ISAAC AND ISHMAEL 2

Welcome to an Encounter with the Spirit word and prayer through the prolific apostolic and teaching ministry of Apostle Femi Lazarus, Lead Pastor, Sphere of Light Church Global. It is his vision to raise God's end-time armies.

God has not called you to prove you are the best. He has not. As a leader, you are a broker of gift and talent.

So brace up for an experience.

2 Corinthians 10, um, let's start the reading from verse 3 for context. 2 Corinthians 10 from verse 3 for context. Now look at this, says, for though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh. The word after the flesh means that— it doesn't mean that, um, the, the layman interpretation of this is that we are not fighting flesh and blood. No, no, that's— that is deeper than that. It means we are not using fleshy strategies. Okay, very important.

Why?

Verse 4: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. So, um, thank God we have military officers here, so they know what I'm talking about. There are tactical— there are things— there's such a thing called tactical assault. There are tactical ways of fighting. So for instance, when you see nations fighting themselves, it's not just some people running around with guns and trying to shoot the next person they see who is wearing blue or the person wearing red.

No, no, no, no.

Warfare is— involves techniques. I think it involves information. So one of the things you want to do to be strategic is, for instance, to blow up the supply line of your enemy. You want to check where are they bringing ammunitions to, where are they bringing food to, okay? If we can cut the supply line, you leave them stranded. There's a Chinese proverb that says, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never lose a battle a day in your life. Nigeria is the place on earth as we speak that the move of God is most strongly felt. Nigerian ministers are a blessing all over the world. You won't believe it, all over the world. Nigerian worshippers are a blessing all over the world. It was not like that before, but you will also notice that the devil also picked interest in this nation for the direct opposite, so that the time comes you don't even know which is strongest, Ishmael or Samuel or Isaac. And I said to you on Tuesday that the devil likes to always insist that the father of Isaac will be the father of Ishmael. He likes to always insist that when good things are better through you, the opposite of it is also better through you. I was given a topic yesterday, self-sabotage. That's what it means, to build and to also destroy. One of the things I want to open your eyes to see today is to show you aspect of the story of Ismael that you don't even know. To let you know that when Sarah said to Abraham that go into Hagar and sleep with her, what the devil did was a dondilo. It was deeper than what you think. Turn your Bibles there. Genesis chapter number 16. Genesis 16. Now I start reading from verse 1, and I want us to pay attention to this. Now Sarai, Abraham's wife, bear him no children, and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Agar. And Sarai said to Abraham, behold now The Lord hath restrained me from bearing. I pray thee, go in unto my maid. It may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abraham hearkened to the voice of who? Sarah. And Sarai, Abraham's wife, took Agar, a maid to Abraham, the Egyptian. After Abraham had dwelt 10 years in land of Canaan and gave her to her husband Abraham to be his wife. So it was not a one-off, it was not one night stand. Be his wife. And the old man, I like it like that. Men, you know what this means. The only way he can accept is that he had thought about it. He had looked at Ega. I said, 'Ega is fine.' We don't know, maybe Sarah saw him looking at her, and that's why she suggested the girl specifically. But somehow, when she said, 'Go into her,' it was a dream come true. He agreed. Amen. I've seen people try to justify polygamy and say even monkeys, they have different mates. Even cats, they have different mates. Are you a monkey? You are not a monkey. Now look at it, let's jump a bit. Verse 4 now. And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes. Now I, I could talk to you. Let me tell you something. Many of us here work with different establishments. If you are going to last in any organization, you must know how to manage success. When you get the results your predecessors are not getting, there is a way you celebrate. Are you following what I'm saying here? There is a way you— let them be the one to say, ah, you know, it's our win. Listen to— people can say, ah, congratulations, congratulations, but what they're actually saying is that let's find a way to get this guy out of this place. You know, David killed Goliath. It was the win for the nation, but the women began to sing, ah, Saul has killed his thousands and David tens of thousands, and David too was dancing. When they are singing the downfall of your boss, you don't dance. Are you following what I'm saying? Those who are in politics know this. One powerful tool for trade in politics is loyalty. Ah, so the moment she conceived started looking at Sarah, barren woman. Look at her, this, this, this, that. And verse 5, and Sarah said unto Abraham, my wrong be upon thee, I have given my handmaid into your bosom, and when she saw that she conceived, I was despised in her eyes. The Lord judge between me and you. Women, women, don't be today Why will you start what you can't finish? Why will you start what you can't? No, be you take the girl, go there, say, 'I'm going to marry the girl now.' Now your eye can't take it. And they sent a girl out, maltreated her. Look at it. Verse 6 now. But Abraham said unto Sarah, behold, thy maid is in thy hand, do with her as you like, as it pleaseth you. And when Sarah dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. And the angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. And he said, Agar, Sarah's maid, whence comest thou? And whither thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress. See, right? And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Return to your mistress and submit yourself under her hand. And the angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. And the angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael, because the Lord hath seen your what?

Affliction.

And he will be a wild man, and his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of his brethren. And she called the name of the Lord that spake to her, Thou God seest me. For she said, have I also looked after him that seeth me? Two things you need to pick from this. Let's pick two applications. Look at this, oh, please pay attention. I want to teach. Why did Hagar run? Affliction, right? What did the angel say to her? Go back and submit to Sarah. That instruction was not about Sarai. That instruction was about the child. There is a form of pregnancy you must not take away from certain atmospheres. No matter how angry you are, ega, understand that your anger has no economic value. Go back. That place where there is hardship, there's also something side by side. The blessing. Did you notice that the same blessing that was given to Abraham was the blessing that was given to Ishmael? I will multiply your seed that they will not be numberable for multitude. You know what that means? Ishmael entered the blessing before Isaac. He did. So Ishmael might be not of faith, but he was blessed. The same pronouncement that was given to Abraham, same pronouncement that was given to Ishmael. But there were contradictions. He said he's going to be a wild man. His hand will be against every man, and every man's hands against him. Those were the contradictions. Okay, so the devil wanted to seal the fate of, of Abraham. Of, of, of, of, of Abraham. Ishmael was blessed, but he needs to grow under the covering of the blessing.

Yes, sir.

So So he said, carry the child back. Let me beg you in the name of Jesus Christ, you want to keep seeing the hand of God like never before, treat people well. You can't claim to love God you don't see and despise people that you see. Treat people well, everyone with their own honor. Every— not for what they have to offer, but for whose image they are. God's image. Honor all men, sir. The Bible say we should not be wavering in well-doing, also in entertaining strangers, for by this many have entertained angels without knowing. There are men like angels and angels like men. It could be that one day that you just lose your temper at work that you will miss the result of the prayers you have prayed for 10 years. Just that one moment. The devil makes sure that you get to the peak of frustration. When you are closest to your breakthrough. Just whenever you are about losing your temper, retreat, because there's something you're about to lose. Are you following what I'm saying here? So anger lies in the bosom of who? Fools. Why? Because it is through wisdom that the house is built, through understanding it is what? Established, through knowledge the chambers are filled with pleasant riches. So a fool can't build because he's not wise. It takes wisdom to build and to have men building with you. You can't do everything. You must have the character and the affinity to accommodate and magnetize those who can support other areas, and they may not be perfect. Sometimes the most imperfect people carry the greatest blessings. If you look at them, the way this guy talks, I can't stand him. But I must be emotionally intelligent enough to recognize what he stands for. This is not a way to endorse treating people wrong. It is a way to be smart. Say loud and clear, I refuse to be a fool. Say it again. I refuse to be a fool. Now, not just was Ishmael blessed, you know, Ishmael was born out of the covenant, but Ishmael did not die out of the covenant. He became part of the covenant. Genesis 17. Genesis 17. Are you learning something? Genesis 17, let's start reading from verse 22. And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day as God said to him. The circumcision is the sign and the seal of the covenant. So he brought Ishmael in. The illegitimate became legitimate and blessed. So what's the hope for Isaac? What's the hope for Isaac? Now look at this. I said something in passing on Tuesday, that there's a reason why when Isaac came That was when God, to deal with the roots of Ishmael that will catch up with you in future, kill Isaac, not kill Ishmael. God will never allow you anchor your faith on what he has given you. But himself. So when what he has given you takes his place in your life, you have made the resources a source. Yes, yes, it is going to destroy you. And that's why God gives instruction. Many instructions are so that we can be consecrated to him. And that's why God— look at the emphasis. You look at the way a woman will talk: go and sacrifice Isaac, your only son, Isaac, whom you love. So God is saying, you have one now that has taken my place. Let it go. Let me give you an illustration. Some— you know, there's a way to— I'm showing you today what happens when you bet Ishmael first. I'm going there now. Look at this. There's a way somebody, maybe early days of your life, you have made mistakes, maybe even have children out of wedlock, and there's a way the hand of God brings you up and give you a brand new beginning and give you a new start. There's a way if care is not taken, pride can still catch up with you there, that you see people who are going through what you have gone through and your story can't heal them, rather you are judging them. That good Isaac is becoming toxic. Your newfound holier-than-thou will have to climb the altar and die. Except a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it abides alone. There's something called overcompensation. Oh, I've waited all this long for this. Now God has given me. Ah, this is it. Oh, nobody can collect this from me. Ah, I found this. You will overcompensate and drive yourself to death. There are people who are not going to clubs in the days they were struggling. They would never drink alcohol. It was not their thing. They, they are not nightcallers. They don't do women. They don't— they are just simple people. But there's a way money meets you, and when there's no purpose, it starts destroying you. Let me tell you something. Jesus gave illustration. Of 3 things that will test the strength of every building. He said a wise man builds upon the rock. Said then cometh the rain, then the flood, then the wind. Hmm. The wind is contrary opinions, doctrines. The rain is also something that checks your building. The rain, they are blessings from the Lord. Isaiah 55:10 says, as the rain and the snow will not return back to heaven but I make the earth bring forth bud and flush. Listen to this, oh. It means even good things will check your structure. The rain that you have not built capacity for is what becomes flood.

That's true, that's true.

Rain is coming, build capacity for it, it becomes flood. If the rain come carry the building away because you fail to build capacity, the flood will Good things can become curses.

That's true, sir. That's true.

Sometimes we ask for what we don't know what it feels like to be there. God saw that the emergence of Isaac has entered into Abraham's head. Let me speak from my place as a prophet. While we cry to God for a new Nigeria. I believe it. I believe it will be in our lifetime. I believe we are going to see the reputation of this nation change. I believe that we are going to see things turn around. Our men and women will no longer die within our walls. Blood will not flow on our streets. I believe, but I have more fear for the new Nigeria than the old, and my fear is because of overcompensation. Prosperity is a responsibility. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. It is. Will we still obey rule of law, freedom of speech, but there's no control? Look at social media platform. Anybody can insult anybody's father. Ha! Young people should come into power, I believe, but being young doesn't mean you are wise, and being young doesn't mean you have new mentality. You can be young and up here, you are as old as Methuselah. Don't use age to cover face. Study and go far. Forget about the nonsense. I don't want to talk because— are you following what I'm saying here? I believe things will change, but what— can we handle it as a nation? There are nations in Africa, they became worse after they got their independence. Man was designed to be under some rule. By all means. The moment there's no rule, that's real bondage. There must be something. Imagine you going to school and they told you that do exam when you like, go to lecture, you will never graduate. True? By now, many of you sleeping in Part 1 with 3 children. Part 1, sir. Maybe you not even have WAEC results by now. But because something puts you under, something puts you— even if you don't like the lecturer, you know you must come for his lecture. I had one terrible lecturer. When he's talking, people are talking behind, he will face the 3 people in front, begin to talk to them. So you understand this, this, this, till he will finish the lecture. And the assignment that will carry 10 marks, that's how I will tell them. So this, this equation, this, this, this, that. My God, God help you. There's one of us, Abi, amongst them. As they finish, I just tie the book and left, cover with a tie. Listen, oh. And listen good. I know many of us are trusting God for when good times will come, but have you developed capacity to handle Isaac? Because the only way Isaac can be handled is that Isaac climbed the altar. That pool must die. That is where real life starts from. That pool must die. Imagine, just get a call, no, no, no, no, no, this, this you have been appointed as this and that to the president. The first statement is, ah, that church is too far. And you have cow. You see that prosperity has a way of bringing his own suggestions. Just look at your wife. I said, ah, she's not that fine again. What are you talking about? You are called husband, mean that you are a farmer. The quality of your garden is a reflection of your sense. So what are you talking about? It's a reflection. And that's why the criteria to being a man of God, a bishop, 1 Timothy 3, is that take care of your own home first. Isaacs are not simple to be managed because Isaac can invade your heart. You are more sane when you bet Ishmael. Your head is more correct when you have contradictions. That's the truth. Even if you don't want to pray, if a landlord message you now, you have 2 weeks to leave my house, you pray. You just have a way of loving God and honoring God. Sometimes we have shown to God that we are better off small. That's the problem. A man can be small, for his mercies endure forever, because he's better preserved small. May God bless you, and may your head be correct. Ah, they are not saying the amen well. May God bless you and you may your head be correct. May you be a priest in your home. May the hand of God strengthen you. Now sit down a minute, let me talk to you for a while. There's nothing pleasurable out there, nothing. Oh, that your children long to be like you. You don't have to be a pastor. With integrity of heart, presence in their lives. Presence in their lives that this week I'm going to go out to park with my children.

Let's play.

Let's— that's real fun, sir. That's really fun. That's really fun. One of the ways the devil is hurting the society is through dysfunctional families. I see people here with the grace for early establishment. But make sure your foundation is strong. Make sure your foundation is— the moment certain kind of result comes, your friend, your circle of friends change. The kind of suggestions one are giving is strange. And that is why I make sure that every relationship I've made at every level of my life They are there intact to keep me sane. I have my friends that were executives, campus fellowship together, and we have our WhatsApp group. We're having a conversation. It's been so, so and so years that we have left campus. Let's have a get-together. Let's meet again. It is very easy for me to say, you know, I'm the busiest amongst you, but no. I need to go there. You know, when we're talking and one of them said, let's pay so-and-so amount to bring us to this hotel, ah, I'm like, hmm. But listen, I will need to go there and stay in that place to remember where God took me from.

Yes, sir.

One of my friends right on campus was getting married and he called me. I think 2 years ago, last year. And he said, Apostle, I want you to come and be my best man. I have meetings. My— anybody who knows my calendar knows that I'm booked in 2025. I said, I'm coming. His family members could not believe. Apostle Lazarus is coming to be your best man, drive to this village and come back. I went. Because these things keep you— see, there are structures you put in place to manage your heart, to manage your heart. Make sure— there are things I do, like going back to the old houses we have lived and enter and say, I remember when God was speaking to me in this room. I remember, I remember when God was saying this to me. Now we are beginning to see the beginning of what he said, but I remember Don't cover your old tracks so you'll not be a dog who can't hear the whistle of the hunter. The memory of where God took you from will keep you humble. Don't be quick to cut people off arrogantly. They are not in my level and my status. When God lifts you, it is your duty to lift them. Oh, it is to support. Oh yeah, the lady that was my gen sec while I was on campus, her husband called me and said, Apostle, this, this, this. I said, listen, on the account of your wife, I follow every details about your ministry. You preach so, so and so topic, so and so, so, so and so, this, so and so. I follow everything. I know what you are doing. Just put this in place, put that in place, you're good. He said, I want to preach for me. I said, you will never call me twice. My flight, hotel, and everything is on me. I'll show up. Don't, sir. Don't ever make God regret why he lift you. Don't. We do this for heart management. Apostle want to invite you, come and preach for us, but this place is not a place that your kind comes to. Is where two or three are gathered. Who is my kind? If two or three are gathered and God said he's there, who am I not to be there? What do you mean? Let's go. Say we don't have microphone. Come, I'm coming. Human being are there, I'll come. There are places I go to preach, I don't bother them with flight. Don't worry, I'll fly myself. I'm just starting. Somebody say heart management. Come on, say it again, say it again, say it again. Is there anyone here who remembered where God took him from? Huh? Is there anyone here? You remember, you remember, you remember, you remember. Can we shout thank you, Jesus? Thank you, Jesus! Oh yes, thank you. It is not because we are good, sir. It is not because we are the best. It is his mercy. It is his mercy. The race is not to the swift, the battle is not to the strong, nor food to the wise, nor bread to men of understanding, but time and chance happens to all of us. I'm a product of Kairos. Not wisdom. It is of the Lord's mercy, sir. That's why we can't boast. It is of the Lord's— can we say it again? This will show— thank you, Jesus. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Now let me give an encouragement. Everyone, please be seated. When you get home today, just hold hands with your family and remember There are things God told the Israelites, do this for ordinances, keep this feast to remember the day death and destruction passed through Egypt, but you were exempted. Okay, sometimes not celebrating your birthday is a way to be ungrateful because you remember, God, last year I was not here, but now I'm here. Don't say, don't celebrate me, what's there to be— stop that, that's not humility. God has kept you. Is that not worthy of celebration? It is, it is. You may not be where you want to be, but you are not where you used to be. Be grateful. I still have primary school friends in my life, and when I see them, I don't pretend I tend not to know them. Now, people that see in the crowd, I say, ah, I know you from somewhere. Forget about— for now, you speak Nigerian English. When I meet my people, it doesn't matter. That's life, sir. That's life, sir. That's life, sir. The purpose of being ahead is to make way for others. Oh yes, sir. That's the purpose, to go and clear the path. I see God placing on you the grace of leadership. I see God placing on you the grace of leadership. I see God placing on you the grace for leadership. You will lead the next generation with ease.

Amen.

You will lead the next generation in your field. You will lead the next generation without stress. In the name of Jesus, many will seek to be like you. There's grace for leadership, sir. There's grace for it. Please be seated. Please be seated. We do these things for heart— what? Management. Went. Ah, I took my pastors to the house I was living when this church started. We entered, there was another tenant there. Ah, said this was my room, it was my room. I, I have things I wrote on the wall with biro. Not Lazarus lived here No, no, no, no, no. When there—

ah, Oluwa!

I remember we were 3 that wanted to get the house. One entered and said, I'm out of here. Then the other lady say, Pastor is here, I'm going to be here too. So she paid, we paid. 6,000 per year. 6K, 6K per year. So I paid for 2 years. So as things begin to change, don't over-embrace Isaac. Understand that it is a sacred trust. It's a sacred trust. Don't overcompensate that with all the things I've suffered, now I must enjoy for all the years I've suffered. Get me a bag of salt, that's what I want to eat with. You'll kill yourself. You'll kill yourself. God is going to give you the wisdom to manage abundance. Amen. He will give you the standing to manage abundance. Because sometimes what you call abundance is relative to your vision. If the vision become bigger, that's more. True or not true? It's relative to your vision. Relative to your vision. Now there are people in the Bible that betted Ishmael first. That is, their life began from the opposite side. You look at them, ah, let me, let me say some things. Let me beg us, and let me say this for the record: one of the ultimate signs that we have found Christ is that we are loving and lovable. We have compassion. Are you feeling what I'm saying? It's not by carrying the biggest Bible and arguing online. You know, there are people who argue online who have no ministry. Never get distracted. It's not by that. It's love. Do you know who Jesus is? Are you aware that there are people now that we don't have messages for in the body of Christ. We don't. Somebody asked me, what motivates you to teach things you teach? I said, while I was going through the problems I went through in life, I could not find messages for my kind. And I said, once I come out, nobody who is my kind will struggle to find message. You may know what it means to finish from home. From, from school and go back home. Even if the home is not too nice, father and mother, they are there. There are those that they have to hang around campus, and sometimes there's no money. So people who know their condition, pray on them. And you know, when we preach in church, it's holier than thou. Everybody fell from the sky, and people are going through things, people are going through things. Don't join the bandwagon. People have no idea. They say he doesn't put— he doesn't mention— he doesn't quote scriptures when he speak. He doesn't quote scriptures. I have received over 200 Muslims decision from video clips. I want to give my life to Christ. You are the one who is not hearing Jesus. They heard, they heard. They didn't just hear, they saw Jesus. They saw him, they saw him, they saw him. If you start meeting people here, you see people who have not been to church in 9 years. Everybody did not drop from the sky, sir. It is possible that your life began from the opposite side. Look at the man that was on the right-hand side of Jesus. He has been a thief for as long as he can remember, but Jesus never said, you mean you have stolen all your life, now you are here and you are now thinking you enter heaven? God punish you there. Jesus never said said that. Jesus said, today you will be with me in Paradise. Today. Today. That is the Jesus of the Bible. Oh, that the world will know him. If you have issue with church, it's not Jesus you have issue with. It is somebody who has misrepresented him. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And the reason why you had that issue is so that from that pain you can decide to represent him better. So somebody else will not misrepresent him again. That's the Jesus of the Bible. He met the woman in John 4 who was by the pool, by the river, by the well of Samaria. The woman, her life had been bad, sir. Marry this one, this one, marry that one, marry this one, marry that one, marry this one. Say the one you are with now is not your husband. Jesus never said, you see your life, you see your life, you see your life. You're kind, my blood no fit save now. May you just go, Femi Lazarus, don't spoil, finish. He didn't say that, never said that. Everyone Jesus met, he lifted them. Give me that scripture, John 4. Let's go to from verse 12. Ah, my God, my God, my God. My God. John 4, if you are there, say amen. Now let me jump a bit. You can see how bad religion was. Our first response is, how will you, being a Jew, ask for water? Jews don't associate with them. We are holy people. We are going to heaven. Are you aware that the parable in Matthew 25 of the 10 virgins, the 10 that— the 5 that were locked out were not locked out because they didn't have oil. They were locked out because he didn't meet them. Yes. What do you need oil for? The lamp. Yes. What do you need lamp for? Light. Who is the one coming?

The light.

Your lamp was useless. Trust him. Those who didn't give— what is the principle of the kingdom? It is in giving we multiply.

Yes, sir.

When they came, the door was already shut. Yes, sir. The essence of that parable was not to show their inadequacy, but to show their unbelief.

Yes, sir.

Yeah, I don't believe somebody can feel I'm too bad, Jesus can't even save me anymore. Says who? What was the worst you've done? You killed. So he died so that you will not know what torment means. Are you following what I'm saying? Let me jump a bit. John chapter number 4. Now look at it. Let's go to reading from Verse 16, Jesus said to her, go and call your husband and come hither. And the woman answered and said, I have no husband. Let me, let me tell you, you see forensic prophecies like this, you see that Jesus never did for the multitude. Let me tell you, let me warn you, you know, it's because Nigeria is still bad. That I can call somebody out, camera is on the person, and say, you be witch. Say, I no be witch. You— the prison is getting gradually closer to the pulpit. Yeah. If there will be a rule of law, the church must adjust method. Don't say I didn't tell you. You just call somebody out, embarrass the person. No, because people don't know their right. Being a pastor does not give us license to do anyhow. Are you following what I'm saying? Okay, look at it. Jesus said in verse 16, go and call your husband and come hither. And the woman answered and said, I have no husband. And Jesus said to her, yes, thou hast well said, I have no husband, for you have had 5 husbands, and whom you have now is not your husband. All this King James, sometimes they call it in that sense doubtfully. The woman said unto him, sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worship in this mountain, and you say that in Jerusalem is the place that men ought to worship. And Jesus said unto her, woman, believe me, the hour cometh when you shall neither worship on this mountain— he said, I've not brought religion. This is how they used to do it. And we used to worship on this mountain. Let me tell you something. Let me give an example of our father's worship in that mountain. Oh, we caught this brother in the act of immorality. We called the brother out publicly. Man, no use for example, they will think say not true. We call the brother out publicly and say, today we find Brother So-and-so in the act of adultery. We send you out of this church, or we suspend you. You sit at the back. Will it get better? Gets addined, rejected. Nobody will go and greet the person. Say, don't shake hands with him, don't stand by him, don't greet him, don't look at him, don't stand beside him. Because he's gone. Has the blood of Jesus finished? Has the blood finished? Has the blood finished? We're on campus. Okay, I had finished. I've left campus then. I left campus then, and they called me for a meeting and said, there's this guy, they say, yeah, come for a meeting, all this one meeting. And I saw the girl I knew, there's fire on the mountain. And said this guy say he went to touch the girl, this, this, this. Narrate the case. I sat down. Ah, my heart was bleeding. Called him out in church. We hereby place you on indefinite suspension. Stand outside. Um, this, this, this. You are not among the saints. This— listen to what I'm saying. I went with Yes, the following morning at a place called White Wall on OU campus, I prayed from 6:00 AM till 5:30 PM. The moment— just for him— the moment I sensed an oil of joy, I got up. Then he called me, he said, Pastor, I can't tell what is happening now, but I just sense peace. Can we still hold people in our prayer for their— that is the real Christianity. It is easy to somebody who is dead and say, oh, you, you are dead, you are a fornicator, your life is finished. You don't know that you are already betting Ishmael, contradicting what Jesus did. You can bet two extremes. I just— a guy just gave his life to Christ, a cultist, a cultist. 3 of them entered my room around past 10 at night, knelt down. I said, we want to give our life to Jesus. I was too happy. I said, ah, join our church. Young Christian that we're still trying to disciple started trying to ask his sister out. That one said no. He left the one who was dating for— because they were having sex, then went to another one. That one said yes. It was in Bible study they brought the matter. No call, no counseling, no confirmation, nothing. No investigation, no teaching, didn't know his level. There's a guy here who is trying to defile our girls. This, this, this is from the pit of hell. Everybody rise up, stretch your hands. Now we pray that exactly the prayer that God will put put out his light. And I watched everyone— Father!— including the one who is masturbating, put out his light. And I looked at the guy, and he was looking at me, and I saw tears drop. I knew we had lost him. I knew warfare started. Before they could say benediction, he had picked his— you know, there are people who felt more loved in their occultic practice than church. Ah, how do we— how, how more can we communicate this? How can they love each other more in witchcraft coven than church? We judge, we criticize. You want people to shut down, never to exist again. That's not Jesus. I don't care how anointed you are, from that moment you are not representing him. That's not Jesus. Nobody can intimidate anybody. Nobody can. Don't let anybody intimidate you. From that moment, that's not Jesus. You're on your own. There's a way your selfish interest and your personal prejudice it can infiltrate your ministry and you make a doctrine out of it. If you are not kind, you are not loving, you are not gracious, you are not standing for Jesus. If any man be found in any offense, let them with the spirit of meekness— with this emphasis on the spirit of what? Meekness. Jesus met people in their lowest point and never shut them down. When he met this woman, she became a preacher. There was another one caught in the act of adultery. They allowed the guy go. They were going to stone her to death. Maybe they don't like her, she not agree, say you can't go give that guy, we kill you. Jesus said— and you know those that try to stone her? Religious people, what we call Christian now, everybody carry stone. They pursue instead of saying Jesus loves you. And when they saw Jesus, they were excited. So today we'll kill her in your presence. And the one who knew all things said, let him who doesn't have a sin cast the first stone. When I saw, started dropping the stone, started dropping the stone. And when she was left one-on-one with Jesus, the only one who didn't have sin— Hebrews 4:15— for we have not an high priest who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, seeing that he was in all points tempted like we are, yet without sin. Only him was qualified to stone her. So she was looking at— you can judge me now. And he said, I condemn you neither. What he said then is still what he's saying now. Now, yes, sir. If you know the things I've done, if any man be in Christ is a new. New means no past experience. It is not the message of lasciviousness, it is the message of redemption. If you sit down wallowing in the memory, oh, if you know what I've done, I've aborted, I've done this, I'm not qualified to marry a good man because I've brought this past— your issue is not lack of forgiveness for yourself, your issue is pride. You feel too big to have made a mistake. That's why you can't forgive yourself. Who are you not to make mistakes? Even angels fell. Angels saw women and lost it. You made a mistake in the past. He has restored you. Accept his forgiveness. Accept his love. Get back to where you used to be. You know you used to have a calling. A wind came, you can't even find yourself again. Get back in the calling. A wounded soldier is still a soldier. And as you stand with him, he's the balm of Gilead. It begins to heal you, minister strength to you. Never let anybody send you out of God. Don't, don't, don't ever let them. Is that clear now? Stand your ground. Stand your ground. Everyone Jesus met whose life had bad problem contradictions, he restored them. He restored the essence. That's the essence of this message— restoration. He said, I will give you the years that the locust has eaten. I will. Let me tell you this as we close: it is never too late for a fresh start.

That's true.

Never. It is only over when you say it is over. It is It's never too late. I want all of us to bow our heads this morning. If there's anyone here and you have been thinking, is it possible to have a fresh start? Can— do I have hope? Can this and that happen in my life? Is there a possibility for mercy? And all that. Just stand where you are and let me agree with you. You have seen some contradictions before. And now you are saying, you know what, this is it, this is it. All of us seated here have our own things we are dealing with. Nobody can shut you down, nobody can look down on you. Everyone have things that God brought them out of, everyone have things God brought them out of. Just lift your hands to Jesus and say, I accept your love, I accept the extension of your love, I accept it. I accept it. I accept it. I believe. I believe that you are my Savior. You are my Redeemer, my help, my strength, my buckler, my high tower, my hiding place. My hiding place. I know you are giving me a new beginning. I know you are giving me a new beginning. Who is it that says a thing when God has not said it? Who is it that says a thing when God has not said it? Who is it that says a thing when God has not said it? Who is it that says a thing when God has not said it? I know, Lord. I know, Lord. I know, Lord. And accept his love. Accept his love. If you have been a born-again Christian, he has not thrown you out of the fold. And if you are just giving your life to Jesus Christ now, whether you are upstanding or you are seated, you can please stand with them. Stand with them. Don't be shy. Don't be shy. You have been introduced to the Jesus of the Bible for you to know him for who he is. He is love personified. He is not one judge who is waiting for you to make mistake and finish your life. He is love. That is who he is. If you are making that decision, say after me: Lord Jesus, I believe that you came to 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 confess you as my Lord and Savior, and I accept this gift of eternal life. In Jesus' name, amen. I seek grace for fresh starts. I seek grace for a new beginning. Strength, strength. Even the places you have been mocked before, grace to walk with your shoulders high and strength for you. In the name of Jesus, let the hand of God rest upon you. Be blessed. And you are kept in the holos of his hands. You will not drop, you will not fall off his hands. Us. In the name of Jesus, it is done. In Jesus' mighty name, amen. You may please be seated. Let's give Jesus a big, big, big, big hand. I don't care how people fight this message, I will not stop saying to people that it is not over and Jesus is not done with you. It's not over. Hallelujah. Let's give Jesus a big hand again. Thank you, Lord. Oh, we bless your holy name. Thank you, Father. Amen. Thank you, Lord. We bless you, Lord. We thank you.

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