DEALING WITH CHURCH HURT AND TRAUMA

Ambience TV dealing with what church arts, um, and what trauma. And this is quite, um, a much-needed conversation now in these days and time, particularly as we approach the coming of Jesus. Um, one of the signs that we are close to the coming of Jesus that Jesus told us in Matthew 24 is the sign of offense. Okay. Is the sign of what? Offense. There is no matter as touching church that will not be touched, including scandals among leaders of church. So we're going to flip everything open and trust God to help give beyond this generation a solution that will last. Amen. Now these are teachings that will be relevant even for years to come. Now turn your Bibles quickly to Matthew chapter number 24. I will read from verse 3, then we will jump. Is that okay? Now Matthew 24, I will read from verse 3, then we will jump. And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be, and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and to the end of the world? And Jesus said unto them, take heed that no man deceive you. I mean, that's, that's a profound one. The first point I gave to the signs of his coming is what? Deception. He said, for many will come in my name saying, I am Christ, and shall deceive many. Then he went on to talk about wars and rumors of wars that we're going to see in different places. But I, I jump— please permit me to go to verse 8, and then we read to 10. Matthew 24, from verse 8 to 10. He said, all these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you. And you shall be hated. Look at it. He said, you shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. Then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate one another. And whether we like it or not, the picture of what is painted here happens in church. People get deceived in church. People get hated in church, people get betrayed in church, and all sorts of things happens in church. Now let me give a background to this teaching. Sometimes when we hear about church hurt, it is very possible for us to be one-sided and think that church hurt is just about membership ought, but pastors also get ought to. And as a matter of fact, the reason why it is possible for a pastor to bleed on the congregation is because he's not healed. So you, you can be a pastor and be traumatized. Are you with me now? Oh yes. You know, um, I gave an illustration a while back about a boxing match that I watch. I'm a big boxing fan, and, um, it was the fight between Anthony Joshua and Klitschko. If you're a boxing fan in the house, say amen. We are not many, but we shall be many. And it was one of the toughest, um, fights in recent times. And, um, eventually Anthony Joshua won the match, but something happened after that fight. It was observed that his punching capacity, the aggression he had reduced. He fought the likes of Andy Ruiz and was beaten black and blue. It's not easy. Came back, collected the belt. Then we had the likes of the recent guy, what's his name again? Huh? No, not Ngannou. Ngannou is If you're a Cameroonian, don't come for me. All right, so, but what I— where I'm going is that one of the analysts was analyzing what happens in boxing, and he said there are times you fight an opponent that takes you to a distance that you don't want to go. He said when you get to such points, you don't want to get there again in your life. So you see that boxers who used to be aggressive lose their aggressiveness. Because they don't want to get to that. You may win, but I just don't want to get to that point with anyone again. It's trauma. So it is possible to have an experience in church somewhere and you decide, I'm not going to leave church for anybody, I might change church. But I will never be a worker in any church, or I will never get to the point where I'm close to any pastor, or I will never be a leader in any church. I will serve God, I will do my stuff, but just leave me there. You see, If you notice an attack in an area, it is because there is a call of destiny around that area. I just have a plea: it is possible to be hot. In fact, it is insensitive to say there's nothing like church hot. There is, there is. But never let anyone throw you out of your calling because of their perception about you. When our ministry was starting, a pastor called one of my friends and said, you see that guy, he said, he can't amount to anything in life. And this is a man I've served under. Was I hurt? Yes, but he's not God. One of the worst things that can happen to a believer is to serve under a pastor that hates you. But is it possible? Yes, it is. Are you with me now? Let me give you a bit of background to the conversation. Are you there? Can I give you 30 seconds to just pray in the Holy Ghost? Please do so now. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus' mighty name we're praying. Now look at this. The church, just like any other institution on earth, is not a perfect place. The church is not what? A perfect place. There's no perfect church. Maybe if there was any time in history that there should have been a perfect church, it should have been the congregation of Jesus and the disciples, but it wasn't perfect. In fact, I'm not sure I want to pastor those kind of people. Because that was a tough one. Peter, that one, he has his own cutlass, just kept it one side. When it gets to where it gets to, we know what to do. James and John, they still have the skill of calling down, calling thunder. Whether it's voodoo, I don't know. When it gets to Baba Jesus, we call Thunder. Thomas, anything Jesus is teaching now, he's just in there. Judas, he's only interested in the sermon. When Jesus talk about money, anything has to do with money, busy calculating how to make money. He will be missing in class. Where are you? He's gone to eat. He's spending church money. That, that should have been the most perfect gathering, but alas, it wasn't. In Matthew 21, Peter took all the rest of them, said, let's go and fish. It wasn't perfect. In Acts 1, they didn't even know the mission and the vision statement. They were confused guys. They didn't know why Jesus came still. Someone said, if you see a perfect church, don't join. You know why? Because you are not perfect. The day you join, you destroy their perfection. So I, I want us to deal with this first in our minds. There is no perfect church anywhere. There's no perfect pastor anywhere. None. And that's why if you pay attention to Um, what Paul said in the book of Ephesians chapter number 4. Ephesians chapter number 4, let's start the reading from verse 11. Says Ephesians 4 from verse 11, says, and he gave some apostles and some prophets and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the work perfecting of the saints. All right, that's a present continuous, um, word used there. So it means the saints will keep getting perfected till he comes. So it's not something that will be done once. Are you with me now? All right, we— it is a continuous process. As members of a local assembly, there's going to be issues. Maybe somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed and somebody met that person when entering church and say, good morning. Now, so they do for here, and that's why you must understand Where there is no expectation, there's no frustration. Don't expect the church to be perfect. Till Jesus come, we're in this boat. We'll have to manage ourselves. Aha. Okay, the same way marriage— in marriage, nobody's what? Perfect. Ah, you don't know. So the church is not a perfect place. The church, though often referred to as the bride of Christ, is not a perfect bride, but she'll be perfected when the groom appears. Now there are two aspects of the church you have to understand. I'm going to show you the basics. This is me introducing. Number one, the church is both an organism. Number two, and then The church is an organization. The church is both an organism and what? An organization. I'm going to tell you what that means in a moment. Are you there? As an organism, it means the church is a living entity. So If we look at the root word of the word church, ecclesia, which means out of representation, house of synod, talks about the gathering of the called-out ones. But the church is also any believer that is born again and Spirit-filled who has now become the temple of the Holy Spirit. Is that okay now? Now, as a background, it is important that the church is not a building. The best a building can be is an auditorium where the church gathers. Are you there? This is an auditorium. You know, years back, I was privileged to lead a church, not Sphere of Light Church, And we started building. And one of those days, God showed me a vision. I saw we're building two things. I saw that the auditorium was rising, but the church was dilapidated. So the best we can build by hand is an auditorium, but we are the church. We are temple of the living God. We are the one in whom he dwells. Are you with me? Say loud and clear, I am the church. So when we refer to the church as the bride of Christ, you are the bride of Christ. You are that bride, the one that he purchased with his precious blood. And like I said, that bride is not what, perfect. So church as an organism describes us as a living component We are alive. But also, because the church is not just an individual, the church is also where two or three are gathered. For instance, let me show you something. Acts of the Apostles, chapter number 12. Turn your Bibles there, Acts of the Apostles chapter number 12. We have a very interesting scripture to read here. All right, so it's the story of how Herod took James and killed him, and the Bible said when he saw that he pleased the Jews, um, he went on to pick Peter also. All right, now look at this in verse 5. The Bible says Peter therefore was kept in prison But prayer was made without ceasing of who? The church for him. For instance, look at the book of Acts of the Apostles, chapter number 6, from verse 1. Acts 6, from verse 1. Turn your Bibles there quickly. Now, if you look at this from verse 1, says, in those days when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose murmurings of the Grecian Jews against the Hebrews because their— their what? Widows were neglected in daily ministration. Then the 12 called a multitude of disciples unto them and said, it is not a reason that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you 7 men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. Now the word business there doesn't mean that the church is a business center. As a matter of fact, give me this verse 3 in Amplified Translation. Okay, now look at this. Therefore, brethren, choose from amongst you 7 men with good reputations, men of godly character and moral integrity, full of the Spirit and wisdom, whom we may put in charge of what these task. Now, what are they talking about? They were growing and the administration was wumbling. So it means some people were getting hot that, oh, um, look at it, um, they've neglected our own. Now, you must understand, let me take you to the background. The Hebraic Jews, all right, and the Grecian Jews— the Grecian Jews were the, like, the enlightened ones. You see that now? Because this is a cosmopolitan environment. So they were the ones saying, oh, is it because there are new guys who are enlightened now? So you are, you are forgetting us, you are neglecting our widows in daily ministration. So it means that nothing was wrong with the church as an entity, as individuals, but something was wrong with the management system. Now we must understand this, particularly for those that the call of God is upon your life, and for those who have questions about how church runs, you are going to get us this morning, because the church is not a one-man thing. Or should I say, the church should not be a one-man thing. And this is where it gets serious, particularly for pastors of Pentecostal churches. I think if care is not taken, Pentecostalism is going to cause more problem than anticipated. There's nothing wrong with the movement, but there's something wrong with the processes that goes on there. Something is wrong. Anybody can run a one-man thing, no accountability, no sense of decorum, nobody knows what is going on, no management team. That is not the church. Let me say this to you: when some people say pastors are thieves, there are pastors who prove it correct. Are there no places that nobody is a signatory to the account but the pastor, and they can withdraw anything he likes at any time? The church is an— it should be managed. And I tell people, one day, so if auditors on earth will not audit you, Christ, the owner of the church who paid with his own blood, will stand to audit you. One day, so we stand before God and we will give account. How dare you say you are a pastor and you have the air fund free? To put your hands into God's money. Somebody wants to sow a seed to the church, you give your personal account. Something is wrong with your understanding of the church as an organization that requires a full managerial team. Are you with me now? And these are practices that has made activities of the church questionable. And for— that's one of the reasons why I have so much respect to the Orthodox system, because it's not a one-man thing. The Pentecostals must learn from that system. Don't just castigate the Catholics. They have one of the best structures in the world. That's why you barely see a Catholic priest come out and say any nonsense. You don't find. You go for any functions where Anglican priests are there, Catholic priests are there, you will see that they dress for the occasion. They are disciplined, their shoes are polished. It is in Pentecostalism we feel we can do anything. Anybody can say anything now and it passes as a doctrine. What nonsense! Maybe that time will come that there will be a system that regulates. You see, I, I've said it in private, I'm saying it in open. For Nigeria to change, two organizations will have to be, um, regulated. The first is the church. The second is the media. Yes, for Nigeria to get into a destiny, you say, what, what's up with the church? A time is coming in this country that you will not be allowed to run a church simply because you have a vision. You show a certificate that you went to a Bible school and you prepared for it. It took years of studying to be certified. Why can it take one vision to be an apostle? And nobody seems to be checking anybody. And these are issues. These are issues. We have to pay attention. You know, one of the mistakes we make, particularly this apostolic movement, very arrogant movement— you look to nations like America and mock them that there was a time they had revival. Do you know the structure an average American church has? That day will come eventually, and one of the things God is going to do when that time comes is that it will be done by a Christian president, so you will not say we have been persecuted. The church must be seen as these two things for there to be balance. Who manages the church finance? Is there a financial team? Does the church have structures for accountant to audit the account and check that when we calculate what comes in and what has gone out, what is left on paper is what is left in the account? How many pastors can close their eyes and say, audit our account? And like I said, if we don't do it here on earth, one day so we stand before Jesus face to face and it will be done. And when that day comes, may you not weep. Let me hear amen. So the church is expected to have a structure of management, and that's why one of the things we teach at the International School of Ministry is church administration. It can't be a one-man thing. Now, there are three kinds of churches. Of ministries. Number 1, there are terminated ministries. Number 2, there are terminal ministries. Number 3, there are generational ministries. A terminated ministry is a ministry that dies when the visionary is still alive, and most times this happens because of sin and because of lack of understanding. A survey done in the United States on Tuesday— I'm going to be giving quite a number of data showed that only 20% of pastors are adequately trained for the job. Only 20%. And I think in the Pentecostal movement, less than 10%. You see, most times we avoid accountability using the scripture, touch not my anointed. All believers in Christ is anointed. All, if I preach, fact-check my teachings. If it is wrong, I stand to be corrected and I will apologize. You know, many of those who stand today to criticize the church, they were actually monsters of our own making. And sometimes I ask myself, a man of God has slept with a girl, they are asking for justice, maybe rape, and everybody comes out, I stand with Apostle so-and-so and so. What about the girl? Jesus didn't die for her. You cannot expect peace where there's no justice. There must be. There are character expectations that the Bible ruled out for anyone who desires to be a leader. Look at it. 1 Timothy chapter number 3, let's start reading from verse 1. 1 Timothy chapter number 3, let's start reading from verse 1. One of the things I trust God to do through this teaching is to bring the church in Nigeria and in Africa back to the place of accountability. I didn't hear amen to that. Now, this is a true saying: if a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work. Can you give me an NIV? Because all this desire, somebody might be— all right. Can you give in NIV if you have? Oh, let's get Message. Message does not pity anybody. Give me Message. Yes, so we can hear the big blows as he's saying it. If anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good, but there are preconditions. A leader— sorry, preconditions. A leader must be well thought of. Committed to his wife. You see, one of the ways I know that you are going to be in trouble in just a matter of time is that as a leader of a church, you have found a way to silence your wife. Your wife must be able to tell you who is getting close to you that is unnecessary. And you must listen. Don't say no, no, are you the one God called? Am I not the one? A leader must be well thought of, committed to his wife, cool and collected— not gaga— cool, collected, accessible, and what? Hospitable. He must know what he's talking about, not overfounded with wine. Not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money hungry. We need to highlight that. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone who is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God's church? He must not be a new believer. I love that. Lest the position goes to his head and the devil trip him off. Outsiders must think well of him, else the devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap. Now, these, these are very powerful conditions to head the church. In fact, give me 2 Corinthians 4 from verse 1. Seeing therefore we have this ministry— give in King James, then we go to Message. Are you there? 2 Corinthians 4 from verse 1 says, seeing therefore we have this ministry, having received what? Mercy, we faint not, but we have what? Renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. So it shouldn't be seen or heard of that as a married preacher, somebody is seeing you with a girl in an hotel room and you are saying, we came for counseling. We must commend ourselves to every man's— what? Conscience in the sight of God. It's very important. See, people don't have issues with Jesus, they have issues with our own expression of Jesus. And one of the most delicate part I will have to teach in this subject is the role of the church in politics, particularly Christian leaders. Scriptures. Are you with me now? So we have renounced the hidden things of what? Dishonesty. We don't walk in craftiness. We don't handle God's word deceitfully. The reason why it is important that the church has an administrative team managerial team is for transparency and accountability. People who are running their businesses should not manage it more than the church. You know why? You have to manage it more importantly because the money is not yours. I, I want to recommend that I do not believe that any sin church in this world will buy a property in the name of the General Overseer. Whatever we have here, how is it my own? Is it my money? People gave, buy speakers, buy screen, we are building. How can the building be done in the name of Femi Lazarus? Is the name of the church Femi Lazarus? No. Sphere of Light Church with management team. No church belongs to the pastor. Both the pastor and the workers are stewards. It is our role that is different. I am not better than you because I preach. It is my role. I went to the restroom the other time and I met people there performing their own what? Role. And every man will give account how they perform their roles. Are you following what I'm saying? Every koboh, every tom tom, bought. Every sachet of water bought is documented. We run this church account like people who have a case in court, because we have a case in court. The devil is there to accuse us. And there are people who have been to places where they have— we're having pastors meeting, and I was asking them to share their traumatic experience in church. And one of our pastors' wives mentioned how that she served in a church that after every service, the man of God just— they know what to do, pack the offering Packed the tithes, they put it in his car. Let me say this to every pastor listening to what I'm saying. There is an allegation against us that we are thieves. You will choose to live your life to either confirm it or be different. If you run the account of the church in a way that is shady, you are confirming that you are a thief. If you can put your hands into the money, you have found a way to conquer everybody there. You conquer when you tell them, go and withdraw so and so amount for me. Nobody there ask you for what. And we think that is leadership. You are training people how to thief, how to steal, and to become serious thieves. Anybody cross— my God, it, it appears we are not preparing for the— like, Jesus will come and many will be ashamed when he comes. So The church should have a team that are involved in different managerial activities. They are the ones who plan every aspect of the church, the programs, the calendar, the expenditure, and all that. If I want to know what Femi Lazarus ask, I have to ask the head of administration, what do we have? Not like I'm the one who is preaching, I'm the one who is receiving a lot. My people, and one of the things we must accept is that thieves has also joined the flock. Yes. So there must be a system of management of funds from income to expenditure. For accountability and transparency's sake, it is important that the church runs that system, and the pastor's wife should not be the one who is managing money. It is questionable. What did Peter say in the book of Acts of the Apostles, chapter number 6? I understand that this teaching will offend many people, but I really don't mind. Oh no, I don't mind. I don't. Are you following what I'm saying here? If you look at my cool face and think I really sent, then you even know who I am. We teach these things with so much love, love, love, but we tell you the truth. Let me show you. Acts of the Apostles 6, that same Acts 6 that we read. Look at what Peter said we'll give ourselves to, okay? Acts 6, he said— let me start from verse 3. He said, but wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you 7 men of honest report full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business, over this task. He said, but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the what? Ministry of the word. So it means that we have to keep building Femi Lazarus' managerial team until my duty is prayer and the word. Every other thing, there are people managing it with transparency and accountability. And when there is accountability, I want to reiterate again, nothing purchased with church money is bought in the name of pastor. It is church. Eh, our church, we don't have account yet. Go and register and get the account. People give money for church into your account, now you don't know which one is yours. Let me tell you, in case you have not seen where a thief is stealing, I'm going to show you. One time we noticed in our church that somebody joined the church and phones were missing in every service. So I told him— was it you I told to— it was the one on the keyboard. So I said, I perceive that that guy is the thief. So I said, throughout the service, no matter how interesting someone becomes, fix your gaze on him. So we took a phone and we put the phone on the table. We intentionally beat the phone, so we put the phone there just on the aisle. So we noticed that the guy— the guy was so bad, he asked the girl out and he stole her phone. I'm telling you, I've never seen it before. So we noticed that. So I While I was preaching, they were all jumping. I said, yeah, I knew we're in trouble because even the fellow who should watch phone now is carried away with the sermon. So I had to both preach and be watching the phone. So, oh, what we did was that I collected the phone of pastors. So I said, this is my own phone, so it is my phone we use as bait. So But when they left, I said, these guys, what if they go and steal this phone and the people I said should watch, they watch? I put my phone in my pocket and I used one of their phones as bait. It is your fault if it is missing. So the guy came and dropped his phone beside that phone and left. Are you seeing how a thief steals by giving? So when he comes In the name of picking his own phone, he picks the two phones. So when he dropped the phone there, I called the proto, that stop it right there, because I may not know when he will pick the boat, and there's no excuse. If you don't want, ah, stealing to take place, don't mix your own with what is not your own. The day you do that, they are right to accuse you as a thief. That is the balance. Don't mix up. Now pay attention to this. Are, are you still with me? Yes, sir. Is it possible for a Christian to be traumatized about church? Yes. Many started as well-meaning people. They love God with their lives. They can go any extent for the church. The only problem was that they served under a wrong pastor. How can you devote your entire life to a cause and put your everything there, only to discover that you are just being used. The person never intended to bless lives but to make money. And you look at it and say, no, all pastors are the same. You may conclude, but give a room for healing. Now let me tell you about an experience I had, an experience that is so serious, and I can tell you on all authority, I am still healing from it. So when we talk about church, I can, I can absolutely relate. See, years back, I used to— one of my biggest passion, place you will always find me, in an orphanage home. I used to give all my lives, all my life, sorry, to the cause of the orphans. Then after a while, they will call me, Apostle, come, so, so and so among children is sick. And Pastor, come, this one is sick. I will go there, pray for them. Then I observed that something is wrong. How come when your own children are sick, you don't call me to come and pray for them? You take them to the hospital. When these orphans are sick, you call me to come and pray for them. I'm being used there. I took mental note of that. Our children— I've never prayed for any of our children. They will take them to the hospital. One day, so I went there and, um, I saw one of the girls. She was probably about 17 then or 18, and I saw that her stomach was swelling. So I asked them a question, is she pregnant? Said, um, no, they've done this. So what's happening? This is ascites. So I requested they should follow. I have a doctor friend, let's go to his hospital, let's check what's going on. They checked, did abdominal scan, and found out that she had fluid in her stomach— sorry, yeah, in her bowels. So, um, the doctor requested to use catheter to drain the fluid. Did that, then some drugs and gave some advice. Around that period, I was already busy doing many things, so I didn't go there for a while. Then one of those days, I, I got a message that, Pastor, wherever you are, please come down. This girl is dead. I left. I was at pastor's meeting. I left the pastor's meeting, took two of my pastors, we went there. And when I went there, I said, where did you lay her? They said the room. I opened the room to see the girl. She was alive. But now her stomach was so big. I looked at the room, everywhere was smelling. But may God keep you alive for your children. It was as though they were just throwing food for her. Everywhere was bad. Even if this girl will not die of this, she can die of abandonment. I took her immediately. I said, we are going to the hospital, the teaching hospital. I didn't have a car. I said, let's charter a vehicle. I said, can I have any of your people follow me? Um, she gave me two of her children. So we're going to move. Then she came back and said, ah, her children can't follow me, that, um, I should please don't take her to the hospital, that they, they will arrest her. I said, so you know they will ask you what you have been looking at for this girl to get to this point. I took the girl to the hospital, so we had to put her in the car. What do you mean when a person is still alive and you said the person is dead? Could there be a plan to actually kill her? After all, she's an orphan, who will ask? Are you seeing the reason why we need systems that vet every organization in the name of charity? So we got to the hospital. Oh, that day I wept. I was talking with the doctors. I had a few people there, pastors. So I said, please help me, this is a matter of urgency. They said, we are sorry, we are on strike, this, this, this. The younger sister of that girl was the one to help me with another boy. They were bringing her down. From on a stretcher from the car. She was holding her, your elder sister, like a— like, like filth. I said, you are the only one left on earth with her and you will do this? I said, where do we go now? He said, there is an hospital that is also big that we can go to. I called them. Two things: this girl must not die in my hands, I can be arrested. Where are you picking her from? Because now they were not going to accept responsibility. I said, these people are on strike, we can go so and so place. She said, okay. Then she called back and said, so a doctor has come now, a doctor has come now, and they're going to take care of her this, this day. So I said, are you sure? Say yes. Say a senior doctor is here now, they are taking her to go and take care of her. The girl was just crying. So we took her back to the senior doctor, and they assured us that this girl will be well taken care of, everything is fine. We did not know that the person they presented as a senior doctor was a quack, just because they don't want to spend the money. 3 days later, the girl finally gave up the ghost. It was in a season. So the money we even use at that time, we had to go and empty the ministry account. Nobody was going to take responsibility for this. I sat down, I looked at the situation. Who do we trust? From that moment till now, people come and tell me this charity. I look at them and say, I've seen enough. So if me as a pastor can be traumatized about a charity, how much more people about church? People come to church and the first approach, they are looking at you and they are suspecting you. We have seen many like you, only to find out that they are crooks. You have the responsibility to prove that you are a true man of God. Nobody owes you trust. Loyalty is blind. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. I'm not sure from that moment till now I have ever stepped my feet in an orphanage home. I send my money, but honestly, I just said no, no, no. So sometimes you want to ask, who are those who are doing these things genuinely? Because once there is trauma One of the first things it affect is trust. A girl has served all her life and devoted everything to serving a church. The man of God took her and raped her, and you expect that she'll just get back to church like that? Unfortunately, the church people are now saying, we stand by our pastor. And you think that girl will not go and open a YouTube page where she will make sure she brings down any pastor? Many of the things we see on YouTube as touching castigation against the church, they are monsters of our own making. One of the things I trust God to bring back to the Nigerian church is accountability. One time I went to preach somewhere and a girl saw me after the service and explained how that her pastor slept with her and told her that she should count it a privilege that a man of God disvirgined her. How do you sleep with people Hm, you have slept with a girl and you still use scripture to tie her down. And there are people who are in churches now who have been abused by one monster, and but they can't leave because— in fact, one of my pastors was sharing with me yesterday And he said he was going to leave a church, and the pastor said, all your angels have been suspended. That you, you, from the day he said, all your angels, they, they cannot— he said, when you lose anything, it can't be lose. When all your angels are suspended. And he thought his angels were suspended. He said one time the pastor's wife said, now you should go and preach. He said, Mommy, I can't go, my angels are on strike. Then the pastor said, whenever you are ministering here, your angels will be active. What, what kind of devilish manipulation is that? Are you aware there are churches, they give you the impression that once you leave, disaster start happening? That nobody leaves us. Somebody lost a pregnancy, say it's because you left your covering. So we have made the church, what's supposed to be the most beautiful entity on earth, look like a shrine. It looks like an occultic place where people are tied. Every time the man of God is preaching, he's using ways to tie you down. You, you think you can leave this church? This, this is— you, you rebel against us, That's how you lose your place in destiny. Manipulation is not a tool for kingdom leadership. It is not. You don't manipulate people to keep them. Let me tell you this. I called our pastors and I said to them, I said, see, this is me. There's none of you that God will be calling to go and start a work that will have to beg me to do it. The moment you perceive God is calling you, let us know. We owe you support. They say, but Apostle, God is not calling me. God is— I said, yet. In case he does, don't be afraid. God called us two out of a place He did, and some of us faced hell. So there's nowhere in scripture that it— we as a model that people should be trapped in church. The church is not an occultic ground, it is the ground and the pillar of truth. I said amen. One of the reasons why many places have become a place of— for instance, a man of God who said to someone that you leave this church, your angels are on strike. I told the pastor, I said, see, he doesn't know better. Many have only unfortunately learned under tyrants. That was what they saw. Have you been to places that a man of God will stand on the altar and raining curses? I think I saw one a while back that shocked me so much. Maybe they were having birthday celebration and they did not celebrate the mommy pastor enough. They gave something, but it was not— she was raining curses on them. I said, God, let me tell you something, you better deal with entitlement mentality. Nobody owes you anything. No, one of the things— and I'm not saying any pastor will receive salary from— one of the best instruction God gave me was to detach my personal economy from the church. Detach yourself. Put your money into things that will bless it. But is it right for the church to take care of our pastors? Yes. Aha, that's the balance. Because there are very few pastors who teach giving without emotional attachment. If giving— if the message of giving is causing offenses, it is tight to your economy. Are you following what I'm saying here? Now let me give a balanced flip side. To what I have taught. There are also pastors who are dangerously hot by members. People have come to church and claim to— and as, as we gather, it is important we know we can't be this many and there are no wolves among sheep. There are people seated here right now that they are not members. They only came to target those that have big cars. Once you go to the toilet, they will ask you for money. Maybe somebody has even met you this morning. We know they are watching you, say this man looks fresh. And after service, they go and arrange themselves by people's car and come and explain problems that does not exist. The Bible said they come before you as my people, comet. They hear for the words of your mouth, but they will not do them. There are wolves amongst us. There are people who come to church, come to look for girls who are innocent to lure them. So the church is a mixture of many things. In Job 1, when the sons of God gathered themselves together to God, then cometh the devil amongst them. If the devil can show up in the church of heaven, how much more here? Come on, stop that. I saw her in church, I saw him in church. No be property, oh. The devil goes to church too. Yes. Are you following what I'm saying? Sometimes there are people who belong to different blogs who come to church. They are watching you, and if you just say something— serve us breakfast now so we can go and finish you— and they'll come back again and dress in disguise. That is what it has become. So be very careful. That you met somebody in church does not mean you should start a business. They will scam you and scam your destiny. Are you following what I'm saying? What I'm saying is that in essence, be discerning. Somebody— you finish a service, somebody met you from here and say, I beg you, this, this— understand, you are not a member of this church. And report the person immediately. Say, I hear. I hear. Let me share a story with you. This is a very serious one. One time, a boy came to greet me, and he just showed me something on his phone and said, Apostle, you won't believe that they were pushing his picture online and said, um, RIP, that he's dead. So I looked at it. Who will go and write this kind of post now? What kind of nonsense is this? So somebody had gone to write online, he's dead. So I prayed for him, you are not dying in the name of Jesus. He said amen. So he came to greet me, was going to be in the house with us for a while. I was praying for him early in the morning during my devotion, and the Lord said, go again and check the account that posted his RIP. I said, I woke him, boy, can we see? He says yes. Can I check what you show me? He showed me the account that posted. I check on his Facebook. This is the account that posted his RIP. I mean, I know a bit about technology, so I just check the logins on his phone, and I saw that the account that posted his own RIP was a login on his phone. Something is not right. So I confronted him, oh boy, the account that posted this Is a log in. You posted your own obituary to be able to get attention from people, and when they are pitying you, you now say actually you are depressed to get more money from them. And I saw that in the messages, and he's a pastor. So I, I saw that. Then I now also saw that the accounts that have been mimicking me and asking people for money were also a login on his Instagram. Let's just leave some matters. How can you— you know, let me tell you more things I found out. That he had applications on his phone for Yahoo. He was busy scamming people back to back. See, it is not everyone that holds the microphone that is a man of God. And that's why once God gives you a church, please settle down. It's just simple. There's nothing missing anywhere. One time myself and my wife went— ah, we have suffered, though— we went to preach Me that I'm careful to protect my wife, I took my wife there. I said, let's go. We went there to preach, put ourselves on flight. We're going to leave the hotel room and go somewhere else to preach. They came to lock the door and say, you can't go anywhere. From where to where? They said, well, the person who lodge you here didn't pay. We just got the amount paid and left. There are crooks around the altar. Crooks. You see, by God's grace, on Wednesday in Lekki, I'm starting a new series where I will reintroduce the devil to you as a tactical being. I give an example this morning. Um, please come, man of God. Na kaale, please come. I love martial arts a lot, so much, so I can use it as illustration. So I gave an illustration, I don't know, okay, but I think it was during the review. There's one of the guys I love so much in UFC, Miss Israel Adesanya. I love the guy. He fought another guy called Alex Pereira. The guy is a monster. If he— if even if the breeze of his punch blow on your face, you are out. And I think he had beaten Israel like 4 times. So he and his team— please pay attention— they've gone to study his match, his fight. So they saw a loophole, but this other loophole is a dangerous guy. If he hit you once, they'll wake you up the next day. So they fought the first fight, he beat him blue-black. They had to rescue Israel from his hand. Then the second one The tactics was that he will absorb the punch while he's guarding, because they have observed that while he's punching and punching and punching, he's not covering. So while he was busy punching and punching and punching, the Israel just gave him a powerful punch on his temple and he passed out. Pay attention, the devil doesn't mind absorbing punches. As long as he can give you one and knock you out. Meaning that the devil doesn't mind losing as long as he wins the long-term game. The devil is playing a long-term game with the Nigerian church, and we are playing into his hands. We should not see— to think that the revival in Nigeria must be sustained till Jesus come is to not understand church history. The most fiery place on earth with the most powerful revival all died out. Nigeria is playing the same script. And what does the devil do? He will push out his own and he will give them publicity. They will manifest error to discredit the whole lump. So while some of us are trying to say— please sit down— trying to say, eh, this, this, this, eh, we are doing this, we are doing that, people are healing from trauma, one pastor will just say something everywhere, scatter. You wonder, where do we start from again? Now you are teaching, he's absorbing the punch. He will knock you out with one of his own. We have to start from the scratch. Just— we can finish all this teaching, as interesting as it sound. They just bring out one video. Here is a pastor trying to deceive people and lure them for their hard-earned money. Hmm. They say, is this not what I hate about the Nigerian church? Is this not— see Nigerian pastors? Is this not— and the devil used that one to discredit them. You must be careful when your publicity is from the devil. There are times the devil is not interested in exposing you because your exposure has no economic importance yet. Get some more popularity, then show the world who you are. He likes to discourage people with one. Are you following what I'm saying here? Yes, sir. If as a pastor you have pastored a dangerous person before, I tell you, if care is not taken, you may not want to expose your heart and allow people come into your space again. You are careful. They are saying, Pastor, you are a blessing. You are looking at them and say, many have said more, only for us to see what they did. So it means that your ability to heal must be fast. Once you stop healing, stop pastoring so that you are not bleeding. And many times, many of the videos you find online are pastors that are bleeding. Somebody is offended, you will find a way to sandwich it in the sermon. And address. At what point did we begin to use messages to address people? And you see, Pastor said this one, said this one, take your own bag. This one to— take your own bag. We learned from men like Papa Agyin, who said, I have never spoken ill of anyone before in my life. Where did those things go to? We see blatant display of arrogance on the altar, and we— you see, it becomes more dangerous because we have scriptures for it. We are teaching the next generation error. Maybe soon pastors will start organizing boxing match. With the way we are going, why will it not happen? I will beat you doctrinally blue and black. Who do you think you are? I took a survey, and I'm going to talk about that much later, that people should stop accusing the Gen Zs because the problem we are facing now is not yet the Gen Zs. The Gen Zs are curious. By the time they will start their own, The devil is playing a very fast game and a long-term game with the Nigerian church, and we have to be very careful. Are you there? Are you learning something? Now, I wrote this: the church is more than a place of good music and good sermon. It is the gathering or the coming together of the redeemed children of God. Hebrews 10 from verse 25. Hebrews 10 from verse 25. Look at it. Can we read this together? 1, 2, 3, go. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another, and so much the more as ye see the day approaching. Meaning that as the day of the coming of Jesus approach, we need ourselves. The church is a community. We must make it what is designed to be. Something happens when we come to church that doesn't happen when we're anywhere else, and we must refute the agenda to keep church about just an online activity. We bless God for online live streaming, but you need to be in a family system where you are known. And for many things— somebody is getting married, you need to be helped, you need to be counseled— somebody needs to sit down and ask, who is she or who is he? Let's ask questions. Let's make sure you are fine. And that's why it is important before you say I do, be sure the fellow has a voice of accountability. Who can call this person to order? Is there someone you can call? And that's why beyond me ministering here, we have a resident pastor. Say Apostle is busy, the resident pastor is here for that purpose. And there's never been a time that I'm called on emergencies and I don't respond. This is my first assignment. Thank God for the ability to bless the body of Christ. But this is what Jesus will ask me question about. We want to know you beyond just coming to sit in church. We are not carried away by these numbers. We want you to be involved. Be a part of what is going on. Find a place. You are bleeding, somebody has hurt you in the church, you are here trusting God for succor. Please heal. One of the most painful things I've experienced about as a pastor is trying to love people who will not allow you into their heart because they suspect you. And, and, and I understand, I understand. They're just looking at you, say you're Simon Stor. We bless God for them. But we are not sure if you are different. We are not sure. And you can't bully them into being sure. You have to stand the test of time. You have to stand the test of time. You can't bully them, say, I'm different, can't you see? No. Trust his hand. It is— let me show you a scripture quickly. Acts 2: from verse 44. Please, let me beg again. If you're a man of God here, you have to pass the woman test, you have to pass the money test. Acts 2, from— let me start the reading from, um, verse 44. And they that believed were together and had things in common and sold their possession and goods and parted them to all men, um, as every man had need. So, and they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. Look at this: praising God and having favor with all people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be what? Should be saved. So there is a community of believers that we should be a part off. Most times when God gives you your own spiritual family, he already pre-planned everything. He— God knows your destiny and he gives you a pastor according to it. Are you with me now? He gives you a pastor according to it, so you settle down. And then believers should learn not to be offended. People will serve you offense. Don't take it, okay? Maybe you are a steward and they, they rebuked you once. From that day, you, you, you ditch the church and stop coming to church. What kind of steward can't you correct? A dangerous car— the most dangerous car is not the one that is not moving, but the one that can't stop. So there must be system of checks and balances. And I want to say this as I close: be sure your pastor has a pastor. Be sure that there is someone in his life who can say, sit down there. My wife knows if I start behaving like a fool, she knows who to call. No, there's nothing like, don't you know I am Apostle Femi Lazarus? No, no, no. And all I will hear is one phone call, report now, any meeting is canceled. Are you following what I'm saying here? I gave her, I authorize you, the day you see something about my life you don't understand, call them. Call them, they will hold me to ransom. Can't say I'm your pastor, I'm your husband, who are you, how dare you report me. Ah no, for my safety I need watchers, those who will keep watch over my soul. To even the tanker carrying fuel still needs to be refueled. Many of you watch the Festival of Life conference. You saw myself and my wife knelt down on our knees and hands laid. That's how we do it. That's a structure of preservation. People saying that, oh, so this big man also have a father? Is that a joke? Amen. Let me give an appeal. To anyone who is seated here and you have a ministry, maybe some of you are singers, some of you are instrumentalists, some of you are playing different parts. You have seen pain, neglect, you have seen abuse, you have seen discouragement, you have seen that you can put your life in a place and when you have little challenge, everybody will move on like you don't exist. You are in church because you love God, but you don't ever want to be a part of this system again. I beg you in the name of Jesus Christ, you can change your mind today. We have been hurt in our families, but we learn to trust again. We get hurt by relationships, people break our hearts, but you still love again. When it comes to church, don't divorce church. Love again. Let all eyes be closed, everyone. And I want to beg you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, it doesn't matter what has happened in the past. I am not saying give me a chance, I'm saying give Jesus a chance. When we were lost and dead in the trespass of our sins, He loved us still that he died for us. We cannot turn our back on him because a pastor misrepresented him. It doesn't have to be in this house. There's something you used to do in church. You have a call to ministry. There are things you used to do, but now you can't find a place. You are down. You are just managing yourself. I beg you, in the name of Jesus Christ, forgive and heal. You are here, you need an assistance of the Holy Spirit. Just place your hands on your chest and say, Lord Jesus, you are the Balm of Gilead. Heal me, heal me, heal me, heal me, heal me. Heal me. That calling, that operation, that writing gift, that singing grace, that saxophone I used to play, everything I used to— that I stopped. I, I repent. I, I, I see Jesus is not here to castigate you and crush you with the injury. No, he said anyone who comes to him, he will in no wise cast away. He in no wise. Maybe they presented God to you, you got pregnant, the entire church suspended you and threw you out like a vagabond. They didn't name the child, and here you are. You have survived so much. Maybe you survived it to be able to help those who are going through it and say, Lord Jesus, I place my emotions, my heart, everything into your hand. Heal me. In Jesus' name we're praying. Let me say this to you. Look up, everyone. I, I think the judgment on ministers will be more severe. When I look at the way people can love you and follow you only to be a vehicle that is going nowhere, it is unfair. It is unfair. People, families, adults who have sense will commit their life and their resources and say, we believe in this vision. May it be that you are a man of God in truth. Let me appeal, sending this message out there. Jesus is not the problem. You can change church, but don't leave church. You can change church, but don't leave church. Heal, pick yourself back, and go back to that calling again. And I ask that the hand of God himself will touch every heart and mind and emotions Everyone who have been discouraged, who are now questioning their identity in Christ because someone has said some funny things to you, I decree that your healing is speedy. That grace, that gift that you have will not become a thing of the past. In the name of Jesus. Let the balm of Gilead himself heal you completely. Grace is released in Jesus' mighty name. Today is the day of salvation, and you know what that means. It is the day for you to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. God so loved you, he sent his only begotten Son to this world to die for your sins. There is no sin too big, nothing you have have done that is beyond redemption. The hand of God is outstretched to you wide for you to accept him today into your life and end all that the devil is trying to do with your life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, if any man be in Christ, a new creature, all things are passed away. And the Bible says all things are new. May I announce to you that all things can be new today. How do you give your life to Christ? Believe that Jesus is the Son of God sent to this world to die for your sins, and he rose on the third day for your justification. And today he's extending his hands to you to accept him as your Lord and Savior. And all you have to do is to hold out your hands and say these words after me. Lord Jesus, I believe that you came into this world to die for my sins. I believe that you died for my sins. I also believe that you rose on the third day for my justification. Today I accept you as my Lord and Savior, and I accept this gift of eternal life. In Jesus' name, amen. May I announce to you, you have made that decision, that there is so much joy in heaven right now. Angels are rejoicing, and there's so much joy. We have a contact on the screen and the barcode for you to scan if you have just made that decision, so that we will be able to reach you and help you get discipled and get you grounded in the rudiments of the gospel. I love you so much. We can't wait to see you again. Keep watching Ambience TV. God bless you.