Speaker 1Welcome to the Word Laundry Radio, brought to you by GW Arthur Ministries. Enjoy.
Speaker 2Thank you, Holy Spirit. Dear Holy Spirit, thank you that you are here to unveil to us the beauties of our Lord Jesus Christ. And we will see Him in His glory. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord, that you caught us by the gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord. Blessed Holy Spirit, have preeminence in this place. Our eyes are opened because we've anointed our eyes with eyesalve to see the glory of the Lord. And we are grateful. Thank you, Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Hallelujah. Do you love the Lord? Hallelujah. So, turn with me to the book of Mark. And what I want to do tonight is to... I've been thinking about how to name my message. I feel like naming it, "The Right Perception of Jesus." Praise God. Hallelujah. There is something if you get to know, or if you get to grasp, it will influence the rest of your lives. Now, we have to major on the major, and not major on the minor. Now, if we are able to focus on the major, or major on the minor, we are able to focus on the major, and not major on the minor. Now, if we are able to focus on the major, or major on the minor, we are able to focus on the major, and not major on the minor. Now, if we are able to focus on the major, or major on the minor, we are able to focus on the major, and not major on the minor. Now, if we are able to focus on the major, or major on the major, what happens is that the minor will fall in place. Praise God. Now, if we are able to focus on the major, or major on the major, what happens is that the minor will fall in place. Praise God. If we have the proper perception of who He is, everything will change about our lives. Every struggle will cease. Hallelujah. Every struggle will cease. So, we want to have the right perception of who really our Lord is. And that is the greatest of all. Hallelujah. Every struggle will cease. So, we want to have the right perception of who really our Lord is. And that is the greatest of all. Hallelujah. Every struggle will cease. So, we want to have the right perception of who really our Lord is. And that is the greatest of all. Growth in Christianity isn't knowing many things. Growth in the Lord is the knowledge of Him. It is the knowledge of Him. The knowledge of Him. The precise, the Bible says the word epignosis, which speaks of the precise, the precise knowledge of God. Growth in Christianity isn't knowing many things. Growth in Christianity isn't knowing many things. Growth in the Lord is the knowledge of Him. It is the knowledge of Him. The knowledge of Him. The precise, the precise, the exact, the complete, the accurate knowledge of who He is. The exact, the complete, the accurate knowledge of who he is. And once you grasp that, everything changes. Once you grasp that, everything changes. There is peace of mind. There is tranquility. There is health. There is well-being. There is an aura around you. Everything falls in perfect place once we are able to perceive exactly who our Lord Jesus is. Hallelujah. That's the crust of the gospel. Are you here with me tonight? Say, I'm ready. I'm ready. Hallelujah. Jesus is the center of everything. He's the center of the universe. He's the center of the Godhead. He's the center of creation. He's the center of everything. You can't access the Father without Jesus. You can't access the Holy Spirit without Jesus. The only way to know the Father is to know Jesus. The only way to know the Holy Spirit is to know Jesus. So, Jesus is everything. For it has pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. So, everything is Jesus. Hallelujah. And the more we behold his beauty, who he is, the more we are changed. And the way we behold Jesus is through the word. So, as I speak to you the word, we are beholding him. We are beholding Jesus. Hallelujah. Praise God. So, turn with me to the book of Mark, chapter 10. We want to read from verse 17. Verse 17. And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running and kneeling to him and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? Let's go on. And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God. Thou knowest the commandment. Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Defraud not. Honor thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed. I have received from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest. Go thy way, self whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come take up the cross and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and he went away grieved, for he had great possessions. Hallelujah. Praise God. And Jesus looked around about and said unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God? Or they that trust in riches? And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answered again and said unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God? It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? Jesus looking upon them said, With men it is impossible, but with God. But not with God. For all things are possible with God. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that has left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake, and for the gospels. But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come eternal life. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Praise God. Okay, let's go back to verse 17. Now, it's a very wonderful story I know we are all acquainted with. The Bible tells us that when Jesus was gone forth in the way, there came one running and kneeled to him and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? We know that this is the story of the rich young ruler. We know it's the story of the rich young ruler. And that's the inspiration of many. He was rich and he was young. How many want to be rich? Ask your young. You don't want to wait to get older before you get rich. Is that not so? So it's the aspirations of many. Young and rich. And ladies are looking for to marry one who is what? Young and rich. No one is looking for to marry someone who is old and poor. Young and rich. Young and rich. And now this story is found in the Synoptic Gospels. Matthew, Mark and Luke. And but Mark gave extra description to the posture of the rich young ruler. He gives extra description to the rich young ruler. He gives extra description. Mark said he came running and kneeled. He came running. So Mark described the manner in which he came. He didn't come walking. He came running, then he kneeled. So we see kneeling is a posture of reverence. He venerated. He reverenced. We see the kind of reverence he had for Jesus. He had reverence for Jesus. He kneeled. So Mark said, Mark was very detailed. You see, the Gospel of Mark revealed Jesus as the servant. In those days, it was the posture of servants to kneel. Servants would kneel. So Mark was quick to identify the posture of the rich young ruler. You see, none of the Gospels said he kneeled. But Mark said he came running and kneeling. Because servants in those days were always two things. Running and kneeling. Running and kneeling. Matthew reveals Jesus. Mark reveals Jesus as a king. Mark reveals Jesus as the timely servant. The divine servant who was always serving, serving, serving. The Gospel of Luke reveals Jesus as the perfect man. The Gospel of John reveals Jesus as God. So Mark identified something that was common with servants. He came running. running, and what? Kneeling. The Gospels are amazing. When you read the Gospels, you can pick details. For instance, once upon a time, Jesus went to the synagogue and there was a man with a weighted hand. Jesus said, stretch forth your hand. He stretched his hands and he was healed. That's amazing. But when you read the Gospel of Luke, Luke says Jesus healed his right hand. Only Luke used the word right hand because Luke was a physician. He was a doctor. Doctors have fine details when it comes to the human anatomy and all of that, when it comes to sicknesses and diseases. Luke could diagnose that it was the right hand. Only Luke said right hand. That speaks of livelihood because we work with our right hand. Restoring his right hand means Jesus restored his livelihood. Hallelujah. This rich young ruler came to Jesus, ran him, which shows his zeal to see Jesus. His zeal to see Jesus. Not walking, running, then kneeling, how he venerated and how he reverenced Jesus. He came running. You can see his heart, the condition of his heart, the earnestness, the zeal, the fervency to see Jesus. Now when you are zealous, your vesture, your zeal reveals in your posture. How you do things actually tells whether you are zealous or not.
Speaker 3Yeah.
Speaker 2When I was in secondary school, I was the president of the Christian fellowship and I had to hand over. But there were these two twins. It was hard to identify them. And we were going to give them executive positions. So I wanted to see which of them qualified for the positions we were giving them. One was a higher position, the other one was lesser. So you know what I did? I told the two of them to come to the assembly hall and arrange the auditorium before the service. And I went to hide somewhere. Somewhere they couldn't see me. To see their zeal and their response to service. And how they served. I wanted to see something. So I went to hide where the choristers keep their rooms. And I just perceived through a little opening. So one of them came. And when he came, just walking like a desiccate, using his leg to touch the chest. And just sat down. Then his twin brother came. And he said, Kurama, Sokaraba, Sopa, Katarabashata, Hibikuru, Mashaba, cleaning everywhere. We're speaking in tongues. With zeal, fervency. So obviously it could tell the difference. So I just knew what to do. And who to merit this position or not. I just knew it. I said this one will have this position and this one will have that position. Because of their zeal. Hallelujah. And how they responded to the things of God and to the work of God. So your posture shows a lot, especially when you're coming to church. Yeah. There are some people when they come to church and they are late. If you see them walking with their backs, they are walking like Ananias and Sapphira. That's how they are walking to church. Yeah. But there are others. Because if church, they start at eight. It's eight, but the way they are walking, you can see that this guy is not very serious. To him, by this time, it's opening prayer. And those people, they know all the service. They know the timetable, the procedure and the protocols. They know everything. When Abraham saw the Lord. Abraham's posture was different. The Bible says Abraham was at the plain of Mamre. He saw the Lord coming. Abraham was 99 years. The Bible says he ran to meet the Lord. 99 years running. 99 years running. But he had a nephew by name Lot who was living in Sodom. And he saw the angels coming. Lot, you know his response? He walked to meet them. This is Genesis 18, Genesis 19. He walked to meet them. But he was much younger. The old man, 99 years, he ran. So all of this reveals our heart condition towards the Lord. Praise God. Hallelujah. Anyway, let's go back to our rich young ruler. I like the way the Bible says he came running. He could see his zeal. Then not only running, but he kneeling before the Lord. You could see this man was hungry for the things of God. Then he asked a question. Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? Eternal life doesn't come by doing. Want to do, do, do. It's not by doing. Good Master. Now he called himself Good Master. Good Master. What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? You know, Jesus didn't directly answer him. Jesus corrected something before he answered him. The question he came was to ask about eternal life. But Jesus didn't directly answer the question of having eternal life. There's something Jesus said before that. Hallelujah. Verse 18. Jesus said unto him, Why do you call me good? Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, that is God. So, instead of Jesus answering his question, Jesus wanted to expose something before he answered his question. Are you with me? Jesus said, Why do you call me good? Because he called him Good Master. Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, that is God. Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, which is God. Jesus is saying only God is good. Now you can say that it's not only God who is good. My uncle is good. My auntie is good. My sister is good. My friend is good. Now when we talk about goodness in this light, goodness not in relative terms, but goodness in absolute terms. Only God is good. When we say God is good, we are saying that only God is good in absolute sense. God is essentially good. God is immutably good. God is infinitely good. You see, immutably good means that God is so good he can never change from being good. God is infinitely good that his goodness, his goodness never stops. He is essentially good. Goodness is who he is in himself. Goodness is his nature. That's who God is. So when we are talking about God being good, it's not goodness that is related to men. Our goodness is something we receive from him. It's a quality we receive from him. But God is good in himself. One day, Moses said unto God, "I beseech thee, O Lord, show me thy glory." Exodus 33 verse 18. "I beseech thee, O Lord, show me thy glory." Then in verse 19, God answered him, "I will make all my goodness pass before thee." You see, he asked of his glory, he answered with his goodness. God's glory is in his goodness. How do you know God's glory? By the way he is good to you. God is good. His goodness reveals his glory. "I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee, and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy." Now when we talk about goodness, the word grace and mercy are all embedded in the attribute of goodness. When we say God is good, we are saying he is gracious, then we are saying he is merciful. So grace and mercy are all the virtues of goodness. God is good. That is why he is merciful. God is good. That is why he is gracious. God is gracious because he is good. God is merciful because he is good. Now this attribute we cannot ascribe to mere mortal, mere men. We can describe that in limited sense to men. Hallelujah. That is why Jesus said, "Only God is good." Why do you call me good? Only God is good. Now listen. Some Muslims have taken this verse and they are saying that Jesus said he was not God. They are saying that Jesus denied his deity by saying he is not God. But here Jesus never said he is not God. god jesus says why do you call me god sorry why do you call me good because only god is good jesus didn't say i am not god jesus is asking a probing question he's asking a probing question he didn't say i am not god he says only god is good why do you call me good now whenever jesus asks a probing question you know what jesus if you study the character of jesus he uses questions to expose assumptions and he uses questions to expose the truth or to lead men to the truth for instance one day he said who do men say that i the son of man i am he was leading them to a certain truth and one day he said i am the son of man i am the son of man i am the son of man i am the son of man and one day he said who do men say that i the son of man i am he was leading them to a certain truth and one day he said who do men say that i the son of man i am he was leading them to a certain truth and one day he asked his critics who is the son of david say christ who is christ the son of david then jesus says if christ is david's son why does david in spirit calls him lord because someone one zero said the lord said unto my lord so if he is his son why does david call him lord jesus silenced them forever just before the cross he silenced his critics just before the cross he silenced his critics just before the cross he silenced his critics forever so jesus would normally use questions forever so jesus would normally use questions forever so jesus would normally use questions to expose assumptions and to lead men to expose assumptions and to lead men to expose assumptions and to lead men to the truth as it is are you here with me to the truth as it is are you here with me to the truth as it is are you here with me so jesus didn't say i am not god he asked so jesus didn't say i am not god he asked so jesus didn't say i am not god he asked why do you call me good he's asking him a why do you call me good he's asking him a why do you call me good he's asking him a question question question why are you calling me good because only why are you calling me good because only why are you calling me good because only god is good god is good god is good now you need to understand that now you need to understand that now you need to understand that in the theological economy of the new in the theological economy of the new in the theological economy of the new testament testament testament the first century the first century the first century everybody understood everybody understood everybody understood that only god is good that only god is good that only god is good it was a common knowledge among the it was a common knowledge among the it was a common knowledge among the people people people not just the scholars but ordinary not just the scholars but ordinary not just the scholars but ordinary people people people everybody knew that only god is good everybody knew that only god is good everybody knew that only god is good because scripture has said it because scripture has said it because scripture has said it scripture said only god is good there is scripture said only god is good there is scripture said only god is good there is none good none good none good no not one some 14 bestray now let's see no not one some 14 bestray now let's see no not one some 14 bestray now let's see some 14 bestray it says they are all gone aside it says they are all gone aside it says they are all gone aside they are all together become filthy there they are all together become filthy there they are all together become filthy there is none that do it good is none that do it good is none that do it good no not one you see the emphasis no not one you see the emphasis no not one you see the emphasis no not one there is there is none that no not one there is there is none that no not one there is there is none that do it good then he says no do it good then he says no do it good then he says no not one not one not one so everybody in israel everybody in israel everybody in israel in judaism they understood that when we in judaism they understood that when we in judaism they understood that when we talk about goodness talk about goodness talk about goodness in absolute sense goodness holy god is in absolute sense goodness holy god is in absolute sense goodness holy god is good holy god qualifies to be good good holy god qualifies to be good good holy god qualifies to be good in describing other goodnesses there's in describing other goodnesses there's in describing other goodnesses there's only one that qualifies holy god only one that qualifies holy god only one that qualifies holy god when it comes to men we have we've all when it comes to men we have we've all when it comes to men we have we've all fallen fallen fallen you see like the bible says there is nine you see like the bible says there is nine you see like the bible says there is nine righteous no not one the bible says righteous no not one the bible says righteous no not one the bible says none is good not one hallelujah none is good not one hallelujah none is good not one hallelujah so this is it everybody knew so this is it everybody knew so this is it everybody knew that that that holy god is good holy god is good holy god is good in the theological economy everyone knew in the theological economy everyone knew in the theological economy everyone knew that holy god is good that holy god is good that holy god is good so with the knowledge that only god is so with the knowledge that only god is so with the knowledge that only god is good good good why do you come calling me good why do you come calling me good why do you come calling me good why do you call me good why do you call me good why do you call me good now that you are calling me good are you now that you are calling me good are you now that you are calling me good are you recognizing me as god recognizing me as god recognizing me as god because only god is good praise god praise god praise god jesus knew that jesus knew that jesus knew that the rich young ruler had a run the rich young ruler had a run the rich young ruler had a run perception of who he was perception of who he was perception of who he was so before answering the question of so before answering the question of so before answering the question of eternal life he wanted to correct eternal life he wanted to correct eternal life he wanted to correct his perception about who he is because his perception about who he is because his perception about who he is because having the wrong perception about jesus having the wrong perception about jesus having the wrong perception about jesus in life affects everything in life in life affects everything in life in life affects everything in life you may be in church but if your you may be in church but if your you may be in church but if your perception about him is wrong everything perception about him is wrong everything perception about him is wrong everything will be wrong will be wrong will be wrong if you don't see him as truly as he is if you don't see him as truly as he is if you don't see him as truly as he is things will not fall in place things will not fall in place things will not fall in place so the question is this is jesus good so the question is this is jesus good so the question is this is jesus good is jesus good is jesus good is jesus good is jesus good is jesus good is jesus good then he is god then he is god then he is god is jesus not good is jesus not good is jesus not good then he is not god that's the idea in then he is not god that's the idea in then he is not god that's the idea in this verse this verse this verse let me repeat again because i said that let me repeat again because i said that let me repeat again because i said that everybody knew that only god is good everybody knew that only god is good everybody knew that only god is good as i've described what goodness is then as i've described what goodness is then as i've described what goodness is then you came calling jesus you came calling jesus you came calling jesus good master good master good master so if we all know that god is good and so if we all know that god is good and so if we all know that god is good and you are calling me good what are you you are calling me good what are you you are calling me good what are you saying so jesus is saying in effect are you so jesus is saying in effect are you so jesus is saying in effect are you recognizing me as god recognizing me as god recognizing me as god because you know that only god is good because you know that only god is good so why are you now calling me good hallelujah are you all getting it so what was his response so what was his response what was his so what was his response what was his response response response because if you say jesus is good and because if you say jesus is good and because if you say jesus is good and since only god is good since only god is good since only god is good are you saying that i am god this is are you saying that i am god this is are you saying that i am god this is amazing amazing amazing now let's see verse 20. now let's see verse 20. now let's see verse 20. now let's see verse 20. verse 20 verse 20. verse 20. mark 10 verse 20. mark 10 verse 20. mark 10 verse 20. he answered and said now let's start he answered and said now let's start he answered and said now let's start from verse 19. from verse 19. from verse 19. that knows the commandments now do not that knows the commandments now do not that knows the commandments now do not commit adultery do not kill do not steal commit adultery do not kill do not steal commit adultery do not kill do not steal do not bear false witness defraud not do not bear false witness defraud not do not bear false witness defraud not honor thy father and mother so jesus was answering him what to do so jesus was answering him what to do so jesus was answering him what to do to have eternal life to have eternal life to have eternal life you know you cannot do to have eternal you know you cannot do to have eternal you know you cannot do to have eternal life you have to believe life you have to believe life you have to believe jesus always give the evangelical jesus always give the evangelical jesus always give the evangelical answer answer answer anybody who wanted to be saved jesus anybody who wanted to be saved jesus anybody who wanted to be saved jesus would say believe would say believe would say believe believe believe believe believe he told believe believe believe he told believe believe believe he told the codemos the codemos the codemos to believe this is the only time jesus to believe this is the only time jesus to believe this is the only time jesus didn't give an evangelical answer didn't give an evangelical answer didn't give an evangelical answer jesus said do the commandment jesus said do the commandment because he came with that question what because he came with that question what because he came with that question what shall i do shall i do shall i do and nobody can do to have eternal life and nobody can do to have eternal life and nobody can do to have eternal life so jesus gave him the law to bring him so jesus gave him the law to bring him so jesus gave him the law to bring him to the end of himself that was a reason to the end of himself that was a reason to the end of himself that was a reason for the law the law was to bring you to for the law the law was to bring you to for the law the law was to bring you to the end of yourself so you can the end of yourself so you can the end of yourself so you can acknowledge the savior acknowledge the savior acknowledge the savior so out of the ten commandments jesus gave him jesus gave him six out of jesus gave him jesus gave him six out of jesus gave him jesus gave him six out of the ten the ten the ten that's interesting and there's a reason that's interesting and there's a reason that's interesting and there's a reason for it for it for it but that's not my emphasis tonight and he but that's not my emphasis tonight and he but that's not my emphasis tonight and he answered answered answered and said unto him master all these and said unto him master all these and said unto him master all these have i observed from my youth have i observed from my youth have i observed from my youth praise god so something has happened so something has happened so something has happened he came to jesus and called jesus first he came to jesus and called jesus first he came to jesus and called jesus first good master good master good master but now when jesus explained what it but now when jesus explained what it but now when jesus explained what it means to call him good means to call him good means to call him good the next time he dropped the word good the next time he dropped the word good the next time he dropped the word good so he didn't call him good master again so he didn't call him good master again so he didn't call him good master again he called him master have you seen it so have you seen it so have you seen it so now because jesus is now saying that if now because jesus is now saying that if now because jesus is now saying that if you call me good you are saying i'm god you call me good you are saying i'm god you call me good you are saying i'm god because only god is good so now that because only god is good so now that because only god is good so now that you're calling me good are you you're calling me good are you you're calling me good are you recognizing me as god recognizing me as god recognizing me as god because you know that only god is good because you know that only god is good because you know that only god is good so now his response was so now his response was so now his response was master he dropped the good meanwhile he master he dropped the good meanwhile he master he dropped the good meanwhile he came to him saying good master so there's a problem he did not so there's a problem he did not so there's a problem he did not recognize jesus to be good recognize jesus to be good And if Jesus is not good, then he's not God. So, after the explanation, he dropped the word good. He called him master. So, he did not have the right perception about who Jesus was. He dropped the good. So, Jesus is the master, but to him he's not good. That's unfortunate. That means that he did not recognize Jesus as God. So, he saw Jesus as a good master, as a master. The word master literally is the word teacher. So, he saw Jesus as teacher, but he didn't see him enough to be God. Because he's not good. Because goodness here speaks of Godhood, the attribute of God. Meanwhile, this guy came running and kneeling. In reverence, venerated the master. Yet, he didn't have the right perception of him. Now, there are not people in church who can worship, roll on the floor. Yet, when you ask them about Jesus, their explanation is inadequate. They don't fully know who Jesus is in himself. There are people who are worshiping, rolling on the floor, full of zeal. But they can't explain that Jesus is God. Or they are not even convinced that Jesus is God. And once you don't know that, it changes everything. Now, for this guy to be identified with Jesus was a very bold step. Because in those days, at that time, anybody who confessed him as Lord or who identified with Jesus was ostracized. He was driven out of the synagogue. And that was very dangerous. It was an equivalence of someone marrying a Gentile. In those days, if a Jew marries a Gentile, there is a public funeral. community. they have a funeral in the community. Meanwhile, the person is alive. So they organize your funeral, declaring that to them you are dead. Because you're going to marry a Gentile. You have been cut off, ostracized. If you identify with Jesus, that's how risky it was. But this guy was willing to identify with Jesus, yet he didn't fully know who Jesus was. Now, from good master to master. Because he doesn't see how good he is. He doesn't recognize him as God. So, Jesus said, one thing you lack. You know, he boasted that everything Jesus has said, he's done it. Jesus said, there's one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you have, and give it to the poor. He was grieved. He was offended. The Bible says he was grieved. In fact, the Bible says he was sad. Then he was grieved. Sadness and grief together. Because Jesus has told him, go and sell what you have. This is it. Do you know why he was grieved? Do you know why he was sad? Because of his perception of Jesus. He didn't see who Jesus is. Now, let me ask you a question. Assuming you have some money in your bank account, and you meet the wealthiest man, let's say, in Africa. And, by some means, he gets to know you. And he calls you and says that, I want you to sell. I want you to sell your bank. Your nice bank. I want you to sell it. I want you to sell. You bring me all your money. Oh, he tells you to either sell your house or do something. But you know that this guy, the whole Africa, he's dusted. Will it be difficult to do that? Why? Why? You know that whatever that guy is asking for, he's going to give you more. So, I'm telling you that you giving what he's saying, you do it with joy. Ah! You even find it as an opportunity. How about if someone else, maybe your school teacher, tells you to? Tells you to sell what you have. Now, it depends on who is addressing you to sell what you have. Don't just the who, but how you are perceiving the person. Why was he sad and grieved? Because you saw him as a mere teacher, a mere rabbi, who is telling him to go sell all that he had to the poor, so he was grieved. Little did he know that the one telling him to sell all that he had was the very same person who flung the stars into space. He is the same person who measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure. Weighed the mountains on scales and the hills on balances. He was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not. He is the same person that fed Israel in the wilderness with the manna and with the quills for 40 years. He is the same Jesus. He is the almighty God. The same Jesus, the very God of very God. For by him were all things created, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, dominions, principalities or powers, all things were created by him and for him. And he is before all things and by him all things consist. By him all things are held together. This is Jesus. He is the El Shaddai. This is Jesus, the almighty, the pantocrator, the omniscient. Jesus clothed in a human body who veiled his glory and he stood and said, go sell all that you have. How can you be grieved? The almighty God, the one who opposed all things by the word of his power, listen, he is the force behind gravity, the force behind the loss of the universe. The earth is not collapsing because there is a force holding the earth. The stars, the moon, the suns, the centripetal, the centrifugal, the imaginary axis, all of these heavenly ops are sustained by the word of his power. If he knew, if he knew the one who said, go sell all that you had, he would have good joy around to do it. But he didn't. He didn't know. He merely saw him as a rabbi and could not perceive him. That Jehovah, Jehovah, the one who made my breath, the one who formed me, he is the one saying, go sell what you have. The reason why you are holding back and not responding to Jesus as you are supposed to do is because you are deficient in your perception of him. Yes. Yes. Why couldn't he give? Because he couldn't see his fullness. Why are you not giving? Why are you withholding? Now, that's why I'm saying that who you see Jesus to be affects your entire life. It affects your service in church. It affects your productivity. It affects your consecration. It affects the time you give him. It affects how you love him. It affects how you serve him. It affects your sacrifice. It affects even the money you give him. All because of how? The perception of him. So, who you see him to be is everything. Your perception of him is everything. Hallelujah. Do you think that Jesus will say, you can never outgive God. No human can outgive God. He is the one who says, give and it shall come back to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together. You can never outgive God. If the man had obeyed what he said, this is Jesus speaking. That is why, as we read down, he says there is no man. You know, Peter said, we are forsaking all. What shall we have therefore? Jesus says there is no man who has forsaken all these things and shall not have a hundredfold in this life. You know what a hundredfold is? A hundredfold is not 100%. A hundredfold is 10,000%. A hundredfold means 100 times more. So, he says that Jesus promised that, look, this guy missed his chance. He could have had 10,000 times more what he had. You know the reason why you are not able to give? You don't trust his word. That's why you are withholding. Simple. It's a faith issue. You know the reason why you are not giving your time? Your life. The reason for withholding is because of our perception of him. Hallelujah. Praise God. Like Judas. Judas, out of the 12 disciples, Judas became familiar with Jesus. His problem was familiarity. Do you know that in the Bible, Judas not one time called Jesus Lord. All the disciples called Jesus Lord. Judas called Jesus Rabbi. So, he knew that his relationship was with a rabbi. He didn't see Jesus as the Lord over his life. He saw Jesus as a rabbi. So, when Jesus said, one of you will betray me, all the 11 disciples said, Lord, is it I? Lord, is it I? Lord, is it I? When he came to Judas, Judas said, Rabbi, is it I? All of them said, Lord, Lord. Judas alone said, Rabbi. So, he didn't see Jesus as Lord. Because he didn't see who Jesus is. That is why, just a few days before Jesus died, when Mary took the alabaster and broke it, that was very expensive. In fact, the Bible itself said it was very costly. Because it was a family treasure. Normally, the grandmother, mother will will it too. They are daughters. And mother will will it too. They are daughters as well. And it was a family treasure. And it was a family treasure. Very expensive. So, for Mary to open it and break it and pour it all on Jesus, why was Judas offended? He didn't see Jesus as someone who deserves it. He didn't see his surpassing greatness. He couldn't see his exceeding worth. How and who he was. He saw him as a mere Rabbi. So, he said, to what purpose is this waste? He called, he called it waste. Because he didn't see who he was. That is why when you come pouring your life to Jesus in church, those who don't see Jesus as who he is, to them, when they see you, you know what they are saying? Every day you go to church, you go to church, to what purpose is this waste? They see you coming to church as waste. Yeah? The world doesn't see you as smart. To them, we are wasting our time. But who is smarter? They are seeking all the things in this world which will perish. And we are seeking things that will not perish, eternal things. So, which of us is smarter? You are smarter. Praise God. Hallelujah. Give the Lord a round of applause. You are smarter. You are smarter. Thank you. so the rich young was difficult for him to do what Jesus said he was grieved, he was sad having been grieved and been sad because of what you have to do for the Lord he was grieved and sad because he was deficient, he had a demented perception about who Jesus is he didn't know who was speaking grieved and sad if he knew who was speaking he should have leaped for joy so what's an opportunity anything God is demanding from you what's an opportunity this is him, this is God, this is Jesus hallelujah hallelujah that's why we have to perceive him rightly for who he is I like the wise men they are called the magi when Jesus was born they said it's amazing that even these guys were pagans the wise men, not three wise men wise men if history tells us that they were 600 apart from their servants they come in caravans they come in donkeys it's a whole it's a lot of people a lot of people and look at Matthew chapter 2 verse 1 and 2 verse 1 and 2 when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king look at the word king it's small k have you realized that Herod the king the king is small k behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem verse 2 saying where is he that is born look at the word king capital K where we see that Herod is small k but where we see that is born he was not born to be king he was born king only one person was born king only one person in all of history was born king but everybody whether the king of England or the queen of England they were all born to be kings and queens only one was born king born king and one that is capital in the Greek actually the absolute monarch of the universe the greatest emperor the world has ever seen and it was the pagans who had this revelation about him the Jews themselves they didn't even have a revelation about him what do we see and they came with their treasures treasures untold wealth because they perceived who he was that the baby born is actually the king of the universe hallelujah actually neighbor who is Jesus to you how do you perceive him hallelujah hallelujah hallelujah now in the gospels almost everything Jesus said the saints of Jesus actually reveals who he is it's amazing if you take time to meditate his priority was who he is before what he did yes before his miracles his miracles even testified about him and his words revealed who he was in matthew chapter 9 there's a story in matthew chapter 9 where someone broke the ceiling of peter's house in Capernaum that was a very big meeting this matthew chapter 9 corresponds to luke 5:17 now in luke 5:17 the bible tells us that now let's see luke 5:17 now in luke 5:17 the bible tells us that let's see luke 5:17 now in luke 5:17 the bible tells us that let's see luke 5:17 now in luke 5:17 the bible tells us that let's see luke 5:17 now in luke 5:17 the bible tells us that let's see luke 5:17 now in luke 5:17 the bible tells us that let's see luke 5:17 now in luke 5:17 the bible tells us that let's 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bible tells us that let's see luke 5:19 They said, "Our only God can forgive sins." Jesus is unveiling his deity because he had not offended the guy personally so for him to step in to announce forgiveness, he's revealing who he is and the thing is that, listen what is the proof that what Jesus is saying is true because any madman can come and say your sins are forgiving you and it does not hold, anybody can say your sins are forgiving you and it does not hold, you may even be bragging and Jesus says for you to know that I have power on earth to forgive sins rise up and walk so for Jesus to prove the validity of his claim that he has the power to forgive sins he performed a miracle to prove his power to forgive sins because forgiveness cannot be seen but a miracle can be seen so he used what can be seen to prove what cannot be seen as a means to validate his claims and his proofs hallelujah if you read it Jesus, I don't know why people argue who he is every story, everything revealed unveils his character and who he is thank you very much thank you very much hallelujah once you begin to see who Jesus is your worship changes when you kneel down and start talking to him there is a change you don't struggle with faith again faith is not a struggle I'm telling you the truth this doesn't affect everything to say I am the righteousness of God in Christ or to say who you are in Christ is now stronger because it changes your identity do you know that philosophy says man, know thyself but that's not Christianity Christianity says know Christ know Christ because if you get to know Jesus Christ you are always full of gratitude you know why because as he is so are we in this world then you begin to understand so all that he is he has made me a joint air with him then it goes like so I'm a joint air now because you now appreciate appreciate who he is then you realize that he has enthroned us together and has raised us up together and made us sit together then the truth now dawns deeply on you what? all is embedded in the fact of who he is as he is so are we in this world so you are a part of him your real identity and representation is Jesus who he is and what he has is put into your account that's why everything you have to do is to know Jesus because you will benefit from knowing Jesus all right let's go to John chapter 1 hallelujah John chapter 1 verse 1 John chapter 1 verse 1 in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God how many of you can quote this verse? everyone can quote John 1 verse 1 now let's stay in John 1 verse 1 you see John 1 verse 1 is different from Genesis 1 verse 1 they are different they are different Genesis 1 verse 1 says in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth that one also has beginning but the beginning of Genesis is different from the beginning of John hallelujah now in John does it in the beginning okay in the Greek which the New Testament was written from there is no definite article there is no day so you have to read it without day so the Greek says in beginning in beginning God created the heaven and the earth so there is no definite article so it's not pointing to any beginning so it is a beginning without any beginning it is a beginning when nothing happens nothing began so you can call it a beginningless beginning because nothing began without beginning but unlike that in the Greek there is no day in Genesis in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth so Genesis is the beginning of time we are told where all these things came from the sun the moon the earth the stars the animal man where they are all sourced from where they came from that is Genesis 1 verse 1 we see the beginning of time but that is not this one at all this verse is revealing who Jesus is so John 1 verse 1 in the beginning was the word now the word was is used so many times in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God the same was in the beginning with God was, was, was, was the truth is that the truth is that that is not the Greek at all the Greek doesn't have the word was it's not was the Greek is not was in fact the Greek is the word is is the word is but the reason the translator used the word was is because of what is called grammatical expediency they say that sometimes what is written in the Greek is not grammatically expedient in the English so that in the English language it is not readable so they make it in such a way that it becomes readable because if you read it from the Greek let's see how it goes in the beginning is the word in the beginning is the word and the word is with God and the word is God verse 2 the same is in the beginning with God that's how it's supposed to be because the word was is written in the past tense and because it is the word was it speaks of the concept of time or the element of time now if I say that Bishop was here Bishop was here it's past tense that means there is that means there was a time when Bishop was not here if I say Bishop was here it means now he's not here okay Bishop was here it means that there was a time when he was not here so if we say in the beginning was the word the idea in English is that the word is subject to time and that it was time that produced the word and that it was time that produced the word and the word exists because of time element time element brought forth the word if I use the word was because was is a time word but it's not was in the beginning is the word so now we are not talking about the wasness of time we are describing the isness of time the isness of time describe Christ as the one in the absolute presence absolute presence means that he is in the never ending continuous present state he has no past he has no future he is the eternal now he is the everlasting contemporary he is the is he is present he is in the present continuous state hallelujah he created time and he is outside of time therefore he cannot be subject to time because time is his creation so when we talk about the wasness of time we are talking about the chronos of time there are two concepts of time the chronos and the kairos chronos is where we get the word chronometer the sequence of time from one o'clock you go to two o'clock then three o'clock then four o'clock then Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday that is the sequence of time chronos now chronos describes for example if I have a polytank here and I'm filling the polytank it was empty but as I start filling it there was a beginning I started filling and I ended because it became full so that is chronos but if I pointed to the ocean the sea there was never a time it began there was never a time it ended the sea is that is called the kairos the essence of time the essence of time hallelujah time in its essence as it is so when the bible says is is a higher level explanation of kairos is that it is eternally present it's like the sea it didn't begin it doesn't end it is hallelujah so Jesus he is the eternal now He is, he is. The Bible says, but without faith it is impossible to please Him. Therefore, everyone that cometh to Him must believe that He is. Now, the word He is is the reversal of I am. I am is self-acknowledgement. He is is the acknowledgement addressed by another. He is. When another addressed Him, He says He is. But when He's speaking of Himself, He says I am. He is. Hallelujah. Alright. Now, let's see John 1 verse 3. So, we see wars, wars, wars. All the wars in verse 1 and verse 2 are a different Greek word. Then, verse 3 is also a different Greek word. In verse 3, the were and the was are also different Greek words. All things were made by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. Those are different Greek words. Hallelujah. Yes. And a janetto. I too and a janetto. Now, I want to read this in the Greek as it is so you will appreciate it. Praise God. Now, the Greek says, All things came into being by Him and without Him has not come into being anything that has come into being. That was Jesus. Can you imagine? All things came into being by Him and without Him has not come into being not even one thing that has come into being. Can you imagine? This microphone has come into being. This, your shoe, has come into being. Without Him has not come into being not even one thing that has come into being. That means the reason for existence, anything that has come into being is because of Him. That is Jesus we are talking about. That is Jesus. Can you imagine? So, what it means is that everything there is, all things were made by Him. The Him is the Word. Everything is made by the Word. Without the Word, nothing can be made. So, whatever God wants to make you actually must be of the Word and from the Word. So, if you say, I want to prosper. I want to be healed. I want to be healthy. I want to do this. Whatever you want God to make you, He cannot make you outside the Word. Because nothing can be made, not even one thing can be made outside the Word. The Word is the source of every making. That is why if you have the Word of God, whatever God has to tell you actually is in His Word. Without His Word, He has nothing to say. Divine healing is in His Word. Divine prosperity is in His Word. Working in love is in His Word. Holiness is in His Word. Everything is in His Word. Hallelujah. Are you with me? Whatever can be made is the Word. That is why if you take the Word of God and you start confessing it, you have result. If you can keep the Word in your mouth and confess it, the Word is creative. The Word will reproduce what it says. So, keep talking the Word. Keep talking the Word. We call it the righteousness of faith. Speaketh on those wise. There is a manner in which we speak. The righteousness of faith speaketh. It's a continual speaking. Keep speaking the Word. Hallelujah. That's Christianity. Now, for instance, let me give an example. You realize that for the past few days you are becoming bitter. You are becoming unforgiving. You are becoming bitter. You know you are a Christian. You know all the scriptures. But it seems you are becoming unbitter or you are becoming envious. What do you do? Do you go, you go to God and say, Lord, Lord, I'm a sinner. You know, you don't do that. You don't say, Lord, I'm a sinner. Lord. My righteousness is a filthy rag. You don't say, Lord, Lord. I come against envy in my heart. I come against jealousy in my heart. I pray against it. It's not a solution. It's not a solution. Now, when you see all of these things, you have to fight it. You have to fight the good fight of faith. You know how to fight the good fight of faith? Go to your closet, take the scriptures, and confess who you are. Even if enviousness is coming to your heart, unforgiveness, bitterness, no. Start, speak the word of God to yourself. Speak, God has not given me. You can say, the love of God is shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Ghost. I do not envy. I am not jealous. Then start quoting 1 Corinthians 13 from verse 4, from the amplified version. Because whatever love is, it's in your heart. Because the characteristics of love are all in your heart. Love does not pay attention to a suffered wrong. You understand? Love does not keep record of wrongs. You confess these things, you keep confessing who you are in Christ. Confess who you are. That's how to fight the good fight of faith. Whatever you can have is the word. Hallelujah. Okay. In him was life. That's four. It shows the guy is following. Because I just said verse 4. If he wasn't following, there are some places when I go and I say verse 4, they don't know what I'm talking about. Which verse 4? In him was life. And the life was the light of man. So the him, now he accords personality to the word. So the word is a person. You understand? In the beginning is the word. And the word is with God. And the word is God. And the word was God. But it is even the reverse. And God was the way. And he said in him was the way. In him was the way. Now when the Bible says the way, he's talking about life in its generic sense. He isn't merely talking about are your notes the way. Now are your notes the way is eternal life. The quality of life we have from God, which is communicated to our spirit when we are born again. He's just saying the way. The way is life in its generic form. So in him is life means that the very life that animated the world is from him. The life, the life of the human came from him. The life of animals came from him. The life of the fruit fly came from him. The life of butterfly came from him. The life of monkeys came from him. The life of anything you can talk about came from him. That's the word is the way. You remember the story of Lazarus who went to heaven and a rich guy who went to hell and spoke to Abraham because Lazarus was an Abraham's bosom. You know how Abraham responded to him. He said, thou in your lifetime, you did all that was good to you. Thou in your way. Now so the way is generic. It's life in its different forms. Praise God. When the way is used in the context with I know the way that is the life of God that is communicated to us. For instance, some people were sick. Jesus would say, go thy way, thy son liveth. That is the verb of the way. It's the word for health. Your son is healthy. So the way is generic. In the Septuagint, when God breathed into Adam the bread of life, the word is the way. That natural breath was the way. Praise God. Wow. Wow. So, listen. Every life in this world is from Jesus. Even the lice running into your head. These days don't have lice again. We still have lice. Do you even understand lice? Do you know what lice is around? It's around now. Lice. Those days we used to take white paper and comb our hair. And before, we used to put lice inside there. Look at your beard. If it was in those days, you'd be combing your beard and lice would be falling. Lice. Jesus, every life, every life came from him. That's how wonderful he is. Hallelujah. You see how great he is. And the life, was the light of man. His way is also the light of man. You can say this way. The light was the illumination of man. Wherever the gospel has gone, do you know the story of humanity? And if you know a little history, you realize that wherever the gospel went, there was illumination. The gospel is what brought civilization. It brought civilization. Industrialization. Education. Wherever the gospel went. Amazing. That's what the gospel does. The gospel is the enlightenment of man. The word light is enlightenment. It enlightens man. When Christ is revealed, he is the illumination of man. Today, look at Europe. when I went to China. The Christians there asked me one question. Why are we not developed as Africans? Why are we not developed? These guys are not Christians, but look at how they have developed their city. When I went to Dubai today, they were asking me the same questions. So, why is there so much parade in Africa? And these guys, these hidden nations, are so much developed. Why is Europe, America, understand that America is the extension of Europe. And God shall enlarge Japheth. You know, Japheth is Europe. America is the extension of what? Europe. But you know, in the early church history, in early times, how many of you have watched this movie, Gladiator? Gladiator. Gladiator. I love that movie. Because of the historical, it's historical. Because I love history. In that movie, they spoke of the horde of the barbarians. They spoke of the horde of the barbarians. You know who they were referring to at that time? The barbarians. The horde of the... When the Bible talks about the barbarians and the Scythians, you know who the Bible is referring to? The Germans. The Britain. France. Sweden. Finland. Norway. All these European... Denmark. They were the barbarians. The Romans called them the barbarians. They were an uncivilized group. The barbarians at that time. They were the barbarians at that time. Can you imagine? The Scythians. But when the gospel went there, it brought illumination and enlightenment. It brought massive changes. During the days of the Wesleyan revival, it was under Wesley. The Wesleyan revival brought the industrial revolution to Europe. If you trace the history of revivals, it goes hand in hand with industrialization and even civilization. Like education. Modern education. You know the source of modern education? It was a man of God. John Amos Comenius. He is a father of modern education. He is a preacher. He is a father of education. He brought primary, secondary, and tertiary. Far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far, far. And the Moravians took his concept and spread throughout the world. And that is where they established schools all over the world. The gospel is what brought education, enlightenment. If you like, go and check on the first 10 universities in the world. The best universities. Check America and see. The top universities were all missionary schools. They were all Bible schools. Harvard was a Bible school. Cambridge was a Bible school. Oxford was a Bible school. All of them were established on Christ. Princeton. All of them. All these schools. Go and check the motto. The various universities and their motto. In the light which I see light. They were all founded by, most of them were theological institutions. And some of them were founded by monks. Praise God. The gospel is illumination. Whoever Christ is, there is light.
Speaker 1Yeah.
Speaker 2The first public hospital was founded by a woman called Fabiola. Was a widow. Around 399 A.D. The first private hospital was founded by St. Basil of Caesarea. That is 369 A.D. Do you know the hospitals are even the church concept? That's how it came. In those days, the Romans would only heal. The medical services were for only the soldiers in Rome and for the wealthy class. So the poor were left to die. The poor are left to die. Only the wealthy class and the soldiers. So it was Christianity that took care of the rest. And that is when... So you read about Florence of Nightingale and all of these people. Hallelujah. The church is the light. The gospel influence the world. So wherever the gospel is preached, I'm telling you, people's minds are illuminated. There's invention, there are discoveries, and all of that. Glory to God. - Hallelujah. - Hallelujah. - Hallelujah. - Africa is coming. - Hallelujah. - We need the right gospel. We don't have to Africanize the gospel. There is the Africanization of the gospel. You understand? Someone said when the gospel got to... The problem with the gospel, the problem is that the West had a way of commercializing the gospel. Europe had a way of institutionalizing the gospel. Africa had a way of... If we can say Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - Yeah, Africanizing the gospel. - They say that Jesus had a mother, actually, in the spiritual realm, before he came, and that mother gave birth to him spiritually. Jesus' mother gave birth to him with his spiritual brother, Lucifer. - Hey! - You have one? - Yeah, that is mormonism. And Jehovah's Witnesses also say that Jesus is the Archangel Michael of the Bible. So they say that, in Jemichael, Archangel Michael is Jesus. Because Michael literally means the man of God. So, when we say Jesus is the son of God, understand this, that because we are Ghanaians, and we are not Hebrew, we are not Jews, there are some things we do not understand. But when you hear the word son of, we relate to who my son is, is that not so? So, but what the Bible says, son of God, the Bible isn't speaking of biological offspring. It has nothing to do with biological offspring. What does it mean? You see, I gave birth to a son. I'm a man. I'm married, I became a husband. Then, I had a son. Praise God. If I had a son, that means I produced a son, is that not so? If I produced a son, it means there was a time when my son was not. But when the Bible says Jesus is the son, there was never a time when he was not. So you can't understand his sonship in the context of biological offspring. Are you following me? Because Arius was a controversial figure in the early church. He said that there was a time when Jesus was not. But I came to tell you that there was never a time when he was not because of how they misinterpreted the scriptures. Now, I became a husband and I became a father. Why did I become a father? Because I had a son. If Jesus became a son, that means that was the very moment God became the father. But there was never a time God became a father because God has eternal fatherhood. Do you understand? So he didn't become it. So Isaiah 9:6, "Unto us a child is born. "Unto us a son is given." As a child he was born, that is his humanity. As a son, he wasn't born, he was given. Given means he already existed to be given. So as a son, he's given, speaks of his deity, his pre-existence. Praise God. So, praise God. What does it mean, Jesus being the son? Amen. of God. Son of God. It's a Jewish term. The word son is actually a title among the Hebrews. So there are titles like sons of tender. There were some people Jesus called them sons of tender. There are some people who are called sons of belial. The sons of belial are called sons of belial. Barnabas was called a son of consolation. Jesus says if you go to a house and preach and if there be a son of peace in the house let your peace rest on that house. So look at the terminology son of peace. Son of consolation. Son of tender. Son of belial. Son of, son of, son of, son of. Now it's a title. Now in the Jewish, in the Hebrew concept one would say son of peace. Now the Hebrew can even say son of salt. You can even say son of table. Son of peace. Son of encouragement. Son of consolation. Son of actually means that you bear the same nature, characteristics and essence of what is spoken. So when we say son of peace it means that you are what peace is. Son of peace means you are what peace is. You bear the nature of peace. The character of peace. The essence of peace. You are what peace is. Barnabas was called son of consolation. He is what encouragement is. Belial means worthless. Son of belial, sons of belial. You are, you are worthless. You are what worthlessness is. Praise God. Are you here with me? So there is sons of tender. You know this, James and John said should we bring fire from heaven? Like Elijah brought fire. Fire service. Jesus called them sons of tender. Because they bear the nature and characteristics of tender. Praise God. So when the Bible says Jesus is the son of God it's in the same light. Son of God means he bears the same nature, the same character, the same essence. Son of God means he is who God is. And he is what God is. In nature, in substance, in essence, in character, intrinsically. He is who God is. Son of, like we say, son of stable. Son of peace. Sons of tender. Sons of belial. You partake in the nature of it. Please are you here with me? Let me give you a scripture evidence of what does it mean to say son of. John chapter 10. John 10, 30. What is there? I and my father. I and my father are. Amen. Now let's go on. Let's go on. Let's read. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered unto them, Many good works have I showed you from my father. Which of those works do you stone me? Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Then the Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy. For blasphemy. And because thou, being a man, makest thyself God. Because he said what? I and my father are one. Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law? I said ye are God. If ye call them God, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken. Now look at verse 36. Say ye of him, as Jesus observed, whom the Father has sanctified, and sent into the world, that thou blasphemest, because I said I am the Son of God. Jesus didn't say I am the Son of God. He said I am my Father, I want. That's why they wanted to stone him. But Jesus is not explaining what it means to say, what I am my Father, I want means. You understand? Are you following me? He said I am my Father, I want. And they said they took stones to stone him because he has blasphemed. Because he has made himself God. And Jesus is saying, what are you talking about? The one whom the Father has sanctified and sent to the world. Are you saying I am blaspheming because I said I am the Son of God? But he didn't say he was the Son of God. He said I am my Father, I want. So Jesus is not interpreting what it means to say I am my Father, I want. I am my Father, I want because I am the Son of God. And those who took stones understood that he has made himself God. Because thou being a man, makest thyself God. So what is the Son of God? God. God. Son of God is God. So I am my Father, I want means I am the Son of God. Praise God. That's what Jesus is. But let me correct what some of you are thinking right now. Let's go back to John 1 verse 18. No man has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son. You see, the King James in this verse is not a literal translation from the Greek. The Greek is not like this. Because the word hyos doesn't appear in the Greek. The word Son is not there at all in the Greek. So because the Greek says no man has seen God at any time. But the monogamous theos. The monogamous theos. Who is in the bosom of the Father has declared him. The monogamous theos. The word begotten. Monogamous theos. There is no Sunday. It was added by translators. Monogamous theos. Monogamous. Two words. M-O-N-O-G-E-N-E-S like the word jeans. Mono means one. Then jeans. Guinness. I'm not talking about Guinness. This is so good. Mono Guinness. You know. Mono Guinness. Mono Guinness. I'm not saying. Someone is saying one Guinness. Not that kind of Guinness. The word Mono means the one and only of its own kind. That is Guinness. Guinness is the word for kind. It spells the word Gin. G-I-N-E-S. Kind. Mono means one. Monogamous means the one of the one in its own kind. The one in its own class. The one in its own class. The one of its own kind. Now we are the sons of God. But Jesus is the son of God. We are not sons of God in his class. Jesus belongs to his own class. Because we are not God but Jesus is God. That's why he is the monogamous theos. He is the only one of his own kind. There are no two. He is the only one of his own kind. Because he himself is God yet he became man. He is the only one of his own kind. So though we are the sons of God we are not in the same class. He is the only one of his class. He is the monogamous theos. So the Greek actually says no man has seen God at any time but the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father. That's the Greek. The only begotten God. That's the Greek. Okay, to convince you let's read from the NASB 95. That's it. Look at it. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father has declared him. That's the real translation. He is the only begotten God. Oh, Rabba, Kota, Kata, Rabba, Shaka, Kata, Rabba, Talada. Jesus is the only begotten God. Oh, are you not in love with Jesus? He. My brother, my sister. The one who came walking in Galilee. In the soils of Galilee. He was the very God of very God. He was the God that created the universe. He is the only begotten God. Oh, thank you Jesus. Thank you Jesus. But let's see what the NIV says. The NIV tried to get some explanation with it. No one has ever seen God. But, listen, but God. But God, the one and only. Who is at the Father's side has made him known. But God, the one and only. This is a different NIV. Do you have another version of NIV? This is the only one you have. All right, all right, all right. Do you have the Legacy Bible? Okay, do you have the NASB 2000? No, not this one. Not this one at all. I don't know. Not this one at all. Not this one at all. Don't give other versions. It's what I'm mentioning. Hallelujah. All right. Praise God. So I want you to understand that Jesus is the only begotten God. Hallelujah. He's the only, the one, the you. The one and only God. The you, LB. The one and only God who is at the side of the Father has made him known. So it's all these verses that says the one and only God. Hallelujah. He's in the bosom of the Father. In fact, the Bible didn't even say he was at the bosom. When he was on earth, he is at the bosom, present tense. That means that though he became flesh, his incarnation did not impair. The sacred inseparable union which he had had with the Father in all of eternity. So the word bosom means proximity with. Proximity with. No, proximity to, intimacy with. It means the enjoyment of the Father's love. Jesus and the Father are one. So when the Bible speaks of the Father, the Son, the Father, the Son, it's so amazing that... So Jesus is God's eternal Son. The Father is eternal. The title Father is eternal. The title Son is eternal. Praise God. He was never created. He is uncreated. He manifested. But he was the Son before he came into time. Hallelujah. And the Father assumed the title Father. The Son assumed the title Son. And that blessed relationship existed among them. I believe it was for our sake. So that we will also, when we become sons, we will replicate the kind of union that they created for themselves in the eternities. Hallelujah. Praise God. So Jesus is ever God. He is God. So the Jesus you are serving him, this is who he is. Hallelujah. So now if you get to know who he is, whatever he says, you know he cannot fail him. Sometimes you are not sure. But if you know who he is, this time around, you can lie down and wake up not in fear, but you wake up from the bed in peace. Because you know his words never fail. This is Jesus. This is like Bishop Pottie was saying today, this same Jesus is in you. Christ in you, the hope of glory. Do you even believe it at all? When this same Jesus says, I am with you. Now, as a matter of fact, I am with you. I am with you. As soon as you are going home and you are walking in darkness, and you see a shadow, then you believe that this Jesus the preacher spoke about is walking with you. This Jesus. Man. I heard a story two days ago. This story, there was this young girl sitting in a bus. And I heard it from Pastor Antiboy. And the bus was... She was about to have an accident. But she was reading her Bible. Just reading her Bible in the bus. They were traveling. A hand... When the bus was about to have an accident, some assault, a hand just appeared in the bus and took her out and put her by the side of the road. And the car somersaulted different times. And everybody died. When the people came to see what was happening, they saw this young girl standing by the side of the road. And they said, "What are you doing here?" "I was in the car." And they said, "It can't be true." And she said, "It's true I was in the car, because I was reading my Bible, and this is my name." "So find the Bible, and if you find that Bible, my name will be on it, then you'll believe I was in the car." They went, everybody had died, and they found her Bible. And her Bible bore her name. And they were so surprised. And she told them, "This is Jesus." This same Jesus... "This is Jesus." "This is Jesus." "This is Jesus." "This is Jesus." "This is Jesus." He's more than enough. "This is Jesus." "This is Jesus." So if you trust Him, and know who He says He is, your confidence will increase. "This is Jesus." You will walk in life with joy and confidence. "This is Jesus." Because He is who He is. Lift up your voice and glorify His Holy Name. "This is Jesus." "This is Jesus." "This is Jesus." "This is Jesus." "This is Jesus." "This is Jesus." "This is Jesus." "This is Jesus." I wanted to just adore Jesus. "This is Jesus." "This is Jesus." How do you perceive Him to be? Is He a mere teacher, a rabbi, or He is God? "This is Jesus." He said, "Good Master." But He took away the good. I want you to know that God is good and Jesus is good. Jesus is good because Jesus is God. Because Jesus is God. How do you perceive Him? Because you couldn't see Him as God, He was grieved and He was sad. And couldn't give His possession to the poor. If you know who He says He is, whatever He tells you to do, you do it. Without fear, you will pour your life to Him. Lift up your voice. Lift up your hands and just adore the monogamous Theos. The monogamous Theos. The only one and only God in His own kind. Jesus alone.
Speaker 1Jesus alone. Come and worship Him. Worship Him. Thank you for listening to the Word Laundry Radio brought to you by GW Arthur Ministries. Indeed, the washing of water by the Word transforms. See you same time next week. next week.
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