Transcript for:
Exploring Christian Baptism and Suffering

Welcome to another powerful time. Yesterday we had a wonderful time with Bishop here. Bishop, welcome.

On behalf of the Prophet, I welcome you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Welcome to our beautiful audience. Praise God.

God I know we've been blessed we've been blessed and we're looking forward to a powerful session with you again Bishop Rick God richly bless you you again we thank you for coming and we look forward to it praise God amen thank you so much apostle and welcome once again everybody thank you for coming back today I'm sure we're gonna have an awesome time in the presence of God amen also want to give God the glory the praise it's it's because of him we are here at the end of the day and number two I want to give honor to whom honor is due prophet lovi yes we are all partakers of His grace that's what the Apostle Paul said of all the churches that he planted and we are all here because of the grace that God has placed upon his life amen so Yesterday was day one. Today is day two. Tomorrow will be day number three of our teaching sessions.

And yesterday I started talking about the fact that there are only two races. How many of us remember that? Yes.

Okay, good. And I want to put it in context because there was a reason to that. There was a purpose to what seemed like madness.

No, not madness, but you know what I mean. There was a purpose to what seemed like madness. And there was a reason why I started from there.

This is Easter week. Sunday is Easter, resurrection. Friday, Good Friday is when we're having the baptism.

One of the most favorable times to reach the unsaved for Christ. Is somebody hearing me? It's Easter.

All right. I mean, all the churches that God, by His grace, has used me to plant over the years, I inaugurated those churches around Easter. because Easter is the time even the unsaved go to church. People are just naturally receptive.

Well, I wouldn't say naturally, but the Spirit of God just opens up people's hearts to go to church. Okay, and so the work is not as tedious because the Spirit of God is already moving. And so when I started talking about two races, I was coming from somewhere.

It was strategic. Because I am passionate about souls. Evangelism is the lifeblood of the church.

Somebody ever heard that before? Okay. The same way that blood sustains the life in a human body, evangelism sustains the life in a local church. Without evangelism, the fires of revival... begin to die.

But when evangelism is going on the church is pulsating with energy. It's bursting at the seams. People are just flocking in.

There's excitement. There is joy. I mean healings, deliverances, you name it.

Everything is happening. It's like revival just breaks out in the church when evangelism becomes the lifeblood. In Adam, all die. In Christ, all are made alive.

So in the mind of God, or from God's perspective, there are only two races. You ask somebody, are you a Christian? Well, I'm Catholic.

What does that mean? Are you in Christ? Or are you in Adam? Oh, I go to church.

I didn't ask you that. Are you in Christ or are you in Adam? Do you get what I'm trying to say? It's only two categories. Anybody you encounter, your family members, they are either in Christ or they are in Adam.

And the Bible says in Adam, all die. But in Christ all are made alive and the Bible says when we receive Jesus we pass from death unto life Right and so this Easter I mean what stops us from Doubling the attendance in this church what stops you and I from doubling the attendance in this church What nothing stops us that's my point Holy Ghost, what do you call it, prophetic service on Thursday? We can pack this place to capacity, right?

On Friday, we can do the same thing. And people will come and get baptized and miracles and all kinds of things will happen. And Sunday, resurrection morning, it's got to be, something's got to happen in this place.

Oh yeah, it always does. Amen. Is somebody hearing me?

All I'm saying is let's go crazy for Jesus. Let's go crazy for Jesus, right? All your family members, all your family members, bring them to church. What is called the oikos, your circle of influence, bring them to church.

Bring everybody to church on Sunday. Well, let's start on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Remember, as in Adam, all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Somebody say amen. Amen. Are we going to do it?

Yes, sir. Are we going to work it? if you work it it will work yeah praise God all right now let's let's get to our studies so today's part two of the lesson right there are two major major if you're taking notes that'll be good if not you can just do your thing online you'll be fine but there are two major Christian practices these are often called ordinances Or sacraments, right?

Two. How many? Two. And these two Christian practices are practiced by all denominations, all denominations, whether they're Catholic, Protestant, Lutheran, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Baptist, you name it. Every Christian denomination practices these two sacraments or these two ordinances.

What are they? Number one, baptism. Number two, communion.

Number one is what? Baptism. And number two is? Communion. The question is, what is baptism?

What is baptism? Let's try to define it. The word baptism is from the Greek word baptizo, which is B-A-P-T-I-Z-O. Baptizo. Baptizo simply means to dip into or to immerse.

To dip into or to immerse. It carries the idea of completely submerging something, usually under liquid. Submerging something.

In other words, that thing goes completely under. That's what baptiza means to dip into or to immerse. So if you got sprinkled when you were a baby, hello somebody, I got sprinkled because my parents were Methodists right and as a baby when I didn't even know who I was, when I didn't even know that I'd been born, when I didn't know whether I was a boy or girl, when I didn't know anything about Jesus to repent and believe in Jesus my parents took me to church.

And the priest sprinkled some water upon me, and so I grew up and believed that I was a Christian. Until I realized some things manifesting in my life, and I'm like, wait a minute, this doesn't look Christian. It ain't Christian at all, you know what I mean? But most of us went through that ceremonial thing where we were sprinkled with water as babies, and we grew up thinking that we were Christians.

But again, baptizo means what? To dip into or to immerse or to submerge something under. Is that clear? Now, we read from Hebrews 6, and if you can read it for me, is that Fabian?

Hebrews chapter 6, verses 1 through 3. Please read it for us. It talks about the foundational doctrines of Christ. Foundational doctrines. Please read from 5, chapter 5, 11, all the way through to 6, verse 3. Okay.

And if you don't have a Bible, please listen attentively. And now we're on Hebrews chapter 6 verse 1. Therefore leaving the principles. It's talking about the basic principles of the doctrine of Christ.

And he's about to go through that list. of basic principles. And Paul is saying, you know what, just get this down pat and then move on to the next level, right? So we need to lay this foundation around the basic principles or the doctrines and then we can move on to the bigger, the better, and the greater.

Somebody say amen. Please continue reading, Fabian. Let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works.

Repentance from dead works, uh-huh. and of faith toward God. Faith toward God.

Verse 2, of the doctrine of baptisms. Doctrine of what? Baptisms. Is it singular or plural?

Plural. Plural. Thank you. Go ahead. And of laying on of hands and of resurrection of the dead and of eternal judgment.

Verse 3, and this will we do if God permit. If God permits and thank God he permits or he is permitting. Hallelujah. So it's talking here about six.

foundational doctrines. Repentance from dead works and yesterday we talked about the steps. The importance of going step by step in life and not skipping any step because there is a process to the promise.

Whatever God has called you to do you got to go through the steps. You got to go through the process. Don't skip any part of the process otherwise you're going to miss a very critical ingredient to your destiny.

Does that make sense? So he says, Paul says, repentance from dead work. That's number one. Number two, faith toward God. Number three, the doctrine of baptisms.

Plural. And so we're going to be talking about the doctrine of baptisms in day two. And if we don't finish it, we will conclude tomorrow.

Is that alright? So that when you go in the water, submerge in the water, dip in the water. Praise God. On Friday, man, it's going to be extra.

ordinary. Somebody say hallelujah today. Yes, it's going to be phenomenal to the glory of God. So the doctrine of baptism, there are five, five baptisms that the Bible talks about. How many?

The first baptism is the baptism of John or John's baptism. And we can read about it in Acts chapter 19 verses 1 through 4. It says, and it came to pass that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coast came to Ephesus and finding certain disciples he said unto them, have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? Now that's a very pointed question.

Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? And they said to Paul, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. Can you believe that? These guys are never, they call them disciples here, but these disciples have never heard a thing about the Holy Ghost.

Isn't that kind of crazy? So Paul goes, unto what then? Unto what then were you baptized?

Baptized. Somebody say baptized. Unto what then were you baptized?

And they said to him, unto... John's baptism. John's baptism.

That's baptism number one. John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him who should come after him, that is on Jesus Christ.

And so as, you know, Paul sets it up and what he's trying to tell them is this. John's baptism was to prepare the people of Israel for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Right?

So many came to John confessing their sins. They were baptized by him in anticipation of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. And John asked them to believe on him who was to come, whose shoes he was not worthy to untie. The greater one, the bigger one, the Messiah himself. So that's what John the Baptist did.

prepared Israel through baptism for the coming of the Lord Jesus himself. That's baptism number one. Number two, baptism into the body of Christ.

Baptism into the body of Christ or God's family. The body of Christ is God's family. 1 Corinthians, Fabian please, 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verses 12 and 13. 1 Corinthians chapter 12. Verses 12 and 13. Yes. For as the body is one and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

Say it a little, verse 13. Yes, verse 13. Go ahead, please. Yes. For by one spirit. By how many spirits?

One spirit. One spirit. What happens? Are we all baptized?

Are we all baptized into one body? One body. Whether we be Jews or what?

Gentiles, well they will be bound up free and have been all made to drink into the same spirit. Somebody say one spirit. One spirit. Come on, say it louder a little bit. One spirit.

One spirit. Say it like you're excited about it. One spirit. One spirit. Praise God.

It says by one spirit we are all baptized into one body. What spirit is that? The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit has emerged us into the family, into the body of Christ.

Glory to God. That means you've got brothers and sisters you have not even met yet. I mean, can you imagine that? That you are brothers in China, you are brothers and sisters in Africa.

in Casablanca. You got brothers and sisters all over the world. Why?

Because they've all been baptized into the body of Christ by one spirit. Can you please read Galatians for us? Galatians 3 26 and 27. Galatians 3 26 and 27. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Glory to God.

Hallelujah. It says for as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, you put on Christ. Being baptized into the body of Christ is the same as being baptized into Christ.

And it's the work of the Holy Spirit. It's the work of the Holy Spirit. This is not talking about water baptism.

It's talking about the Spirit of God Himself, the Holy Spirit. And that's the way I see it. Before we all got born again, right, there was a process of conviction.

Anyone knows what I'm talking about? Man, I remember the day I gave my heart to Christ. Talk about conviction. I cried like a baby.

I thought I was hardcore man. I mean I didn't know I could weep, I could cry tears because as a kid growing up in Africa in the ghettos of Africa I had become you know something else and the Spirit of God started dealing with me and that when that day came I mean before it happened I felt like man I need Jesus. I need Jesus.

I don't want him, but I know I need him. And it felt like nobody could love me more than him. Does anyone know what I'm talking about?

It's like there is this tug at your heart, this pull, right? It's like... Being wooed. Like the woo woo woo. Anyone knows what I'm talking about?

It's like the woo woo woo. Uh-huh. You know what I call it? It is like a holy seduction. There's a lot of times when we talk about seduction, praise God you see they love it.

When we talk about seduction it has a negative connotation. But seduction is just a strong appeal. And that's why I add the word holy to it. It's a holy seduction.

Something draws you, it pulls you in like, man, I can't help this. I gotta fall in love. Right? I gotta fall in love with the Jesus. Because he convicts you of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.

And makes you know that there's no better lover than him. And so when you finally open up your heart and say, Lord Jesus, come in. The Spirit of God punctures your spirit.

Penetrates your spirit. Makes his residence. Makes his abode in your spirit, man.

And in the process, baptizes you into the family of God, into the body of Christ. And that is when you become a member of the royal family of Almighty God. Somebody say hallelujah. If you don't believe in Jesus and if you're still in Adam tonight, that's not for you.

Or it may be for you, but you are not included in this package because in Adam, how many die? All die. So we need to shift gears from Adam and come to Jesus. And it is the work of the Holy Spirit to make that happen. Baptism into God's family, into the body of Christ by one spirit, by one spirit.

Number three, I said there are how many baptisms? Five. So we're number three, correct?

Okay. The baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Kostaka ilele boshah. Yes Lord. Prophesy.

Yes Lord. Where's the prophet? The prophet will be with us. Yes. Praise God.

Hallelujah. Baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Matthew 3 verse 11 please. Matthew 3 from verse 11. Yes. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear.

He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. With the Holy Ghost and with? Fire.

With the Holy Ghost and with? Fire. Have you been baptized with the Holy Ghost? If you claim you've been baptized with the Holy Ghost but you ain't got no fire? There's a question mark right there because it must come with fire and how fresh is your fire?

Thank you. He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Now this baptism with the Holy Ghost is empowerment. For service.

For service. Service in the kingdom of God. Because how many of you know that God wants to use us?

He wants to use every single one of us. And that's why we need the Holy Ghost and the fire of the Holy Ghost. and I just like the prophet does we're going to cast our devils we're going to lay hands on the sick for them to recover we got to speak into I mean we got to do the whole shebang right to the glory of almighty God it takes the holy ghost for that to happen it's this is no baptism into the body of Christ this is baptism with power dunamis Jesus said you shall receive power Acts chapter 1 verse 8, you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you.

And you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, in Samaria, and to the outermost parts of the earth. He said you shall receive what? Power. Somebody say power.

Somebody say I got the power, right? We need the power to be able to function the way Jesus wants us to function. Because he started, he started something that he wants us to continue.

That's right. and to finish before he comes back. And without power, it's not going to happen.

And so in 1 Samuel chapter 10, verse number 6, 1 Samuel 10, 6, the prophet Samuel told King Saul, after he ordained him, he said, you are the next king of Israel. And he said, you go. And as you go, you meet a band of prophets. And you shall, and he said, the spirit, 1 Samuel 10, 6, he said, the spirit of God will come upon you.

And you shall prophesy with them and be turned into another man. Oh, I love that. Hallelujah.

I love it, I love it, I love it. Because when I got born again, I thought all my habits would go immediately. Yeah. Do you have a witness in the house? Oh yeah.

Don't look at me funny. Some of you are looking at me funny like, hey, you know, yeah but I know you. Look, look, look. I sat where you sit.

And we all struggle with certain things. And there are people that are born again, but you know, things are happening. We're going to repent of all of them before we get you in the water. Hallelujah!

So can I ask a question? Yes, go ahead. Apostle, go ahead. One of the, like you talked about the baptism of fire.

Yes. Fire to give you... endurance as well yes right yes spiritual stamina ritual stamina because more often than not we fall because we don't have this exact and sometimes the things we Go through.

Yeah. Having stood determines where you go the next day you get there. Exactly.

It is so true. It is so true. If I may add, I was talking, you know what?

Let's be real. Yes. I came from a background of drugs and all kinds of crazy stuff.

Okay? Anything imaginable, I've done it. Right?

You see how Jesus refines us? Yes. Hallelujah!

Apostle knows me quite well. Alright? You see, I tell people we... I wasn't born a pastor like that. I was born a sinner first.

and along the way Jesus saved and sanctified me and called me into the ministry so we all have a past I do have a past you do have a past regardless of your pretty self everybody has a past that's why I said don't look at me funny because I know you all praise the Lord but see when I got born again I had a dramatic encounter with Jesus I mean I cried like a baby my goodness I couldn't believe I could cry that much you know because I was really hardened on the streets and things like that and so for me to break down and cry like that. I'm like, hold yourself in check. What's going on?

You're losing the grip on yourself, you know, that kind of thing. So even the air around me felt different. It's like, wow, this is new.

Anyone knows what I'm talking about? I mean, it felt so clean and so good and all that. And so when I got up from, I was kneeling in front of a bed and I was just weeping. And, you know, when I got up, I'm like, man. I am really really saved and I want and I was saved and I was saved I've been baptized into the body of Christ I belong to God's family by the Spirit of God but then sooner than later I realized that my flesh wasn't born again Anyone knows what I'm talking about?

I realized that my flesh had its own mind. Hello? Those of you at the back, can you hear me? I realized that the flesh had appetites. I'm trying to be real here, you know, because sometimes Christians we can fake it and we can make things look so cosmetic.

that we don't deal with the real stuff but I believe in dealing with the real stuff hallelujah yes you know there's a way out there's a way out there's a way out and that way out is the baptism of the holy ghost and the fire of the holy ghost hallelujah that is what and I'm saying that if you are not baptized in the holy ghost You need that extra ingredient because that's where the power, the dunamis. Dunamis is a Greek word for dynamite. Jesus said in Acts 1.8, you shall receive dunamis, power, after the Holy Ghost has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses.

Right? In Acts chapter 10 verse 38 Bible says how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power, dunamis, and he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil. How do you think prophet Lovi?

How do you think? It's the power of the Holy Ghost. Hello?

That's the power of the Holy Ghost at work in a man. Praise the Lord. Glory to God. And all of us, by God's grace, if we aspire to fulfill God's calling upon our lives, we'll be operating at a level that is so different from where we are today.

But it's only going to happen not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of God. And that Spirit will give you the dunamis. Somebody say dunamis. that is explosive power this is very very powerful don't forget to tag a friend share this teaching is amazing make sure that you you have a family friend uh joining us as we we learn share it share it share it just like the prophet says yeah share it you know praise god and and it's important that we distinguish between baptism into the body of christ which occurs through the agency of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, which is the Spirit of God coming upon us for service. We need to make that distinction.

And I hope that is clear. If it's not clear, you can ask questions later or maybe even ask it now between the two, if anybody has a question regarding the two. If not, we can proceed. I don't want this to be a monologue, one way, one direction.

Let's make it a dialogue. Good question. Good question.

What's the difference? It's the same Holy Spirit, but two different experiences with the same Holy Spirit. The first experience leads to what is called the new birth, or the born again experience.

In John 3, John chapter 3, a man by name Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night. Nick at night. ...naked at night.

He comes to Jesus under the cover of darkness and said, Rabbi, because he's a religious leader himself, and it wouldn't be politically correct for him to show up and talk to this man. who the society is controversial or and is trying to ostracize. So he comes under the cover of darkness and said, Rabbi, no man, no one can do these things unless God is with him. No one can do these miracles.

He actually uses the word miracles. You know what Jesus says? Except a man be born again. He can never enter the kingdom of heaven. I'm like, wait a minute, that man is talking about the miracles.

But Jesus shifts gears and begins to talk about born again. What does that mean? It means being born again is even a greater miracle than a cripple getting up to walk or a deaf man. hearing all that stuff that we you know and it's all right to be crazy about them but the most powerful miracle of all miracles is getting a soul to Jesus Christ where the spirit man leaves the realm of death into life Are you with me?

Are you getting it? That's why Jesus shifted gears and he comes, no man can do these miracles unless God is with him. And Jesus goes, except a man be born again, he can never enter the kingdom.

And Nicodemus, wait a minute, what are you talking about? Born again? Are you saying that a man should go back into his mother's womb and be born a second time?

I'm sure by now Jesus is going, are you a religious leader and you don't get this? Yeah. You're supposed to know this, you're supposed to be teaching this stuff, and you don't even know it? And Jesus goes, that which is born of the flesh is flesh, that which is born of the spirit is spirit. In other words, the human body, living beings, human beings give birth to human beings.

But in order for the spirit to be born again, it takes connection, a divine connection with the Holy Ghost. So you've got to get born again from above. spiritually but naturally you'll give birth to other human beings that which is born of the flesh is flesh that which is one of the spirit is spirit and he goes on further to say that unless a man is born of water and the spirit the spirit there refers to the Holy Spirit that's the first experience right when Jesus met the women the Samaritan women of the well The woman who had had five husbands and the one that she was with was not even her husband.

Right? Jesus through the word of knowledge was able to pinpoint that. You know, the woman went to the city and brought all the men because she knew all the men.

Right? So the Bible says all the men of the city, all the men of the city came to Jesus. That's a nugget right there.

Jesus told the woman, the water that I give to you shall become within you a well, springing up into eternal life. He was talking about salvation, he was talking about the new birth, which is facilitated by the agency of the Holy Spirit. And it creates in you a well leading to eternal life.

That is why when you get born again, you have eternal life. That's why you are heaven bound. Because of the agency of the Holy Spirit.

It's in you, inside of you, a well. But then the same Jesus in John 7 says, He that is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Out of your belly, the word belly is not your stomach, but it says out of your belly, your innermost being, that's your spirit, out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water.

And the Bible says this he said regarding the Holy Ghost, which they that believed on him were going to receive. Two separate experiences. One is the Holy Spirit creating in you a well.

A well that leads to eternal life. Eternal life is for your personal benefit. You get born again, it's for you. You go to heaven, it's for you.

It's not for me. But then he says in John chapter 7, out of your belly, this time it's not a well inside of you, but it shall become a river flowing out of you. How many understand what I'm talking about?

Are you sure you get this? The same Holy Spirit, but two separate experiences. Born again and the baptism with the Holy Ghost and with fire. And that's the Holy Ghost and fire is number three, by the way.

Go ahead. Question? Do you have a question?

Or you were just praising the Lord? Oh, hallelujah. Praise God. Yes, go ahead. I have a quick question, you know, and I know you touched on it.

that with your personal experience yes that you were sprinkled there was water as a baby yes as a baby so uh if you could expand on on that a little bit the people that we have that are you know listening to this yes if they had that experience where they were sprinkled the question is what's the significant what is the significance and what do they have to do to redeem themselves yes thank you that's a very good question apostle As I teach further along, you'll realize that, and we're going to get to water baptism shortly, and we're going to focus on that, hopefully tonight and then tomorrow, okay? But there are some things that must happen before a person is submerged in water. There are some preconditions that must be met for a person to be dipped completely in water. And I'm talking, when I say completely, I mean completely. Okay, no mixing of vocabulary here.

Completely means every part of your being, including your pinky and everything. Whatever, everything must go inside. And there's a reason for it. Okay, now when you were a baby and you were taken to the church by your parents to be sprinkled, because I can't even call that baptism. It's not baptism, it's sprinkling.

Number one. You don't even know you're born. When I was taken to the Methodist Church in Springfield, I wasn't even aware that I was born, right?

I wasn't even aware that I was in the world. I was a baby. I didn't know what it meant to repent because I wasn't even conscious of sin.

I didn't know what Jesus, this whole Jesus salvation and all that meant. I hadn't even reached the age of accountability where I could determine right from wrong, wrong from right, and say, you know what, I choose right. Which are all part of the preconditions for water baptism. So if you take a baby to church and they get sprinkled with water, it is a false it is of it is of no significance of no purpose it's a sham it's i'm sorry it's a complete waste of time okay and you know what but this is the good thing the bible says the times of ignorance god overlooks so you you we all do some crazy things in our ignorance Right?

The problem is when you become aware of the mess and you still perpetuate the mess, that's when it becomes a huge thing. So if you were a baby and you got baptized, but now you are learning truth. Jesus said you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.

And so now we are learning truth. It is time to begin applying the truth in obedience to Christ. Amen?

So regarding those that were sprinkled with water, you know what? It happened, but it's in the past. Let's begin to do the right thing. Somebody say amen.

Should I go ahead or? Somebody say hallelujah. So we talked about three out of five is that correct?

Now what is the first one? Let's see if you remember what's the first one? The baptism of John or John's baptism right?

Number two is what? Baptism into the body of Christ or the family of God. So remember you've got brothers and sisters around the world that you haven't met yet. One day hopefully you might be introduced to us, but we don't know them yet. Number three is what?

The Holy Ghost baptism and it comes with what? Somebody say fire. We need the fire and it's something as you get baptized we want to convict, desire earnestly the fire of God to begin to consume us and begin to burn on the inside of us. Is somebody hearing me?

This church has got to be set on fire from the pulpit to the newest person that shows up. That is what I am praying for. that the fire will not just be on the prophet but it will roll down from the prophet to impact all of us are you ready for it come on talk to me are you ready for it let's move on number four the baptism of suffering lord have mercy and i know that in this age of prosperity Nobody wants to hear a thing about suffering.

What did he say? You know what? I like what Sister Benny taught on Sunday.

I mean, she was on fire, first of all. I mean, she was exuding Holy Ghost fire. My goodness, if you miss church, you really miss. But the message had content.

also it was solid because he talked about the glory to come the fruitfulness to come but the process being death we got to go through something in order to inherit the promise the fruitfulness the glory and all that and that faith the death is called suffering and that's what jesus says or the bible says you know for a long time i didn't teach that i didn't include that in my teaching but then as i studied and researched the subject and read commentaries and men of stature, men and women of stature in the body of Christ and what they teach and I started comparing things and I decided that you know what, we need to include this, the baptism of suffering. Mark chapter 10, Mark's gospel chapter 10. And let me give you the background to the story. Verse 38 by the way, verse 38. James and John Zebedee, ever heard that name?

John Zebedee and James Zebedee. John and James the sons of Zebedee is what the Bible calls them. If they're the sons of Zebedee then the last name must have been Zebedee.

Right? Right? So they came to Jesus and said, Master grant that in your kingdom one of us will sit on your right hand side and the other will sit on your left hand side.

You know they were thinking the seating arrangement is the key to one structure in the kingdom. where you were seated right that's what they were after and that's what jesus says to them in verse 38 mark 10 38 can you please read it for us sir mark 10 38 yes but jesus said unto them you know not what you ask can you drink of the cup that i drink of and be baptized with the baptism that i'm baptized with can you drink of the cup that i drink of and be baptized with the baptism that I'm baptized with. The cup is a symbol of suffering.

It's a symbol of death. It's a symbol of great anguish and distress. In fact, if you look at Luke 12 verse 50, Luke 12 verse 50, can you please read that also for us, Fabian?

Yes, sir. Okay. Luke 12 50. But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am straightened till it be accomplished.

How I am what? Straightened. Straightened?

Straightened. What's the word? Straightened.

Straightened. Yeah. Interesting word. Is that the King James Version?

Yes, sir. Interesting. Another version or translation says, But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am now in great...

anguish of soul. My soul is going through a lot of anguish, bombardment. I am in great distress because of the baptism that I am to be baptized with.

He was talking about his impending crucifixion and death on the cross. And so this suffering is not necessarily about, you know, like, okay, I'm broke. Well, that is my cross. That is my suffering. I am sick and I embrace my sickness.

No, everything that Jesus died and took from us, we've got to resist. Are you hearing me? Anything that Jesus died for, he died for. Sin, sickness, pain, poverty, certain things that Jesus took on the cross.

It's not up to you and I to embrace them and say, oh yeah, that's my cross and that's the cup. That's my baptism. No, it's talking about when you are obeying God.

When you are in the ministry, when you are serving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, look at the disciples and the apostles. They go preaching and they get whipped. They get beaten and they are told, don't preach the name of Christ again.

They are thrown in prison and they get out of there and they are back on the streets preaching the same gospel. And they are busted once again and they get another sound beating. Look at Paul and Silas thrown. into the Philippian jail and the Bible says with their backs bleeding they started praying and praising God and the prison doors and everything the foundation of the prison everything was flung open and everyone was set free I am talking about that kind of suffering as you are obeying God and serving the Lord you are going to go through some stuff whether you like it or not are you hearing me And if you don't embrace that side of it and all you think about is the prosperity gospel, you are setting up yourself for trouble. Because a day is going to come you're going to have a crisis of faith.

Hello? Because you are only thinking on one side, about one side of the coin, forgetting that there is an alternative side to the coin. And if we want to be glorified with him, we are going to go through some suffering for the purpose of the glorification.

Somebody say amen to that. Can I get... The good thing is, and I like...

the way the Amplified Bible says it okay it says yes I am distressed until it is accomplished until it is accomplished so whatever the distress is we know that there is a an accomplishment there's something that is going to be achieved yes we are not going to remain remain in suffering exactly exactly amen praise God in fact in Hebrews I think chapter 12 it says Jesus Christ for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross because he knew what was coming. Thank you. You see if you know the outcome if you know what lies beyond you can go through the fire. Are you with me?

And that is the whole idea behind the baptism of suffering but continue to resist. any crazy stuff that the enemy tries to put on you wrongfully because there's something Jesus took and you are not supposed to take them if he took them. He bore your sicknesses, your infirmities, my infirmities and don't embrace sickness and say well it's my cross. No, you want to fight it, fight the good fight of faith until the very end.

Amen. In Jesus name. Amen. In Jesus name.

Amen. So that's number four right? So now we come to the fifth one.

Water baptism. That is straightforward right? No guesswork needed here.

Water baptism. Do we still have time? Are we cool? Yeah. Okay.

Go ahead. I can go ahead? Yeah.

All right. All right. Jesus emphasized water baptism in the Great Commission. Anyone knows what the Great Commission is?

Thank you. Does everyone know what it is? Not really? Okay, all right. Let's read it.

Matthew, in fact, let's start from Mark chapter 16, verses 15 and 16. Mark's gospel, chapter 16. Mark 16, verses 15 and 16. Mark 16, from verse 15. Yes. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned. Praise God.

This is what is called the Great Commission. Somebody say the great everybody say the great Commission Commission Commission Commission remember it's not the great suggestion Neither is it the Greek recommendation. He's not recommending this to you and I that if you feel it then do it. It's the Greek Commission. In other words whether you like it or not this has to be done.

Right? It's a command as a matter of fact. He says go. The clarion call is for the church, you and I, to go.

Go where? Go into the world. That's why I started by talking about evangelism. This is Easter week, my brothers and sisters. We've got to kick the devil's posterior section, if you know what I mean.

We've got to really, really give it to the enemy and draw souls from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. Somebody say yes! We've got to do it because that is the first and foremost business of Jesus Christ. Saving souls.

And when he was leaving, the last words of Jesus go into the world. Now, last words are always crucial when pops and mom are leaving the house. And they say, hey son, come over. As I'm leaving, we'll be gone for a couple of hours. We need you to clean your room, wash those dishes, do this and that and that and that.

Last words, you better make sure you take... Do I have a witness in the house? You better make sure that you take care of business, the very thing they told you to do.

Or when somebody's about to die... And they call you, they specifically ask for you to come to their bedside, right? If you've gone through that experience, and they begin to share their hearts with you. Those are the most important things to them before they pass on.

Last words are critical. Hello. These are the last words of Jesus before he left. He said go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. This call was not for prophet Lovi only.

Hello. It wasn't for just me. It wasn't for just apostle. It's not just for ministers of the gospel.

This is to every disciple of Jesus Christ. Oh man, this is where I live. Evangelism is the lifeblood of the church. And we are the army of the living God.

Somebody say I'm a soldier. Say it again. Say I'm a soldier.

You know God every time we come to church you know what he's doing? He's equipping us. Jesus is equipping us by his spirit and by his word to become soldiers of the kingdom so we can depopulate hell and populate heaven with souls.

Is somebody hearing me? That is what we are called to do. And water baptism is a mark of discipleship. And one of the other marks of discipleship is what we are just reading, the Great Commission.

So you can't say I want to be a disciple by getting baptized in water, but I don't want to preach the gospel. Hello? All of us must engage with the sharing of the love of Jesus. Start with your family, start with your friends, draw them to church. There's no reason why we must, this church, Sunday, Thursday, Friday, it must be jam-packed.

Ah, no, you don't feel me. Come on now. And the beauty...

Somebody say hallelujah to that. Oh Lord have mercy on me. I can help it. We got to get this thing going.

Go ahead. What I'm saying is the beauty about the fact is that we have a beautiful edifice. look at this you know and like Bishop was saying we have brothers and sisters not only in around the world but around us amen and if they are not Yet, brothers and sisters, it is our responsibility to make them brothers and sisters. Exactly. In Christ.

In Christ. Amen. So we have that responsibility.

Exactly. It is our duty. I'm loving this. Praise God. Amen.

Hey, if you don't, Jesus said, if you love me. Thank you for that word, apostle, the love word. You just said it and it triggered something in me.

If you love me, obey my commandments. That's what Jesus said. So the true test of your love for Jesus is in you obeying his commands. and like i told you this is not the great suggestion it is the great what the great commission he's committing us to this task of world evangelism and you just all you have to do is start with your family and your friends what is called the oikos your circle of influence touch them invite them to church and the holy spirit will do the rest and one other thing that is also i think would be a very good thing is when you have the opportunity for baptism invite them to witness yes yes you know on what you're going to do what is going to happen to you thank you and i believe that as you do that the holy spirit will convict it will convict he will convict you know and it will be a beautiful thing can you imagine if all your household is saved with you And you're doing this together. You're not doing it alone.

You know, it's powerful. Praise God. It's powerful.

Amen. Matthew 28, please. Matthew puts it a bit differently. I'm talking about the Great Commission. Let me know when it's time to, Apostle, when it's time to, you know.

Oh, okay. You know, I just flow. You can keep going.

60 and still going strong. Praise God. Amen. Yes, Matthew 28 18 and 19, please Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.

Praise God. Baptizing them in the name of the Father. the son and the holy ghost but he started by saying all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me that's how he started it he said go right go into all the world teach all nations By the way, the word nations is not referring to countries. The word nations, from the Greek word ethnos, out of which we have the English word ethnic. So go to every ethnic group.

That means black, white, brown, yellow, red, everything in between. Because that's how heaven is going to look like, Revelation 5, 9. The heavenly Jerusalem, the Bible says, John said, I saw people out of every kindred, every town, every people, and every nation. So heaven is going to be multiracial, multicultural, and multiethnic.

So if you've got a problem with my color on earth, we're going to have a problem in heaven. You see what I'm saying? Because heaven is going to be everybody, every color, regardless.

And that's why Jesus said, the kingdom come. That will be done on earth as it is in heaven. So if heaven is going to be multiracial, then on this earth, in our churches, it's going to be...

multiracial multi ethnic multicultural all of us kicking it loving it we're experiencing that hallelujah in this church is powerful that is what drew me the most to this church man the multiracial multi ethnic amen let's put our hands together for the Prophet and what he's been doing Yes, yes, yes. Let's celebrate what God celebrates. This is beautiful.

It is beautiful. Really beautiful, you know. Praise God. And so, he says, baptizing them in the name of the Father. Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost baptizing them after you taught them the word after they've embraced the word baptize them in the name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Ghost baptism is a mark of discipleship A true disciple gets baptized.

Amen? It is part of the Great Commission that as you and I go preaching the gospel and winning souls to Christ, we need to bring them to a place where they go through the baptizo. For submersion, I mean, you know, immersion into the water as a mark of true discipleship. I can give you a thousand and one examples. For instance, the Samaritans in Acts chapter 8, for those that are writing notes, Acts chapter 8, I don't want to read everything, okay?

Acts chapter 8, verse 5 and 12. Verse 5 and verse 12. Yes, 5 and then 12. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. Yes, verse 12. Now verse 12. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized. both men and women.

Hallelujah. So Philip goes to Samaria, preaches Christ, right? Jesus said, if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto myself. So he elevates Jesus and the Bible says miracles are happening.

all over the place in Samaria. And in verse number 12 it says, when but when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. So first of all, there had to be belief in the gospel and belief in the name of Jesus which doesn't occur if you're a baby. Right? And so after they believed Philip, the name of Jesus, they were baptized both men and women.

It's what the Bible says. Praise the Lord. The Ethiopian eunuch. Anyone knows about the Ethiopian eunuch? In Acts chapter 8 as well.

Write it down. We're not going to read it. I'll just give you the scriptures.

Is that okay? Because what I want you to do is listen to this. Again before Friday Go through the scriptures again before Friday and get yourself ready It's gonna be phenomenal in this place Hello, it's gonna get it's good. It's gonna be awesome in this place But you've got to come ready To experience the totality of what God has for you Listen, this is not a ritual We are not just going through a ritual.

This is not a routine thing that we do. Oh yeah, it's time for baptism, let's do it. This is a divine encounter with God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. And lives are going to be transformed.

Demons are going to leave in the name of Jesus. Hey, man of God. Praise God. Yes, sir.

Yes, sir. Praise God. You're welcome. Prophet, I can't say anything unless you say something. I quit.

I quit. How can you retire? No. You know, my favorite part of this whole thing was the part you spoke about the baptism of suffering. And I believe that a lot of Christians miss that part.

the good news is we overcome i realize this um when you're talking about it is you know for you to have victory in christ it means you have to be baptized in him yes so the baptism we are receiving in this dispensation is different from the baptism john was giving people exactly that is why when john came he said listen i'm baptizing you with water but there is somebody else who is going to baptize you into something else into the spirit and fire but what he was really talking about was he was going to baptize you into his life yes amen for god to see us and to see jesus it means we have to be drowned within him thank you jesus so you have to be immersed in christ yes so it is not just a matter of confessing because you can confess jesus as lord and savior but if you're not immersed in him you cannot follow him to jesus Hallelujah. So there are a lot of things that I've come to realize that it is impossible. It is absolutely impossible to receive certain spiritual privileges without the process that God has set. One of them is the life of Christ to really be endowed upon you. Yes, yes.

Jesus said, listen, the servant is not greater than the master. If they did this to me, they would do it to you. Why would they do it to you? Because you're part of it.

of him yes you have to understand that a lot of people talk and people love this you know they persecuted me they persecuted me but they persecuted Jesus no your persecution can be your own has nothing to do with Jesus yes exactly that is why a lot of people when they get into any kind of altercation spiritual or physical jesus cannot defend you because he doesn't know you yes you imagine that there is a day people who will stand will say lord we did this in your name we did this and say i don't know you yes why doesn't he recognize you just because you did something in his name doesn't mean you know him yes and he doesn't mean he knows you yes because what we are doing as children of god is not just receiving the life of god but it's about an encounter as the man of God says you cannot serve a God walk with a God be close to a God you don't know that's right there is a lot of people that are following Jesus blindly so when certain things begin to happen when certain things begin to manifest they start to question their salvation they start to question am I really a Christian did God really call me is it really is this really the way why don't I have this what Why don't I have that? They start to even demonize people that God is working with. Yes.

But all these are because of very simple mistakes. Very simple mistakes. You have not been baptized into anybody.

You see, the apostles said this, and I love what the apostles said. They said, If any man preaches to you another gospel than the one we have given you, even if he's an angel from heaven, let him be accursed. What were they trying to say?

We know Jesus. We were baptized in him. You are baptized. baptized in us. Anyone who tells you something different from what we have said, let him be accursed.

Yes. So the chain of baptism, you know, there is a chain. You know, like let me use an example.

In martial arts, The purity of your art is measured by how direct you are to the master, to the descendants of the sensei, because it is passed on. Spirituality is also passed on. In reality, if you are not born to serve God, You can't really receive what is from God because all of us came to God because of somebody. That's right.

True. That's right. Every human being. That's right. Unless you are born with it.

But even those who are born with it, they needed somebody. Because the discovery of God is not automatic. So I think the biggest part is this, is that you find people, they get born again.

They start to see certain things starting to happen in their life. Certain attacks begin to manifest. Certain things begin to happen. And it confuses them.

It is because they skipped a stage. When I was not a Christian, life was just okay. But you receive somebody without being baptized in him, how will you be protected?

Mercy, mercy Lord. One of the base evidence that you are from God is not suffering, but it is suffering for Him. Everyone in the world is suffering.

I don't care what corner of the earth you choose, somebody is suffering. So suffering is not special. Suffering for him is unique.

So when you are baptized in him, you are now living a life that is no longer your own. It is as if Jesus is on earth now. So there is a big distinction.

One of the things that I think that a lot of Christians don't do is, and I think I mentioned this, I don't know what teaching I mentioned this, but I was trying to explain is that Your soul cannot tell the difference between reality and imagination. Your soul actually cannot. Yeah, it cannot. I know you don't know this, some of you, but maybe some of you have heard this.

now you're understanding this. Your soul cannot tell the difference because your soul's duty, you have to remember human beings were created differently. We are created.

with the body, with the soul and the spirit. That's right. But the existence of life of man is experienced in two realms, the physical realm and the spiritual realm. That's right. The soul exists in the astral plane, as people say.

But the soul's duty is to enhance reality for you to know that it's real. So the soul itself, its duty is to enhance reality. It is not to create reality.

That is why if somebody gives you a fake hug, you can know that it's fake. Because your soul cannot discern that it is real. It feels artificial. But there are people who can also fool you.

and give you a hug that is so... They squeeze you so well and all. And they convince your soul that this is actually genuine. This is why you need the element of the spirit called discernment to be able to tell.

Everything feels real, but this is not real. Because their soul's duty is to enhance reality. So an example is if... You are in love. Right?

How many people have been in love? Wave your hand. Yeah.

Fuego, you raised that hand too quick. Wave your hands if you've been in love. Why is it that all of a sudden you get in love, right? Or you fall in love?

Everything is enhanced. Somebody's smile feels like the sun is rising. Auntie Benny, am I saying the truth?

I just... Because the soul's duty is to enhance reality. Do you get what I'm saying?

Do you realize when you eat food, the experience of the food is actually very short? But it is the soul enhancing the experience of how you feel. When you eat, it's not about what it tastes like. It's what you feel.

That's right. So every memory of food you have is not actually the taste. It was the feeling when you're eating.

That is why women, you know this more than anybody. When are you going to take me out? Because what you are seeking is...

Are you getting what I'm saying? But the soul can be programmed. The soul can be prepared.

So that when you meet difficulties, you are so prepared. has experienced it before you went through it. So when you go through it, it is not something new. That's true.

So many of you, when trials and tribulations come, you crumble because you never experienced it before jesus said i am telling you those these things so that when it comes you're not shaking yes what was he trying to do program your soul yes for it to be an experience because your soul cannot tell the difference yes he cannot tell if it has happened or not yes is somebody getting it yes an example somebody who has never prepared for wealth when wealth comes they are shocked they think having a Lamborghini is wealth they think having grills is well yet that is not wealth A wealthy person can get those things, nothing wrong with that. But is that the image of wealth? It is not. Do you know why?

They were never prepared. Their soul had never lived that experience. Their spirit knows these things, but their soul, the one that enhances... reality has not been trained so and they get money the soul thinks that now everything has to look like this this means we are rich yet that's not wealth you meet the wealthiest people they are wearing a 20 t-shirt yes exactly because the soul has already experienced that and it has already digested to see that to say that you know what you It is normal.

It's not a big deal. I can wear the same t-shirt every day. It doesn't change. You get what I'm saying?

Does it mean wearing nice things is bad? No, I wear nice things all the time and I'm extra blessed. Do you understand?

But is that what defines me? No, it doesn't. So what I'm trying to tell you is this. Us, The man of God has spoken and said, make sure before that day you watch this again. My biggest part, everything was deep.

The suffering part, because it's a reality, like you said, everybody doesn't want to go through. Nobody wants to experience it. It is a place that people dodge. That people have even made suffering a demonic attack, yet suffering is just the rite of passage.

Yeah. Look at your neighbor and say suffering is the rite of passage. Suffering is the rite of passage.

In one way or another you go through some kind of suffering. You will lose children. you lose loved ones you will lose finances you you go through some stuff you'll be divorced you have to be go through pain yes yes and the reason why Pain has to be your best friend.

Listen to me. This is really deep. Really deep.

Please listen. Really deep. The reason why pain has to be your best friend is because pain represents sacrifice. Actually, God wants pain.

I'm sorry to say that. I didn't say suffering pain. There's a difference. Whenever there is pain, it is the best time to act with God. Because now you are in a vulnerable place, you are in a place where it costs you something.

But if you don't understand the rite of passage, tell me one powerful man of God in scripture that did not have pain. Nobody. Everyone.

Some of you, you have never given to God until the day you have pain. It is the element of sacrifice. So, like you said, Jesus was very afflicted.

The Bible even says that people look at him and say that he is cursed, but they wouldn't know that he was afflicted for our sake. Learn to prepare your mind. Sit down. Close your eyes. What I'm teaching you is a real thing.

Sit down. Close your eyes. Start visualizing.

If I lost everything right now... Will my faith change towards the Lord? And really see, don't just tell yourself, see those things that mean something to you. If my husband left me right now, if my children left me right now, if I lost everything, will I curse God or will I love God?

Because if Jesus suffered, I will suffer. Even God himself suffered. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son pain.

God had to sacrifice. God went through pain. What he loves the most, he had to give it up. He was bruised.

So you have to ask yourself that question. Because if God the Father is going through it, the Son is going through it, you and me will go through it. But what it will produce will make us never remember the pain.

It will make us never remember the suffering. Praise God. So, The main thing is sit down, visualize the things you love, because you see, when suffering comes, it doesn't come to the things you don't care for. You just do this, and you move on.

But if it touches the things that mean something to you, ah! Now we are talking. And these are the times of great growth, but it is also the time that the devil also takes advantage because there is an opening. So you ought to look in your heart and sincerely, excuse me, sincerely. Prepare yourself to be baptized in Christ.

Sincerely, truthfully, prepare yourself to be baptized in Christ. Pain may endure for what? Pain may endure for what? But joy comes what? Pain is short term.

But it can make or break you. I'll say that again. Pain is short term.

But it can make or break you. Maybe I need to say it one more time. Pain is short term. But it can make or break you. When you receive Jesus, you partake of the cup of suffering.

Yes. It is what it is. Yes. It's part of it.

You've become part of his body, so what he goes through. If the head went through something, you know, every pain in your body, it is the brain that responds and alarms that area to tell you like, ah, something is bad in that place. So whatever Jesus felt, we will feel a pinch of it.

A lot of people will always say that, you know, I love people so much. No, no, no. Until you feel the pain of Christ, then we can't judge if you really love people. Until you are baptized in Christ, then we will know if you really love people. When you're baptized in Christ, you will see the good, the bad, and the ugly of men.

You see the betrayal of man. You will know that you will help them and they will still bruise you and do all these things to you. Then you will love Jesus and just do what he wants instead of loving people.

who will be trained. Apostle, is it not true? It's extra deep. Oh, you know, I just love people.

I don't preach because I love people. I preach because I love Jesus. And because I love him, I know why he loves people.

But me just loving people on my own, please. that is why Jesus put a very nice principle love your neighbor as you love yourself but the only way you can know self is to know him exactly that's true you can't love your neighbor until you've loved him because he will show you who you are then when you look at your neighbor you will know what you're looking at You can't love your... this thing of, ah, you know, when you come to our church you just feel the love of God, they're entertaining you.

You know people want feelings, they don't want truth. Lord have mercy. Until you love Jesus and he shows you who you are, you can't love people.

Because when you love people you will understand that your love is not enough to love people. You will need his heart in order to love people. He came unto his own, they rejected him. You want to love people? Think about it.

He went to his own village. That is the only place that Jesus was neutralized. It is the only part in scripture, it scares me.

It says Jesus could do no miracles. He could do no. Do you know what it means, he could do no miracles?

It means he wanted to. The ability was taken from him because of his people. Jesus, the man with the spirit without measure, he tried to do miracles and it didn't work. He could not. Yet these are his ninjas.

These are his people. He went to the, even he was shocked. He tried. Nothing is working. He said, wow.

Where am I? Yet he came to help them. So again, just to finish up, I know Bishop maybe has something to finish up with. I think I've poured my heart into it.

Am I right? Am I right? It goes to the person who knows the rules.

Hey, hey, hey. Yep, yep. Fresh fire.

Okay. Fresh fire. Fresh fire.

What can I say, you know? Oh, go ahead. No, no, no, go ahead.

Yeah, but like the prophet was saying, the suffering aspect of it, you know, the scriptures. says many are the afflictions of the righteous of the righteous but the Lord deliver but it doesn't stop there but the Lord deliver it the righteous but yes but the afflictions are gonna be there they are not going anywhere and it didn't say many of the afflictions of the sinner many of the afflictions of the righteous that's you and I you know and so just by virtue of the fact that you are righteous you just it'll elicit a reaction from the enemy. Yes.

To every action of God there is a reaction from the enemy, the devil. It is going to happen but like prophet said you got to be ready at the soulish level. I think it's Isaiah 48 it says through the furnace the fire of affliction.

Yes. Have I chosen you? Remember many are called only a few are chosen. Yes. Right when there is a job interview the message goes out to everybody yes everybody comes in so many people but at the end of the day only a few are chosen yes and between the calling and the choosing is the fire yes the fire of affliction we must be ready for it if god is going to use you look i can give you and count i mean different experiences but you know what just be ready like the man of god said just be ready yes when you pass the test it leads to your promotion yes any test you pass you move on to the next level and what happens is that is where the empowerment of god comes here then the afflictions that you went through you deliver people from from them yes so I I don't know if Bishop you have I'm having fun here praise God I gotta watch when he gets excited he gets excited good you know it's good that we you know we're taking it from the basics yes we're going through the process you know and you would be able to not only experience it, but also talk about it.

Amen. That's why I said it is very important if you are going to go through the process to have witnesses. Yes.

So come with your families. Yes. Come with your friends.

Jesus. Let them experience this. And I believe that their lives will not be the same.

I will tell you something. I will say it one more time. more time for those who are going to be baptized Can I just add one more thing? Yes, go ahead.

That I think will be helpful. You see, it is not just the baptism, but it's also who is baptizing you. It matters a lot.

It matters a lot. A lot of people don't know that. There is a reason why Jesus didn't go to the priests. He went to John. Because you are being baptized into something.

But what you're being baptized into, somebody has to carry it in order to immerse you into it. You can't baptize somebody into something you don't have. It's a lie.

This is the truth. That is why we three are going to be there to make sure you don't come out a wet sinner. Oh man. We'll make sure, we'll make sure if Apostle dips you, Bishop checks spiritually and says, no this one needs drowning. Oh, praise God, praise God.

So when you come out... So when you come out, you are not a... But God is good. I am proud of you all being here.

Tomorrow, same time, right? Yes. Same time.

Yes. Same time. best to be here because tomorrow we are not only going to teach but we are going to pray together.

We are going to do some prayers that will prepare us for the day. Praise God. Thursday I'm going to share something. thing with you guys. I had a very, very powerful encounter today morning, actually.

At around 5.30, the Lord came and took me. And I saw the Lord Jesus today. And I'm going to talk about it on Thursday. And it is completely tied to the Easter season we are in also.

Praise God. And I believe the things that God will permit us to do by His grace. will really set us to what he wants us to be and what he wants us to do.

Thank you, Jesus. I saw him. You know, it is very rare for you to see him.

And it is not something you just see. You know, people talk about the Lord is the Lord. When the boss shows up, it's serious. It's not something to play with, you know.

And he spoke to me profoundly. He showed me a powerful vision, and he was there with me. And I believe.

that it is directly and he told me tell them you know so Thursday I will talk about that and it's it's going to really take us to that place and when we meet Friday yes it will be it will be something beautiful to behold So, I encourage you to make sure you get your white robe. Come looking like a saint. So, again, let's just pray for a moment if we can.

Father, in the beautiful name of your son Jesus. Yes, Lord. Oh, thank you, Lord. Thank you for your presence, my Father.

Thank you for your presence, my Lord and my God. Lord, as we prepare to. To be immersed in you, to be baptized in you. Father, give us the grace to truly make amends with our past lives.

What we used to do, what we used to be. Help us to close the chapters of the past. That we may truly receive the new beginning that you have set forth for us. Father, glorify your son Jesus.

Glorify yourself. Do a new thing within us. Continually show us your love and your mercy. That we may be all that you have desired for us to be. Father, we thank you.

In the name of your son, Jesus. Amen. Amen. God bless you all. Thank you, Jesus.

Praise God. Praise God. Praise God.

God is really amazing and beautiful. And I know that it is your time. It is truly your time. If God has permitted you to be baptized, it is your time.

Hallelujah. It is your time. I love you with the love of the Lord Jesus and we will see you tomorrow. Please celebrate the bishop as he has blessed us.

You know the bishop is a real bishop. The Lord is beautiful. I love you all and we will see you tomorrow.

God bless you. You don't have to mess with me. Praise God.

Amen. I live here when I'm anxious, lose my mind, I can call you every time, all my weakness, all my plan, my list In your head, when I can't, I know you can't Cause without you, God, I am empty I wanna come to you empty. You deserve nothing less of me.

Lord, I surrender, I'm yours. So fill me, full of your glory, completely Light my path for me and lead me Wherever you want me, I'm yours God, I am empty. I want to come to you empty. You deserve nothing less of me.

Lord, I surrender all my heart. Hey! You're the answer that I need You're the only remedy You're the truth that makes me free All for you, without you, God I am Peace Do you empty?

You deserve nothing less of me. Lord, I surrender all your hope in Jesus. See, I wanna come to you and see You deserve nothing less than me Lord, I surrender all my heart Feel me, follow your calling, come feed me, light my path, love me and lead me, wherever you want me, I'm yours. worth the cost.

Lord, you went on. You took all my battle when you won. Beat the grave and took the keys and stuff.

Wiped my sin and made me new, made me new. Only you, Lord, I know you're the only way, only way is you. Only you can make me feel like home A father and a king upon the throne Forever I am worshiping Only you, only you, give us light, only you, cause I provide, only you, only you, give me light, Lord I know you're the But I know you're the only way No one else can do it like you But I know you're the only way Only you, only you Give us life Only you The only way is you The only way is you No matter what the problem is, I know you can get me out of it. I can always count on you.

I'm yours and I'm proud of it. Show me your grace. Show me your ways. I'm seeking after you.

Show me your face I wanna know more Keepin'it 100 I was frontin'I was runnin'Had to run the hard way But you always up to somethin'If you said it, then it's done I know it every time I pray It's done I won't walk away Mercy all my days All I can say He made a way For real I was down bad I'll cast he changed the way I live I've been riding around a month too long, Jesus take the wheel, take control, I know my fate is sealed. He made a way, for real, I was down bad, I'll cast, he changed the way I live. I've been riding around a month too long, Jesus take the wheel, take control, I know my fate is sealed.

I'm on a mission I gotta finish made a commitment and go to this is made in his image I came to minute I'm out his business I gotta witness every second in every minute as long as you're with me I got no limit man I'm so dependent gotta admit it Yeah, yeah. The bird in me left it, so I ain't tripping. Nah. Nah. That's why I'm true to this.

Had to put a moment. I had to bring the crew in it. Ain't no way to ruin it.

It just keep on renewing it. I rock the Gucci with the gold crucifix. Oh, no, he ain't through with me yet.

I won't. He made a way, for real, I was down bad, I'll cast, he changed the way, I live, I've been riding around a month, too long, Jesus, take the wheels, take control, I know my thing is sealed.