Exploring the Nature and Challenges of Faith

In this opening night, I would like to dwell on what I call exploratory explanation of faith, or if you like, explanatory exploration of faith. All the linguists in the house can sort the rest out. Whether you call it exploratory explanation or Explanatory exploration, the most important thing is to get to the shore safely as we explore. Can I hear amen? Amen. As we explore tonight, my real focus will be on the origin of faith. And number two, the two kinds of faith. The origin of faith and the two kinds of faith. Apostolic Summit presents us the opportunity to examine critically what we believe in. It's slightly different from classic. where we tear down everything and stay there all week long from morning till evening every day taking whatsoever subject we are focusing on in such a way that anyone who participates will clearly understand what's all about. In scripture you find Paul writing to the church saying Examine yourself if you are still in faith, except you are reprobate. For such letters to be written to the church, not to the world, it simply implies you may be out of faith and not know. So tonight, we are going to look at the origin of faith and the two kinds of faith available so that you know the one you are operating in. Is that clear? Before we commence our exploration, let me express my deep concerns. Regarding the subject of our contemplation, I got born again by the grace of God some years ago. I'm not as old in the faith as many of you. I've been around here now for a while that I can actually write about the things we have seen. But I'm not going to belabor the point today because you also, regardless of when you got born again, whether a few weeks ago or last year, you've been around to know that the church is not what it used to be. And that can be negative, it can be positive. All across this country, the debate around tithing generated so much heat that if you're not careful, you'll be dragged into it. So we have really lost the substance. And we are now busy chasing the shadows. And it's not new. Long after David took the Ark of the Covenant of God of Israel, representing the presence of God, long after he took it away and put it in the tents in Jerusalem, people were still going to the altar of Barnaco. Because they will not be part of this new move. And 2,000 or more years after Christ had come and gone, Judaism is still here very strong. Despite the fact that the Bible says... He took away the old in order to establish the new and actually described the old as obsolete. Love the passage of scripture in Hebrew that says we have an altar that those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. But if you look around us, there's such an admixture of both that people don't even know the priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ. You can't distinguish it anymore from the rest. Well, the first time the theme we are camping around this week, according to the Bible, the situation in the land of Judah warranted it. As God will have it, or as we will also have it, the situation in Judah that warranted the instruction that Habakkuk received is not any different from the situation in Nigeria and the rest of the world as of now. A situation where you have a retired general telling the rest of the nation that get ready to defend yourself because your army is compromised. Unfortunately, they did not listen to my counsel that as you make the NYSC, the National Youth Service Corps, a two-year program to train the youth on arms the first year and let them spend the second year on agriculture or vice versa. First year, agriculture. Second year, train them. Now, I don't know how to shoot. How do I defend myself? I think Habakkuk looked at the situation in Judah and decided to ask God two questions. I'm so glad we can ask God questions because if you serve a God who cannot speak, how do you communicate with such a God? But Jehovah lives and he speaks. Can I hear amen? I want you to please know that summit is not convention. I'm not going to excite you by asking you to shout hallelujah seven times. You're not going to get any of those say after me, this is my Bible. You brought it from home. It is yours. If your name is not written on it, you are free to write it. Okay? Are you ready? So Habakkuk, oh, his name simply means one who embraces or clings. And you will see that he lived true to that name eventually because he had to embrace the truth, two principal truths that God gave him as a result of his two questions. And he had to cling to it to the end. And you will see by the end of the day that... His disposition towards things happening around him changed. Because if you allow the pressure around you to invade your heart, you will live by them. Or in the midst of that pressure, Coming from those who are closest to you and far from you or within your country, from your government, if you are not careful, you will not serve God acceptably. You become a victim of environmental pollution. Pastors, notice that when you are preaching, there are those who are giving you a look. Have you experienced it before? Okay. If you touch on raw knives, they will give you a look. If care is not taken, you will change your message. Especially if those giving the look either have a secret on you. Aww. they give and they can take away so you will get into the middle of your message and just change it and i say what i'm saying does not really apply what i'm saying tonight apply to everybody you know you know god And this is statute of general application. You are going to find out whether you are in faith or not. Because some have brought in a new philosophy stating, fake it till you make it. You can't fake anything with God. Can I hear amen? Habakkuk was so concerned about what was happening in Judah, he did a prophetic survey and he found out some 10 things that were wrong entirely with Judah. This produced anguish of the spirit that I believe led to his questions. Habakkuk chapter 1 verse 1 to 4. This is the exploratory part because you can just jump into the conclusion and go to Habakkuk 2 verse 4 and begin to preach the just shall live by his faith out of context. In Habakkuk chapter 1 beginning from verse 1, the boarding which the prophet Habakkuk saw. If what breaks God's heart does not break your heart, you can't even represent him to your generation. O Lord, how long shall I cry, and you will not hear? Even cry out to you, what? Violence? You can label that one. And you will not save. Is there violence in our country today? I can't hear you. 73 people were buried in one day. And while Rome was burning, Nero was fiddling. And everyone who will cry against such disposition from leadership in government becomes an enemy. How long will I cry violence? Let's read. Why do you show me iniquity and cause me to see trouble for plundering and violence are before me? Is there plundering in our country? Is there land grabbing going on? As a matter of fact, the general who spoke, three generals have spoken now, two directly, one through his spokesperson. You know that center cannot hold anymore. You don't understand it. He actually called what's going on in our country ethnic cleansing. That's a serious thing. That means the Human Watch and the human rights organizations and the UN and Hague, they may have to file, they may have to call some people to order like they did to Taylor. Except if they cannot establish compromise and converse. But you know this is Apostolic Summit, so it's not a New Nigeria progressive movement. So let's stay within the boundary of the church. Can I hear amen? You wait till what is outside invades the church and you're unable to meet anymore. Let's read. Why do you show me iniquity and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me. me there is strife and contention arises therefore the law is powerless have they arrested any any any any any any herdsman with ak-47 Is anybody asking how did they get a license for the gun? And who is monitoring how the guns and the weapons are used? The law is become powerless. If you want to frustrate yourself in this country, go and file an action in court. Judgment may come after you are dead. And whenever law is parlous, people will take law into their hands. The law is powerless and justice never. That word never is a terrible indictment to a lawless society. And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous. Now, you can't vindicate the righteous that allows the wicked to surround him. This is self-inflicted malice. If you fill the engine room of your government with the corrupt, you are equally perverse. Very simple. Have you heard a like attracts like? It's not possible for light and darkness to co-mingle. So when the wicked surround the righteous, it's either the righteous will overthrow them and send them packing, but if he taurates them around himself, there's wickedness in his own heart too. I know you say that because you're not the one on the sheet. I'm a love and I don't share the true true rich head pastor and when they lambast me and call me names and then you keep quiet it's time for you to start speaking on my behalf too you have kept quiet for too long a time I release you to answer them back I release you to answer them back The general has said it's now fire for fire. I do not carry weapons. I don't want to overthrow any government, but I'm asking God to overthrow the wicked and wickedness in our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ. In any way he chooses. He asks us to pray for those in authority, but he didn't say how. Tony Wala Baba, I want Tony Wala Baba, yeah oh, Tony Wala Baba, thank you, that was not part of the message, it just escaped. Therefore, the law is powerless and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous. Therefore, perverse judgment proceeds. Those who are caught red-handed in stealing are restored back to office. And their salaries are backdated. Abba. This was a question of Abba Cork and God responded. So you are looking at Judah alone, right? Look among the nations and watch. Be utterly astounded for how we walk a walk in your days which you will not believe though you are told you. You know, there are so many things that you have been told in this assembly, and in every ministry we have some connection here and there within and outside of the country, but I'm beginning to see that the things are beyond your comprehension. Therefore, there is no faith to anchor it. It's after it has happened, I will not say, ah, and he said so. If you want Joseph And you told the butler to remember to mention the injustice you were going through to Pharaoh. And the first year passed, and the second year passed, and nothing happened. What would be the level of your faith in God and in his justice? And if once someone had come to you seven days before and said, I have a dream. The Lord showed me that in seven days, you are going to be before Pharaoh, and you are going to teach the senators of Egypt wisdom, and you are going to become father to Pharaoh. How would you receive such prophecy? Huh? You say, oh God, you don't know what you are talking about. i'm a slave bought and sent into prison but none unto god are all his works i'm about to do a thing if you are told you not believe it that's why i'm not telling you and what are you going to do lord next verse for indeed i'm raising up the caldions beaten and hasten nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to possess dwelling places that are not theirs. I'm bringing Babylonians to chastise Judah. Have you heard the statement before that? The prophet that declares it shall not rain, we need water too. So if God would tell Habakkuk that the Chaldeans and Babylonians were coming to chastise Judah and to occupy dwellings that are not theirs, that they would just take over your property and chase you out and occupy it. Is there anything in that prophecy that says he will be on transfer to another nation? So he had to ask another question. We are exploring to see how the just shall live by his faith. Question number two. He has God in Habakkuk 1 verses 12 and 13. Are you still with me? That's why I call it exploration. You must enjoy the sail. But you're not on a cruise. You're on a battleship. Here is the second question. Are you not from everlasting? Oh Lord my God. My holy one. We shall not die. Who are the we? You are not talking to me now. Who are the we? The first report I received about this government came to my home and the person who brought the report, this was some two years back, said, Egbo, we are in trouble. I said, define we. You have to define we because I'm not in any trouble. He said, I'm serious, we are in trouble. I said, who are the we? And by the time he narrated it, I said, you are in trouble. Habakkuk here stated, we will not die, we shall not die. Because when the Chaldeans come, they are not going to make a label on lottery members, Winner's Chapel members, Baptist Church members. There will be no mark. If God will send an angel, as we read in Ezekiel, and say, go make marks on the face of those who are signed against injustice and the oppression going on in the land, and now dispatch another, anyone you don't find the mark on, kill them. Angels can recognize mark. Beccaldiens, you all look alike. So, Abba said, we shall not die. Oh, Lord. you have appointed them. I'm not sure we are reading the same Bible. Oh Lord, you have appointed them for judgment. Oh Lord, you have marked them for correction. You have purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on wickedness. Why do you look on those who deal treacherously and hold your tongue When the weaker the verse, a person more righteous than he. God bless my mother. Returned home from church one day, from their church, and then after a few days I'd have visited her, she came to Lagos and said, her pastor taught some things in church that she really did not understand and she would want me to explain. And I said, what? And she began to mention the names of God, the best way she could pronounce them. Jehovah Kandesh, Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah. He said, where do they get all those names for God? He said, you remember my pastor is Ibu. His wife is from Ibana. I want to know whether those names are really in the Bible. How many names does God have? And I explained to Mama that. Whenever people encounter God, they see a manifestation of who he is, he either tells them or they discover. Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is present. Somebody was delivered from something major. did not know that God will intervene and God came through for the person. I gave explanation of how Jivajara, mama said, okay, I understand. So it's in the Bible. I said, yes. He said, I know two names of God that your generation does not know. I said, two names. I said, mama, what are the two names? He said, it's number one, Obadakedajo. The one who does not shout before he judges. He will keep quiet because he will not know. And then I later found it in the Bible in Psalm 50. It said, you slander your brother and you think I'm all together like you because I've kept quiet. I would tear you in pieces and set everything in order. So my mother is right. is oba adakedajo he said the second one is obati kinle nikoto muni that he will not run after you or pursue you before he catches you hi he said he knows those two and it's enough for her i said they are enough to take you to heaven hallelujah You have purer eyes that you cannot behold evil. Why do you allow people to devour those who are more righteous than they? And God didn't answer. So he did what you and I are going to do this week. When he didn't get an answer, he knew he had to press in. In Isaiah chapter number 8, it's a prophetic thing that whenever God hides himself from a nation, from a people, those who are gifted in present name will know how to present to God and to receive revelation of what they should do to turn around things must spend quality time doing that. Because all that you see all around us now I guess walk, nothing seems to be walking. In Isaiah chapter 8, I hope you are enjoying this exploration. Beginning from verse 16. God had hidden himself and Isaiah called his disciples. He said, bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. It's similar to what Paul said to Timothy. He said, till I come. Just continue to meditate, study over and over again the doctrine till I come. Don't bother teaching any new thing. Just stay in there. Bind up the testimony Isaiah said. Give it to my and the law among my disciples. And I will wait on the Lord who hides his face from the house of Jacob. And I will hope in him. Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me. We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts who dwells in Mount Zion. And when I'm away. Waiting on God, like Moses was on the mountaintop, that was when they cleverly crafted a new God. When I'm away, I hope you are following me, when they said to you, seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter. Should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony. Go back to the book. If they do not speak according to this word. It is because there is no light in them. I wish I have all the time to take you into the book of Jeremiah tonight. And look at Jeremiah 29. Jeremiah said to them, Look, 70 years in captivity, you will complete it. God is, he wrote a letter. It's after 70 years that God will bring you back. He has determined those 70 years. You cannot fast track, you cannot change anything. For I know the thought that I think is worth you, said the Lord. The thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end. To give you a hope and a future. Therefore, what will happen? Give me Jeremiah 29. Give me 11. for i know the thoughts that i think to what you say the lord thoughts of peace are not of evil to give you a future and a hope then you will call upon me and go and pray to me and i will listen to you and you will seek me and find me when you're sad for me with all your heart that is you are doing nothing else you are present into god to know what is the very heartbeat of God. How many of you can describe your own prayer life like that? That you are not standing before God to give him instruction of what to do for you, but you are waiting upon him for him to tell you what to do to turn things around in your nation, your city, your family, your life. This letter that he wrote to those in captivity came after Ananias said, in two years the captivity will be over. Jeremiah gave it to him fully loaded. Is that because you have lied to the people of God you will die this year? And by October of that year it was history. So the people who received the letter knew they had to stay in captivity. They married there, built houses there. Don't be in a hurry. You are going to diminish if you stop marrying. Just marry there. You are going to stand the situation. I'm giving you what? A future and a hope. But you know there's a difference between faith and hope. Hope deals with future, faith deals with now. How are you going to live now when you are waiting for the future? So, Habakkuk said, I will stand my watch and I will mount my rampart and I will say what he will say to me. Habakkuk chapter 2 beginning from verse 1. I will stand my watch and stand myself on the rampart and watch to see what he will say to me and what I will answer when I'm corrected. He knew something was wrong. anytime there is no answer forthcoming there's a hindrance somewhere there's trouble somewhere jesus said i thank you because you answer me always and just as he is we are in this world he had told isaiah before you call i will answer while you are yes speaking i will hear so if you are praying and praying and banging and banging and bang an answer seems not to be coming then mount your rampant Stop speaking. Stand still. Go stay in his presence and ask him, there's something wrong. We do not seem to be having any communication. My prayer has become a monologue. It's meant to be a dialogue. Your father who sees in secret will answer you in the open. So if there's neither answer in the open or in the secret, mount your rampart. Do you understand me? Stay away from everything. Shut down the TV, throw your telephone away. Perhaps only a few people could reach me today because every phone you knew was knocked off from morning till 5 p.m. Do you understand what I mean? You couldn't reach me on phone. You cannot belong with Jacob and with Rebbe. It's not possible. You cannot want to hear from God. And then there's distraction here. That's why many times you think you are fasting, your hunger strikes. Because you are so busy and cumbered with so many things that God will not even speak to you in the midst of your busyness. Tell your neighbor, maybe you are too busy. Habakkuk 2, 1 to 4. I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart and watch to see what you will say to me and what I will answer when I'm corrected. Then the Lord answered me and said, write the vision. Make it plain on Microsoft. On iPad. On iPhone. Write the vision. Make it plain on tablets. That he may run who reads it. It's going to go viral, brother. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it will speak and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Isn't there confusion here? Though it tarries, it will not tarry. Is that the same thing? Do I tell this? Wait for it. It will not tell it. Do I tell this? It's from your perspective. You think God is not living up to your expectation? So you have to devise other schemes to help him. It's called plan B. Though it tarries, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him, but The just shall live by faith, by his faith. That shows you one thing, proud people cannot operate in faith because it requires dependence upon God in his entirety to bring what he has desired for you and what he has promised to pass. In the course of that dialogue between him and God, a second word came. Verse 12, Habakkuk 2, 12 to 14. Listen attentively. It's a word to him who builds a town with bloodshed, who establishes a city by iniquity. Isn't that what the Fulani, Katirop, whether they are Fulani or Igbo or Yoruba, I don't care. Whatever their tribe, I don't know. But those who are killing and maiming and grabbing land, they are establishing a city of blood. Woe to him! who builds a town with bloodshed, who establishes a city by iniquity. Behold, is he not of the Lord of hosts, or the people's labor to feed the fire, and nations will eat themselves in vain? Now that's one side, that's a picture you are seeing. And heaven's perspective is, for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters covereth the sea. Now regardless of what you are seeing now, I'm still going to fill the land with my glory. You either believe the report of the devil and say it's not safe to live in this country anymore and look for a visa to run away from here. But we will stay here. By God's grace we will fix this land. I said Nigeria will be saved. Nigeria will be changed. And Nigeria will become great in my lifetime. By the time he mounted his watch and received these two words, he became confident to face the challenges. In chapter 3 verse 1, There are only three chapters in the book, so if I've covered it the first nine, it makes... Life easy for you. The survey and the end product. A prayer of Abba called the prophet on Shigionot. Oh Lord, I've heard your speech and was afraid. Oh Lord, revive your work in the midst of the years. In the midst of the years, make it known. Read the next verse. In wrath, remember mercy. Give me verse 12 and 13. verse 12 and 13 here is God now marching through the land the enemy had done his words you marched through the land in indignation you trampled the nations in anger you went forward for the salvation of your people how many of you know God will fight on your side you went forward for the salvation of your people for salvation which you anointed you struck the head from the house of the wicked by laying bare from foundation to neck when God begins in Nigeria will make an end of it you don't understand me none of them will escape everyone perverting injustice and and and and perpetrating wickedness and stealing and looting the thing they will have it they will not wait for their passport before they run and no matter how far they run they will be caught They will vomit what they have swallowed. This was what built the confidence in the prophet to start in verse 16. Give me verse 16 to 19. Listen to him. When I heard my body tremble, my lips quivered at the voice, rottenness entered my bones, and I trembled in myself that I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, he will invade them with his troops. though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields use no food, though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls. Everything is running out, nothing is running in, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, he will make my feet like deer's feet. It will make me walk on my high heels to the chief musician with my stringed instrument. Can you dance in the face of challenges? Ah, it's because he had received from the Lord the end of the trouble. It is from that perspective that you begin to walk by faith, live by faith, by your faith. Because this is not known to all. all Judah at this time. Except those Habakkuk could influence. Don't look at the contrary wind. God is at work. He will invade the land for our salvation. He will set us free. Amen. It's very convincing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You are really persuaded that there will be jobs for our teaming millions of jobless youth. That our economy is going to change. The girls came and told them the truth. They fought back and said it's not true. When the arrow of truth shoots, there will be no traces of falsehood. Abayin Sonle, El Gwo. Abayin Sonta, El Gwo. Ilekema Jasile. help me interpret for your neighbor to save time may the good lord the lord of hosts of the armies of israel reveal to us his strategies in this summit that our nation will be delivered from the present debacle and God will turn around our social economic and political mess in Jesus mighty name I've interpreted for you have you said all that as we continue with our exploration please allow me establish three reasons for highlighting everything I've said to you Especially as I capture them in two major issues, the origin of faith and the types of faith. I have a trouble. I preached this long time ago. You can go look for the tape because truth is constant. What troubles me about faith and what frightens me about God was a message I preached there many years ago. I can't recall when. I can recall, not too far away, maybe less than 10 years, what troubles me about faith and what frightens me about God. You can locate the tape and give it to me, please, so I can refresh myself and you too can get it. What are these things? Three major things bothers me. The Lord Jesus, before leaving the planet earth, said, when... He will return with their steep faith on the earth. Luke chapter number 18. Luke 18, 1 to 8. Then he spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray. and not lose heart and not faint you remember my admonition to you on sunday you remember my admonition at the vigil uh-huh saying there was in a certain city a judge who did not fear god nor regard man now there was a widow in that city and she came to him saying get justice for me from my adversary and he would not for a while but afterward he said within himself though i do not regard fear god nor regard man yeah because this widow troubles me i will avenge her lest by a continual coming she weary me let's pause that woman did not take law into her hands against her adversary She did not arrange for assassins to go kill the adversary. She did not try to throw voodoo into the home of the adversary. She kept on going to the judge because that's what decent people do. She kept on going to the judge, pleading a case until the judge said, Look, this woman... will wear me out because she had done everything that she needed to do. She had followed proper protocol. It took us 10 years to get approval for Citadel. Litigation here, trouble there, but eventually it came. Are you with me? Eventually the approval came. I stand before God who judge the quick and the dead. I did not give one one cobalt bribe to any man. There were ways you could fast track. Some people told me as a me you know everything about my life is slow very slow. Thank God for people of goodwill within the system who helped us. to ensure that they were pushing things and thank God for those who are outside of the system pushing also that nobody was bribed nobody I participated in no bribe given I had never given anybody bribe in my life I will wait till I get it and I believe God if you put your foot on what is not yours God will remove it That woman kept on going onto the man said, you know what? This guy will wear me out. Let's hear the conclusion of the matter. Yeah, because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her. Let's continue her coming. She will wear me. Then the Lord said, hear what the unjust judge said. That is, God is not unjust. You can be coming and be praying and be praying and think God is not interested. Hear what the unjust judge said, and shall God not avenge his only elect who cry out day and night to him, though he bears long with them, which means the reason for not answering them immediately is not on his side, is bearing with them to come into alignment, do you understand me, to adjust their lives, he bears with them, he knows their pain, but he says, just God, he will not perpetuate injustice. He will not transfer the money of the wicked to the wicked. Let's conclude. I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the son of man comes, will he really find faith on the earth? Who can answer the question tonight? You can put your foot in your mouth and shoot yourself in that foot and answer that question if you have the answer because he knows what will be on earth before he will return. He said nevertheless will there still be faith on the earth when the son of man returns? Maybe what you call faith is fake. Because now we don't care once we get results, that's fine. In fact, they will tell you, you cannot argue with result. That bothers me. The letter of Paul to Timothy bothers me. Maybe even much more. 1st Timothy chapter 4, 1st Timothy chapter 4 beginning from verse 1, now the Spirit, look Jesus spoke Nevertheless, when I return, will there be fate on the earth? And you think we should not examine what we carry and what we stand on? Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times, some will depart from the faith. Does that not suggest that they were in the faith before? Some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. They were in the faith before, but they are now given heed, so seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. I do not want to mention any name, but I know a man, a front-line journalist, was in dilettantes for many years. And then subsequently he established his own paper which was an overnight success. Now it's defunct. Somebody had bought the organization and put a new label on it. But that guy and I were baptized by a Martian the same day at the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Was baptized in the Holy Ghost. Speaking with evidence of speaking in tongues on fire for God but now he's cross bearer abrushin not many shunning names i'm telling you what i know and if you think The devil is so dumb that he will try to take you to witchcraft and voodoo. You missed the boat long time ago. He will repackage, substitute for your faith. And when I get to where it matters tonight, you will see why this is needful to examine whether we are still in faith. 2 Timothy chapter 4, 1 is expressed, the Spirit speaks expressly. but listen to this one i charge you therefore before god and the lord jesus christ who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom preach the word be ready in season and out of season convince rebuke exalt with all long-suffering and teaching why for the time we come when they will not endure sound doctrine but according to their own desires you Because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers. And they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. Have you noticed now that one of the moving things that brings joy and laughter to church is for stand-up comedians to come on Sunday and excite the people. not saying that's evil don't misunderstand me but something is wrong we have lost our joy they have to come and crack and all the jokes about pastors about bible and right upon the platform dedicated to preach the truth error is walking naked and people are laughing What are these substitutes that can replace your faith? You know, I've not gone to the origin of faith, and if time does not permit me, I'll continue tomorrow evening. I'm not in a hurry. I just want you to see these things because you listen to them, you enjoy them, you read their books, you do not know their new agers, and they are corroding your faith and contaminating it day by day, and you still expect God to move. What are the substitutes? Colossians chapter 2. They look harmless but they're very harmful to faith. Colossians 2 beginning from verse 1. For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in love this year. And for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, be kneed together in love, and attending to all riches of the full assurance of understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say, lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. It means the words they will speak to you will persuade you. They'll be very persuasive. You will say, but there's no harm in this. They've not asked us to swallow anything. You understand me? There's no harm. I mean, there's no voodoo. They didn't pray over egg. They didn't give us anything to take away. But you did. They use persuasive words to alter your faith. Let's read further. For though I'm absent in the flesh, yet I'm with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and steadfastness of your faith in Christ. as you therefore have received christ jesus the lord so walk in him you know what that means it is the way you receive christ you are going to walk in him if all you receive is anchor chief is mantu is bottle of oil you are going to continue because he's going to walk And am I saying is it wrong to anoint people with oil? No it isn't. But oil is not the Holy Spirit. And when you anoint the entire church it means the entire church is sick. Is anyone among you sick? Is that the same question as all of you sick? Start from verse 6. I want as you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in him rooted and built up in him and established in the faith as you have been taught abounding in it with thanksgiving beware lest anyone cheat you through that's one of the substitutes of the devil they'll be so philosophical they will present falsehood in a philosophical manner and blow your mind away one of those preachers said at a convention in london i'm not mentioning names i'm getting wiser now he said jesus said The signs shall follow them that believe. In my name they shall cast out devils and they shall speak with tongues. And then he paused. Money is a tongue. When you have money, you speak. When you don't have, you keep quiet. And the people say, preach it as powerful as Osagiefo. Kwama Nkrumah words. He was a political pioneer of some sort, wanting African unity. He started falling the day he gathered young people in a place and started throwing and asking them to pray to God, give us this day our daily bread. And they prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed till the children were hungry. He said, now change it. I said, Osad J.F.O., give us our daily bread. And he rained biscuit on them and spoke, seeking first the political kingdom. and all other things shall be added unto you he died a cheap death in bucharest because you don't toy with god's word and get away with it you don't twist it here and twist it there and not tweak your neck in the process what betides every deceiver who camouflages as an apostle of truth listen he said beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty the seat according to the tradition of According to the basic principles or rudiments of the word. And not according to Christ. For in him dwells. Nothing more to add. All the fullness of Godhead bodily. And you are completing him. Who is the head of all principality and power. In him you are also circumcised with circumcision. Made without hands. By putting out the body of the sins of the flesh. By the circumcision of Christ. buried with him in baptism in which you also are raised it is it's unfortunate that you do not know that every baptismal service is that thing that happened on the cross that as as christ was buried this baptism you go through is symbolic of that that you are buried with christ and when you are raised up is resurrection power you are raised into newness of life you do not go into water as a dry sinner and come out as a wet sinner something happened you That's why he prayed while he was in water and heaven opened and the spirit descended upon him like a dove. Let's read. Buried with him in baptism in which we also are raised with him through faith in the working of God who raised him from the dead. And you've been dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He has made a life together with him having forgiven you. Son, having forgiven you. odd it means there's nothing standing between you and God because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and whenever you miss it bounce back run to God and confess so that you can be made whole and be healed and don't let anything don't let the accuser of the brethren falsely accuse you unlike what one of the preachers said is that if the devil tells you about your past you tell him about his future because he has no future but hell and lake of fire can I hear amen am i am i wasting your time by reading no and you've been dead in your trespasses and on circumcision of your flesh he has made a life together with him having forgiven you all trespasses having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us which was contrary to us and he has taken it out on the way having nailed it to the cross every sin you have committed every sin you commit i make bold to say they are nailed to the cross of christ You're free. Sin will have no dominion over you. In the mighty name of Jesus. Now see, the problem is, if you are delivered from the hands of those who all perpetrate falsehood through philosophy, through persuasive words, you fall victim of legalists. That's the next thing. Because they are going to hang your sin over your head. They are going to tell you you can't make it. They are going to make life difficult for you. They are the... burden upon you that you cannot carry and that diminishes your faith you cannot truly walk with god as you should walk i remember one of my sons natural biological sons it was his birthday and and we were there in school and you know maybe our presence maybe his friends maybe a people there we didn't walk away We changed everything and we still celebrated him there. Do you understand me? You think if you poop, God would just kill you? He has invested the blood of his son. It will clean you up. But let legalists come and show you their legalist way and you lose your joy in God completely. I'm not preaching license for you to sin. You're already a sinner. I'm not giving you license to sin. I'm giving you way out of your blunder. Let's read further. Having discerned principalities and powers, he made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them in it. So let no one judge you in food. Or in drink. Or regarding a festival. Or a new moon. Or sabbath. That's legalism. If you are reading from New King James Version, you will see the two enemies. One is philosophy. The other is legalism. It's stated there in capital letters. It's written. You are not having your Bible. Look at it and point it out to me where it is written. if you look on the head of chapter two it said no philosophy but christ and on top of verse 11 not legalism but christ this is the subtlety of the devil soul to the church that if your trouser is nine inches you are saved If you remove your beard and mustache and you don't wear chain, you don't wear ear, you're on your way to heaven. They give you substitutes and you cling to it. And thank God they are changing it themselves now. only God know how many lives have been wasted in the process but let me read that I might what I'm sharing may not excite you it doesn't bother me anymore if I will have to wait for your excitement I'm a dead man I'm not waiting for excitement so let no one judge you in food or in drink or regarding a festival a new moon or sabbaths which are a shadow of things to come but the substance is of Christ let no one cheat you of your reward Taking the light in false humility. You know, everybody you see must prostrate for them. Everybody is father. Everybody is mother. I remember your days in the university. I said, you are all classmates and they're calling you your father. You will die before them because you'll be too old. Why? Why? You enter university the same day, you have the same age. Again, again, daddy, what you cool off? Dying. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen vainly puffed off by his fleshly mind, and not hold them fast to the head, from whom all the body nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ, from the basic principles or rudiments of the world, why as though living in the world do you subject yourself to regulations? Do not touch. do not taste do not handle where there's too much rule there's no love which all concern things which perish with the using according to the commandments and doctrines of men these things indeed read with me these things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion false humility and naked of the body but I have no value against the indulgence of the flesh. Those are the substitutes of the enemy packages. If they give you voodoo, you are likely to reject it. But if they tell you to dress this way, do not smile, no makeup, cover your head all the time, whether it's smelly or not smelly, that's fine. You say, well, I'm dead to those things. And you look miserable and morose. And then you are asking me to go and pray for God to produce a husband. Oh, marry you this way. Marry you this way. I'm not legalizing loose dressing. No. If you have Christ in you. You know how to dress and do everything decently and in order. I give you Christ. And let the Holy Spirit direct as many as are led by the Spirit of God. They are the sons of God. Can I hear amen? These are the substitutes that have come to contaminate faith so that your faith is no longer active and you don't know. Like that frog inside water put on a stove with a little heat turned. It's getting warmer and warmer does not know it's on its way out. So is your faith when it's contaminated by philosophy and legalism. So this calls for a serious fight. I will introduce it tonight and I will continue tomorrow by God's equals for what? I cannot hear you. This calls for a serious fight. We must prepare to fight, to contend, and to do battle when apostasy arises, when false teachers emerge, and when the truth of God is attacked. Those are not my words. I took them straight from the Bible. That's a prelude to the book of Jude. Go there. In New King James Version, that's exactly what for what, letter for letter. I took it from there. I know you don't read some things. Just look for your favorite passage. Jude, the prelude is fight, contend, do battle. When apostasy arises. When false teachers emerge, when the truth of God is attacked, it is time to fight for the faith. Only believers who are spiritually in shape can answer the summons. At the beginning of his letter, Jude focuses on the believers' common salvation, but then feels compelled to challenge them to contend for the faith. The danger is real. False teachers have crept into the church. turning God's grace into unbounded license to do as they please. Jude reminds such men of God's past dealings with unbelieving Israel, disobedient angels, and wicked Sodom and Gomorrah. In the face of such danger, Christians should not be caught off guard. The challenge is great, but so is the God who is able to keep them from stumbling. Fight, contend, do battle. Those who have such ministries are called critics and people don't want to hang around them. Say yeah we understand what is shame but it's only too much. Do you understand me? That's the label I carry. But one day maybe long after I've gone, they will come back. I remember I went to the dome for Creflo Dollar. and I preached two messages there. The first one was after the dome what next? Because I know those who say we go from project to project. No I'm going from glory to glory, from faith to faith. My life is not bound by project. One of them was so bold, arrogantly said when Jesus said it is finished he died. When Paul said I've finished he died. I will never say I'm finished. I'll go from project to project. Insanity. And the people are saying amen. And the moment you raise something, it has come. It doesn't see anything good in others. Those who don't see anything good in others have critical spirit and that's demonic. But when you do battle against the truth, someone's rise in the defense of the gospel. give me jude one two four or one two three i close with that that's a battle this week you know i didn't even get to to i've not defined what faith is i've not showed you the origin of faith i've not showed you the types of faith because if we don't clear this mess only god knows what philosophy you have been standing on for too long a time arrange in particular masonic order of the wisdom that comes from the earth because you don't know there are two sources of wisdom there's one that is the manichus from the earth it produces results because he has cloned out the resources of the earth and he will pump it into their hands and then if you can't beat them you join them but that's the end you cannot beat them again jude Jude, the born servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called. You know, he had now realized his blunder because he was not one of those who told Jesus to go and do show off. This is the brother of Jesus. Yes, Jude is the brother of Jesus. They all said, if you go to John chapter 7, you will see there is that nobody performs what you are performing in secret. Go and show it off. and the bible his brothers did not believe in him and their mother tried to force them into ministry by putting them in and herself at cana of galilee and jesus left the place and he chose those he himself wanted that they might be with him that he might send them out her mother came to church mary our mother came to church and said are you out of your mind go and tell him his mother is outside which is brothers. The Bible says, they said it was out of his mind. That's Mary. Jesus said, go tell them outside, who is my mother? Who is my brother? Those who hear the word of God and do it. They are my mothers and brothers and sisters. He separated himself from the flesh. That's why he never called him mother one time. He called him woman. The only time you find mother in the mouth of Jesus was when he said, Woman, behold your son, pointing to John. And John, behold your mother. And nobody asked her to be venerated and called Holy Mary Mother, Queen of Heaven. Philosophy and religion and legalism will impose all kinds of things on people. Okay, let's read Jude. Jude repented, he was in the upper room, and he also was filled with the Holy Spirit. Can I hear amen? He so much now revered his brother that he did not introduce himself as a brother of Jesus, a brother of James. Because James is the other brother who was now pastor of Jerusalem church. Apostle James, not the one beheaded. That one wanted to sit on the right. He drank the cup, he had no business drinking. I'll deal with you missionary force on Sunday. Jude, a born servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called. So this is not written to Timothy. It's not written to the church at Colossae. To those who are called. Are you called? Sanctified. Are you sanctified? By God the Father. And preserved. Are you preserved? In Jesus Christ so that there will be no pollution. by the philosophies of this one legalism and and religion of men mercy peace and love be multiplied to you but love while i was very diligent to write to you oh give me king james russian here this has no jewish this is like watered down orange juice i want the real fresh fresh kjv this is where kjv comes alive but lord when i gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation It was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Read that in the New King James Version. It says once and for all. That is, there's nothing more to add. Don't let them tweak God's instruction for you. There's nothing more to add. There's nothing more to add. Seven steps to break through. and the whole church is broken down there's nothing more to add there's nothing more to add to the sacrifice of jesus god is fully satisfied content for the faith that was once delivered once for all delivered to the saints for certain men have crept in unnoticed who long ago were marked out for this condemnation on godly men who turned the grace of our god into lewdness and denying the only lord god and our lord jesus christ but i want to remind you though you once knew this that the lord haven't saved the people out of the land of egypt afterward destroyed those who did not believe and the angels who did not keep their proper domain but left their own abode he has reserved an everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day As Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them in a similar manner to this, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise, although these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael, the angel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dare not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, the Lord rebuke you. Simply, he's not calling Satan stupid. Stupid devil! Come out! But they speak evil of whatever they do not know, and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them. They've gone in the way of, what is that? Competitive jealousy, constant dissuccess, and the acceptance of God. The brother was accepted. You must kill him. If you are not your brother's keeper, you'll be his killer. He who hates his brother, his eternal life does not happen. How can he be exercising faith when hate is resident in you? you've gone in the way of cain you have run greedily in the error of balaam for profit when he saw greater men and mighty men who brought greater price for divination he followed them he prefers silver to the savior and perish in the rebellion of korah because he wanted more spiritual authority than he has been given these are sports in your love feast while they feast with you without fear seven only themselves they are clouds without water oh my god when they gather like this it would look like it's going to rain have you seen things like that before that the cloud will touch the ground you think it's going to rain clouds without water carried about by the winds late autumn trees without fruit twice dead like goliath he fell down dead and his head was cut off with his own instrument pulled back up by the roots raging waves of the sea forming up their own shame you Wandering stars, not shining stars. Wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. Everyone who perverts truth and tweaks with the true faith, they have the hottest place in hell. To whom the blackness of, they have a reserved seat. To whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever. Now Enoch the servant from Adam prophesied about this man also saying, Behold. the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds. They are among them. They are not outside. They are among them but he will convict them of their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are grumblers. Do we have them in the house? Contaminations, the things that contaminate faith. These are grumblers. complainers working according to their own laws and the mal great swelling words flattering people to gain advantage but you beloved remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our lord jesus christ how they told you that there will be mockers in the last time who walk according to their own ungodly laws these are sensual persons who cause divisions not having the spirit but you beloved building up yourself building yourselves up where on your most holy faith on adulterated on your most holy faith praying in the holy spirit keep yourselves in the love of god looking for the mercy of our lord jesus christ unto eternal life and on some have compassion making a distinction because they don't know bring them out of that fire before it is too late but all that's said with fear pulling them out of the fire hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To God our Savior, who alone is wise, with glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. Stand to your feet. Stand to your feet. Stand to your feet. I commit you to God. His everlasting hands are underneath you. Your faith will not be corrupted. Your faith will not be contaminated. Pursuasive words of men's wisdom will not derail you, distract you, and defeat you. In the mighty name of Jesus, you will grow in faith. In the name of Jesus, you will grow in the grace that is in the Lord Jesus Christ. You will fight a good fight. You will finish your course. And you will keep the faith. I say you will fight a good fight. You will finish your course and you will keep the faith. You keep the faith while you are fighting. You keep faith while you are finishing. So you finish according to faith. In Jesus mighty name.

As we explore tonight, my real focus will be on the origin of faith. And number two, the two kinds of faith. The origin of faith and the two kinds of faith. Apostolic Summit presents us the opportunity to examine critically what we believe in.

It's slightly different from classic. where we tear down everything and stay there all week long from morning till evening every day taking whatsoever subject we are focusing on in such a way that anyone who participates will clearly understand what's all about. In scripture you find Paul writing to the church saying Examine yourself if you are still in faith, except you are reprobate.

For such letters to be written to the church, not to the world, it simply implies you may be out of faith and not know. So tonight, we are going to look at the origin of faith and the two kinds of faith available so that you know the one you are operating in. Is that clear? Before we commence our exploration, let me express my deep concerns. Regarding the subject of our contemplation, I got born again by the grace of God some years ago.

I'm not as old in the faith as many of you. I've been around here now for a while that I can actually write about the things we have seen. But I'm not going to belabor the point today because you also, regardless of when you got born again, whether a few weeks ago or last year, you've been around to know that the church is not what it used to be.

And that can be negative, it can be positive. All across this country, the debate around tithing generated so much heat that if you're not careful, you'll be dragged into it. So we have really lost the substance. And we are now busy chasing the shadows.

And it's not new. Long after David took the Ark of the Covenant of God of Israel, representing the presence of God, long after he took it away and put it in the tents in Jerusalem, people were still going to the altar of Barnaco. Because they will not be part of this new move.

And 2,000 or more years after Christ had come and gone, Judaism is still here very strong. Despite the fact that the Bible says... He took away the old in order to establish the new and actually described the old as obsolete. Love the passage of scripture in Hebrew that says we have an altar that those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. But if you look around us, there's such an admixture of both that people don't even know the priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

You can't distinguish it anymore from the rest. Well, the first time the theme we are camping around this week, according to the Bible, the situation in the land of Judah warranted it. As God will have it, or as we will also have it, the situation in Judah that warranted the instruction that Habakkuk received is not any different from the situation in Nigeria and the rest of the world as of now.

A situation where you have a retired general telling the rest of the nation that get ready to defend yourself because your army is compromised. Unfortunately, they did not listen to my counsel that as you make the NYSC, the National Youth Service Corps, a two-year program to train the youth on arms the first year and let them spend the second year on agriculture or vice versa. First year, agriculture. Second year, train them. Now, I don't know how to shoot.

How do I defend myself? I think Habakkuk looked at the situation in Judah and decided to ask God two questions. I'm so glad we can ask God questions because if you serve a God who cannot speak, how do you communicate with such a God? But Jehovah lives and he speaks.

Can I hear amen? I want you to please know that summit is not convention. I'm not going to excite you by asking you to shout hallelujah seven times. You're not going to get any of those say after me, this is my Bible. You brought it from home.

It is yours. If your name is not written on it, you are free to write it. Okay?

Are you ready? So Habakkuk, oh, his name simply means one who embraces or clings. And you will see that he lived true to that name eventually because he had to embrace the truth, two principal truths that God gave him as a result of his two questions. And he had to cling to it to the end. And you will see by the end of the day that...

His disposition towards things happening around him changed. Because if you allow the pressure around you to invade your heart, you will live by them. Or in the midst of that pressure, Coming from those who are closest to you and far from you or within your country, from your government, if you are not careful, you will not serve God acceptably. You become a victim of environmental pollution.

Pastors, notice that when you are preaching, there are those who are giving you a look. Have you experienced it before? Okay.

If you touch on raw knives, they will give you a look. If care is not taken, you will change your message. Especially if those giving the look either have a secret on you.

Aww. they give and they can take away so you will get into the middle of your message and just change it and i say what i'm saying does not really apply what i'm saying tonight apply to everybody you know you know god And this is statute of general application. You are going to find out whether you are in faith or not.

Because some have brought in a new philosophy stating, fake it till you make it. You can't fake anything with God. Can I hear amen? Habakkuk was so concerned about what was happening in Judah, he did a prophetic survey and he found out some 10 things that were wrong entirely with Judah. This produced anguish of the spirit that I believe led to his questions.

Habakkuk chapter 1 verse 1 to 4. This is the exploratory part because you can just jump into the conclusion and go to Habakkuk 2 verse 4 and begin to preach the just shall live by his faith out of context. In Habakkuk chapter 1 beginning from verse 1, the boarding which the prophet Habakkuk saw. If what breaks God's heart does not break your heart, you can't even represent him to your generation.

O Lord, how long shall I cry, and you will not hear? Even cry out to you, what? Violence? You can label that one.

And you will not save. Is there violence in our country today? I can't hear you. 73 people were buried in one day. And while Rome was burning, Nero was fiddling.

And everyone who will cry against such disposition from leadership in government becomes an enemy. How long will I cry violence? Let's read.

Why do you show me iniquity and cause me to see trouble for plundering and violence are before me? Is there plundering in our country? Is there land grabbing going on?

As a matter of fact, the general who spoke, three generals have spoken now, two directly, one through his spokesperson. You know that center cannot hold anymore. You don't understand it. He actually called what's going on in our country ethnic cleansing.

That's a serious thing. That means the Human Watch and the human rights organizations and the UN and Hague, they may have to file, they may have to call some people to order like they did to Taylor. Except if they cannot establish compromise and converse. But you know this is Apostolic Summit, so it's not a New Nigeria progressive movement. So let's stay within the boundary of the church.

Can I hear amen? You wait till what is outside invades the church and you're unable to meet anymore. Let's read. Why do you show me iniquity and cause me to see trouble?

For plundering and violence are before me. me there is strife and contention arises therefore the law is powerless have they arrested any any any any any any herdsman with ak-47 Is anybody asking how did they get a license for the gun? And who is monitoring how the guns and the weapons are used? The law is become powerless. If you want to frustrate yourself in this country, go and file an action in court. Judgment may come after you are dead.

And whenever law is parlous, people will take law into their hands. The law is powerless and justice never. That word never is a terrible indictment to a lawless society. And justice never goes forth.

For the wicked surround the righteous. Now, you can't vindicate the righteous that allows the wicked to surround him. This is self-inflicted malice.

If you fill the engine room of your government with the corrupt, you are equally perverse. Very simple. Have you heard a like attracts like?

It's not possible for light and darkness to co-mingle. So when the wicked surround the righteous, it's either the righteous will overthrow them and send them packing, but if he taurates them around himself, there's wickedness in his own heart too. I know you say that because you're not the one on the sheet.

I'm a love and I don't share the true true rich head pastor and when they lambast me and call me names and then you keep quiet it's time for you to start speaking on my behalf too you have kept quiet for too long a time I release you to answer them back I release you to answer them back The general has said it's now fire for fire. I do not carry weapons. I don't want to overthrow any government, but I'm asking God to overthrow the wicked and wickedness in our lives. In the name of Jesus Christ.

In any way he chooses. He asks us to pray for those in authority, but he didn't say how. Tony Wala Baba, I want Tony Wala Baba, yeah oh, Tony Wala Baba, thank you, that was not part of the message, it just escaped. Therefore, the law is powerless and justice never goes forth.

For the wicked surround the righteous. Therefore, perverse judgment proceeds. Those who are caught red-handed in stealing are restored back to office. And their salaries are backdated. Abba.

This was a question of Abba Cork and God responded. So you are looking at Judah alone, right? Look among the nations and watch.

Be utterly astounded for how we walk a walk in your days which you will not believe though you are told you. You know, there are so many things that you have been told in this assembly, and in every ministry we have some connection here and there within and outside of the country, but I'm beginning to see that the things are beyond your comprehension. Therefore, there is no faith to anchor it.

It's after it has happened, I will not say, ah, and he said so. If you want Joseph And you told the butler to remember to mention the injustice you were going through to Pharaoh. And the first year passed, and the second year passed, and nothing happened.

What would be the level of your faith in God and in his justice? And if once someone had come to you seven days before and said, I have a dream. The Lord showed me that in seven days, you are going to be before Pharaoh, and you are going to teach the senators of Egypt wisdom, and you are going to become father to Pharaoh. How would you receive such prophecy? Huh?

You say, oh God, you don't know what you are talking about. i'm a slave bought and sent into prison but none unto god are all his works i'm about to do a thing if you are told you not believe it that's why i'm not telling you and what are you going to do lord next verse for indeed i'm raising up the caldions beaten and hasten nation which marches through the breadth of the earth to possess dwelling places that are not theirs. I'm bringing Babylonians to chastise Judah.

Have you heard the statement before that? The prophet that declares it shall not rain, we need water too. So if God would tell Habakkuk that the Chaldeans and Babylonians were coming to chastise Judah and to occupy dwellings that are not theirs, that they would just take over your property and chase you out and occupy it. Is there anything in that prophecy that says he will be on transfer to another nation?

So he had to ask another question. We are exploring to see how the just shall live by his faith. Question number two.

He has God in Habakkuk 1 verses 12 and 13. Are you still with me? That's why I call it exploration. You must enjoy the sail.

But you're not on a cruise. You're on a battleship. Here is the second question.

Are you not from everlasting? Oh Lord my God. My holy one. We shall not die. Who are the we?

You are not talking to me now. Who are the we? The first report I received about this government came to my home and the person who brought the report, this was some two years back, said, Egbo, we are in trouble. I said, define we.

You have to define we because I'm not in any trouble. He said, I'm serious, we are in trouble. I said, who are the we?

And by the time he narrated it, I said, you are in trouble. Habakkuk here stated, we will not die, we shall not die. Because when the Chaldeans come, they are not going to make a label on lottery members, Winner's Chapel members, Baptist Church members.

There will be no mark. If God will send an angel, as we read in Ezekiel, and say, go make marks on the face of those who are signed against injustice and the oppression going on in the land, and now dispatch another, anyone you don't find the mark on, kill them. Angels can recognize mark. Beccaldiens, you all look alike. So, Abba said, we shall not die.

Oh, Lord. you have appointed them. I'm not sure we are reading the same Bible. Oh Lord, you have appointed them for judgment. Oh Lord, you have marked them for correction.

You have purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look on wickedness. Why do you look on those who deal treacherously and hold your tongue When the weaker the verse, a person more righteous than he. God bless my mother.

Returned home from church one day, from their church, and then after a few days I'd have visited her, she came to Lagos and said, her pastor taught some things in church that she really did not understand and she would want me to explain. And I said, what? And she began to mention the names of God, the best way she could pronounce them.

Jehovah Kandesh, Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah. He said, where do they get all those names for God? He said, you remember my pastor is Ibu.

His wife is from Ibana. I want to know whether those names are really in the Bible. How many names does God have?

And I explained to Mama that. Whenever people encounter God, they see a manifestation of who he is, he either tells them or they discover. Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is present. Somebody was delivered from something major.

did not know that God will intervene and God came through for the person. I gave explanation of how Jivajara, mama said, okay, I understand. So it's in the Bible. I said, yes. He said, I know two names of God that your generation does not know.

I said, two names. I said, mama, what are the two names? He said, it's number one, Obadakedajo.

The one who does not shout before he judges. He will keep quiet because he will not know. And then I later found it in the Bible in Psalm 50. It said, you slander your brother and you think I'm all together like you because I've kept quiet.

I would tear you in pieces and set everything in order. So my mother is right. is oba adakedajo he said the second one is obati kinle nikoto muni that he will not run after you or pursue you before he catches you hi he said he knows those two and it's enough for her i said they are enough to take you to heaven hallelujah You have purer eyes that you cannot behold evil. Why do you allow people to devour those who are more righteous than they?

And God didn't answer. So he did what you and I are going to do this week. When he didn't get an answer, he knew he had to press in.

In Isaiah chapter number 8, it's a prophetic thing that whenever God hides himself from a nation, from a people, those who are gifted in present name will know how to present to God and to receive revelation of what they should do to turn around things must spend quality time doing that. Because all that you see all around us now I guess walk, nothing seems to be walking. In Isaiah chapter 8, I hope you are enjoying this exploration.

Beginning from verse 16. God had hidden himself and Isaiah called his disciples. He said, bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. It's similar to what Paul said to Timothy.

He said, till I come. Just continue to meditate, study over and over again the doctrine till I come. Don't bother teaching any new thing. Just stay in there.

Bind up the testimony Isaiah said. Give it to my and the law among my disciples. And I will wait on the Lord who hides his face from the house of Jacob. And I will hope in him. Here am I and the children whom the Lord has given me.

We are for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts who dwells in Mount Zion. And when I'm away. Waiting on God, like Moses was on the mountaintop, that was when they cleverly crafted a new God.

When I'm away, I hope you are following me, when they said to you, seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter. Should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living?

To the law and to the testimony. Go back to the book. If they do not speak according to this word. It is because there is no light in them.

I wish I have all the time to take you into the book of Jeremiah tonight. And look at Jeremiah 29. Jeremiah said to them, Look, 70 years in captivity, you will complete it. God is, he wrote a letter.

It's after 70 years that God will bring you back. He has determined those 70 years. You cannot fast track, you cannot change anything. For I know the thought that I think is worth you, said the Lord.

The thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you an expected end. To give you a hope and a future. Therefore, what will happen? Give me Jeremiah 29. Give me 11. for i know the thoughts that i think to what you say the lord thoughts of peace are not of evil to give you a future and a hope then you will call upon me and go and pray to me and i will listen to you and you will seek me and find me when you're sad for me with all your heart that is you are doing nothing else you are present into god to know what is the very heartbeat of God.

How many of you can describe your own prayer life like that? That you are not standing before God to give him instruction of what to do for you, but you are waiting upon him for him to tell you what to do to turn things around in your nation, your city, your family, your life. This letter that he wrote to those in captivity came after Ananias said, in two years the captivity will be over.

Jeremiah gave it to him fully loaded. Is that because you have lied to the people of God you will die this year? And by October of that year it was history. So the people who received the letter knew they had to stay in captivity. They married there, built houses there.

Don't be in a hurry. You are going to diminish if you stop marrying. Just marry there.

You are going to stand the situation. I'm giving you what? A future and a hope.

But you know there's a difference between faith and hope. Hope deals with future, faith deals with now. How are you going to live now when you are waiting for the future? So, Habakkuk said, I will stand my watch and I will mount my rampart and I will say what he will say to me. Habakkuk chapter 2 beginning from verse 1. I will stand my watch and stand myself on the rampart and watch to see what he will say to me and what I will answer when I'm corrected.

He knew something was wrong. anytime there is no answer forthcoming there's a hindrance somewhere there's trouble somewhere jesus said i thank you because you answer me always and just as he is we are in this world he had told isaiah before you call i will answer while you are yes speaking i will hear so if you are praying and praying and banging and banging and bang an answer seems not to be coming then mount your rampant Stop speaking. Stand still. Go stay in his presence and ask him, there's something wrong.

We do not seem to be having any communication. My prayer has become a monologue. It's meant to be a dialogue.

Your father who sees in secret will answer you in the open. So if there's neither answer in the open or in the secret, mount your rampart. Do you understand me?

Stay away from everything. Shut down the TV, throw your telephone away. Perhaps only a few people could reach me today because every phone you knew was knocked off from morning till 5 p.m. Do you understand what I mean? You couldn't reach me on phone.

You cannot belong with Jacob and with Rebbe. It's not possible. You cannot want to hear from God. And then there's distraction here.

That's why many times you think you are fasting, your hunger strikes. Because you are so busy and cumbered with so many things that God will not even speak to you in the midst of your busyness. Tell your neighbor, maybe you are too busy. Habakkuk 2, 1 to 4. I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart and watch to see what you will say to me and what I will answer when I'm corrected.

Then the Lord answered me and said, write the vision. Make it plain on Microsoft. On iPad.

On iPhone. Write the vision. Make it plain on tablets. That he may run who reads it. It's going to go viral, brother.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it will speak and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Isn't there confusion here? Though it tarries, it will not tarry. Is that the same thing?

Do I tell this? Wait for it. It will not tell it.

Do I tell this? It's from your perspective. You think God is not living up to your expectation? So you have to devise other schemes to help him.

It's called plan B. Though it tarries, wait for it, it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him, but The just shall live by faith, by his faith. That shows you one thing, proud people cannot operate in faith because it requires dependence upon God in his entirety to bring what he has desired for you and what he has promised to pass.

In the course of that dialogue between him and God, a second word came. Verse 12, Habakkuk 2, 12 to 14. Listen attentively. It's a word to him who builds a town with bloodshed, who establishes a city by iniquity.

Isn't that what the Fulani, Katirop, whether they are Fulani or Igbo or Yoruba, I don't care. Whatever their tribe, I don't know. But those who are killing and maiming and grabbing land, they are establishing a city of blood.

Woe to him! who builds a town with bloodshed, who establishes a city by iniquity. Behold, is he not of the Lord of hosts, or the people's labor to feed the fire, and nations will eat themselves in vain?

Now that's one side, that's a picture you are seeing. And heaven's perspective is, for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters covereth the sea. Now regardless of what you are seeing now, I'm still going to fill the land with my glory.

You either believe the report of the devil and say it's not safe to live in this country anymore and look for a visa to run away from here. But we will stay here. By God's grace we will fix this land. I said Nigeria will be saved. Nigeria will be changed.

And Nigeria will become great in my lifetime. By the time he mounted his watch and received these two words, he became confident to face the challenges. In chapter 3 verse 1, There are only three chapters in the book, so if I've covered it the first nine, it makes... Life easy for you. The survey and the end product.

A prayer of Abba called the prophet on Shigionot. Oh Lord, I've heard your speech and was afraid. Oh Lord, revive your work in the midst of the years.

In the midst of the years, make it known. Read the next verse. In wrath, remember mercy. Give me verse 12 and 13. verse 12 and 13 here is God now marching through the land the enemy had done his words you marched through the land in indignation you trampled the nations in anger you went forward for the salvation of your people how many of you know God will fight on your side you went forward for the salvation of your people for salvation which you anointed you struck the head from the house of the wicked by laying bare from foundation to neck when God begins in Nigeria will make an end of it you don't understand me none of them will escape everyone perverting injustice and and and and perpetrating wickedness and stealing and looting the thing they will have it they will not wait for their passport before they run and no matter how far they run they will be caught They will vomit what they have swallowed. This was what built the confidence in the prophet to start in verse 16. Give me verse 16 to 19. Listen to him.

When I heard my body tremble, my lips quivered at the voice, rottenness entered my bones, and I trembled in myself that I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, he will invade them with his troops. though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields use no food, though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls.

Everything is running out, nothing is running in, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, he will make my feet like deer's feet. It will make me walk on my high heels to the chief musician with my stringed instrument.

Can you dance in the face of challenges? Ah, it's because he had received from the Lord the end of the trouble. It is from that perspective that you begin to walk by faith, live by faith, by your faith.

Because this is not known to all. all Judah at this time. Except those Habakkuk could influence.

Don't look at the contrary wind. God is at work. He will invade the land for our salvation. He will set us free. Amen.

It's very convincing. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You are really persuaded that there will be jobs for our teaming millions of jobless youth. That our economy is going to change.

The girls came and told them the truth. They fought back and said it's not true. When the arrow of truth shoots, there will be no traces of falsehood.

Abayin Sonle, El Gwo. Abayin Sonta, El Gwo. Ilekema Jasile.

help me interpret for your neighbor to save time may the good lord the lord of hosts of the armies of israel reveal to us his strategies in this summit that our nation will be delivered from the present debacle and God will turn around our social economic and political mess in Jesus mighty name I've interpreted for you have you said all that as we continue with our exploration please allow me establish three reasons for highlighting everything I've said to you Especially as I capture them in two major issues, the origin of faith and the types of faith. I have a trouble. I preached this long time ago.

You can go look for the tape because truth is constant. What troubles me about faith and what frightens me about God was a message I preached there many years ago. I can't recall when. I can recall, not too far away, maybe less than 10 years, what troubles me about faith and what frightens me about God.

You can locate the tape and give it to me, please, so I can refresh myself and you too can get it. What are these things? Three major things bothers me. The Lord Jesus, before leaving the planet earth, said, when... He will return with their steep faith on the earth.

Luke chapter number 18. Luke 18, 1 to 8. Then he spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray. and not lose heart and not faint you remember my admonition to you on sunday you remember my admonition at the vigil uh-huh saying there was in a certain city a judge who did not fear god nor regard man now there was a widow in that city and she came to him saying get justice for me from my adversary and he would not for a while but afterward he said within himself though i do not regard fear god nor regard man yeah because this widow troubles me i will avenge her lest by a continual coming she weary me let's pause that woman did not take law into her hands against her adversary She did not arrange for assassins to go kill the adversary. She did not try to throw voodoo into the home of the adversary. She kept on going to the judge because that's what decent people do. She kept on going to the judge, pleading a case until the judge said, Look, this woman...

will wear me out because she had done everything that she needed to do. She had followed proper protocol. It took us 10 years to get approval for Citadel. Litigation here, trouble there, but eventually it came. Are you with me?

Eventually the approval came. I stand before God who judge the quick and the dead. I did not give one one cobalt bribe to any man.

There were ways you could fast track. Some people told me as a me you know everything about my life is slow very slow. Thank God for people of goodwill within the system who helped us.

to ensure that they were pushing things and thank God for those who are outside of the system pushing also that nobody was bribed nobody I participated in no bribe given I had never given anybody bribe in my life I will wait till I get it and I believe God if you put your foot on what is not yours God will remove it That woman kept on going onto the man said, you know what? This guy will wear me out. Let's hear the conclusion of the matter.

Yeah, because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her. Let's continue her coming. She will wear me.

Then the Lord said, hear what the unjust judge said. That is, God is not unjust. You can be coming and be praying and be praying and think God is not interested. Hear what the unjust judge said, and shall God not avenge his only elect who cry out day and night to him, though he bears long with them, which means the reason for not answering them immediately is not on his side, is bearing with them to come into alignment, do you understand me, to adjust their lives, he bears with them, he knows their pain, but he says, just God, he will not perpetuate injustice.

He will not transfer the money of the wicked to the wicked. Let's conclude. I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the son of man comes, will he really find faith on the earth? Who can answer the question tonight?

You can put your foot in your mouth and shoot yourself in that foot and answer that question if you have the answer because he knows what will be on earth before he will return. He said nevertheless will there still be faith on the earth when the son of man returns? Maybe what you call faith is fake.

Because now we don't care once we get results, that's fine. In fact, they will tell you, you cannot argue with result. That bothers me. The letter of Paul to Timothy bothers me. Maybe even much more.

1st Timothy chapter 4, 1st Timothy chapter 4 beginning from verse 1, now the Spirit, look Jesus spoke Nevertheless, when I return, will there be fate on the earth? And you think we should not examine what we carry and what we stand on? Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times, some will depart from the faith. Does that not suggest that they were in the faith before?

Some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. They were in the faith before, but they are now given heed, so seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. I do not want to mention any name, but I know a man, a front-line journalist, was in dilettantes for many years. And then subsequently he established his own paper which was an overnight success. Now it's defunct.

Somebody had bought the organization and put a new label on it. But that guy and I were baptized by a Martian the same day at the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Was baptized in the Holy Ghost.

Speaking with evidence of speaking in tongues on fire for God but now he's cross bearer abrushin not many shunning names i'm telling you what i know and if you think The devil is so dumb that he will try to take you to witchcraft and voodoo. You missed the boat long time ago. He will repackage, substitute for your faith. And when I get to where it matters tonight, you will see why this is needful to examine whether we are still in faith. 2 Timothy chapter 4, 1 is expressed, the Spirit speaks expressly.

but listen to this one i charge you therefore before god and the lord jesus christ who will judge the living and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom preach the word be ready in season and out of season convince rebuke exalt with all long-suffering and teaching why for the time we come when they will not endure sound doctrine but according to their own desires you Because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers. And they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables. Have you noticed now that one of the moving things that brings joy and laughter to church is for stand-up comedians to come on Sunday and excite the people. not saying that's evil don't misunderstand me but something is wrong we have lost our joy they have to come and crack and all the jokes about pastors about bible and right upon the platform dedicated to preach the truth error is walking naked and people are laughing What are these substitutes that can replace your faith?

You know, I've not gone to the origin of faith, and if time does not permit me, I'll continue tomorrow evening. I'm not in a hurry. I just want you to see these things because you listen to them, you enjoy them, you read their books, you do not know their new agers, and they are corroding your faith and contaminating it day by day, and you still expect God to move. What are the substitutes?

Colossians chapter 2. They look harmless but they're very harmful to faith. Colossians 2 beginning from verse 1. For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in love this year. And for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, that their hearts may be encouraged, be kneed together in love, and attending to all riches of the full assurance of understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say, lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. It means the words they will speak to you will persuade you.

They'll be very persuasive. You will say, but there's no harm in this. They've not asked us to swallow anything.

You understand me? There's no harm. I mean, there's no voodoo. They didn't pray over egg. They didn't give us anything to take away.

But you did. They use persuasive words to alter your faith. Let's read further. For though I'm absent in the flesh, yet I'm with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and steadfastness of your faith in Christ.

as you therefore have received christ jesus the lord so walk in him you know what that means it is the way you receive christ you are going to walk in him if all you receive is anchor chief is mantu is bottle of oil you are going to continue because he's going to walk And am I saying is it wrong to anoint people with oil? No it isn't. But oil is not the Holy Spirit.

And when you anoint the entire church it means the entire church is sick. Is anyone among you sick? Is that the same question as all of you sick?

Start from verse 6. I want as you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord so walk in him rooted and built up in him and established in the faith as you have been taught abounding in it with thanksgiving beware lest anyone cheat you through that's one of the substitutes of the devil they'll be so philosophical they will present falsehood in a philosophical manner and blow your mind away one of those preachers said at a convention in london i'm not mentioning names i'm getting wiser now he said jesus said The signs shall follow them that believe. In my name they shall cast out devils and they shall speak with tongues. And then he paused.

Money is a tongue. When you have money, you speak. When you don't have, you keep quiet.

And the people say, preach it as powerful as Osagiefo. Kwama Nkrumah words. He was a political pioneer of some sort, wanting African unity. He started falling the day he gathered young people in a place and started throwing and asking them to pray to God, give us this day our daily bread. And they prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed till the children were hungry.

He said, now change it. I said, Osad J.F.O., give us our daily bread. And he rained biscuit on them and spoke, seeking first the political kingdom.

and all other things shall be added unto you he died a cheap death in bucharest because you don't toy with god's word and get away with it you don't twist it here and twist it there and not tweak your neck in the process what betides every deceiver who camouflages as an apostle of truth listen he said beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty the seat according to the tradition of According to the basic principles or rudiments of the word. And not according to Christ. For in him dwells.

Nothing more to add. All the fullness of Godhead bodily. And you are completing him. Who is the head of all principality and power. In him you are also circumcised with circumcision.

Made without hands. By putting out the body of the sins of the flesh. By the circumcision of Christ. buried with him in baptism in which you also are raised it is it's unfortunate that you do not know that every baptismal service is that thing that happened on the cross that as as christ was buried this baptism you go through is symbolic of that that you are buried with christ and when you are raised up is resurrection power you are raised into newness of life you do not go into water as a dry sinner and come out as a wet sinner something happened you That's why he prayed while he was in water and heaven opened and the spirit descended upon him like a dove.

Let's read. Buried with him in baptism in which we also are raised with him through faith in the working of God who raised him from the dead. And you've been dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh.

He has made a life together with him having forgiven you. Son, having forgiven you. odd it means there's nothing standing between you and God because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and whenever you miss it bounce back run to God and confess so that you can be made whole and be healed and don't let anything don't let the accuser of the brethren falsely accuse you unlike what one of the preachers said is that if the devil tells you about your past you tell him about his future because he has no future but hell and lake of fire can I hear amen am i am i wasting your time by reading no and you've been dead in your trespasses and on circumcision of your flesh he has made a life together with him having forgiven you all trespasses having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us which was contrary to us and he has taken it out on the way having nailed it to the cross every sin you have committed every sin you commit i make bold to say they are nailed to the cross of christ You're free.

Sin will have no dominion over you. In the mighty name of Jesus. Now see, the problem is, if you are delivered from the hands of those who all perpetrate falsehood through philosophy, through persuasive words, you fall victim of legalists. That's the next thing.

Because they are going to hang your sin over your head. They are going to tell you you can't make it. They are going to make life difficult for you.

They are the... burden upon you that you cannot carry and that diminishes your faith you cannot truly walk with god as you should walk i remember one of my sons natural biological sons it was his birthday and and we were there in school and you know maybe our presence maybe his friends maybe a people there we didn't walk away We changed everything and we still celebrated him there. Do you understand me?

You think if you poop, God would just kill you? He has invested the blood of his son. It will clean you up. But let legalists come and show you their legalist way and you lose your joy in God completely.

I'm not preaching license for you to sin. You're already a sinner. I'm not giving you license to sin. I'm giving you way out of your blunder.

Let's read further. Having discerned principalities and powers, he made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them in it. So let no one judge you in food. Or in drink.

Or regarding a festival. Or a new moon. Or sabbath. That's legalism.

If you are reading from New King James Version, you will see the two enemies. One is philosophy. The other is legalism.

It's stated there in capital letters. It's written. You are not having your Bible.

Look at it and point it out to me where it is written. if you look on the head of chapter two it said no philosophy but christ and on top of verse 11 not legalism but christ this is the subtlety of the devil soul to the church that if your trouser is nine inches you are saved If you remove your beard and mustache and you don't wear chain, you don't wear ear, you're on your way to heaven. They give you substitutes and you cling to it.

And thank God they are changing it themselves now. only God know how many lives have been wasted in the process but let me read that I might what I'm sharing may not excite you it doesn't bother me anymore if I will have to wait for your excitement I'm a dead man I'm not waiting for excitement so let no one judge you in food or in drink or regarding a festival a new moon or sabbaths which are a shadow of things to come but the substance is of Christ let no one cheat you of your reward Taking the light in false humility. You know, everybody you see must prostrate for them. Everybody is father.

Everybody is mother. I remember your days in the university. I said, you are all classmates and they're calling you your father.

You will die before them because you'll be too old. Why? Why? You enter university the same day, you have the same age. Again, again, daddy, what you cool off?

Dying. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen vainly puffed off by his fleshly mind, and not hold them fast to the head, from whom all the body nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ, from the basic principles or rudiments of the world, why as though living in the world do you subject yourself to regulations?

Do not touch. do not taste do not handle where there's too much rule there's no love which all concern things which perish with the using according to the commandments and doctrines of men these things indeed read with me these things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion false humility and naked of the body but I have no value against the indulgence of the flesh. Those are the substitutes of the enemy packages.

If they give you voodoo, you are likely to reject it. But if they tell you to dress this way, do not smile, no makeup, cover your head all the time, whether it's smelly or not smelly, that's fine. You say, well, I'm dead to those things.

And you look miserable and morose. And then you are asking me to go and pray for God to produce a husband. Oh, marry you this way. Marry you this way. I'm not legalizing loose dressing.

No. If you have Christ in you. You know how to dress and do everything decently and in order. I give you Christ. And let the Holy Spirit direct as many as are led by the Spirit of God.

They are the sons of God. Can I hear amen? These are the substitutes that have come to contaminate faith so that your faith is no longer active and you don't know. Like that frog inside water put on a stove with a little heat turned. It's getting warmer and warmer does not know it's on its way out.

So is your faith when it's contaminated by philosophy and legalism. So this calls for a serious fight. I will introduce it tonight and I will continue tomorrow by God's equals for what?

I cannot hear you. This calls for a serious fight. We must prepare to fight, to contend, and to do battle when apostasy arises, when false teachers emerge, and when the truth of God is attacked.

Those are not my words. I took them straight from the Bible. That's a prelude to the book of Jude. Go there.

In New King James Version, that's exactly what for what, letter for letter. I took it from there. I know you don't read some things.

Just look for your favorite passage. Jude, the prelude is fight, contend, do battle. When apostasy arises. When false teachers emerge, when the truth of God is attacked, it is time to fight for the faith. Only believers who are spiritually in shape can answer the summons.

At the beginning of his letter, Jude focuses on the believers' common salvation, but then feels compelled to challenge them to contend for the faith. The danger is real. False teachers have crept into the church. turning God's grace into unbounded license to do as they please. Jude reminds such men of God's past dealings with unbelieving Israel, disobedient angels, and wicked Sodom and Gomorrah.

In the face of such danger, Christians should not be caught off guard. The challenge is great, but so is the God who is able to keep them from stumbling. Fight, contend, do battle. Those who have such ministries are called critics and people don't want to hang around them. Say yeah we understand what is shame but it's only too much.

Do you understand me? That's the label I carry. But one day maybe long after I've gone, they will come back. I remember I went to the dome for Creflo Dollar.

and I preached two messages there. The first one was after the dome what next? Because I know those who say we go from project to project. No I'm going from glory to glory, from faith to faith.

My life is not bound by project. One of them was so bold, arrogantly said when Jesus said it is finished he died. When Paul said I've finished he died. I will never say I'm finished. I'll go from project to project.

Insanity. And the people are saying amen. And the moment you raise something, it has come. It doesn't see anything good in others.

Those who don't see anything good in others have critical spirit and that's demonic. But when you do battle against the truth, someone's rise in the defense of the gospel. give me jude one two four or one two three i close with that that's a battle this week you know i didn't even get to to i've not defined what faith is i've not showed you the origin of faith i've not showed you the types of faith because if we don't clear this mess only god knows what philosophy you have been standing on for too long a time arrange in particular masonic order of the wisdom that comes from the earth because you don't know there are two sources of wisdom there's one that is the manichus from the earth it produces results because he has cloned out the resources of the earth and he will pump it into their hands and then if you can't beat them you join them but that's the end you cannot beat them again jude Jude, the born servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called. You know, he had now realized his blunder because he was not one of those who told Jesus to go and do show off. This is the brother of Jesus.

Yes, Jude is the brother of Jesus. They all said, if you go to John chapter 7, you will see there is that nobody performs what you are performing in secret. Go and show it off.

and the bible his brothers did not believe in him and their mother tried to force them into ministry by putting them in and herself at cana of galilee and jesus left the place and he chose those he himself wanted that they might be with him that he might send them out her mother came to church mary our mother came to church and said are you out of your mind go and tell him his mother is outside which is brothers. The Bible says, they said it was out of his mind. That's Mary.

Jesus said, go tell them outside, who is my mother? Who is my brother? Those who hear the word of God and do it.

They are my mothers and brothers and sisters. He separated himself from the flesh. That's why he never called him mother one time. He called him woman. The only time you find mother in the mouth of Jesus was when he said, Woman, behold your son, pointing to John.

And John, behold your mother. And nobody asked her to be venerated and called Holy Mary Mother, Queen of Heaven. Philosophy and religion and legalism will impose all kinds of things on people. Okay, let's read Jude.

Jude repented, he was in the upper room, and he also was filled with the Holy Spirit. Can I hear amen? He so much now revered his brother that he did not introduce himself as a brother of Jesus, a brother of James. Because James is the other brother who was now pastor of Jerusalem church. Apostle James, not the one beheaded.

That one wanted to sit on the right. He drank the cup, he had no business drinking. I'll deal with you missionary force on Sunday.

Jude, a born servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called. So this is not written to Timothy. It's not written to the church at Colossae.

To those who are called. Are you called? Sanctified.

Are you sanctified? By God the Father. And preserved.

Are you preserved? In Jesus Christ so that there will be no pollution. by the philosophies of this one legalism and and religion of men mercy peace and love be multiplied to you but love while i was very diligent to write to you oh give me king james russian here this has no jewish this is like watered down orange juice i want the real fresh fresh kjv this is where kjv comes alive but lord when i gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation It was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Read that in the New King James Version. It says once and for all. That is, there's nothing more to add.

Don't let them tweak God's instruction for you. There's nothing more to add. There's nothing more to add. Seven steps to break through.

and the whole church is broken down there's nothing more to add there's nothing more to add to the sacrifice of jesus god is fully satisfied content for the faith that was once delivered once for all delivered to the saints for certain men have crept in unnoticed who long ago were marked out for this condemnation on godly men who turned the grace of our god into lewdness and denying the only lord god and our lord jesus christ but i want to remind you though you once knew this that the lord haven't saved the people out of the land of egypt afterward destroyed those who did not believe and the angels who did not keep their proper domain but left their own abode he has reserved an everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day As Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them in a similar manner to this, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise, although these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, speak evil of dignitaries. Yet Michael, the angel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dare not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, the Lord rebuke you.

Simply, he's not calling Satan stupid. Stupid devil! Come out!

But they speak evil of whatever they do not know, and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves. Woe to them. They've gone in the way of, what is that? Competitive jealousy, constant dissuccess, and the acceptance of God. The brother was accepted.

You must kill him. If you are not your brother's keeper, you'll be his killer. He who hates his brother, his eternal life does not happen.

How can he be exercising faith when hate is resident in you? you've gone in the way of cain you have run greedily in the error of balaam for profit when he saw greater men and mighty men who brought greater price for divination he followed them he prefers silver to the savior and perish in the rebellion of korah because he wanted more spiritual authority than he has been given these are sports in your love feast while they feast with you without fear seven only themselves they are clouds without water oh my god when they gather like this it would look like it's going to rain have you seen things like that before that the cloud will touch the ground you think it's going to rain clouds without water carried about by the winds late autumn trees without fruit twice dead like goliath he fell down dead and his head was cut off with his own instrument pulled back up by the roots raging waves of the sea forming up their own shame you Wandering stars, not shining stars. Wandering stars for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. Everyone who perverts truth and tweaks with the true faith, they have the hottest place in hell. To whom the blackness of, they have a reserved seat.

To whom the blackness of darkness is reserved forever. Now Enoch the servant from Adam prophesied about this man also saying, Behold. the Lord comes with ten thousands of his saints to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds. They are among them. They are not outside.

They are among them but he will convict them of their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These are grumblers. Do we have them in the house?

Contaminations, the things that contaminate faith. These are grumblers. complainers working according to their own laws and the mal great swelling words flattering people to gain advantage but you beloved remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our lord jesus christ how they told you that there will be mockers in the last time who walk according to their own ungodly laws these are sensual persons who cause divisions not having the spirit but you beloved building up yourself building yourselves up where on your most holy faith on adulterated on your most holy faith praying in the holy spirit keep yourselves in the love of god looking for the mercy of our lord jesus christ unto eternal life and on some have compassion making a distinction because they don't know bring them out of that fire before it is too late but all that's said with fear pulling them out of the fire hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To God our Savior, who alone is wise, with glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. Stand to your feet. Stand to your feet.

Stand to your feet. I commit you to God. His everlasting hands are underneath you.

Your faith will not be corrupted. Your faith will not be contaminated. Pursuasive words of men's wisdom will not derail you, distract you, and defeat you. In the mighty name of Jesus, you will grow in faith. In the name of Jesus, you will grow in the grace that is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

You will fight a good fight. You will finish your course. And you will keep the faith.

I say you will fight a good fight. You will finish your course and you will keep the faith. You keep the faith while you are fighting.

You keep faith while you are finishing. So you finish according to faith. In Jesus mighty name.

Transcript for:Exploring the Nature and Challenges of Faith

Transcript for:
Exploring the Nature and Challenges of Faith