ISAAC AND ISHMAEL

Welcome to an encounter with the spirit, word, and prayer through the prolific apostolic and teaching ministry of Apostle Femi Lazarus, lead pastor of 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.

Father, we receive insight for this conversation today in the name of Jesus, that you will speak to us by yourself. In Jesus' mighty name, amen. Now let's turn our Bibles to the book of Genesis chapter number 12. Genesis chapter number 12. We'll start the reading from verse 1. Genesis 12, from verse 1. Now the Lord had said to Abram, get thee out of your country and from your kindred and from your father's house unto the land I will show you. He said, I will make you, and I will make you, or make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. And I will bless them that bless you and curse them that curse you. And in you shall all the families of the earth be what?

Blessed.

Profound. Okay, so let's break this down a bit. For instance, if you look at Genesis 12 from verse 1, did not say God said to Abraham, get thee after your fathers have said. The Lord hath said, meaning that there's been an ongoing conversation. Okay, so Genesis 12:1 was God's way of re-emphasizing the things he's been saying to him. It's time to get out. It's time to start again. One of the most difficult things for anyone to do is to start again, okay? Because change is powerful, but change is not easy. I feel what I'm saying. And anything that will stand the test of time must experience change. Every level has its shelf period. Let me leave that, we come back there. Let me give you an instance. The average shelf life— by shelf life now I mean lifespan— of any ministry, or let me use the word organization, is 25 years. Anything you do within that, the same thing that gave you your greatest impact within the first 25 years will be the same thing that will destroy it in the next 25 years. What is a mystery, or what is a working wisdom for a generation, can be the destroying factor in the next. That's why there's going to be a need for a change. We change for renewal. Are you following what I'm saying? Yes, sir. Should I go deeper or should I stop there?

Go deeper.

All right, if you look at the curve of life, there is the commencement phase, then you grow, then you get to the point where you get to maturity. Okay, that's the peak of the things you are seeing. If you don't renew the process, the next thing after that is decline. Change means to reinvent the wheel. Let me leave it. Are you following what I'm saying? Over there, are you with me?

Yes, sir.

It's like I used to abandon you guys a lot. What's going on? Are you there? All right, I'm to— we are together now. Pay attention. So God said to Abraham, get out of your father's house to a land I'll show you. So we are seeing that God was separating a man Why? Thank God that we also have in our Bibles the entire story. So the question of why won't be valid if we take time to study. We understand that the reason why God separated Abraham and said, get out of your father's house, is because he has found a man from whose loins he can bring the lineage of the Messiah. The Bible will be about a people. He has found a man that from whose loins that people will be bettered. Are you feeling what I'm saying?

Yes, sir.

So God took Abraham, okay, and separated Abraham. Please let me have an Abraham. So God separated Abraham to himself, okay? And then Abraham had Isaac. Femi Lazarus, please come. And then one child, Isaac. Okay, I think I gave this illustration in London, uh, Bible study in London. You need to go and watch the video. But Isaac was not the only child, but Isaac was the only child God recognized because of a mistake. But we're not going there yet. So Isaac gave birth to two, Esau and Jacob. Please come. Don't forget, this is the lineage. Okay, please stand here, sir. We are tracing something. This is a lineage. Anybody who is on this queue is carrying the blessing. Okay, so this is Esau, is the first child, the one who is qualified for the blessing. Okay, then this Jacob. The second child. Usually the second child is not the one to receive it, but one day, so this one said, give me food. This one said, no, you give me the right to be in this queue. So he said, what is this queue to me? Then he said, okay, give me food. Then he took the food, he pushed him out, then came to the queue. He lost the right to bet continuity of the process that will lead to the Messiah, the salvation of the world. Okay, so this guy was edged out. So if we trace this story, what we are going to find out is that we keep having several guys who are edged out like this, because this is where— what's his name— Ishmael also is. Then you get there, you have 12. Should I get into this? We have 12, but the 12 can't receive this thing. One will receive it now. So God had to use one, Joseph, to preserve the remaining, both good and bad, because they have a role to play in God's plan. Are you feeling what I'm saying here? But there was one amongst them called Judah. That was the guy here, okay? And you see on and on, but the end of this line is to the end that at the end of the day, the lineage for the Messiah was chiseled out. So there was nothing special about the nation of Israel. What was special about Israel was Christ. And whatsoever the specialty was then, that's the same thing that is special about believers who have Christ in them, the hope of glory. So when you read the Bible, if you read the Bible from an objective standpoint, you will almost not really like the God of the Bible. Why will you prefer a nation above the other nation? It It was because he was busy in the plan of the salvation of those other nations also. He loves everyone. That's the God of the Bible. Is it simple enough? Good. Now we are— so when God said to this man that I will make you a great nation, all right, your seed will be as much as the stars of heaven, this man here, this man here, he has the ability to impregnate as many women as possible. But the process that he— God was chiseling is a process that will have to be by faith. Is it simple?

Yes, sir.

Abraham was not impotent. Don't ask me about Sarah, but this man, and somehow he seemed to be aware, you're waiting on God doesn't mean you could not get— you can't get the result outside him. Are you following what I'm saying? The things you are trusting God for, if you were not a born-again Christian, you know how your mates are getting them. That's why waiting on him is one of the demonstrations that you love him. Please sit down for a while, we are coming back to this. Let's give them a big hand. Okay, so let's assume somebody's here and say, Father, I'm trusting you um, that, um, you know, you are just going to— I'm going to grow in my finance, I'm going to become this. In all honesty, the fact that you choose to— listen to what I'm saying— you can't say what you are practicing is faith until you have an option.

That's true, that's true, very true.

You have an option. If you don't have an option, then you are trapped. If you have an option, then you are actually waiting on God. Are you what I'm saying? Abraham had option of other women. Aha, he did. Lift your right hand. Say, Lord, I choose to wait on you. Say it again. Lord, I choose to wait on you. I trust you with my life. I choose to trust you. Amen. Let me just— so years back, a girl came to meet me and she said, Pastor, I gave my life to Christ in your meeting. Said, my school fees deadline is next week. Help me pray that God should provide. She said, because if God doesn't provide, I know how to get my money one night. She was not joking. She knew how to get her money. What I'm trying to show you is that you are not a dummy because you choose to wait on God. You actually decided that you forsake the pleasure of sin for a moment and choose righteousness. That's the idea of waiting. Amen. I said amen. So I say, what about those who are waiting on God for future partner. Ah, how much is vegetable? You know what I mean? You are still thinking vegetable. Somebody just eat something now in dream or awake, inside the sun or in the rain, is obeying the clarion call. You don't still understand? Let's leave the matter. People are too Christianist. Say it again. Lord, I choose to wait on you.

Lord, I choose to wait on you.

We are going somewhere. So God was busy doing what he was doing. Something happened in Genesis chapter number 16, and I want us to be very patient with the story. If you are there, say amen.

Amen.

Genesis chapter number, um, um, 16. So I'm going to read from New King James Translation from verse 1. Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children, and she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, 'See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please go into my maid.' Perhaps I shall obtain children by her. And Abram heeded the voice of who?

Sarai.

Then Sarai, Abram's wife, took Agar, a maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband to be his wife. And after Abram dwelt— had dwelt 10 years land of Canaan. So he went into Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her sight. So let's break this down a bit, because before we begin to bash Ishmael, we need to understand how he came about. Okay, so one day Sarah looked at the husband and said, come and go to my maid. Said, because the Lord has restrained me— not us, me— from having a child. Me, me. We don't understand why she said that.

May—

of course, you know, as at this point she had passed menopause, so it was no longer to her according to the manner of women. So she understood that if there's any functional hope, it is from him. So she was speaking— what she was saying was there was a custom of those days, the custom, um, it was a barbaric custom that if a woman, um, does not have a child, you can actually give your maid to your husband. The idea is that you own both the maid and and the children. And when time comes to send the maid away, she leaves her children because the children are yours. So what she was doing was actually humiliation. Are you following what I'm saying? Agar was going to have that child and say— she said, look at— let's go back now, huh? Look at it. Go into my maid, perhaps I shall obtain— I shall obtain children by her. Meaning that let her just give birth, okay, I own the child, you send her away. That was the plan. And the moment Hagar saw that she was pregnant, started despising, um, Sarah. Let's follow the story. Verse 5: Then Sarai said to Abraham, my wrong be upon you. I gave my maid into your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in your eyes. The Lord judge between me and you. Men, are you seeing that? Are you familiar with such statement? Are you quite familiar? I'm not looking anywhere. Just, huh, who said you go inside?

Who they shout?

When you know that your mind will not touch the ground, why should you say what you will not do?

Oh God.

Are you still here? Am I shouting? Okay, now look at it. Abraham, wise man, he said to— and Abraham said to Sarah, indeed your maid is in your hand, do to her as you please. And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence. Now the angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on her way to shore. And he said, 'Agar—' sorry— and he said, 'Agar, Sarah's maid, where have you come from and where are you going?' She said, 'I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarah.' Please pay attention to this story. And the angel of the Lord said to her, Return to your mistress and submit yourself under her hand. The angel of the Lord then said to her, I will multiply your descendants exceedingly so that they shall not be counted for multitude. And the angel of the Lord said to her, behold, you are with a child and you shall bear a son, and his name shall be called Ishmael. Ishmael. Because the Lord has heard your affliction. He shall be a wild man, and his hand shall be against every man, and every man's hand against him, and he shall dwell in the presence of his brethren. Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You are the God who sees me. El Roi. Huh? You are the God who sees. Now pay attention. For she said, have I also seen him who sees me? Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi. Observe, it is between Kadesh and Bered. So Hagar bore Abraham a son, and Abraham named his son whom Hagar bore Ishmael. Abraham was not there. When the angel said Ishmael. He picked it by the spirit. Okay. And Abraham was 86 years old when he bore— sorry, and Abraham was 86 years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abraham. Look up. Let me give you very important, very important principle of life. Will you hear it? Huh? Pay attention to this. She was pregnant, carrying a child, carrying a child, and the angel of the Lord came to her. I say, where are you coming from? Say, I'm running away. Ah, no, go back. This child will need to be born under the atmosphere of the one who is blessed. Are you following what I'm saying? So that this child can become all that the Lord intended for the child to what? Be. Ismael was not even a consequence of Abraham's mistake. Ismael was vengeance to Sarah's maltreatment. Are you following what I'm saying? The mistake— the devil got room to be able to infiltrate the story. When the guy was maltreated. God said, I've seen your affliction, therefore— look at the description of the guy. He said he will be a son, he will be a wild man, every man's hand will be against him. And his hand against who? Amen. Every man. Guess what? Somebody with this quality now said he shall dwell in the presence of his brethren. That is, somebody who wants to kill you and you want to kill will not leave your sight. That was the consequence. Sarah was operating from, uh, we own her, we own everything, we can do what we do. There is a God who sees. There is a God who what? Sees. That you're a person of covenant doesn't mean you can maltreat people. There's a God who sees. Are you following what I'm saying? Look at this. You know, Abraham was 86 years old. It took 13 years after this event for God to open his mouth to talk to him. 13 years. Was Abraham on a journey? Yes. But now that you have your result, and when God was going to talk to him, he said, walk before me and be what? Perfect. What God wants to give you will be born by the process of faith, not smartness. Any attempt to be creative will be you wandering out of God's plan. When you are waiting, you are not creative with waiting. You submit. Are you with me?

Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

So let me give you some very fundamental stuff. Look at it now. Genesis 17 from verse 1. Read this. 1, 2, 3, go.

The Lord appeared to Abraham and said to him, I am mighty. Walk before me and be blameless.

How many years after? 13 years. How many years has God been silent on your matter that you feel he's on? You are the one who is in time. He's not in time. Let me put like this: he has all the time. It is still your line. Ishmael will not make your work perfect. Huh? Ishmael is low budget Isaac. Jeez, low budget. Don't make your work perfect. Let me tell you something. Are you with me? Let me tell you something. Sometimes God wants to give you something. He has described it in your spirit. Your creativity will make you go for the low-budget version. At least it looks like it. I have said this before. People fought what I was saying, that there are people who married low-budget version of the will of God. Because time was going. What they don't know is that the remaining time will become hell. Are you with me? The plan was what? Isaac. But Ishmael was easier. Ishmael was easier. That it is easy doesn't mean it is the covenant of ease. No, no, no, it doesn't mean so. Sometimes you are just in trouble. I'm telling you, sometimes you are just in trouble. I'm telling you, sometimes you are just in trouble. I'm telling you, sometimes you are just in trouble. I love to talk to you. You know, you can, you can get to a point where you say, God, now I'm tired. Any girl that will stress me, she's not for me. I want the one that— meanwhile, the next escapade, the girl will look at you before you say, I like you, I like you too. You like— meanwhile, it's not God. And that's the reason why you don't take the kind of step Abraham's servant made when he said, let it be that the girl who give my camel water and give me water will be the one. You don't do that, oh, the devil will hear you and send his own face. Let me tell you something, when God tells you this is what I'm going to bring, the devil hears it, he will bring his own version of it. It will look like it, but it is not it. Are you following what I'm saying? Are you following what I'm saying here? Are you with me? Ishmael is easy, Isaac takes work. Waiting. Meanwhile, Ishmael is not, is not under God. Let me tell you where I'm going with this message. You feel Ishmael is your problem, but it is Isaac God will ask you to sacrifice. That's where I'm going. Are you following what I'm saying? Go back and check. All the blessings that came on Ishmael was because they tried to maltreat him.

All.

It doesn't matter whether you are born trouble or bedded problem, God is a God of justice. God is a God of justice. Let me give a warning. Let me give a warning. I have seen this several times on social media. Sometimes you see a picture or a video, a woman who has money— whether they don't even have— has gone to eat in an eatery. With her children, and they will make a house girl sit on the floor sometimes. Or while they are eating fried rice and chicken, the girl is eating gala. There is a God who sees. There is a God who what? Sees. Enrohi. The one who sees us. Listen to what I'm saying. What might— what ought not to be can become because of injustice. And God will decide that I will show to you that it is not having parents that makes you great. I can lift men regardless of background. You, this housemaid, I put it on you. That is it. There is a God who what? Sees. Sometimes I heard there was a church somewhere that people sit down together in church, but those maids that comes with the rich people, they have a separate place for them. That's not a church. That is not a church. There's a God who what? Sees. If you study your Bible carefully, you will see that the jealousy of God defends the poor. Ha! I have a philosophy for driving, and anybody who drives me knows that that's the fastest way to get into problem. Never drive in such a way that somebody who is striking will be grieved for not having a car. It's my philosophy. It is so serious, God said, he that lends to the poor, he that gives to the poor, lends to me. Yeah, that's the God of the Bible. He's the defender of the poor and the needy. So whatever you see Ishmael to be today, it was the consequence of the maltreatment of the covenant people. I would have loved to tell Isaac, you are not a saint. There was an era of the church we call the dark Femi Lazarus. Let me tell you something, religion, whether Christianity or the other side, religion is brutal. None is good. Until Christianity is not a religion and become a lifestyle, that is when it is peace to the world. That's true. So don't ever you think that because you are a Christian, what you have is better. Until you know God, you are not better. Are you still with me? Are you sure? Let's, let's, let's dive. The application of this teaching is to touch everywhere in this country, so that's why I said that I'm going to be careful. All right, so I can say loud and clear, there's a God who sees you. Let me beg you, let me beg you, in all you're doing. But if I can give you 3 very powerful principles that will help your life, see, never reward good with evil, even if the person that was good has become bad. Never, never. Number 2: never take for granted the jealousy of God over the poor. A very powerful principle. In fact, any church that does not have a structure to help people lessen burden, and particularly activities that bring people out of shackles and all that. That church is not a church yet. You say, what about me? I'm pastoring a church and we are still struggling. From that point, there are those who are struggling more. Do something. God will never put you in a place where you don't have seed or bread. Are you with me now? Isaiah 55:10 says, as the rain and the snow will not return back to heaven, but it waters the earth and make it bring forth bud and flourish, that it may give what? Seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So shall my word be. So shall my word be. It's a very important principle. As God is lifting you, find somebody to also pull up, I beg you. Is that okay? Find people, find people to pull up. Very powerful principle, very important. Now let me— let's, let's, let's enter this thing a bit. The moment the devil sees— let me explain. Please come. I think by now everybody should know you as one of my— the— listen to what I'm saying. The moment the devil sees that you are Abraham and you are the one to bet Isaac If you see Ishmael apart from Abraham, you call Ishmael the child of the devil. Hm. The moment you are the one who have betted Isaac, the devil is not interested in killing Isaac. The devil is interested in making sure that you also bet Ishmael. What I'm trying to show you is that whatsoever your life is about, the devil is not interested in fighting it. He's just interested in making sure that you bet the opposite by yourself so that your life can invalidate your essence. Everybody here has fathered Isaac and Ishmael at some point, and I'm going to show you. In fact, if care is not taken, you notice that you are carrying the both of them. Isaac, Ishmael, Isaac, Ishmael. You are bearing two sharp contrast. Your life is about this, and the devil is coming. Let me tell you something. When the Bible refers to the devil as the one who comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy, believers just run. Oh, the devil comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. You did not ask how. The devil doesn't steal by taking. He steals by giving. He gives you— you are holding this. The way to steal this from you is to stretch this to you. To take this, you will have to drop this. When the good man sowed— sowed good seed in the field The enemy did not come to uproot the good seed. He just sowed something else. Your fight is Satan, you will not steal from me. No, no, no, that should not be your fight. Your fight should be Satan, I will not collect from you. I've lost you. It's not Satan, don't steal. You will not steal my children. You know, no, no, no. He's not going to steal your children. He will give you what will collect your children. Satan, you will not steal my joy. You will not steal my family. You will not— no, no, he's not going to come and steal them and just grab them. No, he will give. You are seated in Christ far above all principalities. It is by yourself you will take something else, then those ones will slip off. He's the one who steals by giving. He's a giver. Are you following what I'm saying? Please sit down for a while. How did he steal the place of Judas? 30 pieces of silver. Now he gave him— wow, what did he tell Jesus? Let's look at— let's look at the audacity of the devil. Okay, Luke chapter number 4. Are you getting blessed? Are you sure? Luke 4.

All right, let's jump.

Um, if you are there, say amen. Amen. Luke chapter number 4. Hm, let's start the reading from verse 5. See, if you, if you, if you study the Bible, the devil is one of the best givers. How do you call a giver a thief? From the beginning he's been giving. Eat fruit, Eve. Jesus, you too, turn stone to— he's giving, giving, giving, just dashing up and down. If you are need-conscious, you will collect from him. You must be Christ-conscious. Are you with me? Go and check those who go to the abalis now. What will he tell them? Um, I'm going to give you money and give you wealth, but I will collect the length of your days. Every time he gives, he collects, and he collects more than what he's given. That's the idea. Look at it. Then the devil taking him up on a high mountain. Showed him all the kingdom of the world in the moment of time. And the devil said to him, all this authority I will give you, and their glory I will— what? Give you. I will— what? Come on, say, I will— what? Give. He's a giver. But while he's emphasizing giving, he's not talking about the fact that It's an exchange. There's something you are not— is collecting. I train people in how to have business conversations and all those things. When you are talking with a client who talks fast fast, slow them down and don't reply fast because you are mortgaging many things without knowing. They want you to believe that talking fast is thinking fast. No. All right, let's leave because when I see it doesn't concern you, I'll just move. I— you following what I'm saying? What did he say we'll do? I will give you All. Let me tell you something. The devil has found out that everybody has a price. Yes. Whatsoever it is that your temptation is, that is his belief, that that's what your price is. So for some of you, that's quite insulting, right? How will the devil tell Jesus, turn stone to bread, With what audacity did he tell Jesus, bow down and worship me? So you wonder, the devil to Jesus? Yes, all the temptations there look simple because the simplest temptations are the ones that are easy to fall into. You know why? You will not respond to them with grace, you respond with self.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.

Let me tell you The things you think you have overcome, that you are too strong for, they are the things you will fall for because you are the one facing it, not the Holy Spirit on your inside. I don't know if you get what I'm saying. That thing you say, what is this? What do you mean to this? Do you know how much I fasted? That is where you are going to fall. There's no room for overconfidence. Overconfidence projects self. Me, I can never fall. I can never fall to girls. If you know how much God has claimed it, that's where you fall. And when you are seated, will say, true, true, I believe you, I believe you. Then it will come back. Your head is too small to comprehend the mystery of iniquity. It's too small. Let me tell you something. I'm not doubting the fact that you can fall. I'm doubting the fact that you are strong and you are disciplined. But the day you are discouraged, you are defenseless. The day you fall is not the day you are strong. It is the day you are discouraged and lonely. What did Peter say? Jesus said, you will deny me 3 times today. Peter said, me deny? I'm not going to. I'm ready to even die. Not be one small girl say, eh, Peter, come, come, come, Peter. He say, me? And you need to see his bold face. Me? Say, we know you, you are following. If I know Jesus, I die. See me see trouble now. What, what? 3 times. When he did the third one, he heard the sound of the cock. It is not by might nor power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord. Are you following me? Say it again. Not by might nor power. How can— let me tell you something. That's why I said when things still look small and you don't have an idea what the future holds, be careful of your negotiation. All right, people can project the weight of your future and know you don't know it and price you short. That is why true leadership is not subjugating people because they are small. It is making them see who they are. Any form of leadership that does not help you see who you are is not leadership. A true leader makes you know this is what you are being paid now, but you are more than this. You are going to get bigger, you are going to get better. You don't find ways to keep people small so you can control. We empower people. And go and kill this fear of when people grow big, they will leave you. That's a lie of the devil. Ideally, when fruits get ripe, they don't remain on the tree.

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

Leadership is not ownership. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. In church, we are dressed, we process, and we deploy. Yes. If the audience of this church now is the same audience in 10 years' time, we have failed. Yes, sir. Are you feeling what I'm saying? It means from the place of training and teaching, people are going to— people are going to be flying in different territories. If you go to a pool that the new water is not flowing inside, it will stink. Now in church, we breathe in and breathe out. Are you feeling what I'm saying? I'm just going somewhere. 'People have left me in the past. If I do anything good, they'll leave me again.' It's life, it is what it is. No, don't make— the moment you start playing the victim, you not make wise decision. Don't play victim. Whatever it is, never play victim. Are you following what I'm saying? Are you sure you are here? Say loud and clear, I am more than this. Say it again loud and clear, I am more than this. People ask me, how do you see church growth? I'll tell you, I see it in two ways. Number one, harvest to the kingdom. Number two, church growth is also opening the gate of destiny to my people. There are people seated here, some of them God is telling them quietly, you will serve in this ministry. Some have been following for years. It is as we grow that that aspect of their life expands. Failure to grow means somebody is ready for destiny, but the one with the key is playing small. It also means that God will have to go and find the one who is opening the door If your prejudice keep people small, God will take them from you. Fact. Sphere of Light Church TV station is starting soon. That is also another aspect of life opening. Yeah, people who are singing will be watching all over the world. That's destiny opening.

Yes, sir.

Yes, sir.

That's why we labor. It's not about us. I'm here preaching, I don't lack platform. But as we open in Ilorin, somebody's platform has opened. As we open in London, somebody's platform has opened. As we open America Somebody's platform has opened. Let me tell you something. Be careful of developing prejudice towards growth. Don't just grow, grow on time. Say I hear. I hear. Say I hear. I hear. Let me tell you now. Let me not even keep quiet. Sometimes somebody just come to church. I get new reports from our workers. Somebody can just sit down in church and say, my God, the way you were snapping the picture or the way you were carrying the camera, it touched my heart. Can I bless you? And indeed Maybe at that point they were trusting God for the money, and you see it opens up. If we fail to grow for those kind of people to come in, we have denied these people the blessing. Listen to what I'm saying. You cannot have— you cannot request for restoration on what you don't know belongs to you that you never had. What I'm trying to say is, if I intended that I'm going to give you ₦5 million cash, and I said that is if I come to church and I see you seated in front, but the day I now get to church, you are not seated in front, you sat down here, okay, you will not go home crying, but actually you have lost something. If they say let's pray prayer of restoration, you feel it's not for me, but actually you have lost something. The devil likes to steal it when you don't know it is yours yet. So when you are praying for restoration, you usually pray about the things that touch your hands but left. What about the one that ought to touch your hands but never came? It was yours. So when Samuel stood before Eliab and said, surely, look at that one, the Lord has anointed him for me, God said, no, don't look at his height or his stature, for I have refused him. Meaning that he was a candidate until whatever happened happened. Please come. Hallelujah! Tell your neighbor, be well positioned with God. Let me tell you something. You know, Bible study in Sphere of Light Church carries a different aura. Let me tell you where it came from. At certain season of my life, I used to attend 2 Bible studies in a week, 2 different churches. Our church has not started then. I will sit down in my spiritual father's church and I will say, how can a man preach the word that is always fresh? What is this? I said, God, this same thing I'm feeling under this word, everyone who sit under me must enjoy it. One. The second place I go to, I go there and I see everywhere this, this. I said, my God, many of us were actually attending that God was preparing for ministry. So I know that this ministry is going to be a nesting ground, that people from different places, God is going to bring them to say, come and see. And we, we have not even started. Very soon you're going to see people travel from different countries for Bible study.

For what? Bible study.

This thing you are hearing now that is blessing you, that you come to hear every Tuesday, you owe your own generation a responsibility to bless them also.

You do.

I have not failed in delivering. Don't fail when it gets to your turn. Hallelujah! Say I hear. I hear. Thank you, Lord. I'm going somewhere. So I said, the moment the devil sees that you are the father of Isaac, he also likes to insist that you'll also be the father of Ishmael. Let me give you Ah, this one I want to say is serious, but you know, I have prayed for my heart again and again and again. But let me give a very, very serious example. Let's assume you get right what it means to have holy walking with God. You're a very holy person. You have bettered Isaac. The devil now makes sure that the same very holy person is arrogant and proud, you are better Ishmael. You become proud of your holiness, or you are so humble but now you are proud of your humility. Let me tell you how to be proud of your humility. You know, we, we are small people like this. We are just— it's pride. It's either pride or lack of self-awareness. You see, humility is not necessarily rolling on the floor. No, humility is you not lifting yourself beyond measure. Where you have to keep your head high, keep it high. It is not pride. You see, one of the mistakes we make in the body of Christ is to know precision. What? Don't be guilt-tripped. Are you following what I'm saying? Amen. The moment you father Isaac, there's a bounty on your head to father Ishmael. The moment. That's why—

ah, God help me—

you are preaching, what you are saying is batting with righteousness. Be careful, also close to you is a ditch. The ability to stay consistent in living right and teaching right plus humility is difficult blend because When you have Isaac and there's also Ishmael— holiness plus arrogance— you will think that God will say, sacrifice the arrogance. No, that holiness you feel you have, put it on the altar. Let me tell you, you know why? Because you have been able to discipline yourself to those things, so you feel it is in my strength. Then he'll say, come to the place of grace where you know it is not by your strength. It is my grace. Your own, the one that is from your strength, one day soon it will die. For the one that is powered by grace to thrive, so that no flesh glories in his presence. Anybody who is boasting will eventually fall. It's a matter of when. It's a matter of when. It's a matter of when. The moment you are boasting, the devil will be happy. People don't fall when they are full of themselves and when they are full of strength. See, devil, where the Devil, where you now? Devil, where you there? I can deal with you now. I just finished 13 hours prayer. The devil will not come and you think he's powerless. Real power is not knowing how to fight, is knowing when to fight. Are you with me? Real power Say, devil, I dare you now. I have the authority. I've done this now. I got 21 days dry. Where are you there? The devil to say, hey, I'm tired, I can't come, I'm not powerful again. So that you'll not be mocking and say we defeated the devil. Where your shoulder is still up, you are down right there. In the midst of it. Say, I refuse to walk in pride. Whatever it is you are getting right, understand that it is the grace of God. It is the grace of— I am not a fantastic teacher because I'm intelligent. There's a teaching anointing, and that doesn't mean I'm a bad teacher, okay? Because plus the anointing, there's a place of consistency and mastery, and that comes through practice.

Yes.

Ah, if you don't give— if you don't master the areas you are anointed, it will produce the lowest form. You will be singing, people will be falling under anointing, but you are singing off-key. Nobody sings of K here. That's anointing. They are falling. But when you produce anything, you no go go far because you didn't do due diligence. That you are anointed in an area doesn't mean you should not train the area. Yes, sir. Are you with me? Say I hear. I hear.

Ah!

Let's look at a few examples. 2 Samuel chapter number 23.

Wow. Oh Lord, help us.

2 Samuel chapter number 23. If you are there, say amen.

Amen.

Now this, I want to read from the King James. At last words of David. Thus says David the son of Jesse. Thus says the man raised up on high, the anointed of God of Jacob and the sweet psalmist of Israel. What What an amazing curriculum. Please go back to verse 1, and please, we read. Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse, right, said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet— somebody say sweet. Come on, say it again. Sweet Psalmist of Israel said— Matthew chapter number 1. Let's start the reading from Verse 4. Ram begot Aminadab. Aminadab begot Nahshon, and Nahshon begot Salmon. Salmon begot Boaz by Reah. Boaz begot Obed by Ruth. Obed begot Jesse, and Jesse begot David. The king. David the king begot Solomon by her who had been the wife of Uriah. How did Uriah's name get into that list? There's the God who sees. What is sweet about that? I thought we heard it was a sweet service of Israel. What is sweet about seeing another man's wife when you have many women and you slept with her? And that was not enough, you called your husband from battlefield, you got him drunk, said go and meet your wife. His refusal to go was God showing David that when I said I found a man after my heart, I'm not saying I found the best man. If I was looking for best men, this is one. You— are you following what I'm saying? At the time kings go to battle, you were sleeping with another man's wife. He who have legal access to her said, Joab, my master is in the field, the Ark of God is in the tent, how shall I go into my wife? That was God saying, David, you are not the best guy. The attitude of Uriah should make him break down in repentance. The sweet psalmist of Israel wrote a letter, put this guy where the battle is fierce, let the valiant men withdraw from him and kill him. What is sweet about that? And you know what, after doing that, he did not repent. She gave birth to that child until Nathan came. That child died, but God in his mercy still brought out Solomon. You know, this girl that he slept with, Bathsheba, her grandfather was David's best advisor, Aitofel. When Ahithophel gives a counsel, go and sleep, and the guy kept it in his heart. The moment Absalom rebelled, Ahithophel said, this is what you should do: go and sleep with your father's wives on top of the roof. If he slept with my granddaughter on top of the roof, do the same thing to his wives. Bitterness can be stored for years. Are you following what I'm saying? Look at David. I mean, 1 Samuel 16, dramatic scripture. The biggest prophet in town had entered the house of Jesse. All the 7 brothers were there. None of them were chosen by God. The last born came, bam, God said, arise, anoint him. And they poured oil on him in the midst of his brethren. The devil was saying, I will insist that this same guy becomes a murderer. The question is, what are you doing well that the devil is also insisting that it is you that will do the opposite? Can I tell you something? Let me tell you something. If God has placed you in the house, let's say ministry like this, never you say, I can never leave, I can never do anything. What is— I don't say no. The moment you say that, you have invited an examination to test your strength. Meanwhile, you may be louder than your strength. Rather say, through God who helps me, I trust God to help me continue serving. Because the same place you have labored the most is the same place the devil will make sure you fight. Are you following what I'm saying? When people tell me, you know, people get blessed, I understand. And say, Apostle, I can never leave you for anything. Ah, you can, you can, and I will understand. Don't say that. Rather say, let the grace of God do what? Help you. The journey is far. I will walk to you at some point without knowing. Yes, it's grace that keeps people. I say it is grace that keeps people. It is grace that keeps people. Not by might nor power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord. It is grace. It is grace. Lift your hands. Say, Lord, I rely on your grace. Say again, Lord, I rely on your grace. I rely on your grace. Oh yes, I rely on your grace. Let me show you. I mean, the life of David It's the kind of life that passed for a movie role, like you just want to— man, this, this story should be converted into a movie. It passes for that. The same David got to the battlefront, saw Goliath gloating, making noise, and he killed him with a stone. And a sling. Once, the guy was dead. Cut off his head. No doubt, this is a powerful man. 1 Samuel 18, David escaped to Cave of Adullam. Some men followed him. 2 Samuel 24, these be the names of the mighty men of David. Dudu and all the guys. One held the sword. They fought so much his hand was weary and the sword glued to his hand. One killed all the descendants of Goliath. One killed 1,000 people. All the record of Samson, they broke it. He was a, he was a shepherd in the class of shepherds. He was a trainer of trainers. The devil said, I hear you are the one raising men. I also am interested in his system. Like, also the one that will kill them. That's betting two extremes. Are you following what I'm saying? Let me tell you— ah, should I say this? Should I? Let me, let me help ministers strike a balance. There's a way you can say, oh, my daughter, my daughter in the Lord, Lord, be careful of how far that thing goes, because there's something close to that genuine concern and love. You can also destroy what you have built. Are you following? It's those who are in— let me show you a scripture. Look at the book of Ezekiel. Chapter number 34. If you read Ezekiel 34, that was where God was complaining. God was lamenting. This, this, this, that. The shepherd of Israel, you have not fed the flock, you are feeding yourselves. God was angry with them. Look at the testimony of God. About David. Ezekiel 34 from verse 23. Look at it now. What did he say? He said, and I will establish what? One shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, my servant who— meaning that as far as the Old Testament is concerned, the prototype of a true pastor was David. That's what God was saying. Hope you know in the Old Testament, the prototype of wisdom is not Solomon. The prototype of wisdom was Daniel. Ah, if the fear of God begins wisdom, the fear of God will perfect it. Yes, yes, that was David. So I will set up David my servant. Oh, David the shepherd. Heart. The one who is ready to die for his people also be the one to kill them. Lift your hands. Say, Father, in the name of Jesus, what I have built with my hands, I will not destroy it with my hands. Say, Father, in the name of Jesus, what I have built with my hands, I will not destroy it with my hands. Can you pray that prayer in a minute? Help me, Jesus! Help me, Jesus! Thou Son of David, help me!

Out of my belly shall flow rivers, rivers of living water. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Out of my belly Let it flow! Let it flow! Let it flow right here, right now— let it flow! Let it go! Let it float like this one? Ohh... Right here, right now— I'll let it roll at its own pace— let it blow away from me! Amen.

Can you sit for a while? Let me tie this up. Let me tell you Let me tell you, you can be so sincere and bet something and also bet what will kill it. But in all honesty, you are sincere, you are honest, you are a loving person, you are a kind person, you have betted something— this is powerful, it is a masterpiece— but also you are betting this one. Them. It will kill it. It will kill it. It will kill it. Are you following what I'm saying? That's why if you want to know the areas of your anointing, check the area the devil is fighting.

Check, check.

If there's any prayer I want us to pray is that I will not bet two extremes. No, let me tell you something, it is difficult. Only the grace of God can make a man bet Isaac. And not Beth Ishmael. Anything the devil succeeds in doing once, he seeks to make it a pattern. I can show you on and on across scripture. Look at Elisha, the one who received double portion. Fantastic story, fantastic story. He had many experience with children. Woman wouldn't have a child, prayed for the woman, many experience. The child that— raised the child back. It was also the same one that called lion and bear. To divorce children. How do you marry the both such that by the time you do this one, they say you were never called into this one, you are just lying, it's fluke? You look at people at the tail end of their life and something— an Ishmael that has been kept in back door just shows face and discredits the years of legitimacy of of Isaac, and they will only know the person for Ishmael, not Isaac. Say, Father, help me. Ah, help me. Please pray. Pray for yourself, okay? Pray for yourself.

Lord, help me. Help me. Help me. Amen.

In Jesus' name we pray. Let me wrap up with this text, Matthew chapter number 16. You know, let's paraphrase too because of time. And that was where Jesus was asking them that, who do men say that I am? Some said you are Elias, some said you are Moses, um, John the Baptist, some said you are one of the prophets. And he said, who do you say that I am? Verse 16, Simon Peter answered and said, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and said unto him, blessed are you, Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. Let's jump to verse 21. From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders. Pay attention, all right, and chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised the third day. 22. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, 'Far be it from you, Lord, for this shall not happen to you.' What was he doing there? He brought emotions to stop the plan of salvation. The next slide, quickly. But he turned— Jesus turned now and said to Peter, 'Get behind me, Satan. Now, now, now, flesh and blood did not reveal to you. Now, now, now, get behind me, Satan. That's how swiftly it can happen. You can lay hands on people and pray for them that God prospers them, and the same situation that God used to bless them comes. The same anointed man will say, don't do it. Are you following what I'm saying? Let me tell you something. Ishmael's born when you are carried away with emotions. You can see parents pray for their children, labor for their children, say, God, this child, raise this child, let this child go far. God is saying, I'm calling this child into the ministry. They will fight it. Who gave birth to the Isaac? Them. Who is giving birth to the Ishmael?

Them.

You can finish praying at home and God said you have entered into a new season. In fact, you can finish praying, either of the spouse can receive prophecy. Ah, Mommy call him, Mommy call him. I don't know if that happens in homes. Time when the husband calls the wife. Okay, calm down, calm down. Say, ah, thus says the Lord, I am here, I am here, I'm ready to bless you and prosper you. This is easy, but you see, I want to go and do this, take this step. They wake up, God said, take the step, go and sow a seed. As the man said, this is the seed we want to go and sow. The same man will say, what about the children's school fees? You can bet Isaac and bet Ishmael the same bread. Before you insult Abraham, I'm showing you to you. Are you with me? I want us to pray. I want us to pray. Have you learned something tonight? I know this is a very humbling teaching. I want us to find a very humble position. If you want to kneel, kneel. If you want to see, this is our Father's house. If you want to lay down Lay down. Father, I place my life on your altar. My life belongs to you. Help me to bet only your counsel. Help me. That's the prayer. That's the prayer. Help me to bet only your counsel. Jesus, my life. Spirit, keep brooding over me. Jesus, my life is yours. Savior, keep brooding over me. Hallelujah! Ya bo na kane. Hallelujah! Yeah, Jesus, my life is yours. Spirit, keep brooding over me.

Jesus, my life is yours. Spirit, keep brooding over me. Hallelujah! E abonakané! Ah, hallelujah! Imakané! Ah, hallelujah! E abonakané! Ah, hallelujah! Jesus, my life is yours. Spirit, keep brooding over me.

Let me put time to it.

Jesus, my life is yours. Spirit keep ruling over me.

Hallelujah!

Yeah, come on! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Yema nakane! Yema nakane! Jesus, my life is yours! Life is yours! Spirit, keep moving on! Oh yes, oh yes! Jesus, my life Oh Spirit, keep moving. Thank you, Lord.

We bless your holy name. In Jesus' mighty name we pray.

Hi there, God is raising for himself an end-time army, and this is the mandate that he has given to us. Truly the harvest is plenteous. But we need you on board as a laborer. This is a call to partner with what God is doing in this great house. To become a monthly partner with us at Sphere of Light Church and Femi Lazarus Apostolic Ministries Ecumenical, kindly reach us via the number +234 903 095 9735. To give an offering or to sow a seed, kindly make use of these account details being displayed. The gospel of Jesus is spreading. Thank you for being a part of it.