lack. They sold their properties. They shared

among themselves their resources. And none was

in lack of anything. So selflessness is what

also... describe the kind of kingdom that we

belong to. So if we belong to the kingdom of

God, then we must live worthy of our kingdom.

We must be able to express this culture of our

kingdom, which is sacrificial living. Hallelujah.

So we also emphasize a point here last time about

humility. And of course, we saw Paul use Jesus

Christ as an example for us to learn from, to

emulate always. Hallelujah. So from verse 12,

he says, therefore, verse 12 to 18, he says,

therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed,

not as in my presence only, but how much more

in my absence, work out your own salvation with

fear and what? And trembling. For it is God who

works in you both to will and to do for his good

pleasure. Do all things without complaining and

disputing, that you may become blameless and

harmless children of God without fault in the

midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among

whom you shine as light in the world, following

fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice

in the day of Christ, that I have not run in

vain. Yes, and if I am being poured out as a

drink offering on the sacrifice and service of

your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

Verse 18. For the same reason, you also be glad

and rejoice with me. Hallelujah. So from this

part of the epistles, we see Paul here is writing

to the church and is calling them. to shine as

light in what? In a crooked generation. You know,

the word crooked here is a metaphor. Amen? It's

a metaphor for a generation that is perverse,

a generation that is not acknowledging God, a

generation that does not live to honor God. And

if Paul can call his own generation crooked,

then I don't know what Paul will say to our generation

today. Twisted would be an understatement because

I don't know how corrupt his generation was compared

to our generation today. But despite the nature

of the society as of then, Paul is calling them

to what? To live as light, to be the light in

their generation. So we must also go back, you

know, and put ourselves in the position of the

Philippian church and contextualize this text

to our own generation. It's a calling upon the

believer. To do what? To live as what? To shine

as light in the world, in this world, in this

world. Hallelujah. So from the first part of

verse 12, let's take it a bit slowly. It says,

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed,

not as in my presence only, but how much more

in my absence. So here Paul is requiring their

obedience. to God's word in his absence, even

as they've always obeyed what in his presence.

He says, as you have always obeyed, not as in

my word, in my presence only, which means that

they've always obeyed in his presence. And what

he's calling them to do here is not only to obey

as he was in their presence with them, but how

much more in his absence he require them to continue.

to live in the obedience of God's word. Their

obedience to God's word must not be for eye service.

Amen? For them to be able to shine as light in

a crooked generation, for them to be able to

live a life worthy of their calling as children

of God, as members of God's family, they must

be able to live in obedience even in this absence.

while he is there with them and even in his absence.

So also our obedience to God's word must be on

sight and off sight. If I'm using the right word.

We must be very intentional about our word, our

living, to honor God with our lives. Their obedience

must not be when Paul is with them because some

people can want to be obedient, especially because

the Apostle Paul is around. So they want to demonstrate,

they want to live. In light of the word, when

they come to church, everybody looks holy and

spiritual. But when they travel to a new location,

the dynamics of their life changes because they

are out of sight. We see Jesus speaking similarly

in his teaching. Matthew 6, verse 1 to 4. Matthew

Matthew 6:1–4 Matthew 6:1–4

6, verse 1 to 4. Jesus speaking in a similar

tone. He says, take heed that you do not do your

charitable deeds before men. to be seen by men,

otherwise you have no reward from your Father

in heaven. Now, our Father is in heaven. Therefore,

when you do charitable deeds, do not sound a

trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the

synagogues and the streets that they may have

glory from men. So the focus of what they do

here is for men to see. The goal of their...

Good works of their righteousness. Some translations

would translate the charity work as righteousness.

Their righteousness, the things they do which

are right before men, is for men to see. Their

goodness is for men to see. Do not sound a trumpet

before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues

and in the streets, that they may have glory

from who? From men. So their focus is to please

men. Their glory is from men. Of course, this

language here, right? Verse 4. Hallelujah. So

the focus of the righteous act here is what?

It's for men to see their goodness. It's for

men to see their goodness. I want us to read

this in the NLT. Give me this text. It's in Matthew

6 in the NLT. It says, Don't do as hypocrites

do, blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets

to call attention to their acts of charity. So

what they do is for sure, is for men, for men

to see that, oh, this person is charitable, this

person is good, this person is righteous, this

person is living right. I tell you the truth,

they have received all their rewards, all the

rewards they will ever get. But when you give

to someone in need, which is the charitable,

which is the goodness, the work of righteousness,

don't let your left hand know what your right

hand is doing. Verse 4. Give your gift in private,

and your Father who sees everything will reward

you. And also Matthew 23. Matthew 23 in the NLT,

still in the NLT. Matthew 23, verse 1. Then Jesus

Matthew 23:1

said to the crowds and to his disciples, the

teachers of the religious law and the Pharisees,

are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.

So, practice and obey whatever they tell you.

Don't follow their example. Now, it's an example

that is a focus here. For they don't practice

what they teach. They crush people with impossible

religious demands and never lift a finger to

ease the burden. Look at verse 5. It says, everything

they do is what? It's for show. On their arms,

they wear... Extra white prayer boxes, you know,

in the Jewish tradition. They write, you know,

today we have armbands, right? They write prayers.

They have, yes, prayer shows. In our generation

today, we say you have t -shirts that have design

of Jesus over it. You know, you have walking

the light behind you. And I'm a child of God

in the front of your shirt. And look at the way

they dress. And they wear robes with extra long

tassels. They look holy from their appearance.

They look godly from their appearance. Full of

sure. Just stop at verse 5. And everything they

do, the Bible says is what? It's for sure. It's

for sure. It's for sure. So that men will see

and reckon them as what? As righteous people.

As people that are holy and righteous. But that

is not the intent for God. That's not the intent

of God for us rather. The motive for doing good

must be to honor God and not men. Hallelujah.

The intent of living a righteous life is not

for men to see. It's for God to be honored. So

Paul would tell the church, even in my absence,

which means that my absence doesn't matter. Whether

I am present or I am absent, there's no difference.

You have a responsibility in my absence and in

my presence. Only one thing, that God must be

glorified. That you must live worthy, that your

life... must be in order of your professional

faith. That your life must be an example of the

kingdom you belong to. So the motive for living

right is not for men to see. It's not for the

leaders in the church to see that you are doing

well. It's not for you to show to people that

you are righteous. I said you or we will know

your motive after you have done good. If no one

appreciates or recognizes your efforts. We will

know your motive in church as we relate with

one another, as we serve each other, as we do

good to each other. We will know what your motive

is, right? When someone does not even recognize

the good that you are doing, when you do good

to somebody and the person, you know, the leaders

don't even see, they don't even see, you know,

in this church, nobody sees the things I do,

the effort I'm putting, right? Nobody sees the

good that you are doing. Nobody appreciates you.

Nobody even recognizes, just recognize, you know,

the help that you render to this person. Nobody

even chooses to recognize and it becomes a big

problem for you. It's a symptom that you need

to check the motive to why you are doing that

thing. It's a litmus test, right? To the motive

behind what you do. Are you doing it so that

men will applaud you? So that men will say, ah,

well done, you've done it well. So that men will

see and say, ah, this brother is a righteous

man. This sister is a righteous person. Oh, you're

doing it so that God, who sees in secret, will

be honored by the life that you've lived, by

the good conduct you've kept, by the things you

do. Our motives must be right. So your good conduct

must not be because leaders are seeing you, but

you must be consistent inside and even when you're

not on site. You must be consistent online and

even when you're offline. You must be consistent

regardless of... The location you find yourself,

you know, thank God for Cyprus. Cyprus is a transitional

place for all of us. People come and go. We've

seen people transform. Immediately, they leave

this environment. All of a sudden, we see their

posts even on social media changes. All of a

sudden, we see even their addresses begin to

change. We begin to wonder. So this sister, no,

not any CF sisters, in Jesus' name, but this

sister, the way she was looking, the way she

used to dress this way in Cyprus, the moment

she leaves this environment, Is it that there's

a transformation that happens immediately you

leave this place? Or when you were in your country,

in Nigeria, wherever country, you were looking

so holy and righteous. And the moment you leave

the comfort of your parents' house, or where

you are known, and you land in a place where

you are not known, then we see a manifestation

of a new person. The rebirth of a new person.

Actually, that is who you used to be. There's

nothing that changes. So, if you are a believer,

you must ensure, we must trust God, that our

life is consistent. We call this integrity. Hallelujah.

That we are consistent in our identity regardless

of where and when. Hallelujah. That we are known

same wherever we find ourselves. It's a responsibility

upon us as believers. This is how we will truly,

truly shine the light in this dark and crooked

generation. This is how you and I will be able

to reflect the nature of God in this generation.

We must be consistent. Of course, there's room

for us to grow. Hallelujah. There's room for

us to keep growing. We keep getting better. But

let it not be that you are known as A here. And

on the other end, you are C or you are B. We

must have a consistent identity. And our identity

must be that we are God's children. And in our

lifestyle, it's consistently growing from good

to the best. Hallelujah. So Paul here is telling

them to do what? to obey in His absence as they've

always obeyed, even in His presence. In the second

part of the verse, verse 12, it says, You know,

this has usually been misinterpreted to mean

that the Christian must work out their salvation

with fear and trembling so as not to lose it.

First and foremost, The context of the conversation

here, as we have seen, right from chapter 1,

right, into chapter 2, even from the first verses

in chapter 2, is not about salvation per se,

how to be saved or how to keep your salvation.

The context is that believers who are already

saved are asked to do what? To live a life worthy

of their identity. to live an exemplary life

of Christ as they already have in them. So in

chapter 1, verse 6, we see categorically, in

chapter 1, verse 6 of Philippians, we see Paul

would say, being confident of this very thing,

that he who has begun a good work in you, which

means that these people, God has already did

a work in them. He has already done a work in

them. That he who has begun a good work in you,

and this good work... is the salvation of their

lives. So this God has begun a good work in them

who completed until the day of Jesus Christ.

So Paul has already articulated from this verse,

from the beginning, clearly that God is faithful

to keep the believers. So we cannot assert that

the believer in this verse is walking out of

salvation, is keeping himself, is keeping his

salvation. God is the one that is faithful. To

keep the believer. So Paul cannot come in chapter

2, verse 12, and ask them to work to secure or

to preserve their salvation. And that would be

a contradiction. In verse 13, we see clearly,

because, of course, it's the same conversation.

It says, for it is God, because he didn't stop

in verse 2. He says, for it is God who works

in you, but to do what? But to will and to do

for his good pleasure. So God is the one that

is working in the believer. We must read the

scripture not in phrases if we must understand

the scriptures. To make meaning in order to interpret,

we mustn't just read in phrases because reading

in phrases will lead us to misinterpretation

of a text. So I want us to read verse 6 concurrently

together with verse 13 and we'll make sense of

God's faithfulness in this conversation. Verse

6, chapter 1, verse 6. It says, being confident

of this very thing, maybe media can keep... Give

us chapter 1, verse 6, and also chapter 2, verse

13 together. I want to see the consistency of

Paul's communication here. He says, And then

he made a statement again in verse 13 of chapter

2. He says, but to will and to do of his good

pleasure. This in no way relinquish the responsibility

of giving the believer to himself. Hallelujah.

God himself is responsible for what? For giving

the believer. So salvation is completely the

work of God in the life of the believer and not

the believer's effort. Ephesians 2, verse 8 to

Ephesians 2:8–9

9, you can see that there. Ephesians 2, verse

Ephesians 2:8–9

8 to 9 talks about, you know, by grace we've

been saved and it's none of our works, but it

is God's work in us for grace. By grace you've

been saved through faith and that not of yourself,

it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest anyone

should boast. And God will finish what he has

established in the believer. Hebrews 7, verse

Hebrews 7:25

25. Hebrews 7, 25. He says, therefore, he is

also able. Who is able? The Christian? Who is

able? God is able to the autumns, to save to

the autumns those who come to God through him

since he always lives to make intercession for

them. So God has the ability to keep the believer,

to uphold the believer. Then what will Paul be

referring to? Walk out your salvation with fear

and trembling. It is the same conversation we've

been making. It means to show forth the life,

right, that the believer already has. In other

words, to live worthy of your calling as one

who has been saved, as members of God's kingdom.

I want us to read Philippians 2, verse 12 and

Philippians 2:12

13 together in the NLT. It has a better rendition

of this text. It says, Dear friends, You always

follow my instructions when I was with you. And

now that I am away, it is even more important.

Now look at the way they walk out your salvation.

It says, walk hard to do what? To show the result

of your salvation, which means that you are saved

and you have salvation. So what are you to do?

You are to walk. What is the walk in there? To

show the result. To show that you are saved.

To show that you are a Christian. To show that

you've been saved from sin. Obeying God with

deep reverence and fear. Verse 13. For God is

working in you. Who is doing the working? God

is enabling the believer. Giving you what? The

desire and the power to do what pleases him.

Hallelujah. So God here has the ability, has

given us the ability rather, He has implanted

in the believer the ability to do what? To show

forth the life that has been put in him. To express

the God kind of life that is in the believer.

To live worthy of his identity. To be able to

live as a child of God. To be able to live as

a Christian. In verse 14 to 18, we see that Paul

further expresses how the believer will live

worthy of the gospel they have received. Especially

in verse 14, he says, What does verse 14? Yeah,

give me verse 14. It says, do everything without

what? Without complaining and arguing. So that

no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent

lives as children of God. Not that you are living

this life so that you will be a child of God.

Right? But because you are a child of God, you

must live a clean, innocent life. shining like

bright lights in the world full of crooked and

perverse people. So there must be a difference

between one that is born again and one that is

not born again. There must be a distinction between

a believer and a non -believer. There must be

a distinction between those who are of the kingdom

of light and those who are of the kingdom of

darkness. It is not complaining and disputing.

Complaining and disputing are manifestations

of another identity. which must not be seen in

the believer. Some translation translated this

complaint as grumbling, murmuring, which refers

to a secret debate in a man's heart. See, this

happens in the heart. And then we see your actions

representing, you know, what thoughts you have

in your heart. Not disputing, questioning about

what is true about God. Give me verse 15 in the

Amplified. So that you may prove yourselves.

to be blameless and guiltless, innocent and uncontaminated

children of God without blemish in the midst

of a morally what? Crooked and spiritually perverted

generation among whom you have seen as bright

lights, beacons shining out clearly in the world

of darkness. So we live in a generation where...

There must be a distinction between those who

belong to the kingdom of God and those who belong

to the kingdom of darkness. So now, in the King

James, this verse 15, which seems as though it's

in living right, then we what? That ye may be

blameless. No, we are blameless. If we read it

clearly, it's that we are blameless. We are righteous

as we saw in the NLT. It is our identity. We

are showing proof that we are the children of

God. We are showing forward to people to see.

And our intent is not people actually. It's to

honor and glorify God. Hallelujah. It's to honor

and glorify God. That our lifestyle must be that

which brings glory and honor to God. So what

characterizes our Christian service? What influences

our service in the Christendom? Why do you do

the things you do in the church? Why do you live

the life you live? What influences your behavior

as a believer? Do you serve God joyfully? Or

you have, you know, the circumstance around you

influences your service? To please people or

to please God? It is important that God is the

focus of our service. It's important that God

is the focus. It's to honor God. It should be

an expression of our love towards God because

He has loved us. And he has given us a gift.

And the gift is his life that lives in us. And

we give expression to the life. So when we talk

about loving people, when we talk about living

sacrificially, when we talk about expressing

the love of God one to another, it's because

we have the life in us. And we are meant to give

expression to this life that is in us. So I want

us to read from verse 12 to verse 18 contextually

from the NLT translation. It says, Dear friends,

You always followed my instructions when I was

with you. And now that I am away, it is even

more important, work hard to show the result

of your salvation. And how do we do it? Obeying

God with what? With deep reverence and fear.

For God is working in you. God is working in

us. He's working in you. He's transforming us

daily. Giving you the desire. We don't quench

the desire of God in our hearts. Hallelujah.

The fact that God puts a desire in your heart

does not mean that the desire will manifest itself.

You must give expression to the desire of God

within you. There is a prompting of the Spirit

of God in every believer that has the Spirit

of God. To do good is your natural behavior because

you are a man and a woman that has the Spirit

of God in you. So do not silence the prompting

of the Spirit of God to live righteously, to

do good. For God is working in you. And what

does he do? He put the desire in you. And he

gives you the power. And what is the power that

he has put in you? He lives in you, the believer,

as a spirit. So that you do what pleases him.

It should be a relief for you that you don't

have to do it by your strength. The moment you

allow the spirit and you try to please God by

your methods, outside the prescribed word of

God, which is by faith, then you go into activities.

Then you go into law. You go into doing things

just as a Pharisee. When you begin to describe

your own methods of pleasing God, apart from

what God has said, that you've pleased God by

faith. In fact, you're already, God is pleased

with you because you believe in Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah. That should be a relief for us. So

our lifestyle should not be, you know, an effort

to make God happy. Every day we want to see,

no, we are already perfected in Christ Jesus.

God has accepted us. He's happy with us. Let

me use that word, happy. He's pleased with us.

He has accepted us in Christ Jesus. So we have

to live as those who have been accepted, as those

who have been forgiven, as those who have been

cleansed, as those who have been made righteous.

We have right standing with God. So we are not

in a performance to make God happy with us. There's

nothing you can do on your own to please God.

But He... has created a way for us to please

him, and it's through Jesus Christ. Hallelujah.

So, let's continue with the reading. It says,

do everything without complaining and arguing,

so that no one can criticize you. Live clean,

innocent lives as children of God, shining like

bright lights in a world full of crook and perverse

people, meaning that our lives must be distinct,

there must be a distinction in our lifestyle.

Verse 16. All family to the word of life. And

on the day of Christ. Christ's return. I will

be proud that I did not ruin the race in vain.

That my work was not useless. But I will rejoice

even if I lose my life. Pouring it out like a

liquid offering to God. Just like your faithful

service is an offering to God. And I will all

of you. To share that joy. Yes, you should rejoice

and I will share your joy. Hallelujah. So that

is the conversation of Paul all through. That

a believer must live worthy. Continue in obedience.

In obedience to what? To all the things that

he has been saying from chapter 1 to chapter

2. To continuously live distinctively. Showing

that we are different, that we are men, that

God has changed. We are men and women that God

has transformed. And the Spirit of God lives

in us to help us to live a life that will bring

honor and glory to Him. Hallelujah. So when we

begin to say that we are to manifest the kingdom,

all we are saying is show your identity. Amen?

Show who you are. Reveal to the world who truly

you are. It's not a time to be showing a different

identity of who we are. Our generation needs

men and women. I will stand for God. That our

lifestyle will show a different life apart from

what is obtainable in the world. God is counting

on you. Not that you only go out to preach. You

know, we preach. We extend the kingdom of God

in the hearts of men, right? We expand the kingdom

of God by willing souls. The kingdom is a spiritual

kingdom and the expansion of this kingdom is

in the heart of men. Not only that, we go out

to preach. But we show the way we manifest this

kingdom by our lifestyle. We allow the lifestyle

to be seen. We are lights. And this light must

be seen. People should not mistake your identity.

People should not mistake our identity. People

should not begin to question whether this person,

are you a Christian? Do you go to church? But

people should even see clearly who you are. They

saw the Christians. They saw the disciples. The

way they live their lives and they call them

Christians because they saw something exceptional

about them. They say something distinctive about

them. That they live like Christ. But rather,

Christ lives in them. And he lives his life through

them. And they are not different from us. Hallelujah.

So the challenge for us this week, as we continue,

is that I will ensure that I give expression

to my identity. Hallelujah. That my lifestyle

must match my profession of faith. That I will

continue to live in obedience. Not influenced

by people. but by my conviction or my profession

of faith in who I believe in, in Jesus Christ.

Just begin to pray for yourself and ask God to

help you. And the prayer is this, that in all

circumstances, in all situations, in all locations,

in the open and in the secret, that my life will

bring glory to God. That my life will bring glory

to God. Perhaps you are here and then... There

is nothing of the Spirit of God in your heart

that, oh, I've not been living worthy of my identity.

I've not been living as who men should see me

as. That my profession of faith is only something

that is a show. I'm putting in a show. I'm acting.

I want you to pray at this moment that God should

help you. That God should help us. That the world

would not mistake our identity. That we will

not be reflecting a different identity apart

from who God has made us to be. It doesn't matter

whether you're a leader, whether you're a preacher,

whether you're a teacher. There's a tendency

for us to deny our identity. Circumstances will

provide themselves. Opportunities will come to

test the genuineness of our profession of faith.

As we go through this day, even today, as you're

living in this place, for the account of the

word you've received, you'll be tested. On the

account of saying you are a believer, you will

be tested. And the good news is that if you've

fallen several times, of which we all have fallen,

the good news is that in Christ, we have restoration.

So today is a fresh opportunity. Tomorrow is

a fresh opportunity. Going forward is a fresh

opportunity for us to stand in our identity,

depending on the ability of the Spirit of God.

Not on our own making, not on our own power.

Not in our own strength, but in the strength

of the Lord. I can sense that somebody here is

having regrets and remorse. It doesn't just end

in regretting. It doesn't just end in having

remorse. But are you willing to allow God to

express himself through you? Are you willing

to allow God to express his life through you?

Are you willing to allow the Spirit of God to

transform your character? Perhaps you could have

been more loving to the brother. Perhaps you

could have been more sacrificial to the sister.

Perhaps you could have glorified God in that

moment, in that hour. But then you did the contrary

to the word of God. And there's a word of comfort.

There's a fresh opportunity to represent God.

There's a fresh opportunity. See, you don't have

anything to prove to anybody. You're not living

to please men, but you're living to please God.

And if God is saying, I'm pleased with you, then

the testimony of men does not matter. First and

foremost, the testimony of God matters. And what

God has said about you in his word is what matters.

And what he's saying right now is that you are

perfected. What God is saying right now is that

you are righteous. What God is saying right now

is that you are forgiven. That's a word of hope

for somebody. What God is saying is that you

are cleansed and you are made righteous. Yes,

even you can live to represent God in this generation.

Your conduct will glorify God. Your lifestyle

will honor God. Your speech will honor God. Your

conversation with men will honor God. Give God

a chance to walk through you. He has put the

desire in you. The reason why you are feeling

remorseful is because he is walking in you. He

is prompting you. He is like a light inside you.

Illuminating and shining and showing any dark

part in you. Allow the word of God to reflect

through your life. To illuminate through your

life. Allow men. To be drawn to the goodness

of God through your life. Don't hide your light

under the bushel. Allow the forgiveness of God

to be oozing out of your life. Somebody here

is holding on forgiveness. Oh, there's an offense.

A brother, a sister has offended you. And you

find it so difficult. It's an instruction for

you to forgive and let go. Father, help us that

we will represent you here on earth. The kingdom

of God. is spiritual, the kingdom of God is heavenly,

but is seen in the activities of men on the face

of the earth. Father, that we will demonstrate

your kingdom on the earth, that we will show

forth who we are on the earth, that we will show

the difference on the earth, that there will

be no complaining and grumbling in our hearts

concerning your word, concerning what you've

called us to be and what to do. Share it with

a friend. Till next time, be blessed.