Rep your jersey Sunday Sermon - The Kingdom of God Pt 5 29.10.23

Parallel it to the Gospel of Christ. Amen. There was a question I

asked earlier, who was the most famous person in history? I'll start from

here. Okay, I see she wants to a hand much. She's not

too sure. Okay, should I move? Okay, who's the most famous

person in history? Okay? No, no, no, no, no,

he was in the first episode. He cheats? Yes, God?

Who else? God in the person of Jesus. And it's proven that was

a survey done, a study done, and they checked their famous people,

those whose memories lived two hundred years after they had died. So I'm not

talking about the mess season there were nowdos and stuff. No, So these

people died in two hundred years on their memories, their names were still popular.

Guess whose name came uptops? Jesus and he's been well, he died

and he rose, so he's not dead anymore. But he died like over

two thousand years ago. Yet he's still the most popular person. And he

has a team. Do you know what the name of this team is called?

What's the name Christians? Okay, so they are the team players,

but what's the name of the team. I like that, Chelsea know the

Kingdom of Heaven. No, the Kingdom of God. You've been learning about

the Kingdom of God. If you are in that kingdom, you belong to

that team. Hallelujah. And there was a video we played. I don't

know if the video is ready. If you do, If not, our

move. And then when you're ready, were played who's your favorite football basketball

Lebron James? Yeah, what's what's the day? Let's watch the video?

H Okay, what do you think they are doing? Praying to who?

Why? There were two they were to win, so it's certain day you

know where to go? Which team is that? He has? The Ecuador

team during the life as World Cup? What else did you notice when they're

praying? They had closed their eyes to pray. You remember, but aj

I was telling you to close your eyes. Why do you have to close

your so you can focus on the object of your prayer? When prayer is

serious business, all right? And you notice the Bible there, So it's

not just praying to anything, but it's a biblical prayer that we're playing praying.

Amen. So we all identify with some sport and there's nothing wrong with

that. We are passionate about it. Who's your favorite star Sero. I

hear Sero on the side. Who else messy? Namer? Messy, Chris

cr Yeah, hey, I don't as imagine. Okay, Okay, Alis

gonna too, mus go somewhere, Lebron, Stephen carry is there? Stephen

carry from here? Okay? The basketball? Okay, I just want to

read a few statements by some stars, right, who knows neymar Me?

Okay? You know? Okay. So Namer is one of the most famous

footballers on the planet. He couldn't play much in the World the last World

Cup, but one thing that stands out is his faith. And when he

got injured during the World Cup, he said something quote, I am the

son of the God of the impossible, and my faith is endless, he

wrote on Instagram. He's always been public about his Christian faith, one saying

life only makes sense when our highest ideal is to save Christ. Who said

that? Namer? I read another code? Bye. I don't know if

I don't know if this guy is famous or not. But Cody Gabble Okay,

one of the standout performers and cutters World Cup was him. Right after

the match against Senegal, which he scored, He's got many goals, right,

he put on Instagram. I lift up my eyes to the mountains.

Someone to one this one my help from? Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.

So it wasn't only Equador praying. Who knows Olivier girod oh Gerald, I

don't know you know him? Okay? As now Chelsea, he keeps talking

about his Christian faith. He said one time in twenty nineteen, I feel

I have to use my media profile to talk about my commitment to Jesus Christ.

Now to the NBA Stephen Carrey, he said. Stephen Carrey says their

locker room is filled with the Holy Spirit, which definitely helped them win their

championship. Amen. And this is a quote by him. There's more to

me than just this jersey eye wayh and that's Christ living inside of me.

Who knows Jeremy Lynn. Jeremy Lynn, I see basketball fans in there?

He said. He also said this, Actually this guy I wanted to read

about him. Right, he's tall. I think he's Asian, so he's

five feet three inches. I think I'm even taller than him. His freshman

year. At that time, he wasn't as a freshman in college, and

he kept his faith strong with the Lord, fighting racial issues he faced during

his college years. He went to Harvard, he didn't receive an athletic scholarship,

and he is now in the NBA. He's shown many people that not

giving up and trusting the Lord will mean that God will always keep you in

his plant and bless you. And this is what he says. But the

one thing I can promise is that God's bigger and better than anything that can

happen. Amen. Amen, I just wanted to let you guys see that

the ones we follow, they are also following who Jesus. I want to

I want to turn your attention to who this Jesus is. Why would they

pray? There's no power in prayer. Don't let the world deceive you.

Some of these things you may not find on CNN, you may not find

on the posts that you would frequently turn to, but they are worth knowing.

Everybody has a secret weapon, and for you and I it must be

Christ because those who use another arm, that is the arm of flesh.

There are other religions, the other deities, but none like our God.

That's why there's that song among the gods. Who's like God to you.

Those gods are the small gods, even they acknowledged. Bible says that the

demones know him and they tremble, yet they don't submit to him. But

they know that their end has come and they don't have a second chance,

so they can't submit to him. So you choose the path that is true

and right. And that is what the semon is about today. Hallelujah.

Okay, so now we know who the most famous person is. If I

have a few minutes, just to read Matthew twenty four Matthew twenty two from

this one. It's a lengthy read, but about the Kingdom of Heaven.

And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said, please flow

with me, just keep rolling. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain

king who arranged a marriage for his son and sent out his sevants to call

those who were invited to the wedding. And they were not willing to come.

Again, he sent out other servants saying, tell those who are invited,

see, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and fatted catillac killed,

and all things are ready to come to the wedding. But they made

light of it and went their ways, one to his farm, another to

his business, and the rest seized. His servants treated them spitefully and killed

them next verse. But when the king about it, he was furious,

and he sent out his armies, destroyed those medress and burned up their city.

Go On, then, he said to his servants, the wedding is

ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Go on, therefore,

go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to

the wedding. Next verse. So those servants went out into the highways and

gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good, And the wedding

hall was filled with guests next verse. But when the king came in to

see their guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a

wedding garment next verse. So he said to him, friend, how did

you come in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Thirteen

next verse. Then the king said to the servants, bind him hand and

foot, to take him away, and cast them into outer darkness. There

will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Hallelujah. This is a parable that

sometimes can confuse us. Isn't it, but I was my some way.

I was in there. In fact, you did invite me in the first

list to the wedding. Your invited guests did not come. Then you come

and beg me to come to your wedding. I have come. And then

because I'm not wearing the property, you sack me. And you don't only

just sack me, though, you take me out where there's nashing and weeping.

It's a bit disturbing, right. The context is that in the Jewish

setting, when the wedding is going like two people will be engaged, they'll

be bethrown to one another. The man goes away to prepare a home for

his bride, and then after he's done building the house and setting it up,

he comes for the bride. And that day is not announced, you

know, so when he comes, and then they do their wedding feast and

all of that. But this wedding, those they had invited later, God

willing another time will be able to break into it. But the invitation was

given to the Jews, jeez king, but they rejected him. But the

invitation was then thrown out to all of us, all of us, please

go to the I think it's fourteen but many are called, but few are

chosen. That's how that parable ends. For many are called, but few

are chosen. Jesus came and died for us all. But why was this

man cast out? He wasn't properly dressed. And that time it wasn't like

imagine they were to put them from the highways and the byery, so it

wasn't like they were expected to wear the dress. Usually they would have provided

the output for you. So this man refused to put on the clothes.

So you can't be in the Kingdom of God. But if you refuse to

put on the attack, you would eventually be cast out. And whose fault

is that everything was given to you you refuse to put it on. Who

can go and stand on the field and play with mine? You without the

address? In fact, when you're playing and you remove your ships in the

victory dance or whatever, you get a card, isn't it for wrong attar?

Or what's the name of foul? Is it? What is it?

Foul? We are in the Kingdom of God, the greatest team ever,

But there's an attar who can't tell me where the tower of God is put

on the whole armor. Give me one breastplate of righteousness, ahah, belt

of truth? What else? Shield of faith? Even if we are scoring

power no more from your side this site? What else? Give me one

helmet of salvation? Hah hah? What what? What? The football boots

feed shot with the preparation of the Gospel of peace. Amen. But aside

from that, these are what you're use in your AUFA and all of that.

But you must have certain character traits as well, isn't it. What

are some of the character traits you must have to be part of this team?

First of all, we are all invited to that team. Is the

blood of Jesus that invites us into that. Once we accept Jesus as our

Lord and personal savior, we belong to the Kingdom of God right now.

It's what you do in that kingdom. Many are called, but few are

chosen exactly. And the choice you being chosen depends on what you do.

Because the invitation was thrown to everybody, but some decided not to do well.

They came to the party, but they refused to confirm. Bible says

well, be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing

of your mind. You renew your mind to se certain truths in the Word

of God, right, like, what what are some of the character traits

that you must have as you're growing? They don't come overnight. As you

spend time in the Kingdom, you associate in the Word with people in the

like minded people. What are some of the things that you you're supposed to

come out with? Why not? Which is give me one? Honesty?

Truthfulness, love, patience, joyfulness, kindness, peace, sorry, self

control, faithfulness? Uh huh, humility? Those are things that you grow

in them? Those are you grow in them? Okay? Those are character

traits. Those are all part of your adorning. What will keep you in

the football team or the basketball team or the ampy team called the Kingdom of

God? Amen? Now, who is your favorite star? The gentleman and

the wife? Is that Ghana jersey? Which one is it? Sorry?

No? The one behind you? What action? I thought we had a

football team? Okay, I'm not very good with that. Okay, okay,

okay me myself. I don't know that team, so don't worry.

Okay, there's man Ghana is there? Okay? The point here is that

I need one star who knows what is zero's favorites? I don't know what

you know about zero? Personally he's word the way I can't hear there.

It is that you know a lot about him. Do you know personal stuff?

You know he's married or he's not kids? What else where does he

live his what he's Jesse nam By seven? Aha, he likes your love?

No. The point is you all know something about your stars or what

do you know about Jesus? He's the Savior, the Savior? Is he

your savior? You need to personalize him. Let's stop generalizing Jesus and make

him ours. And I want to read him? Is it John fourteen?

No, let's start with John one forty three to forty five. Because you

can be in the kingdom. You can't be in church doing all the church

things, but you may not know Jesus. Let that not be your story.

There was one disciple who was with Jesus throughout. In fact, Jesus

was the one who actually called him. The following day, Jesus went to

Galilee, and he found Philippo and said to him, follow me next this

now Philip was from the side of the city of Andrew and Peter forty five

forty five. Philip found Nathaniel and said to him. We have found him

of whom Moses and the law, and also the prophet's roots. Jesus of

Nazareth, the son of Joseph. He knew him first. Forward to John

fourteen seven to eleven. So Jesus himself called Philip Philip, and this is

the beginning of Jesus' ministry. This is John one. Philip walked with him

throughout. Now Jesus is about to depart. In the first service, we

said the favorite food of Jesus was worth better than wine. Jesus is about

to go. This Philip ate with Jesus, was there throughout, but Jesus

was about He said, if you had known me, you would have known

my father also, And from now on you know him and have seen him.

Next verse, Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father,

and it's sufficient for us. Next verse, Jesus said to him,

have I been with you so long and yet you have not known me?

Fairlib he who has seen me has seen the Father. So how can you

say? Show us the father? Philip was with him throughout, but he

didn't know Jesus. Do you want that to be your story? That shouldn't

be your story, because you know what I'll tell your story. There was

the day I had a dream. I think I was in my late twenties

at the time, and in the dream, I was dreaming in the dream

and I was lying on the bed, and I saw myself get out of

my body and by me, and there was a presence by me. It

wasn't a presence. I was afraid of this. I knew, but I

just didn't know who it was. Then I heard, this is what death

is like. Then I woke up. I woke up afraid. I was

afraid, so I went to ask one of our pastors. But when I

woke up, I knew that it was the spirit of God who was with

me. But the point was I didn't know him. So I wasn't afraid

because that presence was there. It wasn't a negative. You know, I

can have a negative feeling a negative presence, and you know that this is

evil. It wasn't evil. But the only thing was it was awkward because

I didn't know him. From that time I realized that, look, oh,

dear girl, you might I was in church, I was serving in

church and everything, but I didn't know Jesus. I had accepted him as

my Lord and personal savior. But if you are left alone in a room

with Jesus, would you be comfortable? Would you have something to tell him?

Would you be happy? If you're left in a room with zero,

I'm sure you ran your mouth or that kingdom. Come, let's get to

know Jesus. Philip, I don't want to be There are many good things

about Philip. He later changed. I mean, this is just to let

us know that you can't be here and not know the reason why you are

here, the reason for our worship, the reason for which we are even

alive, the reason for which we are saved. Get to know Jesus.

And I want to use John, John, the one who wrote John,

the one that we are reading. How would you know Jesus through his word?

Get to know the word of God. Bible says in the beginning was

the Word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.

Okay, So don't just read your word. Study your word like you're

going to write an exam, because this life is an exam for eternity.

Some will die and go to hell, like the one who was cast into

the outer darkness. I think in the first service we established that it may

be judas is carried. Yes, we don't want to be that, right,

So get to know Jesus. Study your word. Another way to get

to know him is prayer. And you know he says, I'm leaving when

I go. When you have time this afternoon, where and read John fourteen

all the way to John seventeen. You would see who Jesus. You would

see who the Spirit of God is. He says, I'm going, but

I'll send you another of the same kind. The Spirit of God is supposed

to be the one helping us, teaching us the Word, explaining certain things

to us. Okay, but we don't know him. We don't get to

know him, all right. Make it a conscious effort to get to know

Jesus. Not when you come here and you hear a word, go back.

The best way to get to know him is through the word of God.

Open up the Bible, say, Spirit of God, teach me.

You're supposed to be my teacher. As I read, reveal Jesus to me.

I want to know Jesus. I don't just want to be called a

Christian. I want to know Jesus. Such as when I go to the

marketplace and somebody tells me that your Jesus is fake, I'll say no,

I know him of a truth. He exists because I know him through the

word. If you read the same John Forten, he'll tell you, if

you love me, you will do my commandments, and I and my father

will come and make our home. Menu. Let's read John fourteen twenty one

to twenty four. John fourteen is loaded. This is the word. These

are the words of a departing man. And I want to say that he

was heavy in his spirit. He was going to die. His death was

not you somethmes. We think he was God, so that death was easy.

Cry No, he cried. He went to get the many. He

cried blood. He says, if you can, Heavenly Father t this away

from me. I don't want to do this. Like you know how you

think that this match I, oh, not match. Maybe boxing your cobo.

You're like, I can't do it. I can't do it. When

you get there, you're like, hey, this man did. He was

kind of at that place when he went to get so many by the Lord's

strength, and he had to go that path because of you and I and

our sin was laid upon him. So don't take your salvation for granted.

When they are laughing and making funny jokes about the name of Jesus, don't

joke with them because it costs a life, a precious life. And you

know how when you don't do something wrong and they say you did it,

it's so annoying and so painful. You want to be vindicated. This man

had to go through this for the sin. He didn't come me too,

and the same people for which he was dying with the ones killing him.

Come on, who would do that? So don't take your salvation lightly.

Get to know him. And it's a heart of love. It's for God,

our father so loved the world, so he sends Jesus to die for

you and I now, he said, this is how you get to know

it. He who has my commandments and keeps them. It is he who

loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father.

And I will love him and manifest myself to him. So if you want

to know Jesus, know his word. This Bible is not for God.

He is the Word, He's everything he compounded. He says that word was

inspired. Holy Man, as inspired will move to write the word by the

spirit of God. So it was for us, and it's profitable for a

doctrine for reproof. This is supposed to be our life manual, and this

is how we'll get to know Jesus says, if you know me, you

will do my commandments. How would you know what to do when you don't

know what is in the word? Study the word? Paul told him,

with this study the word, don't just read it. Read your one chapter.

I did good, but leave time for study like you're going to write

exam. For indeed, it is an exam. You are born as a

baby in Christ. But he says, Peter said, desire the sincere milk

of the word. Okay, I won't be lay by the point. So

that was besides the point. Now, he said, I will manifest myself

to you another way to get to know him. And their complimentary is prayer.

Right? Do you agree with me? Nobody mentioned that as one of

the character traits we needed. But it's part of being in this kingdom.

And I want to show you. Remember when we were worshiping, Shepherd said,

we should close our eyes. When you close your eyes always thinking about

is there a football match today? Yes, you were thinking about that one,

or that your loathe that is cooking or your lunch. We are you

focusing on Jesus? Who knows what Jesus looks like? You do? What

does he look like? Please? You appreciate with me today. See his

hair is like white wool, and his eyes are like glazing fire, and

his feet are like the bronze from a furnace. I read from where the

which somewhere? I think, relious, let's clap for hair. You need

to know it's not Yes, they are images out there, somebody you know

what that was idea? I went for a meeting and one girl I was

going for them thought I was trying, this is somebody who was born in

church. I have just a few minutes. But she was telling me,

oh, that's man, she says. I'm like, ah, but I

thought you were a Christian home people. That image that you people. I'm

like, ah, what happened to this yous to sing in the choir and

everything. I'm like, what happened to you? She said, Oh,

there many spirits out there, don't let them deceive you. And this man

Jesus who is he? I was like, what how could this girl turn

out this way? And she was referring to the portraits that they paint about

Jesus. That is not Jesus. If I hadn't seen what I had seen

in Revelations, I may have believed here. That's why I'm glad. She

said that Revelation chapter one from verse nine, I believe, or six revelations

one, yes, go to ten. I think it's twelve. It starts

from two fourteen verse fourteen. Okay, No, twelve is fine. He

said he was on the island of Patmos, and he heard a voice,

and I tend to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned,

I saw seven golden lamp stamps. Yes, and in the midst of

the seven lamp stamps, one like the Son of Man. Closure eyes.

Now, all of us, let's close your eyes, and as I read,

picture it. Close your eyes. Picture it one like the Son of

Man, clothed with a garment down to his feet. And get it about.

So. Picture somebody in a white long rope, with a long rope

and then a garment about his waist, golden band around his weights, his

head and hair not just his hell. His head and hair were white like

whoa, as white as snow, and his eyes like a flame of fire.

Are you picturing it? His feet were like fine brass, as if

refined in a fairness, and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Next verse, he had in his right hand seven stars, and out of

his mouth went a sharp, two edged sword. Are you picturing this?

And his countenance his face was like the sun, shining in its strength.

Hallelujah seventeen? And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as

dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying to me,

do not be afraid. I am the first and the last. Hallelujah.

Open your eyes now is Jesus? Get to know him? When you close

your eyes to pray, See that powerful image before you. This is the

king of kings. Can you look directly into this? No, that is

the radiance that comes from and the glory. So only are singing when your

glory comes. Picture him bow at his feet. John could not somebody who

laid on his bosom a dinner could not stand. He fell. That is

the glory of God. This is the one who says I'll never leave you,

and I'll never forsake you. This is the one who says I will

be with you throughout all ages. This is the one who says, obey

my commandments, and I'll come and make my home in you. This is

your God, This is my God. Get to know him. Make it

your personal hearts desired, hearts cry to get to know him. Let's just

pray together. Put your hand on your heart or