Not as one beating the Air(Prayer).

[Singing] I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart I will enter His courts with praise I would say, “This is the day that the Lord has made” I would rejoice for He has made me glad He has made me glad, He has made me glad And I’m so glad I will rejoice for He has made me glad He has made me glad, He has made me glad And I’m so glad I will rejoice for He has made me glad Oh, I will enter I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart I will enter His courts with praise I would say, “This is the day that the Lord has made” I will rejoice for He has made me glad He has made me glad, He has made me glad And I’m so glad I will rejoice for He has made me glad He has made me glad, He has made me glad And I’m so glad I will rejoice for He has made me glad He has made me glad, He has made me glad And I’m so glad I will rejoice for He has made me glad He has made me glad, He has made me glad And I’m so glad I will rejoice for He has made me glad [Speaker 1] Our Father, we are grateful unto you. We thank you for your mercies. We thank you for your love. We thank you for all who you are. We thank you for all that you are. We thank you for your grace. We thank you, Lord our God, for all that you do in our lives. We say, “Baba, be exalted in the name of Jesus.” Lord, unto you, oh God, we are gathering again this evening. Lord, our brethren joining us on Telegram, our brethren joining us on Mixlr, Lord, we who are physically here, Lord God Almighty, we all come before you. Lord God Almighty, regardless of our location, Lord, locate us in the name of Jesus Christ. Lord, let us have a free course in our midst this evening in the name of Jesus Christ. Lord, meet us where we need you most. Address our situation. Lord, as we reflect on some of the issues we raised last week and in the course of the month, and as we take time to pray, Lord, help us to pray. Lord, teach us to pray. Enable us, oh God. Grant us, oh Lord, that we pray accordingly, that we pray aright, that we pray through in the name of Jesus. Thank you, eternal Father. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. We thank our God again for this time in His presence. We indeed appreciate Him for His mercy. We thank Him for His grace. We thank Him for all who He is and all that He is to us and all He’s doing in our midst every time we come like this, every Monday, to reflect on scripture. Diversely and severally, we see the Lord meeting with us. We see Him meeting us at the very point where we need Him most. I trust the Lord again today that as we gather unto Him, it will not be different. The Lord will meet with us in the name of Jesus Christ. This is the last Monday in the month of May, so as usual, setting out time to be able to pray. We’ll take some time to pray over many of the things you have been listening to through the course of the month, through the course of the year, taking time to pray. Particularly because we got a lot of comments, feedbacks from online brethren about last week’s message. For most parts of the message, the audio was not very good. The audio was not very good. So what we will do today before we take some time to pray, I’ll try to do a summary of the intent of last Monday’s Bible study. We started last Monday with the topic, "Not as One Beating the Air." "Not as One Beating the Air." And we took our text from 1 Corinthians 9. We took the reading from what Apostle Paul said from around verse 19 through to the end of that chapter. Our intent last week was that we’d be able to round up everything on "Not as One Beating the Air," but we couldn’t round it up. So instead of having "Not as One Beating the Air 2" today, we’ll still not be going fully into the second episode of the topic. Rather, I’ll try to do a recap of some of the things we said last week and then we take time to pray. By the time we meet next week Monday, which is the first Monday in the month of June by the grace of God, we’ll be going further and further into the topic, "Not as One Beating the Air." The statement, "Not as one beating the air," was made by Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:19-27. I’ll read just a kind of recap anyway. [Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27] For though I am free from all men, I made myself a servant to all that I might win the more. And to the Jews, I became as a Jew that I might win Jews. To those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law. To those who are without the law, as without the law, not as being without the law towards God, but under the law towards Christ, that I might win those who are without the law. To the weak, I became as weak that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the Gospel's sake, that I may be partakers of it with you. Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore, I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one beating the air. Thus I fight: not as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. Last week, we took time to expand the matter of what it means when he says, "not as one beating the air." Though unfortunately, most part of that audio was not very good, towards about 30 minutes to the end of the message, that was when the audio became very good. Now, just a little recap on what we did last week. The matter, "not as one beating the air," I read that very verse from other translations of the Bible. I read it from NLT: "Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one gets the prize. You must run in such a way that you will win. You must run in such a way that you will win." Let me go to the matter of not as one beating, which is verse 26. NLT: "So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches." NIV: "Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly. I do not fight like a man beating the air." The Message: "I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I am giving it everything I have got. No sloppy living for me." Amplified: "Therefore I do not run uncertainly, without a definite aim. I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary." Last week, I expounded very clearly that the matter of "as one beating the air," the Bible relates our Christian race to those in a race, those in a boxing ring, and those in a sport, training for sport. And when he said that, "not as one beating the air," he was calling our attention to a very vital thing. That the Christian race is not a matter of how we feel, how I like this, what I want. It is a matter of what we ought and what we should. I said anybody who is following the Christian race with the attitude of "it is as I like it," "it is according to the way I feel," or "what I want," is running aimlessly. He is as one beating the air. He is somebody who is running the race not because he wants to obtain. People who want to obtain, people who are really determined to obtain the prize, they don't run the race the way they feel. They don't run the race the way they want. They don't run the race the way they like. They run the race the way they ought. They run the race the way they must. And I expounded this between various scriptures last week. The first one was when I liked the life of Paul the Apostle. We saw in Acts 9. Acts 9, not Acts 1, please. In Acts 9, the matter of what he must do became very clear in the life of Apostle Paul. In Acts 9, the Bible says beginning from verse 1: [Scripture reading: Acts 9:1-6] Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Note the matter. His question was, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” When the Lord was to respond, the Lord said, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Not what you want to do, but what you must do. The demands of God over our lives, when a believer has not realized that it’s a matter of what he must do or she must do, that person is running as one beating the air. He’s running aimlessly. He’s running without a goal in mind. He’s running casually. He’s running trivially. He’s running without a purpose. He’s running without a purpose. He’s running without a purpose. He’s running without a definite aim. He’s not running as somebody who is determined to get something. Somebody who wants to get something must understand that the things of God do not demand from us what you feel like doing, what you want to do, or what you like to do. Rather, it demands from you what you must do. I took a second example last week from the book of Psalm 25:12-13. Just trying to recap those parts that were not clear last week, so that people who might not have gotten it clearly will be able to get it clear, what we said about the matter that we began to emphasize later last week. In Psalm 25, particularly the verse 12, that was where we lay our emphasis. Verse 12. It says: [Scripture reading: Psalm 25:12] Who is the man that fears the Lord? If we can find a man who fears the Lord, what happens with that life? He said, “Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.” That is NKJV. The matter may not be coming out clear. We now read it in NLT: “Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose.” Not the path that they may choose. Not the path that they like to choose. Not the path that they want to choose. But the path that they should choose. The things of God is a "should." And I said it affects every area of our life. Area of ministry, area of marriage, area of career, area of where to settle, area of what to do in life, area of who to marry. Just count anything. When it comes to a matter of decision or whatever, your finances, your choices, your work, your pursuits in life, you must understand that over your life there is a path that you should choose. And I said last week that you must understand that if you don't choose that path, look at what happened in verse 12. It says, "He himself shall dwell in prosperity, and his descendant shall be established upon the earth." When you don't go in the way you should choose, you will not experience the prosperity you ought to experience. There are different types of prosperity, but look at what the Bible talked about. Good success. There are different types of success, but success that does not coincide or that is not according to that which you should do is a failure. I repeat again, success that is not in line with that which you should do, the aggregate of that thing is that you are a failure in life. By the time you come back to look at everything, you will find that you did not have success, you had failure. Until it becomes what you must do and what you should do. So the things of God over our lives is a matter of a "must." The third scripture I used last week in opening up the matter of "not as one beating the air," so if you don't want to be beating the air, fighting aimlessly, doing things, following God aimlessly or without purpose, if you don’t want to be somebody like that, you should be asking yourself: “The way I am running this thing, is it a matter of what I like, what I know, how I feel, or what I should and what I must?” You need to examine your life daily. And as every time I said, following the teaching of the Lord, it comes straight to my head. Nobody slaps you and you feel like saying, "Hallelujah, the Lord has done wonderfully." What you feel like doing is to slap back, but Jesus said, "Turn the other one." It’s not a matter of how you feel, it’s a matter of what He said. You don't feel like loving your enemy, you feel like hating your enemy. You don't feel like doing good to those who hate you. But it’s a matter of what He demands. You don't feel like blessing those who curse you. Am I correct? When somebody curses you, you just look at the person and say, "You stupid idiot." You don't feel like saying, "The Lord bless you." What you are saying is that "stupid" or do something. So the matter is not about how you feel. Anybody who thinks that Christianity is about how I feel, what I want, and what I like, I’m telling you at the end of the day, your life will amount to nothing. You are going nowhere. Christianity is you must run not as one who is beating the air. Then you must understand whether in our marital life, in our financial life, in the area of ministry, in our career, in our finances, in our everyday conduct, in our jobs, in our relationship with people, there is a demand, there is a standard of God. There is what we must do. It’s not about how I feel or what I like or what I want. It’s about what the Lord said, what we should and what we must. And the last scripture I used last week to illustrate it is from the book of Isaiah 48:17. I said that was the opening scripture for us for the year. I believe many of us who were in that first meeting of 2024 will remember that scripture very well. Isaiah 48:17. That was the other scripture that I used last week to expand the matter of the demands of God over our life. It’s not about what you feel like doing, what you want to do, or what you like to do. It’s about what you must do. It’s about what you must do. Isaiah 48:17. It said: [Scripture reading: Isaiah 48:17] Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit.” That's number one. But how does He teach you to profit? How does He teach you to profit? The next thing: “Who leads you,” how? “By the way that you should go.” Not you may. It’s not that you may or you feel like or you want to. He doesn't lead you the way. If you must profit in life, God don't lead you the way you like. He doesn't lead you the way you want. He doesn't lead you the way you feel. He leads you in the way you should go. So the demands of God over the life of anybody that wants to run the race and obtain is to understand that it’s a "must" and a "should." Everybody who doesn't come with that understanding is what I summarized last week, that you are as one beating the air. You are an individual who is beating the air. And when you look at how the scripture puts it in that 1 Corinthians 9. 1 Corinthians 9. If you look at how the scripture puts it in that place for us, this matter of beating the air. NKJV: "Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty." Your race is uncertain, your work is uncertain, your finances are uncertain, your marriage is uncertain, your career is uncertain, your life is uncertain, your projects are uncertain when you don't go in the path that you should go. Don't run with uncertainty. I’m telling you. And I normally say this and I will say it over and over again. Get it and get it clear. Life is full of uncertainties. The only certainty in the uncertainties of life is that which God said. I take it again. Life is full of uncertainties. The only certainty in the uncertainties of life is that which God said. Is that which God said. And we must get that very clearly and get that very clearly. The only certainty in the uncertainties of life is that which God said. And so the matter is coming to us. "Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one beating the air." NLT: "So I run straight to the goal with purpose. Run straight to the goal. That goal, run with purpose in every step." It says, "I am not like a boxer who misses his punches." Don't be wasting your punches. If you are running the Christian race and what you are doing is what you feel, what you like, what you want, you are just wasting your life. You are wasting it. You are wasting it. And we must get that very clear. As we said last week, everybody who comes to the race, they came to run. But many will go back home without what? Without prize. They will go back home just the way they came to the place. Only one person wins the race. And He’s telling that we should run as somebody who wants to win. The idea I’m trying to make you see, He’s trying to make us all to understand the nature of the kingdom. The kingdom gathers all kinds of people. People will talk, people will run it anyhow, anyway, all kinds of ways, all kinds of Christianity, all kinds of practice, all kinds of things. But at the end of the day, He will judge the good ones, He will judge the bad ones. That’s the reality. Not everybody that come into the race will obtain. Some are just busy wasting their time. And what leads to waste of time is those three things. When you think that it is as I feel, when it is what I want, when it is what I like. If that is your attitude and your behavior towards Christianity, towards the things of God, I’m telling you it’s just a matter of time, you will obtain nothing. That is why the Bible says that over time, they will heap for themselves teachers, having itching ears that will tell them things that they love to hear. Not the things that they ought to hear. Let me tell you this reality if you don't know it, or let me emphasize this again. Truth, God says you will know the truth and the truth will do what? Which means you cannot experience freedom more than the level of truth you know. The more truth you know, the more freedom you experience. But look at it. Truth is meant to be endured. It says "endure truth." What will set you free is meant to be endured. Don't forget. What brought salvation was the great suffering and endurance of an individual. What will continue to set us free are things to be endured. But once you endure the truth, you experience freedom. That is why the yoke of Jesus is easy and the burden is light. Because when you endure truth, it brings you to freedom. But when you refuse to endure truth and you go the things you enjoy, what you like, what you want, what you feel, the end of it is bondage. Then you will now see that the yoke of bondage is heavier than the yoke of truth. So the reason why the yoke of Jesus is easy and the burden is light, why His commandments are not grievous, is not because they are not meant to be endured. You don't feel like helping people who hated you, who sold you out, who betrayed you. You don't feel like saving them. That’s what when Joseph’s father died, they came to Joseph, they were kneeling down and were begging him. What you feel like doing is to show them pepper. But it takes a man who understands his purpose to know that God used them so that I can preserve. But you will be thinking that the way God will use them so that He can preserve them, that God will use them to help you. Are you understanding me? You feel more like helping those who help you. You feel more like helping those who stood by you. You don't feel like helping those who betrayed you and sold you out and backstabbed you. But God was telling Joseph to preserve and to keep those who backstabbed him and betrayed him. It is not about how you feel, it’s about what God wants. It’s about what we should. And that’s the mysteries of the ways of the Cross. It’s the same, just keep repeating them. Blessed are the meek, blessed are this, blessed are the poor in spirit. Go and check the reality of all these things. What are you supposed to be hungry and thirsty after? Not righteousness. What are they usually hungry and thirsty after? How to be rich, how to make money, how to make that. But he said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness." Seek first the kingdom of God. Does it look like the best thing you should seek? When you look at the realities that are going on in Nigeria, does it look like seeking first the kingdom of God? Does it work to be truthful in this nation if you want to make it? You feel like let me join them and also do one or two things, cut corners and make it. You don't feel like the ways of God. But until you do what you should do, you will never experience freedom and liberty. The point I am making, don't let us fight as one beating the air. Don't let us run this race as one beating the air. Let us run this race with a mind to obtain. I’ll add up with what I said last week, then we begin to go into prayer. I just want to round up that to re-emphasize what we said last week, in another way, in a fresh way again so you can know exactly what we are saying. In case, just like it was said that many of us could not follow what we—most of the things we said last week. But we thank God that we are having opportunity to look at them again afresh in a new way this evening. You know, one thing I want to—as I try to—to bring all of this together, I want to say this and I want you to get this very clear. Brethren, brethren, wherever you are listening to me, please, please, I want you to know this. If God is interested in works and our working for Him, He will test the nature of the work, of what it is made of. I’m quoting the scriptures. I’m quoting 1 Corinthians 3. So I don't be as if I’m reading off the God. Let me read it from verse 10. [Scripture reading: 1 Corinthians 3:10-15] According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. Why? For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—everybody just build anyhow. Anyway you want to build, build. If you like, use gold. If you like, use silver. If you look at the way these things were mentioned, they were mentioned in terms of how precious and dignified they are. The most dignified here is gold. It’s a precious stone. It can endure fire. Followed by silver, followed by precious stone. Then the next thing, you go to wood. You go to hay, you go to straw. Everybody, just build anyhow. Just keep building. But the reason why you must run in order to obtain is because each one’s work will become clear, for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire. Are you seeing? It will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. Not—I hope you understand. If God is just looking for us to do work for Him, "Ah, everybody just work, just keep working," He won't be testing what type of work you are doing. He’ll say, "Oh, thank you, you have worked." No! What God wants to reward, what God wants to reward is the one that agrees with His dictates. The one that has to do with what you must and what you should. Not the ones that you did in the way you like, the way you feel, and the way you wanted. No! It’s going to be the one that agrees with "I lead you in the way that you should go." When you go every other way, let me announce to you, you will not profit at the end of the day, you will lose out. Because they are going to test with fire. They are going to test how you run ministry. They are going to test how you did your work inside church. They are going to test how you did your quiet time. They are going to test how you pray to God. They are going to test how you did evangelism. They are going to test how you marry. They are going to test how you run marriage. They are going to test how you preach. They are going to test how you conduct yourself among your neighbors. They are going to test how you are an employee, employee under Nigerian government, whether you submit your heart or just stay. They are going to test everything. What sort of work you did as a Christian. What sort of work you did. They are going to test the kind of brother you are. They are going to test the kind of sister you are. They are going to test the kind of husband you are. They are going to test the kind of wife you are. They are going to test the kind of choir leader. They are going to test the kind of teacher you are. They are going to test everything. What sort it is. They are going to see whether it agrees with what you should and what you must, or it is an agglomeration, a collection, a gathering of what you feel, what you like, and what you want. When we test it, we now know whether we want to reward you or not. So brethren, let us run as somebody who wants to obtain. Somebody who wants to obtain will understand that this world is—He said they will laugh last, he who laughs last, laughs best. I want you to understand that it is God that will laugh last. Because of the last day, when He judges. Whatever you think you are doing, look at everybody that’s looking at you. He will not hold you guiltless. He will not hold you guiltless. God may not be shouting, God may not be breaking bones, He may not be killing you, like people will say, "Oh, Jehovah is not sharp-sharp." They want the one that will just—sharp, fire, come out here. Sharp! God may not be doing something like that. He’s so abundant and abundant in mercy. But please, the Bible says it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. It’s a fearful thing. Don't forget what He did to the house of Eli. He said I honor those who honor me. Those who despise me will be despised. He said I have said that your father’s house will serve me forever, but today I am changing my ordinance. I’m cutting off your father’s house. Nobody will grow old in this family. If they happen to grow old, they will either be a leper or a beggar. And I will cut you off from my priesthood. God can be very, very terrible as patient as He is. God should not be taken for granted. When He says, "I lead you in the way you should, you must, you ought," let us not turn into what we want, what we like, what we feel, because at the end of the day, our work will be tested. That’s the summary of what we tried to look at last week. I tried to round up that with us because we had a very bad audio last week. And so we want to take time to go into prayer this—I want us to pray about all of these things that we are hearing, these things that we are seeing, these things that we are understanding. We need to talk to the Lord. Wherever you are listening to me, take whatever position that is convenient for you to pray as we want to talk to the Lord this evening about our life. About our life. And we want to begin the matter this way. We want to begin the matter this way. We want to ask our—we want to ask the Lord. [Singing: Lord Prepare Me a Sanctuary] Lord, prepare me a sanctuary Pure and holy, tried and true With thanksgiving I’ll be a living sanctuary for You Lord, prepare me a sanctuary Pure and holy, tried and true With thanksgiving I’ll be a living sanctuary for You Lord, prepare me a sanctuary Pure and holy, tried and true With thanksgiving I’ll be a living sanctuary for You [Speaker 1] I want us to begin from that point. Just talk to the Lord. Lord, prepare me a sanctuary. A sanctuary. Lord, prepare me. Lord, prepare me a sanctuary. Lord, prepare me. Lord, prepare me. Lord, prepare me a sanctuary. Lord, prepare me. Lord, prepare me. Lord, prepare me a sanctuary. Lord, prepare me. Lord, prepare me. Lord, Lord, Lord, prepare me. Prepare me a sanctuary. Prepare me a sanctuary. Prepare me a sanctuary. Prepare me a sanctuary. Prepare me a sanctuary. Prepare me a sanctuary for You. Sanctuary for You. Sanctuary for You in the name of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Lord, prepare me. Lord, prepare me. Lord, Lord, Lord, prepare me. Prepare me a sanctuary. Prepare me a sanctuary. Prepare me a sanctuary. Prepare me a sanctuary for You. A sanctuary for You. A sanctuary for You in the name of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Oh, precious Father. Precious Father. Precious Father. Prepare me a sanctuary in the name of Jesus Christ we pray. I want us to pray. I don't know whether you are familiar with this song also. "Lord, deliver me from an empty life. Lord, deliver me from a vain life." Lord, deliver me from an empty life. This is my prayer, oh Lord. It’s a song actually, but we are turning that song to prayer. We want to ask the Lord. Lord, deliver me from vanity. Deliver me from meaninglessness. Some things are just meaningless. And sometimes they just preoccupy you. They—they are just so attractive to meaninglessness. They are just so attractive to vanity. You are just so attracted to things that ordinarily by the time you think deeply about them, you say, "What is my problem? What’s my problem?" Look at—look at Esau. "Give me, give me porridge, what is birthright to me? What is birthright?" Only for him to later be crying and weeping, "Oh, my father, bless me, bless me, I’m the firstborn." I want you to talk to the Lord. Lord, deliver me from vanity. Deliver me, deliver me. Lord God Almighty. Baba God Almighty. Help me, help my heart to be sober. Help my heart to be sober. Help my heart to be sober, to live soberly and godly in this present world. Help my heart to be sober. Help my heart to be sober. Help my heart. Lord, deliver me from vanity. Deliver me from vainness. Deliver me from meaninglessness. Deliver me from emptiness. Lord, deliver me. Ah, from an empty life. Lord, deliver me from a vain life. Lord, deliver me from an empty life. This is my prayer, oh Lord. [Singing: Lord Deliver Me from an Empty Life] Oh, Lord, deliver me from an empty life. Oh, Lord, deliver me from a vain life. Lord, deliver me oh from an empty life. Oh, this is my prayer, oh Lord. [Speaker 1] I want you to pray. Lord, deliver me from an empty life. Deliver me from meaninglessness. Look at—look at—we talked about Gehazi last week. Naaman came and says, and Elisha said it is not a time to collect this. But I don't know what came over—what came over Gehazi. He began to pursue ordinary change of garment. Ordinary change of garment. In replacement for ministry and purpose. What does it profit a man if he gains this whole world and loses his soul? Sometimes just for the sake of your career, you may neglect God. For the sake of money, you may begin to lie. For the sake of passing an exam, you may begin to do some useless things. Because of your ego, you may—as a man, you may be doing some things wrong in your marriage. As a woman, you may do some things wrong in your marriage because you want to satisfy your ego instead of satisfying the will of the Lord. Look, vanity comes in different ways. Vanity comes in different ways. I want you to pray. Lord, deliver me from vanity. Vanity is where things that are of no value begin to take precedence over the things that have value. That is what we call spiritual profanity. Profanity. Lord, deliver me from a profane life. Lest none of us be as profane as Esau. He was valuing a morsel of bread over his birthright. Deliver me, oh God, deliver me from spiritual profanity. Placing higher value on lower things, and higher value—and lower value on higher things. Lord, help me to—to set my priority right. Help me to set my priority right. Help me to set my priority right. Help me to set my priority right. Oh, Lord, deliver me. Lord, deliver me. Lord, deliver me from vanity. Can you cry to the Lord? Oh, Lord, break me where I need to be broken. Lord, break me where I need to be broken. Lord, break me where I need to be broken. Lord, break me where I need to be broken. Lord, break me where I need to be broken. Lord, correct me where I need correction. Lord, God Almighty, deliver me, oh God, from vain passion. Deliver me from vain passion. Deliver me from—from—from—from conflicting passion. Passion, passion, passion. Lord, deliver me from the voice of self-will. Lord, deliver me from that voice of self-will. Headstrong, I will not hear the word of God. Lord, deliver me from self-will. Deliver me from self-will. Lord, incline my heart to your fear. Incline my heart to your fear. Incline my heart to your fear. For the foundation of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. The foundation of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. The foundation of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Lord, deliver me, oh God, from vanity. Oh, Lord! Baba, what is that, what is that thing that I am placing higher value on more than eternity? What is that thing that seems to be more important to me than doing your will? What is that thing that I seem to be placing priority over than obeying you? Lord, what is that thing? Deliver me from vanity. Vanity comes in different ways. Vanity can be there in terms of ministry. Vanity can be there in terms of career. Vanity can be there in terms of purpose. Vanity can be there in terms of ego. Vanity can be there in terms of pursuit. Lord, deliver me from vanity. Any area of life where I seem to be placing higher value—higher value—higher value on lower things and lower value on higher things. Oh, Lord, Baba, save me from my blindness. Deliver me from my blindness. Lord, deliver me from every area of my blindness. Let your light shine. Oh, let your light shine into my darkness. Let your light shine into my darkness. Let your light be my light and my salvation. Let your light shine into my darkness. Let your light shine into my darkness. Let your light shine into my darkness. Let your light shine, oh God, into my darkness. Let your light shine into my darkness. Let your light shine into my darkness, oh Lord. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Let your light shine. Ah, Baba. Baba. Baba. Baba. Baba. Baba. Baba. Baba. It is you that work in us both to will and to do. It is you that works in us both to will and to do. Baba, work in me to will. Baba, work in me to do in the name of Jesus. In Jesus' name we pray. I want us to pray. Jesus was to heal a blind man. When—when he took that man, he touched him the first time. He said, "What do you see?" He said, "I see men as trees." Jesus gave him a second touch. He said, "What do you see?" He said, "Now I see men as men." I want you to pray. Baba, everywhere I need a second touch for me to see correctly, Baba, give me a second touch. Everywhere. Jesus touched him the first time. That was not sufficient to deliver him completely. Everywhere in my life, spiritually, maritally, financially, in your purpose for my life, have mercy on me. Lord, give me a second touch. Everywhere, oh Lord, in my decision-making, in my academically, career-wise, in my life as a student, in my life as a worker, my life as a Nigerian, as a husband, as a wife, whatever dimension of my life, as a minister, as a missionary, as a brother, as a sister, whichever way you look at it, as a church worker, as a Christian, everywhere, oh God, where I need a second touch. Everywhere I am still seeing men as trees. Everywhere I am seeing men as trees. Everywhere I am seeing lust as love. Everywhere I am seeing arrogance as humility. Everywhere I am seeing selfishness as—as good decision. Everywhere I am seeing self-centeredness as love. Everywhere I am seeing hatred as wisdom. Everywhere I am seeing bribe as motivation. Oh, God, Baba, everywhere I am just seeing wrongly. I don't know what is your own case. I’m just mentioning several cases. Oh, God, oh, God, oh, God, it is you that works in us both to will and to do of your good pleasure. Lord God Almighty, work in me. Baba, work in me. Give me that second touch that I need. Give me that second touch that I need, that I may not see men as trees. I want to see men as men. I want to see things the way I ought to see them. Everywhere I am seeing things the way I like. Everywhere I am seeing things the way I want. Everywhere I am seeing things the way I—the way I feel. Baba, cause me to begin to see them the way I should. Cause me to begin to see them, oh God, the way—the way I must. Baba, Baba, Baba, work in me. Lord, work in me. Lord, work in me. Lord, work in me. Lord, work in me. Lord, work in me. Lord, work in me. Lord, work in me. Everywhere, oh Lord, where my seeing is not correct. Everywhere my judgment is still not very accurate. Everywhere I might be missing the mark. Everywhere my—my target is not very correct. Everywhere my—my judgment is not—is not straight, is not accurate enough. In every area of my life, in whatever dimension to my life. Oh, God of mercy, oh God of grace, oh, Lord, have mercy. Everywhere my judgment, they are still not accurate. Everywhere my judgment, they are still not accurate enough. Everywhere I might be missing the mark. Everywhere my target is not very correct. Everywhere my judgment is not straight, is not accurate enough. In every area of my life, in whatever dimension to my life. Oh, God of mercy, oh God of grace, have mercy. Everywhere my judgment, they are still not accurate. Everywhere my judgment, they are still not accurate enough. Everywhere I might be missing the mark. Everywhere my target is not very correct. Everywhere my judgment is not—is not straight, is not accurate enough. In every area of my life, in whatever dimension to my life. Oh, God of mercy, oh God of grace, Lord, have mercy. Lord, work in me. Lord, work in me. Lord, work in me. Lord, work in me. Lord, work in me. Lord, work in me. Lord, work in me. Lord, work in me. In the name of Jesus Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ. Thank you, Father. Blessed be your holy name, our God. In Jesus' name we pray. I want us to look at something in the book of Hebrews 13. Hebrews 13. Hebrews 13 as we pray this evening. Hebrews 13. I want to show us something there. I want you to cry to God. I want you to cry to God in Hebrews 13. That should be around verse 9 or 10 thereof. No, towards the end of that chapter. Towards the end of that chapter. Hebrews 13, I read verse 20 and 21. [Scripture reading: Hebrews 13:20-21] Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will. Can you pray? Baba. Baba. Baba. It is not a matter of what I want. It is not a matter of what I like or what I feel. Lord, make me complete in every good work to do your will. Make me complete in every good work to do your will. This was a prayer of the apostle. Make me complete in every good work to do your will. Make me complete in every good work to do your will. Make me complete in every good work to do your will. Make me complete in every good work to do your will. Lord, make me complete in every good work. There should not be any good work that I am not complete. There should not be a good work that I’m supposed to do that should elude me. Everywhere, is it in my home? Is it in the neighborhood? Is it in the church? Is it in my career? Is it everywhere? Is it—is it—is it—just pray that God, don't let anything I ought to do, Baba, make me complete in every good work. I don't want to—I don't want to do some good works. I don't want to do many good works. I want to be complete in every good work. I want to be complete. There should not be any one that eludes me. No good work that I ought to do, whether towards my wife, whether towards my children, whether towards my neighbor, whether towards my brother, whether towards my—whether towards my friend, whether towards my—I don't know. But God, God help me. Make me complete in every good work. Help me to be complete in every good work. Complete in every good work. No good work that I ought to do, whether towards my wife, whether towards my children, whether towards my neighbor, whether towards my brother, whether towards my—whether towards my friend, whether towards my—I don't know. But God, God help me. Help me to be complete in every good work. Complete in every good work. Complete in every good work. Complete in every good work. Complete in every good work doing your will. Complete doing your will. Complete doing your will. Complete doing your will. Complete doing your will. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. The second prayer point from there: not only will He make you complete in every good work to do His will. The next thing there: it says "working in you what is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ." I want you to pray. Baba, work in me. Work in me what is well pleasing in your sight. In my ministry. In my marriage. In my career. In my decisions. In my relationships. In my academics. In my pursuit in life. In my choices. Lord, Lord, work in me. Work in me. Work in me. What is well pleasing in your sight. Work in me. Oh, Lord, I don’t want to do what I want. I don’t want to do what I feel. I don’t want to do what I like. I want to do what I should. I want to do what I must. Ah, Jehovah. Jehovah. Jehovah. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Ah, whosoever that call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. I call upon your name. I call upon your name. Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus. Work in me what is well pleasing in your sight. Work in me in every area of my life. In every area of my life. In every area of my life. Work in me. Work in me. Work in me. Work in me. Work in me. Work in me. Work in me. That which is well pleasing in your sight. I want us to look at something in the book of Romans 9, as we take our last prayer point from there. Romans 9. Romans 9. I want to read something to you. Look at this place and be ready to pray for your life. Look at what Apostle Paul was saying here so you can understand the prayer. I read from verse 1. [Scripture reading: Romans 9:1-5] I tell you the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God and the promises, of whom are the fathers and from whom according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. But look at what he’s trying to say. The people that have the covenant, everything, the fathers, everything. They are the ones that rejected Jesus. Someone who is in church and hearing Jesus every day and yet end in hell fire. Someone who comes for discipleship class every day and yet his life is not correct. Someone who hears the grace of God every day and is still fornicating. Someone who has been gifted by God with grace and everything and is still lying in office to make—to steal money. He’s saying that he’s doing national debt. Are you understanding me? The people who ought to receive Jesus were the ones who rejected Him. He said however, however, verse 6, "it is not as though the word of God has not taken effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all Abraham—are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called.’ That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: ‘At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.’ And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even our father Isaac (for the children not yet being born, nor having done good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), it was said to her, ‘The older shall serve the younger.’ As it is written, ‘Jacob I loved, Esau I have rejected.’ What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.’" Can you cry to God for compassion on you? Lord, have mercy on me. Lord, that your purpose according to election might stand. Lord, have mercy on me. Lord, have mercy on me. Lord, have mercy on me. That I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. Can you say, "God, maritally have mercy on me. Financially have mercy on me. In your purpose for my life, have mercy on me. In my Christian life, have mercy on me. In my walk with God, have mercy on me. In my life as a Nigerian, have mercy on me. As a husband, as a wife, whichever way you look at it. As a minister, as a missionary, as a brother, as a sister, whichever way you look at it. As a church worker, as a Christian, oh God, oh God, oh God, let your mercy avail for me. Lord, have mercy on me. Let mercy speak for me. Let mercy speak for me. Let mercy speak in my ignorance. Let mercy speak in my weakness. Let mercy speak in my helplessness. Let mercy avail for me. Let mercy avail for me. Let mercy avail for me. Let mercy. Let mercy. Let mercy. Let mercy. Oh, Lord, Lord, let mercy envelop me all about. Let mercy speak for me. Let mercy speak for me. Let mercy speak for me." As we round up this evening, let us pray for our nation. Oh, Lord, have mercy on our land. Pass through Nigeria. Have mercy on our land. Pass through Nigeria. Have mercy on our land. Revive your church in Nigeria. Have mercy on our land. Revive your church in Nigeria. Have mercy on our land. Revive your church in Nigeria. Pass through our land. Pass through our land. Pass through our land. Pass through our land. Pass through our land. Pass through our land. Thank you, eternal Father. Oh, blessed be your holy name, our God. In Jesus' name we pray. Almighty God, we are grateful for today. We thank you for your word. We thank you for the privilege of prayer. We thank you for the opportunity to pray. Lord our God, we pray this evening beyond the voice of man. Cause us to hear your voice. Speak clearly in our heart in the name of Jesus. Lord, beyond men, cause us to see you. Beyond men, cause us to hear you. Lord, I pray this evening for everybody listening to me, brethren who are on Mixlr, brethren who are on Telegram, those who are here physically, we shall have an encounter. You shall have an encounter. You shall have an encounter. You shall have an encounter. An encounter of mercy. An encounter of grace. An encounter of mercy. An encounter of grace. An encounter of mercy. An encounter of grace. An encounter of mercy. An encounter of grace. In the name of Jesus Christ. Lord, we pray for our nation. Baba, pass through our land. Pass through our land. Wake up your church. Wake up your church. Wake up your church. Begin with our own soul. Begin with our own soul. Wake up your church. Begin with our own soul. Set our hearts ablaze. Set our hearts on fire. Fire for your purpose. Fire for your name. Fire for your word. Fire for your burden. Fire for your interest. Set our lives ablaze, oh God, that we may be a burning and a shining light in our own generation in the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Pass through our land, oh Lord. Break the yoke of wickedness. Destroy the burden of oppression. Break the yoke of wickedness. Destroy the burden of oppression in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank you, eternal Father. Oh, blessed be your holy name, our God. In Jesus' name we pray. Let’s share the grace together in fellowship. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us now and forever more. Amen. This message is coming to you from Family Tents Ministry, a Christian ministry involved in reaching the lives of singles and married through preaching and teaching of God's word, discipleship, family life enrichment, social and community development and mission work. Our regular activities are Discipleship Class: every Monday 5:00 p.m.; Adolescents and Singles Club: every first Saturday of every month at 10:00 a.m. Marriage Forum: second Saturday of every month at 10:00 a.m. 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, Idere Community opposite Rejoice Filling Station along Ilesa 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 08033861136, 07033613848. God bless you all.