Final Word on Life and Your Marriage

[Speaker 1] Church and its fellowships cannot be more spiritual than the individuals and families that constitute them. God still desires a godly home. These are words of restoration and instruction in righteousness from Family Tent Ministry. May you be blessed as you listen. [Singing and Music] [Speaker 2] We want to thank our God again for today. We give him all the glory, we give him all the honor, we give him all the praise. We are grateful to him for another opportunity to be here for another marriage forum. We were here last month, and we were able to bring to a close the concluding part of life and your marriage. We were able to look at the final episode of that series that we started since February. And for today's marriage forum, we thought it very important that we don't jump to a new topic, but try to look at a final word. It was a very long series that started since February. February, March, April, May, June, and now we're in July. So we just thought it good, the team felt it might just be good to look at a final word, because it's a very long series, trying to remind ourselves of cogent things that we have said in the last five months, particularly as it relates to the matter of life and our marriage. And I trust the Lord that as we do that together today, the Lord will meet with us all. Our brethren who are joining us on Telegram, we welcome you. Our brethren who are there on Mixlr, we say you are very welcome. And we who are here physically, we are trusting the Lord that together this morning the Lord will bless us all. Let us have a word of prayer. Everlasting Father, we are grateful unto you. We thank you for this opportunity to be here again. We bless your holy name, we give you glory, we give you honor, we give you praise, our God. Be thou exalted, our Father. Thank you for your mercies that have brought us into the month of July. Thank you for the grace that has brought us into this month. We are very, very grateful. We say, Lord our God, we commit ourselves into your hands and we pray that it will be a time, O Lord, of refreshment, a time of blessing, a time of encounter, in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank you, eternal Father. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. So we'll pick the matter. And please, brethren on Telegram, brethren who are on Telegram and brethren who are on Mixlr, please, we have taken this series for about five months. Please if you have a question or you have a comment, please just place it on the platform. We'll definitely relate to it, about life and your marriage. A question or a comment, something you have learned so far, or a question that has bothered your heart about this matter of life and your marriage. Quickly we want to start up this morning, and as we look at a final word about life and your marriage, I first want to draw our attention again to what we referred to as life. What did we refer to as life when we started? What is it that we called life when we started when we said life and your marriage? Remember that we said something very, very cogent. We said that life, looking at Genesis chapter 1, 2, and 3, we remember that we told ourselves that life is not just a physical existence. We're not talking about just existence. We are talking about life from God's point of view. When God said in dying you shall die, God was not talking of a biological dying. God was referring to something more serious than that, something much more serious than that. You notice that when they ate the fruit and they died, they were still biologically alive. Adam was still hiding somewhere and he was saying that I heard your voice, I went to hide myself. So when God said they will die, God was not talking about a biological existence. God was talking about something more serious. God was talking about eternal life. God was talking about quietness, peace with God, rest, abundance. God was talking about having quietness on every side. God was talking about freedom from all manners of affliction. God was talking about having all you need in your situation. God was not just talking about a biological thing. Immediately they died, we began to see what it means to be dead. What it means to be dead is to live in fear. What it means to be dead is to live in anxiety. What it means to be dead is that there is no freedom. What it means to be dead is that all kinds of affliction began to come. Different types of afflictions. And that is where we are today. Man is existing but he's not alive. He's not in that place of quietness and rest that God had given to him. And so to remind ourselves again about life and your marriage, this final word is to ask you again. What is the situation of your home? What is the situation of your marriage? What is the situation? How is it in your home? How is it in your marriage? Can we talk about quietness? Can we talk about peace? Can we talk about rest? Can we talk about liberty? Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. Can we talk about joy? Can we talk about that place where the abundance and the will of God prevail? Look at how they were before they ate that fruit. Can we talk about where you don't have a guilty conscience? Something you are hiding. You can see the way Adam was hiding from God. You are hiding something from your spouse. Your spouse is hiding something from you. What is the situation in your marriage? Is there something hidden? Is there something somewhere? Is there something that cannot be discussed? Is there something about pointing of fingers? Look at when they died. Look at how they began to point finger. It was the woman you gave me. It was the serpent. Nobody want to accept blame. Blame pushing. How is the situation in your marriage? How is the situation in your home? As we look at a final word on life and your marriage, it's just good to look at it again. It's just good to review it again. How is your home front? How is the home front? How are things at home? And then, having said that, I would like us again to look at something we made mention of, we have reminded ourselves of what life is, life and your marriage. Every time we come together we always talk about marriage. So I will not remind us of what marriage is. We have often told you that marriage is not family, family is not marriage. Marriage is that relationship between the man and his wife. And as we try to look at final word, I want us to look at something again in that 1 Peter that we read. 1 Peter chapter 3. 1 Peter chapter 3, by way of reminding ourselves again. 1 Peter 3, from around verse 8. I read from around verse 8: Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion one for another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous. Finally all of you be of one mind, having compassion one for another, love as brothers, be tender, be courteous. And then the next thing there, it says, not returning evil for evil, nor reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, blessing. On the contrary, blessing. Knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For he who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the face of the Lord is against them who do evil. And who is he who will harm you, if you become followers of what is good? We read this scripture when we started the whole thing. And I remember we said something very serious when we read the scripture. We said many times people normally look at Psalm 34 as a Old Testament way of God's recipe to life. But we discovered that in the New Testament, the Bible made a direct reference to Psalm 34. A direct, I mean it was verbatim, word for word, word for word, word for word, quoting Psalm 34. Tell me not that look, this eternal life that God gives us, there is a way to enjoy this eternal life. You cannot enjoy this new life that you have found without following these principles of God. This your new life in Christ, this your born-again life, you can never enjoy it. If you really want to enjoy the life, then there are things to do. There are steps to take. And I made it very, very clear that so please don't look at Psalm 34 as a Old Testament quotation. But the Bible is talking about life again in the New Testament. That whoever it is that wants to enjoy life, do you want peace? Do you want abundance? Do you want to eventually meet with God? Do you want to eventually have acceptance with him? Do you want your marriage to be a place where God is? Do you want God to constantly visit you, as he did with Adam and Eve before they died? Do you want to enjoy the presence of God in your marriage? That's what we are calling life. And the Bible says look, whether in the Old Testament or in the New Testament, it is the same pattern. It is the same pattern. The third thing, I've just been numbering them as I go because it's a final word. The third thing I want to call our attention to in the matter of life and your marriage, bringing the home front into a situation where you have life. I said the law of life and the law of existence, they are contrary to themselves. Brethren, the law of life and the law of existence, they are contrary to themselves. They oppose themselves. But you have to make a choice on what you really want. You either choose to live or you choose to exist. But like God told the Israelites, I'm also telling you, choose life that you may live. But one thing that we must remind ourselves of as we close up on the matter of life and your marriage is that oftentimes people have great challenge about bringing life into their relationship. Relationship with their spouse, children with their parents, and even us with our neighbors, fellow workers. You can look at life in different dimension. It's not that we are looking at it particularly in the context of marriage. But you can look at it in different dimension, in different dimension. Now, the point I'm making is that we must never forget as we close up on the matter of life and your marriage that the law of life and the law of existence, they are opposed to themselves. And many times the law of existence is easier to follow than the law of life. I give you a good example. When you are in a difficult situation, people find it easier to tell a little lie and get out of that situation than to stand for the truth and be punished in that situation. Are you getting the point I'm making? People find it, the law of existence and the law of life, they are contrary to themselves. And it is often easier to follow the law of existence than to follow the law of life. For example, if somebody slap you, which is easier to do back? Slap back! It's the easiest thing to do. Not slapping back will make you look like what? The person won. You are a coward. You are not strong. If you were to be strong, when he gave you one, you should give three. [Yoruba: Oga], ressent. Ah! That sister, eh, you cannot joke with her now. That brother, eh, ah, look, he does not tolerate nonsense. You get the point I'm making. Yet the Bible says, if any man want to live life, don't give evil for evil. Don't give insult for insult. If you are insulted by somebody, just imagine sometimes when you are behind the steering. Like I was telling somebody sometimes, many born-again cars are driven by unborn-again people. You will see "I am for Jesus." You will see "whether you like it or not, I'm a child of God." And sometimes I ask, who is arguing with you? So you have to put a sticker, "whether you like it or not, I'm a child of God." But whichever way, you see a lot of very wonderful sticker. "Oh glory to Jesus, it's 2025, I will live for Jesus," all of that. But just imagine, just imagine what happen many times on our road. As you are just going, the other road user was the one who drove roughly, particularly these taxi drivers and okadas. And haven't done that, he looks at you and says [Yoruba: were], stupid man. Can't you just wait for me? Are you going anywhere? Me, I'm working, I must do for the. And something tells you, somebody tells you [Yoruba: were], somebody tells you you are mad. Behind the steering, what do you feel like doing? Do you not feel like giving insult for insult and saying you are more stupid, you must be crazy. What I'm trying to make you see is that you must never forget that to exist is more attractive to man than to live. To exist, the law of existence is more attractive to us. If our spouse do to us what pains us, what is easier is to give them back. I remember a sister who says, ah, hmm, no, me I don't fight. There is what you call judgment of silence. And I said sister, which one judgment of silence? Ah, she said there's what you call silent treatment. No, you know as a Christian we don't need to be. I said sister, whether you give silent judgment or you give judgment of silence, whichever one you are doing, can I quickly inform you that neither of them is correct? If the reason why you refuse to answer your spouse is so that you can fire him back, it's also revenge. Revenge come whichever way. It's not until you say something. Your action or your inaction, if the motive is he think he's wise, abi? I will give him back. You have dead with him. The Bible says not giving evil for evil. How do you explain the case of a neighbor who was hurrying to go to work and the car could not start? Who quickly went to his neighbor next flat and say please, let me quickly use your battery. Neighbor said, you see, you see, I don't like situation where my battery will run down. I don't like those kind of situation. So, I don't want to, not that I will not have given you but sometimes you know, he just gave all kinds of excuse, talking from both sides of the mouth. The long and short, he didn't give the battery. So that neighbor had to take bus, go to the re-wire, brought battery to start the car before he could get to work that day. But you know what happened months later? It was the other way around. That other neighbor with the family on Sunday morning, they were set for church. They started the car and it was [vroom, vroom], they needed battery. They now went back to that other neighbor and said please, we are set for church, we needed to use your battery. Brethren listening to me, what would you? Are you going to give that battery or you will not give the battery? What is easier to do? The easiest thing is, eh, so you know how to ask for battery. Is that not the easiest, is that not the easiest thing to do? That's the easiest thing to do. But unfortunately that is not the way of life. Please brethren, I'm just reminding you again in this final word, always remember that it is easier to exist than to live. It is easier to exist. We readily exist. In fact, we quickly want to exist than we want to live. But don't forget, the more you exist, you can never live. Do you get that? Please note that somewhere in your diary, that the more you exist, you can never live. Do you get that? The Bible says, how, I've taken that again, 1 Peter. I've taken it again. He said, finally all of you be of one mind, having compassion one for another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous. In your marriage, I'm begging you, finally, on the final analysis, husband to wife, wife to husband. Are you in your relationship looking towards marriage? I beg you, finally all of you be of one mind. Be of one mind with your spouse. Be of one mind. Having compassion one for another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous. Don't ever return evil for evil, or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, blessing. Knowing that you are called to this. You are not doing it because your spouse deserve it. You are doing it because that is your call as a Christian. The eternal life that is in you, that's the only way to enjoy the life. Many people are not enjoying life today. They are not enjoying the eternal life. They are not finding rest for their soul. For the person who love life, do you see it? For the person who love life and will see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him pursue peace, let him seek peace and pursue it. I want to beg you, no matter how it turns, no matter how it turns, always choose to live. Don't ever choose to exist. Follow the way of life. Loving life is going the way of life. That is the recipe for life. That is the recipe. Don't give insult for insult. Don't give evil for evil. Don't be revengeful. Don't be malicious. Don't ever deceive your spouse. Don't ever tell a lie. Don't ever be deceitful. That is the way of life. That is the way to go. Don't say look, let me just quickly tell this little lie to escape. You are not escaping, you are dying. You are not escaping, you are dying. You are dying, you are no more living, you are just existing. You are dying. You are dying in installment. You are dying installmentally. You are going down, you are not going up. You are not escaping. You are rotting away, you are wasting away. Choose to live. Don't choose to exist. Men who choose to exist, they can never live. Let's go the way of life. It is very, very important. It's very important. Number four, final word. I hope you are noting all of these numbers. Please note them down, put them somewhere, note it. They are very important. Another final word as we round up this series of life and your marriage. Please, people normally say something and I say it's because they have not studied scripture very well. They have not studied scripture very well. In fact, the Yorubas have an adage for it. The Yorubas will say [Yoruba: wa pe l'aye, oju e o ni ribi, wa mu k'unu eni]. I will interpret that for non-Yoruba hearers, non-Yoruba listeners. It's either you don't live long in the world. Live long so that your eyes will not see evil. Live long so your eyes will not see evil. If you live too long, there's no way your eyes will not see evil. There's this adage among Yorubas. Let me translate it for non-Yoruba listeners. They are saying that if you live long, it is almost impossible for you not to see evil. That you have to make a choice between a long life and seeing good. That the longer you live, the more definitely you will experience evil. So it's just good to make a choice for one. Short life, no evil. Long life, then you see evil. But let's look at the scripture. The scripture says who is the person who love life? That person that love life and wants many days that he may see good. Do you get that? Look at the scripture. He said who is the person who love life? He love many days, and he want to see good in those many days. Look at it in Psalm 34, where that quote was taken from. That has been our text for the past many months, Psalm 34. Psalm 34, look at what the Bible says in Psalm 34 verse 12: Who is the man who desire life and love many days, that he may see good? Who is the man who desire life, who love many days, that he may see good? Are you seeing something? Please, as we round up this matter, I want you to know something. It is possible, it is possible to live long and see good all your days. It is very, very possible. And God is showing you the way to it. It is possible to live long and see good all your days. He said who is the person who love life? He love many days, and he want to see good in those many days. If you love life, you love many days, and you want to see good in those days. If you want to see good, what I'm trying to make you understand is that when we choose to live, we are also answering, we are also giving answer, we are saying yes to something. Please don't ever forget. When we choose to live and not exist, I've explained what it means to live now. When we choose to live and not exist, it may look difficult to choose the way of life than the way of existence. It may look hard. Are you not making a fool of yourself when you choose life as against existence? When we choose to live, we are saying yes to something. Please don't ever forget. You are saying yes to fullness of days. You are saying yes to seeing good in the fullness of your many days. For the fullness of your days, you are saying yes. Yes, I want to see many days and I want to see good in those many days. If you love life, you love many days, and you want to see good in those days. If you want to see good, what I'm trying to make you understand is that once you are choosing to live, what you are choosing actually is that you are choosing in your marriage that look, in this my marriage, in this my family, over my spouse, over my children, I am choosing something. I am choosing days, many days, and I am also choosing that we will see good all our days. That is what you are choosing. Don't ever forget. When you choose the way of life, when you choose the recipe of life, when you say no, I will choose the recipe of life. When you say look, it doesn't matter how it turns. For me as a person, I will keep my tongue from speaking evil. I will keep my lip from telling lie. I will never do evil to my spouse no matter what happens, I will always do good. All my life I will seek peace. And when it looks like peace is escaping from me, I will pursue the peace. That is the way I'm going to go. When you make that choice in life, when you choose it, when you say I'm taking this recipe, no matter what, I will never give evil for evil. I will never retaliate. I will never be malicious. I will never be deceitful. I will never tell a lie. I choose to, I choose to live, I choose not to exist. I will not live the general way that people live. I will go the way of God. What I'm telling you is that you are also saying yes to, you're saying yes to many days. Please don't ever forget what you are saying yes to. You are saying yes to many days. You are saying yes to seeing good in the many days. Your days can be many and you can see good in the many days. I remember discussing with my dad one day. My dad is late now. He left at the age of 95. But discussing with him he was about 90 then, I can't be precise about the age. I was just, we were discussing and he said, [Yoruba: Wole, se mi o ti ma pe ju l'aye bayii?]. Let me interpret that. I will interpret it. Let me just, because he said it in Yoruba: [Yoruba: se mi o ti ma pe ju l'aye bayii?]. And I said, ah, [Yoruba: e pe ju, e n lo hundred, e n lo hundred and ten]. [Yoruba: mo fe ki oju mi ma ba ribi mo ni. ki n ma tu lo pe ju ki oju mi ma ba ribi mo ni]. And I said Dad, [Yoruba: se e wa fe pa ara yin bayii ni?]. [Yoruba: Rara, mo ko ni ki n tete lo ni, mo ti ri nkan ti mo fe ri tan]. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! What he's saying is this. He was about 90 years old and I went to visit him. And he was saying that ah, my son, it's like I'm staying too long oh. I'm staying too long. I said too long? You are just 90. Moses was 120, his natural strength was not abated. His eyes did not grow dim. There are people of 110, there are people of 100. I said so there's no problem that you are 90. But he said actually, he knows that. He's just afraid that he doesn't want to experience evil, like maybe the death of children. You know, he was just, he quickly want to go now that he has seen everything. He has enjoyed what he want to enjoy, he has seen his children's children. So he quickly want to go. And I said Dad, are you going to kill yourself? May your days be many and may you see good all your days in the name of Jesus. In old age you be bearing fruit. You will not be afraid looking for let me quickly go, let me quickly go, I don't want to see evil. May that be your portion in the name of Jesus. But there's a way to go. There's a life to live. There's a choice to make. You have to make a choice. Make a choice that look, as for me, God has given me a recipe, the recipe for life. I will go the way of life. So please, I'm just giving us final word. Please remember that when, although it looks difficult to choose the way of life, it is easier to go the way of existence. It is easier to live like other men. It is easier to tell a lie, to escape situation, to be revengeful, to retaliate. These are easier to do. They look very cheap. They look very easy to lay your hands on. But remember, people who choose the way of life are not stupid. People who choose life, let me tell you something about them. Please note it down. They are not stupid. Number one, they are focused. And may you be focused in the name of Jesus. People who choose life, they are not stupid. Number one, they are focused. They know what they are doing. They know where they are going. Bro, sis, I know what I'm doing. I know where I'm going. You may look at me, ah, that person cheated you, ah, that person took advantage of you, ah, that person did this. That can be what you are reading. People who choose life are focused. They know where they are going. Number two, something about those who choose life. They are people who are resolved. They are people of strong resolve. The Bible says Daniel resolved in his mind not to defile himself with the king's meat. They are not foolish people oh. You might be thinking that they are foolish. They are people who are resolved. They are people of strong resolution. They have resolved. You say but ah, what he did. We just smile over it, leave him. Say ah! Why? You will try to persuade them to do otherwise. They will tell you no. And you will be wondering, [Yoruba: eni yi o gbon, eni yi, ah, ko ba je emi ni], oh, this person is stupid, ah, if it were to be me, I know... Oh. They are not stupid people. They have strong resolve. They have strong resolve. The third thing I want to tell you about these people is that they are people who are intentional about life. They do things intentionally. Many people who exist do things carelessly. Telling a little lie, you have escaped that. Sometimes you don't even know when you contradict yourself. You will not know when you contradict yourself with lie. You know sometimes when you tell too many lies, you don't know when you have contradicted yourself. You will not know. So people who exist, they are people who are not intentional. But people who live, they are intentional people. They do things intentionally. They are people of strong intention. Because they are aiming at something. They are aiming at something. That's something about these people. So don't ever think that they are people who are just careless. No, they are not. They are not. They are not. And you know, and I have seen these things over and over and over and over again. Please, let's look at something in our Master. Because our Master lived, he never existed. He followed the way of life. How do you explain it? How do you explain it? When you look at the way Jesus he suffered and died. Look at the way he was betrayed. Look at the suffering he went through. Look at the way he died. Ordinarily, who won? Ordinarily, who won? Is it not like the Pharisees won? Is it not like they won? No, just look at it ordinarily. Who won? The Pharisees won. Judas made money. The gate of hell, wow, we have prevailed. But in the final analysis, what did the Bible say? The Bible says if they had known, they would not have crucified the Prince of Glory. If they had known. But look at, look at, look at how it looks as if Jesus was Jesus was foolish. Look at how it looks as if Jesus was stupid. They were asking him to defend himself, he did not give any particular defense. Like a sheep before the slaughter, he did not say anything. When they were shouting, doing everything, and the multitude who turned, who he had been doing miracle for, who shouted Hosanna, Hosanna yesterday. The following day they were shouting, Crucify him. On the cross, what was his prayer? Father, forgive them, they don't know what they are doing. The same humanity that was busy killing him. When he died, the Bible says he went to the grave. Is that not? When he went to the grave, what was his mission? Bible said he went to collect the key of death from the devil. When he collected the key, what did he do when he was resurrecting? At resurrection, he gave gifts unto men. And then send those men to go and preach the gospel, to go and save those people that killed him. Was he looking like somebody who knows what he's doing? But when you look at the whole thing about Jesus, was Jesus running a definite plan? That is the point I'm trying to make you see. The fourth thing about people who choose to live and not exist is that they are people who live with eternity in view. They are people who live. Look, that's what I'm telling you that you may be thinking they don't know what they are doing. They are people who are living with eternity in view. Eternity is their view. When somebody is in a situation and just say ah, well, just tell a little lie, just square off him. And they say sorry, I would rather suffer for the truth. Say look at him, stupid person. A woman wrapper, is going to tell his wife the truth. Eh, look at him. You are too fearful of your husband. What is it? Just tell him and then you escape it. Say no, I will tell him exactly how it is. See, you are too open. You are too truthful. It looks like you don't know what you are doing. But I'm telling you, these people know what they are doing. Jesus know what they are doing. Jesus know what he was doing. He was following a definite plan. And I beg you, I beg you, I beg you, I beg you. If only in this world you have hope of all men you are most miserable. If only in this world, if your living is about this world, let me get it, let me grab it, let me take it, let me take it. Ah! Your Christianity should be called to question. Men who live, they live because their eye is on eternity. It's on eternity. They are people of focus. They are people of focus. Their eyes is on eternity. Their eyes are on eternity. They are looking at eternity. They are looking at how eternity will open. And that is why they live the way they live. That is why they live the way they live. That is who they are. That is what they are. So while you may look at them and say [Yoruba: eni yi o gbon], these ones they are stupid, these ones. You are the one who is stupid. You are the one who is dying. You are the one who is wasting. You are the one who is rotting away. You are just rotting away because you don't understand, like I told somebody. I was using cigarette to illustrate it. I don't know what happened, I was trying to tell tell the person, I said look. I said what what do you see on the pack of cigarette? They wrote on cigarette, smokers are liable to die young. Is that not what is written there? The person said yes, that's what's written there. I said do you know why it is written there? Said, not really, not really, that smokers will die young. I said no, let me tell you why it is written there. Science have been able to prove that with every, every minute when you inhale cigarette, [inhale sound] and then [exhale sound], you deduct a second out of your lifespan. Now, it means every time you inhale, you breathe out, you inhale, you breathe out, second before you know, 60 seconds make one minute. 60 minutes will make one hour. 24 hours will make one day. Are you, are you following me? 7 days will make one week. 4 weeks will make one month. 12 months will make one year. I'm trying to make you understand something. What they are saying is that a smoker is dying installmentally. He's dying. But because it is seconds by seconds, he's not feeling it. Are you getting it? It is the same thing with choosing to exist. For every revenge, you die. For every lie, you die. For every evil for evil, you die. For every not seeking peace, you die. It looks like you are living but you are dying. Those who are not intentional. Those who are not, let me take it from how I took it. Those who are not focused. Those who are not of strong resolve. Those who are not intentional. Those who don't live with eternity in view. You know what they are doing? They are dying in installment. They are dying installmentally. May we choose to live. May we choose to live. May we choose to live. And number five, a final word. A final word of this matter. A final word. Number five on a final word on life and your marriage. Why you must choose the recipe for life in your marriage. Do you notice something? Do you notice something very, very important in that in both 1 Peter chapter 3 and Psalm 34? Do you notice something there? The Bible resolve the matter. The Bible resolve the whole matter on God. The Bible resolve, the Bible put everything, the basis for the whole matter, the Bible place it on God. It is on God that the whole thing was placed, on God. Do you notice that? Everything was finally placed on God. And what is it? He said the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Do you get the point? And that is also the final thing I'm rounding up with today, as a final word for us today. If you look at, if you look at it in Peter, 1 Peter chapter 3. It's the same way that the Bible put it in 1 Peter chapter 3. He says for the face of God is against them who do evil. In Psalm 34, the same thing: The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Please, I just want to as we wrap up this final word, and the number five which is the final of the final word. I want to beg brothers and sisters listening to me, I want to appeal to us. Yes, it's not an easy road we are traveling to heaven, and many are the thorns on the way. It's not an easy road, but the Savior is with us. His presence gives us joy every day. Oh no, no, it's not an easy road. No, no, it's not an easy road. But Jesus walks beside us and lightens our journey and gives us rest every day. Brethren, as we try to close up. The way of life, like I said, may not look the easier way to go. But I want you to see something very well. It is because of the consequences, the consequences of not going the way of life that makes the way of life the profitable way to go. Because all our actions, please mark my word, all our actions have consequences. Don't think there's something you do and you have gone, there's nothing like that. Every action of a man is a seed. Every action of a man is a seed. And he's coming back to reap the harvest of what he or she has planted. The reason why it is like that, why any seed, any seed, that is any action you take, any seed you sow, why that seed cannot die is because the person monitoring the seed is God, not man. The person monitoring the seed is God, not man. You see, the eyes of the Lord is on the righteous, to hear their cry. At the same time, the face of the Lord is on those who do evil. So who is monitoring? It is God. The reason why any of your, I don't know whether you are getting me. Let us see something in Ecclesiastes. Let's see something in Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes the last chapter. The book of Ecclesiastes, the chapter 12. Look at the last two verses, verse 13 and verse 14. Verse 13 and verse 14. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. I told you that today is final word, and this number five is the final of the final. So I'm giving you the conclusion of the matter. Ecclesiastes chapter 12, the conclusion, as we are concluding conclusively concluding today. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God. Keep his commandment, for this is the this is man's all, or whole duty, in some translation. Am I correct? What's your translation there, ma? Man's all. Some translation says man's whole duty. Okay, that is old King James, they say it is the whole duty of man. Why? Why? See, the reason why you are living right is not because of your spouse. Don't think he did this to me, I will give him back, he doesn't know anything. You are not living if that is the way you are living. Ah, you don't really understand what life is about. We don't live because of people. We live because we have a deep understanding of something. You are not living right because of your spouse. The reason why you are true, sincere, why you are choosing to live in holy conduct, in proper conduct, while you are conducting yourself in holiness and righteousness and uprightness, keeping the commands of God, it's not because of your spouse. Please listen, it is not your spouse who said don't lie to me. It is God who said don't lie to her, or don't lie to him. It is not your spouse who says ah please, don't revenge my action. No. That is the mistake many times we make. They are not the ones who instructed us to do so. So, whether they do so or they don't do so, don't say because they did wrong, you too will do wrong. You only being foolish. Because they are not the one who asked you to do right. The Bible says the person who asks us to do right, by the time he want to question us, he will not question us based on: Okay, your husband cheated on you, oh, that is why you also went and sleep with another man. Okay, you are now justified, move in. Are you understanding me? There is not, there is nothing like that. Because it's not your husband who asks you to live holy. I just pray you understand what I'm saying and you get it very, very clear. This final of the final. The living, the reason why you are living right is because the person who gave the command, who gave instruction is God. And look at God. That's why the Bible says the eyes of the Lord is on the righteous, to hear their cry. At the same time, the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. So God is busy watching both. Why? Because he is the one who gave the command. And look at what the Bible says. Verse 14: For God, for God, the reason why you should fear this thing, why you should follow this way, he say for God will bring every work into judgment. That is why let me tell you brother, let me tell you sister, there is no action you take, the seed will never die. The seed of your actions will never die. You will come back to reap the harvest of your seed. You will come back to reap it. He says for God will bring into judgment, how many things? How many things? Every work. God will bring it into judgment. And then, look at how it goes. What did he say? Including what? What is he including? Every secret thing, whether good or what, or evil. Please, are you getting something? Please look at something oh. I've said it before in one of our administrations. For God will bring every work into judgment. Please, does he exempt any work like that? Does he exempt any work? No. But look at what now follows. Including every secret thing. I want to ask you, is secret thing not included in every work? Is secret thing, the secret actions you take, are they not included in every work? They were included. But God is drawing emphasis. God is saying that please, when God says he will bring every work to judgment, God is emphasizing to you that please get something clear. Even the one that nobody knows about. There are things you might have done, and for 30, 40 years nobody knows about it. Nobody. Oh, I love this my Sunday school song. You cannot hide it from God. You cannot hide it from God. You may cover your sins and say nobody knows, but you cannot hide it from God. Hallelujah! That was the song I learned when I was about, I think, nine years or 10 years old in my Sunday school. But that song keep ringing in me until today. That you may have covered it and say nobody knows. Nobody may know, it might be hidden, completely covered, nobody knows. But you cannot hide it from God. God will bring it to judgment. You may say ah, I've escaped my spouse. [Yoruba: O je lo... O je'ra e run ni, o je lo nibikibi...]. You have not gone anywhere. You have not escaped at all. Don't think yes, this one got ah, this one got him, wow, he's covered. There's nothing like that. Please don't ever forget. The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous. Simultaneously the face of the Lord is on those who do evil. Always remember, in secret, in open, there is a God who sees and there is a God who knows. I take that again. Always remember, in secret or in open, there is a God who sees and there is a God who knows. And that is why for me, a Christian, a Christian is that individual who does in every situation, at all times, in all places, only those things he can openly declare. A Christian, I take it again, is that individual who in every situation, in all things, everywhere he find himself or herself, the person does only those things he can openly declare. A Christian don't have secret. A Christian don't have something covered. A Christian don't have something that is, eh, don't let them hear, don't let them hear. A Christian don't have such things in their life. That is a Christian. That is a Christian. Why? Because they have a clear understanding that Jehovah sees, Jehovah knows. Jehovah sees, Jehovah knows. Jehovah sees, Jehovah knows. That is the life of a Christian. They have that clear understanding. I've checking through everything we have here. I've not seen any comment from anybody, and we have not seen any question from anybody. So we are assuming that there are no questions and we are assuming that there are no comments. So there's nothing to to read to the audience of all. So let us begin to have our word of prayer. Can you begin to talk to the Lord? Jehovah sees. Jehovah knows. Jehovah sees. Jehovah knows. People who have this kind of understanding, I just remember Joseph. He said, Madam, how can I sleep with you? How will I commit this wickedness against God? Joseph understood that Jehovah sees, Jehovah knows. The woman felt that will be hidden from my husband. Maybe it is me I will hide it. But Joseph have a clear understanding that Jehovah sees, Jehovah knows. Jehovah sees, Jehovah knows. Jehovah knows your motive. Jehovah knows your intention. The actions that you are taking. Whether it's for selfish reason that you are doing what you are doing. Jehovah sees, Jehovah knows. Ah, you know what I said now makes me to remember something. The Yorubas normally have this adage. This one is a good adage. They said, [Yoruba: Mo se're ko eventually ko gbe mi, ibi die wa n be nibe ni. Mo se're ko gbe mi, ibi die wa n'inu eni]. You know what they are trying to say? That I've gone the way of God. I've gone the way I should go, but it was not profitable to me. Go and check what is your motive for doing what you did. You see, Jehovah sees, Jehovah knows. Look at what Paul said. If I give all my body to be burnt and I have not love, he said it profits me nothing. What is love? Love is patient, love is kind. Love does not rejoice in iniquity. Love is sincere, love is transparent, love is a character, love is a behavior. Love does not seek its own. Love is not arrogant. Love just nothing for selfish reason. So you may give your body to be burnt, for instance, but yet it's for your selfish purpose. And you say it didn't profit me. Jehovah sees, Jehovah knows. I've been doing good to my husband, it is not even profitable to me. Check your motive. Check your motive. I've been doing good to my wife, I've been always good, but I've been seeing evil. Hmm, check your intention. Check it. Jesus went all the way to do good, in his intention, in his action. Today the Bible says he's seated at the right hand of God. He was given a name that is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee must bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. He went through it all. Today he's seated at the right hand of God. Check. Jehovah sees. Jehovah knows. Jehovah sees. Jehovah knows. Commit yourself to the Lord. Commit your ways to the Lord. I will go the way of life and I will go completely. I will go fully. In my relationship to my spouse, in my relationship to my husband, to my wife, I will go the way of life. My relationship to my parents, my relationship to my colleagues, relationship to my neighbor, relationship to fellow man. Relationship to fellow Christians. I will go the way of life. I will go the way of life. I will go the way of life. Relationship to other men. I will go the way of life. I will go the way of life. I will go the way of life. Talk to the Lord this morning. Talk to the Lord. Ask the Lord to help you. Ask the Lord to work in you. It is God who work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. It is God who works in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. It is God who works in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Commit yourself to the Lord. Speak to the Lord. Ask the Lord to help you. Lord, our eyes on you this morning. Lord, we just commit ourselves into your hand. Lord, we just pray. Lord, we just pray. Lord, we just pray. Lord, we just pray. Help us. Help us. Help us in all we think, in all we say, in all we do, that our ways may be right. That our ways may be right. That our ways may be right. In our relationship, in our marriage. Relationship in our families. Relationship in our homes. May our home front be a home of life. May our home front be a home of life. May our home front be a home of life in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank you, eternal Father. Blessed be your holy name, our God. Thank you, almighty God. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Let's share the grace together this morning. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us now and forevermore. Amen. [Speaker 1] This message is coming to you from Family Tent Ministry, a Christian ministry involved in reaching the lives of singles and marriage through preaching and teaching of God's word, discipleship, family life enrichment, social and community development and mission aid. Our regular activities are discipleship class every Monday, 5:00 PM; adolescents and singles club every first Saturday of every month at 10:00 AM; marriage forum second Saturday of every month at 10:00 AM; family life seminars; regular school outreaches; and everyday counseling. For further counseling you can reach us at our location: Life Camp by the first bridge, Ilere community opposite Veryjoy filling station along Ije road, Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria. You can also reach us through our social media handles: familytent@yahoo.co.uk, familytentministry01@gmail.com, www.familytentministry.org. Our phone numbers are 080-3386-1136, 070-3361-3848. God bless you all.