The Mystery of Suffering and Scars 2

You have to understand the nature of God so that you can understand the perspective of God. 

This helps you to know His mind in any situation you find yourself in. God's nature is perfect justice and perfect mercy with no deficit on either side, and He demonstrated this in the beginning when Adam sinned. He also reveals His nature in Christ. 

Having known God's nature, what should you expect if you find yourself in self-inflicted suffering?

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Transcript

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So the lights of your word with the gospel of Christ. Open up your hearts and shine.

SPEAKER_01 0:26

Hallelujah to Jesus. This is a word for you. Be proud of this kingdom that you belong to. Do what? Be proud of this kingdom. If men are proud of their earthly nationalities, how much more you and I who knows that we belong to God and we are members of God's family. Be proud of it. Be conscious of it. Hallelujah to Jesus. Many years ago, I think that was 1999, I was in Taiwan. And um the hotel where I stayed, lots of Nigerians were staying there, those who have no papers. Then one of the days the Taiwanese immigration invaded the hotel. I was with a guy who happens to be an American. He was an English teacher in that country. And he has overstayed his visa. But he said that he intended to go back to the US and not come back to Taiwan. But this is where I'm going. As the police came and everybody was running anyway, I didn't run because I had a valid visa. So I didn't run. So everybody ran and he didn't run. So when they approach him, and they said, Your passport, your passport. Say, I am an American. So we are sorry. He said it with so much confidence that I was perplexed. Me, I couldn't say I am a Nigerian. So they asked for my passport, I gave it to them, they check it, and they left me. But since that time, that thing was in my mind. That somebody had so much confidence in where he came from, even though he has oversteaded his visa, they didn't have the boldness to ask him to present it. When next the devil comes knocking at your door, tell them you are a child of the kingdom. I cannot be harassed. I cannot be intimidated. I cannot be conquered. If you believe it, say it again. I am a child of the kingdom. I am born of God. I cannot be harassed. I cannot be intimidated, intimidated. I cannot be conquered. Somebody say amen to that. That is somebody's weapon for the next level. Praise the Lord. We're going to continue from where we stopped last Sunday. We started a series titled The Mystery of Sufferings and Scars. The Mystery of Sufferings and Scars. Sincerely, nobody wants to come to the church to church and hear about suffering. And that's why it's not often talked about. But that is one of the major reasons why people stray away from faith. Because what you don't know is bigger than you. That is very toxic. So if you don't know the reason for your condition, how will you address it and solve it? People look for solutions in things that belittle their status in Christ. How can a child of God reduce himself and herself? Reduce himself or herself. Submitting to idols, submitting to things that has no spiritual values at all. Only because they can't explain why they are going through what they are going through and they are just looking for solutions at all costs. You see, when it comes to the issues of life, there are times trying more will not solve the problem. There are times you need to retreat and sit back and ask yourself, where am I getting it wrong? And the purpose of this teaching is to help us to decode why we go through certain things and be able to deal with them appropriately. So that what is meant to work for our good will not work against us. I told us last Sunday that there are two kinds of sufferings. Number one, the self-inflicted sufferings. Sufferings that we bring upon ourselves. The Bible says there is a way that seems good to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death. Is the way of what? Death. That means there are things that seems good, seems right. In fact, the Bible says seems right to you. That's why it's hard for many people to take corrections these days. Because what they think, what they are doing in their sight is right. And if you think you are right, when you are actually wrong, you are setting up yourself for troubles tomorrow. So then I showed us that there are what we called the mandatory sufferings. Sufferings that you don't pray for, you don't want to go through, but the fulfillment of your assignment requires that you go through it. Like Jesus our Lord. He learned what? Obedience. That means even though he came as God in human body, yet there was a need for him to go through certain things to be able to fulfill his divine assignment on earth. But this morning we are going to press a little bit further. Hear me, church. Whatever the kind of suffering we are faced with today, for us not to be overwhelmed and get discouraged, we must know God's perspective to our situation. Do you understand that? Okay, I'm going through something now, and it's not palatable to me. All I see is what I can see. All I see is what people are doing to me. All I see is what the economy of the nation is saying. All I see is a betrayal of people. See, if that is the only thing you see, you can become discouraged along the way. Get overwhelmed. Because you'll be wondering when will this thing end. The more you hope it will end, the worse it becomes. But you see, for whatsoever you go through, there is God's perspective to it. There is something God is seeing concerning the situation. Let me give you an example. Joseph was sold by his brother into slavery. To them, what was the purpose of selling him to slavery? So that his dream of ruling over them will not come to pass. Is that? They say, okay, as we sell him off to slavery, let us see how his dream will come to pass. Because in their mind, you can't be a slave in Egypt and rule over anybody. Because in Egypt you have no legal right to become anything other than slave. And to Joseph, I do not deserve this. What have I done to deserve this in the hands of my brothers? Do you know that he can sit on that and wander on that and lose God's plans for him? Because if the focus of Joseph has been on what they have done to him, and he's just thinking about survival, he will have fallen into the trap of Potiphar's wife. Is that because that will look like an opportunity when the wife of a top shot in government says, sleep with me, be dating me, be going out with me, I'll take good care of you. Ah, that looks like an opportunity, man. But Joseph made a statement. He said, How will I do this and sin against God? Even though he was going through suffering, he was living the quality of life that was below the life he lived in his father's house, yet he was conscious of his relationship with God. He said, No, even though it looks like a natural opportunity, I will not sin against God. I would rather suffer than do things that God will not be proud of, that God will not be pleased with. So, because of that, he was thrown into prison. The woman blackmailed him, lied against him before the husband. He was thrown into the prison. And eventually, from the prison, he met the person, he interpreted his dream, and from there he got to the palace and became the prime minister. He at this church. When Joseph was going through that, God was seeing a man who is going through a process that will bring his dream to pass, even though in the physical world he was an ordinary slave. You understand that? So there is God's perspective to every issue of our life. But the challenging thing is this most Christians, most believers, including pastors, does not have the right understanding of the true nature of God. You know, that's also the challenge we face with one another today. Do you know that if we understand each other very well, there will be peace. Someone might not be perfect, but if you understand that this is a weakness of this person, and you give that person that allowance, there will be peace. The challenging thing is that we want everyone to be like us, even though you are not perfect. Am I talking to somebody? See, if we misunderstand ourselves, that's the way we misunderstand God too, because we are not clear about the true nature of God. If you are going to see through the eyes of God in any situation, no matter how tough, and submit to what you see, you must be clear about who God is. There must be a clear understanding. There are a lot of people today they are offended at God. And it's not their fault. They are offended at God because God has been wrongly presented to them. And so this morning we are going to look a little bit into the nature of God so that we can see through his eyes. No matter the condition we find ourselves, we can decode the mind of God for what we are going through and hold on to it until our change comes. I love what Job said. He said, All the days of my appointed time will I wait till my change comes. Even though he was arguing with God, he was trying to justify himself with God, but he had that confidence that his trouble will end one day. So as a believer in Christ, if you don't understand the nature of God, you will judge him wrongly. You will do what? You will judge him wrongly and walk away from his plan for you because you no longer trust him. You know, the greatest problem of humanity today is distrust. Husband doesn't trust the wife, wife don't trust the husband, siblings don't trust themselves. Citizens don't trust the government. The government does not trust the citizens. Lack of trust. And unfortunately, we export that sin to God's side. Listen, as a child of God, if you truly trust God, you will get to a place where you are immovable. If I perish, I perish. Faith in God. But they went further from faith to trust. They said, even if he will not deliver us, we will still not bow. To your graven image. We will not bow. Our problem is not survivor. We know the God whom we serve. He has all it takes to deliver us. And if he will not deliver us, we will still not bow. They look for how to arrest and subdue Daniel. And they said, this guy is too committed to God. So the only thing we can use against him is anything that relates to his God. So let's pretend as if we honor the king. And let's tell the king to make a legislation, a law, that anybody for 30 days who call upon another God, except the king, should be killed. Should be thrown into the lion's den. You see, the king didn't know where they are going. That is why when people bring matters to you, you don't know what is in their heart. Don't be a victim of another person's mischief. The king agreed. And the king loved Daniel. He believed in Daniel. But what happened? Daniel had it. He didn't say, Father. You will understand. It is a living that we serve you. You know, we make excuses when we want to. We spiritualize our distrust. Our lack of confidence in God, we spiritualize them. But you know what Daniel did? He opened his window. He didn't lock the window. And he knelt down by the window as he always did and prayed. And they got him. Say, he fell into a trap. And they took him. The king felt bad. But the king told him, Daniel, the Lord your God, whom you trust, whom you serve, will deliver you from the lion's den. Listen, if you are here under the sound of my voice, whatsoever the trouble, the sufferings you are going through, by the mercy of the Lord, you will come out of them triumphantly. You will overcome them in the name of Jesus. That trouble will not consume you. It will not destroy you in the name of Jesus. When you understand the true nature of your God, your confidence in Him will be unshakable. It will be bigger than any physical threats you see. It will be bigger. Let's quickly look into the scriptures. In order to have an insight into the nature of God, so that we will begin to understand God's perspectives or situations. So that you know what is the mind of God. Because whatsoever God will do per time will never contradict his nature. God cannot act outside his nature. So when you are clear about the nature of God, you'll be able to know his mind for you per time. One of my sons was discussing something with me yesterday. He said he was going for a meeting, and the devil was telling him, You are going to have a problem as you are going. He said he was refusing the thoughts, he was rejecting it. He said, the more he prayed and refused it, the stronger he became. And the more he began to see a clear picture, as if he was watching a film of what will happen to him if he continued on that journey. But suddenly he said he told himself, I'm not going to pray again. And I will go. And he got there. Instead of problem, it was an opportunity he met. He was singled out for something among everybody there. That was what the devil wanted to stop. So I told him, I said, See, anything that put pressure on your heart, do it now. Don't do this now. Do this now. And it's the devil. God does not mount pressure on us. He speaks with still small voice. In fact, if you are not careful, you can miss the voice of God when he speaks to you. Anything that says, do it now, do it now. Pressure. How many of us have encountered 4199 before? Number one, secrecy. Don't tell anybody. And now, this thing, if you don't do it, the opportunity will pass. They will put so much pressure on your heart. Because the trap they set for you, they want you to enter it fast, fast. That's what the devil does. That is why you have to know the nature of God. I was telling that my son. I said, That is why. Thank God you understand that God does not speak with accusation. He says, As you are going now, because you are disobedient, you are going to die. Even if you didn't die, an accident will happen that will affect you so much. Because you are disobedient. God will never speak like that. God doesn't threaten us. Read your Bible well. God does not make you comply with his word using threats. So when we understand the true nature of God, it helps us to know his mind in any situation we find ourselves. To know the true nature of God, let's go into the book of the beginning. I learned many years ago that whatsoever you want to know about God that is not in the book of Genesis is never true about God. And I've checked it over and over. Everything in the scripture has its root in Genesis, except you have not seen it. Everything. The nature of God was revealed when Adam disobeyed God. Let's start from there. God's justice and mercy were demonstrated at the same time. That sounds somehow. How can justice and mercy operate side by side? That is God for you. God's justice and mercy were demonstrable and mercy were demonstrated at the same time without one canceling the other. Mercy did not cancel justice. Justice did not cancel mercy. They all fulfilled their purpose. Genesis chapter 3, verse 17 to 19. Let's quickly read it. Genesis chapter 3, from verse 17 to 19. Then to Adam he said, Because you have heeded the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it. Cursed is the ground for your sake. Pause a little. How many of us have had that? God cursed man when man fell. Have you heard it before? See, that's why when you read the scripture, don't read in the light of what they have told you. Read it for your own understanding. Then to Adam he said, because you have heeded the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying you shall not eat of it. Curse is what? Cause is what? The ground for your sake. I can't curse you, but I can curse the ground for your sake. Because cursing Adam means the whole humanity is cost. And if the whole humanity is cost, all these things we see that helps us to advance the kingdom of God will not be possible. Because cost means you are empowered to fail. Are you getting that? That is why I tell people you don't have to be a believer to succeed in life, to become rich. If the only reason why you came to serve God is for God to prosper you and make you rich, you are in the wrong place. Does God prosper? Yes. But that should not be the reason why you are seeking Him. Because unbelievers prosper. What it takes to prosper is in man, whether you know God or not. That's why God didn't cause man. Go back. You shall not eat of it, cause it's a ground for your sake. In toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Now, now look at it. It said in toil he shall eat of it. The next verse. That's justice. That was the consequence of his disobedience. Both thorns and teeth tooth he shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. You see, God did not cost man so that man with his inject his ingenuity and creative ability can still figure things out for his sustenance and survival in spite of his disobedience. Do you understand that? He said, In the sweat of your face, you shall eat bread till you return to the ground. For out of it you are taken, for dust you are, and to dust you shall return. Listen, to uphold his justice, God declared the ground cursed for man's sake. And to demonstrate his mercy, he preserved the creative ability in man by not cursing him directly. A cursed man is bound to fail in everything. But a man who is free from cost can utilize what is cost for his own advantage. You are not getting that. The implication of this is that though the ground was cursed for the sake of man, the ability of man to figure things out and work things to his benefit was still intact. That's why there are unbelievers who are very creative. Most of the things we enjoy are made by unbelievers. If they are cursed, they won't be able to do it. Somebody will now say, but the Bible says God has delivered us from the curse of the law. It's the curse of the law. The reality is that unbelievers are not under the curse of the law. The course of the law has effects. When you violate the law and you have a sense of condemnation, unbelievers don't have any sense of condemnation. They are proud of their sin. Okay, let me let me let's be let's be practical. How many of us, God forbid? I say God forbid. And you too must forbid it. You commit as a married Christian brother. You commit adultery. That came to church. You can't call another brother and say, Oh boy, see this baby, we are carried yesterday. Can you do it? Are you not answering? Are you not? But unbelievers will proudly tell their friends what they did. Is that because they don't have a sense of guilt? It's normal for them. The nature of sin in them tolerate it. But you you hide it if you practice it. Do you know why? There is something in you that's telling you you are wrong. That this is not a life meant for you. And because it's not your life, you have to hide. That is why some of you cannot do bad things until you drink. It's very quiet in this Pentecostal church this morning. When you you know that this thing is not right, for you to be able to do it, go and take some shark. You now say personally practice madness with ordinary eye. You know, sin and madness you want to practice. It is not, is what you want to do is not consistent with the nature of God in you. So you will have to do something that will tickle your brain. Am I talking to somebody? That means you are living beside yourself. You are living a life that is not your own. And anywhere there is condemnation, there is affliction, there is oppression. That's the difference between you and non-believers. Unbelievers carry out evil, they don't feel any remorse. You know, I think three or four years ago, since then I've never watched the video of any of these bandits killing people. I know fit. They dug a pit in the north and they carried. They made the people dig the pit and they now carry it. One nonsense devil. Just say, Dogo, you can slaughter this one. As if there's no goat. And they asked the guy to lie down beside the pits that he followed them to dig. And they put knife on his neck and they were slaughtered. I almost fainted. I can confront demons, I can confront, but I can't see human beings suffer in a certain way. That night I couldn't sleep. Listen, church, those of you where that stays where the environment is peaceful, it will be selfishness on your part if you are not praying for those who are in a very critical area. Selfishness. They are just thinking about yourself, what to eat, what to wear. Some people are fighting for their life in the same country where you belong to. So to uphold his justice, God declared the ground cursed for man's sake. And to demonstrate his mercy, he preserved the creative ability in man by not cursing him directly. So this is the reason mankind, like I said, are still prosperous through human ingenuity, though they don't know God. Man without God still have the ability to solve difficult problems in original, clever, and inventive ways. That's the dictionary meaning of ingenuity. Human beings are still clever. Human beings are still solving difficult problems without God's involvement. But they don't have the absolute solution to the problems of the world. So we see God demonstrate his mercy without compromising his justice. He covers the ground for man's sake. But look at what God did thereafter to show his mercy, to demonstrate his mercy. We have seen his justice. Let's look at the demonstration of his mercy. Genesis chapter 3, verse 21 to 24. Genesis chapter 3, verse 21 to 24. Also for Adam and his wife. The Lord God did what? The Lord God did what? Made tunics of skin, coats of skin, and clothed them. Take note of this. Before that time, what man did for himself was to gather fig leaves, sew it together and wear it. For how long will you wear fig leaf? That means every 48 hours or 24 hours they have to be changing clothes. They have to be sewing another one. So God did something. He didn't just sew, made a cloth of skin for them, he also made it possible for them to relate with him. Because that clothes of skin has blood in it. So wearing it means the blood atones for them to make it possible for God to still relate with them even in their fallen state. Are you getting that? Verse 22. Then the Lord God said, Behold, the man has become like one of us to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and live forever. Therefore, the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. Verse 24. So he drove out the man and he placed Cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden and the flaming sword which turned everywhere to guard the way to the tree of life. Now, some people thought this was a punishment. It's not. Do you know why it's not a punishment? God said if they ate the tree of life, they will live forever. How? They will live forever with the sin nature. When they fell, there was separation from God. And the nature of sin has taken over man. Now, if man had to eat the tree of life, man will now have to live for life as a sinner. He will be beyond redemption, like Satan. That is why Satan cannot be redeemed. What God did for man was to preserve the eternity of man, even after man has fallen. What a merciful God we serve. He drove them out so that they will not have to eat the tree of life and live forever as a sinner. That the only thing they will be entitled to was eternal judgment. God saved us from eternal judgment. That was the mercy of God at work without compromising his justice. Our God is merciful. Let's also see another example. When Cain killed his brother Abel, God again demonstrated his mercy without compromising his justice. Genesis chapter 4. Verse 9 to 17. Let's read it very fast. Let's read it very fast. So that we can learn one or two things from there. Then the Lord said to Cain, Where is Abel your brother? He said, I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper? Wait, wait, wait. If you are God and the person you created, who is even a sinner, you are asking him a question. He said, I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper? What will you do? I will slap that devil out of his mouth, out of his head. Am I talking to somebody? But you see, God continued to dialogue with him. Then the Lord said to Cain, Where is Abel, your brother? Okay, the next verse, verse 10, quickly. And he said, God said, What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Verse 11. So now you are cursed from the earth. Because you have taken a life, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. Verse 12. When you teal the ground, it shall no longer yield his strength to you. A forgitief and a vagabond, you shall be what? On the earth. Who is a vagabond? A wanderer, a man of no fixed address. Just going up and down, like Satan. Satan is a vagabond. When God asks him, Where have you been? He said, Toe and fro. Just the walk out and down. Verse 13. We see how the mercy of God was demonstrated without compromising his justice. And Cain said to the Lord, Can you see that? That man get hurt. My punishment is greater than I can bear. See, I found out that it is wicked people that always find it difficult to tolerate wickedness. Have you seen them catch an arm robber that will kill people? Say, if you forgive me this one, I will cooperate with you. I will help you arrest our fellow arm robbers. They will suddenly become very righteous because they are afraid. And Cain said to the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. Verse 14. Surely you have driven me out this day from the face of the ground. I shall be hidden from your face, I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me. Verse 15. Look at that. And the Lord said to him, the mercy of God being demonstrated. Therefore, whoever kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark on Cain, lest anyone finding him should kill him. Verse 16. Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nord on the east of Eden. See what Mercy has done. Instead of him to be a vagabond, verse 17. And Cain knew his wife. In the days where when wife was cast, was cast, is he found eventually. That's the story for another day. And she conceived and bore Enoch. And he built a city. He did what? Built a city and called the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. The Bible says, A good man shall live an inheritance for his children and his children's children. Now, a bad man who has obtained mercy experience the same blessing. God's mercy was demonstrated without compromising his what? His justice. Listen, church. That is why. Don't spend all your life looking down on others because of their past. The people you look down on and you think you are more better than them, you are more righteous than them. When they have obtained mercy, what you will be running after, they will get it with ease. Am I talking to somebody? Don't joke with God's mercy. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. It is not of him that wheels, neither is it of him that runs, but of the Lord that shows mercy. But of the Lord that shows what mercy. So, what are we saying? When you understand the true nature of God, it will help you not to be discouraged, no matter how bad your situation appears to be. Exodus chapter 34, verse 5 to 7. He revealed his nature in his introduction to Moses. Now the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the name of the Lord. Verse 6. Verse 6. And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God. What is the first adjective to qualify him? Merciful and what? Gracious, long suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth. The Lord God, merciful and what? Gracious, long suffering. That is, he has patience, endurance, and abounding in goodness and truth. Verse 7. Verse 7. Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generations. This was the situation under the old covenant. But you see that even though he keeps mercy, he forgives iniquity and transgression and sin. But he does not clear the guilty. He has a way of showing his mercy without compromising his justice. So that his plan for you will ultimately come to pass, irrespective of your errors. That's the message. Some years back. An elderly man came here. One of our deacons then in the church brought him to me. That the man said there is no need to go to church again now. He was attending one of the prominent denominations. So that our deacon said he should come and talk to me first. So he came. I said, What is the real why this is that you say you won't go to church again? He said he has committed the unpardonable sin. He said, and his reverend in the church told him that his health is assured. That he has sinned against the Holy Ghost. So he now told him, say, if he has sinned against the Holy Ghost, and he must go to hell. What's the essence to see? He said, let him live anyhow and die and go to hell. I said, that's not true. What have you done? He said somebody had a miracle. And he said, it is not God that did that miracle. It's not the Spirit of God, it's the devil. So they told him that because you say it's the devil that did what God did, you have sinned against the Holy Ghost. And because of that, hell. So say, so I said, sir, that's not true. We opened scriptures upon scriptures upon scriptures upon scriptures. And finally he felt relieved. He left. I gave him my number. I said, in case you need any more explanation, call me. Two weeks after that, he called me around midnight. Say, Pastor, are you sure I am not going to hell? He said, Because what my reverend said is still coming into my mind. Are you sure it is not a testimony by the Spirit of God that I will truly go to hell? I said, Oh, so the Holy Spirit can still be talking to you. You believe the Holy Ghost is talking to you when you are bound for hell. Listen, it's very easy to believe a lie than the truth. Because our carnal nature appreciates deceptions more than the truth. You know what? Deceptions most of the time make sense. Deception most of the time does what? It makes sense. It makes sense to the natural mind. And that's why we embrace it faster. And the truth. So go back. So keeping merciful thousands of forgiving iniquity and transgression of sin. The Lord introduced himself to Moses on Mount Zion as a merciful God, as a gracious God, as a God who patiently endures things. Even though he will not compromise his justice. But also to reveal God to us. Hebrews chapter 1, verse 1 to 3. Hebrews chapter 1, verse 1 to 3. Quickly. Hebrews chapter 1, verse 1 to 3. The first media. God who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers, by the prophets. Verse 2. Has in this last day spoken to us by who? By his son, whom he has appointed head of all things, through whom also he made the world. We are going to verse 3. That is where the message is. Who being the brightness of his glory? Jesus is the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person. And upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purchased our sins, sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high. Who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person. Jesus is the express image of who God is. So Jesus came to reveal God to us more clearly than the Old Testament presented God to us. That's why in the book of John, chapter 14, John chapter 14, verse 7 to 9. When Philip asked Jesus a question, John 14, verse 7 to 9. When Philip asks God a question, look at and ask Jesus a question. Look at Jesus' response. Here how Jesus started. He said, If you had known me, you will have known my father also. And from now on, you know him and have seen him. Through who? Jesus. Verse 8. This is the word of Jesus Himself. Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us. Verse 9. Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen who? The Father. So how can you say, Show us the Father? Verse 10. Verse 10. Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I do not speak on my own authority. But the Father who dwells in me does the work. Jesus was simply saying to the disciples, You want to see, know anything about the Father? Look at me. I'm here to reveal the true nature of the Father to you. I'm here to show you who the Father is. Listen to this, church. Jesus' response to people when he was here on earth, his response to people, his response to issues are meant to help us to know the mind of God concerning our situations. They are meant to expose us to the true nature of God. They are meant to help us to see how God thinks. The statements of Jesus, his response to issues. That is why, as a child of God, don't ever pray, Lord, if it is your will, heal me. That's an prayer of unbelief. It is his will. That's why, when wherever Jesus met the sick, he healed them. Everywhere he went, he was doing good. Almighty healer. He heals the leper. When the cripple saw him, they started walking. Everywhere he went, my Lord was doing good. Let's look at an example. For you to know the nature of God as revealed in Christ. John chapter 8. What I'm sharing with you is to help you to understand the nature of God and to help you to know what to expect when you are going through a suffering. John chapter 8, verse 3 to 11, quickly. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to him a woman caught in what? Caught in what? Adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they set her in the midst of the crowd. Verse 4. They said to him, Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery. In the very act. You know my challenge there is. How can a woman be caught in the very act? And you brought her a loan. And it was caught. She was caught in the very act. Was she committing adultery with herself? You can see the hypocrisy of man. Verse 5. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do you say? It was a trap. Verse 6. This they said, testing him that they might have something of which to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down. He will not hide his nature. Because he was being tested and he was about to be blackmailed. He will not hide his nature. He must demonstrate his nature. That's why God is not a respectable person. It is you that cares what people think about you. As long as he's exercising his nature. And he's God, what you think about him does not matter. Because what you think about him will not change him as God. Am I talking to somebody? So what Jesus stood down and wrote on the ground with his finger as though he did not hear. I love this. Verse 7. Verse 7. So when they continued asking him, look at wicked people, he raised himself up and said to them, He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. If you are without sin, be the first person to throw a stone at this woman. I am suspecting that the person they caught her with was there. Go back. Then those who had it being convicted by their conscience went out one by one. Beginning. Listen, listen. Didn't begin today today. They are stubbornness. It didn't start today. Beginning with the oldest, even to the last. The older ones were quick to see their writing on the words. They left. The younger ones say, We don't go greed, we don't go greed. And then they greet. And Jesus was left alone. And the woman standing in the midst. Verse 10. Verse 10. When Jesus had raised himself up and saw no one but the woman, he said to her, Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? Verse 11. She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said to her, Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more. Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin. So the nature of God is love, it's merciful. He's not out carrying a big stick looking for who to kill. God wants you to repent. Because of his love for you. So even if you are the reason for your sufferings and your pains, God still cares. He cares. Now, having seen through the scriptures from the Old Testament to the New Testament, that God's nature is love, God's nature is mercy. He's merciful. What should we expect if we found ourselves in self inflicted suffering? We are going to just look at self inflicted suffering this morning. Found ourselves in self-inflicted sufferings that is sufferings that come as a consequence of our wrong actions and inactions. What should we expect? What should we expect? Oh, and the reason why my wrong decisions of yesterday brought me into this situation. Oh, I wish I didn't do that thing. Oh, I wish I didn't make that mistake. I cost what I'm going through. Because the Bible says God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sow, he will reap. He said, if you sow into the flesh, from your flesh, you reap corruption. This thing I'm reaping. It's because of the wrong things I did yesterday. Has God abandoned me? Has God forsaken me? What should I expect in this situation? Am I going to be consumed by this problem? Romans chapter 8. Please, you are going to give me this scripture from TPT. Romans chapter 8, verse 32 to 34. Romans chapter 8, verse 32 to 34. From TPT. TPT presents this in a more understandable way in contemporary English. The interpretation fits perfectly. What the original Greek text is saying. Listen to this. Let's read it. For God has proved his love by giving us his greatest treasure. The gift of his son. And since God freely offered him up as the sacrifice for us all, he certainly won't withhold from us anything else he has to give. Even in the midst of your error, as long as you realize you ahead and you are holding on to Jesus, he certainly won't withhold from us anything else he has to give. Verse 33. Who then, listen to this? Who then would dare to accuse those whom God has chosen in love to be his? God himself is the judge who has issued his final verdict over them, not guilty. Listen, church. It is self-righteous people, religious people, that depends on their own righteousness to be right with God. And my Bible tells me that their righteousness in the sight of God is like a filty rug. You and I have nothing to boast of in God's presence. Without Christ, you can never be right. You can only be a moralist, not a righteous person. Am I talking to somebody? Let's read on. Who then is left to condemn us? Certainly not Jesus, the anointed one, for he gave his life for us. And even more than that, he has conquered death and is now risen, exalted, and enthroned by God at his right hand. So how could he possibly condemn us since he is continually praying for our triumph? That's the God that we serve. He's rich in mercy, he's deep in compassion. It is the people around that will always want to draw you to your past. God does not remember your past. The blood that was shed on the cross at Calvary has made the difference. Jesus paid the full and perfect price for your sin and for my sin. So he said, the only one who has the right to condemn you died for you. He didn't just die, he rose again. And he's praying for you. He's praying for your victory, for your triumph. He can't be praying for you at the same time and be condemning you. Am I talking to somebody? Listen here, church. You must seek God for who he is. Don't put the label that religion has placed upon him. Don't put it upon him. Our God is not looking for who to kill, he's looking for who to save. So even though your errors brought you into suffering, Jesus is interceding for you, trusting that your eyes will be open to see his provision for you that will enable you to overcome the consequences of your errors. Am I talking to somebody? That is why. He said, You might fall seven times. He said, But you always rise. You always rise, you always tell yourself, no matter what I'm going through now, I'm rising up again. I'm not going to end like this. I'll fulfill God's purpose for my life. In spite of my errors, mercy answers for me. I embrace the mercy of God and I triumph by his mercy. But that is the will of my heavenly father for me. So, what do you expect? Expect to overcome the consequences. Expect, expect to fulfill God's perfect plan. He knew you from the foundation of the world. He called you to be his own. And even though you erred, you followed your flesh, you did things that seems to be right to you, and you are now suffering the effect. That is not the end. I will be with you for how long? Always. He didn't say as long as you are perfect. He said, I will be with you always. That is God's unconditional love for you and for me. Okay, let's look. Because we are looking at if you found yourself suffering from the consequences of your actions and inactions. Is that the end of your story? Is that the end of your life? No. No. You can have a new beginning. Let's look at, we take an example from the Old Testament, and then you know that our own experience will always be better than that of the Old Testament experience. Why? The cross of Jesus made the difference. Let's learn from Moses. Let's look at the example of Moses under the Old Testament. Remember this that Moses was supposed to be judged when he aired, when he disobeyed God. He was supposed to be judged according to the law. Because the relationship between God and the people of Israel then was based on the law and not based on the nature of God. And that was the reason. In the Old Testament, during the time of Moses and the people of Israel, it was angels that was relating with them. God could not relate directly with them because his nature will not permit him to execute the terms of the law. So angel had to do that. But most people don't know. But felt it was God directly that was doing all those things. Exodus, let's to save our time. Exodus 14, 19, and then we read Exodus 23, verse 21. Verse 20 and 21. Let's start with Exodus chapter 14, verse 19. Exodus 14, 19, quickly. Exodus chapter 14, verse 19. I hope the person at the media distinct is not sleeping. Praise the Lord. And the angel of God, can you see something? And the angel of God who went before the camp of Israel moved and went behind them. So when the angel moved from the front to the back, what happened? And the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood. So it was angel that was representing God. Another proof. Now see, here God speak. Behold, I sent an angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have what prepared. Verse 21. Verse 21. Beware of him. Can you hear that? Beware of him and do what? And obey his voice. Do not provoke him, for he will not pardon your transgressions. He is not like me. He doesn't carry my nature. See, it is you and I that have the nature of God. Angels do not have. So God wants them. Don't provoke the angel. Because he will not pardon your transgressions. So during the old covenant, under the old covenant, because God could not express his nature, he had to. And the pride, the arrogance of the people of Israel, they acted as if they could fulfill all things by themselves. That is why you hear me, church. If you are too full of yourself, you are setting up yourself for troubles. God wants us to live a life that is wholly dependent on him. That's why in this kingdom, if you are proud, you have no future. Proud people can't submit wholly to God's word. They are ruled by their feelings, they are ruled by their personal desires. And that is the reason why they will keep creating problems and problems and problems for themselves until they leave this world. And the only sin grace cannot cure, cannot settle, is pride. God resists who? The proud. So going back to Moses, Moses acted in anger. When God gave him an instruction for the people of Israel. Listen, church, all the things we tell you, forgive. Don't be bitter. It's for you. It's for your sake. For whose sake? It's for whose sake. Don't let people provoke you into suffering. Don't let people provoke you into what? Into suffering. Don't let them make you do the things you are not meant to do, and you now have to suffer the consequence. Look at God's instruction. Numbers chapter 20 from verse 7 to 12. Oh Jesus. Numbers 20, verse 7 to 12. Is somebody getting something? Because somebody's suffering, even though you created it, must come to an end. Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Verse 8, quickly. Take the rod, listen carefully. Take the rod. You and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak. Do what? Speak to the rock before their eyes. And it will do what? Yield this water. Thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock and give drink to the congregation and their animals. Do what to the rock? Speak. Verse 9. So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as he commanded him. Partial obedience. And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock. And he said to them, Hear now, you rebels. Must we bring water for you out of this rock? Verse 11. Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod. And water came out. See, that's the mercy of God because God still had to satisfy his people with water. Listen, church, listen, listen. That you are doing what is wrong and it's producing a result doesn't mean that God has accepted it. You are doing what is wrong, and you are prospering in it. Doesn't mean you have been accepted by God. You are only creating problem for yourself unknowingly. Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod. And water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. The next verse, verse 12. We stop there. Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. That means he will not enter the promised land. Consequence of anger. Uncontrolled anger. Uncontrolled anger. That was the consequence for Moses. Listen, church. When you are very angry, that's the best time to make honor. Huh? When you are very angry, that is the best time to what? To save yourself. Words are like broken eggs. You can't pack them whole. Am I talking to somebody? You can utter one thing that will haunt you for a lifetime. That can be the reason for your setback. Am I talking to somebody? Moses was angry. Because he was tired of the people seeing they see miracles all over. Yet they will still complain, they will still misbehave. And once God has told Moses that it is not you, these people dishonor, it is me. So leave me and them. But Moses did not master his temperament. I pray for everyone under the sound of my voice. May the Lord give you the grace to master your emotion. May you receive the grace to control your temper. Are you aware some people are on death road today because they could not control their temper. They hit somebody who was already planning to die. You know, see, some people you see on the road, they have death sentence on them. The devil is just looking for one means of executing it. And those people are the trouble, they are they like trouble because they are looking for somebody to hit them, they are looking for somebody to push them, and any little thing they find, and they will never say you have killed somebody. Lord does not recognize that. Am I talking to somebody? Let me preach it to your neighbor. Say, neighbor, master your emotion, trust the Lord to help you control your temper. Learn not to talk, lear not to act when you are very angry. Amen. This is my son. You know, one day he had his testimony. Somebody provoked him. And he said, he lost control over his hand. And you punched him. What happened to him? He fell. He fainted. Started jerking. If not for mercy. If that man like that pie like that, he won't be here today. God forbid. It has happened three times. Don't let the fourth one happen, no. Bro, faithful. Bro, faithful. Bro, faithful. How many times did I call you? Control this hand as you control your temper. Don't let the fourth one happen, no. Praise the Lord. You see, the areas of your life you have not mastered is the area the devil will use to tempt you. When he comes knocking, tell him say you know day. Or what he can use around you, no day again. Amen. So Moses was judged. The justice of God had his way. Because God has to appear just in all situations. God has to be just. So he said, you will not get to the promised land. Though Moses was not allowed to enter the earthly promised land, he was preserved for eternity with God. God still demonstrated mercy without compromising justice. How do I know that mercy of God preserved Moses' eternity despite suffering the consequences of his disobedience? Jude chapter 1, verse 9. Jude has one chapter, verse 9 of it quickly, so that you can round up now. Jude 1 9. Jude 1 9. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, The Lord rebukes you. What happened? You know, God told Moses to climb a mountain and die there. In the mind of Satan, Moses disobeyed God. He was sentenced. So forever, he felt that Moses belonged to God belongs to him. But it shocked him. When he found out that while wanting to claim the body of Moses, Saint Jeremiah appeared. He said, No, you can't have him. And he said, No. He's my own now. He sinned against the Lord. And God has passed his judgment on him. He said, Okay, that is all you know. The mercy of God has also spoken for him. And so his eternity is secured with God. So even though Moses operated in the time of the law, he was not judged under the law. He was judged according to the nature of God. Secondly, how do I know that his eternity was preserved? Matthew chapter 17, from verse 1 to 5. Quickly. Is somebody getting something this morning? This you need to listen to this message over and over again. So that even if you are the reason for the sufferings you are going through, you'll be assured that God has not condemned you. And that you can overcome it, you can triumph over the consequences and still fulfill your destiny in God. Now, after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves. Verse 2. And he was transfigured before them, his face shone like the sun, and his clothes. Praise the Lord. Please, that is why we have to be coming with our Bible. Matthew seventeen. Now, after six days, Jesus took Peter, James, and John, his brother, led them up on a high mountain by themselves, and he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Verse 3, we stop there. And behold, and behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, appeared to Jesus and his disciple, talking with Jesus. So I check the period between the death of Moses and this time of transfiguration. So after about 1,500 years, the man who did not have access to earthly promised land was granted access to eternity. That was why he could still stand before Jesus and talk. Even though the purpose of that meeting was for God to tell the disciples that Moses represented the law, um, Elijah represented the prophets, those are not the people you should listen to anymore. This is the person you have to listen to. That is Jesus. That is why the voice came. When the disciples said, ah, this is a good thing. Let us create three tabernacles. One for Moses, one for Elijah, one for Jesus. And the voice said, No, you are not going to lump the three of them together. This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear him. That means this is a person you must begin to hear from now. Elijah, Moses has played his part. It has passed. Elijah played his role. Now, Jesus is the express image of God. He's the one that revealed the true nature of God. That is the person to listen to. Listen, if you want to enjoy the best of God, stop staying under the law. Don't just dwell. Prophet Elijah did this, he caught fire, he killed all his enemies. You are not under the prophet. You belong to Jesus. What threatens them has no power over you. Am I talking to somebody? If you say pray for your enemies, do good to those who despisefully use you. It simply means if they use you, it's because you are useful and he can turn your life around, in spite of being used, you will still flourish and prosper. God can be in you and man prevail over you. Am I talking to somebody here? One of my favorite scriptures: there is no understanding, there is no wisdom, there is no counsel against the Lord. And he that is joined to the Lord is one spirit. If I am one spirit with the Lord, there is no understanding, there is no wisdom, there is no counsel against me. No matter what the plan, it will work together for my good. And that is your testimony. So, in conclusion, so for us under the New Testament, though we may suffer the consequences of our wrong actions and inactions, according to Galatians chapter 6, verse 7 and 8. God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sows, he shall reap. If you sow into the flesh, you are from the flesh reap what? Corruption. Listen, church, you can save yourself a lot of pains by choosing to walk in the spirit and not sow into the flesh. You can avoid certain things, you can avoid certain problems, you can avoid certain sufferings by walking in the spirit instead of sowing into your flesh. But in case you have sown into the flesh and you have started reaping corruption from the flesh, that's not the end. That's not what don't continue on that path. That was a statement I read some years back, and not a scriptural statement, but it made sense. Okay, let me give you an ex example from water court, you are going to worry. They now put you inside a vehicle that is going to Lagos. That when you get to worry, you go down, you get down. You now slept off. So they pass worry. They reach Sapele. You now woke up. Now worry, they go out, we don't pass. He said, Okay. Continue. Which one will be cheaper for you? To drop at that place and enter another bus back to worry or go to Lagos. Which one is more expensive? That is what happens if we continue on the path of disobedience. It will cost you more to correct things than when you realize quickly and say, Lord, I'm sorry. I missed it. I erred. I retreat. What is the meaning of repentance? Repentance simply means a change of mind. I changed my mind. I'm not going to follow this path again because it is contrary to your word. I return to you, Lord. When such decision is taken, God sees a humble person, God sees a submissive person, and He has a way of using all that you are going through to work together for your good. God, see, the wisdom of God is past finding. I was reading the book of Ephesians and it talked about oh, the depth of the wisdom and the power of God. He said, His ways are past finding. You can't figure out the things of God with your natural mind. God specializes in bringing something out of nothing. Am I talking to somebody? No wonder the Bible says he used the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, he used the weak things of this world to confound the mighty. The basis of this world, he he used to bring to none the things that are, so that no flesh will glory in his presence. Church. Don't justify your wrongdoings. It is my wife that makes me do that. It is my husband that makes me do that. One day you will stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Your husband will not be there, your wife will not be there. You will be alone to tell God what you have done in the flesh. It is my neighbor, it is my boss at work. No, church, you can turn things around. You can turn the consequences of your wrong actions, your inactions, you can turn it around for your good. That is why, church, when you are praying in times of difficulties, you don't just pray according to your understanding alone because your prayers might not be addressing the problem. I hope somebody understands that. Romans chapter 8. Let's close with that. Romans chapter 8, verse 26 to 28. Romans 8, verse 26 to 28. Likewise, the spirit also helps in our what? Oh, are you here this morning, paysetters? Likewise, the spirit also helps in our what? Weaknesses, your errors, your mistakes. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought. But the spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now he who searches the heart knows what the mind of the spirit is, because he does what he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. You don't know how to pray the way you are to. But when you pray in the spirit, verse 28 now says, and we know that all things, how many things? All things work together for good. To those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. If you know you are called to fulfill God's purpose, all things will work together for your good. When you understand that God is for you, he's not against you, even though you aid. Even though you aid. Rehabilitating ex-arm robbers. Ex harden criminals. Do you know why? He was once an arm robber. Notorious one. Killed people, anyhow. And he was caught. He was sentenced to death. The governors, one coming after that, they refused to sign. You know, they have to sign before they could kill them. But these governors had a way of not having their hands stained with. So they refused to sign his until he met with Christ inside prison. He became a pastor inside prison. He began to minister to harding criminals like him inside prison. Because where they kept him, it was only hidden criminals. And one day, by the mercy of God, that's why you have to stand strong with God so that you won't be a victim of wickedness. Because if the wicked person got converted, God will still show them mercy. This man has stayed for years. They pardoned him because they found out that he has helped change many people in the prison. So as they he came out of prison, he got into evangelical work, going to all the bad bad areas. You know, bad people know their locations. Going to all the Babad areas, ministering to the cultists, ministering to armed robbers, and they were getting converted. And that's how God was raising finance for him. He built a place where he rehabilitates them and rehabilitates those who are also deep into drugs. And God was using him or is using him to transform lives. Even though yesterday he was a problem and he was suffering for what he did, but eventually mercy found him. Lift up your voice and say, Father, I prevail over this suffering, over this situation, and your mercy. Can you identify whether you missed it? Can you identify the things you are done wrong that is hurting you now? Can you identify your error? That is for your Can you identify your message? I receive your mercy now. By your mercy, I prevail over this situation. By your mercy, I prevail over this condition.

SPEAKER_02 1:50:09

Lift up your voice and the choir. Begin to give us mercy, say no. Mercy said no. Lift up your voice, begin to prevail by the mercy of God. Declare, I prevail by God's mercy. Over afflictions, I prevail by God's mercy.

SPEAKER_01 1:50:31

Over stagnation, I prevail by the mercy of God.

SPEAKER_02 1:50:35

Over rejection, I prevail by the mercy of God.

SPEAKER_03 1:50:40

Over the struggles, I prevail. By your mercy we prevail. By your mercy we prevail. By the mercy we prevail. By the mercy that we prefer by the fence we're the light.

SPEAKER_01 1:54:14

George, look out, please. You are going to pray, just one prayer. Father George, I think. To say something negative about you, even when they don't know you. And it's like life has been difficult. But this morning I've come in the name of Jesus to tell you that there is an intervention of mercy. I said there is an intervention of mercy. In the mighty name of Jesus. Father, every consequence of my wrong actions and in actions that I deserve. Let your mercy overturn it now. Let all things work together for my good. What is meant to work against me? Let it become the reason for my rising. Let it become the reason for my progress. Father, by your mercy, let it happen by your mercy. Lift up your voice and pray in the name of Jesus.

SPEAKER_03 1:56:10

In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, in the mighty name of Jesus. Father, for every judgment we are due for, every judgment that we deserve. By the reason of our actions and inactions in the past, let the voice of your mercy speak over us. Let your mercy speak for us. Let your mercy speak for us. Let your mercy settle in and shapate every suffering we are going through. Oh, by the reason of our actions, by the reason of our deeds in the past. Lord, by your mercy, let your mercy speak over us. Let the voice of your mercy speak over us. We pray your mercy, Lord, for every actions and inactions. Oh pareko barate. In our past law that is hunting us, Lord. By your mercy, Lord. Let judgment be done. Shabete lobarate. We cry out for your mercy. We cry out for your mercy. Let the voice of your mercy be louder than the voice of judgment. You will have mercy upon whom you have mercy. You will show compassion on whom you will show compassion. How deep is your compassion? Let your mercy, oh God, be seen. May we find mercy, Lord.

SPEAKER_01 1:58:28

In the name of Jesus Christ, we are praying.

SPEAKER_00 1:58:35

Thank you for listening, and we know you very listening.