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My heart, Jesus, do the same. He took my heart and made it new. He did what nobody could do. My heart, Jesus, do the same. He took my heart and made it new. He did what nobody could do. He takes my heart and makes it new. Surrounded with fire. Surrounded, little fire. Nobody touch my heart. No. Jesus. Jesus. Pouring fire. Pouring fire. Yeah. God needs you. Oh, God needs you. Oh, God needs you. Oh, God needs you. My love. My life. Feel my love. I said, no time to play soccer. How to make me a musician? Couldn't even sing a word. What do I do? I know the master. My boy, Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. You're the greatest. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. You're the greatest. Yeah. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. You're the greatest. Oh, God. I need you. Oh, God. I need you. Oh, God. I need you. Oh, God. Oh, my heart. This is the way you know. You like nobody could do my heart. This is the nobody could do. My life is on fire. My life is on fire for you. My life is on fire. My life is on fire for you. Fire for you. Fire. My life is on fire. On fire. On fire for you. Yeah. Elohim. Call on my name. Show me the way. Elohim, call on my name. Show me the way. My soul is yours. My soul is yours. My soul is yours. My soul is yours. You love it and lost. Guide me back to you. My God's never lost. Take my life. You were so you got you. I live with Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Lord. My real is Lord. My real Lord. My real. My desire is to live in costume. My desire is to live in. My desire is to live in. My desire is to live in costume. My desire is to live in. My desire is to live in. My heart open. Jesus, do the same. He took my heart and made it new. He did what nobody could do. My heart, Jesus, do the same. He took my heart and made it new. He did what nobody could do. He takes my heart and makes it new. Surrounds it with fire. Surrounds it with fire. Nobody can touch my heart. No. No. No. Jesus. Jesus. Come on. Come on. Pouring fire. Pouring fire. Yeah. Oh, God. I need you. Oh, God. I need you. Oh, God needs you. Oh, God. You done my life. I feel my life. I say I said I don't have no time to play soccer. How to make me a musician? Couldn't even sing a word. What do I do? I know the master, my goes. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. You're the greatest. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. You're the great. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. You're the greatest. Heat. Heat. To my heart. You did what nobody could do. My heart, just you did what nobody could do. My life is on fire. My life is on fire for you. My life is on fire. Fire. Fire from you. Yeah. Fire from you. Fire. My life is on fire. On fire. On fire for you. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Call on my name. Show me the way. Call on my name. Show me the way. My soul is yours. My soul is yours. My soul is yours. My soul is yours, Lord. If ever get lost, guide me back to you. My God's never lost. Take my life. We were so you need Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Me like Jesus. My real. My desire is to live in costume. My desire is to live in God. My desire is to live in costume. My desire is to live in costume. My desire is to live in. My desire to live in. My heart, Jesus, do the same. He took my heart and made it new. He did what nobody could do. My heart, no pain. Jesus, do the same. He took my heart and made it new. He did what nobody could do. He takes my heart and makes it new. Surrounded with fire. Surrounded fire. Nobody can touch my heart. Going to go. Jesus. Jesus. Come on and pouring fire. Pouring fire. Yeah. Oh God. Oh God needs you. Oh God needs you. You can't my life. My life. No time to play soccer. To make me a musician. Couldn't even sing your words. The master. Jesus. Jesus. You're the greatest star. Jesus. You. Jesus. You're the greatest. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. You're the greatest. Oh, God. I need you. Oh, God. I need you. Oh, God. You got to you got to you got to you. My heart is the wor I. My fire is on fire for you. My life is on fire. My life is on fire for you. Fire for you. Fire. My life is on fire. My fire on fire for you. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Call on my name. Show me the way. Elohim, call my name. Show me the way. My soul is yours. My soul is yours. My soul is yours. My soul is yours. >> Hello, my breath is lost. Guide me back to you. My God's never lost. Take my life. You were so you need. Oh, God. You got you. Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God. I live for Jesus. Jesus. Come with Jesus. Jesus. Prepare me like Jesus. My real. My desire is to live in costume. My desire is to live in costume. My desire is to live in costume. My desire is to live in costume. My desire is to live in costume. My desire is to live in costume. My heart, Jesus, do the same. He took my heart and made it new. He did what nobody could do. My heart, Jesus, do the same. He took my heart and made it new. He did what nobody could do. He takes my heart and makes it near. Surrounded with fire. Surrounded with fire. Nobody can touch my heart. No. No. Jesus. Jesus. Pouring fire. Pouring fire. Yeah. God. Oh God. Saints, in the wonderful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, can I hear you shout aloud? Amen. Hallelujah. Glory, glory, glory, glory, glory, glory, glory, glory, glory. >> Hallelujah. >> Blessed be the name of the Lord. Welcome to the study of God's word at the feet of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us pray. Our Father, we are so grateful for extending the invite once more to all of us and for your grace that has enabled us to respond accordingly. And here we are. Teach us your ways. Teach us your word by your spirit and guide us in the paths of righteousness that they may become ours and we give you the glory for it. Bind us together tonight with cords of revelation that are not quickly broken in Jesus' name. We acknowledge the mighty teacher, the Holy Ghost. You teach us all things. You show us things to come. You prepare us for the future. You remind us of those things in the past that are important for our today and our tomorrow. So we acknowledge your ministry tonight in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. >> Blessed be the name of the Lord. Thank you so much. Let me welcome you in the study of God's word at the feet of the master, our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Uh, we are still in that chapter in that book in that heavenly library where we have been allowed to look into the book of tears and a chapter has been open and we've been paging through that chapter, which is about the soul. And therefore, what we are learning may not be readily available because it's in this library and not everyone has been invited. >> Glory. >> You and I have the privilege that we are invited. Blessed be the name of the Lord. And so we have that privilege that the Lord has invited us. It will be like when you have access to a library and there's a book there that you are reading and that book happens to be one of those rare ones. >> And it's so rare that others may search online and not get the contents because it's only those who have access to that particular library that will have the knowledge. Maybe they can share it. Maybe they can bring it out. So we have great privilege. Uh, what started as a journey of John the revelator to the church operation center where he had opportunity to look at all the, um, different churches, seven churches of Revelation, and he saw their status and their health. From there on, on his way to the throne, he passes through the library. >> Glory. >> And it's like that super book movies of children, you know, where present day actors, children go back into that super book which takes them and transports them into the past and they interact with the personalities of the different Bible stories. Oh, that's so important. So we have been allowed to come along with John. I am looking forward to the visitation to the throne. And I believe we'll dwell there for weeks. >> Glory. >> And months. After the library, I believe we'll head straight to the throne where we will be allowed to know the definition of holiness. Glory to God. >> Glory to God. I don't want to go there, but let me just take a sidewalk cuz my soul >> is bathing there. >> You know, they, there is these people that blend juice. They blend juice. It's a blender. So they take, they can take apples, take bananas, uh, apricot, all these, uh, pava, all of these nice fruits and they blend all of them inside this machine and it forms a liquid, a product. That is the fusion of all those fruits into one. And you drink that. You can name that juice whatever you name it. If it was made of 10 fruits, you can have a name for it. It's okay. But you drink it as one product. So when you go to the throne and he that sits on the throne is love, is peace, is wisdom, is joy, is grace, >> is mercy. When you look at him, you are looking at the fusion of all those attributes. >> And the definition of the outcome of that fusion is called holiness. >> Amen. >> When they say you are holy, they are saying your love, your peace, your grace, your mercy, your patience, all of it combined into one. Glory. The purest form of him that sits on the throne. So I desire one day that we will get out of this library. Obviously, the book of chapters, I mean, of tears, we are only allowed to read one chapter and it's about the soul. So there is so much more. >> But hey, we can head all the way to the throne. Who knows? Maybe on our way back, we'll pass through the library for another chapter. Glory to God. >> So, I am so excited. Think about what I've just said. When they say you are holy, that's the product of the blend of his attributes. >> Glory. Glory. So holiness is the fusion, the the blend of love, grace, mercy, peace, patience, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, righteousness, justice. Oh yeah. >> All of that blended together forms one product. When you see him, instead of saying you are love, you end up saying you are holy. That's why they say holy, >> holy, >> holy, >> holy Lord God Almighty. Is this juice blend that you are looking at >> when he sits on the throne. So you are allowed to be like a cherubim. >> You are allowed to be like a seraphim. You are allowed to be like an elder. >> In that your imagination. Well, because you're allowed to go to with your imagination, you can visit anywhere. You can be anybody. You know, in your imagination, sometimes you choose to imagine yourself disappointed, frustrated, confused, dead, not making it. It's your choice. You are allowed one day to say, "Today I just choose to be a cherubim." >> Amen. >> I want to see what do they see. Glory to God. >> Hallelujah. >> One day you are allowed to be like an elder. Known elder or unknown, you know, one of the 24 elders or, you know, others beyond the 24. You see, you are allowed to to be any of those and visit. Hallelujah. >> Glory to God. >> Blessed be the name of the Lord. Glory to God. Can you just close them? Hallelujah. So you are allowed to be any that you want. In fact, the Bible even says you must set your affection above where Christ is seated. So you are even allowed to sit on the right hand. >> Huh? Instead of being there looking this way, you can be there looking this way and touching this way. The Bible allows you. He says set your affection. He says, you know, you determine intentionally, you put your mind there. So understand that where you set your mind, it's your choice. You can choose to set your mind on things that don't build you up and they won't build you up. >> Or you can choose to set your mind on things that pour foil on you. Holy goose foil. You can do that. It will build you up. The Bible recommends for us what to think. >> It says whatsoever things are true, are lovely, are honest, are of good report. >> Says if there is praise in those things, he says think on those things. >> Amen. >> That's so powerful. I don't think you fully understand what that scripture is telling us to do. What that scripture is telling us is you can choose what to focus on. >> Amen. Think what saves you. Don't think what does not save you. >> Amen. >> Think what helps you. Don't think what does not help you. Let's say somebody, somebody promised to send you money. And then they don't send it. They had made a promise. Now, what that scripture is saying is wherever you are, you may sit and you think how unfaithful they are, which is not going to help you. You may think how unkind they are. You may even think all the previous instances where they didn't keep the promise. >> Amen. >> When you think like that, will that save you? Will that help you? >> No. >> It won't. What that scripture is saying is choose what to think. >> Yes. >> Which is good for you. Such thoughts as, oh, they must have had a a bad day. Maybe where they are, things didn't go well. I know they will keep their word. It's okay. There must be a valid reason why they didn't send the money. Does that help you? >> Yes. Mhm. >> Does that give you headache? >> No. >> That's what the Bible is saying. Whatsoever things are true, are pure. In summary, it's saying think what helps you. Choose to think what helps you. And when you do that, because you are following that instruction, the Holy Spirit is obligated to lead your thoughts towards truth. So what you will find yourself thinking, it will be more and more closer to what really is the case than if you were thinking, oh, I know them. Oh, oh, oh. You see. Glory to God. >> Glory to God. >> Imagine here is a wife. The husband has not come back home. It's Friday night. Hasn't arrived. Normally arrives at 4:00 or 5:00. 3 hasn't arrived and she's there thinking, he probably got into a breakdown or something. Let me pray for him. Maybe where he is, there's no network, that's why he hasn't called me. So she starts, she, she thinks like that, which leads her into prayer. Amen. >> When she's praying, the spirit of God will lead her into the truth of what is happening there. >> And she will pray accordingly. Where he is in danger, the spirit of God will use that prayer to rescue him. If he had come under influence and he was deciding to go his way, the spirit of God will use you to address that thing and he will find himself not succeeding. If he was proceeding on the wrong direction, >> Glory. >> He'll find himself, I'm going back home. He'll find himself, uh, something will push him because even where he's going that wrong direction, he's being pushed by something. So evil is not of greater order than good. >> If evil is pushing him that way, good can be used and activated to push him that way. So the problem is people do not think in line with that prescription given to us in Philippians 4:8. Think what helps you. As you do, the Holy Spirit will incline your thoughts towards the truth of what is really happening. >> Amen. >> That was a sidewalk. >> Glory. Glory. >> We are still in this chapter, uh, of the restoration of the soul. And when we say restoration of the soul, we know that we have been allowed to understand that the soul is not only made of the, the mind, the will, the emotions. We also understand it's also a seat of the tam, the glory of God in the soul. That's what this chapter has taught us. Maybe outside what was generally known and we understood, which was true. It's just it was not complete. We are discovering and understanding ourselves and others and understanding God's plan and purpose. So the soul is the seat of the mind, the will, the emotions and the tam, the T is the glory of God in the soul. It is that surviving part of the soul >> that enabled men after the fall to still develop and to still live life here on earth. Even in the fallen state, he was able to plow. He was able to get fruits. He was able to do this. He was able to do this while it's buying time until the Messiah comes. We know that the, the effect of sin, even took long to move from the spirit into the physical body. >> Amen. >> To the time when Adam, the first man, died, it was around 930 years. It took almost a thousand years for sin to travel to the body. How long did it take to travel to the soul? Yeah, it will pass through the soul and go into the body. And you know, understand that Adam was a sinner but was not a sinner. That sounds like a contradiction. >> Amen. >> Okay. Adam, he disobeyed God. That was his act of disobedience which introduced sin. >> Okay. >> Amen. >> What other sins can you mention of Adam where you say he was cheating on his wife? Is he dead? >> No. Adam was drunk. Is he dead? No. >> He was smoking. >> No. Adam was angry. >> Huh? >> No. >> Do you hear all these things that now you find in the life of what is classified as sinners? Adam, did you know those things? So, we mustn't look down upon our father. Amen. He disobeyed God. But if we were to bring him and say, "Okay, let's put our father and all of us here." We will say he's an angel. >> This is an angel from the Lord. He didn't steal from anybody. Did he steal? >> No. >> We don't hear he stole. If he did something wrong, it would have been recorded for 930 years. He didn't do anything other wrong. That's why some people ask, did Adam make heaven? Of course. If Adam doesn't make heaven, there's no way you are making it. No way. You are not making heaven. If Adam doesn't make it, you are not. >> Amen. Their father came, made the correction and put made the clothes put on him and taught him the way of atonement, which is how he passed that knowledge to his sons. That's how they knew that they must build altars and they must offer to God. So when we talk Adam, we mustn't talk lightly. He is, he's our father. He's, he's not small. There are some things we know by experience. He doesn't know. Now you understand why even Lucifer, after the fall of Adam, he realized that it's still not going to be easy to just take charge of this creation. There is something that we still need to touch. Glory. >> So think about those things and I know that we are renewing our mind when we are thinking like that. Amen. >> Now we have shared that there are three things that are used to access and destroy tam. Those three things are anger, sexual immorality of the single or married, classified in scriptures as fornication for singles and then adultery for the married. And then, and that classification is telling you that this kind has its own impact and this kind has its own impact. And the third one was alcohol. So with the alcohol, I want to build upon that so that you can understand more about it. This is not just a teaching to get us excited. It's a teaching to deliver us so that if there be any amongst us who are still toying with that idea of alcohol, even on occasions, can understand that they are playing with that which was divinely or diabolically designed to access something in them. And there are others that have gone too far. And the further they've gone and the more alcohol has taken over them, it has destroyed their, and others, they are still in the early stages. So this kind of teaching will rescue those who have ears to hear who are about to go in >> and those who have ears to hear who are inside and those who have ears to hear who are okay today, but tomorrow there is a trap. And I'm going to show you in scriptures, I hope I'll touch on that, that you can be okay today, but in one of the coordinated attacks is to lead you into alcohol. Today you don't drink. >> Lord. >> Today you even say I will never drink. And you are telling the truth like Peter, Lord, I will not deny you. >> But when that force came, he was not ready for it. And the Bible says, if you fall on the day of adversity, your strength was small. The book of Proverbs, your strength was small. Which means your strength can be strong, can be in between, can be small. Your, your strength can vary. You can have strong days because maybe there are certain things that you do to renew your strength. Maybe there are certain things that you do to protect yourself from being drained in your soul and therefore you, you retain what you have. But there are days when there are days when the strength can be taken over because there is so much that's pulling your strength out of you. And that's why you need to know the things that take your strength. You know, there's many things that can spend your strength. Sometimes some of them, it could be debate, strife, many other things. So understand that if you stand on the day of adversity, it means on that day you were strong. So the teaching of God's word helps us, preparing us and ensuring that we retain our strength and on the day of adversity, we are strong enough and we stand. So which means today, a person can say, well, I will never drink alcohol, but now you are in a relationship that's going to drain you so much that marriage could be used to drain you so much until you resort to alcohol because of the problems you encounter. So I will show you tonight that alcohol has what I call direct impact and indirect >> impact. So I'll classify that for you so you can understand. So when I say direct impact, it's direct impact on the dham and the indirect impact on the dam. Okay. Maybe the first, um, uh, scripture that I want to draw to your attention, it's our key scripture in First Thessalonians 5:23, which was the prayer of Apostle Paul. And it's important this prayer, we look at it in the light of, um, the target audience that he was writing this to. The book of Thessalonians is known to be one of the very first books that was written to by Apostle Paul and he is addressing it to a church which was in Thessalonica. Now, Thessalonica is based in Greece, is still there to this day. Sorry, is still there to this day. What we saw last week was that among some of the struggles they had, it was that of drunkenness. And I'm going to show you tonight how that drunkenness affected one of the disciples >> and why the prayer is the restoration of the soul. That if the soul is not restored, a person is likely to go back to their sins. And if it's alcohol, it will pull that person back. That's what I'm going to show you. So, First Thessalonians 5:23. 1 Thessalonians 5:23. And the very God of peace sanctify you holy. And I pray God, your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The very God of peace sanctify you holy and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body. So the soul has to be whole. He's praying for them for their soul to be whole. Cuz if it's not whole, this could work against them. So in verse seven of the same chapter, we read, "For they," let's read six and seven actually. Therefore, let us not sleep as do others. So there were others who were asleep. M >> But let us watch and be sober. >> To be sober is an expression of the opposite of being drunk. For they that sleep sleep in the night. And they that be drunk are drunken in the night. So already you are hearing that if you were to go to Thessalonica, you will find Christians, the people who call themselves Christians who at night are found drinking and in the day they seem normal. And the spirit of God revealed that to Apostle Paul. Now, I do not think there is any man of God who thinks that everything everybody in the church that they are leading is living a holy life. I don't think so. Part of it is because you always have new people also coming in and they come with habits. Then you have old people. Some are progressing and they are conquering. But then some are regressing. And then over time, the older ones, they learn to live in sin or in wrongdoing and still praise God. They learn the Christian language, the Christian behavior, and they can be doing this and that and that and then they still show up like this and that because they have learned to behave that way. M >> So Apostle Paul, this is being revealed to him. It will be like the behavior of some brothers, Christian brothers that have a weakness of misleading women. If this Christian brother is single, you find that he has told up to five ladies and misled them and create an impression that he's going to marry them. >> And they don't know that he has done it to this one, that one, that one, that one. >> You have men like that. Some single, they have kids outside and they have given their life to Christ and now they come to church. They are looking forward to getting married. So they are single. They're not married. >> But they are misleading women. >> Amen. >> Not only in this church, but in other churches. If you were to gather, you will find a lot of them. And then you have divorced people. You have widowers that do that. You have people that mislead women, create an impression that because I'm single, I can talk to every lady, but what he's saying to this one and what he's saying to that one, that one, that one is misleading. Created impression that he's going to marry them. >> Even pastors do that. Amen. >> Single pastors, not all. Some have done that. Some do that. They are single because now they know they are single. Whether single because of divorce or single because they are not married yet. And you know, for Timothy, that's the area he was being told to watch. >> Will be careful how you relate with the women. The younger ones, you must relate to them as sisters. The older ones as your mothers. Glory. >> Because he can create an impression even among the older single women that he's going to marry them. And now he will even know how to behave while he's doing all of those. The only thing you will find out is maybe on the day he decides to marry one, then you'll realize the rot that this thing is deep. He has messed up young, old, messed up and created so much havoc. >> Glory. >> And you may have to do damage control. So, um, we thank God because the Bible records the things that happen in our lives. >> Amen. >> And therefore, that's the reason why you put measures in place. You put measures in place to maintain order. You can never assume because it's a church. Everybody who's talking to a young lady, they are having a holy conversation with a young lady. >> You, you can't assume that. Or if you do assume, ah, you will wake up and you will realize this thing is rotten. It's rotten to the core. So from the word go, start from the word go, you have to know if you are dealing with people, there's all possibilities. Now, for Apostle Paul, he realized by the spirit of God, and this is not the only church. I'll show you in Corinth who used to speak in tongues and prophesy and interpret tongues. They had their own rot, which included drunkenness, but their own was worse. It was drunkenness that was added with fornication and this all kind of, uh, things that you will normally find in the world. They were being mentioned, even things that were not found in the world. They were in the church. And one of the reasons is because the enemy also plants people that are not there because they love the Lord. >> They are there to defile the place and they will always find those who don't respect the order of that place because you will find people like that. You will find people that they have no respect for order of a place and therefore they are easy to be targeted and then when they wake up, they've gone down far down the road and it's difficult to recover them. So here in Thessalonica, there were people who were drinking. So when we start with the prayers, it's for you to understand there was a problem. >> Now, remember today, you may not be drinking, but this teaching is equally important to help you for tomorrow or to help you to help somebody. >> Glory. And you have instances where sometimes people, they know people who drink and they have responsibilities in the church and they keep quiet. They are waiting for the day when they will say, that person was found drunk and he got in an accident and maybe he died. That's when the Christians will come and say, I knew he was drinking. >> Your knowledge doesn't help because it could have come on time, perhaps to prevent this. You see, so people sometimes they hold back important information that will save the person and also save the place. You know, there are people who say, well, it doesn't matter if a person is doing wrong, it's them. It's between them and the Lord. It doesn't matter to us. If you read the story of Israel under Joshua and how they conquered big cities and were defeated at the hands of Ai, a small city called Ai. It whipped them. And when he was inquiring, he found out that, oh, there is power in corporate agreement. >> Yes. >> So corporate agreement is those things that we do together, the things that we agree as a group and say, we are fasting. If we are fasting, we are fasting. If you don't, if you break it, you can open the door for this corporate group. There was a man called Achan. He was of Judah. The instruction was clear. This city, when we take over it, because it's the first city in many cities, the first belongs to the Lord. So everything in it will be dedicated to the Lord. If it's gold, it will go to the Lord and it will be hallowed or set apart and be used in the tabernacle at that time because there was no temple. So Achan didn't know how important he is to the survival of the whole group. So what he did, he went, he got the gold, he took it and went to to buy to hide it. Now, unknown to Joshua, because there is not a leader who knows everything. >> Yes. >> There's not a leader who knows everything. Even God in the beginning, he taught us that look, don't just assume everything is known. That's why Adam, where are you? I'm looking for you. Where are Jesus said, who touched me? Are you listening? >> So Joshua didn't know. I am so sure there are people who had seen Achan. They saw him take the gold. They saw him disobey what was public instruction to maintain the order. And the one who instructed understood that the first city belongs to the Lord. If you take any of those things, it's cursed. Glory. >> It's a spiritual law. For you to gain access to all the cities, you must give him this one, the first one, which is Jericho. So he stole it. He went to hide it. He kept quiet. Then they go to the battle and they, they don't even send a lot of people. They send few because there, it's Ai, a small town. The big towns like Jericho have fallen down with their walls. Ai, it's nothing. Those people, they beat them, they chase them far, far. It will be like a team, you know, a soccer team. >> There is protocol and most people don't know this that when a big team is beaten by a small team, Real Madrid beaten by a small team in the second division, 3-2. Now you find there is protocol. There was instruction given to the teams because they are stars, they are big, they can undermine the power of protocol. Amen. >> Okay. Protocol can say, you are in the camp, don't bring ladies. Protocol can say, you are in the camp, don't sneak out and go to the nightclub and drink before the match. So the people say, oh, we are playing a second division team. So they go and they sneak out and they sneak back in. You find a big team playing with a, a small team from the second division. That team keeps protocol and therefore the power of corporate agreement, it's at work for them. >> Amen. >> So even when they are moving in the football field, when they are moving, what you don't see is the power that glues them together. M >> They're going to whip this team that was let down by one or two people who sneaked out >> and sneaked back in. And he's a midfielder, he's a striker, but he has a big name. That's how the mighty teams are beaten by small teams. It could be unknown to us. You know, there's, uh, this, uh, pastor of Sadok, the pastor, he's a pastor now. His name is Daribo West. Darbo West used to play for Nigeria national team, you know, he had a very unique hairstyle like, you know, um, he will hold his hair like this, like like women. So they went to the World Cup and at that time, Nigeria was very feared. Nigerian soccer team, Super Eagles, they were feared and they had succeeded and beaten few teams and they were on their way and progressing. Ah, and people could see, yeah, it looks like this African team is going to go all the way. So they lost the match under very strange circumstances. So the people, of course, were sad. It took years for this p for this man, no, to repent and become a pastor. Now he's a pastor now. Now he's narrating what happened. Mhm. He said, some of our players, just before the match, they were so relaxed, they went out, sneaked out and went with the girls of that territory of that place. I forgot where the World Cup was taking place, but it was, it was in Europe. So when they came to the field, they missed what is clear. They fall where they should not, where they should be standing. >> And the whole team suffered. The whole nation was disappointed. >> Yes. >> But they didn't know what happened. >> And some people don't know that even in, in, in World Cup, for an example, in World Cup, the teams that are ill-disciplined, those nations that are hosting, they release women or those who will cause disorder. >> Yes. >> Among them, knowing very well that just one or two or three of them that is key. If they get out, the whole team can lose. >> Because their has been accessed, which is their glory. And that glory, when you combine it together, if it's the glory of a small team, but it's together, it can beat a big team that is disjointed. That's how big teams often lose to the small teams is because there's no order. I hope you can bring this to workplace, church, everywhere. Your small team. You are a worship team, you have an agreement, stick to it, respect it. Whatever that agreement is. You are an evangelism team, you have an agreement, stick to it. >> Respect that power of agreement. So when things do not happen the way they should, the result is it impacts how that place relates with God. >> Amen. >> Praise the Lord. >> Glory. >> I hope you're with me. >> Amen. >> So in, in Thessalonica, they, they had a problem. They had a problem. It's a problem of drinking in the night. And the result was they were asleep and a lot of opportunities were passing by. Now, this thing affected one of the disciples of Paul. Paul loved him. He is one of those when you read the Bible, you really have to think and also meditate because the New Testament does not take time to go so much into the life of people. So whatever was happening, you have to get it one by putting together scriptures, that's one. You have to start there. Number two, you also have to meditate. You must, you must, must meditate. That's the bill of meditation is you get inside this man. He's called Demas. D E M A S. Demas was closed to Apostle Paul and he had traveled with him in his missionary journey. Now, Apostle Paul, he moved from one place to another. It seems when he was moving in the early stages, he went to this place, Thessalonica, which is the reason why he wrote them after he passed. Thessalonica today is called Thessaloniki. It's in Greece. It's the same place. It was one of the successful cities and most successful places. They also have a weakness of adopting things that nature the flesh. >> Most successful places, they appeal to the flesh. They are designed in what is called the world to pull people away from God. Unfortunately, that's what most of successful places are, especially if they don't want God or the mention of God there in. So, Thessalonica was very successful. >> Glory. >> But the, the people there were a lot relaxed and not so much u committed to digging into the word of God. So they were in general, what you will call light Christians. They were light and they liked it that way. But it comes with disadvantage. So as you can see, because of that lightness, some of them are drinking, they are doing some habits, they have some habits that are contrary to the character of Christ Jesus. So Demas, he went there, they passed together and everything was good. So when Apostle Paul was writing the letter to Colossi, which letter must be read in Laodicea. Remember Colossi, Laodicea, Hierapolis, they form a triangle, um, together in the western side of, of present day Turkey. So Laodicea was dealing with being lukewarm. Colossi had its own challenges. But the letter to Laodicea must be read here and vice versa. And you remember in Colossi, there's a teaching on, you know, we termed it the pastor's kid, referring to Archippus, and it's in our YouTube channel. He wanted to listen to that because he was a pastor's kid based in Colossi with his father, Philemon, and he's supposed to be a pastor in, uh, in Laodicea, and there are things that happened that really affected the young Archippus. So it's there, you can listen to it. It's one of the most important messages. So it's quite clear that there were challenges in that area, like every community, every church has got challenges. >> Glory. >> What's important is you have to know how the flesh works in that particular area so that you can overcome it and be effective as a minister of the gospel. >> There's not one place you will go here on earth where you can say, no, everything is perfect. You know, you have to learn the area. Glory to God. >> So this young man, in the first letter to the Colossians, in Colossians 4:14, we see how he recommends him. That's Apostle Paul. I want you to see. I mean, this is good. This is a letter just before Thessalonians name. So in chapter 4:14, he says, look, the beloved physician and Demas greet you. So Demas is with him. He's with Apostle Paul. He's with, um, uh, Luke, Dr. Luke. He says, "Greet you there." He is greeting the people where, in Colossi. And remember, it's verse, we're reading verse 14. It's when you go to verse 17 where it says, "And say to Archippus." So when that instruction is going concerning Archippus, take heed of the ministry which you have received of the Lord that you may fulfill it. Demas, it's aware of that instruction. >> Amen. >> And the spirit of God is instructing Archippus and planting a seed in Demas or Demas. You can start well and not finish well. So sometimes when the spirit of God is inserting that one in your presence, it's a warning to you. >> Amen. >> So don't just say, "Oh, he's talking to that one." He's also talking to you, but for tomorrow, not for now. >> He's talking to this one for now, but he's talking to you for tomorrow. He knows what's going to happen. So you can see there is very good relationship. And then his, remember, these books are all related. The book to Colossia, the Colossians, that same city is where Philemon is. Philemon is is a pastor there with his wife Apphia. They have a son called Archippus. He has got a slave called Onesimus. So the same letter that's written to the Galatians, Apostle Paul writes a personal one to Philemon. Okay, if you look at Philemon verse 24, because it only has one chapter. So whether you want to call it Philemon chapter 1, you know, chapter 1 verse 24 or just verse 24, look what he says. He says, "Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, which is L N, my fellow laborers." So at this point, Demas is a laborer. He's working. He's working hard. So this is in the beginning. Apostle Paul is towards the end of his life. For those who don't know, at the end of his life, Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy in Second Timothy. That book, Second Timothy, is the last book that Apostle Paul wrote. >> Glory. >> And there he starts to speak about some of the things that were happening. Now, let's go to 2 Timothy chapter 4. We are putting scriptures together so you can see that the New Testament relates to us to what's happening with us. >> Amen. We thank God for the old because he does tell you details about this person. Okay, he gives more details rather in 2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 10. Look at verse 9, 10 and 11. Okay. "Do your diligence to come shortly unto me." To whom is he speaking? He's speaking to Timothy, his son in the faith. But that was not his only son. Titus is one of his sons. Demas is one of his sons and many others. So he's telling him, "Do your diligence to come shortly unto me, for Demas has forsaken me." That word forsaken, it means Demas to desert. He has deserted me, to abandon, to leave behind. He says he has left me, having loved this present world. He grew to love it. But the scripture is clear, which world? Because the world, which is the way of living, which is antichrist, it dominates different areas differently. So the world that he loved, that appealed to him, its appeal was so strong, it pulled him towards it and to leave this man, to forget the greetings and the letters that he helped. That world was was in Thessalonica. It says he loved this present world, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica. Now, with the rest, like Crescens went to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia, they didn't forsake him. They have left. They have gone where they've gone, but it is being forsaken by Demas that he hit Apostle Paul. God. >> And here is my question. According to the scriptures, >> what appealed to Demas in Thessalonica? Alcohol. They were drinking. Everything else that goes with that alcohol, yes, it will come with it. But the biggest appeal for him was what? Alcohol. Now, watch this. This is, um, why we're leaning because alcohol has a way by its own design, has a way to pull you back when you face challenges where you are. I'll repeat that. When you are walking with God and then you face challenges, this is first and foremost for those who, who used to drink. Alcohol is a way to pull you back.
There because you are facing difficulties there. Because remember the Bible says give alcohol to him that is ready to perish and him that is ready to forget his misery. The one who says give it to me so I can forget my miseries. Amen.
Which means you are likely to drink alcohol by reason of difficulties you experience where you are because it appeals as a way to help you forget your challenges where you are. So you have to put walls in place. If you used to drink one, you say if you go and experience difficulties in your family, in your marriage or in the workplace, how are you going to deal with it? There is a way, a godly way to deal with challenges. Is any afflicted? Let him do what? Let him see. Let him pray. Actually, is there any happy? Let him see. Is any afflicted? Let him pray. There's a way to respond to the different emotions of our lives.
But alcohol is an appealing way, an easy way to go. So remember, Apostle Paul where he is when he wrote this second Timothy, he was in prison. It was his second imprisonment in Rome from which he's going to die. So that difficulty in Rome for him. This young man Demas, he can't stand it anymore. I I'm here uh with this old man here and he's going through what he's going through and opportunities are passing me by in Thessalonica. I'm going which means Apostle Paul for him to know that Demas loved this present work and he's departed to Thessalonica it means he told him he could hear in his conversation with the young man is going backwards. Remember when it's a correction for one, it's a warning for tomorrow for somebody. I want you to see what does happen sometimes when a minister is dealing with disappointment. Listen to this. He says only Luke verse 11 only Luke is with me. I'm sure even Luke he will want to say well look don't don't call me only Luke because I'm here. Glory to God. I'm sure Dr. Luke wants to be called Dr. Luke is with me instead of only Luke. Some of you don't get it. Only Luke is with me. He says, "Take Mark." Uh-uh. Mark, the one who in the early stages of your ministry, you said he mustn't come with you.
Yes. This is John Mark, the nephew of Barnabas, the son of Mary who had a church in Jerusalem. He says, "Oh, take Mark and bring him with with you, for he is profitable to me for the ministry." Uh-huh. Wow. I want you to hear so we can learn something here. He says, "Take Mark. This is John Mark. He's profitable. In the past, he was not." Amen.
And here is the value of people who have been trained well. I want to emphasize that and I will also touch on Timothy. The difference between Timothy and Demas. The difference between John Mark and Demas. This is a sidewalk. It will help you in your life also. When people are trained well, especially from young age, they may miss certain things. However, in the long run, when it's tough, those are some of the most reliable people. John Mark was raised very well from his uncle to his mother. Barnabas is his uncle. His mother is Mary. They have a church. He has been trained well. He missed it in the early stages of Apostle Paul's ministry where he was distracted and was not profitable at that time. That's why I said he must go back. But because he has been trained well, he is more reliable and more profitable at the time when the former drunkard is gone back.
Are you listening to me? M here is the balance that sometimes you need to have in your life so that you don't go to the extreme of failure and disappointment. It's good to blend new and old. The people who are well trained and the people who struggle. Some of them will be very successful. But some of them when they go and get stuff tough they go back to the old habits. And you can remain with people who have been trained well from young age because that training is so much in them. There are certain habits that first of all they didn't even develop them. They didn't even have those. If they have failed, it's because they went back when you should have gone together to the missionary field. Look at the end of Apostle Paul's life. The one who's profitable, it's John Mark.
Glory. The one who's failing him is the one who has come when he came in. He came in with the habit of drinking and has gone back where they drink the most. And you can be a Christian and you drink. Are you listening? The the disappointment that he's experiencing at the hand of Demas is so extreme he writes it it recorded eternally this is this is the Bible forever it's recorded Demas for forsook me. Can you imagine what's going on into this? So Apostle Oh, is recording this because this has crushed him when he saw Demas and his zeal in the beginning. He was happy. He was happy to include him when he write Colossians Philemon. He greets you. He's my fellow laborers. He's he was working hard. But when the going gets tough and the pressure the Bible says having loved this world which means the world started to work on his soul. He forsook him and our Apostle Paul is made to value the one he thought he was not profitable in the beginning. Are you with me? Glory. Whom is he saying must also come to him according to that verse 9? He's saying Timothy. Who is he calling? He says, "Do your diligence to come unto me shortly." It's Timothy. What is the strength of Timothy? What's the strength of u John Mark? It's heritage of faith. It's heritage of what? Of faith. Timothy himself, his heritage of faith, it is clearly outlined in 1 Timothy chapter 1. And I'm doing this so you can also then understand the context of the advice that was given to him concerning wine. Okay. In first, this is actually 2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 5. When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded that in you also. Apostle Paul is telling Timothy, you have a good heritage of faith which started with your grandmother and your mother and has passed on to you. On top of that, there are things you received by the laying on of our hands and the hands of the elders. This is we invested a lot in you because of your heritage. Look at the end of his life. He's calling for who? For Timothy. Come shortly. He's calling for who? John Mark. Bring him with. Why? Because of heritage. Heritage. It does help.
There are some people they've been trained from young age in the things of God. Right? No matter how difficult it is, they will not turn to black label.
They will not turn to Amsterdam. They won't turn to the high grade sme brandy vodka whiskey distilled the high grade. They won't turn back there. And it doesn't mean if you come from there you can turn back or you will turn back. Doesn't mean you will turn back. You can turn back. You don't have to.
And this teaching is to prevent that.
Amen. That difficulties come.
The temptation will be there. And for you it's a temptation because you were once in that world to go back there and be like Demas. Now there are people that like to quote the scripture a little while. It's even in the Bible.
Okay, let's see. To whom was this said?
What kind of a person was this said? Did he say that to Demas? Huh?
He said this to Timothy. Who's Timothy? He was raised up well. His grandmother was not drinking and teaching him to drink. His mother was not drinking and teaching him to drink. And he has been stationed where in Ephesus. At Ephesus, there was a problem with water. That water was not good for him. He didn't come from Ephesus. I'm referring to Timothy. Timothy came from Galatia region. Yes, the Galatia region when we look at present day Turkey, they all are part of Turkey. But Galatia is towards the central eastern side whereas Ephesus is towards the west. So moving from one place to another you change the climatic conditions the environment changes. So he has been moved from Lystra. He grew up in Lystra. His father was Greek. His his mother was a Jew and grandmother was a Jew. So he has been sent into this notorious city of Ephesus where the kingdom of darkness is so well structured. And because of that heavy influence of darkness in that place even the environment they had started to temper with it.
You understand that?
They temper with it. With their sacrifices. Remember they sacrificed to in the temple they sacrificed to the to Diana the great. What are they doing to the waters in Ephesus? Huh? What are they doing? They're sacrificing sacrificing to Zeus. And Zeus liked pigs. So some of of the the streams they they they they threw a a dead pig as part of sacrifice and they threw it at the source and the water flows. Pastor Timothy is new to the place. He doesn't know that that stream you don't drink from there. That one you don't drink from there. That one you don't drink. No, he just takes. He drinks. He realizes every time he has got stomach problems, got stomach problems in this foreign place, he prays, he fasts, he prays. The only relief he gets is when he's ministering under the anointing, that thing is suspended. After that, he's on his own. Maybe you don't see it, but can you see Pastor Timothy running during the the the preaching? He say, "Please sing." Hallelujah. Pray in tongues. Pray in tongues. I'm coming. He runs. He's going to the bathroom. And these things are reported to his spiritual father. Your son here in in Ephesus, he doesn't finish the sermon. Five times he ran to the bathroom. And for a while now he's not preaching. But even when he's not preaching, he keeps going and they see the problem we have is he's he's still young. This is not an age matter. You know, as people age, they do go to the bathroom a little bit more. But when they are young and they keep going to the bathroom, they they are going through Timothy syndrome. If you have a young person who always always in the bathroom all the time, if it's a season, yes, where you say, okay, maybe now they've eaten something that is not good for their system. Now they are going up and down. BUT IF THE WHOLE YEAR a young person goes to the bathroom in a church service five times, either they are smoking or they are busy doing something wrong there or there is something wrong. I honestly don't that's that's a picture I want you to get of Pastor Timothy. He was stationed at Ephesus. If you read he says I sent you there so there to make sure there is order certain order certain things that are lacking there. It's to this man who has a grounding that this advice is given. So let's read that advice because this is the one that most people they like to quote. You know, 1 Timothy chapter 5 verse 23. Drink no longer water. Do you hear?
He is telling him but the spirit of God remember at this time Dr. Luke is not with Timothy where he can diagnose him and say I'm seeing some bacteria. What are you drinking?
No, he he can't. Apostle Paul by praying for him he get a revelation maybe checks it with Dr. Luke to say doctor this is what comes to me to recommend for my son do you think this will work and Dr. Luke says perfect, perfect.
So he writes he drink no longer water which means you will never find him drinking that water where at Ephesus. He's not saying you must no longer drink water forever in your life. No, if he finds himself in Lystra which is in Galatia,
he's going to drink water. But here at that time you understand at that time if you are talking today we know today water can be purified, right?
Yes. Water can be cleaned but they didn't have those systems at that time. Drink no longer water but use a little wine. He can use a little wine. He can afford to. Why his heritage?
If he use little it's not going to become so much more. He doesn't have the same weakness as Demas if you understand. But use a little wine for what? For your stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. He had infirmities that way natural. What do we mean by natural? This is a change of environment. It's when people sometimes the place they live, their system is not adapting quickly. So he has a certain weaknesses. The spirit of God still gives this advice to people today where you will tell others stop taking sugar and he tell others use a little bit more salt or lower your salt taking. Take some salt. Lower the salt. There was a preacher who was conducting a big crusade in South America. People were getting saved but he realized at after the service he will he was so weak and like he was sickly and it went on for days but when he gets to the meeting people will get healed. So he started to seek the face of God. What is what what's the issue with me? And the Lord told him add a little bit more salt to your food. He added salt and he was okay.
And he said when he was eating, you'll add a little bit more salt and he was okay. So the spirit of God still gives this advice.
Amen. It's not limited to wine. Those who go for wine is because they want to hide behind this scripture. But the context of this scripture is the man to whom it was said. It's a man whose foundation is not based on being taught to drink by his grandmother and mother.
Amen. You can't give this recommendation to a person who has a drunkard and say use a little wine. Ah, you are giving him a license to finish the waton.
Are you with me?
Glory to God. Now you're with me. Praise the Lord.
Glory. Isn't it amazing that pastor Timothy is told here drink no longer white um water drink no longer water use a little wine? Do you know what happened when he gave that advice to him? Do you know what happened? There are the efficient Christians they found him that their pastor is taking little wine. He's taking little wine. It's taking little wine. Oh, that flesh in them said, "Ah, our pastor is drinking." We even heard that his spiritual father, the great apostle, is the one who told him to drink. Do you know what they did? They started to drink. That's why he had to write Ephesians chapter 5. Ephesians chapter 5 is Apostle Paul talking to the Ephesian Christians correcting when sometimes you give advice you are telling this couple because you are dealing with this do that. So look at Ephesians chapter 5. You know this one. So in second Timothy or in first Timothy Apostle Paul says drink a little wine. But to whom is he saying these people are going to find out over there pastor is drinking a little wine. Look at Ephesians 5:18. And be not drunk with wine. He's correcting something. I see many of you are drunk with wine because you see your pastor is taking a little a little while.
Look, I just want to put a disclaimer. I'm not taking a little while.
Okay, I just want to put it out there.
So, I'm not defending any pastor. I'm trying to give you context so you can understand scripture here.
Glory to God.
Glory. And so he is addressing the result of those that may have witnessed and they are going overboard. Most Christians are not aware that when you come to Christ based on your history, based on your life and also the calling of God in your life, there are certain added instructions that can be given for you only. It's not for the for everybody.
Amen. You know, it's just for you. You keep that for you or your family. It's not for everybody. Glory to God.
Glory to God. Are you still here? Can I hear you shout aloud?
Amen. Amen. Glory to God. Glory to God. Amen. Praise the Lord. Now I wanted to show you that in these cases that we have read there are instances where the Christians are going back into drunkenness and they shouldn't and that's why the spirit of God there advice is that don't be drunk with one whereing his ex says be filled with the spirit which means the alternative of what alcohol will achieve. It will be achieved by the spirit of God in holiness and righteousness. But you will be drunk in the spirit. I don't know if you know to be drunk in the spirit. If you have ever been drunk in the spirit that one you have to experience it yourself. And there it tells us how to be drunk. So it doesn't just say be drunk in the spirit. It tells you how to how to drink.
It says speaking to yourself in Psalms. Which means you can speak in Psalms or the word the revelations that are coming unto you. You can speak them out until you are drunk. Now that you have to experience it and you do and you can you can be filled with the spirit and feel again and again and again. He says speaking to yourself in psalms and singing singing by singing you can be drunk in the spirit. You can be filled with the spirit and you are drunk. Those who meditate on God's word, they can tell you that you can meditate and be drunk and scream and sometimes you can even lose your um almost the consciousness of your environment. You are drunk. You're filled with the spirit. Glory.
Now, if you have not experienced it, you may think it's not true, but it is true. It's high, high in the Holy Ghost. And when you are in that atmosphere, when you are drunk, you see when people are drunk with beer, they are not afraid. When you are drunk in the Holy Ghost, fear goes away, too.
Amen. I remember an incident years ago. I was uh we were in a fast with uh my brother um pastor Matella somewhere there in Krugerg Kruger Kruger. So there's a Christian camp. So we went up you you stay in the camp which is in a valley you go up the hill you know you are there you will be you are fasting you are praying so you come down you they've got uh what they call them the doms where you stay very very basic you know it's not very comfortable because you are there for retreat you know so we go up we come You know now that place his neighborhood you know so this other that day we went up it's fasting and prayer so in there we're doing um what I call psalms festival just to scream psalms meditating out loud speaking to yourself in Psalms doing that and I was in Psalm 91 and that sound he took me into the drunk state.
And there's a man coming because he says we are making noise.
And I think the noise was more than just natural because it's a mountain and the houses are over there and this guy came but he finds me drunk in the spirit by speaking in psalms and this guy I charge towards him and when I charge I'm doing this and speaking in tongues the psalms has taken me into the tongue language speaking in tongues and doing this pointing at him like speaking in tongues, not speaking English. He was Portuguese. The guy had a had a gun, a gun like a gun in his hand because I think he had suffered break in in his house. So when he heard the noise on the top, maybe he thought it's thieves. But you know thieves usually they don't they don't shout.
Yes. You know, they don't say I'm here. You know, if if he was brought in by the noise, man. I got there. I saw the gun, but I'm okay. It's after and he left and I'm down. You know, you get filled. You become so man. I was I was shaking. I'm thinking why did that guy shot? But I realize when you are in that state um you are not afraid. Number two, goodness and mercy surrounds you.
Amen. That evil evil it's outside your world. Evil it's outside your world. It's outside. And that's why that guy, even though I was coming to him pointing like this, speaking in a language he doesn't understand, but I was speaking in tongues. I don't know if maybe it was Portuguese. I don't know. Because that guy was Portuguese. Maybe I was talking to him. You must never don't even try it. I DON'T KNOW. BUT I was speaking in tongues and going like this towards him. He didn't even, you know, put it out. So I realize when you are in that state filled with the spirit speaking to yourselves in psalms singing you know making melodies spiritual songs in your heart to the lord when you're in that state evil it's in another state but the state you are in is of a higher order than that. What?
In that realm, in that realm, you can say you're untouchable.
Glory. Amen. You see, the same way people are drunk in the natural, they feel I'm untouchable.
But they are touchable because that level they are in, it's still reachable by evil.
But that one, it's not. It is in that realm that the master left the mountain and he went to walk on the water.
Yes. Remember the day he walked on the water?
Mhm. And the disciples saw him. Do you know why they are afraid? They were afraid. Shall I tell you the story?
Yes. In Galilee, in that Sea of Galilee, the fishermen they used to have ghost story. The ghost story of that area was there are people that have seen the ghost walking on the water. And when it when it walks on the water, when you see the ghost walking on the water as a fisherman with your boat, the next thing is your boat capsizes and you drown and you die and you form part of the next ghost. So every time if they see a ghost walking on the water, they know we are going to die. So that's why when they saw Jesus, they said, "We are finished." That's why Peter because he was well he knew that story is because these people are going to die anyway if it's you because we're going to die anyway. If it's you let me come so these ones can remain here and have to be with you. You see that's why it was it's more the tradition that had set them up for for that kind of fear. That's a sidewalk. But understand that the master himself when he was coming from that mountain, what do you think he was doing? Filled with the spirit.
Amen. What was he doing? He was talking to himself in Psalms when it says the whole night. Do you think when Jesus was praying the whole night, he was say, "Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God." You think that's what he was doing. Help me. Help me. Help me. Help me. No, he's speaking to himself in Psalms.
Glory. He's singing. He's making melody in his heart to the Lord, to the father, filled with the spirit. From that atmosphere, he walked. Instead of being drunk, be filled with the spirit.
Amen. What the alternative? Be filled with the spirit.
What if I'm going through a lot? Be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Amen. Then don't go back like Demas.
Be filled with the spirit. Gloring to yourselves. That's what the Bible says. speaking to what?
To yourselves. It doesn't say speaking to God. Yes, you can talk to God. It's all right. Verse 18 and verse 19. Ephesians chapter 5 verse 18 and 20. Be not drunk with wine wearing his excesses, but be filled with the spirit. And they say how speaking to yourselves. It says this one works by speaking to yourselves not to others. It says to yourselves. Speaking to yourselves, huh? In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. So which means the psalms when they are being spoken to yourself, they have ability to elevate you and to get into being filled with the spirit of God is as giving thanks. Oh, before I come to that, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Can everyone sing? The answer is yes. But not everyone must release the album. Not everyone can release an album which is okay. But everyone should be able to sing. It says singing. So singing for those who don't prefer speaking, let them sing as they see. If their mind is set right,
they will be filled with the spirit.
Glory. Singing and making method in your heart to the Lord. Okay. I I don't prefer singing. I don't prefer uh uh speaking somebody says then say give thanks glory.
Give thanks do thanksgiving just thank God for everything soon you will see that complain leave you that negative atmosphere leave you give thanks it says for what always for all things for what?
All things. Give thanks for the tomatoes.
Give Give thanks for the dogs. Give thanks FOR THE PLATES. FOR ALL THINGS, OH, you say, "I can't see. I don't know psalms." And you know the psalms are not the only ones written in the Bible. By the way, there are some that you can produce, but these ones are the launching pad. You start with the ones we know and they will give you your own language, your own psalms.
Glory, glory. But he says, give thanks always for all things. Do you know if you are feeling down and discouraged for whatever reason, if you start to see, I give thanks to God. I give thanks to God for this. I give thanks to God for this. Maybe you were seeing a lot of lack that made you feel depressed. When you do like the psalmist says in Psalm 103, "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within. Bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, oh my soul. Forget not all his benefits." And you start counting the benefits. You start counting the benefits. Even if you're feeling depressed, down, cast down, you will come out of that depressed land.
Glory. You'll get into the spirit land. That thanksgiving will elevate you to the spirit land. And when you are there, mistakes are suspended.
Glory. Glory to God. When you are there, limitations are suspended. Fear is arrested. When you are there, even weakness is turned into strength.
When you are in that lane, then you will be able to say, "It's not my mind. It's not by power. It's by the spirit of God."
Hallelujah. Glory. There's an alternative to being drunk. It's to be filled with the spirit or to be drunk in the spirit. For others, it's laughter. And I think that grace has been left dominant laughter. The grace that was this portion of manifestation of the spirit of God was introduced by Dr. Hodney Rodney Howard Brown South African minister evangelist.
He's based in the United States now. mighty men of God to come out of South Africa, him and his wife. And people in their meetings, they laugh. And when they're laughing, you look at them, you laugh because of the way they're laughing. And you end up laughing and you enter in there. They pull you in. And people get healed doing that.
People get delivered. So there is an alternative to to being drunk is to be filled with the spirit. Be filled with the spirit. He says giving thanks. Can't you give thanks? You can give thanks.
Then the fourth one is submitting. He says submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Can I be filled with the spirit by submission? Yes. He says the spirit of God will fill you when you are submitting which means the posture of the soul when you are submitting the form of humility that is involved it's a candidate. to form a container that the spirit fills.
You are humble so he fills you. It means those who submit, they will discover certain manifestations of the spirit of God in their life that you will not find in those that are always fighting, always demanding their rights, demanding their opinion in everything and this submission is not talking in marriage context. It says submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. So how do you get filled with the spirit? By speaking, by singing, by giving thanks, and by submitting. Now these things are given to us to explore and experience them. Instead of saying well I don't know if it works each of us is supposed to choose one if we have not experience and say let me go with this one I want to test this how to be filled with the spirit and be transported into this spirit world the spirit land and he says this you can do you don't need other people so you don't need to be in church to speak to yourself. You don't need to be in church to sing and make melody. You can do it on your own. You can can even do it when you're in the kitchen.
You can be in the kitchen and you're singing. You can be in the kitchen and you are speaking to yourself busy. Glory to God.
Glory to God. Is there an alternative? So Demas instead of going back what must you do? Be filled with the spirit. How? Speak to yourself. This is the way to do things as Christians. Even when you are experiencing difficulties in the workplace, in the marriage, don't go into drinking. There's a better alternative, a better world than the brandy world, whiskey world, vodka world. Higher than vodka, higher than brain whiskey, the spirit land. Hallelujah.
Glory to God. Glory to God. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. I will I will post it here. I believe we will go into the direct and indirect impact of alcohol on the tam how it affects people directly and how it affects other people where a person's dam can be affected because somebody in your life has made the wrong decisions under the influence of alcohol. But for tonight, this is sufficient.
Hallelujah. Be filled with the spirit. Be filled with the spirit. And it's also said in the last days, I'll pour out of my spirit upon all flesh. Are you looking for a tavern? That is Joel's tavern. Are you looking for a nightclub? That's Joel's nightclub.
And you will see it's written, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh. Daughters, sons shall prophesy. They will be filled with the spirit. And then when you enter in, when you order one of that liquid, it's written, speak to yourselves. So if you go in, you find people, others are speaking to themselves and they are drunk. Others are singing and they are drunk. Others are just giving thanks and they are drunk. Others are experiencing the benefits of submission. So those ones they are drunk they meditate when they are in that tavern Joel's tavern that's what I'm calling Joel's tavern they are thinking about the benefits the results the power of submission as they dwell on that thought the spirit fills them Hallelujah.
Glory. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Let us pray. Our father, we are so grateful for the word of God and the invitation to come on in Joel's tent and be filled with the spirit.
Where we are not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but we are filled with the spirit of the living God. speaking to ourselves in psalms, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things. Hallelujah. Submitting ourselves one to another in the fear of God. Thank you for your word that help prevent us from becoming casualties like Demas who retained, departed, went into the world like in Thessalonica. But we can live in victory here and now. And we thank you for the victory. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. And we have the victory now. Thanks be to God who always cause us to triumph. Hallelujah. In Christ Jesus and by Christ Jesus. Thank you that you have enriched us in all things in utterance, in knowledge, in understanding, in visions, in revelations, in being filled with the spirit. You have enriched us in everything. We come behind you no gift and we give you all the glory, the honor and the adoration for it. Thank you for binding us together with these cords of revelation that are not quickly broken in Jesus mighty name. Thank you that you are visiting your people. You are reaching out to them and showing them these things that they are yours and they are theirs. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. Glory to God. Hallelujah. Thank you so much for your time. Thank you for joining us and staying with us tonight. God richly bless you.
Be not drunk with wine wherein is a excess but be filled with the spirit in Jesus name. Hallelujah. We'll see you tomorrow. Those who can join us for prayer. Join us. Let's pray together in the morning between 5 and half 5 and again on Sunday. Looking forward to seeing you. Maintain your shine and keep your taste your T. Preserve it. Keep it in Jesus mighty name. Let's take the grace. Surely surely goodness and mercy offer days. God bless you. Shalom.