FAITH IS ACQUIRED BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD
First Bible Lesson: Romans 10:17
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Second Bible Lesson: John 4:42
"And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the World."
Golden Text: Luke 6: 47-48
"Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like:
He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock, and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock."
Brethren, that is the theme of our lesson today. This marks the commencement of the Conference of the Leader's Representatives. By right all the children of God should be present today to listen to this sermon. Many people do not want to come into this kingdom of God because they do not want to listen to the Word of God. How will you become a Leader's representative when you have not listened to the word of God. HOW WILL YOU HAVE FAITH IF YOU DO NOT LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD? When the sermon is being preached, you move in and out, you converse, you slumber and sleep, HOW WILL YOU BE GROOMED IN THE WORD OF GOD?
YOU CANNOT PREACH WITHOUT FIRST HEARING THE WORD OF GOD:
Whenever you feel, because of your self-conceitedness and self aggrandisement, that you are the only right person to preach to others, and that no person has the right to preach to you, you cannot understand the word of God. A physician cannot heal himself. It is said faith comes from hearing the word, what word? The Word of God. IF YOU DO NOT SIT DOWN QUIETLY AND IN ABSOLUTE HUMILITY AND LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD, TELL ME HOW YOU CAN UNDERSTAND AND PREACH TO OTHERS. IF YOU COMPLAIN TO ME THAT YOUR PROBLEM IS LACK OF FAITH, IT MEANS THAT YOU DO NOT LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD.
FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD:
It is said that Abraham had faith. He had faith because he listened to the word of God and believed in God. It is said Abel believed in God. It is that only he listened to, and complied with the word of God. It is said: Today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts. (Heb 4:7). As long as you continue to toy with the Word of God, how will you be saved? If you neither surrender yourself to the Word of God, nor wish to listen to the Word of God how can you have faith? That is why it is asked, how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? (Romans 10:14).FAITH COMES FROM HEARING THE WORD, WHAT WORD? THE WORD OF GOD. WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD AND PUT IT INTO PRACTISE, IT MEANS YOU HAVE FAITH.
WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN DIABOLICAL THINGS DOES NOT LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD:
Up till today, a great many of us are still believing in witchery (witchcraft); others still believe in mermaid; others still believe in apparition; many others still believe in preparation of concoctions. Why do you continue to believe in these diabolical things? It is because you do not listen to the Word of God. But any person who listens to the word of God, assimilates the Word of God, and believes in the Word of God, will come to the realisation that neither witchery (witchcraft), nor mermaid, nor apparition, nor concoction exists.
Any person who complains that he has no faith is only betraying himself that he does not listen to the word of God, neither does he believe in God. And there is nothing else in this world that can save us. WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD. ANY PERSON WHO HAS NO FAITH CANNOT BELIEVE IN GOD, NEITHER CAN HE PRACTISE THE WORD OF GOD. IF YOU COUNT FROM ABEL TILL TODAY, YOU WILL REALISE THAT IT IS ONLY WITH FAITH THAT YOU CAN ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
ABRAHAM OFFERED ISAAC BECAUSE OF HIS FAITH IN HIS GOD:
What prompted Abraham to offer Isaac, his only begotten son as a sacrifice? It was faith. What induced Abel to sacrifice his fattest ram to God? It was the faith he had. Why did Moses refuse the sonship of Pharaoh and accepted to suffer for forty years? It was because of his faith in God. What prompted Rahab the harlot, to hide in her house, the two spies who has arrived to inspect the land of Jericho. She was protecting them from the people who pursued them in order to kill them. It was because of her faith in God that eventually when Jerico would be taken by the Israelites, she and her household would be saved. What caused the Mother of Moses to hide Moses and prepare a basket in which to preserve the life of the child in hiding, when King Pharaoh ordered the massacre of the innocent male children? It was her faith in God.
PAYMENT OF THE TITHE DEPENDS ON FAITH:
You will notice that without faith your regular attendance at worship is nothing. There are certain people in the world who have never known nor heard anything about tithe payment, free will offering and charity, and they have never offered any of these. And the voice of God reached the inhabitants of the world: "Even from the days of your fathers you were gone away from my ordinances and you have not kept them. Return to me and I will return to you. But you said wherein shall we return? Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. You are therefore cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me even this whole nation. Bring therefore all the tithes into the store house, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me herewith if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sake, and he will not destroy the fruits of your ground, neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field." (Malachi 3:7-11). But why is it that you have not paid your tithe and you are not prepared to pay?
There is another person who has never heard about the payment of tithe, but the day he hears and pays his tithe, he has expressed faith in his God. FAITH DOES NOT CONSIST IN REGULAR ATTENDANCE AT WORSHIP WHERE YOU ENGAGE IN ARGUMENTS AND DISPUTINGS. When you are rebuked for committing sin, you question what sin you have committed. It means you do not believe in God. These are the types of people whom Our Lord Jesus Christ referred to as people who have eyes but cannot see, they have ears but cannot hear, and they have hearts but they cannot perceive.
FAITH WORKS ETERNAL LIFE:
There is no other way in which you can serve God without having faith through hearing the word of God. NO PERSON CAN LOVE GOD WITHOUT FAITH. NO PERSON CAN HAVE HOPE WITHOUT FAITH. NO PERSON CAN HAVE FAITH WITHOUT HEARING THE WORD OF GOD. YOU ARE TOLD THAT GOD IS IN YOUR HEART AND YOU SHOULD KNEEL DOWN AND CALL UPON THE NAME OF GOD AND HE WILL ANSWER YOU, AND IF YOU COMPLY ACCORDINGLY, YOU WILL CERTAINLY BE ANSWERED. If you abide by the instructions that you should not steal and that you should not tell lies, it means you have faith. You are told not to fornicate and not to drink any type of liquor and if you obey, because of your faith expressed in your obedience, you will have eternal life. Whosoever listens to the word of God and fails to comply with the advice therein, is a child of perdition. YOU ARE WAITING FOR OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO COME DOWN FROM THE SKY. WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT HIM TO DO? WHEN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME DURING HIS LAST ADVENT, HOW MANY PEOPLE BELIEVED IN HIM? WHO IS SPEAKING NOW, IS HE NOT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST? AND HE ASKED: WHY CALL YOU ME LORD, LORD AND DO NOT THE THINGS WHICH I SAY. (LUKE 6:46) DO YOU THINK THAT IF PEOPLE WERE TO LISTEN TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THEY WOULD HAVE PERISHED?
LACK OF FAITH WORKS PROBLEMS:
He says whosoever rejects me and refuses to accept My word, I do not judge him but the words he has refused will judge him in the last day. All the punishments besetting the world are due to people's unbelief, and due to their lack of faith. WHATSOEVER ENCUMBRANCES AND DIFFICULTIES THAT BESET YOU ARE DUE TO YOUR LACK OF FAITH. But you argue that you cannot believe until you see. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE WORD? AND HAVE YOU EVER TOUCHED THE WORD? Our Lord Jesus Christ says blessed is he who has not seen and yet has believed.
Right now your trouble is that when you come before God you do not listen to the Word of God. You neither want to listen nor practise the word of God preached to you. What then is your faith? There is no other thing that can save you except faith. WHERE DOES FAITH EMANATE? FROM LISTENING TO THE WORD OF GOD.
All those who are here but previously did not believe in God, they were sick and unemployed as well as being fearful, the moment they listen attentively to these words of God and believe fervently in the words they are saved and all their problems solved. This is so because Peter cast his net throughout the night but could not catch any fish. But when he met Our Lord Jesus Christ, He commanded Peter to cast his net and launch in the deep for a draught. And Peter argued: "Master we have toiled all night and had caught nothing, nevertheless at thy word, I will let down the net." When he had done that he inclosed a great multitude of fishes and his net began to break. If you had been Peter you would have engaged in a long drawn argument that you have toiled all night without catching any fish and that you were not prepared to cast the net again.
OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE:
The same thing happened to Naaman the leaper when Elisha told him to go to the river Jordan and wash there seven times but he argued that even at that time he was returning from washing in the Jordan river but his servant told him, "My father, if the prophet had bid you do some great thing would you not have done it? How much rather than when he said to you wash and be clean?" Then the servant said, " Suffer it now, Naaman then went to the Jordan river, washed and was completely cleansed. CAN YOU REALISE NOW THAT THERE IS NO FAITH APART FROM THE WORD OF GOD? When you are told not to sin again, and you accept it and comply with the instructions, when you are told that apparition, witchery, concoction and ghost do not exist and you accept and believe that they do no exist. I DECLARE FROM THE HIGH HEAVEN THAT THERE IS NO WITCHCRAFT, BUT YOU SIT AND MAKE COUNTER-DECLARATION THAT THERE ARE WIZARDS AND WITCHES EVERYWHERE AND THAT PEOPLE SHOULD NOT MIND ME. YOU STRONGLY BELIEVE IN THE EXISTENCE OF WITCHERY BUT THAT THE WIZARDS CAN NO LONGER HARM YOU. IT IS NOT ONLY SHAMEFUL BUT DISGRACEFUL IN WITH REGARD TO SUCH PERSON WITH THESE BELIEFS. DO YOU THINK IF YOU DO NOT BELIEVE IN WORD OF GOD YOU WILL HAVE SALVATION?
THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:
Do not say within your heart who shall ascend into heaven to bring Our Lord Jesus Christ from above, or who shall descend into the deep or hades to bring up Our Lord Jesus Christ again from the dead. What has righteousness said? It says: The word is nearer to you, even in your mouth, and in your heart, that is the word of faith which we preach. For if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and shall believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. The first Lesson will now be read.
FIRST BIBLE LESSON: ROMANS 10:17
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the word of God."
DO NOT DOUBT GOD AND DO NOT SIN:
Brethren, have you heard what is read to you. The words you hear now can vividly be confirmed by Christ Student Ime Akpakpan. He is my witness. He stood here and complained that he was worried by wizard and witches and I halted him immediately, to nib his contemplation in the bud. I told him witchcraft does not exist. From that day on, after hearing the word of the Father, he no longer believes in the existance of witchery. If you tell him that somebody is worried by witchcraft and mermaid, he will laugh at you to scorn, for faith comes from the word. What word? The word of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Everyday you are told that there is no witchcraft, no apparition, no mermaid but you continue to complain that you are bewitched. You are making this complain because you do not hear the Word of God, neither do you believe in Christ.
You are warned not to doubt your God and not to fornicate, but you still doubt God and you fornicate. This is because you do not hear the Word of God and you do not believe in God, how will you be saved? Realise that those who do not hear the Word of God, and are not prepared to practise it are the children of perdition. THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN SAVE MAN FROM THIS ADULTEROUS WORLD EXCEPT THE WORD OF GOD.
FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN:
Remember that the Samaritans did not possess the Holy Spirit. But when the Samaritan woman told them about Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and when Our Lord Jesus Christ met the Samaritans what did they say? The Holy Oil cannot give you faith, you can drink any quantity of the oil, it will not give you faith. WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS FAITH IS THE WORD OF GOD, THE WORD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. IF YOU BELIEVE, ASSIMILATE, AND PRACTISE THE WORDS OF GOD, THEN YOU HAVE FAITH. ALL THAT YOU SEE PHYSICALLY CANNOT BE FAITH. FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR, THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN AND YET YOU BELIEVE.
WHAT IS THE EVIDENCE OF THINGS NOT SEEN? IT IS ONLY THE WORD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
TO BELIEVE IS TO BE SAVED:
You have been told that God is now on earth but you still gaze at the sky. You are told that OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST INDWELLS YOU, HE IS IN YOUR HOUSE, AND THAT HE IS EVERYWHERE, BUT YOU DO NOT BELIEVE UNLESS YOU SEE HIM PHYSICALLY. ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE FERVENTLY IN THESE WORDS ARE SAVED. Do not believe that money can give you faith, or that man can bestow faith on you. IT IS ONLY THE WORD OF GOD THAT CAN ENDOW ANY PERSON WITH FAITH. What is causing trouble and confusion in the world is lack of belief in the Word of God. AND IT IS ONLY BELIEVING IN THE WORD OF GOD THAT WILL MAKE THIS WORLD A PERFECT PLACE FOR ALL. For it is fulfilled in every one according to the proportion of faith he possesses.
When those two spies were sent to Jericho to spy and return to give their report, if they had no faith in their God the children of Israel would not have made any attempt to go to Jericho. But when one was giving the report subjectively, the other discouraged him and gave a report such that would minister faith to the hearers. Now if somebody tells you that you are worried by witchcraft, you believe and become weak. If you are told you are dying, you believe and die also. But if you are told that you will live eternally, you begin to argue that even Our Lord Jesus Christ did not live eternally, and that no person has eternal life. As you begin to fear death and so you die, who is to blame? If you are told that you will no longer be sick, you start to argue that you have been sick from birth; that you always suffer from malaria. I am taking you up and you are dragging yourself down. Can you realise that you have no faith?
EVERY TIME YOU REQUIRE THE FATHER TO PLACE HIS HANDS ON YOUR HEAD OR TOUCH YOUR HEAD. HOW IS THAT BENEFICIAL TO YOU? "I WANT TO TOUCH THE HEM OF YOUR GARMENT." OF WHAT USE IS THAT TO YOU? OR YOU ASK FOR THE THICK, WHITE OIL, WHAT IS THE USE OF IT TO YOU? OR I WANT TO HAVE PRIVATE AUDIENCE WITH THE FATHER. WHY IS THAT NECESSARY? FAITH COMES THROUGH HEARING THE WORD, WHAT WORD? THE WORD OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. AND THAT IS WHY YOU ARE INVITED TO HEAR THIS GOSPEL.
When you hear that there is no witchcraft, no mermaid, no apparition, no concoction, and that nothing can kill any person, and you believe fervently, it means you believe and you are free. But when you are told to go, your infirmity is healed, your poverty is taken away and all your problems are solved, someone will surreptitiously advice you not to listen because God helps those who help themselves. There is someone somewhere who consults oracle very well and he will dictate what your trouble is, with a view to solving it, and if you disobey the instructions of God and follow him, does this behaviour of yours show you have faith?
DO NOT TOY WITH THE WORD OF GOD:
Who do you think is responsible for all the wonderful work you witness here. IT IS SAID, IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD, THE WORD WAS WITH GOD, AND THE WORD WAS GOD. IT IS THE WORD THAT HAS DONE EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD. DO NOT TOY WITH THE WORD OF GOD. ALWAYS COME TO LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD; AND ANY GOSPEL YOU HEAR, ASSIMILATE, COMPLY YOURSELF WITH IT AND PRACTISE IT.
HEAR THE WORDS OF GOD AND PREACH TO OTHERS:
This gospel is not meant for only you. But what you have heard, preach to others who are not as fortunate as yourself, and as many as will listen to the word you impart to them will also have life. Our Lord Jesus Christ was using earthly situations to illustrate heavenly situations. THE FIVE LOAVES OF BREAD WHICH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST USED TO FEED FIVE THOUSAND PERSONS, WERE NOT BREAD PER SE, (Mark 6:37-43/ Luke 9:13-17) BUT SYMBOLIZED THE WORD OF GOD. Because after they have eaten to their fill, there were gathered up twelve baskets of the fragments that remained. That is to say after you have heard that apparition, juju, concoction, witchcraft are not in existance, and that only God exists, and you believe and you are satisfied that you are saved, you will then go and impart such a belief to those who still believe in such diabolical things. It is always a pitiful situation to observe that those who profess to be real Brotherhood when they go to receive the Father's blessing, after the Father had blessed them with prayers and has told them, "Go, all is well," they will still sit back and to see the Father privately. THE GOSPEL SAYS FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE WORD, WHAT WORD? THE WORD OF CHRIST. ALL THOSE WHO ALWAYS WANT TO SEE THE FATHER PRIVATELY DO NOT HEAR THE WORD OF GOD AND THEREFORE THEY HAVE NO FAITH.
That is why Our Lord Jesus Christ says the children of God hear the word of God but you do not hear because you are of the world. (John 8:47) The word of God is like a lamp set upon a hill which cast its brightness to the surrounding areas.
LISTEN TO THE WORDS OF GOD AND BELIEVE IN THEM:
Even though you do not hear the word of God yet someone who is outside this hall, who believes and puts these words into practise is saved. But you shall remain here for years without complying yourself with any instructions of the gospel as given. Right now a great many of people HAVE REPENTED OF THEIR SINS HAVING HEARD THESE GOSPELS AND READ EVEN ONE OF OUR PAMPHLETS, but you remain here for many years, indulging in all acts of sin, which means that you neither hear the word of God nor do you have faith. FROM THIS YEAR ONWARD, IT IS INCUMBENT UPON THE CHILDREN OF GOD TO HEAR THE WORDS OF GOD. WHOSOEVER HEARS THE WORDS OF GOD HAS FAITH. ALWAYS OPEN YOUR EARS AND LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD PREACHED TO YOU, GIVE FULL CONCENTRATION, EMPTY YOUR HEART, OPEN YOUR EARS AND EYES AND ALWAYS FOCUS YOUR ATTENTION ON THE GOSPEL, THE GOSPEL WHICH IS BEING DELIVERED TO YOU. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO PRACTISE THE GOSPEL BUT YOU MUST FIRST SIT DOWN QUIETLY AND LISTEN TO THE SERMON PREACHED. DURING THE SERMON, EVERYBODY SHOULD SIT IN ABSOLUTE HUMILITY TO RECEIVE THE WORD OF GOD. DURING SUCH AN OCCASION DO NOT CONVERSE WITH ANY PERSON, DO NOT MAKE ANY INQUIRY, AND DO NOT MOVE ABOUT AND DO NOT MOVE IN AND OUT OF THE BUILDING, AND DO NOT DISTURB OTHERS; BUT ALWAYS LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD ATTENTIVELY. CONCENTRATE YOUR ATTENTION ON THE FATHER AND RECEIVE THE WORD OF LIFE. THIS IS FAITH AND FAITH COMES FROM HEARING THE WORD OF GOD.
IT IS BETTER TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD THAN TO SERVE TABLES:
Do you remember the story of Martha and her sister Mary? When our Lord Jesus Christ visited them at their house and Mary sat at the feet of Christ hearing the word of God. Martha was encumbered about with much serving, seeking and preparing food which the visitors would eat. She abandoned the word of God but engaged herself in finding food for the Lord. In spite of this she was very much exasperated with her sister since she was serving alone and so she went to Our Lord Jesus Christ and said, "Lord do you not care that my sister has left me alone to serve in the kitchen? Bid her therefore to come and assit me." Our Lord Jesus Christ called her, "Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful and Mary has chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42). From that time on, have you heard anything about Martha? It is only Mary that you always hear about. She was the person who attended with the Mother of Our Lord Jesus Christ during the crucifixion while the name of Martha is lost in oblivion and sank in the limbo of time. Who visited the sepulchre, it was Mary. Who went to the sepulchre on the resurrection morning? It was Mary. IT IS VERY EXPEDIENT FOR EVERYONE TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD.
IF YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO ANY OTHER THING OR PRACTISE THE GOSPEL OF GOD IN THE PAST, FROM THIS PENTECOSTAL PERIOD, LISTEN TO ALL THE GOSPELS OF GOD. DO NOT ASK WHY, AND DO NOT ARGUE, DO NOT BANDY WORDS WITH ANY PERSON BECAUSE OF THE GOSPEL, DO NOT SLEEP AND DO NOT CONVERSE. BUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE ABLE TO PRACTISE THE GOSPEL IS ONE THING, BUT THE FIRST REQUIREMENT IS THAT YOU SHOULD FIRST OF ALL LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD. WHEN THE WORD OF GOD FALLS ON THE GROUND IT BREAKS THE MIGHTY STONES BUT WHEN IT RISES UP, IT PERFECTS HIS WILL. The second lesson will now be read. Listen attentively, open your ears and hearts. Those who are sleeping and dosing should wake up and listen to the lesson.
SECOND BIBLE LESSON: JOHN 4:42
"And said unto the woman, Now we believe not because of thy sayings: for we have heard him ourselves and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."
Brethren have you heard that? When you pray to God to heal the infirmities of a person so that he may believe in you, does it mean that if his sickness is healed he will believe in God? Or you pray that God should make the barren woman to be pregnant so that she may believe God. What evidence do you have that when she is pregnant she will believe in God?
I WAS BLIND NOW I SEE:
Why did that blind man not believe in Our Lord Jesus Christ? This man was blind from his birth, but when he was told to go and wash in the pool of Siloam so that his sight may be restored to him, why did he not believe and carry out the directive? Our Lord Jesus Christ spoke, he spat on the ground and made clay of the spittle and anointed the eyes of the blind man and told him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. When he washed, he received his sight. When the Jews saw that he had received his sight, they asked him, "how were your eyes opened?" He told them a man who was called Jesus Christ healed him. They further asked him how he was cured. He told them that the man called Jesus made clay and anointed his eyes and ordered him to go to the pool of Siloam to wash, and when he washed he received his sight.
They asked him where he was, and he could not answer, but they accused Our Lord Jesus Christ of not being from God because he did not keep the Sabbath day. Others questioned how a sinner could perform such a miracle, and there was division among them. However after they had uttered many blasphemous words against Our Lord Jesus Christ, and a prolonged argument between the Jews on one hand and the blind man and his parents on the other, they called the man who was blind and told him to give God the praise for, "We know that this man is a sinner." He answered and said. "Whether a sinner or not I know not: one thing I know is that whereas I was blind now I see." (John 9:1-25)
POSSESSION OF FAITH REQUIRES NO CONDITION:
They asked him again: What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes? He retorted, "I have already told you and you did not hear wherefore would you hear again? Will you also be his disciples? Then they reviled Him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are Moses' disciples." They told him further that they know Moses because God spoke unto Moses, as for this fellow, we know not from when he is. Then the man answered them: Why herein is a marvellous thing that you know not from whence he is and yet he had opened my eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners, but if any man be a worshipper of God and he does his will, him will he hear. They drove him away saying, "You were altogether born in sin and do you teach us?" (John 9:26-34).
When Our Lord Jesus Christ heard that he was cast out, and when he found him, even though he could no longer recognise Our Lord Jesus Christ, He asked him, "do you believe in the son of God?" From this you will realise that faith comes from hearing the word, which word, the Word of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the word of God. If you induce somebody with money, he will not have faith, that will not make him have faith. There is nothing that you can do to anybody to have faith, BUT IF YOU PREACH THE WORD OF GOD TO HIM AND HE HEARS THE WORD, HE WILL HAVE FAITH.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE SON OF GOD?
Our Lord Jesus then asked the man who was blind whether he believes in the Son of God. He answered saying, "Who is the son of God that I may believe in him? It is not surprising that the Lord who caused him to receive his sight was right before him yet he could not recognise Christ, and he asked Christ, "who is the Son of God so that I should believe in him?" (John 9:35-36). Your argument that if you pray for the sick to recover, he will worship God as his Father is not tenable at all. Our Lord Jesus Christ told him YOU HAVE BOTH SEEN HIM, AND I STANDING HERE AM HE. The man then acknowledged that he believed in him, and then worshipped him. The action of making him receive his sight did not make him know and worship God. (John 9:37-38). Whether healing a person of his infirmities, or having a long life does not prompt any person to know and worship God, but rather WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORDS PROCEEDING OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD AND YOU BELIEVE FERVENTLY IN THE WORDS, YOU WILL HAVE FAITH.
HE IS CHRIST THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD:
If you pray to God to open your eyes that you will believe in Him, even if He opens your eyes you will not believe in Him. When you are lame, you pray to God that should He make it possible for you to walk in your life, you will believe in Him. If He makes you walk and even run, you will still not believe in Him except you are destined to believe in Him. When you have a very difficult case in the court and you plead with God that if He caused you to win the case, you will believe in Him; if you win the case that will not make you believe in him. The first group of people who sought to kill Our Lord Jesus Christ were those who were healed by Him. THEY DID THAT BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HEAR THE WORD OF GOD, NEITHER DID THEY BELIEVE IN GOD.
YOU CANNOT STAND FIRM IN THIS KINGDOM OF GOD IF YOU DO NOT HEAR THE WORD OF GOD. You have heard what has been read to you. It is said that the Samaritan woman went into the village, leaving her pot, and told the people "to come and see the man who has told me all things that I ever did". Is not this the Christ? But when they went out of the city and saw Our Lord Jesus Christ they testified saying, "Woman, now we believe, not because of your sayings for we heard him ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD.
THOU SHALT NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD:
When you preach the word to somebody and he neither listens to you nor believes in you, it means he does not believe in you. Somebody has given you a condition that if you build a house for him then he will believe in God, if you build that house for him he will not believe in God. A woman says if you wed her in the church, she will believe in God and serve him devotedly and diligently, even if you wed in side the church, inside water, or in the hades, she will not believe in God. Somebody argues that if he will never be sick again, if his children no longer die, if he has money, and he will no longer be poor and wretched, and if everything will be well with him, even if he is in the most excellent condition of life, he will not believe in God. WHEN EVER THE WORD OF GOD IS LACKING THEN FAITH ALSO IS LACKING. THE REASON THE ENTIRE WORLD IS LACKING IN FAITH IS THAT THEY ARE FOUND WANTING IN THE WORDS OF GOD, HOW CAN THEY HAVE PEACE? How can they call Him in whom they have not believed? How can they believe in Him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent? (Rom 10:14-15). If Our Lord Jesus Christ did not go to the Samaritans to preach to them, how would they have heard and believed in God? Now that He has gone to preach to them this is the reason for their declaration: WOMAN, NOW WE BELIEVE NOT BECAUSE OF YOUR SAYING FOR WE HAVE HEARD HIM OURSELVES AND WE KNOW THAT THIS IS INDEED THE CHRIST, THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD.
A TREE IS KNOWN BY ITS FRUITS:
Have you been told that He made bread for them? Have you been told that He healed their infirmities? Have you heard that He prepared food for them or that He gave them fishes? But you are told that He imparted the Word of God and they listened attentively to the Word of God and from there they believed in Him.
DO NOT START LOOKING FOR GOD ANYWHERE ELSE. You are asking questions as to what he is, how he could be described, how he should be regarded. These questions arise because you do not believe in Him. It is said a tree is known by its fruits. YOU CAN DETERMINE WHAT A PERSON IS THROUGH THE WORDS HE SPEAKS FOR BY THEIR WORDS YE SHALL KNOW THEM. YOU CAN IDENTIFY SATAN BY THE WORDS HE SPEAKS, IN THE SAME TOKEN YOU CAN IDENTIFY A CHILD OF GOD FROM THE WORD HE SPEAKS. WITHOUT THE WORD IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE TO KNOW GOD.
AND WHAT IS CALLED FAITH, IS HEARING THE WORDS, WHICH WORDS? THE WORD OF GOD. THAT WAS WHY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST COMMISSIONED HIS DISCIPLES TO GO AND PREACH THE WORD OF GOD TO PEOPLE AND WHOSOEVER BELIEVES AND IS BAPTISED IS SAVED, BUT WHOEVER DOES NOT BELIEVE WILL BE DAMNED. AND THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE IN MY NAME. IN MY NAME THEY SHALL CAST OUT DEVILS; THEY SHALL SPEAK IN NEW TONGUES AND THEY SHALL TAKE UP SERPENTS; AND IF THEY DRINK ANY DEADLY THING IT SHALL NOT HURT THEM; THEY SHALL LAY HANDS ON THE SICK AND THEY SHALL RECOVER. (MARK 16:15-18).
THOSE WHO LOVE GOD WILL KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS:
Who are those who believe? They are those who hear the word of God, and through hearing the Word they believe. When you are told to knock you head on the ground and converse with your God and you do the same then you believe. As soon as you leave this hall, a visioner will tell you that apparition and witchcraft are worrying you, and you accept what he tells you because you do not believe in God. Somebody comes to tell you that something is moving in your body and that he knows the person who will remove it, because it was put there by wizards, and you believe and go to tell your wife that you had already told her that something hidden was responsible for your waist pains. A man can enslave himself to whatsoever he has yielded himself to. You confess that you believed in the preparation of concoction, but you are no more influenced by it. BUT IF YOU WERE TO BELIEVE IN THE ALMIGHTY GOD, YOU WOULD HAVE LOVED AND KEPT HIS COMMANDMENTS.
IF YOU REJECT GOD YOU WILL ACCEPT SATAN:
It is a truism that nothing diabolical exists, whether charm or talisman or concoction, whether ghost or even man. The only thing that exists is Our Jehovah God and His Christ. It is a surprising thing that a visioner should deceive you even right here and he tells you he has seen the witchcraft field and he demands two thousand naira from you because your house has been completely sold to wizards. Does it mean that the visioner cannot be harmed by wizards and witches? It is what has been predestined for you because you have refused the wisdom of truth in order to be saved, for this reason, God therefore sent you strong delusions to believe a lie and perish. (2 Thes 2:11-12). All those who continue to complain that they are deceived, that they are defrauded, that they are deceived into building a house for somebody, do so because they were destined to do those things because they have refused to accept the Word of God and have life.
REMEMBER THOSE WHO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD:
It is said that you should remember them which have rule over you, who have spoken the word of God unto you. In your own case you only remember the person who gives you vision that you are worried by witchcraft and that your wife seeks a way of killing you and you believe in him, that is why you bestow all your wealth on him. DO YOU REALISE THAT ALL VISIONERS WHO SEE GHOSTS AND WIZARDS ARE UNBELIEVERS AND ENEMIES OF GOD. ALL THOSE WHO IN THEIR DREAMS SEE HOW A PERSON IS KILLED, OR A COFFIN, ARE WITNESSES OF SATAN. ALL THOSE WHO TEACH AND PREACH ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF WITCHCRAFT, APPARITION, MERMAID AND CONCOCTION AND THAT GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES ARE AGENTS OF SATAN. ANY PERSON WHO THREATENS YOU THAT HE IS IN THE SUN, IN THE MOON, IN THE SEA, OR THAT HE BELONGS TO ANY SECRET SOCIETY AND THAT HE HAS BEEN ATTENDING MEETINGS IN INDIA OR HAS BEEN DOING ONE THING OR THE OTHER IS MESSENGER OF SATAN, AND THERE IS NOTHING IN HIM. ANY PERSON WHO COMES TO THREATEN YOU THAT HE IS A MURDERER AND THAT HE HAS BEEN KILLING PEOPLE AND WILL KILL YOU AlSO, LEAVE HIM ALONE FOR HE IS AN AGENT OF SATAN. IF ANYBODY TELLS YOU THAT HE IS A WIZARD, THAT HE HAS KILLED ALL HIS CHILDREN AND HIS BROTHERS AND HIS RELATIONS AND HE WILL KILL YOU THROUGH HIS WITCHCRAFT ALSO, WHAT HE IS SAYING IS A LIE, FOR HE IS A DEMENTED FELLOW. I HAVE WARNED YOU THAT THERE IS NOTHING CALLED PREPARATION OF CONCOCTION, WITCHCRAFT, MERMAID, AND APPARITION, CHARMS WHICH EXIST. ONLY JEHOVAH GOD AND HIS CHRIST EXISTS.
YOU COMPLAIN BECAUSE YOU DO NOT HAVE THE WORDS OF GOD:
Wizards do not worry you, apparition does not worry you, mermaid does not worry you, human beings do not worry you, preparation of concoction or charm does not worry you, but what really worries you is your unbelief. YOUR LACK OF HEARING THE WORD OF GOD IS YOUR PROBLEM. Why do you continue to acclaim that which does not exist? Feel your pulses and the pressure in your bodies if there has not been a lot of improvements in your bodies. Those who were sick, those who have been complaining about witchcraft, mermaid, apparition, preparation of concoction and other problems, all such complaints have subsided completely. When you complain that your business has liquidated, for lack of honest partners, that your wife has eloped with another man, that your children are sickly, that you are jobless, that you are very sick and weak that you have no money, you have marshaled all these complaints because you do not have the word of God. The Golden Text will now be read.
GOLDEN TEXT: LUKE 6:47-48
"Whosover cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them I will show you whom he is like:
He is like that man which built an house and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock."
A MAN WHO HAS THE WORD OF GOD IS LIKE A HOUSE BUILT UPON A HILL:
Brethren, hear what is read to you. It is said faith comes by hearing the word of Our Lord Jesus Christ. HE SAYS ANY ONE WHO FOLLOWS ME AND LISTENS TO MY WORDS, AND ASSIMILATES THE WORDS, PRACTISES THEM, I WILL SHOW YOU WHOM HE IS LIKE: HE IS LIKE A MAN WHO BUILDS HIS HOUSE UPON A ROCK AND WHEN THE RAINS DESCENDS, AND THE FLOODS CAME, AND THE WINDS BLEW AND BEAT UPON THAT HOUSE, IT DID NOT FALL, FOR IT WAS FOUNDED UPON A ROCK. Whosoever does hear the word of God and believes will not complain that he is worried by witchcraft, by mermaid, by apparition, sickness, poverty, hardship, none of these things will worry him, he will be very courageous because he has been well-ballasted as if founded on a rock. Even if you want to tie him, or fire at him with a gun or with an automatic riffle, or a jet bomber, or to put him into fire, or to throw him inside the sea, he will not be perturbed because he has been well groomed with the word of God. WHY SHOULD HE FEAR WHEN HE KNOWS THAT THE GOD HE WORSHIPS IS OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPRESENT, OMNISCIENT? We have a spiritual chorus which says, "I have put on Christ, I have earnest hope, no matter the condition of the wind, the stone will not be moved, for we are saved." ANY PERSON WHO LISTENS TO THE WORD OF GOD, BELIEVES IN IT AND HAS FAITH IN IT, HAS NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. HE IS SAVED IF HE PRACTISES THE WORD OF GOD. SUCH A PERSON HAS NO COMPLAINT WHETHER ABOUT THE RAIN, OR SUN, ABOUT SICKNESS, OR DEATH, POVERTY OR HARDSHIP, HATRED OR PERSECUTION, WORRIES FROM APPARITION, OR MERMAID OR WITCHCRAFT OR PREPARATION OF CONCOCTION. HE HAS NO PROBLEMS BECAUSE HE HAS OVERCOME EVERYTHING.
GOD PROMISED THAT HE WILL NOT FORSAKE US NOR WILL HE FAIL US:
But in your own case, you do not want to listen to the Word of God, you do not want to listen to his teachings, you do not believe in God and you do not want to practise the word of God. What then are you going to preach to the people? And so, Brethren as we are here THE PURPOSE IS THAT YOU MAY RECEIVE THE WORD OF GOD AND BE SAVED. You must therefore open your ears and eyes and hearts. Do not sleep; but listen to the words of God. Concentrate on these words so that you may have life. Whether you have a house to live in or not, whether you have money with which to maintain yourself or not, whether you are sick or well, whether you have problems or not, whether you are beset with difficulties or persecution, or sickness or any encumbrances, forget about them and focus your full attention on the Word of God; assimilate, practise and have life. He has promised that in the midst of any temptation, he will provide a way of escape that you may be able to bear the temptation. It is said God knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished. (Rom 3:5-8). And He has promised that He will never fail you nor forsake you. Those who believe fervently in his words have no problems.
WITHOUT THE WORD OF GOD THERE IS NOTHING MADE THAT WAS MADE:
IF YOU REGARD GOD'S BUSINESS AS YOUR BUSINESS, HE WILL ALSO REGARD YOUR BUSINESS AS HIS BUSINESS. Heaven and earth will pass away, but the word of God will never pass away until all are consummated. (Matt 5:18) He has promised us eternal life, peace, joy, we are therefore not left comfortless as orphans are. That is why I say that it is incumbent upon you to from now on to practise the word of Christ. AS SOON AS YOU HEAR THE GOSPEL TOUCHING DOWN YOU SHOULD PUT IT INTO PRACTISE. Can you realise that if it were not so something would happen.
What happened in 1977? Those who were not firm in faith and did not believe fervently in the word of God had their soutanes burnt; and they withdrew completely, while others backslided. But in your own case because you are firm in the words of God, instead of withdrawing or backsliding, you rather stood firm and increased from strength to strength. People realised the power and strength of God. I am telling you that money could not have done this work even though you complain that you have no money to do the work of God. The work in this Kingdom could not be accomplished with money. IT NEITHER REQUIRES HOUSES NOR TELEVISION NOR ANY OTHER TYPE OF THING. IT REQUIRES ONLY ONE THING AND THAT IS THE WORD OF GOD. LIFE EMANATES FROM HIM, FAITH COMES FROM HIM AND ALL THE VIRTUES OF GOD EMANATE FROM HIM. FAITH COMES FROM HIM, AND ALL THE VIRTUES OF GOD EMANATE FROM THE WORD OF GOD. WITHOUT THE WORD OF GOD THERE IS NOTHING MADE THAT WAS MADE. PUT ON THE WORD OF GOD AS AN ARMOUR AND BREAST PLATE. ANY DAY YOU DO NOT LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD YOU HAVE LOST A GREAT DEAL. THERE IS AN ADAGE WHICH SAYS MARKETS DO NOT PASS A MAN BUT THE WORD PASSES. ONCE THE WORD OF GOD IS SPOKEN IT WILL COME TO PASS, AND WILL LAST FOREVER. WE SHOULD ALWAYS REGARD THE WORD OF GOD AS OUR DUTY AND OUR BONAFIDE PROPERTY.
Brethren, I do not wish to be tedious unto you, one stroke of the cane is sufficient for the wise. Those who have ears let them hear. May God Bless His Holy Words. Amen
THANK YOU HOLY FATHER.