Sc Jan 5 2019 Three Things Crucial for Your Journey This Year

[Churches and fellowships cannot be more spiritual than the individuals and families that constitute them. God greatly 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] He has promised me, He would never fail. Oh, He can never fail. I will lean on Him. I will lean on Him. Oh Father, He has promised me, He would never fail. His faithfulness, Jehovah is forevermore. Oh, His faithfulness, oh Father is forevermore. One more time. He has promised me, He would never fail. Oh, You can never fail. I will lean on Him. Oh, I will lean on Him. Oh Father, He has promised me, He would never fail. His faithfulness, Jehovah is forevermore. Oh, His faithfulness is forevermore. [Speaker 1] Our Father, we are grateful unto You. We bless Your holy name for all who You are and all that You are. We are grateful, oh Lord, for Your mercies and for Your love. We thank You, oh our Father, for how You took us through the journey of 2018, January to December. And Lord God Almighty, for the mercy that has brought us into 2019, the first month of the year, the first Saturday in the month and in the year of 2019. Lord, we are grateful unto You. We bless Your holy name. We say be Thou exalted, our Father, in the name of Jesus Christ. Lord our God, as we gather again to Your presence again this morning, Lord, we are praying, we are asking our God. Lord, this first Saturday, as we sit down to look into scripture, may our life find direction for the year in the name of Jesus. May there be clear instruction on how to carry our life through the year. May there be clear instruction on how to position ourselves and how to conduct our life in such a way, oh Lord, that the fullness of Your blessing can be upon our lives in the name of Jesus Christ. Oh Lord our God, grant unto us clarity of vision. Grant unto us clarity of purpose. Grant unto us clarity of intention in the name of Jesus Christ. Let our focus be clear. Lord, save us from every distraction. Save us from every distraction as we journey through the year, oh God, that we may remain where we ought to be in the name of Jesus Christ. That we may be found doing the things we ought to be doing in the name of Jesus Christ. Lord, that we may walk the path we should walk in the name of Jesus. That we may see the things that we needed to see in the name of Jesus. That we may hear that which You want us to hear in the name of Jesus. Thank You, Eternal Father. Blessed be Your holy name, our God. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. We thank God again for the first January in the month, in the year 2019. For the first Saturday in the year 2019 and also in the month, January. Our regular Singles' Club. We normally have twelve in a year, and this is the first one for the year. And our usual practice in our first meeting is to, as much as possible, engage ourselves, look into scripture to find instruction for the year we have entered into. I have been praying, trusting the Lord, asking Him which way for us as believers. And the more I look into it, the more I pray, the more two things that consistently impressed upon my spirit as direction for us under Family Tent Ministry. Direction for our singles, the same direction for our couples and those who are in relationship yet to be married. I see God taking us on similar direction, granting similar direction for the year. Particularly the need to get things, the need to be able to walk with God in a way that our life will be more fruitful. One thing you must get clear about God is that fruitfulness is so essential to God. Fruitfulness is paramount in the heart of God. If you look at the parable of the talents, you notice that the bottom line for that parable is that I gave one, one talent. I gave one, two. I gave another one, five. And what was expected from all of them is 100% fruitfulness. Because when five becomes ten, that's 100%. It has multiplied itself, it has doubled itself. Two became four, it has doubled itself. Of course, two, while two will look as if it is in, when two became four, it looks small to the person who had five. But the point is that to whom much is given, much should be expected. To whom little is given, little too will be expected. But in all, whether in much or in little, the bottom line I want you to see is that all of them doubled. Five doubled to ten, two doubled to four. And you may notice that for the servant that was given one, all that was expected of him was what? For one to become two. But unfortunately for that servant, he took the talent and buried it. In other words, the implication was that it was not made to be fruitful. And then when you look at the tone of that parable, he said, look, if you know you won't use it, you should have done what? You should have hired it out to somebody else who will use it so that by now, when I come, I will have made some profit. The point is this: fruitfulness is something that is crucial to God. God wants His people to be fruitful. He expects that they produce, they are fruitful. And so it's a very, very important thing for us as believers to be fruitful. And the reason for that is what Jesus said in John chapter 15. [Speaker 2] [Reading John 15:1-2] I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit. [Speaker 1] He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit. So you notice that fruitfulness is the basis of preservation. Fruitfulness is the basis of protection. Fruitfulness is the basis of deliverance and of safety. Fruitfulness is the basis. He says, He cuts off every branch that does not bear fruit. God is investing into your life and you are not bearing fruit? He cuts it off. Cuts off every branch that does not bear fruit. While every branch that does bear fruit, the Bible says—NIV says—He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. Another translation? [Speaker 2] And He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. [Speaker 1] You see? Do you notice that even when you are fruitful, is God okay? He is still not okay. He is pruning again continually, pruning. He still wants—what I'm trying to make you see is that 2019 must be a year of greater fruitfulness in God's service than 2018, or else your life has run out of God's purpose. There must be greater fruitfulness. The one that does not bear, if you look through 2018 and your life has not been fruitful, I want to share three things with us: the matter of fruitfulness, the matter of good works, the matter of positioning about 2019. Three things. I'm sharing the first one. Three things we must note for our life for 2019. First is the matter of fruitfulness. The second is the matter of good works. The third is the matter of positioning yourself for abundance, positioning yourself for multiplication, positioning yourself for greater blessing. Those are the three things that is my burden for 2019. So the first thing we are saying is that Baba is saying that if you look through 2018 and you have not been fruitful, and you find yourself in 2019, mercy have brought you here. But don't take mercy for granted. Ordinarily, what we should have done in 2018 is to cut you off. What we should have done in 2018 is to set you aside, is to throw you elsewhere, is to remove you. Your office another should take. God forbid that should happen to us in Jesus' name. But ordinarily, when something is not fruitful, when God is investing on a life and God is not seeing commensurate fruitfulness, He says, look, He cuts it off. So if in 2018 you look into your life, you cannot see areas of fruitfulness to God in terms of evangelism, in terms of discipleship, in terms of bringing men into the kingdom, in terms of impact on your environment, on the people around you, in terms of giving to the work of God, in terms of sacrifices, in terms of labor, in terms of godly influence upon those around you. If that has not been there, then God's mercy has brought you into 2019. God is opening again a new opportunity because ordinarily you should not have entered 2019. We don't need you. But since God has brought you into it, please don't take it for granted. One individual who cannot look at their life and who cannot see, this is how they've been profitable to God. Warn them. It's important for you to know that the principle ordinarily is that for those who are not fruitful, we cut them off. If you now look into your life and you see fruitfulness, you can see some things you are able to do for God. A friend you are able to convert to Jesus. Your classmates you spoke to that became a believer. Your neighbor that you influenced. Sacrifices and labor you made for God. Your impact, possibly impact upon younger children, possibly impact upon your parents. Your intercession. You can see your labor. The Lord is saying don't rest on your oars. You don't need to rest. For everyone that is fruitful, what God wants to do with your life this year is what? Pruning, purging, cleansing so that you can bear more fruit. So you will be going through some experiences that will prune you. You will be going through some things that will purge you, that will cleanse you further. God is saying that look, this level you have done well, but you can do better. There are still some things in your life I'm going to remove so that you can be better. So I want you to see 2019 as the year to be better in fruitfulness. The year to be better. And be expecting the pruning of God. Be expecting it. Pruning means although you were fruitful, but there were some things that they are like weight in your life. They are like distraction. Distraction, the enemy of distinction. Some things that did not allow you to be distinct. They didn't allow you to excel the way you should have excelled. So this year God will be pruning. God will want to remove those weight. It could be wrong association. It could be wrong use of time. It could be misplaced priorities. It could be spending your time on frivolities, spending too much time on things that does not matter to your soul. You need to watch out. The Holy Ghost, as you do your quiet time, as you come before the Lord, He will begin to be pointing some things to you. Say, son, remove this. Stop this in your life. Stop this. Remove this. Cut this away. And as you do that, it will lead to greater fruitfulness. For some of us, it could be fear, lack of courage. Somebody sent something to me about the lion. It was quite instructive. Talking about the lion mode. It says in the jungle, the elephant is the biggest. The giraffe is the tallest. The fox is the wisest. The cheetah is the fastest. Yet, the lion is the king of the jungle even without any of these qualities. The lion is not the biggest, the lion is not the tallest, the lion is not the wisest, and the lion is not the fastest. Yet, he is the king. He says why? Because the lion is courageous. He's bold. He walks with confidence, dares anything, and is never afraid. The lion believes it is unstoppable. The lion is a risk-taker. The lion believes any animal is food for him. The lion believes any opportunity is worth it, worth giving a try and never lets it slip from its hand. So you don't need to be the fastest. You don't need to be the wisest. You don't need to be the smartest. You don't need to be the most brilliant. All you need is courage. All you need is the will to try. All you need is the faith to believe it is possible. All you need is to believe in yourself that the Lord could help you do. Stay in the lion model. Renew your covenant love with God. Love people. Use things. That is the model for winners in 2019. Happy New Year once again. It was just talking about something that I felt was very okay. Sometimes you feel, ah, my parents don't have all the money, that's why I didn't make it in academics. There are those who don't even have parents that made it in academics. "Oh, it is because I could not buy the textbooks, that's why I did not do well." There were those who, because they were sick, one thing could not get to class. While you could not buy the textbooks, you were even in class. Some could not get to class because they were, for one reason or the other, there was an accident and they came two weeks to the end of the semester. And they sat down and worked and believed that they would make it and they came out well. So what do you want to say about those people? So what I'm saying is that if you—maybe your own is fear, maybe your own is timidity or whatever it may be, maybe your own is lack of faith in the Lord. Whatever you think have limited you in 2018, let's re-estimate and be prepared. God may be pruning some of these things out of our life so that our life can be fruitful for 2019. That's the first thing: fruitfulness. Let's look forward to greater fruitfulness. Tell yourself, okay, last year I was able to bring three people to Jesus. This year, I trust God for six people. Set goals. Last year, nobody came to Jesus through my life. This year, somebody must come. Set goal. Last year, I was not able to impact on my immediate environment. My neighbors didn't know I was a good—they didn't know the level of my Christianity. My colleagues, my classmates, my peers, they never knew how strong I am, how much—they never saw the light. He said you are the light of the world. They never saw my light. In fact, when I told them towards when we were leaving for the end of the session, I was telling them that you know I'm a Christian, they were laughing. "You Christian? You?" This year, before the end of January, they must know that I'm a Christian. Have defined goals for yourself, how you want to pursue your life. Fruitfulness. The second one: good works. And in looking in at good works, I also want to make you remember that as far as the kingdom of heaven is concerned, everybody in the kingdom is not meant for heaven. You will say how do I know? Everybody in the kingdom don't have heaven as a destination. It's important to know that. Not everybody that is inside the—I'm not saying they are outside the kingdom. I said they are where? They are inside the kingdom. Not all the Israelites who left Egypt together were baptized into Moses, ate the same spiritual food, drank the same spiritual drink. The Bible says with many of them God was not pleased. What happened to them? They were overthrown in the wilderness. They all left together. They were all inside that kingdom, inside that covering. They were led by the same cloud of pillar, cloud of cloud by day, of fire by night. They all ate manna. They all heard the voice of God at Mount Horeb. But not all of them got to the end. They were not meant, those that endure to the end. Judas from the case of the Lord Jesus, was so close yet so far. He was in the kingdom and yet the Master said I've lost none. He didn't say I lost one. He said I lost none except the son of perdition. In the parable of the net, the Master made it clear—Matthew 13:47. What did He say there? The kingdom of God is like a net which a man throws into the sea. And what happened after it was thrown into the sea? The Bible says the net catches all kinds of fish. It said when it was full, the fishermen pulled it up to the shore. Then they sat down—they sat down. I want you to note that one. There will be sorting at the end of the day. Heaven will sit down to sort. They will sort what is inside the kingdom, not what is outside the kingdom. They will sort what is inside. I want you to note that they were all inside the net. They will sort what is inside, not what is outside. Men sat down, fishermen they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. So where were all of these fishes that were caught? Where were all of them? Inside the net. They were not outside the net. And He said they threw the bad ones away. Where were the bad ones? Inside the net. And look at what the Master said at the beginning of that parable. He said once again the kingdom of heaven is like a net. So where were they, the bad ones? Inside the kingdom. It's good to know that as we talk about good works. It's very, very important for you to—I'm making you to understand this matter of good work because not everybody who speak in tongues, who is a member of a unit in the church, who is a preacher or a teacher or a disciple, a pastor or whatever, not all of them are candidate of heaven. Not all of them are going to a destination that you may think that they are going. Inside the kingdom, always understand that inside the kingdom, you always find these varieties of different kinds of fish. Different kinds. The import of that is to be careful when you say, "Eh, shebi that brother is doing it." "Eh, shebi pastor that is doing it." "Eh, even my president in the fellowship is doing it." You may not be able to tell which kind of fish he is. But there is a way you can tell. Somebody said it's only God that knows who goes to heaven. I said no, that's not what the Bible said. That's not what the Bible teaches. What does the Bible preach? He said by their fruit you shall know them. A good tree will not bear a bad fruit, and a bad tree will not bear a good fruit. So let's start talking about good works. Good works. Good works so crucial about making our calling and election sure. Apostle Peter said that. He said giving all diligence, brethren, add to this, to that, he mentioned several virtues. If these things are there and they abound in you, they make sure that you are not fruitless. They make sure that you are not blind. And a great position will be ministered to you at entrance. But if they are not there, then you are not making your calling and election sure. You are not making it sure. Good works. The reasons why we also need to know that because of what James said. James said something that is so crucial about our walk with God. It's so crucial for everyone to note that. When the Lord Jesus was here, the devils, do they recognize Him? How did they show that their recognition? How did they show their recognition that they recognized Him to be Lord? Anytime they meet Jesus, what do they do? Anytime the devils encounter Jesus, what do they do? Anytime they meet Jesus, what do they do? They want to talk about him. "Ah, Son of God, have you come to torment us before time?" Remember the madman that were pleading with him, "Please, please, don't cast us into [inaudible]," he said, "Okay, enter into the pig." And all the pig ran. So they recognized with trembling. They recognize that he is Lord with trembling. That's what we find in James chapter 2 verse 19. James chapter 2:19. [Speaker 3] [Reading James 2:19] Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. [Speaker 1] So what does that tell you? Are the devils believers? Are they believers? They also believe. Yes, another translation. Let's have another translation. James 2:19. [Speaker 4] You believe that God is one. You do well. That's a good thing. So the demons believe, and shudder in terror and horror such as make a man's hair stand on end and contract his surface. [Speaker 1] He is telling you, "Hey, please don't let this..." You know the way they were trembling? I said, "Okay, go into the pig." They tremble. They believe in—you, are you even trembling? That tells you they know, they understand the lordship. They know that this boy will finally judge them. They know of judgment that is coming. They are aware. "Have you come to judge us before time?" They are aware. So they are believers. They believe in the lordship of Jesus. What makes them devils? If they believe as you believe, what makes them devils? Why are they still devils if they believe the way you believe? Why are they not angels? You stand because you believe, is that not true? Or what makes us—what do they call us? Believers of the way. Is that not true? They say do you believe? Whosoever believe shall not perish but have eternal life. We stand by faith. Am I correct? Bible said now abide faith, hope, and love, the greatest of all is love. We are saved by what? By faith. If you believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and confess with your mouth, then you will be saved. So the devil believe and they confess, but they are still devils. So what makes them devils? That's what the Master was making clear. He's an adversary. He goes against the purpose of God. He that sinneth is of the devil. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil. Devil have works, it's not good works. He has works, but it's not good works. What makes him devil is his works. It's not his faith. So if you believe but your works are contrary to the works of the Lord, what are you? How do we describe you? What do we call you? If you believe—you may not be trembling like the devil trembles. If you believe but your works are contrary to the works of God, what are you? One is taking after Satan. His work corresponds. What do we describe the person? What do we call the person? Devilish. Devilish. There is another word to it. And what I'm trying to say is that they are devilish Christians. It's important for you to know that because they deny God in their works. In their works. And by that—by works here, what I want to make you get clear is when I mean works here, I'm not just—I'm particular because the Lord defined it very, very clearly. I'm particular not only about works that contravene the will of God, that contradict the will of God. Work that contradict it. If the will of God you are doing contrary. Jesus came to do the will of God. The will of God is that we should be righteous, we should be holy. He came to make us righteous. He came to make us holy. He came to make us light. That is the will of God. He said my pleasure is to do the will of God and to finish it. What did he finish? He died on the cross to take away sin. He died on the cross to make sure—because that was the only problem of man. What man lost was life, eternal life. Or what did Adam lost in the Garden of Eden? His eternal life. He came to give back that life. How was that life lost? It was lost by disobedience. They didn't do the will of God. The life went away. That's it. How was the life lost? Disobedience. So any man that disobey God lost eternal life. So Jesus Christ came. He came to bring grace and righteousness so that we can do the will of God and have eternal life. It is the doing of God's will that is eternal life. Adam refused to do God's will, he lost eternal life. So Jesus Christ came with grace and righteousness. "I have made you right. Begin to know Me better and better. I have made you right. You are no more a sinner. You are a saint. You are holy. You are My righteousness. You are Christ. You are light. You are sons." He came to change us eternally so that we can have eternal life. What man lost was life and that life was returned on the cross. How was it restored? Somebody did the will of God and life was restored. So it is in doing God's will that is the true reflection that somebody has eternal life. When you are not doing the will of God, then you don't have eternal life. Talking about works. Doing the will, doing the will of God whether it is convenient or not. Whether you feel like or you don't feel like. How does it feel somebody give you a dirty slap, [inaudible]? How does it feel? Does it feel like saying, "Oh God, the Lord bless you. In fact, I love you so much. You are such a wonderful brother." Is that how it feel? It feels like wow, time for revenge. It feels like "Me? Christianity apart, I will deal with you and then you know yourself and your trouser." And then you begin the street fight. Or what is the will of God? What is the will of God? He said slap you on this side, you turn the other one. The will of God is not to be revengeful. You don't seek revenge. Why that need to be addressed? It is not because you are seeking for revenge. You don't seek revenge. So when they curse you, you don't curse back. Imagine having on the road and just somebody just—I said, "Ah, excuse me sir, why you did that?" He said, "Look at this madman, stupid idiot." What's the response? How do you respond? "Me? A pastor?" Is that how you will respond? These are the issues about doing the will of God. You have been cheated by somebody. What's the response? About the area I'm talking about good works. 1 Peter 2. That's the area of good works we are talking about. You see in some area to do God's will seems to be convenient, but in some area it is not convenient. And what I hear God telling me towards 2019 is the church need to move away from its comfort zone. Will I do the will of God in the area of convenience? And run away from God's will in the area of inconvenience? We are not all-weather Christians. We seem to want to do God's will where things are convenient. But where they are not convenient, we look for explanation away from God's will. Particularly where we have to suffer for doing good. We don't want to suffer. Even where Christ suffered even though He was innocent. It is in the suffering of Christ that Christ has been seriously denied today. Yes, the Bible says it is given to us both to believe in Him and to suffer for Him. It is in suffering for Him. We don't want to suffer for Him. That's area I'm really going to. That's the real area I'm talking about. What do you do as a young man when there's this your female friend who by all means is acting like Potiphar's wife and want two of you to sleep together? Will you stand for God or will you deny God? Areas where it looks not very convenient. Will you begin to explain lust as love? Say no, this is immorality, this is lust. Or you quickly do it in a small corner and then still come out and be claiming to us that you are a believer. Areas of inconvenience. Look at what the Bible says in 1 Peter chapter 2. That's the area that we are really concerned about in terms of works. Don't deny God in your works. There are good works in suffering for Christ. God wants us to move from being devilish to be light and salt of the world in 2019. Light and salt of the world. Light and salt of the earth. Light and salt of the earth. Can we quickly see 1 Peter chapter 2? I want to look at something very, very important there. Very important. Let's take it from one so that it can be clearer. The Master had started began from one. Many times people don't know that it began from one and so they sometimes they miss the emphasis of that scripture. Now, let me take it from one, from verse 10. I'm reading a little faster from here. [Speaker 1 quoting 1 Peter 1:10-12] Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with greatest care, trying to find out the time and the circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glory that would follow. I want you to know that for Christ, glory followed suffering. Do you get that? In that salvation, glory followed suffering. Talking about suffering for Christ. The area of good works where people deny God and become devilish is what we are talking about now. But first, I want you to note that for Christ, glory followed suffering. There was suffering before glory. It's important to know that. It's important for you to know that if you don't suffer with Him, you will not be glorified with Him. In fact, that's in the writings of Paul, that we suffer with Him and we are glorified with Him. Now, the glory that will follow—the glory that should follow the suffering. Verse 12. [Speaker 1 quoting 1 Peter 1:12] It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. Why? Because angels remain servants. By the gospel, we become children of God. Angels do not become children. We sinned only to become children. That is a thing you cannot explain. That is a love you cannot explain. They who did not sin remain servants. We who sinned became children by the reason of the death of the Son of God. That is something angels were wondering about, "Ah, which kind of placement is this?" But it only tells you how much we should be thankful with our life to God. How much we should appreciate salvation and give our all back to God. That's why I gave that parable that the servant said—the son said—"I'm not fit to be called your servant. Just make me one of those—" remember the prodigal son story? But did the father make him one of those things? No. He was still made children. So that's the kind of salvation that we have. So angels delight to look into this thing. We are going somewhere. Angels delight to look into it. So because of that—I hope you can see the great placement that we have. Do you get it? Because of that, verse 13. My own says therefore, began with therefore. So gird up your mind. Because of that thing you get it, so gird up your mind. Therefore, prepare your minds for action. Prepare your minds for action. Be self-controlled. Because of that thing you get it, prepare your mind for action. Be self-controlled. Set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus is to be revealed. You see, to be working toward the revelation of Jesus. Gird up your mind because what you are offered is not something small. Be working towards that thing, gird up your mind. Make everything you are doing in your mind be tele-guided towards when Jesus will come, when Jesus will come, Jesus is coming again to take me home. I must. So gird up your mind towards that. I believe with all my heart that to get us off, the enemy distract us. Be careful about distraction. Be careful about distraction. There is something that must always occupy your mind. Gird up your mind, or else something else will occupy your mind. Gird up your mind. Gird up your mind. Looking steadfastly towards that revelation that is coming. Gird it up. So as you look towards that, when Jesus will be revealed, verse 14. As obedient children. You see it. You see it. Not disobedient. You see that life make us to be what? Obedient children. Because it was by disobedience that that life was lost. Do you get what I'm trying to say now? As obedient children. NIV says as obedient children. Telling you that that impartation of grace brings what? Obedience. Once we cannot see obedience to God's will, we can safely say that the impartation was not unto life. Don't forget, the kingdom catches all kinds of fish. Some not to life, some is to death. There are those to life. How do we know them? Obedience. The life was lost by disobedience. As obedient. When that life comes, it comes with what? Righteousness. It comes with what? Holiness. It comes with grace. That even where sin abound, what happened? Grace much more the more abound. Now, as obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. Do you get that at all? Do you get that at all? My own say ignorance. Some other tells you, it takes what? When men continue in sin, what is the bottom line? They are ignorant of who? Of God and Christ. That's why He said eternal life is to know the Father and Jesus whom He has sent. No body who keep knowing the Father, who keep knowing Jesus whom He has sent—that is eternal life anyway—can continue in evil desire because continuing in evil desire is a product of ignorance. Knowledge is power. Bible said the man of knowledge is strong. Said those that know their God shall be strong. Knowledge is ignorance. When people seem to enjoy sin, it's ignorance. When people justify sin, it's ignorance. They may use intelligent argument to do it. What are they actually? They are ignorant men. Talking with a medical doctor that was smoking and I'm trying to make him see—he said, "Look, that is medicine, this is my own taste." That's a very intelligent argument. Is that not? But in the real sense, what is he? He's ignorant. Telling a man to avoid extra-marital relationship. He said, "Look, leave all of all of those thing. HIV or no HIV, one day, one day we will all die. Something will kill somebody. So maybe if I die by this one, something too will kill another person if not this one too." It looks intelligent. Does it not look intelligent by his argument? But in actual sense, the Bible says he is what? He is ignorant. He is ignorant. For me, anything that makes a man to explain sin away is ignorance. No matter how intelligent and cleverly it is explained away, it is ignorance. It's ignorance. We are going somewhere. But just as He who called you is what? You see the bottom line. He who called you is what? Holy. What did He say? So be what? Be holy in all you do. For it is written, be you holy for I am holy. We are taking holiness now to the point of when it is not convenient. That's where I'm actually going. But I'm showing you what the life brings upon us. Verse 17. Since you call on a Father who judges each man work impartially, live your life as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty ways of life handed down to you from your forefathers. Who arguing what their forefathers—somebody, some boy, a believer relentlessly was arguing, "Look, forget about it. Our fathers who have three or four wives, they lived peacefully. It is love. Polygamy is not the problem. It is lack of love today." Oh my goodness. Handed down to you by your forefathers. Many things were handed down. Traditions, many things were handed down. We need to be able to separate which one is good and which one is bad. There are some things that were handed down that were good. Do you agree with me? There's nothing handed down that were good. Like if there's anything I will always remember my father for that was handed down from their own parents down down down is that "opuro o raye wa." Let me translate that. Liars, they don't have a life to live. They can never enjoy life. My father will tell you that it's better to be truthful and be poor. And he will call that "iwa omoluabi," our Yoruba culture. He said that that is what is expected of a properly brought up child that belongs to Yoruba culture. That's my father. These things were handed down. And sometimes they will take us to some of these historic thing. Listen, better to work a shameful work than to steal. [inaudible]. These are things that were handed down too. I don't know whether you get the point I'm making so that we don't begin to say, "Ah, everything about the forefathers were bad." That's not what I'm saying. But I'm only trying to show that there are some things that were handed down by the forefathers that were bear-like. And there are many things like that. You should be able to separate by the wisdom of God. By the wisdom of God. They handed down to you by your forefathers. Knowing that you were not redeemed by silver and gold from those things, but with what? But with what? With the precious blood of Christ. So remember what was used to redeem you. That God died for you to be redeemed. It's not dollar and Euro that was used for the redemption that you can be claimed again from somewhere. Where again did you get the blood of Jesus? That's why the Bible says if any man haven't heard this truth, rebel against it, there's no more sacrifice for sin. Which other sacrifice can God make more than His own blood? Is there any other sacrifice than that? If what I have give Naira now, say okay, maybe God will give dollar this time. If He has used dollar, we'll say this time maybe He will use fire. But he has used the highest. So remember that God used His blood for the redemption. Pre-chosen blood of the Lamb, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen from the creation of the world, but was bit in to us in this last time for your sake. Through Him you believe in God who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him. And so your faith and hope are in God. So we get that we are saved by faith. We talked about faith before. Now we are saved by faith. That we believe in Him that God raised him up so we believe that we were saved by that. Now, He says now that you have purified yourself by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brethren. Love one another deeply from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable through the living and enduring word of God. You know it was by the gospel that we were saved. That's the enduring word of God. It's living and enduring. For all men are like grass, and all their glory is like flower. And the grass wither and the flowers fall, but the word of God, of the Lord, stand forever. And this is the word that was preached to you. So we were saved by the word. We saved, you got eternal life by believing the word. You get the point I'm making. Now, what He now says in chapter two that we are going. What did He say in chapter two that we are going? What's the first word there? Remove that—so remove that chapter two. You know it's a letter that was later divided into chapters. So the Master had discussed it began from that 1:10. Do you get it now? That's why I began from 1:10. So in chapter two, he was only still referring to what he was saying. He said therefore, what should you do if you have become born again? If you are born again by the word of God, what should you do? Lay aside. Rid yourself. Put away. This is what the Bible says. It didn't say try to put away. Why didn't the Bible say try to put away? Because the Bible know that having received eternal life, you have received grace to put away. You must always get that clear. That's one thing that most Christians don't realize. That eternal life came with grace and power. We have received grace. Everybody who receive Christ receive eternal life and grace alongside. It's not "God give me grace not to commit fornication." It's "Having received Christ, what should I say? I have received grace to put away." That's the correct way to live. That's the mentality. I'm the righteousness of God in Christ. I've received grace not to tell lie. So lie get out of my life. That's the boldness that salvation brings. "Hey, I'm righteousness of God in Christ. I've received eternal life. There is enough grace not to commit fornication. Fornication out of my way." That's the right way. It's not "God give me grace not to commit fornication." That's nonsense. He says if by one man's sin—that is Romans 5:17. You can quickly read that for me. Romans 5:17. Talking about the what we receive in Christ. [Speaker 5] [Reading Romans 5:17] For if by one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who— [Speaker 1] Hey, what is much more please? What is much more please? Higher. Much more with those who do what? [Speaker 5] Much more will those who receive the abundance of grace— [Speaker 1] Much more with those, note, not who will receive. Who did what? Who did what? Stop telling me that I need to go and receive grace to do something. I've received grace to do it. I've received grace to say no to sin. I've received grace to love my enemies. I've received grace to do good to those who hate me. I've received grace because what I receive is abundance of grace. I've received grace to love my wife even when she does not submit to me. I've received grace. That's the right way of a Christian life. I've received grace to stand righteously even when I have to suffer. I've received that I will, I have. So how much more? If the disobedience of one man, a man that is dust, if disobedience killed us eternally—you know we die eternally in Adam—ordinary dust killed us eternally. Then what will God do when God enter into our life? If ordinary dust made me eternally dead, hey, I now receive Jesus into my life. You see, you say fornication, what are you saying? Lie? Where? How? How? I become the holiness of God in Christ. I can overcome, overtake, subdue, conquer. I was created to dominate. I can dominate anything now when Christ come into me. That is the mentality of a child of God. That is the mentality of men who receive eternal life. We receive power. It didn't say, you know, what did the Bible say? It said you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit come upon you. I tell people it didn't say you will receive tongue-y. You may [pidgin: baromamama] everywhere and you'll still be sinning. You will receive power when the Holy Ghost come. If power is not manifesting, I go back to God and say, "God, my life is—my life is false. There's something wrong with my life." Because when I see the Holy Ghost, I receive power. You shall receive power. God is not an exaggerator. God don't tell lie. God mean whatever He says. When Holy Ghost come upon me, it's not just for tongue-y. [pidgin: some people diyemokokobaba everywhere] and yet increasing in sin, denying God in their works. I tell them it's either the Holy Ghost did not come upon you, a devil ghost came upon you. If Holy Ghost come upon you, you receive power. Say how much more? Read your Bible very well. We are saved by believing. Salvation is by believing and to continue to be saved is by believing. Everything is by believing. You keep believing. That's how we stand by faith. You keep believing, you keep believing, you keep seeing what—and you keep believing. Bible says just as you have received Christ, what did He say? So walk. You receive Him by faith. You conquer sin by faith. Not by feeling. You conquer sickness by faith. You conquer poverty by faith. You conquer, you conquer suffering by faith. You conquer ill-luck by faith. You conquer devils by faith. You conquer all of them by faith, by believing. Everything you conquer all other things, you conquer them by faith. You conquer fornication by faith. Not by feeling. You conquer lying by faith. Everything is by faith, by believing. You keep believing. As you receive Christ, you keep walking in Him. You keep growing in Him. It's by faith. For without faith it's impossible to please God. We can only live a life that please God by faith. Finish that verse. It's a verse that—anytime I read that verse, anytime the enemy want to start messing around, that is the verse that trigger energy inside me. That verse is, I call it my energy trigger. Trigger the energy. If ordinary dust make me eternally dead, what will happen to me when I receive God? How much more? Please read that scripture. [Speaker 5] Much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness— [Speaker 1] Much more they don't receive grace, they receive abundance of grace. And the free gift of righteousness. I received free gift. I don't work for righteousness. Say free gift. I was made righteous freely. If I've been made righteous, why will I not bear the fruit of righteousness? So the free gift of righteousness—I'm not struggling to be righteous. It's a gift I receive. The free gift of righteousness. Yes, do what? [Speaker 5] Reign in life through the one man— [Speaker 1] Oh, did it say struggle in life? Look at your Bible, all believers, look at your Bible. You reign. Please, please, I don't want, I don't want to—God, please come and give me grace so that I will not lie again. I don't want to continue with masturbation. God, please come and help me. I'm just dying. No. When I stepped into Christ, I received grace. I received righteousness. Not just ordinary grace, abundant grace to do what? To reign. What does it mean to reign? What's the Yoruba word for reign? [pidgin: Ken yan joba]. To reign. To reign in what? In life. You reign in life. You reign. You rule. You are not ruled over. That's why Peter—I want you to understand that 2:1. That's why he said therefore, rid yourself. Why? Because you have received grace and righteousness to do what? To reign in life. Not that you will receive it. All these "give me grace to follow, abundant grace to follow." Sometimes I wonder about that song, except I know the intent for which they are singing it. It might be talking about God give me mercy, talking about God I want impartation. You get the point I'm making. So it could be several dimension, so we need to be careful about just condemning songs. But if it literally means that you are saying, "Come and give me grace to reign in life," that song is foolishness if that is what you mean by the song. Get rid! Rid yourself! Put aside! Put aside! Get rid of all what? Of all what? That is where I'm going. Is it to put away malice? If somebody offended you, refused to say he is sorry. What do you do? The person offended you. Malice? You know when they call you malicious? Revengeful. You are driving and the person look at you for what—even though it's the person that was wrong, maybe a taxi driver. Look at you and leave and he make a sign of "You are a madman" to you. Look at you, look at you and say, "Orie, orie, ati..." and then—so what do you do? You become malicious. Put away malice. I'm talking about where we deny Jesus. Malicious, revengeful. Put away malice. Yes, and all deceit. That's where we deny Jesus so much today. If you must be plain and truthful and that will bring some suffering, what do we quickly do today? We quickly cover up. I'm showing you the areas. But say that's what the gospel, that's what actually about works. Talking about the works of God. Do the works of God. The will of God. The will of God is not to be malicious. The will of God is not to be deceitful. Good works. Talking about 2019, God is telling believers stop being devilish. And yet you believe in Me, but you are denying Me in your works. You are denying Me in your works. Put away malice, hypocrisy, envy, slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, what should you do? Crave the pure spiritual milk so that you may grow up in your salvation now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. So whatever we have received, there is a place of growing. I hope you know the growth now. The growth is that you have received grace, you received righteousness. What are you now to do? What's the growth now? What does it mean by this growth? What's the growth now? When you say grow up, as you have grow up, you have received abundance of grace, you have received that thing, and He's saying grow up. So how do we grow up now? What's the growing up now? From what we have said. Yes, he's saying that that thing you receive—you know you receive it when you came into Christ. In practical terms, in practical life, it is not yet real. I don't know whether you understand realism. You know practically you have been made holy. There's no unholiness again in you. But you may not grow. You may still remain in unholiness. That spiritual reality, that spiritual impartation that came by salvation may just be potential inside you. It may not become kinetic. It may not become a reality. You may not reign. Do you get it? So when He's saying growing there, please don't misunderstand it. What He's saying grow there is not that go and receive grace. When He say grow in grace, what He's trying to say, and in knowledge, what He's trying to say: make real! Make real by daily taking time to know these things, by daily believing it. Make them to become real in everyday life. I have been made righteous. I am not a sinner. But if I don't make it real, you will still find me telling lies, being deceitful, being malicious. You see me being—even though I've been made, I may not grow. And that becomes—what do we call those kind of Christians? We call them what? You become what? Carnal Christians. There are carnal Christians. You need to know that and there are spiritual Christians. You know, we must move from carnality to spirituality in 2019. Spirituality in 2019. I'm looking at the time so to be sure we finish to time. And now He says as newborn babies since you have taste that the Lord is good. Now, He now begins to talk about the Lord Jesus Christ again. That from verse 4. 1 Peter chapter 2 from verse 4. [Speaker 1 quoting 1 Peter 2:4-8] As you come to him, the living stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him—you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy—to be a what?—a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame." Now to you who believe— Verse 7 now. He has come back. Having described Jesus Christ, he came back again to us. Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, the stone the builders rejected has become what? The capstone. And a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them to fall. So what does that tell you? Once a man don't truly believe in Jesus and walk in Him, what will happen to him? He will either stumble or he will fall. You must get that clear. Anybody outside Jesus will stumble, will fall, and be ashamed. Anybody outside Jesus, outside a walk with Jesus, you are bound—it's a stone that to those who believe is precious. To those who does not believe, it's a stone that causes men to do what? To stumble. A rock that makes them to fall. A rock that makes them to fall. A rock that makes them to—to sin against God. For example, He said for God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes shall not perish but have eternal life. Is that not? For God sent not his son to the world not to condemn the world, but that through the world might be saved. What's the next thing? He who believe in him is not condemned. He who believe not is a condemned person. I tell people there are several rich men carrying money here and there. There are several professors, doctors, lawyers that are actually, if we are to look through them very well, they are condemned criminals. They are condemned people. What makes them to be condemned people? It's not because they don't have money. Please get that very clear. There are many first-class holder that are condemned men. And I see many times believers who are blind envying them. It just remind me of the case of a sister who was contemplating marrying a very rich individual. Trying to make her see that no, sister, this thing is not right and all of that. Then she started giving all kinds of excuses. She said look, even Jesus said on the last day, two shall be on the bed, one shall be taken the other will be left. It means if I marry an unbeliever, on that day, the believer will be taken and the unbeliever will be left. Bible had to go. While the person have so much, so much material thing. What do you have to envy in a condemned man? What makes a man to not to be a condemned criminal is that he has Jesus and he is walking with Jesus. Anything else you only see condemned criminals. It's unfortunate. It's just that because today people don't see with eternal goggles. They see with natural goggles. You know in science, there are some kind of goggle you will wear that you start seeing microorganisms inside water. But when you don't wear those goggles, you see the water is clean. So if you don't put on your spiritual goggle, when you see some men, you will say "Ah, marriageable." Say, "Good brother." "He's a good man." But I wish you can put on your eternal glass. Oh, I cannot see clearly. Please put on your eternal glass when you look at men. It's very, very important. Put the eternal goggle to know who—how you describe men and how you associate with men. So the point I'm making is that I want you to know that anybody outside Jesus will definitely stumble and fall. It's a plan and design of God. They will stumble, they will fall. That's what Jesus is. To those who believe, and to those who does not believe. And you know that's exactly what this person said. Peter was not there when Simon said this. Simon when he came to the dedication of Jesus, he said, "Lord, my eyes have seen the redemption of Israel. Now let my soul depart in peace, for I have brought salvation of Israel." Then he told Mary, said "This son of yours shall be for the rising and the falling of many in Israel." That's the gospel Peter is preaching here again by the Holy Spirit. That's why I said the Holy Spirit is one. Those who don't walk in the spirit, they see things differently. Holy Spirit is one. So it's a rock of offense that makes them to fall. But from verse 9, what does it say again? It has come back again to us. What did the Bible say? Look at your Bible, from verse 9. Let's move on now. Looking at different translations of that same word. From verse 9 now, what did he say? [Speaker 1 quoting 1 Peter 2:9-10] But you are what? A chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that you may declare what? The praises of him who has called you out of darkness into what? His wonderful light. Now look at what it says. [Speaker 1 quoting 1 Peter 2:10] Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received what? Mercy. What did he now say? Dearly beloved. I urge you as what? Alien and stranger in the world to do what? Abstain from what? Sinful desires which do what? Which war against your soul. So there is a war against your soul. Abstain. And we move on. Live such good life among the pagans. Do you see? That's where I'm talking about. God is saying that people must stop the devilish living. What's the devilish living? Believing in God, having faith in God, becoming a believer but denying God in your conduct. That's what make devil to be devil. Devil believe, he tremble. But he deny God, he does not do the will of God. Let's move away from devilish Christianity. So crucial for 2019. Good works. For you to clearly understand the good work he's talking about, look at what he now says. Look at what he says in that place. Quickly. Look at what he says. For you to know the kind of good work he's speaking about. He says to glorify God. Now look at what he says. Look at the verse 13 now. Look, we just shoot through around verse—we read maybe just shoot through to the end now so you can see what he's trying to say. To tell you about the conduct he's talking about, the good works. What are the good works? [Speaker 1 quoting 1 Peter 2:13-15] Submit yourselves for what? For the Lord's sake to every authority said among men. Whether to the king as supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For this is the will of God that by doing what? By doing what? By doing what? You've been looking at your own, that's why I said we should be reading together as I'm reading. That by well doing, that by doing good. Your translation? [Speaker 6] By doing what is right. [Speaker 1] Your translation? Verse 15. [Speaker 3] That with well doing— [Speaker 1] Okay, you are too is KJV, yeah. That with well doing, you may do what? Say it together. You should do what? Put to silence what? The ignorant talk of foolish men. You can put to silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. You put they are calling you evildoer, you put them because live as what? As free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. Live as servant of God. Show proper respect to everyone. Love the brotherhood of the believers. Fear God. Honor the king. That is the good work. Are you getting the good work? Are you getting the good work that he's talking about? That will silence the foolishness of these people. Look at it again. Verse 18. What did he say? Slave, do what? Submit yourself to who? To your master with what? With all respect. Not only to who? To those who are what? Who are good and gentle, but also to who? To who? The harsh ones. The inconsiderate. Normally, do you submit to such master? Master that cannot considerate, you should submit to them? You should not submit. But you want to do right. You want to silence their foolishness. That is where we deny God today. We're talking about areas where it is not convenient. When your lecturer is not good and gentle, he's a bad one. "All of you look at them." What goes on in your heart? You begin to pray, "Let this one just die. Wicked man, foolish man." You begin to think malice evil for him. When your neighbor, when your neighbor is not kind and considerate, what do you do in your own house? What is in your own heart? What's going on in your own heart? That's the point I'm making. Look at it! Look at it! The good works we are talking about. I want to conclude in that place. Verse 19. Can we read it together? All every translation. [Speaker 1 and Audience together] For it is commendable if a man bear up under pain of unjust suffering because he is conscious of who? Of God. But how is it to your credit if you receive beating for doing wrong, you endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. You see it. What is commendable to God? Is it when you suffer when you are wrong? No. You are constantly doing right and you are made to suffer for it. Joseph was doing right, he was thrown into prison. What will God say? That's my boy. It's commendable to God. Naboth killed for refusing to sell his father's inheritance. In Israel, you don't sell it. He said, "Ah, king, you want to sell my father's inheritance for vegetable garden. My inheritance, [pidgin: ko se she], it's not possible." What was done? He was killed. What will God say to that? That's my boy. Where you suffer for doing right. But if you tell lies and they catch you and they give you twelve strokes of cane, it's not commendable because you are suffering for doing wrong. What is commendable to God? "Yeah, let's go and fornicate." "No, God forbid. That is not my portion." For that reason, all your friends refuse to relate with you. They isolate you. What will God say? That's my girl. You are sitting in the exam you are writing. Your friend say, "Mmm, [unclear: Fountain], [unclear: Fountain] number two." You gave no response, you didn't hear. "[unclear: Fountain]," he then touches you, "[unclear: Fountain] number two." You just continue with your work. And when you come out of the exam, he said, "I have been saying you are my friend. This is what I hate about you. You are wicked. You want me to fail. From today forth, don't walk with me again." What will God say? "That's my boy." That is God. God say you are commendable, you are suffering for doing right. That's my boy. Don't you notice, go and check your Bible. Many of the heroes you are celebrating today, they actually suffer for doing right. We celebrate Daniel, but remember he was thrown into prison for doing right. We celebrate Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. What brought the celebration? We celebrate Joseph. Even Jesus the Christ that we celebrate daily. Why is he even celebrated? He suffered for doing right. So it is Christ-like. How do we know? Let's see! Let's see! Verse 21. Can we all read it together? [Speaker 1 and Audience together] To this you were called because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. That is why we should not deny God today. Suffering when it is not convenient. That is where believers are becoming demonic and becoming devilish. We only want to follow God where it is convenient. But when it come to suffering for doing right, we quickly want to conform and change. We don't want to—and that is where God is calling believers today. Let's move. Let's move. Let's move. Let's move. We may have to stop here for today. I couldn't get to the third one which is about positioning yourself for 2019. I will look—we will meet again in first Saturday of February in the course of time. But the bottom line of positioning yourself is—the bottom line for that key, when we meet in February I will expand it—is Proverbs 14:34. That is the bottom line for positioning yourself. Can we read that scripture together? That's the keyword for positioning yourself. To position yourself, how you must position yourself in 2019. Position yourself for increase, position yourself for abundance, position yourself for plenty, position yourself for greatness. What should you do? Proverbs 14:34. Can we read it together? [Speaker 1 and Audience together] Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. So to position yourself in 2019, what you need to do is what the Bible encouraged us to do: follow after righteousness. If you follow after righteousness, what will happen to you 2019? What will happen? You'll be lifted. You'll be lifted. If you don't, go and mark it. You'll be brought down. Expectations will fail, hope will perish. Hope will perish, expectation will fail. God is telling you go and position yourself to pursue righteousness. The first thing you seek in life is the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Position yourself like that. Not God position yourself like that. First thing, God's kingdom and His righteousness. The kingdom of God is to have eternal life. The righteousness is the one that Christ came to bring to live in that life, to pursue that life. Make it the first thing. Don't make it second or third or fourth. Make it the first. Then other things you want in life, what will happen to them? They will be added to you. You will be exalted. Position yourself this year 2019. Make up your mind. And reposition—even from this January, you begin to see the effect of position. You need to position yourself rightly. Position yourself. Praise the Lord. We trust the Lord that when we meet again the first Saturday of February, we will expand more on this positioning of ourselves and then we will expand the other two principles. For now, let's just pray. Let's pray in this almost twelve. Let's pray. Let's talk to the Lord about these three things that we have outlined. The first thing we talk about is fruitfulness. Fruitfulness. One thing you must do in 2019. We saw in John 15 that every branch that is not fruitful God cut off. If you have not been fruitful in 2018 and you entered into 2019, you better thank God. What God should have done is to cut you off. But He didn't cut you off and He brought you into 2019 so that you can be fruitful. God wants His children to be fruitful. He says everyone that is bearing fruit, if you look at your life in 2019, you can see, "Okay, I was able to win three souls to Jesus. I was able to impact only my roommate." Then pray this year. This year, I want to win maybe ten souls or maybe seven souls. And this time, not only my roommate, I will impact—I will draw my roommates to be more godly. I will draw my classmates. I will draw my colleagues. Make greater goal, set greater goal for yourself for greater fruitfulness this year. And the second thing we looked at is you must not be a devilish Christian. Don't just believe that Jesus is Lord, that He died on the cross, that He's the Lord of all. You must conduct yourself properly. Devil believe, but he's still devil because he does not do the works of God. What makes you not to be a devilish Christian is doing the works of God. So God is saying I want My people to move from being devilish. Become a model, bring praise to God by your life. Talk to the Lord this morning. Just talk to the Lord. Make up your mind. Take some decisions. Like you decided that I will follow Jesus and you became born again, you gave your life to Jesus. Today again, make up your mind. Take a decision. Henceforth, take a decision! Make up your mind about something. That is what it means to have commitment. Make up your mind, set a goal, and pray that God will help you to fulfill that goal. Make up your mind about something. And that is position yourself in righteousness. Say that I will position myself! Make up your mind. As for me, I will pursue, I will seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Every other thing will be second. Any other thing will be second, third, fourth. God, I will not put God to be fifth or sixth. No. God will not even be second. He said seek first. He will continue to be first in my life in 2019. First in my life in 2019. Thank You, Everlasting Father. Lord, our eyes are on You. Help us, oh Lord, with these decisions that we are making. In Jesus' name we have prayed. Amen.