DON'T LOOSE YOUR PURPOSE || APOSTLE IREN || IMC 2024

Lord, you are great, you are greatly to be praised. As you— give him praise! Can I give you a few more minutes? Lord, you are great, you are greatly to be praised. See, they— Lord, you are great, Lord, you are great, you are greatly to be praised. Hold on, hold on, hold on. I'm sorry, I know it's International Ministers Conference, so we have strangers, but are there Sphere of Light members in this place? Maybe because you are here you don't know what is happening. You, you all are famous. The tale of the goodness of God in your life has gone far. I think you can do better than that. Can I give you a few minutes to praise the Lord? Lord! You're great to be praised— Lord! Thank you, thank you... One more time! Lord! You're greatly to be praised...

Hallelujah!

Praise the Lord! Um, I'm sorry, I'm just very happy. Glory to God!

Glory to God!

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Apostle, you've probably heard it a thousand times, I want to thank God for your life. I genuinely I love you with all my heart. Thank you for what you represent to the body of Christ, for the families that have been transformed, ministries that have been redirected, for the encouragement that your sheer focus brings. I'm very glad and comforted to have you in my time. Thank you, thank you, thank you very much. Glory be to God, glory be to God. And, um, it's an honor, a privilege to be here again. Hallelujah. Um, let me say this: how many of you pastor churches, or the Lord has told you you might do so at some point in your life? Raise your hands. Raise it well. Don't worry, don't— nobody will look at you and be like, ah, sorry. Okay, thank you. Um, and I'm saying that because of the word that the Lord has given me. And you see, God has made your church one of the pulpits of the world, so Not every sermon here will be exactly for the local audience, so many of the things I will say will apply to you and some of them will be for the body of Christ. And I'm just trusting that the Lord will steer us in the direction that he chooses. Please say loud amen. However, The things I'm going to say, you see, there are fundamental principles in God that apply no matter the context. The same fundamental principles in ministry apply to the operations of a Christian business, to the operations of a husband, a wife. And so I believe that fundamentally, um, Everyone, no matter your understanding of the assignment of God right now, um, this will bless you greatly. I want to share on something I've titled Don't Lose Your Purpose, and it's a prophetic charge to every pastor. Don't lose your purpose. I want to read from Revelation chapter 3, verse 20. Revelation 3:20. Revelation 3:20. Revelation 3:20. Can you read together? 1, 2, go! Oh, come on, you can do better than that. 1, 2, go! All right, if your Bible is original, that text was written in red. If you— if it's not in red, it means that, um, the people who printed your Bible, they wanted to save money by reducing the colors. But don't worry, Usually, not usually, all the time you see the Bible in red, it is because they are trying to tell you that it is Jesus who is talking. And Jesus says, behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with me. Listen, This text is often used in reference to evangelism. If you've heard this in a crusade or in a soul-winning attempt before, please wave at me. I just want to witness, because many times preachers use this metaphorically to point to the fact that your heart is a door and Jesus is standing, you know, knocking and saying, open up your heart to me and give your life to me. Essentially, that's what a lot of people interpret this text to mean. But it will interest you that in this text, the real context is not Jesus knocking on the heart of someone who has not, um, believed, but instead Jesus is knocking at the door of a church, specifically the church at Laodicea. So you know that in the Book of Revelation, the opening chapters, Jesus wrote a letter to 7 churches, and this is one of the letters. And he's telling the church, I stand at the door and knock. I mean, picture this: there is church happening, there is a service going on, and Jesus is outside. Not just outside, locked outside. If it's a church, what is Jesus doing outside? What's he doing outside? And if Jesus is outside, what are they doing inside? A celebration without the celebrant. Form without substance. Jesus is standing at the door of the church and knocking. And he's saying, well, if you open up to me, I will come in. And so to build my case, I want to start by telling you that it is possible to do church with Jesus outside. And not only is it possible, it has happened before, and it is very likely happening in many ministries. And even worse, only the discerning will know. Don't think that if Jesus is outside, the attendance will be small. Don't you understand? Part of the prophecies of the end time is that people will have itchy ears and heap for themselves teachers. Only the spiritually discerning will know. You can't tell by external observation, by the attendance, by the money. You can't tell by the ambiance. You can only tell by the spirits. No natural external way. In fact, in that same chapter, In verse 1, Revelation chapter 3, verse 1, Jesus said something to the church at Sardis that gives us a kind of impression of how a church can be if care is not taken. He says, 'And to the angel of the church at Sardis writes, this thing says he who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, I know your work.' that you have a name, a reputation that you are alive, but you are dead. You see, the name of the church can be a big name, it can have a good reputation and be dead. You have to understand, that when you pluck a leaf from a tree, it doesn't go brown instantly. It doesn't go brown. It still looks like every other leaf connected to the source. It still looks like it's receiving nutrition. It looks normal, but something is fundamentally and structurally wrong. And just imagine Jesus telling a church, I know something people don't know. I know people haven't noticed yet that there is no fire anymore. I know people haven't noticed yet that you have lost your connection. You have kept the reputation, you have lost the substance. You still have the numbers, no more substance. You still have the money, no more substance. You lack the presence, you lack the glory. Again, the title of my charge is Do Not Lose Your Purpose. Please help me preach this to the person by your side. Do not lose your purpose. Oh my God, the person by your side may just need that word. Please turn to someone else and say, do not lose your purpose. And so this sermon is for the following people. Number 1, people who want to do church the Jesus way, people who are still interested in doing things the Bible way, the right way. And number 2, people who care much more about what the Lord thinks than what people think. People who care much more about what the Lord thinks than what people think. You know, when the Bible says that you are not come to a mount that might be touched, that burns with fire and brimstone, to the voice of words. You know, it says you are come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, the general assembly and church of the firstborn. He says, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, to the blood that speaks better things than the blood of Abel. You know, we, when we quote that text, we feel excited, but there is a scary aspect to it. He's telling you that anytime the church is gathered, we are not alone. Are you listening to me? And there is a sense to which that is comforting, and there is a sense to which that is scary. That there is no sermon you will ever preach that Jesus does not hear. No sermon. No sermon. You know, especially in the early days of our ministry, when the pastors I'm training are preaching, I don't like to sit in front because sometimes I can notice that they are nervous, you know. So I want the spirit to flow well. So sometimes I will sit at the back, sit at the gallery. Sometimes it's part of the training, I sit in front and look at the eyes. You should be able to hold your own. It is part of it, you know. But at the end of the day, I want the spirit to flow. But now just think about it. If you were preaching and the Lord opened your eyes and Jesus is staying there, just seated, what will you say? How will you preach? And more importantly, what will you not say? So that is the kind of consciousness that God wants to develop in us. A consciousness that, listen, you are come to Mount Zion. Be conscious. Some of us only quote that text when we want to remember that we have angelic presence. But not for accountability. It's a text for accountability also. Jesus hears everything, he sees everything, and we must learn to do church like he does. Never get too familiar, never get too comfortable. This is the church of Jesus Christ. Are you listening to me? We will stand before Him very soon, give account of our lives. You know, when we were starting in ministry, when the church was about to start, in fact, I discovered God had asked me to plant a church accidentally because we're fellowship and I thought we were going to be a fellowship until one day the Lord said, 'Your church is one of the churches I will come for on the last day.' So it still didn't hit me that he said church. So it was a friend, Shayi Jacobs, who is a pastor now. So I was telling him, I said, 'The Lord said the church is one of the churches you will come for on the last day.' He said, 'Say that again.' I'm like, I repeated it, and he said, 'Did you say church?' Honestly speaking, that was when it dawned on me. And then more clarity came. But what I'm saying is, once upon a time, I thought it should go without saying that Jesus is coming for all churches. For him to specify that yours is one of them, it means it's not all. The unfortunate reality is that many churches are mission fields. There is no difference between these people inside and the people people outside. You still need to preach the gospel. There are people in there that have never heard the gospel before. You'll be amazed because there is a professional way to do church— are you listening to me?— that, that has all the embellishment, the icing without the cake. And so Jesus says, I stand Stand at the door and knock. If you want me, I will come in. He's telling the church that just in case you want me in your service, this service, this special program that you are having, just in case you want me to be a part of it, I'm ready. When you're ready, you can open the door for me. And I know what you might be thinking, how did things get bad? Oh, you'll be amazed, you'll be amazed, you'll be amazed how far you can sway if, if care is not taken. You know, one of my favorite comedians, I like him because I learned from his jokes, very cerebral guy. His name is SLK, and he told a joke. It was a joke, but it, it's— oh my God, it hit me like a sermon. He talked about— I don't even remember the full context of the joke, but he talked about a young preacher who became the preacher of an Orthodox Church, and the Orthodox Church had, um, some old ways of doing things that were not necessarily doctrinal but were just cultural, and he wanted them to try new things. You know, some of you can relate. And one of the modus operandi of the church was to put the lectern, the stage of the church, at an angulated position, and he felt it doesn't make sense. Let's move it to the center. And you know, the seniors in the church said no, He tried everything to persuade them and they said no. So he devised a plan. Every Sunday I will move it by an inch. Again, this was a joke, but it hit me so hard. So every Sunday he moved it by an inch and nobody noticed. Moved it by an inch. He will come again the next Sunday, move it by an inch. Come again the next Sunday, move it by an inch, until it was at the center and nobody knew anything had changed. You have to understand this, this is how deviation happens. The devil will not come in a drastic way and try to drag you out and make— force you to derail. It will happen gradually until you wonder, how did we get here?

How?

I'm trying not to get distracted and be all over the place, but a lot of things are coming to mind. You know, there is a book, A Plan by the Church of Satan. It was a 100-year plan. They planned it 100 years ago. Some of the things you are crying about now, some of the, uh, The decadence in the culture, they were planned 100 years ago, 100 years ago, and they were instituting it gradually, gradually, gradually until we got here. But that's a conversation for another day, I guess. So all I want to say is this: We must not just be interested in doing the right things, we must be interested in doing the right things the right way. There is a Jesus way of doing things. And you see, Paul said in 1 Timothy 3:15, and the reason this is particularly instructive is because the book was written to a young minister. And this is what Paul the Apostle said, he says, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and the ground of truth. There is how you ought to conduct yourself. Listen, it is not about what is trending, what others are doing. There is, there is how to conduct yourself. There is a template that Jesus has laid down for his church. And one of the things I want to say is this: for we not to lose our purpose, we must understand what purpose is in the first place and what it does and the kind of accountability that it bestows on us. You see, purpose is a double-edged sword, and by this I mean that there are seemingly opposing things that it achieves at the same time. So on one hand, purpose gives us direction. Can we all say direction? I mean, literally, purpose is about what we have been purposed to do. It gives us direction and clarity. When you have purpose, you have clarity. You know where you're supposed to go and what you're supposed to do. But you have to understand that the moment you have direction, you also have boundaries. When you know the right way, you now know the wrong way. The moment you gain direction, you have boundaries. Purpose not only gives us direction, it gives us boundaries. Purpose consecrates you. When you know where you ought to go, nobody can tell you otherwise. You know, see, oh my God, you know, Bishop is— Bishop Femi Lazarus is 70 this weekend, you know, and one of the things I learned watching that man is passion for the vision. Till now, there are so— I don't think I've seen anybody as passionate about what God told him like that man, almost to a fault. The level of obsession. For a long time, pastoring the largest church in the world, but you are still driving on campus when you see a light on in the night and there's nobody in it. You are wasting power, turn it off. You what, what kind of obsession? You are a billionaire, you, you do you understand what I'm saying? You know, still, oh my God, the man can see a boy and a girl sitting in the dark and call emergency meeting 1 AM and he will just come like this. I was driving around your and what I saw was an eyesore.

You know Papa now?

And see, one of the things he will often scream is, this is not what God showed me in my vision! This is not what God showed me in my vision! Those of you who have followed him, I mean, especially in the work for of us, you've heard him scream that phrase, "This is not what God showed me. This is not what God showed me." Anything that deviates him, you— that is like you are poking his soul, you know. Even good ideas, you know, a pastor was saying, "I think we should do this, do this." He waited for him to finish. He said, that's not what God showed me. When God shows you, you go and do your own like that. That's not what God showed me. Purpose consecrates you. It protects you. It doesn't just guide you, it guards you, protects you from destruction. No matter what anyone else is doing, praise God for them. I celebrate you genuinely, but I have not so learned. Amen, somebody. I want to give you the example of Jesus and the life of purpose that he lived. You know, first and foremost, you see Jesus very often, very clearly state why God sent him, why the Father sent him. They made a mistake when he entered the synagogue right after his 40 days of fasting. In the synagogue they said, who has a reading? You know, so he opened the Isaiah and screamed, the Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to pray. You know, he was reading out his mission, his vision. Then when he was done, he says, this Today is this scripture fulfilled before your eyes. You know, that is a school on its own, embracing purpose with your full chest. Do you understand what I'm saying? But what I want to emphasize, a lot of people don't realize that as much as Jesus was articulate about what he was to do, he was so also articulate about the restrictions of his purpose. Some famous words you never— maybe you never really paid attention to in in this context. I am sent, I am not sent but to the Lordship of the House of Israel. You've heard that statement before? I am not sent. So he, the same Jesus that will say the Spirit of the Lord is upon me to preach, he knows well, he knows the boundaries and the limits of that assignment. I am not sent but Meaning in that purpose there is a restriction. You know what is going on? When you realize the context, the context was this: a woman whose daughter was sick was following him behind and crying, Son of David, have mercy. And he said, I am not sent The same Jesus who is compassionate— listen, you know what that tells you? Compassion alone should not determine direction. Compassion alone should not— what determines direction is purpose. I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Compassion alone should not determine direction. Trends should not determine direction. What others are doing should not determine direction. I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. There are some things, I mean, oh my God, you, you might feel it's the right thing to do, still ask. You didn't send yourself, you didn't send yourself. You didn't send yourself. I'll tell you another word. Woman, why are you bothering me? It is not time. Aye, Jesus! It is not time. You know, that's another powerful one. Just because it's your destiny doesn't mean it's time. It might even be part of the plan. It's not just time. It has written in your prophetic destiny, but even entering it prematurely is also wrong. It's not time. Do you know what it means to have such a clarity of purpose to say it's not time? It's not time. Aye, may people not honor you out of your anointing. Something that is in your future, bringing it now is not time. You know, of all the things to learn about Jesus, this is what inspires me the most. You know, a lot of people forget that the man who lived 33 and a half years started ministry at 30. It means that Jesus waited more than he did anything else. It means that the biggest thing to learn from Jesus is how to wait. For the woman to say, 'Turn water to wine,' it means she has seen him do miracles at home. It was not a capacity problem, it was not time. Do you know what it feels like to know that you can do something but it's not time. Some of you, because you can preach, you think it's time to start the ministry.

Is—

are you listening to me? You, you can have the capacity but it's not time. It's not time. How else could he have known that he can do such a thing? How else? How else? He was not ignorant. At least we know that at the age of 12, he knew his destiny to the degree that he's wondering— his parents are looking for him and they search everywhere except the temple. What are you doing? Should you not have known that I'll be about my father's business? You know, I always jokingly, seriously, that at the age of 12, he knew Joseph was not his father. Don't worry, don't worry, don't worry. Because I, I wish I could watch the clip of how Joseph responded to that. How will you have responded to that? But he had that much clarity at the age of 12. Now let's even assume it was only at the age of 12 new to wait 18 more years. At the age of 12, you are already at par with the doctrinal intellects of those days. You are— listen, don't be confused that he was asking questions to the lawyers and doctors. They didn't have the answers. So the Bible says they were astonished at his understanding and answer. The questions he asked them, they didn't know it. At the age of 12, Yet it was— do you know what it means? No wonder his first sermon was long. It was 18 years in the making. He preached from chapter 5 of Matthew to chapter 7. There was a lot to say. He had been waiting for it. He had too much to say. Too much to say. Too much to say. The reason this is important is because we live in a generation where virality can be engineered. It can be engineered. It can be engineered. When genuine limelight that is from heaven comes, it will be clear because it will last. You know, that's one thing I love about your pastor. The first excerpt exploded, the second one, the third one. The fifth— now people were now asking, where has this man been all my life? That, that was the most recurrent question. Because if it was by accident, only one will blow. That's, that's the thing. After you talk, you go finish. You go finish. If God has prepared you in secret, in the left of the rock. Do you understand what I'm saying? The glory has passed. You've seen his back parts. It will last. Jumping up is different from climbing up. Amen, somebody. Please rehearse it because you see, everyone on a divine assignment must rehearse statements like this: it is not time. Say it with me. I'm not saying everything is not time, o diu onisa mo, but you have to rehearse those that are not yet time. You know it's easier said than done. Do you know what it means to wait 18 years? Subtract 18 years from your age. Think, try to think, where were you 18 years ago? Please take a moment. Do you know even to remember will take some thinking? Do you know what it means to know your destiny at 12 and wait till 30? And then you, 2 years in a church, You're already complaining, and they don't give me mic to lead prayer, they don't give me— what, my friend? Sit down. You know, and you see, oh my God, our church started spreading. I pitied people who just wanted to catch up and started planting churches. I'm not assuming that, you know, but I just knew intuitively that some people will not understand the structure that backs that move. That there were people I had prepared since 2010 that were not ordained until 2020. Do you understand what I'm saying? The first 5 years of our ministry, we laid hands on no body. We didn't ordain anybody. Everybody sits. Everybody sits. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. Focus, no title. That's how it ought to be. Amen, somebody. Because purpose determines your boundary. Just in case that one is not convincing enough, I'll give you another example. The example of John the Baptist. And oh my God, how powerful this is. When John the Baptist was getting famous, people came to him. The Pharisees specifically, they sent a representative to ask some questions, and they came to him and he said, Who are you? Who are you? Are you the Christ? Are you the Messiah? Do you know what it means to have such an impact people are suspecting you just might be the Messiah? And then you have the consciousness, the consciousness of purpose, not just the direction but the boundaries to say, no, I'm not.

I am.

Are you getting what I'm saying? No, I'm not. Have you embraced a title that is not your own? Have you called yourself what you are not? Or maybe you are, you are, but it's not time. Year 2 university, you are bearing Apostle. You no go calm down. You no calm down. Do you not understand that it's, it's a job description? It's a job. You know, when Paul says do the work of an evangelist, It's a walk. It's a walk. So when you call yourself that, we should be able to check and see, do you know what it means? Or you call yourself a prophet, you are prophesying football scores and you are mostly wrong. Ah, I like the way verse 20 puts it. He confessed. Look at that. NKJV says he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, I am not the Christ. Everybody look at verse 20, please. Put John 1:20. John 1:20. Everybody read with me, want to go? He confessed— come on, you can do louder than that. He confessed and did not deny, but confessed, I am not the Christ. Clarity. Purpose determines your boundaries. Not just who you are, but who Who aren't you? I'm not the Christ. They asked him, Father, are you Elijah? No. Are you the prophet? No. Who are you? I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord. You know, There's a lot I can say about that, but let's move. If we cover enough distance, I can come back to that. So let me bring this home and begin to itemize what are the things that the ministry can do to make them lose focus. Number 1 is to get the timing wrong. Is to get the timing wrong. Get the timing wrong. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. You know, there is a text in the Bible that people don't quite understand, because if you're reading in context and you don't understand what Jesus was trying to say, you're going to likely be lost. I mean, just imagine Jesus has performed, um, the miracle of his ministry, if you would permit me to express it that way. He had performed many other miracles, but there was one that he did that his fame spread abroad. In fact, the Pharisees decided we must kill him, he's too popular. In fact, not only did they want to kill Jesus, they wanted to kill Lazarus. The testimony was too viral, they couldn't stand it. You know, according to Hebraic writings, Hebrew writings, it was believed that a prophet could raise the dead, but that the dead must not have been dead for more than 3 days. Because they believed according to, you know, their tradition that if someone had been dead for 3 days, his spirit must have gone, you know, to the great beyond, to heaven, and then only God can raise such a person. Maybe that was why Jesus waited on purpose. Are you listening to me? Yeah, sometimes, you know, reading all these backstories help you understand and get the context more. He waited till day 4 so that— do you understand what I'm saying? So imagine what people have been saying. He raised someone who was dead for 4 days. Who is this? The Pharisees couldn't stand the conversations. And then the fame and the attention that was coming, not just to Jesus but to Lazarus, you know, they couldn't stand it. Everything blew up, and now his ministry began to cross the borders. And they came to him and they said, Sir, the Greeks seek you. Don't you understand? The Greeks were the intellectuals of the time, philosophers of the time, the world power of the time. It's a financial people, you know. I mean, it means the ministry is moving forward. The ministry is crossing borders. That's international preaching platforms, itinerant ministry, you call it whatever you want. The greats seek you. It's a secret ambition of, you know, every young preacher to travel out and preach just once. Do you understand? And then maybe on the plane you are sipping water and you put a caption, you will Snap, you put missions, you know, then you put the flag of where you're going, you know, or something. And now the Greeks seek you. The ministry is moving forward. The disciples must have been, you know, excited. You know, this man that we have been following is beginning to pay off. The Greeks seek you. You know what Jesus responded? He said, except a corn of wheat fall to the ground and dies, it abides alone. He says, but if it dies, it bears much fruits. What is he saying? He's saying, yeah, I'm going to reach them, but not now. I'm going to reach them, but not this version of me. For me to be able to preach the Greek, for now, don't forget what I said earlier, I am sent, I am not sent but to the lordship of the house of Israel. If I am going to cross this border, and reach these people, this version of me must die and rise. Come on, are you getting what I'm saying? So there is something in your future, but not this version of you. Not for this version of you. If you saw the shoes that the future you will wear, it will intimidate you now. It is the same you, but not this version of you. And you need to admit it and have the humility to say, you know what, Not yet. If I wear those shoes now, it will kill me. And so there is still some pruning process I must go through. I must carry my cross. There are some things that the limelight must not meet. Limelight must not meet. Some things have to die on the cross first. This is how come some people embarrass us. Because the limelight met them unprepared, made them unprepared. Embrace the training now, embrace. So do you know what it means to have the presence of mind? You just performed a miracle that went viral, people are looking for you, but you still know what is not time for. Still, you still know. Except the corn of wheat fall to ground and dies, it abides alone. When it dies, it brings forth much fruit. Yeah, it's in my future, but not this version of me. I have to grow into my own shoes. You know, one of the people I meant to preach the sermon— it was just a simple illustration, but it blessed me. He was talking about how the African mother, especially in those days, I don't know if it still happens now, they are buying clothes for their children. It is for you, but it is bigger than you. Do you understand? They buy clothes for your future self. Do you understand what I'm saying? You will grow into it. It is your shoe, but it's not your size. You will grow into it. It is your shirt, but it's not your size. You will grow into it. It's your trouser, but it's not your size. You will grow into it. Maybe that That's what God is doing, so that you can look at the future. The fact that you dream about it, you see yourself in crusades flying around the world, doesn't mean it's not, not this version of you. He is showing you the size of the shirt so that you can grow into it in the place of prayer. Say loud, amen. So what you do is you will keep that vision. You will keep that vision. And you keep working, keep praying, keep working on your character, keep working on your consistency. And then when you pray, when you pray again, he shows you, and you keep, keep at it, you keep at it. That's how— except the corn of wheat fall to the ground and dies, it abides alone. Sometimes if you are you are praying for some things in ministry and God is taking his time, don't start harassing God. First stop and say, you know what, what if there is something, something, something? Am I sure I'm ready? Isn't there more to learn? See, let me tell you what many men of God may not tell you. Ah, if you If you just skip your learning process, it may be hard, o. I can tell you, an unprepared popular man of God is set up for failure because now you must keep up appearances. Now, if you are not careful, all your life you'll be pretending to be more anointed than you are because branding as embellished you. The platform— oh my God! Whilst you have the time, put in the work, put in the work, put in the work. Stop harassing God, put in the work. And nothing proves your motives like waiting. If, if it is God and his His glory. Let him call you when he wants. Let him call you if it is truly for his glory, if it is truly his assignment. You, you will have the indifference of Abraham. Well, I'm okay. Ishmael can live before you, but if you say you don't want Ishmael, then amen. Amen. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. So number one is what?

Wrong—

getting the time wrong. Number two, getting the place wrong. Getting the place wrong. I know you've heard it many times that your resources are in the place of purpose. I want to tell you that is true. It is not enough to get the right time, you must get the right place. Please know specifically where God has sent you to. And by the way, what I'm saying is often a matter of life and death. If you go where God has not sent you, it may cost you your life. It may cost you your life. And when Paul wanted to go to Asia, the Spirit of God restrained him. The same Spirit, the same Jesus that said, go into all the world, he wanted to go there. It was not yet time. I'm not going to spend time on this. I just want to advise you, go only where God sends you. It's not old-fashioned to say, should I go? Do I pursue? Will I overtake? It will never be old-fashioned. Please take time to inquire. And number 3, I already talked about this in passing, so I'm just going to itemize it so that when you look at your notes you can recognize it. Number 3 thing that can make a church loses purpose is trying to be who they are not. Trying to be who they are not. It is people who lack intimacy keep imitating. If you lack intimacy, you will keep imitating. And don't imitate your way out of destiny. Stop trying to be who you are not. Don't embrace a title that is not your own. You know, Aren't you noticed that sometimes titles seem to be specific to some geographical locations? Apart from the general reasons of, um, culture preference, do you know that in the US if you call yourself Apostle or Prophet, especially in the Bible Belt, they will look at you narrowly just because of that title, they suspect you are false for a lot of reasons. But then in Ghana there seems to be a lot of prophets, and in Nigeria there is a rise of apostles. And the reason is simply this: whenever something genuine is emerging, there will be so much imitation. So much imitation. And so just look at the leading people in the ministries in those regions, and naturally everybody— in fact, I can tell you, this is ministers conference, so I can speak freely. Many pastors don't hear— well, many might seem— I've done some statistics. There are pastors who don't hear God. They get their direction online. That's the truth. They get their direction online. No originality, no vision from heaven, just what are others doing. Just copy and paste. It scares me, it scares me, it scares me. It should scare you too. Please don't do it, do that. The next thing I want to talk about, people or churches lose their purpose through professionalism. I will explain what I mean. There is a book I think you need to read. I think it's a good book. The title of the book is A Message of His Own. It's a message to pastors. It's a book for pastors, and the title is We Are Not Professionals. We are not— that is the title of the book, We Are Not Professionals, by John Piper. I mean, the title alone blessed me, because you have to understand, especially in the Western world, because you go to seminary, you graduate, And of course, everybody who goes to school expects a job. It now bestows in you a mentality that is a career, a career, like you have chosen a career path. And now everything is engineered, everything is engineered. Much of it is an embellishment. And much— I won't say much of it, some of it is a deviation from, from Bible ministry. Deviation from Bible ministry. I'm trying to check in my spirit what to say, what not to say. Speaking just by observation, you know, part of the starter pack for being a successful man of God is that you lose your calling. A lot of people don't realize it. I'm not saying it ought to be so, but by observation, you just, you just see all these wrong things that you learn by observation. Nobody has taught it, but you learned by observation. You know, you can be such a successful man of God that you, you don't even dance to the Lord during praise and worship. You are conscious the camera is on you, so you, you cannot express yourself before the Lord anymore. Everything is mechanized. Bless you, how are you? You know, you You have, you have lost. When was the last time you were real? When was the last time? When was the last time? You enter ministers conference like this, everybody's gauging each other. You know what gauging each other, sizing each other up. Uptight. Not giving too much, gauging the response. Do it. We are not professionals. We are not. See, all I'm trying to say, you can get to a point where you lose the simplicity, the humility, you know, the very things that made you who you are. You've lost it. You've lost it. Because in your head you've learned how a man of God of your caliber should behave. And if you're not careful, you have lost God. You don't even realize it. I want to beg you, don't lose your sincerity. Don't lose your prayer life. Don't lose your worship. You see, I don't know, beyond your sermons and, you know, all the great things that are happening administratively, when last did someone look at you just when you were praying, when you were worshiping, and want what you have just by looking at you? Seeing the example of brokenness, of humility to the Lord, just seeing that, and just that is a message on his own, of his own, of his own, where David is king, but in gratitude to the Lord, he's not, he's not concerned about what he's wearing. He just wants to praise the Lord. And he dances before the Lord, not caring what anyone thinks. See, there are some things that you see, they are very subtle to notice, oh, but if you lose it, you are already finished. I'm telling you the truth. People will hardly notice it because it's normal. In fact, some people don't even think that the man of God of your caliber should— you understand what I mean? It's normal. And you should be the one to say, come on, what are you doing? You know, there was a service, the worship was blessing me so much, I was in tears, and one media guy was tapping me to mic me. I said, my friend, move back, move back. These are the things that creep in. If you're not careful, one day it won't be Laodecia, it may be your own church. Jesus is outside knocking. That is, it's been long I joined you in service. It's been long, it's been long, it's been long. Protect your simplicity. Protect, you know. And that's why one of the things I do, I have vowed never to make friends with anybody I have to form before. If I have to pretend, you know, you know, there are some friends you are constantly gauging possessions. Oh, you know, have you seen some friends, if you share a testimony, they must share their own, just to let you know it's not only you? No, be only you got there. You know, let me tell you something. Hi Jesus! Do you know that for many pastors, lying is, is okay because it's just the brand? They, they may even embellish it as a statement of faith. You exaggerate attendance, you exaggerate is part of the things. Exaggerate miracles. If it was boil, don't say it was cancer. It was boil. Because you know the things that will move, the things that will get the views, the way you will put the title on YouTube, the thumbnail, and you know it will have more views. That's what you are learning. And again, just like the pulpit being moved by an inch every year, you are getting worse and you don't even see it. Getting worse until you are a shadow of yourself. People, I, you know There is a man of God. I can tell you this because there is no way under heaven you can guess who I'm talking about. There's a, you know, there's a man of God. He was about to die, and so he sent for one of my friends because he knew he had a lot of repenting to do. And this man of God, there is no vice that was missing in his life. I mean, there's nothing you can think of that he was not doing, and he was actively pastoring. Nothing. You see, let me tell you something. If you, if you are committed to professional, to professional ministry, you will patronize Baba one day. You will patronize, you won't, because the pressure. You know, there are some things we need to talk about. First of all, the things like itinerant ministry. You know, if you're not careful as an itinerant minister, you will want to use punchlines every time because, I mean, they invited you, you traveled, you have to justify, you know. And so if the word God gave you is not jin jin, you're you know, you have to— you will say what God did not ask you to say. You will just add some things. That's where many people enter trouble. You said what God didn't send you to say, and the miracle must happen because on the flyer, you know, it's part of the professionalism. In the flyer, they promised you that the kind of miracles you've not seen before will happen. Now you're under pressure. Before you know it, you will go and plan. That's what do we call it? What did the Winlows call it? Helpers of God. Abi, or you think those things don't happen? You know, one of my father's friends, he went to preach somewhere, and, um, before it was time to went to the restroom, and so he was washing his hands. He saw soap, he washed his hands. So now, as he was preaching, he said— he faced the choir, said, let us just lift our hands. As he raised his hand, everybody fell. So he was like, ah, I know I work with God, but which strange dimension is this that I've not even said I'm praying for anybody? He just raised his hand, people here will fall. So after the service, the pastor of the church asked him, he said, um, did you use the soap in my You know, and you know what annoys me? Why fake what can be real? You know, you know, You know, it's just like people who do money laundry, blood money. You do everything, you walked in the market naked, then people with legitimate hustle are still richer than you. Are you not a fool? Are you not a fool? After everything, there are people with genuine authentic ministerial grace still outlasting you, outclassing you. Why allow the devil fool you. Why, why allow the devil fool you? Don't be a liar. I, I have to say it the way it is. Pastors, they lie. And when I discovered it, I had to protect my innocence because I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe it. You know, I can say this one because, you know, I— this is a story from long back and we've all grown, you know, but there's a There was a man of God who used to inspire me. He was doing big things for God. I'm talking about more than 12 years ago. And he went for a ministration and he told me the honorarium they gave him. Ha! He had never received such an amount. Now in retrospect, I'm wondering why were you telling me that? You understand? Like, but anyway, way, that they never received such an amount before. And the reason it shook me is because the man had told me that someone had given him 1 million before. I'm talking about 10 years ago. So when you're saying the honorarium they give you, so my head was exploding. That God, yeah, I said, tell me, you understand? He said, no, I won't tell you. He said, it's even in this book, this book, that he pointed at the book. Hey, You know, I was like, just show me now. You know, I want to be inspired. God forgive me. Now something happened. Someone called him. He stepped outside. I'm not like that. I'm not. I'm not like that normally. But this—

I—

and I thought, what could he— I thought he didn't mind telling me, but he didn't want to be arrogant, that he's not— he won't be offended. Just opened the book, the check was ₦10,000. See, so first and foremost, so I want to clarify, first and foremost, nobody had given me a check then before, so I would have still been impressed. And then Femi Lazarus, it's honorarium, it's the work of the Lord. I don't care the amount, and I never asked you on your own. You just wanted to impress me.

Why?

Do you understand what I'm saying? These are the things that happen. You just—

why?

So I couldn't understand, like, okay, if I was also a big man of God, I will understand why you might want to, but I— have you seen people who are proud and you can't tell why? Money you don't have, you can't, you, you can't see the logical connection. And I'm wondering, do you know God watches or you don't care?

Which one?

Let me just finish this and get out of here. I know you're anointed, but still greet people. It's okay. If you need to apologize, say sorry. Don't spiritualize it, don't embellish it, just say sorry. Don't treat people poorly. You know, a man of God who had been, you know, following me for a while, he said, "Ah, your ministry has changed my life." He said, "I have done foolish things in the past." He talked about one day Femi Lazarus, years ago, he was young, he's still in school, but you know, he had been told he's anointed, so he told his mom, kneel down, I want to bless you. These things happen. You see, let me tell you something, there are some people, their contribution to the body of Christ will be in heaven. You know, no, this is what I mean. Like, it is in heaven, you will know the degree, you know. You see, the man of God, Pastor Sam Adeyemi, just seeing him taught me a lot. I saw what it meant to be great and not have a point to prove. Simplicity. I will never forget, I went for a program in his church years ago, and I saw him like this. Eh, is it you? I'm saying, I don't understand. And I said, if I talk to him, maybe someone will slap me. Let me try. I walked to him. Eh, I greeted him. Do you know just that simple thing did something to me? I said, it's okay.

Simplicity.

Praise the Lord. I have protocol, it's not wrong. It is not for class consciousness, it's for order. Do you understand what I'm saying? But at the end of the day, any shepherd that does not smell of sheep is a thief. That's how you know a hireling. You, you stole the sheep. If you lack human interaction How are you a pastor? How are you a pastor? That now, do you know, that's why I said when you become a big man of God, you can lose your calling. Because now, even to go out and evangelize, you'll be feeling— do you know there are some ways, oh my God, you know, as an evangelist, you will see a lot. There are some people who will insult you. But now, as a man of God, there's some things you cannot take. You know what I'm saying, don't you? What if you kept the simplicity? I know it's okay for his soul, it's still okay. Let me squeeze two points into one. You lose your purpose when you get into the trap of competition. When you get into the trap of competition, you lose your purpose. You know, there's a text in the Bible, John 21:21. Context: Jesus had just told Peter the kind of death he will die. And you know what Peter did? He pointed to John, he said, what about him? I don't mind that I will suffer for you, what about him? And Jesus said, if I say he will remain with me till the end. What is that to you? How is it your business? And this reveals a reflex that when God gives you an instruction, you want to know what God has told others. Do you know what, what are others doing? What is happening? What is trending? The Bible says they that compare themselves to themselves are not wise. God could have given you a different path. God told Peter he will suffer, but it's none of your your business if John doesn't suffer. In fact, John was the only apostle that did not die. He lived to an old age. I mean, he lived to an old age. He didn't die by persecution. The only one. But it's none of your business. God has given people different parts. Different parts. And when we understand that God has made it so, So that everyone, no matter their background, will have a witness. There is someone— do you understand what I'm saying? There is someone who has seen it, done it, you know, so that you don't look at Apostle Femi Lazarus, you know, let me tell you something, you know, this man has stories about everything. And it got to a point I asked myself, why didn't I suffer? Why didn't— because he has stories. Come on, has it ever happened that you were in a room and talking about how much they suffered and you felt compelled to say your own too? That your own is small? You know, human beings like to compete about foolish things. If If the conversation was wealth, they want to tell you they are richer. If the conversation is poverty, they want to tell you they are poorer. They sha don't want to lose. He reached one time, I was like, ah, I've never contemplated suicide. Why? If you're not careful, you will think it's a bad thing. Join us, find out. Why? That's, you know, God said, if I have said that he will stay here to the end, what is that to you? It's none of your business. None of your business. And when you understand the election of grace, you will, you just understand. And then in fact, not just election of grace, the sovereignty of God. He can raise anybody, he can bless anybody, and nothing you do about it will work. Let me tell you something. Have you seen people who it gets to a point they start to try to diminish your story? That is the one that makes me laugh. In fact, in the body of Christ, we have a culture where they only honor you when they have no choice. That one is for advanced class. There are some people God is raising, variety of people, and it is for the good of the body of Christ. In fact, some of the people whose work I admire, I don't even have a personal relationship with them. Honestly, I've not tried. I'm not saying— do you understand? But I just look at the body of Christ and I'm grateful because I know no ministry can do all the work. No matter how efficient you are, no ministry can do all the work. Even with Jesus when he was in his earthly ministry, as efficient as Jesus was, he still said the laborers are few. Let the Lord enlarge your heart. Start praying for others besides yourself. Think about the work that needs to be done. Some people— oh my God, you know, so, so, so for instance, the kind of dimension Apostle brings Do you understand? If you know, I never really suffer. Do you understand what I'm saying? Honestly speaking, in ministry, I make it easy. I'm being honest with you, and that also is a testament of the grace of God. Come on, are you getting what I'm saying? There are some people in the, in the cleft of the rock. God gave them something. You know, have you noticed there are some men of God God. We all teach on prayer, and if I teach on prayer, you'll be stayed. If you teach on prayer, but it's different when that's your ministry to the body. I don't want to mention names. You know some names, just watching them like this, eh, you'll be boiling. You know what I'm saying? Is it that you can't take it away? If God has given you, he has given you. Some people, minstrels, sometimes you wonder, are they pretending? Maybe this is a cherub, do you understand? Because when they stand like this, it's a gift. It's a gift. And when you love the body of Christ, you will appreciate it. Are you getting what I'm saying? You just, you just appreciate it. Can I tell you something? You only compete because you think someone can take what God has given giving you. That's the mistake. You know, when people were telling John about the greatness of Jesus's ministry, he said, 'A man can receive nothing except it be given to him from above.' Oh, you— what do you think it is? You think it's light? You think it's cream? A man can receive nothing except it be given to him from— only I, my God. You only try to compete because someone can take what God has given you. It's not possible. It's not possible. In your assignment, you are irreplaceable. You see, let me tell you a story, a story you know very well. In the place of prayer, God told Abraham, lift up your eyes and see as far as your eyes can see. I will give to you not south, east, west. Because it happened in the prophetic place, Lot was not there when God told Abraham, I will give you all of this. Are you listening to this? And to that promise, Abraham built altars. You see, when Abraham begins to have success, some people see the hard work, they don't see the altars. And so when Lot came on the scene with covetousness, trying to compete with a man of consecration, Let's go our separate ways. And Abraham, Abraham looked at him and said, oh, you want? Take. Why did Abraham do that? Do you understand? Because Lot is looking with his natural eyes. He does not know that these lands are sustained by altars. Abraham had the security to say, take it if you can. Are you listening to me? Nobody can take what God gave you. Abraham knew that. It was a pattern in Abraham's life you couldn't take from him, including his wife. Oh, she's my sister. Oh yeah, take. I'm not saying that's right, do you understand what I'm saying? And God came in and I said, you are already dead. Abimelech said, this is not fair, I didn't know. Didn't you hear what he said? He said, eh, you have a point, but he must pray for you because you're already sick right now. That was the first recorded healing in the Bible. The first recorded, you, you are ready. There are some people you can't take from, and Abraham can say, take it. You want the secret, replicate it. You think it's exact, do it. That's when you will know. Oluwa lo fu ashe. You can't— nobody can replace you. They can only replace you if you lose your place. That's all. Allow the people who are trying to get by covetousness what you got by consecration. It will never work. Are you getting what I'm saying? And that's the last thing I'm going to say. Please understand that in the body of Christ, the only thing that assures greatness is purpose. That's the only thing. You know, I keep telling people Yeah, you see, when the Bible says— come on, oh Jesus— when God says it is not of he that wills nor of he that runs, but of God that shows mercy, it tells you that prayer, fasting, and all this devotion only help you press into what was already destined to be yours. You cannot press into what is another man's. It means that the greatest Secret of greatness is purpose, not prayer. Not— you can't pray your way into a will that is not yours, that is not God's. It will never work. You know, I discovered years ago, and you know, I said, ah, people are not telling us the truth. People are not telling us the truth. You know, there are some men of God, they pray, oh, they fast, oh, but if you are honest, you know it's not prayer. Ah, if you look, he's not praying. See, have you seen a gifted man before? That William Branham was playing in the forest at the age of 8. He angel, the angel said, from today— I said playing, not praying. From today, anybody you see that believes you are a prophet, you will not prophetic physically, everything about them, and no matter the ailments, they'll be healed. This is one man of God that even skeptics could not gainsay. I read an account of his death. You know, there are many stories these days, you know, I, I, you know, when he had an accident, his wife and son died instantly. So he was at the point of death. He said, move me close to their body. He touched his wife, she jacked back to life. Touched his son, jacked back to life, and he died. This is a man, if you Google, he has, he has a picture of a halo, a cloud of glory over his head. The camera captured it. See, there are some things you can't press into. You understand what I'm saying? Unto us a child is born, a son is given. There are some God gave. Are you, are you getting what I'm saying? So the prayer and the fasting is to sustain it, not to give it, not to give it. Find your own destiny, be faithful there. There are some people, you know, you think all of us will be Daddy Geo. You just think about the size, the, you know, The last, what's it called now, um, convention, 5 million people were fed twice a day for one week. I'm not talking about the miracles now, I'm just saying just the capacity. Don't die. You know, I saw a video today, there was a man they found on, on the mountain dead. He fasted and died. Fasting is important too. Don't allow— don't— you will die. Stay with what God has given you. Please, are you getting what I'm saying? Laugh but hear what I'm saying. I'll be honest with you, I work hard, I pray, I fast. I'm one of the most hardworking working people you will find. But I won't lie to you, the results in my life is God. It might seem cliché to you, but it's God. It is true that it is not of he that wills nor of he that runs, but of God that shows mercy. Please embrace what God has given you. Be happy in it, be fulfilled in it, and then embrace the limitations of it. You know, this is a part of this sermon you might not want to hear, and I'll just say it and I'll run away. Do you know what it means for John the Baptist to say— are you ready? Number one, at the beginning he said, I am not the Christ. So it means that part of your understanding of purpose is the humility to recognize that for the sake of God and his work, he may anoint somebody more than you, and it's okay. There are some people, listen, especially from a natural standpoint, they will be greater than you, and it's okay. It's okay. It's okay that John the Baptist can say he must increase and I must decrease. He's part of the plan. It's okay. You know, we don't study John. There's a lot to learn about him in ministry. You see your own, your own close friends, their parents are family friends. Do you understand what I'm saying? And he's the Messiah, you are not. And it is your responsibility to prepare the way for him, literally usher him into to the fame, and it's okay. What if your assignment is to be someone else's cheerleader? What if? What if? You will embrace not just the direction and the clarity that your purpose gives, but also the boundaries. Only then can you be a true worshipper, when you embrace what God has said he wants to do with your life. Life, not your own plan. The length, the breadth, width— you know, that scripture sounds very great, but it also implicitly tells you there is a boundary. Amen, somebody! And you are okay with it. God, if this is how far you will take me, I am happy in it. I am grateful, because indeed it is not of he that wills nor of he that runs, but of God that shows mercy. And if you give me one talent and give someone else 3, it's okay. If you give me 3 and give someone else 5, it's okay. I will not oppress the person has 1, and I will not be jealous of the person that has 5. Do you understand what I'm saying? Everyone prophesy according to the measure of the grace of God. Don't kill yourself. There is a measure. If you like jump up, your height is your height. Can we just spend 2 minutes to worship the Lord and thank him? Thank him, thank him for what he has said he would do through you. Just thank him, thank him, thank him. Father, we give you the praise, we give you the glory, we bless your name in Jesus' mighty name. We Prayed. Time is far spent. We'll continue tomorrow. God bless you. Amen.

If this was street I was just a bad guy. I just knew in the place of prayer not to give him time so that we can dress out. This is not our custom. I just knew that we have to just— are you glad for that? How many of you saw the consistency of thoughts since this conference started? That's how you know if a meeting is called by God or you did copy and paste. I didn't tell him what to say. I don't even know how to do that. Thank you, Apostle. Let's celebrate God in his life. So let, let me just give you this heads up. Tomorrow morning is still ministering, by the grace of God. And in fact, I ought to be ministering first. I just cut, cut my session so that I can have good time, okay? And then let me say it publicly. I know you will not tell me no, but let me say it publicly because we are going to have another interview session tomorrow. So there are burning questions, and, um, the last one we did solved many things in the body of Christ, and I know God will have us around that one on another thing entirely. But I, I bet I won't put you in trouble. Yes, I know I have the capacity to, but I won't. Okay, you know, right? So I would Amen. And by God's grace, tomorrow also, um, my spiritual father will be joining us. Pastor Gary Magsie will be joining us tomorrow also, and, um, Pastor Paul Juwemade will also join us tomorrow. So tomorrow is a bit of a stretch because officially the name Spirit of Life Church changes tomorrow. So we announce the new name tomorrow. Are you ready for that? By God's grace, tomorrow night is also the honor night for— funny enough, we have not even displayed his picture for the first time, but please let's do that, media. So that tomorrow morning we can display his picture. That's the pastor who pastored me in Redeem. Years ago, I entered the church as a first-timer and he discerned and said as a first-timer that God will have me pastor the church. The first day I got to the church. He's not a normal man. Been serving as a missionary for decades. He's now going to be 84 this year. And, um, there are people you just can't allow their labor fall to the ground. You must honor them, and that's what we are doing tomorrow. He's going to be here with his wife, all his children, uh, bringing 35 people from the village. For a man to resign from Shell to live in the village all his life. He slept in the car for how many years? He will say when he comes home. In the car for years. And there are people you just have to honor, and we do that tomorrow. Amen. Please sit for a moment. I told you that throughout this conference, Beyond, we consider giving, giving as an art of worship.

Worship.

Where is Israel? All right, I want us to raise a sound, right? Not too slow, you know. Yeah, not too fast. Yeah, as led by the Spirit. I want us to give. Are you ready for that? Let them project their account details. Let's give. In the next 1 minute, we do that so we can be out of here.

Thank you.

There's a man seated here. You are on the run from your wife and children. You are seated The person you came with is not your wife. Take this as a warning from God to retrace your step. Take this as a warning from God to retrace your step. Thank you, Lord. Father, this offer offerings are blessed. Thank you for the blessings of them in the first place. Everyone giving, and those who have nothing to give, when next your opportunity show up, you will have more than enough. You are blessed with the dew from above, the fatness of the earth, and plenty corn and wine, in Jesus' mighty name. If there's any announcements, Pastor Joseph, please come give tomorrow, 8:00 AM on the dot. All right, Apostle will be here to minister as early as possible. Make sure you mark your schedules and be here. Let's receive Pastor Joseph as he wraps us up again. Just a moment, I forgot the other time to introduce and celebrate Pastor PG Downsey. Help me please honor him. Thank you, thank you. Let's receive Pastor Joseph.

Hallelujah!

Have you been blessed this evening? Have you been blessed this evening? Go ahead and celebrate Jesus! Go ahead and celebrate Jesus! Do it better, do it better! Please, let's allow the ministers to go. Hallelujah! Praise God! You can have your seat for a brief meeting, um, announcement rather. And so by 8 AM we commence Um, tomorrow, tomorrow we're going to have, um, 3 sessions: morning sessions, um, afternoon session, and evening sessions. Then on Saturday, only morning session. So tomorrow you can come as early as possible. Plan yourself to just stay all through. Is that okay? Plan yourself to stay all through. And as you do, God bless you in Jesus' name. Can we rise up on our feet? Feet as we share the grace in unison. And we are going together, 1, 2, 3, go! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit be with us now and forevermore. Amen. Surely God's goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our life because we are the house of the Lord, forever and ever. Amen. God bless you. See you tomorrow by 8:00 AM. God bless you.