In this transcription, Pastor Immanuel Iren introduces his daily prayer routine, beginning with a focus on the gospel. He clarifies that while the gospel is preached simply to sinners, believers should deepen their theological understanding of it. He explains that righteousness is a definitive gift received through faith in Christ, not contingent on personal performance, whereas grace is abundant and its impact depends on one's consciousness and understanding. The pastor then stresses the critical role of brokenness and humility in daily devotion, referencing Jesus' Beatitude about being "poor in spirit" to illustrate the need for recognizing one's insufficiency before God. He cautions against pride, sharing stories where arrogance led to downfall, and underscores that motives are paramount; seeking greatness for oneself is problematic, but pursuing it in alignment with God's will is commendable. The overall message encourages a devotional life rooted in grace, humility, and a correct understanding of the gospel.
Welcome to the prolific teaching ministry of Pastor Immanuel Iren, lead pastor of Celebration Church International. It is his vision to partner with you for your progress and joy in the faith. Ready? Set? Grow. Thank you Lord. So something happened just last week some pastor friends came to my house. One thing led to another and I did something I have never done. I showed them the protocol of how I worship and pray every day. I won't show them their songs I sing every day, every day. They are scriptures I read every day. And I just seemed fair that I haven't taught people who are not even members of our church that I should teach you to. And I really hope that you will cherish this. This is something very important. So I don't know what to call it. Maybe we call it how to pray daily. How to pray daily. Now this is my own personal protocol and feel free to vet this with your knowledge of the scriptures and come up with something that is more telomade for you. But the first thing I start with every day is the gospel. What did I say? You see one mistake a lot of people make is that they really get gospel preaching to evangelism. Before I continue, it happens to be pastor Joe Dipsbethy today. I almost missed that. Happy birthday to you. Thank you for all you mean to the body of Christ. To me and to CCI, I will love you. Welcome to your best year yet. In Jesus' mighty name of prayer. Hallelujah. So you see one mistake that a lot of people make is they really get gospel preaching to evangelism. And I like to put it this way that the gospel is preached to sinners and taught to believers. The gospel is preached to sinners but taught to believers. And what I mean by that is for evangelical purposes, you don't really have to know so much when it comes to theology. The Greek terminology for the study of salvation. It doesn't have to be so deep, so sophisticated. All you need to know and to believe is that Jesus died for you and that if you believe that he died and resurrected for you. Believe in your heart and confess with your mouth. You shall be saved. Simple. But there is a relationship in the knowledge of the gospel. That one. You will need to walk in the consciousness of it. Now let me show you something. Look at Romans after 517. By the way, I visit this text every day. I might not be able to tell you why it is that important but I will brush through it and hopefully you get it. Are you there? Is that for if by one month of fence death rained through the one? Much more! Can you say much more? Much more. High. Much more! Those who receive. Those who receive. Those who receive. Those who receive. I think this phraseology has already ended in the universalism. People who say everybody will be saved. It is for those who receive. A bondant of grace. And the gift of righteousness. Listen to me. If I say go into this hall and call me a boy or a man, there are about 700 people who fall into that category this evening. But if I say go into that hall and call me the boy. If you are intelligent, what question will you ask me? Which boy? Because you see the function of definite articles is they bring specificity. If I say the boy, the book, it cannot be any book. And when I say the boy or bring a definite article, it cannot be more or less. It refers to a specific quantity. And what I mean is when the Bible says the gift of righteousness, it means you either have it or you don't. You can't have more of it or less of it. Can I tell you something? Pastor, he or the boy does not have more righteousness than I do. There is demonstrative righteousness, but there is a scientific righteousness which is received freely in Christ on the basis of the sacrifice of Christ alone. That one is specific. You either have it or you don't. Come on, I get to what I'm saying. I wish I could delve deep into this, but on a foundational level, this is what it is. When it comes to performance, you can get 10%, 20%, 30%, whatever. But the only qualifier for salvation is faith in Jesus. The moment you have that, you qualify. Come on, I get what I'm saying. Even if by performance, you have 10% and another person has 30% but of you feel. And F is F. You'll be corny to be arguing with us more after. And we both feel, but you feel past me. You will sound like people who say I had strong two on. Baba, not two on. Come on, I listen to me. Five over 100, F. 40 over 100, F in many, many great systems. You cannot have more F than me. You pass, I'll be you know pass. Are you getting what I'm saying? So it's the gift of righteousness. But you see the other one, it is not the abundance of grace. It is abundance of grace, those who receive. And it is present continuous. It means it's an understanding that varies. You can have more of it or less of it. And this is what affects your life. The consciousness of righteousness, of justification, of grace. That's one, you can receive more of it. Did the one of God not say he gives more grace to the humble. So this dimension is subject to understanding. Not everybody understands it at the same level. And it is also subject to consciousness. Let me give you an example. When you are praying for the sick, what do you lean on? Your righteousness or Christ's righteousness. I know that is the textbook answer. I'm asking you what you do experientially. You can know it in your head. But when it comes to standing in front of a problem, what you hide behind is what you truly understand. You can know it. You can understand grace. But you see, it takes a depth of understanding to truly believe that your standing before God is by grace. And your ministry in the service of God is by grace. And your praying for the sick is by grace. And for, see, do you know that if you don't know this, more prayer will not benefit you. It can make you worse. Because it increases your self-consciousness to have prayed more. You can see less grace when you pray more. I know what I'm saying. Did you just say what I said? I said you can see less grace when you pray more. Is this not what made Paul confront the church at Galicia? Of foolish Galicians. Look at Galicians of the three very quickly verse 1. Who has been which do? That you should not obey the truth. Now, pay attention to this. He says before whose eyes Jesus was clearly portrayed amongst you to be crucified. Do you know what this means? Now, he's talking to Gentiles. It means they couldn't have been witnesses when Christ was crucified. They were not there because they were not Jews. They had no business at Galgotha. So why does he say before whose eyes Christ was evidently portrayed as crucified? It means he painted the teaching, he painted the picture in teaching and revelation that it was imprinted so much. It was as if they were dead. Do you understand what I just said? You can teach so much that it is imprinted in people's consciousness. It is as if they're dead themselves were there. So Paul is saying, I did the good job. I explained this thing to you. He was evidently portrayed to you as crucified. So now he's asking, this is what I want to ask you verse 2. Did you receive the spirit by walks of the law or by hearing of faith? Verse 3. Are you so foolish, having begun in the spirit? Are you now made perfect in the flesh? It is very possible to be selected for ministry by election of grace. But now that you have a platform and you want to perform, you now start trusting in walks. You forgot to grace that brought you here. Let me tell you something. I forgot there was a day I've never said this before. I was about to minister how I was praying. For some reason I was anxious. God will you please show up? He said, when have I not showed up? When? When have I not showed up? When? So it means you can see the faithfulness of God repeatedly and still being secure. Is a personal problem? You see, I've never forgotten it was confrontational and it was liberty. So now, before every ministerial I say, you always show up. Always. Always. Always. When I call you, you answer. You see, we probably should learn to pray like Jesus and say, you've heard me always. I'm only saying it so that these people will hear. Imagine Jesus saying, it's superfluous for me to even talk about this because you hear me always. I'm only saying this for the benefit of the hearing of these people so that they will learn about our relationship and hopefully align themselves with that same ideology. So I start with the consciousness of the gospel. Today I'm going to be faithful but it's not my faithfulness. I'm going to pray but it's not my prayer. Ah, I come boldly to obtain grace. I come boldly. Did you hear what I said? I said, this prayer, you pray but it's not your prayer. but it's not too fasted. Never fall for the trap of believing your own hype. It's the gospel that qualifies you. Say, "Low, D.M.N." So after reading that, I'm not publicizing marketing his song, but it works for me. One of the songs I listen to every day is "More Than My Mind Can Stifile More Than My Mind Can Comprehend." I've seen the wonders of your I'm so sure that this is not the end. "Low, A.Z. See how far you've brought me. A.Z. I will be. I'm so glad you found me worthy. I can see, I can tell and I know it's your grace all my days. Grace found me. Grace saved me. Grace made me. Oh, I am. Grace redeemed me. Grace redeemed me. Grace saved me. Grace made me. Oh, I am. My heart is full of gratitude to you and no one else. I have seen the wonders of your love. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. For not giving up. Yo, yes, a woman. I'm so glad. I can see, I can tell and I know it's your grace. A.Z. story of my life. And A.Z. I'm here because you found me worthy. I can see you too. No matter what people say and I know I will see you. Can I give you five seconds? You might need this time. (Music) Hallelujah. Please be seated. You see, every day the gospel, second, which is very, very close to the first is brokenness. Brokenness. See, let me tell you something. The most important component of your daily devotion is that humility drives you to a place of worship and brokenness. Drive yourself there every day and feel that gossha. That hit that gossha and come back. Just do that every day. Do that every day. I know we are charismatic and we know how to pray in tongues. If you're not careful, what that will do for you will be similar to what was the reality in some sense life. You have the power, stand up, but no relationship. No relationship. It is possible to find a way to stay yourself or regularly without relationship. It still won't last. It still won't last. So the understanding of the gospel most drives you to a place. The mystery of the incarnation is so powerful. If the Bible is the Word of God and it is, it should tell you something powerful. In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God. Listen, does Word become flesh? Step into the neighborhood. If you were told that Jesus was the one, literally, who was going to preach today? You'll probably be wondering, what will it teach? What will be the first words you will say? Now, that's the privilege of the Beatitudes we have recorded. Jesus, the Word made flesh. preach the Samoan and it was recorded. Not just was he recorded. I'm sure you would have been anxious to know the first ceremony will preach. Because even after he was born into the world, it took him 30 years to reveal himself. 30 years he was quiet. preach no Samoan. So now, after 30 years in the making, he climbs a mount to preach. What is the first thing he said? Matthew chapter 5 verse 3, it should tell you that this is powerful. It took him with the 30 years to say this. And what does he say? Blessed at the poor in spirits. He says, "For this is the kingdom of heaven." See, if you understand this, your devotion will step into a new dimension. Every other person that talked about God, maybe encounter them in a dream, in a vision or something. This is God himself coming to tell you about devotion. Take this one seriously. And the first thing he says, "Bless as the poor in spirits." For this is the kingdom of heaven. Listen, it means one of the most important principles in your devotion. And what it means to be poor in spirits is to look at yourself and see insufficiency. You see a hole that only God can feel. Nobody can do that one for you. If you are self-sufficient, nobody can help you. That the genuinely, genuinely, it's not because the worship was good and so you cried. You look at yourself and you genuinely believe that if God doesn't help you, you are finished. You look at your future and your hope is in God. He said, "Those kind of people, theirs is the kingdom." This is the ultimate secret of devotion. That's when you need to pray or whatever posture your heart is revealing what your words fail to say, "God, I need you. I need you. Nothing gets heaven's attention better than that. Better than that. The Bible says, "A broken and a contrite heart." He will not despise. You see, let me tell you something. It's part of the illusions of beauty, the illusions of strength, the illusions of, you see, one temptation of the blessing of God is that it makes you feel you are God. If you are not careful, the very things that God gave you will now replace him in your life. And so you most consciously prioritize the desires of your heart consciously and you must do that every day. Because when you begin to slip off, you won't know. I don't know who taught me this but even from school days, when I had a preacher that won't last, I could tell from the way they talked. There's a way you even brag about ministry. I know you won't last. You won't last. There's a way you brag about miracles. I think I can say this now because I'm sure from what I see that the person has changed. No, there was somebody in school then. He said, "Now, he has the crazy parts." He didn't know that days before somebody had come to me and said, "Ah, this man of God said he has a project to print some materials and he wants to collect a loan from me, 500,000. Do you think I should give him?" So I said, "Ah, honestly, I don't like to add give advice like this, make it professional, let him sign, whatever, whatever, and all of that." Now days after this guy not knowing that I knew the backstory on how he was able to afford that, he now hits me on the chest, hits me on the chest too. I said, "Our ministry is about to print something to cost 500,000." He now asked me, "Where age may too?" He said, "Tell me somebody at my age." He said, "Tell me somebody at my age." Who is doing stuff like that? I said, "Wow, God is wonderful in your life." Then he said, "Life is in phases, man are in sizes." Somebody say, "Power." Not true life story. You see, "And that's the thing." That's the thing. Pride will block your dissonements. You don't even know who you were talking to. If you could see the future and the person you were talking to, you won't even say that. You see, now you have goofed. You have goofed. You know, and it's moments like that that God reshawfus. It's just reshawfus. Just reduce this one's volume. Increase this one's volume. The book of Niza will remove his crown. Start doing, "Man, man." Humble yourself. Don't let God humble you. Do it by yourself. Do it by yourself. This God is a lifetown man. Don't underestimate anyone. Anyone. Do you know there should be nobody in this world that will get big tomorrow and you have to hide? If there is anybody that if they get big, you are in trouble. It means you are not acting right as a believer. Do you wear your treats people? If they get big, you should be rejoicing. Hey, you're a messy blue. If you are hiding. You know that somebody, disambulance, I say, "Affa, I won't change this if I'm a house." Or, "I'll run you low quickly now." He said, "I know you have the money." He said, "I want to chop you on." I just want to chop you on. He makes me happy that you have money. He's also going to be sweet. Why, why, why, why, why? I say, "Come and help me branch this place by this perfume." I said, I sent him the name. Are you listening to me? I'm saying, "God, humble, I'm not even old yet, but I've already learnt a lot in life. I've seen people that in classroom, you would never have touched their amount to anything." I'm telling you. I'm telling you. I'm telling you, see, one of the richest people I know currently, let me tell you where I first saw him. When in class, we're doing chemistry. Came one to one. And the chemistry teacher said, "Now, Kappa, Kappa is a constant." Some news, some news, some news. I'm saying it now because some of you will come and ask me tomorrow, what is Kappa? I'm saying, so my man, I'm like, "See, it's chill. Why is this man screaming like?" I couldn't understand. She just became dramatic. Do you know as she turned around? I keep you notes. Someone said, "Sorry, my excuse me, ma." The person is got up. He said, "Sorry, ma. What is Kappa?" She said, "Your head is Kappa. Your head is Kappa." You know. See, the class Kata. I thought he was joking. I was looking at it. He was genuinely wanted to know. I. Some idiot would have looked at me and said, "Oh." You see that guy today? That lecturer would need an appointment to see him. I wonder who's here, this Kappa. (Laughter) I know he got. He can just put his hand down like this and carry somebody. And put here. And he would command everybody, look at him. When he does that, you can drink. I fear this go-to. I fear. No matter the results in your life. Make sure you're occasionally. Just lie down and be rolling. Before you even pray, just roll face. Just be rolling. If anybody comes and says, "That's how I roll." That's how the roads are going live for you. If you dare, I'll pay for it. Hallelujah. And, Jesus. You know, I'll never forget I was in a meeting. This meeting had nothing to do with spiritual things or something. It was just a professional meeting and the man in the meeting said, "I don't know about Christens." I'm a Christen, I go to church. But nothing will make me kneel down when I'm wearing suits. Unprovoked. Unprovoked. That nothing will make me that is why I will lie kneel down when I'm wearing suits. Tima and died few years after. Tima, see, let me tell you, when. See, the spirit realm records everything. The man in Luke 12 was just saying to himself, "Okay, I will break this band, build a big one, God replied, save you fool, you idiot. You will die today. Let's now see who will spend all this money." It should scare you. It's a story that Jesus told. Maybe Jesus doesn't know grace message. He's still learning. [inaudible] See how far you've brought. So I've come. See. [inaudible] [inaudible] See, if you want to understand the story of the Tower of Babel, just look at the chapters before and the chapter after. The Bible tells us that there was a great flood. Right? There was a great flood. And after the story of the flood and how God preserved Noah, now you see these people, they've grown in intelligence, they've grown in resources, they now decide to defy God. Why did they want a building so formidable? So that if God decides to bring another flood, they will stand. They want a building as tall as a mountain so that no flood can affect them. They want to make a name for themselves. And you know what happened. But this happened in Genesis 11. Just look at the next chapter. Just in case you think that God is intimidated with the greatness of his children. No, he's not. His problem is with the motive. Now the same God now sees a man called Abraham. He said, "Get out of your country, go to a place I will show you." He said, "I will make your name great." So the problem was not with greatness. The problem was who is making it great. If you say, "I will make a name for myself." You're in trouble. But if you align to his will, and it is in that will that you are seeking greatness, you are right. The motive matters. The motive matters. And he's a heart matter. And the person we are talking about sees the heart. He sees the ambition. He knows why you are preaching. He knows why you are singing. He knows why you are saving. Self-promotion can be dangerous. Self-promotion. It doesn't mean you shouldn't put your work out there. Just make sure you are in the will of God. That's all I'm saying. And listen, make sure it is God you are seeking to be seen. You want to rise and last. Just make it your ambition that it is God. Time is fast-paced. Let me rush through some things because I must finish this ceremony today. We are fasting, right? The Bible says in Luke 14 verse 11, "Is this whoever exalts himself shall be a base, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted." This is the paradox of spiritual devotion. James said the same thing. God resistes the proud and gives grace to the humble. Peter continues that thought in 1st Peter chapter 5 verse 6, he says, "Hombo yourselves, therefore, before the mighty hand of God." He says, "So that he will exalt you." In due time, humble yourself. Humble yourself. Don't let life humble you. Humble yourself. The moment you allow pride into your life, you are inviting resistance. You are creating a stumbling block to your progress. With your own hands. If it was a demon, it would be easy to deliver you. But when it is God who is stopping you from rising, who then can help you? I'll never forget. I think this was 2015. There was a young preacher we wanted to help. I already brought out the ministry's chatbook. Told someone to sign it. We're about to give him the Lord said no. The Lord said I'm the one hindering him. If he grows, he will embarrass us. There are people that heaven is committed to keeping small, so that at least they will make heaven. Angels have the responsibility of making sure that they don't get too big for their own sake. There are some people. You see, you see some of the signs, so hopefully you're not one of them. But there are some people you can already tell that if this one bloated, he will step on our head. I say somebody in school was telling me, "Men are incisors." You are 17. You're already talking like this. Men are incisors. On top of our march, is that so if 500,000 loans made you talk like this, what will 5 billion do? And you can't spiritualize the wickedness. Is that not what he was doing? He was talking bragging about ministry, using, trying to use it to oppress me. There are many semones that are targeted at keeping people small. It's oppression. You know, in the name of God, or necessary testimonies. We don't say, I know it's common, but I hope you know, we don't need to know the car a pastor drives. We don't need to know. I hope you know, we have no business. I hope you know, it doesn't matter. The decadence in the body of Christ. I hope you know that it shouldn't be our business, whether you are rich or poor. You know, and that's what annoys me. The problem with many church people is that they even lack exposure. So even their definition of wealth is relative. So they've not even seen real money. You are just small minded. You're not rich. See, I've seen a few rich people in my life. A few. You know, I said something, so many people were screaming. One of our church members is a pilot. So there's a family she flies. And because the family is bothered about the risk of playing crashes and their heritage does disappear. So they always fly with two private jets. They spread themselves. Some family members would be here. So that if one crash, your other family would come. (crowd shouting) You see, let me tell you something. There are some people who will never come to some churches. Because they see the things you glorify. And you are just too petty for them. You don't understand life. You don't know wealth. Some pastor would ask, also the ministry called fellow Shalatans to raise money. You have successfully bought some nice cars off the backs of people. Now you are oppressing people. You know what will come down. You know gay money. You know Gets. How much money are we talking about? You know Gets. (crowd cheering) Hombu yourself before the mighty hand of God. You see another text, popular text, second chronicles, 714. See time is fast spent. I wish I had more time in a boat. I was just a midweek service. I came to study the world with you. All right. Has it been worth it so far? He said, "If my people who are called by my name, shall Hombu themselves and pray, and turn from their wicked ways." He says, "Then!" Now he's making a condition. As if to say, the people of whom is talking right now, he doesn't actually hear them. He says, "Only when you do this, we like here from heaven." It means right now I'm not listening. So you can be a charge-goer, filled and lit up with religious, calistetics and activity, and heaven has lends to ignore you. Because heaven knows that you're drawn near with your lips, but your heart is far away. So God is saying, you will need to first Hombu yourself. Hombu yourself. Listen, you can pray without Hombu in yourself. And that won't do. Not work. You must Hombu yourself and pray. They must go hand in hand. And then you must turn from your wicked ways. Because you see, we've created a brand of Christianity that does not require any behavioral modification. You know, we've seen, we have a perspective of Christianity that is just culture. Culture. Gospel music is a genre. It doesn't refer to lyrics anymore. Secular artists are winning it. Because when you have the sound, it is gospel music. There is a type of keyboard sound that if you use, that's gospel music it qualifies. So a secular artist is culture now. Are you going to where I'm saying it's culture? Somebody can sing about bomb bomb and all these things. Win and award and say first and foremost, I want to dedicate. You know. Won't you sing and go? Don't die on your own. You are calling it that, "See my head, fire me." It's just culture. There's a song. Don't like to talk about this thing. There's a song. When I heard it then, yes, it goes. I almost fainted. I think I was walking on a road and I hate to own playing it. The song says, "I want your body sleeping in my bed." Then the next one I say, "I'm serving a living goat." Same song. And you may say, "Oh, but what I just described is the contradiction of many people's devotion." You shut the mix everything. Oh, mix everything. So it also says, "In the prayer there must be humility." In the prayer there must be a change. Change. Every time you come before God, the presence of God will actually your life and highlight some things that must give you. Do you know that you can develop hardness of heart by being a professional at ignoring that prompting? A thing will now come. You no longer be feeling it. That's what hardness of heart is. Because every time you come before God, the presence will confront some things. So how do you humble yourself before God? Second Chronicles already told those one. By prayer, humble yourself and pray, right? Another way is by fasting. I'm explaining what I just came here to do. All that I've been saying is to give you one of the things that should be your focus in this time of fasting. Fasting is a demonstration of humility. The truth is many, many church people don't know this. If you look at the origin of fasting in the Bible, people were not even deliberately abstaining from food. They just prioritized God way more. So when Moses saw the children of Israel saying, "He just went up the mountain and began to enter seat for 40 days." So it wasn't as if he said, "Okay, I'm going to fast for 40 days." It was just the burden of the people. That's suspended. You know, the Bible put it this way. It says, "I desire you more than necessary food." So fasting reorders our priority. What is more important for you? It reorders it. You humble yourself to make sure that God has no competition in your life, in your devotion. You put money in this place. Listen, you have money but you won't buy food. If you only don't eat, when you don't have money, you're in trouble. See, let me tell you, especially those of you who want God to bless you financially, I show you a big secret. If you don't show heaven, that you know how to control your appetites, you are not ready for Kingdom wealth. Come here, let me show you something. Thank you. Are you? Do you need more time? Yeah, do it very well. See, when God wanted to take the children of Israel to the Promised Land, He brought them in the autonomy. He brought them to a high plane from where they go see the Promised Land. And so they were going over, He said, that's already the Promised Land, I'm giving you, you will take it. But before you go, let us do some home training so that the wealth will not corrupt you. And then, He said, remember how I fed you with mana. And I deliberately, withheld some good things from you to remind you that man shall not leave by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the amount of God. So you should now understand why Jesus quoted this. So when Jesus is fasting and the devil comes and says, you are hungry, cease to unturn it to bread. He's saying that is contrary to the purpose of fasting. The purpose of fasting is to deliberately, we hold myself from satisfaction I can afford. Deliberately. So I'm not hungry because right now I have a lot of money, there's a lot I can buy. So once in a while, deliberately, withhold yourself from things that you can afford so that you remind yourself where your priority lies. That's what fasting is. Thank you. So you are not hungry because you lack bread. You're hungry because you prioritize God. Come and I get in it. Some 35 years, 13, I homebrewed myself with fasting. That's what it does. It's about humility. I homebrewed myself with fasting. Can I add, it should include social media, it should include entertainment, don't because you're fasting. You're now binge watch movies so that by the time you are done, you just look, it's 6 pm. Some people know what they will do. They will sleep. You just open your eye like this, 2 pm. Sleep again. Open your eye, 4 pm. Sleep. Open your eye. 545. Father will take you. Have a last day Father King of glory. You say bro, just go chop. Just go chop. Just go chop. I said all of that to say this. This year of Ebenezer, the year of the stone of help, the year of the raised altar of help, the ultimate Ebenezer is that you, yourself, are disacrifice. The Bible says to present yourself a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. To say Lord, because you are my help, I humble myself, I put my body under to show that I rely on you. And you're going to do that by prayer and by fasting, generally all those things are symptomatic of the major tenet of devotion that I'm emphasizing which is brokenness. Come on, I'll get the right thing. So, especially recently, in the past 18 months, especially, I worship more in my devotion, worship more, worship more, worship more, learn to sing to the Lord, sing to the Lord, sing to the Lord. If you do that, eh? He won't lose battles in life. This, my friends, was the secret of David. You see, in my personal Bible reading, I'm in the book of Psalms right now. And my goal is, I do 10 chapters daily, usually more when I can, but I don't like to you, 10 chapters. You're probably not impressed. But if you read 10 chapters daily, you'll finish the Bible every seven weeks, thereabouts. So, I saw something that never released to doubt to me. You see this David there. He wanted God to know regularly that he's wrecked without him. It's to doubt to me how regularly he said it. He emphasized this. I don't know how he was able to develop that kind of consciousness as a king, as a warrior, with so many results, with a lot of wealth, and to still constantly say, "God, if you don't help me." Let's see. This one, the big secret right there. Big secret right there. If you don't cry in your devotion regularly, cry that you don't cry. Cry. Cry. Your grace, your grace, I'm nothing. Are you tired? Your grace. Thank you for listening. We are sure that you have been blessed. For inquiries, reach us on our help line 0809 996 7000. Blessings.
Podcast Summary
Key Points:
Pastor Iren shares his personal daily prayer protocol, starting with a focus on the gospel and the distinction between evangelism and deeper theological understanding for believers.
He emphasizes that righteousness is a specific gift received through faith in Christ, not based on performance, while grace is abundant and varies in personal understanding and consciousness.
The importance of brokenness and humility in devotion is highlighted, citing Jesus' teaching on being "poor in spirit" as essential for genuine connection with God.
A warning against pride is given, illustrated with personal anecdotes, stressing that self-sufficiency can hinder spiritual growth and that motives matter more than achievements in God's eyes.
Summary:
In this transcription, Pastor Immanuel Iren introduces his daily prayer routine, beginning with a focus on the gospel. He clarifies that while the gospel is preached simply to sinners, believers should deepen their theological understanding of it. He explains that righteousness is a definitive gift received through faith in Christ, not contingent on personal performance, whereas grace is abundant and its impact depends on one's consciousness and understanding.
The pastor then stresses the critical role of brokenness and humility in daily devotion, referencing Jesus' Beatitude about being "poor in spirit" to illustrate the need for recognizing one's insufficiency before God. He cautions against pride, sharing stories where arrogance led to downfall, and underscores that motives are paramount; seeking greatness for oneself is problematic, but pursuing it in alignment with God's will is commendable. The overall message encourages a devotional life rooted in grace, humility, and a correct understanding of the gospel.
FAQs
The gospel is preached to sinners for evangelism, focusing on the simple message of Jesus' death and resurrection for salvation. It is taught to believers for deeper understanding and relationship, helping them walk in the consciousness of grace and righteousness.
Begin with the gospel, focusing on the consciousness of grace and righteousness through faith in Jesus. This foundation reminds you that your standing before God is by grace, not personal performance.
Brokenness, or being 'poor in spirit,' involves recognizing your insufficiency and dependence on God. This humility drives genuine worship and attracts God's attention, as He values a contrite heart.
Humility prevents pride from blocking your relationship with God and others. It ensures you rely on God's grace rather than your own achievements, and it aligns you with God's will for true greatness.
The gift of righteousness is received freely through faith in Christ's sacrifice. It is specific and complete—you either have it or you don't—and it qualifies you for salvation, independent of personal performance.
Prayer can become less effective if it increases self-consciousness rather than reliance on God's grace. Focusing on your own efforts instead of God's faithfulness can reduce your experience of grace.
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