PRESSING FORWARD UNTO MATURITY

The speaker introduces Sister Collins, a new member of the community, and urges the women to reach out to her. They then read from the book of 1 Peter, discussing the importance of spiritual growth and maturity. They also read from the book of Hebrews, emphasizing the need for maturity in understanding righteousness. The speaker then leads a prayer and begins a sermon on pressing forward unto maturity. They explain that maturity encompasses mental, emotional, and spiritual development, and that it is important to have direction and purpose in life. The sermon emphasizes the need for positive decision-making and emotional stability. The speaker encourages individuals to seek guidance from God and allow Him to lead their lives. sister Collins that is their name. They are new in our midst here. What do they call her? What do they call the name? Yes, they are new in our midst. So our women, please endeavor to get to them. And as you do, especially mamas, as you do for other people's children. Go, we raise people for your own children elsewhere. In the mighty name of Jesus. Okay, let's turn to the book of 1 Peter. 1 Peter chapter 2, I will be reading from verse 1 to 3. 1 Peter chapter 2 from verse 1 to 3. So read yourself of all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. Like newborn infants, desire your unadulterated spiritual meat, so that you may grow by it in your salvation. Since you have tasted that the Lord is good. Since you have tasted. Can you give us another translation please, media? Give us another translation aside from King James and the one I have read. If you have NSE and other ones, you can give it to us. Media, are you there? 1 Peter chapter 2. Okay, if they are not ready, okay. Verse 1. 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2 from verse 1. Therefore, read yourself of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Verse 2. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual meat, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation. Now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. Hebrews chapter 5. The book of Hebrews chapter number 5 verses 12 to 14. Okay. For when, for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again, which be the first principle of the oracles of God. And I become such as have need of meat, are not of strong meat. 13. 13, read those please. Now everyone who lives of meat is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature, for those whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil. May the Lord bless the reading of this word in Jesus name. Still praying out, I won't go. Go plant my feet on high. Hallelujah. Lord, lift me up. I am a lamb. My feet on them. I am weak and I am poor. Lord, plant my feet on high. Hallelujah. Lord, lift me up. I am a lamb. My feet on them. I am weak and I am poor. Lord, plant my feet on high. Hallelujah. Lord, lift me up. I am a lamb. My feet on them. I am weak and I am poor. Lord, plant my feet on high. Hallelujah. Father, we thank you for your word. We appreciate you for the entrance of your word giving life. Dear Lord, we just ask that you speak to our heart this morning. Let your word have meaning in our life. Let there be transformation. Let there be change. Let there be growth. Let your name be exalted. Father, the vessel standing has nothing to offer, but when your spirit takes over, there shall be a release of your power. And let someone here today be touched by the revelations of your word and make a decision to live for the Lord. All the deeds of our lives and your name alone shall be exalted. For we pray in Jesus name. We have been talking about pressing forward. And in this morning's activity for this year, we will not be exhausted because we cannot exhaust the word of God. So this morning, I will be talking on pressing forward unto maturity. Pressing forward unto maturity. What is maturity? It is a level of mental development or wisdom that has a bearing on all areas of an individual life. Right from our conduct to our relationship with others. I will take it again. What is maturity? A level of mental development that has a bearing, that has a relationship on all areas, not one area, on all areas of an individual life. Right from our conduct to our relationship to all others. That is maturity. This morning we are talking about pressing forward unto maturity. When a man is matured, when a child is matured, if an individual is matured, it will reflect in the ability of the individual to make good decisions. It will affect the decision making of the individual. A matured man, a matured brother or a matured person will always be positive even under pressure. Are we together? A matured man, a matured woman will be what? Under control, no matter the pressure, that man or woman will say the word positive. Somebody say positive. Now when we are talking about maturity, we have physical maturity, we have mental, we have emotional and we have spiritual. When any of our mothers here give birth at 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, I know there are parents or mothers that if by 9 months their baby is not yet walking, there will be a problem. I know someone who gave birth and the child was not walking. As of 9, 10, 11 months, she became bothered and worried and she was busy complaining. And some of the elderly mothers told her, relax, this child will do what? Will walk. I think about a year, one month, the child started walking. But when they gave birth to their second child at 9 or 10, that one was already running up and down. What made that woman to be worried? She saw that other children from other parents at 9, 10 or 8, they started moving their legs. And because her own very child was not growing up to maturity because it is also a sign that that child is growing properly like others. So that is physical. We have mental maturity that somebody can think alright, somebody can speak alright. Can I inform somebody here this morning that age is not maturity? Hello, are we together? Age is not what? What I meant by age is that numerical words, age. Somebody can be 40 and be behaving like somebody of 20, 3 of us. Somebody can be 30 and still behaving like Tata. Yes, so what we are talking about this morning is maturing, having a sense of responsibility and ability to make good decisions for yourself. So our teenagers in the house, I thank God that every last Sunday you always join us here. So I had you in mind while I was preparing this. I will always use this Baba Ibekwe and Baba Okam or whoever as an example. That it was in their days, they will always use the word that a fool at what? At 40 is what? A fool. In this generation that you find yourself, a fool at 20 is what? A fool forever. Because between the age of 15 and 20, you should have charted a course for your work, for your life. You should have gotten a direction for your life. You should have taken a decision on what to do about your future so that you build on that foundation and as you grow in that direction, you see God helping you. Mental maturity. Some people will tell you that they never liked mathematics because it makes them to think. And those of you in the educational sector, you will discover in the olden days there was nothing like verbal reasoning. Am I correct? Nothing like verbal reasoning. But now we have a subject called what? Verbal reasoning. And what do you call the other one? Huh? Oh, you are all students. Praise God. Quantitative. And sometimes when you look at that quantitative, even if you are a graduate, there is a way they will arrange the quantitative and put the line like this. Even Papa and Mama will be here. Who had first class in their own area, they may not be able to do what? To decode it. Why did the educationists prepare a curriculum in this direction is that their mental capacity will be what? Will be developed from what? From their youthful age. The curriculum that was being used then is no more the one we are using now. There will be an improvement on it so that the mental capacity of a child should do what? All of us used to complain, this is my phone, this is my phone. If I give this my phone to a child, I think if you give a phone, a good phone, I mean with all the functions, to a child of 10 years now or even 80 years, oh, you are on your own. What you never imagine that that child will do with the phone is what you will discover, two of us. But your own are alone, where are you? I know they come home. Phone is beyond alone and I know they come home. They will look at it very well and make use of it because their mental capacity has been what? Developed through education. We also need to grow or mature, I will be using the word growth or maturity interchangeably, so anyone I use, just take it like that. When we talk about emotional maturity or growth, it is an ability to respond to a problem as it comes, emotional growth or stability. I was talking to somebody some time ago that this pastor works, he gets as he be. One person will come to you and share a very wonderful testimony of how God has blessed him or her and as that one is leaving or the call is stopping, another one will tell you of a bad news. It is just like the story of Job, that somebody came to his house and told him, your child, your children, everyone, everything has collapsed and they are all dead. And another person will come and tell you, oh, good news, this one has happened. Now, if you are not emotionally stable, if you don't have emotional maturity, when the person who comes with bad news comes and you are still ruminating over that, you will not be able to listen to what? To the good news. Are we together? I want you to follow me this morning because this is what I am talking about, emotional or maturity in general, pressing forward until maturity. And I pray that the Lord will help us in Jesus' name. A mature man or woman who also is spiritually mature will be able to understand the plan and purpose of God for his or her life. Can I inform you here this morning, brethren, it is not good for you as a child of God to be walking this journey without direction. I repeat, it is never good for you as a child of God to be walking on this journey without what? Direction. It will not pay you well. But for you to have direction, you must take instruction from the director. And who is the director of your life? Is God the director of your life? And that is why we always encourage people that there is need for everyone to recognize Jesus as his or her Lord and personal Savior. And having given your life to Jesus, you allow him to do what? To lead your life. The Bible says in the book of Romans chapter 8 verse 14, for as many as are led by the Spirit, they are the sons and daughters of God. I pray that the Lord will help us in Jesus' name. A matured man or a matured woman has some of these following qualities. Having talked about different areas of maturity, let me talk about qualities of a matured man or a matured woman or a matured boy. A matured man or woman listens more than talking. A matured man, when you see matured people, they don't talk but they do what? They listen a lot. Are we together? When you see a man or a woman talking every time, talking 247, it shows the immaturity of such an individual. A matured man or woman or boy or girl avoids negativity. They are always optimistic. They always look forward to a better tomorrow. They avoid anything called negativity, anything evil, anything wrong. You can never hear such from them. The Lord will help us in Jesus' name. A matured brother or a matured sister, they always master their mouth. They do what? Talk to me somebody. They do what? They master their mouth. That means they have control over their words, over their mouth. They have control. I don't know whether you know there are people that don't have control over their mouth. They talk from morning till night. Whether what they are saying is wrong or what or right is not their business. All they are after is that they must what? They must talk. Somebody, I was talking to somebody and I asked, must you talk? Must you? Master their mouth. They have control over their mouth. Mature people have respect for other people's opinion. Did you hear me? Mature people do what? Have respect for other people's what? Opinion. When you are in an organization, when you are in a group, you give other people an opportunity to do what? To express themselves. And you will know the Lord over them. Praise Master Jesus. Let's get back to the scripture we read and let's look at one or two things from those scriptures that we have read. When we talk about the scripture we read, the scripture says, read yourself of all wickedness. Read yourself. Another translation says, put aside. For any man to get to a point of maturity, you must put aside. You must read yourself of anything. And what are those things? You must read yourself of malice, pretense, envy, grudges, deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy. Is that in your bible? Are we together? It says, read yourself of all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all slander. What is the meaning? Are you sure you are a good interpreter? Praise God. It says double tongue, but some people say double what? Double face. You are not here, you are not there. And you are a Christian. There is one particular person, any time he sees another of his men say, you don't come again. And those of us who know them say, I don't start again today. As a child of God, the scripture says now, now that you are a child of God, read yourself of all these things. Malice, what is malice? Desire to harm someone else is malice. That is malice. Having grudges, having grudges, pretense, to act as if you are somebody that you are not. That is what? Pretense. Hypocrisy. Hypocrisy. The scripture says we should do what? Read ourselves, remove all deceit, put them aside. If you must grow up to maturity, you must take a decision in your Christian life that as much as I am pressing towards the goal of making what? Heaven. I must put these things aside from my life. And as we do, the Lord will help us in Jesus name. Listen, maturity can be noticed. Two of us. And maturity can be rapid or gradual. If somebody just gives his or her life to Christ today, and before you know it, he or she is involved in all Christian service. Doing one thing or the other. Speaking rightly. It doesn't matter the number of years the person just come into church. It can be 3 months, it can be 6 months. And you see him talk reasonably. You see him or her contribute powerfully to discussion that is going on in any group or in any gathering. You will now notice that this person has grown or this person is a matured person. And if the growth of the individual also is rapid or gradual, you can do what? You can notice it. And also you can notice if someone is not growing. Are we together? I think I used to mention one reverend in those days. One of our father in the faith. He is of blessed memory. Those of you from Eteriasis, maybe you might have heard of his name. Reverend E.U.Ekanem. That is his name. He was a pastor in those days. And if anybody come with one problem or the other, he will just tell you, this person is not spiritual. He is not spiritual. This person is not spiritual. Because he will have looked at your life, compare your life with the scripture, and he just conclude this person is not what? He is not spiritual. I pray that the Lord will help us in Jesus name. Maturity is not optional. Did you hear that? Growth is not optional. It is mandatory. You are expected to do what? To grow. You are expected to mature. You know if a young boy or a young girl of 20 or 30 is doing something that a girl of that age or a boy of that age should not do, the parent will never be what? Will never be happy. And I want to say here this morning, God himself will never be happy when we his children are doing what we are up not to do, haven't been in faith, haven't been in the church, haven't given our life to Christ. Now look at verse 3 of that scripture. Verse 3. Give me NLT translation if you have it there. Verse 3 of that scripture. 1 Peter 2. Verse number 3. 1 Peter 2. Verse number 3 now. If you have, not NIV, not KJV, give me another one. Praise God. Praise the Lord. Let me read from here. There is something I want us to take note from this scripture that we are talking about this morning. You have already tasted that the Lord is good. If you know that God is good. If you know that you have given your life to Christ. If you know that you are not a child of God. That scripture says put away, rid yourself, remove anything called malice, remove anything called pretense, remove anything called envy, remove anything called deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, slander and hurtful talk. Remove it from among you. I pray that the Lord will help us in Jesus name. Listen to me child of God. Any man, any woman who want to excel in life, who want to succeed in life, who want to progress in life, must be ready, must know that growth and maturity is what is a must. Growth and maturity is compulsory. To some of our mummies and some of our daddies, some of the challenges we are having in our home is not because of anything, just because some of us are still displaying in what? Immaturity. And as a man, there is a lot of expectation of your wife. Your wife is having a lot of expectation about you. And as a woman too, your husband is having a lot of expectation and if those expectations are not being met, then there is a problem. There is a problem. The Lord will help us in Jesus name. Now, when a man becomes mature, when a man becomes mature, that is doing something right, doing something right, the man himself will enjoy it. The individual too will enjoy it because he or she has matured, has gotten to a level of what? Of maturity. The Lord will help us in Jesus name. Now, let's look at the natural birth and natural maturity. We have three stages of babyhood, childhood and adulthood. Are we together? There are some things you will notice in a baby. There are things also you will notice in a child. And there are things you will also take note in an adult. Now, in a baby, you will notice innocence. You will notice ignorance. You will notice irritability. In a baby, a baby will have something that irritates him or her. They walk in innocence. Anything you are talking about, they don't know. And that's why when parents come for a child's education here, I will tell you that there is nothing you are saying that your child wants to hear. It is what they see. Are we together? Because they are what? Innocent. In the children evangelism, we are taught that their heart is what? Is plain. Open. It is whatever you plant in there that you will do what? You will reap at the end. That is the stage of babyhood. Now, when a child comes up, like we have our children's church, we have our kids' church, we have also our adult church. I want us to rise. Just pray one prayer. Just one prayer. Your first prayer you are going to pray is, Lord, when I also grow to become a child from a baby, may I not remain rude? A baby. And when I also have become a what? An adult, may I not remain a child. Open your mouth and pray that prayer. Let's pray that prayer. Let us pray that prayer. Lord, when I also have grown, matured to become a child no more a baby, may I not remain a baby when I also have grown to become a child. May I not be a child when I also have grown to become an adult. May I not. May I not. May I not. In Jesus precious name we are praying. Take your seat please. At this early stage of life, the stage of childhood, you don't have much problem. A child don't have much problem. You feed him or her, you buy anything you want to buy for her. Even if you buy what she never need for her, she won't complain. Am I correct? That is to a baby. But do you know when your children or your baby grow to become a child, like the teenagers now, if you buy them something they can tell you, I don't need this thing. Two of us. They say this one, I don't need it. This is not the one I need. This is the one I need. This is not the way I want to do. This is the way I want to do. Now, because they are now at the stage of talkativeness. They are now at the age of curiosity. Teenager teachers, they will tell you more about that. They are now at the age of unsteadiness. Some of you are having teenagers, you will understand what I am talking about. It is a very difficult stage to manage. And it has to do even with our Christian faith. And you will see some difficult tantrum being displayed among our children and this is also applicable in the church. When we talk about difficult tantrum, we are talking about an uncontrolled outburst of anger. Uncontrolled. You will see two teenagers or two children, maybe they are by 8 or 10 or 12, you see them playing. But before you know it, this one will carry this one something. Before you know it, they begin to fight. Unnecessary outburst of anger among them. Am I talking to somebody now? Now, let's look at the book of Ephesians now. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 14. Ephesians chapter 4 verse number 14. Maybe I help us if you want to, please. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 14. Say that we may no longer be who? Talk to me. That we may no longer be who? That I was so so and pro and carry about with every wind of not being stable. By the slight of man, in craftiness, after the wise of what? Error. Be carried away. You are not stable. As a child of God that is growing on to maturity, you must grow to the point in your Christian experience or in life experience that you will not be so so and pro with anything that you see around you. But you will grow on to maturity. When a child grow to 8, 10, 12, that child become curious. They ask you questions. I don't know, if you go to a children's church, a child who does not meet with a children's pastor or a children's handlers, say every time we come to church, we say God, God, God. Where is God? Is He up there? Does God used to sit like pastor? Which type of cloth? You know, as they teach them colors in the school, say red, this and that and whatever. And we ask you, which type of color is God's color that God used to put on? What is that? Curiosity. They want to know. They want to find out a lot of things. And as a parent, you must be what? You must be what? Patient to explain to them one by one. Alright. They will go to Guru Maharaj and Guru Maharaj will explain it to them. The Lord will help us in Jesus name. At our age, they talk a lot. They do what? Proverbs chapter 10 verse 19. Proverbs chapter 10 verse 19. In the multitude of words, they are wanted not what? In the multitude of words, they are wanted not what? For he that does what? Doeth wisely. Anybody that can what? Refrain his lease. There is a way somebody used to talk in those days when I was somewhere. And when the person talk, talk, talk, we will ask him, he chop radio? Because the way my people call radio, radio, the Yoruba interpretation of radio. I have too many interpreters in this church. Has anybody replied radio in your house before? And if you on radio in your house, does anybody tell the radio don't talk again? If you on radio from 12 in the midnight till next tomorrow and there is light or battery, will the radio stop talking? They call it a machine that talks and waited not for reply or response. It will just talk and go. And the scripture says, if you can hold your mouth, there is what? There is wisdom. Can we have that scripture again? If you have another translation of it or yes. When words are many, seeing is not what? For he who hold his tongue is what? You talk and talk and talk and talk and talk. And when some people say, please, I am coming. He say, no, no, no, I still have something to tell you. We see this uncle. Praise God. Ecclesiastes chapter 5. Ecclesiastes chapter 5 verse 3. When you have somebody who does this, you will know that person is still a child. Still a child. Ecclesiastes 5 verse 3. For dreams result from much work and a full voice from many words. Give us another. Thank you. As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words. Just talk everywhere. You talk everywhere. It shows you are not maturing. It shows that you are not growing. As a mature person, you make choice of your words. Am I correct? You make choice of your words. And one of the characteristics I have earlier mentioned is that you listen more. Hello. Can anybody tell me this morning why God give us two ears and one mouth? Two ears and what? Why? The scripture says you should be eager to what? To hear. And what? God didn't do me say for giving you two ears so that you can hear clearly. But when you want to talk, He gave you what? One mouth. I think it was in those days when they used to talk about stenographer. When you type, what do they call it? Stenographer. As a child of God that is growing. Even in our homes. You know there are many men who will tell you that they don't listen to their wife. But their wife used to complain that her husband doesn't listen to her. Because you nag. The man says, calm down. You talk from morning to night. Even in the night, the man wants to sleep. I haven't gone out to work and he is back. The man wants to sleep. He says, no, no, I will go start the thing. He will go talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk. If you are a man here and you are married and your wife just talks, just be in the spirit. And from there you will go to the other side. Praise God. I pity those men that when their wife talks one, they will talk two. It shows what? Immaturity. When they talk, I go to look at you. When they talk, I go to sleep. When they break, we continue. Hallelujah. Immaturity. Your wife talks one, you talk two. Your husband talks one, you talk four. Will there be peace? There won't be. It shows immaturity. And it is supposed not to be so. The Lord will help us in Jesus' name. When a young child is frustrated as a result of anger or whatever, you see them displaying or misbehaving and I pray that we will not remain like that forever in Jesus' name. Pressing forward on to maturity. Now, having talked about babyhood, having talked about childhood, let's now talk about what? Adulthood. Adulthood. An adult esteems athletes lightly. An adult, those words, esteems athletes words lightly. Baba Raka, come. Come. Emma, come. Yes. Young man, Baba Mokey, call that boy to come. Come. Stay here. Baba, you stay here. OK, you can stay near me because I am coming to your level already. Praise the Lord. I will regard this one as who? The babyhood age. This is what? The childhood age. And this is who? An adult. Agbalaba. Thank you, sir. Now, if this boy, I call him who? Boy, if he sees 4 million Naira now, he will jump. May somebody just call him and say, Emma, do you feel like travelling out? That's a plan I have for you. He will do what? He will tell the man, I am ready to go. But if this man sees 6 million now, and they ask him to jump, is he ready to jump? Why? Why? This Baba now is not thinking of how to buy a limousine any longer. He is already counting his days. But this one implores, see the world. He sees the heart. Whether Dubai or anywhere, he is ready to walk, to go. This one never knows anything. Do you understand what I am saying? And we are talking about what? Maturity. And it also affects our disposition to issues of life. All our young men, we call it youth exuberance, they want to do everything. Fear, fear, fear, fear, fear. But an adult who is mature enough will always walk, can't do anything before he goes into it. Because the younger ones are much more interested in earthly things. But while the adults are thinking of tomorrow, God bless you, it can go bad. Praise the Lord. Adults esteem earthly things lightly. Lightly. It was when colour television came, or what you call plasma now, came. If Baba Gura Kwa sees plasma, he will watch him now. But if he doesn't see him, he will kill himself. But some of these people, if they don't see plasma, they will leave. So why is now plasma that they look for up and down? The man will get plasma, will get a video, and get everything. Let me continue. Listen. If you marry a man with a vision and he has no television, he will promise vision by television for you to watch. Did you hear that? Did you hear that? If you marry a man who has a vision, who has a direction, who knows where he is going in life? But if he doesn't have television or plasma, or whatever name you people call him now, you will discover that in the process of time, that man will buy you plasma or television for you that you can watch yourself, and watch every other thing you want to watch. Somebody say maturity. Listen. These earthly things will soon fade away, and it will not be long, the Lord Jesus himself will come. Let's look at the book of Hebrew, and look at the man there who had every opportunity of this worldly possessions, but he despised them. From the book of Hebrew, chapter 11, verses 24 to 26. Hebrew 24, 11, 24. By faith, Moses, when he had grown up, when he had what? Are you growing, brother? Are you growing, sister? Are you growing? When Moses had grown up, he refused to be known as the son of who? Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasure of sinful world for a short time. That's the man who had grown. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God. Verse 26, please. He regarded disgrace, did you hear that? He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. Somebody shout hallelujah. There is a place for us as children of God, and if whoever plays the mind, no matter the disgrace, no matter the humiliation, no matter the subjection of men, we will focus our mind. Because Moses had grown, Moses had grown, and as a result of his growth, he chose to suffer. Listen, I came to know this as a child, as a young man, that if you will live for God in this world, you will suffer. It's in the Bible, the book of Timothy. But the Bible also went ahead to say if we suffer with him, we will also do what? We will reign with him. If you suffer with him now, if you suffer disgrace, you suffer humiliation, you suffer rejection, as a result of your growth and maturity, be sure that one of these days, the man who has not called us to shame, he will lift you up. And he will show himself strong and mighty in your life, in the mighty name of Jesus. An adult is not interested in human praise. An adult is not what? Interested in human praise. You know there are people that if they give church this fan, you know they announce their name. Even if they have the opportunity to buy a bus for church, they won't buy it again because you have not recognized them. It shows that that person is not matured yet. The scriptures say, I am the Lord that giveth thee world power, to make world. If you remove the word, will you buy fan? No. But a matured man, even if you buy fan, they don't recognize them, they will buy another thing. He is not waiting for anybody's praise, because he knows he has a relationship with who? With God. But a child, a young man, say I am not going to come back to my church again, because that person still was a child. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the Lord. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the ways of sinners or seeds. Look up, the word walk, W A S K, come before what? You walk, you stand and what? You sit. Blessed is the man. Not that God is going to bless him if he does not walk. He already was blessed. Any man or woman that will not walk in the counsel, in the advice of the wicked people, you already was blessed. Or you will stand in the ways of sinners. Standing in the way of sinners. I pray that the Lord will help us in this church. The assemblies of God we grew up to know, when a brother is not living right and another brother knows it, he will report to the leadership of the church and that brother will be corrected. Will be what? Talk to me. It will be what? But today, even when we know that the brother is not doing right, he says make him not be a sinner from me. And if it is not from you, where will it come from? Praise God. Somebody praise God. I pray that the Holy Spirit will help us and we will come to the understanding of his word in Jesus name. Hebrews chapter 5. God is over time. Hebrews chapter 5 verses 12 to 14 please. Hebrews chapter 5. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, by this time you ought to be who? You need someone to teach you the elementary truth of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food. Milk is for who? For Tata. For Tata. Milk is for who? For Tata. For Tata. For the bone, Gary. Acorn is for who? Anus. Anyone who lives on meat is still an infant and is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. Is not acquainted with teachings about righteousness. But solid food is for who? Matured people. Who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from what? From evil. They have trained themselves. They have the knowledge of the word of God. That is maturity. Somebody say maturity. Come on somebody talk to me. Maturity. And I pray for all this year we will grow unto maturity in Jesus name. Finally Genesis chapter 45. Genesis chapter 45. That is the last scripture we want to read. Verses 5 to 7. Genesis chapter 45. And now do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourself for selling me here because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the land and for the next five years there will not be ploughing and reaping. But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your life by great deliverance. Praise God. In our days if you are doing CRS they say who made this statement and somebody will say it is Joseph. Why? The brothers of Joseph hated him and they sold him into slavery. And he was in Potiphar's house. Potiphar's wife lied against him and he was sent to prison. And from prison he came out. Praise the Lord. And why did he come? That he may preserve God's life. And you know the story. His brothers because of famine they came in search of food for the land. Brothers if not you, you go give them. Say the people who did me was evil. He would just send to the police officers, say these ones that you are looking at, please go and lock them inside dungeon because of what they did to me. No matter what anybody is doing to you, let God do something for you. Did you hear me? Did you hear me? Yes, it was his brothers, they hated him. But now the man is a prime minister in Egypt and he is in control. But instead of him to punish them, he recognized the handwriting of God. I can see the finger of God, rewriting my story. I can see the finger of God, rewriting my story. I can see the finger of God, rewriting my story. I can see the finger of God, rewriting my story. Somebody shout hallelujah. Joseph saw the finger of God rewriting the story of his life. I am not here by chance. Something brought me here that I may preserve life. And you are one of the people that God has brought me to preserve your life. Don't put down what you have done to me, because what Joseph was telling there, God brought me here for a purpose. Listen to me, child of God, the Bible says all things were kept together for good. To them that does what, what you are going through now will never see the end of your life. You will come out of those challenges and you will testify, but you must show maturity of handling the situation. You must show maturity in handling the situation. Never you cry, why my case is like this. God is working out something for you and it will not be long. You will sing that song, I can see the finger of God. Listen, spiritual growth or maturity is shown by our increasing capacity to love what God loves and hate what God does what, hate. That is what a sign of a man who had grown spiritually, who had matured spiritually. A mature brother or sister, who is spiritually mature, will be shown by the increasing capacity. You have an increasing capacity to love what God loves and hate what God does what, hate. And as we do that, as we move into the new month, we shall see God manifesting his life in our life in Jesus name. Let's rise to our feet, pressing forward unto maturity. Will you remain a child or baby? From a baby to a child, from a child to who? An adult. Which level are you there? Sing that song with me as we pray. I say, I can see the finger of God. Oh, I can see the finger of God. I say, I can see the finger of God. I can see the finger of God. I can see the finger of God. I can see the finger of God. Romans chapter 12 verse 19. Friends, do not avenge yourselves. Do not what? Incest. Do what? Leave room for its wrath. For it is written, vengeance belongs to all. And I will repay, says the Lord. If your enemy is angry, do what? If he is thirsty, give him something to wash. For in so doing, you will be heaping very coal of what? Coal on his walls. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with what? With good. If I save this man and my enemy, what can I do for them? I can give them food. But in our day, what do they do? Die by fire, die by fire, die by fire. You know they die in eating. Because you are working contrary to the scripture. Praise God. I pray for you this morning that you have understanding of the word of God. In the mighty name of Jesus. Tell your neighbor, say neighbor. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God I want to grow. I want to grow. Help me to press forward. Thank you Jesus. Help me to grow. Help me to grow. Help me to grow. Help me to grow to maturity. Help me to grow to maturity. Open your mouth and pray. If you don't grow spiritual maturity, there are things God cannot commit in your hand. There are things God cannot show you. When you grow spiritually mature, then you are an adult in the kingdom. God can reveal things. God can show you so many things. You begin to understand Christianity. You will enjoy Christianity. Not when things are good, you say Christianity is good. When things are tough, you say Christianity is tough. No. When you grow maturity, you will understand that this kingdom is so sweet. Just open your mouth and say, Father help me to grow. Teach me the things that will make me grow. Help me oh God. Open your mouth and pray. Pray this prayer with seriousness. Pray this prayer with seriousness. Pray this prayer with seriousness. There is an illustration that was given when the message was going on. A woman who had a child. And the child entered 9, 10 months, 11 months and he didn't move. And he was worried. So God is so worried about some of us. Pray this prayer with seriousness. God help me to grow mature. Help me to grow. This is a wonderful message that will take us to the next level. It's not all about fire, fire, fire, fire. Help me to grow. Some people don't understand. They are not even praying. They don't understand what it means to grow mature in the spirit. Help me to pray. Pray. Open your mouth and pray. In Jesus name we pray. I say in Jesus name we pray. I say in Jesus name we pray. Our faithful and righteous God. You have dropped this message so that we will grow spiritually, mentally, physically in every area of our life. I pray that this seed that has been sowed this afternoon will germinate in our lives. In the name of Jesus. Thank you mighty Father because you have answered. In Jesus perfect name we pray. Let us all say. Let us all shout it. Amen. Amen. The most excellent King is Jesus. Praise the Lord. If you are here today for the very first time to worship with us, please I would like to recognize your presence. Can you please rise to your feet. Let us give you a warm welcome. May you really be blessed. All our new members may you. Please just take your Bible and come forward. Please come forward. As your fellowship here is. Please come forward. Come forward. May you really be blessed. All our new members may you. Please come forward. Come forward. Come forward. May you really be blessed. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. In the name of the Lord. May you really be blessed. May you really be blessed. May you really be blessed. All our new members may you. May you really be blessed. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. In the name of the Lord. May you really be blessed. May you really be blessed. We welcome you this afternoon or this morning in the name of Jesus Christ. We are happy to have you in our midst this morning and I am sure you have enjoyed the service. And I am sure that today God has dropped something in your heart that will turn your life around. And I want to urge you to continue. Make this church your church. Alright. I want to see you again next Sunday and thereafter. As you keep coming, the Lord is going to bless you and transform your life in Jesus name. I would like to call on our minister who is going to pray for you. And God is going to use that prayer to do something in your life mightily. Alright. God bless you. You are all welcome. And it is our prayer that you are just starting today. You will continue and you will grow in Jesus name. And the first point of contact is knowing Jesus as your Lord and personal Savior. He has come to save us from sin. And He says in His word, I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh to the Father except through me. So you need to confess your sin to Him and accept Him to come and be the Lord over your life. And as you do that, peace of God will come into your life. And you will become a child of God with testimony in Jesus name. Father, we thank you for this brethren, our sister and our two brothers. We appreciate you. How they came in here this morning, we don't know. Maybe it is as a result of evangelism or on their own volition has been directed by your Spirit. Whatever way they have followed to come here, what is important is that they have come to you. And anyone that has come to you will not be cast out. And we are praying this moment. Great God, may they never be cast away. Father, we pray for them today as they take decision to serve you, to live for you. Grace will lead for you. Let it come upon their life. As they confess their sin, let their name be written in the book of life. Let them become a member of the kingdom of God. And let the name of the Lord be glorified. Father, we pray for them that you will establish them in the faith. You will cause them to grow. Even our Bible study this week, they will be willing to come. And on Wednesday prayer meeting, you will make them available. And through this, they will grow in the knowledge of your name and your purpose for their life. No power will change it. Thank you, Father. We commit them into your hand. Whatever is committed into your hand is saved. And we know that you will keep and protect them. For we pray it in Jesus' name. OK. God bless you. God bless you. God bless you. Praise the Lord. We have a travelling paper here. Our brother Frank, I think this is Martin. He is worshipping in our church at A.G. Mpore Express. At Mpore section on the Chamin district. He is here on a visit. The pastor says...