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The things of the spirit are against the things of the flesh. Right? And it tells you to walk in the spirit so you don't satisfy the lust of the flesh. So, it's basically saying the moment you stop walking in the spirit, the default is flesh. Some of you don't fall into certain patterns because you you just fell, you had a weakness. No, you just stop walking in the spirit. And walking in the spirit is intentional. There's a reason why the Apostle Paul would say, "I die daily." You know, I just want to set the tone a little bit. Um for some reason, while I was in prayer, I just knew that um just even talk about how we got here, why we are here in the first place. You know, in 2020, this was December 29th of 2020, I had an encounter with the Lord and he began to really speak to me about the end times and just different things. And in that encounter, he shows me that there is an entrustment to steward a ministry that will be called PLUG. And the purpose of that ministry is to for connecting people to him. That's the goal. Connect people to Jesus. And why that is so critical is because when you study the last days in the scripture, which we are in, one of the things that it would be marked by is a great falling away. Many people will turn from the faith. And they're turning from the faith because it reveals that they were never really rooted in Jesus. Many of us know our pastors more than we know the Lord. Many of us will put the voice of our pastors or prophet or apostle, whatever you name it, we will put their voice above the leading of the Holy Spirit. Many of us know church more than we know intimacy. And so, when a shaking comes, it reveals your foundation. And so if you're not really rooted in him, and nothing is wrong, that the church is is it is really God's idea, it's God's body, right? So these things are not wrong, but it's where we put the priority in our lives. Right? We start making we we make idols out of everything except from the one who we ought to follow. And I've met many people that you know, if you've ever experienced, you know, maybe a minister that disappointed you, they they fell into sin or something like that, and it made you question your faith, you should really question the foundation you're standing on. Because if so if a human who fell into sin and whatever happened with them, you're not my God. Why should your falling cause me to fall? Why should the fact that you stumbled cause me to stumble? Because you're not my anchor, Jesus is. You can feel disappointed. You can be hurt, but to stumble reveals there's a problem in your foundation. And so the end times are going to be marked by a great falling away. So the Lord began to show me the emphasis of this ministry is him. To point people to him and to also tear down everything that stands in the way of intimacy with him. So that was in 2020 and I just began to pray about it. That was all he gave me. He didn't give me any next steps. He didn't tell me to do anything. And I believe that some people in the room need to hear that because just because the Lord gave you you had a vision or you received a prophetic word about something he's calling you to do, does not mean you start it tomorrow. Because the error we often fall into is that what started [snorts] in the spirit continues in the flesh. So, the Lord revealed something to you. It's spiritual. It's a weighty. Then you take your own creativity and your own ideas to try to make it happen. Right? He is God enough to give you the blueprint to his vision. It's different if I just had a great idea, then I need to sustain it. But when you know that the idea came from the Lord, you want to wait on him to receive his blueprint for it. It was not Noah's idea to build an ark. It was God's idea. And that's why the Lord would tell him how to build it. So, when the Lord is showing you something about your life, you want to wait on him to know how to build it. Right? So, it literally took 4 years before the Lord spoke again concerning this. And the next thing he started to speak about was having gatherings. And the the message behind that was that he wants us to meet with his people. So, he said, "Gather the people. Proclaim the kingdom. The kingdom is about the reign and the rule of God." And when you speak about the reign and the rule of God, there's certain things that happen as a result. The sick gets healed. The The you know, the oppressed gets set free. Right? And the scripture says, "Freely that you have received, freely give." And so, this is why we are here. We're here for Jesus. Not for anyone. Not for any individual. We're here for an encounter with him. Amen. >> [applause] >> And so, as we lean into that, we're going to go into a few things in the word that I believe, you know, I I just want you to take on a posture, really, of humility. You know, it's so quick. If anyone has ever read about the seven churches, you know, that were addressed in the book of Revelation, literally out of seven, five were compromised. And only two were standing strong. And if you read it, you know, the two standing strong, there's one that you can refer to as the persecuted church or the faithful church. We all would want to say, "Oh, we are the faithful church." But are we? I'm telling you that even when I was reading it, I had I said, "Lord, please search my heart." Where am I? >> [laughter] >> Where do I stand? If you don't want to address it with that level of humility, pride will blind you. And you will see the danger in that, right? We want to be people that are so anchored in the Lord that when persecution comes, when a shaking comes, look at the world we're in today. There is so much uncertainty even about a war. If you're not watching the news and you're just kind of aloof, trust me, you need to get be in tune with what is happening in world affairs. That even from the natural level, you can see a great shaking then what more in the unseen realm. About things to come that have not been announced. Right? There's a scripture I love so much. It's in John 15:4-5 and it says, "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing." What I love about this scripture is because it does not mean that without Jesus you can't build businesses, you can't be innovative, you can't be creative, you can't be influential. It doesn't mean any of that because clearly you can. But all those things, if it's done outside of the place of abiding before God, it's nothing. Can you imagine wasting your whole life to build things that people applaud but in the sight of Jesus it's nothing. Because it didn't come from the place of abiding. Your connection to Jesus, you being anchored in him, you being rooted in him, it is your life source. It is the only thing that would confirm and give establish you in the things that the Lord has ordained you to produce on the earth. Outside of that, anything we produce, the Lord sees it as nothing. I don't know about you, but a lot of the shows that I grew up on back to back I've been seeing how different actors have been dying. And you know, I I was thinking about this the other day and I'm like, "Man, death is a very interesting teacher." Because what it teaches you, you don't have that much time to implement. If you've ever seen someone on their deathbed, they don't care about the outfit that went viral. >> [laughter] >> They don't care about the applause that came from people. They start to question things of eternal weight. What did my life truly serve? Where am I heading? Did I make Jesus proud? Did I live for him? That's when you begin to realize, you begin to weigh where you should have put more time into and where you should have put less. What you should have given more thought and what you should have never really cared about. But then you don't have that much time to carry it out. And so my charge to everyone in this room, don't wait till that time because that time will come for us all. You don't wait till your deathbed before you start asking if your life truly counted. If you really made a mark for Jesus or you just live for yourself. Don't wait till that moment. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Then I sense so much that the Lord wants to do. So just allow me to flow. Thank you, Lord. In just a moment, um there's someone in here and it's your I don't know if it's your father or your grandfather, but I see a man in the hospital. Um and they're literally on their deathbed. And I'll be honest, it's not that the Lord is showing me whether he's going to is whether they're going to survive it or not. But what I keep sensing so strongly, one, I see Jesus in the room with him. So there is a comfort in knowing that Jesus is in the room. But I keep sensing this so strongly, don't let the lesson pass you by. Don't be so focused on the outcome you desire that you don't listen to the words of wisdom coming from him. Don't let the lessons pass you by. Any vulnerable Every time we come into a vulnerable moment, it's an opportunity either for us to be more rooted in the Lord or for the enemy to sweep us up. The enemy looks at that as an opportunity for you to fall into depression, for you to fall into questioning. While the Lord is looking at it as there's something I want to pour in you. There's something I want you to carry on. And so my prayer for you in this moment is that you see it right. You see it right. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Thank you, Holy Spirit. But let's get into the word. Amen. [sighs] Amen. Today, I'm going to be teaching on unmasking the spirit of religion. And, you know, when the Lord gave me this word, I found it so interesting because for many of us, when you think about the spirit of religion, you already have an idea of what that looks like. It looks like the critical people, the judgmental people, the folks that are just cold, you know, the people that even though they're in Miami, they're going to wear a three-piece suit cuz they're preaching the gospel. Even though it's so hot. >> [laughter] >> THERE IS THIS IDEA, there's this concept we have about the spirit of religion, and we don't realize that this spirit can show up like that, and it can also show up in the people that are overly accommodating. The ones that are overly loving, and you don't realize it's the same spirit at work. And we're going to get into this because what you have to understand is that the spirit of religion is not just about a look. The agenda is for it to resist the leadership of the Holy Spirit. As long as it can resist your ability to be led by the Holy Spirit, it has fulfilled its assignment. And let me just share this, uh, you know, a definition I put together. The spirit of religion distorts, hinders, and prohibits genuine relationship and surrender to the lordship of Jesus. That is what that spirit represents. It's not a look. It's It's not the people that are screaming that you and saying you're going to go to hell. It's just one of the ways it could express itself. But the agenda of this spirit, it is to literally resist the leadership of the Holy Spirit in your life. And why is that so critical? Romans 8:14 says, "For those who are led by the spirit of God are the children of God." So being a child of God is not about you having so much activity. It's about the fact that you are led by his spirit. And so when we talk about the spirit of religion distorts, it hinders, and it prohibits. So it distorts. It can use scripture to promote personal gain. Personal agenda. That's why when Satan was tempting Jesus, what did he use? The word of God. The word was not absent. He just twisted it. He distorted it. So that you can benefit and say, "Oh well, it's you know, it's in the word." But if you're honest with yourself, you're twisting the scripture for personal gain. And so Satan's whole agenda was to move Jesus from a place of surrender to the Father, right? The spirit of religion, it hinders. It presents a counterfeit voice that sounds spiritual. But in reality, it only feeds your brokenness. And so it would mask, it it it masquerades you being puffed up as spiritual. It would always provide language that you are in the right. You're never in the wrong. You see, something that you have to be if if you are this person or you know anyone, pray for that person or pray for yourself. If the Lord never rebukes you, if the Lord never corrects you, you are operating from a different spirit. No matter who you are, if he never rebukes you, because we are not perfect. We are surrendered to him and there are times that we can miss it. Now, I I would give even myself as an example. Whenever I minister, I would ask the Lord, I'm are you sending me here? Not too long ago I went somewhere based on just relationship. And I just believed that the Lord was with me. And I tell you in the middle of the service, the Lord rebuked me. And I'm like, wait, what? >> [laughter] >> He said, I did not send you here. I said, oh my god. >> [laughter] >> And it was a strong rebuke. And I'm just like, Lord, but we are in the middle of this service. And you know the interesting thing, he says, in my mercy, I will still show up. But not because I sent you. Don't think just because you see activity, just because you see the move of God means the minister is always accurate before the Lord. This is why we must, each and every one of us, the Bible says, walk out your own salvation with fear and trembling. The Lord has to rebuke you sometimes. So, if the spirit that you call the Lord always affirms you, you're always right, they're just jealous, they're the ones who are prideful, your discernment is always outward. Never inward. There is a spirit of religion at work and it's a counterfeit spirit. Right? And then it prohibits because this spirit walks hand in hand with pride. And pride will blind you from what is operating against you. That is why you see that Jesus will say to the Pharisees, he will call them blind guides leading the blind. Not only were they working from a spirit of religion, but they were also so prideful that they could not see the truth. Right? And so this spirit is one of the greatest hindrances to the move of God. And so when there's something when you when you come into a season that God wants to do something supernatural through your life, when God wants to lead you in a certain way, when God wants to move in a territory, the spirit that opposes is the spirit of religion. And why? Because it's functions in the church. It functions in believers. It It is not a spirit that is easily detectable. You see, it's so interesting when you think about the Pharisees and the role that they played even when it came to our Lord Jesus being crucified. Because the Pharisees, they were not just like this, you know, historical group that we only think about them, you know, when Jesus walked the earth. They revealed a pattern, and we're going to talk about this. Because have you ever Just by the raise of hand, has anyone ever considered why did Jesus come in the time that he did? Because if you think about it, if Jesus came now, No, not I mean, we would First of all, we would say it's AI. >> [laughter] >> When he is walking on the water and someone puts it on Instagram, we're like, "Oh, AI." >> [laughter] >> Or we'll call it a magic trick. But if Jesus came now and he's declaring the kingdom of God is at hand, people would be like, "Whoa, what what drugs are you on?" He would not be persecuted. He would not be judged. He would just be one of the hippies, you know? Just he's really the most high. In a different way. This time would not work. >> [laughter] >> But look at what the scripture says. In Galatians 4:4, it says, "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son, born of a woman, born under the law." The fullness of time. The timing he came was so significant to his work. Because the time that he came, it was when the cultural, political, and religious climate would amplify the message of the kingdom. Everything about the timing of his arrival would give understanding to kingdom language. And so when you look at it even from number one, when he came, Rome was ruling. And Rome represented centralized authority. It represented imperial power. It represented the understanding of allegiance because they had allegiance to Caesar. So these were people that understood lordship. If Jesus comes now and he's talking about lordship, people would just kind of, you know, keep moving. But this was the government that ruled. So it was their language. It was their way of life. They understood tribute. They understood citizenship. The weight of what it means. Right now, people are considering where they want to be a citizen, TOO. BUT BACK THEN they understood citizenship, so when the scriptures would teach about we are citizens of heaven, they had more reverence for that kind of language. They understood dominion. So Jesus had to come in a time where he can he can express things. When he would say the kingdom of God is at hand, this was explosive language. Because what kingdom are you saying is bigger than the Roman Empire? And then number two, obviously, you know, the kingdom language made sense to the people. Did you know I found this so fascinating that even the word ecclesia, which we use to refer to the church, did not first belong to Christians. That that word actually was a word that they used in government. That word represented a body of citizens representing authority. It was when a body of citizens would be summoned and sent out in the authority of their land. And so when Jesus would come and say that he is building his ecclesia, he's not talking about his church in in just the construct of Sunday services. He's not saying I'm building the four walls of a church. He's saying I'm building a people that would move in my authority and carry out heaven's agenda on earth. So these were languages that the people understood and we have to understand that because if not, we're just playing church in a cultural sense and not from a kingdom perspective. Your life as a believer should represent being sent out by the Lord to declare and manifest his agenda on the earth. In your industry, in your community, in your family that heaven as it is in heaven, so shall it be on earth. That is the ecclesia. But one of the things I want us to hone in on is that religious authority was structured when Jesus came. So the Pharisees was not just about men. Those people were messed up. Look at how they crucified our Lord or how they, you know, offered him up to be crucified and all these things. No, Jesus was trying to point to something. Because Jesus chose to come in a time where religious authority, where if you go against religious authority, it will cost you your life. Because he was also going to expose the one of the key spirits that would come in direct opposition to the move of the kingdom, which is the spirit of religion. He needed to come in that time. This is why this the spirit of religion is bigger than we think. It opposes the same way that it opposed the move of God then. Can you imagine the Pharisees? These were people who were They were masters of the law. They They under- They could read the Torah. They could read the law. I mean, they summarized it. They knew it in the back of their hand. And when they see the one that points to, they reject him. Spirit of religion. Be masterful at everything representing him, but never to be led by him. So let's look at the letters to the churches. It's so interesting because So now there's seven churches. I don't want There's so much that can be taught in this, but I want to just hone in on some key points. So there are seven churches that they're, you know, they, you know, the Apostle John is writing these letters to or there he's told to write these things down. >> [snorts] >> And I believe that these seven churches perfectly really reveals, you know, where the body of Christ could be at any given point. Where one of us may fall under at any given point. And it's scary and alarming that five out of the seven were spiritually compromised. And if you look at the percentage, you're you're really talking about like 71% of God's people are not really standing where they think they're standing. Because the the fact that he's writing them a letter to rebuke them and to tell them to repent, they're not aware that they need to repent. So, in a room of a hundred people, 71 are in error and may not even know it. That's why I'm telling you as we go into this, approach it with humility. I believe I love the Lord with all my heart. I believe I will do anything for Jesus, but when I began to study the scriptures, I said, "Lord, please search me. If I'm not where I think I am, please show me so that I know what to bring before you. I know where I need to repent. I know what I what idol in my life I need to lay at the altar. Right? And so, out of these five churches, I'm going to really hone in on three. Um and if you were not here last month, I encourage you to watch the teaching because I believe that that teaching would really point to what the other two churches represent, which one is the compromising church and the other is a lukewarm church. And we kind of touched on those things last month. And so, there are three key ones I want to hone in on before we now go into what it means to be upright before the Lord. So, the first church, this is let's go to Revelation chapter 2 from verse 1 to 5 and this is the church in Ephesus. Now, the scripture says, "To the angel of the church of Ephesus, write. These things says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands. I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those that are evil. And you have tested those who say they're apostles and they are not and have found them liars. And you have persevered and have patience and have labored for my name's sake and have not become weary. I mean, when you are if I was reading this letter out loud, my confidence would begin to grow. I'm like, wow. Thank you, Jesus. Even I might say that in the middle of the the reading. I you might break out in worship. Ooh, we have not become weary. Father, we just give you praise. We just adore you. And then, >> [clears throat] >> nevertheless, then you you the mic stops working. >> [laughter] >> You say, "Check, check." It says, "Nevertheless, I have this against you. That you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen. Repent and do the first works and look at the rebuke. Or else, I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent." The lampstand is when heaven recognizes you as one who is of the Lord. You remove the lampstand, he says, "I'm removing my presence from you." So, after this whole speech of I know your works, your labor, your patience, you bear with those. Oh my. He says, "But if you don't repent, my presence will be removed from you. My name will be removed from you." Now, first of all, you have to understand some of the background of Ephesus. Ephesus was literally one of the most influential cities in the ancient world, right? It was the center of commerce, philosophy, and pagan worship. And so, Ephesus, you know, they What coexisted in Ephesus was both like this thriving cultural sophistication and spiritual darkness. And so, for them to be those who were defenders of the faith, they they didn't, you know, they did not grow weary. They stood on the word of God. It was difficult for the region they were in because of pagan worship, idolatry, sexual immorality. This was what was trending in the city. And so, these were people who were like, "No, we are going to stand on the word of God." Now, Ephesus has rich history. You know, if you ever read about when the Apostle Paul when handkerchiefs were put on his body and those handkerchiefs were taken to heal the sick and cast out demons, it was in Ephesus. Ephesus was the place where literally those in the occults and witchcraft, they would bring up all their spell books and all their things and burn it up. And this was something that cost them a lot of money. So, there was such a mighty move of God in Ephesus. And then, as it began to be passed down to the next generation and and those who were being raised up. So, they had the structure, they had the understanding, they had the doctrine. But, they didn't have the encounters that those people had. They understood right from wrong and they were willing to defend it. And initially, it started as you know, from a place of men, Jesus, we love you. We've heard about your mighty works and we want to show the people that you know what? You are true, you are holy. But, all of a sudden, things start to shift. All of a sudden, it went from being rooted because you see, when the Lord is telling them repent, that's not where they started. He says, "Return." He didn't say you lost your first love, but you left it. I want to show something really quick. If Mariah, if you could come up, please, for just 1 second. Because this is what the spirit of religion tries to do. When you are in fellowship with the Lord, you're like this, you're connected to the Lord Jesus. You're walking where he walks, you're walking where he goes, you're going. And then, all of a sudden, so let let me say I'm you know, you know how people when they want to talk about the negative, they say it's the other person. They're like, you know, who wants to be the devil? What? >> [laughter] [gasps] >> So, let's say Mariah is the Lord Jesus. And I'm the spirit of religion right now. So, what it does is, okay, we're walking, we're walking. Then I'm like, oh, a pretty bird. Then while she's still walking, I'm still walking, but just you know, a little just keep going and I'm little bit and little bit. You don't know when it begins because you still have a little bit of proximity. And then you keep going. And then all of a sudden, Mariah has gone to her seat. And I am still up here. And then all of a sudden the separation and you see you don't detect it early until your fruit begins to show that Jesus is no longer involved in this. It's It's a It's a slow departure. It's a progressive departure. The moment you start, you know, thinking about oh, but but what about this? You don't allow your questions. Thank you, you know, spirit of the Lord. >> [laughter] >> Thank you, Mariah. You don't allow your questions or your disappointments or your setbacks cause you to stop walking. And this is where religion comes because it starts trying to put something else as your identity other than being a son or a daughter. Because you see for this people in Ephesus, what became their identity was we are defenders of the faith. And you don't realize that maybe that's masqueraded with offense. That's masquerading pain. We're defenders of the faith. It robbed them of what should be their true identity. That first I'm a child of God. Before I'm a defender of the faith, I am a son. I am a daughter. I am led by the Holy Spirit. And so the Lord is literally telling them I just read to you all amazing things that they did and these were things that were commendable. They were hardworking, they persevered, they they had doctrinal discernment, they could test false prophets and say, "Oh, this person is a liar. According to the word of God, this is not true. That is a doctrine of demon." They were quick with it. Because at some point, they're no longer defined by who they follow, they're only defined by what they're against. And Jesus says, "Return to the first works because if you don't, my presence will leave you." You know, it's interesting that Jesus did not speak against what they did. What they did was actually good. He applauded it. But the heart posture behind it was the issue. And the heart posture, why? Let's go to 1 John 4:8. It says, "He who does not love does not know God for God is love." And I This is about identity, about nature. When you stop reflecting his nature, you see, before God would receive your worship, he receives the worshiper. Before God receives your offering, he receives the one who is offering it. That's why in the scripture it will talk about if you're going to bring an offering and you have something against your brother, GO AND RESOLVE THAT BEFORE YOU DROP your offering. That's why I love the reminder I said, "There are people you need to forgive, text them now." BECAUSE BEFORE GOD RECEIVES WHAT YOU WANT to give him, he has to receive you. And so, the Lord, even though everything they did is something he would applaud, but he could not receive the ones doing it. Because their heart wasn't right. Spirit of religion. It tells you, "Focus the works but not the person. Focus on doing everything by the book, but your heart is far from him. The Lord says, "If you don't repent, I will take my lampstand from you." Now, many of us will say, "No, that sounds just about the spirit of religion. They're cold people." But then we're going to look at another church. And this is in Revelation 2:18-26, and it's the church in Thyatira. Now, they had love down on lock, but yet this is a corrupt church. Now, look at this. "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass. I know your works, your love, your service, your faith, and your patience.' And look at the the order. The first thing he says, 'I know your works.' And what does he point to? Your love. He says, "Wow, you are so loving. Ephesus, they just lost love. You know? But you guys, wow, you're loving. Your service, you are kind. You're kind to the poor. You're generous church. Your faith, your your your patience. And as for your works, the last are more than the first.' Meanwhile, in Ephesus, it says, 'Return to the first.' But in this church, it says, 'You know what? You guys, what you have the fruit you've produced out of your love is greater than the beginning.' Then he says, 'Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat sacrificed things sacrificed to idols. So, in your love, you just started accepting everything. You say, "We are so Jesus is love, you know, I we we don't judge. We listen to Jezebel." >> [laughter] >> Jesus is so loving, we don't condemn. Jesus is SO LOVING, YOU HOW CAN you say that? It's in the word. We are fighting with people who are declaring the word of God. You know, what is so interesting, some of you might walk away from this room right now, but I have to tell you the truth. I saw an interview not too long ago, well, not too long ago it was really a few days. That sounds like a long time. >> [laughter] >> And, you know, and this is a good brother of mine, Ezekiel. He has this podcast. And he was he was having an interview with a lady who is exposing sororities and fraternities. And exposing the witchcraft and the demonic behind it. And people are coming against her, this is a distraction. You know, you did someone or were you denied? They're talking to the guy like You denied from a fraternity? That's why you keep bringing up this topic. And I'm like, but they're just it's her testimony. And she's connecting her testimony to the word of God. Listen, I pledged AKA, so I know this. Many people don't know that. When I was in college, I pledged. And I didn't realize that it was demonic. Until the Lord began to open my eyes. And there's something she said that I love so much. She said, "If you ask anyone, most people that pledge don't have the full memory of it." It's very true. I did not have the full memory of the things that I said. Until I began to pray and I had to denounce. I went through all the official steps. I said, "Lord, get me out of here." >> [laughter] [applause and cheering] >> And when I did, certain memories started coming back. And I said, "Wait, I SAID WHAT? WHAT SPIRIT?" LISTEN, anyone I I I I If you are in this house and you have been in a you pledge a sorority or fraternity, at the end of the service come out. Publicly denounce it and go through the legal paperwork because there were things you signed to come into it. Go through the paperwork to get out of it. These things are strongholds. I did not know I'm going I'm going off a tangent, but I believe someone needs to hear this. I did not realize the bondage I was in while serving the Lord. There was a reoccurring dream I kept having of me and one of my good friends, and in the dream we are in prison clothes, but nobody sees it. People see us like we're normally dressed, but we look in the mirror and we were in prison clothes, and I was a minister at this time. I'm not saying something I was I I I I came out before I I started preaching. You see why we all have to approach God with humility? I was still a minister. I wasn't active, but I was still a minister and I had not come out of it. And then the Lord began to open my eyes and started opening her eyes. And then I will share a testimony with you. There was a a lady who came up to me one time and she said, you know, she had read my book on dreams and she was like, "I'm having this dream and I just need help with it." She was like, "In the dream, I'm holding the hand of She was holding the hand of her father who has passed away. And then holding the hand of a friend of hers. And it was like there were some things that were coming to attack them. And it it caused her to panic. And as she was talking, the spirit of the Lord said to me, "This dream represents" cuz she was talking about she was holding the hand of It was not a It was a someone who she had She just called it a friend or something like that. And then the Lord revealed and said, "Tell her to come out of the Greek organization she's in." And I asked her, I said, "Are you part of a Greek organization?" And she told me yes. She said the name of the organization. And I said, "When did your father die?" While she was pledging. And I said, "And who is the girl whose hand you're holding?" Her sorority sister who is currently sick and is like her her mind is not fully there. I said, "Talk to her and you come out." Because you see, here is what people don't tell you. We get so sentimental about oh, this is charity. Do you think that if Satan wants to bind a generation, he will come to it like I am the devil? No. It it would be through very interesting means that make people feel like, "Wow, I'm a part of something great." And I told her I said, And when she told me that, I said, "All of you need to get out." Because what you don't realize, you know, not too long ago I saw where they made the news a boy who had died from pledging. But what people won't tell you that almost every chapter, almost every sorority or fraternity, somebody dies at some point in time. There is a record of death, at least one. What is that? Sacrifice. It's not random. You think people just randomly die just like that? No. There are so many stories I can tell you from my experience, but that's not what today is about. But if you are still in a fraternity or sorority, come out of it. Come out of it. Don't fall into this corrupt church that would make what is profane seem as holy. And when people are exposing it, you're like, "Oh, no, love does not do that." The These people, you see, this church are the ones that will say, "Oh, yeah, that that this lady is being so judgmental." And and look at look at how Jesus Look at how Jesus actually even reveals himself. You know, I I would urge you in your time study every church because there is a way he reveals himself that is speaking directly to their issue. Let's go back to Revelation 2 from verse 18. It says, "These says These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire." You see, the eyes like a flame of fire is the eyes that looks upon your works. And if it is not satisfactory, it burns. Or he purifies if you are willing to humble yourself. So, let's go back to it. It says, "Because you allowed the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce my servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. And I have given her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed, I will cast her into a sick bed. Now, look at this as a warning to Jezebel." You know, and we'll we'll talk about what her name being Jezebel means. But to Jezebel in this context, he says, "I will put her in a sick bed." But then look at what he says to her followers. "And those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death." The ones who follow her. While she's in a sick bed, they're dying. "And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches the minds and hearts." Now, this is very powerful. We're going to get into it. "And I will give to each of you according to your works. Now to you I say, and to the rest in in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine." Now, this is very key. "Who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say." We're going to get back to this, but hold on to that. That don't know another translation will say the deep things of Satan, "as they say. I will put on you no other burden." He says basically, "If you don't know the deep things of Satan, you're not missing out. Don't don't even try to find out." He says, "Hold fast what you have till I come. And he who overcomes and keeps my word until the end, to him I will give power over the nations." Now, understand this. Now we're seeing a church that has the opposite problem from Ephesus. Ephesus had, you know, they've not even they they left their love, but kept doctrine. Here, they kept love, but lost discernment. Right? But you have to understand the city to have proper context of what's going on. This was a commercial city. They were known for their trade associations. So, they had associations for almost every working thing. Mining, coals, you know, they had associations, but these associations were not just like professional like, "Hey, you know, we are miners. Hey, how are you doing? You know, where's the info desk?" It was not that kind of party. These were These were associations that were deeply social and religious. Right? And so, their meetings, when they would meet, it involved eating foods sacrificed idols. And after they ate those foods, part of their ritual was sexual immorality. Right? So, when when the scripture talks about you have, you know, you you you you've given basically a stage to Jezebel. And Jezebel There's Jezebel in the Old Testament, but I believe that deliberately they're calling her Jezebel because of what Jezebel represents. Jezebel represents a system that brings compromise and that brings destruction to a church through false doctrine. Right? So, it says So, when it's calling her Jezebel, it's really pointing to what the original Jezebel represented, right? The original Jezebel brought in the worship of Baal and also, you know, enticed the Israelites into sexual immorality through and it was like progressive compromise. Right? And so, in this scripture, you have to understand that this was part of the ritual of people of workers. This was just the way of life in that in that region. And so, if you if you chose to not participate, you could be exiled when it came to the economic and social lifestyle. So, if you are not participating in this rituals, you could lose money. Basically, that's what it's trying to say. You could be canceled. So, economic, social, wealth, connections. Right? The two things right now that we are guarding with everything. I don't want anything affecting my money, and I don't want people talking about me online. So, if I don't Let me just participate. But, you see, this was a church, they had love. So, in the beginning, they were walking in accuracy with God. They were a church that people would come in, and they just felt so warm and welcoming and inviting. Like, wow, this church just I just feel the love of Jesus. And then, they were so moved by how people felt in the church, how people felt seen, how they felt heard, how they just felt love. Everybody's talking about love, you know? And then, love became independent of Jesus. Because, love is not what you define. Love is a person you follow. So, they started defining love according to a construct that fit everybody where they are. Like, Jezebel wants to preach, man, we let's Of course, she has something to say. What would Jesus do? And that's not what he would do. But, you see, when you put your idea of love above your following, above the leading of the Holy Spirit, Satan would weaponize it against you. Whenever you're When the Lord is telling you to do something that goes against the cultural view of love, the voice of religion comes and says, "No, no. That's judgmental. You need to be accommodating. Make some room." This is how they allowed a false prophet to bring false doctrine and deceive and lead the people astray. But then, you would think that if it was just about her deception, why is it that the Lord would judge the listeners? Why would he judge the people that followed her? Why would he judge the people that after she First of all, let me let me even talk about this. I love when the Lord is saying, you know, the deep things of Satan, as they say. Because what was he exposing that when Jezebel would preach, she would find a way to accommodate false doctrine under the notion of it's deep. These are the deep things of Satan. Not everyone can understand it. Then people start to have idolatry for wanting to be deep. And not realizing the deeper you are, the more compromised you are. I didn't know it was IN THE BIBLE. THE LORD SAYS, "THE DEEP things of Satan, as they say." When you're in their congregation, they say, "Wow, that's deep." Go even deeper, in hell. The people in this room know what I'm speaking to. The people who it affects, because the Lord showed me you. AND YOU ARE TOLERATING THE a false doctrine, and you know who God judges? Not just the false prophet. Those who carry it out. Because you see what he says in the scripture, let me even let's go to this. When he says, "I know their hearts and their minds." He knows that the reason you like the doctrine, it accommodates room for your sin. It makes it okay to participate. You see, for the people, it made it okay for them to participate in demonic activities. Why? Because our prophet Our prophet made room for it. I Because it's it's so deep. AND AND IT'S SO DEEP that she probably presented it to them as, "You know what? There is a place in God where you can engage in darkness. It doesn't affect you because, you know, we are we are so above." It is Is it in the word? Jezebel would create a doctrine that suits your lust. And that's really why you follow her. That's why you follow him. That's why you follow false teachings and false doctrine because it accommodates your compromise. So, God says, "I'm not just judging her. I will judge you for following her." Come out. Come out. I see this so clearly. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Because you see, the spirit of religion in this church is it would masquerade it as grace, as love, and worst of all, spiritual depth. We know things that they don't know. We know things that that you know what we were taught, we can't share it to the public. You know why? Because the public will show you it's not of God. There's a reason why it is uh hidden. It's It's a select few that Jezebel draws to herself to say, "Here are the deep things." It can't be public because there people in the public that may have enough sense to say, "This is not in the word." Any church, any leader, any minister, any friend that accommodates, that creates doctrine and and and and and you know, that's why even the scripture they will tell you, "Even if an angel preaches another gospel other than what we spoke to you, flee. Recognize it as false." There different things I will say to different people and some people in the room may not understand it, but some people will catch it and you will catch something else, but I'm telling you, I saw it so clearly. There people in this room and you need to get out because your destiny is on mortgage. You think you're doing it in the name of love. It's sentiment, not love. It's just sentiments because love is a person. We follow him. Anything in the name of love that leads you into disobedience is not of God. It's not led by Jesus. Thank you, Lord. You see, in in a place like this, to a people like this, because again, this is not just about the four walls of a church. This is about you. Because you are the body. What happens in in how the spirit operates here is that you have love without boundaries. So you don't call out Jezebel because it will feel judgemental. Satan would lie to you that it's divisive. That it's not loving. We don't do that. In places like this, prophetic gifting would replace scriptural accountability. And you have made it an idol. Call it what it is. Let's not be deceived. You see whenever you should you should find it as mercy for anyone in the room. The moment you start pursuing prophecies more than you pursue Jesus, another spirit is at work. And these are things we have to repent of. Because you would idolize a prophetic gifting even when they're leading you into error. I can never forget something that happened and I thank God because that was mercy. There are two occasions that two key things happened for me. I remember years back, this is way before ministry. This was a church in I believe it was like Ontario. And there was a prophet that came to the church. And he moved in so much accuracy. And I was like, oh man, I need to hear about my life. But I remember I go to this church and I was like, man, there's a prophet in this church. I need to go hear a word. I need I need God to speak to me. And there was a long line and I waited in that line. And when it was my turn, I was so excited. I was like, "Ooh, let me find out about the next 5 years of my life." And I went in there, sat down, so much anticipation, like the people who will be reading the beginning of this stories. And the prophet looks at me, and he says, "Why are you here?" I said, "Sir, the reason we're all here." >> [laughter] >> My name is Stephanie. Um >> [laughter] >> And he says again, "Why are you here?" I felt inside. I said, "Did I miss something? Was I supposed to have a a sheet, a card, you know?" And he literally tells me, he says, "The Lord says, go home. That whatever you want to know, he will tell you." I was so upset. Now you can be like, "Wow, oh, thank you." I was pissed. And then you make it about them. I say, "You know what? That man, he he's not seeing nothing." >> [laughter] >> And you don't realize it is the mercy of God. The second time I remember there was I was in this church and they had this prophet and the man comes and he raises an offering. He says, "You know, there are this amount of people that are supposed to give up this amount of money." Run when you hear that. You can't bargain with God. Because you have to know the God you serve is so merciful and so kind that he will not select a certain group of people publicly to show mercy to. So, unless you fall in the category of having $100 or $1,000, that would give that that shows you him that that means God will favor you. That's not You have to know the God you serve. When the Lord will single out a person that's private and it's for private reasons. When the Lord went to the man who had been laying for 38 years, nobody knew. He did not go and make a show, I am Jesus, but I came for just this one man. All of you carry on. He was so private about it that even the man who was healed did not know who healed him. When they asked the man, who did this? He did not know. Jesus now finds him in the temple and speaks to him and says, "Hey, sin no more." That's when he now realizes, "Oh, it's Jesus." The God you serve will not say, "Hey, there are 10 people here that have $100. So, immediately, you don't have $100, you're disqualified." That it's not that level. You don't make him so cheap. And so, this this minister, this prophet said, "Hey, there are this amount of people that have $100. And, you know, if you're going to sow $100." And, I said, "Oh, man, $100 to to just level up in life? Say less." Deception. I went to the ATM and said, "Child, let me go get this $100." Because this man doesn't know we don't carry cash around here. So, it's a POS system. [laughter] I went to the ATM, got $100 out. Walking back to the church, the Lord said, "What are you doing?" I said, "Father, I'm trying to go give this man >> [laughter] >> $100 so that, you know, all kinds of things will be blessed." As I was I'm walking I'm walking past a homeless man. The Lord said it will be more profitable for you to give it to that man. And I literally took it out because you see the scripture says he who lends to the poor is unto the is the Lord that repays you. It's not Do do you know what that means? That when I'm lending to the poor it's as though it is unto God. He says give it to the homeless man. There will be a better blessing there for you giving it to that minister. And I gave it to the homeless man and I walked in. And I will be honest with you, my revelation of that hadn't grown. So I just thought the Lord was just, you know, testing me. So when I walked in I saw everybody lining up to give $100. I'm like, "Man, >> [sighs and gasps] >> I guess we're not leveling up." >> [laughter] >> It is deception. Deception. Doctrines of demons. Right? And so we we we look at we make a prophetic gift and replace scriptural sound doctrine. And then what happens with, you know, in spaces like this with the spirit of religion, it would spiritualize compromise. Jezebel was teaching them, you know, the deep things of Satan. Make room for compromise. To give language to compromise for compromise to now sound like wisdom. For compromise to sound like elite status. Like we are just different. We we we, you know, these things don't affect us. It's in the scripture. Now these deep things become coveted in houses like this. They're cults [clears throat] that literally this is how they woo people. They they start teaching you things. They're like, "Oh, this is surface, but there are deeper things we want to teach you." Deep things. And you're excited like, "Man, I want to go. I want to go even deeper." If the depths you're going does not increase your revelation of Jesus according to the word, you are moving in error. And in In places like this, Christ's patience now becomes mistaken for approval. That when you see things thriving in this space, because what's happening? The people that are part of this church, now they can join those associations. They can reap the economic benefits and the social benefits. So, it looks like everyone is thriving and having a good time in Jesus' name. And it looks like Jesus is not doing anything about it. So, he must accept it. Not knowing that this is just the love of God. He will give you time to repent, but the spirit of religion would say God's patience is his permission. That God didn't do anything when you did that. It's okay. Then you do it again. Then you do it again, and then it becomes a lifestyle. Because somewhere in the heart you believe that if Okay, well, he didn't strike me. He's not going to strike you. Not the way you think at the time you think. But he'll be patient with you for you to repent. But there comes a point where without repentance judgment follows. And even the judgment is a result of his love. That you may turn. Thank you, Lord. Your affection and the things you do in love must be anchored in obedience. If not, the spirit of religion is at work. The love of God will never lead you to disobey him. You know, it's so interesting, you know, when the Lord had rejected the King Saul, Samuel, the prophet who anointed him, was really grieved about it. And actually, in 1 Samuel 16:1, the Lord says to him, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him?" Now, we thank God that Samuel actually had spiritual maturity, but if he was governed by this idea of love outside of Christ, he would be like, "Man, God, it's it's not it's not loving to just reject Saul. You chose him. How would you reject him?" No, he he should still be the one. I cannot anoint another. That would be me. That seems dishonest. This is where the spirit of religion begins to corrupt your perception of God, because it's showing you love outside of the one who is love. So, in this context, what happens? When the spirit of religion is at work, in the name of love, we would accept the things God has rejected. In the name of love, we will stay attached to what the Lord is like, "I'm I've left this a long time ago." In the name of love, we will defend the very thing he is judging. If the prophet Samuel was not someone who was mature, he would have defended Saul when the Lord was judging the house of Saul. He would not be quick to anoint David. He would be interceding for God to change his mind. In the name of love. Now, there is another church, Revelation 3:1-4. This is the third one. This is the last one out of that five that we're going to talk about. And this is the church in Sardis, and this is known as the dead church. And look at this. And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, "These things says he who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain that are ready to die. For I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of God. Remember therefore how you have what you how you have received and heard. Hold fast and repent. Therefore, if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you." Can you imagine a church receiving a spiritual death certificate and not knowing they're dead? Now, what is interesting there's so many things about this church that is very fascinating because first of all, Sardis was a place that was once known for what its world's power and wealth. It Sardis had lived in former glory. Because Sardis, they were actually, you know, they were conquered two times. And guess how they were conquered. Their watchmen were sleeping. Both times. The men who should have been watching on the wall to alert the city when danger is coming were asleep when soldiers were invading. Both times they were sleeping while soldiers were climbing the walls and invaded twice they were conquered for the same reason. That is why when the Lord says be watchful there is almost this mirror between what happened to the city what caused the city to be conquered has now infiltrated the church. You are living on former glory. There was once a time you were alive and you fell into comfort and complacency. And you got so comfortable with the fact that you were once alive. WE WERE ONCE A powerful city wealthy. We don't need to stay on our watch anymore. We can ride this wave of former glory. And when you're not watchful the enemy sneaks in. You see Sardis what for me was one of the saddest case. Because in other churches at least there is a Jezebel. Okay, you lost your love. Okay, another church you were compromised. They don't have any external issues. They're just asleep. They just got comfortable. They they got complacent. They understood, you know, oh okay, this is this is what I do, you know, I I wake up, read my Bible, do this and you don't realize you see I always tell people be careful of every, you know, have discernment when doors open to you. Not every open door means it's a door that the Lord opened. Because some doors are open to cause complacency in your life. Some doors are open to bring you to a place of comfort and complacency. You see, Sardis was the only church that never experienced persecution. Persecution is a good thing. It tests the foundation you're standing on. At least it's it's a it's a check. Like, where am I really with God? If you're anchored in him, you thrive through persecution. If you're not, you know where to where to pick yourself up from. But when there is no persecution, you're just coasting. And there are times You see, first of all, I remember I was in prayer and I sensed this so strongly. There are people that are actually going through a lot of persecution, and it is the goodness of God to you. You're looking at it if you keep I I heard this so strongly. If you keep shrinking back every time people talk negative about you or people say things about you because of the things God called you to do, it's going to keep happening. Because the Lord is using it as a training ground. He's using it to cultivate something stronger in you. The reason you feel as though your life is in this stagnant space It's as if you're you know, you you take one step forward, three steps back, and you can't understand, and the Lord has given you vision after vision about the things that he has called you to, but it seems like you're not moving forward because every time you're persecuted, you take two steps back. And the Lord is saying that the persecution is actually to propel you forward. THAT YOU WOULD TRUST me enough and silence the noise. And ask for my help in how to move forward. Not backwards. But you see if if you're quick to want to defend yourself when it's false, you might compromise when it's true. Because the the whole point behind defending yourself is self-preservation. I don't want them to talk about me. Let them talk and keep pushing forward. And I sense this is someone in the room and you the reason why you don't want to be in front of things. You don't want to be in front of the camera. You don't want your voice to be heard. It's because you're tired of people speaking negative things about you. But your what you're doing is in the in the lane of what God called you to. But the more you keep taking steps back, the Lord will allow it to continue. It is his mercy when you go through persecution. It It helps you to test the foundation you're on. No one buys a house without inspection. No one is going to really invest money in a property if you don't get someone to inspect it. Especially the foundation. And so this church had never been persecuted. They were just coasting. I don't know what area of life you you have just gotten to a place of comfort and complacency that you just found yourself in this routine with God. You just found yourself in this place where it's dead. The The sad thing about this church is that they had a reputation of being alive. What people said about them was in opposition to what Jesus said about them. People are like, "Man, this place is where it's happening. This person just loves the Lord." The church had a reputation. They were living on former glory. There are people you're living on former encounters. Anytime you talk about the Lord encountering you or the things God showed you is years ago. Yet, Jesus in teaching how to pray says, "Give us this day our daily bread." This church was living in the past of all the amazing things it did. It just started coasting. And how do you know it's dead? When even when the Lord says, "You know, I have found your deeds unfinished." Because you're not doing things out of the zeal and the love for God. You're doing things to sustain appearance. It doesn't last. Once you've Once you've gotten what you need, then you fall off. So, their deeds were unfinished. Because what motivated their deeds is not their zeal for God. It's appearance and reputation. You see, you know that you are in this lane when you become heavily double-minded. One moment you're passionate about a decision. The next moment you're passionate against it. Two weeks later, you're passionate for it. Because what is motivating You see, that is a spirit of confusion. And what does the word of God say about the Lord? He is not the author of confusion. So, what is motivating you is not that which flows from the spirit. It's flesh. Your passion is because something an idea popped up in your mind about what this would look like. And you said, "Let's go after it." Then another idea, something happens and it shifts your perspective. You're like, "Oh, wait. Hold up." Because it's not connected to the source anymore. It's based on your wisdom, your strategy, your your your thinking, your ways. It's not about what is it the Lord is instructing you to do. The dead church is a church or a people that no longer receive instructions from the spirit of God. They receive instructions from the place of wanting to keep momentum. What inspires them is how do we keep the momentum going? It's no longer the spirit of God. There's some people and the Lord will begin to convict your hearts about these things. And we must come before him in repentance. We have to come out of agreements. There's some your cases are more severe. Because you have come in agreement with corruption. You have come in agreement with demonic practices in the name of Jesus. And there's some that you have just reached this place of complacency and comfort. And even though everyone calls you alive and thriving and man, this this person, woo, I just just love being around them. Because even they're judging by the flesh. Not the spirit. But the eyes of Jesus looks upon that and says, "This is dead." Can you see the contrast? You have a reputation of being alive. But you are dead. And I pray that the spirit of God begins to convict us even now. Where are we? And where do we stand? Because you cannot allow the spirit of religion to have room in your life. It would hinder you. Because anything that hinders your ability to really have true intimacy with Jesus, it is actually taking life from you. The scripture says that your life is hidden in Christ. It is pulling you away from your life source, while giving you the illusion that all is well. Let's get back to the place where we're walking out our salvation with fear and trembling. Where the fear of the Lord returns to our homes, our lives. How we talk, how we live. You see, the other two churches, you had one that was a persecuted church, that was upright because they allowed persecution to do a good work in them. And there was one that was known as the faithful church. And the charge I give you, you see, there's a scripture that literally says, you know, it talks about how the things of the spirit are against the things of the flesh, right? And it tells you to walk in the spirit so you don't satisfy the lust of the flesh. So it's basically saying the moment you stop walking in the spirit, the default is flesh. Some of you don't fall into certain patterns because you you just fell, you had a weakness. No, you just stopped walking in the spirit. And walking in the spirit is intentional. There's a reason why the Apostle Paul would say, I die daily." It's a daily consciousness that I'm not coming into today based on former glory. I'm not coming into today just because I did a 21-day fast and I'm like, "Woo!" Some of us will fast for 21 days and the rest of the year is self-serving. But, I did a 21-day fast. I'm not coming into my day from that. I'm coming into the day with a posture of humility saying, "God, if you don't help me, I can't help myself." I'm coming into my day seeking the help of the Lord, seeking dependence on the Lord. And that's why we start our day with him. And as we journey through our day, we have a consciousness of the spirit of God with us. Walk out your salvation with fear and trembling. Not fear that cripples, but a reverence for God. God, I want my days to honor you. Not just moments, my days to honor you. Stand with me. We're going to pray. The Lord is calling for a faithful church. You are his ecclesia. You are his body. Everything I read is not about you. You see, don't fall into the temptation that when you hear something, immediately you're like, "Yep, that's for them." No, it's for us. It's a warning to us. Even if I don't identify with something, but let me be warned about it. Because I could fall into that trap. That's why I'm telling you things that I even did. I was the one who who could have participated and given that false man $100. If the mercy of God did not stop me. And if you do it once, you'll do it the second time. You'll do it the third time. And you start moving in error and it continues to grow. And why would I have done it? Not because when he spoke, I felt the spirit of God. No, when he spoke, he spoke to my lust. He spoke to the lust of the flesh. He spoke to [music] the lust of the eyes. He spoke to the pride of life. That's what he spoke to. There are times that you will see when people will come into a room and they will tell you, "Hey, there are some kids out there that need a home, that need to be adopted, or you can donate some money and adopt a child financially." The room is quiet. They're asking them, "Anyone would like a card?" And and the person speaking is trying to make it so simple to you. They're like, "Oh, three coffees a day or three coffees in a month will sponsor a child." The room is quiet. That's when people just start opening things. All of a sudden, everybody needs to pee. >> [music] >> Because now it's awkward. But somebody comes and says, "There are 20 people here. If you give $500, your marriage is on the way." All the women run out. You start texting people. "Hey, girl, can you Zell me real quick? Hey, can you Cash App me?" Idolatry. [music] There are things we did. Lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life. Why not believe God? Why not seek his face? And trust the timing of the Lord. Let him speak to you about the things that must you must do. But you feed in. That's why he judges Jezebel and her followers because it's the followers that keep her there. If you're in this room, there are decisions you have to make. And when you know the truth and it stares at you, and you look away, you put yourself in the in a position of greater judgment. If you're in this room and there are things that were spoken and it pierced your heart, and you know you need to walk away, you know you need to repent of it, then I'd call you now. Just come to this altar very quickly. We're going to pray. Very quickly. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord. Very quickly. There are moments that are moments of decision. And your indecision is a decision. Very quickly, very quickly. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Some of you came with people and both of you attend demonic places. Don't look at your neighbor to know if we should go together. Because when you stand before your maker, you're not going to be standing with that neighbor. Make a decision quickly. And repent. Thank you, Lord. I want us to be in a posture of prayer. Because the Lord is going to start to set people free. You see, some of you didn't even realize that your agreement with certain doctrines, your agreement with the things you tolerated, the way you've lived, actually put you in bondage and you did not know it. Prayer team, please let's be mindful in >> [music] >> in a few moments. And I ask of you, please, if you are if you're here, um if you see someone and maybe the Lord starts to move on them, um just allow our team to handle it. Um you know, there's something we normally do as part of church culture, when someone [music] is having an encounter with the Lord, we want to just lay hands on them. It's like tradition, you just lay hands. Not even because you might be praying, you just touch the person. Just Please don't touch anybody. That's what I'm saying. Don't touch anyone. But let's begin to worship and we're going to pray in the just a few moments, but I just want let our attention come before the Lord right now. Cuz there are a few things that he wants to do in this house. Just lift up a prayer to the Lord as we worship. Everyone in this house. Just if you pray in the spirit, pray in the spirit. If you're at the altar, begin to ask the Lord. Begin to confess before him.

>> [music] >> And say, "Lord, I come out of agreement." Bring it up before him and say, "Lord, I come out of covenant with the way I've been living, with the things I've done, with the things I've tolerated. I come out of it, Lord." You might be in a sorority, a fraternity. Lord, I come Let your first declaration be unto the Lord before you do the paperwork. I come out of agreement. >> [music] >> Just begin to pray in the spirit. Begin to pray in the spirit. There is a move of the Lord that wants to purify you. That wants to cleanse you. That wants to rid you of shackles, seen and unseen. >> Let brother come. Tell me that come. There was a fire of God that would begin to fall. >> [music] >> Let's tell me that come. >> [music] >> Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. There's a song I want her to minister to. >> [music] >> All I want is to be within your love. We're desperate for a touch of heaven. I will open up again. Throw [snorts] my fears into the wind. I am desperate for a touch of heaven. >> [music] >> And all I will open up again. Throw my fears into [singing] the wind. I am desperate >> [music] >> a touch of of heaven. [singing] >> [snorts] [screaming] >> Jesus. We are desperate. We are desperate. >> [gasps] >> We want is to be within your love. Be undone by who you are. We are desperate for a touch [gasps] of heaven. We will open up again. [music] Throw our fears into the wind. We are desperate for a touch of heaven. We will open up again. Throw our fears into the wind. We are desperate for a touch of heaven. >> [music] >> See, there are angels of the world in this room. But the Lord will never force himself upon you. Some of you are visibly scared. There is a fear that has crippled you. But as you lift up your voice to say Jesus, I want you more than what Satan has put in front of me to be afraid of. The pray Please check Make sure. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. The fear is actually a strategy of the enemy. It is the fact that he doesn't have power. But if he can get you to be scared of him, to be scared of movement, then he keeps you bound. But if you say Jesus, I want you more, I throw my fears in the wind. And I say, "Lord, I choose you. I choose you above the noise. I choose you above the persecution. I choose you above what they will say about me. I choose you. I choose you. I choose you." As you choose him, spirit of the living God, >> I call upon everyone in this room that has been held captive by Satan. That has been bound, let the spirit of God fall upon you now in the name of Jesus. Let what has crippled you, what has kept you in a spiritual prison, LORD, LET YOUR JUDGMENT come upon it now. And I call your children free in the name of Jesus. Let every demon that has been tormenting you loose you now in Jesus' mighty name. Loose you now IN JESUS' MIGHTY NAME. Loose you. Loose you. There are people the doctrines you have tolerated in your dreams you have seen their faces molesting you. Everything they deposited in you in the realm of the spirit, I command it to leave you now in Jesus' name. >> [music] >> There he comes. There he comes. Spirit of the living God, begin to locate your children that have been bound. Where the spirit of religion has been ruling over their lives, We loose them now from its grip. We choose you. We choose you. We choose you. We choose you. We choose you. We choose you, Lord. We choose you, Lord, as your children repent of idolatry. Where their destinies have been mortgaged on the altar of idolatry. As they begin to repent, oh God, Lord, that which belongs to them in this season, who you're calling them to be in this season, let it be activated in the name of Jesus. Let it be activated in the name of Jesus. Thank you, Lord. >> [music] >> Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. In just a moment, everyone be calm. I see the angel of the Lord is about to walk through some people. And as he walks through, his very presence is purification. Holy Spirit, have your way in this room. Have your way. Have your way. Have your way. Have your way. Have your way. Have your way. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. There are people I see where cords are being disconnected. Somebody had changed you to them. Libra car, every ungodly soul tie be broken in the name of Jesus. Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord. Loose them. Loose them. Loose them. Loose them. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. There I see where strings Thank you, God. The God is the blood is about to do something beautiful. There are these strings that have been You've been attached to because of the things you submitted yourself to. And on those strings, I see things written. Where One of the ones that are so profound is a spirit of lust. Some of you don't even understand why you're so lustful. But it is what you submitted yourself under. And as the angel of the Lord begins to walk through, But that have these cords, it would begin to burn. Thank you, Jesus. The Lord sees where you have been struggling in the secret place. Everybody looks at you like so spiritual. >> [music] >> But yet there's some of you where you still run back to pornography. Because there's an uncontrollable lust you have. It needs to be fed. But the Lord is setting you free now in the name of Jesus. >> [music] >> I rebuke every spirit of masturbation. Every spirit of pornography. Every counterfeit spirit of intimacy. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Spirit of the living God, touch your people. Touch your sons and your daughters. Touch them now, Lord. Touch them now. Touch them now. Every stubborn spirit. >> [music] >> Every stubborn demonic spirit. I command you to leave in the name of Jesus. Every tormenting spirit. I command you to leave in the name of Jesus. Every spirit of witchcraft Every spirit of witchcraft that has been monitoring God's people I command you to leave in the name of Jesus. Every spirit of witchcraft Every spirit of the marine kingdom I command you to leave in the name of Jesus. Every spirit spouse I disconnect you from these ones in the name of Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. >> [music] >> Thank you, Lord. Let the fire of the Lord, let the judgment of God come upon everything that has tormented you in the name of Jesus. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Where dogs have been chasing you in your dream Where witches have marked you I I you from their hold now. In the name of Jesus. I loose you from their hold. I loose you from their hold. I loose you from their hold. Pray over her feet. Just begin to pray. Begin to pray. Don't worry about what's happening next to you. Look onto Jesus. Ask the Lord have mercy on me. Have mercy on me, God. Have mercy on me. Have mercy on my family. Begin to pray for your bloodline. Begin to ask the Lord where spirits have hidden themselves in your bloodline. Command it to leave in the name of Jesus. That it will not repeat the same pattern with you. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Lord, any other blood THAT IS SPEAKING AGAINST YOUR CHILDREN, where there have been covenants made by the blood of the innocents, let the blood of Jesus, let the blood of Jesus speak a better word. >> [music] >> I loose them. I loose them. I loose them from every DEMONIC CONTRACT, EVERY demonic covenant that is still speaking over their lives in the name of Jesus. >> [music] >> Begin to renounce their people here and in your bloodline there's freemasonry. And there were all kinds of covenants made that is affecting you even now. Begin to renounce it over your life. Begin to renounce lebra kayada bro sake. Every sacrifice, every ritual that was done that implicated generations after me, that implicated generations that I'm now a living in. Cancel it in the blood of Jesus. Cancel it by the name of Jesus. >> [music] >> Say Lord, I exempt myself and every lineage after me. We are exempt from the sins of those before us. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. >> [music] >> Just for a moment, everyone. No no There's something I see the Lord doing. Thank you, Lord. Don't be distracted. If you can, close your eyes. Just close your eyes. Set an expectation in your heart. That Lord, when I leave this room, I'm not leaving the same. I'm leaving lighter. Free of chains. Whether there are chains that were spiritual, that were unknown, or mental strongholds. I'm leaving this place trusting you. Holding on to you. Just set your gaze on him. I see something about to happen. Thank you, Holy Spirit. [music] As you set your gaze on him, there are people right here, right now. The Lord is saying, "Stop holding back." For he has anointed your voice. And an anointing An anointing is pouring now. >> [music] >> It's pouring now. All around the room. There are people from upstairs, down here, in the foyer, would meet you. There was an oil of the Lord that activates you for the work he has called you to do. There was a moment that you walk into a kairos period, a kairos [music] time, an appointed time. When the Lord begins to reveal to you who you are. And he's not just revealing it to you. He is equipping you. Some of you it will come as a vision now. It will come as that which you are spoken to about years ago. It will come as a memory. And for some of you it will come as a touch. Because I see the oil of the Lord. It doesn't manifest on everyone the same. But I see there are people. Oh, thank you, Jesus. You see, part of the reason we do this is that this is an activation room. Because the ecclesia are the sent out ones. Sent out with authority to do the work of the king. So, Lord as you have removed, oh God the powers of darkness upon them. As you have freed them, Lord from chains. As you are freeing them, Lord Jesus from that which sought to keep them bound. I pray, oh heavenly Father that for those that it is actually this is their time. And Satan wanted them to miss this season of life. Let your oil begin to flow. Let your oil begin to flow. Activate them now. Let your grace in form of mantles be released over your people who are in the season. This is the season. It's coming. Thank you, Lord. [music] Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. The oil that breaks yolks. The oil that breaks chains. The oil that empowers. The oil that announces. Let it come upon them, Lord. Even stronger, Lord. I see people that the Lord has already started to touch. Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord. Satan has lied to you for too long. For too long. For too long. For too long. Too long. The Lord is showing me there's some of you that were even in adulterous relationships. Somebody help her. >> [screaming] >> Thank you, Holy Spirit. For too long, for too long, for too long, the Lord is setting you free. And not only is he setting you free, he is activating you. I see someone who has been in an adulterous relationship. You have been having an affair with someone who is married. This is not going to hinder the call if you lay it down. The reason why the enemy loves rebellion is so that he can weaponize your rebellion to make you believe you are unworthy. But feel the love of God in this room. That calls you higher. Calling you higher. Calling you higher. Be sober. Don't Don't worry about what's happening around you. Just set your gaze on Jesus. Ask him. Lord, have mercy on me. Have mercy on my family. Have mercy on my loved ones. The spirit of God is with us. And I see he's not done. >> I see there is a great warfare in the realm of the spirit. Some of you don't even realize your names have been locked somewhere. And there were things that you were asked to do. There are people in this room that really the Lord There is a grace in this room for people to come out of witchcraft. Not just that be not not just about being a witch, but being submitted under witchcraft. And you've submitted yourself to do things that you can't even share with your loved ones. And you don't realize who the Lord has ordained you to be would be mighty in a position to what try to keep you bound. Spirit of the Lord, begin to touch [music] them. Loose them. Loose them. Loose them. Wherever the spirit of witchcraft has been operating in their lives, I proclaim their liberty in Jesus' name. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Just a few minutes, we're going to pray and close. But, Holy Spirit, whoever needs a touch from you, touch them now. I see two more people that the Lord is about to activate because it is your time. It is your time. It is your You are in the season of your assignment. You are in the season of your assignment. And one, the Lord is calling you forth as an evangelist. But, fear there I don't know why there is a fear. The Lord is showing me you have this fear of traveling and fear of flights and the fear you have about accidents and all these things. It is actually that which is in opposition to your calling. So, Spirit of the living God, would you touch her now? Break the fear, Lord God. Break it. Break it. Break it. >> Break it, Lord. Break it. Break it. Break it. It is demonic by nature. Thank you, Lord. Break it. Loose, loose, loose, loose, loose in the name of Jesus. Never to return. Never to return. I command everything in you that has been hindering the move of the Lord. I command you to leave now in the name of Jesus. Never to return. Never to return. It is that spirit that causes suicide ideation. It is that spirit that has made room for the spirit of death. I command you and everyone you came with to leave her now in the name of Jesus. >> [music] >> Never to return. For he who the son sets free is free indeed. I command your freedom. >> [music] >> Focus on the Lord. Don't be distracted. There is one more person and we're going to pray. See, the Lord is touching everyone individually, [music] but there are certain people, the same way that when it is your season, you see in the fullness of time Jesus came. There is a fullness of time concerning your life. There is a fullness of time that you ought to appear in a different way. And you want that you want people to intercede for you. THE LORD, WHEN it is when I ought to be a teacher, let me not be a babe. When I ought to move in certain dimensions in God, let me not be hiding. When I ought to have boldness and confidence for the things of the Lord, let my life not advance the kingdom of darkness. There is someone I see that the Lord wants to anoint as a seer. He wants to open your eyes. Somebody, please help help the individual. Thank you, Lord. And as he begins to open your eyes, do not let the the deception of fear shut it. Because we are in critical times. And the crowd would say what the Lord is not saying. So, there are people he will begin to anoint them to see in the spirit, to see what is to come. So, they can sound the alarm. >> [music] >> Every stubborn spirit that is still finding expression in your life, I command it now to leave [music] you in the name of Jesus. Every spirit of witchcraft, every spirit of witchcraft, [music] I command it to leave you in the name of Jesus. Right there, Angela, lay just touch her. Lay hands and begin to pray over her. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. And Angela, take authority. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus. Every spirit that says you will not live the fullness of your days, I cancel its voice over your life in the name of Jesus. THAT SPIRIT OF PREMATURE DEATH, I CANCEL its work in your life in the name of Jesus. I speak life over you. Life over you. Life over you. Life over you. LIFE OVER YOU. WHATEVER THEY HAVE planted in you, Can you begin to pray? There is a contention for this young girl's life. Can you begin to pray? You would want someone to pray for you. Every spirit of premature death, I LOOSE IT FROM you in the name of Jesus. >> [music] >> And this has been a pattern. >> [music] >> We declare freedom over your life. In Jesus' name. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Thank you, Holy Spirit. If you walked in here and Satan has marked you to not live the fullness of your days, I cancel that voice in the name of Jesus. Every demonic contract that has MARKED YOU BLACK EYE SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP HER. EVERY DEMONIC contract that HAS MARKED YOU THAT HAS MARKED YOU THAT HAS MARKED YOU I command the spirit of death to flee from you in the name of Jesus. >> [music] >> In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. In the name OF JESUS. LIBRAKA EVERY PYTHON SPIRIT LEAVE HER now in the NAME OF JESUS. EVERYTHING YOU have taken from her. I declare restoration, RESTORATION, RESTORATION in Jesus name. Loose her. Loose her. Loose her. Never to return. There it goes. There it goes. There it goes. I command this place to be a purifying fire of THE LORD JESUS. WHATEVER DOES NOT glorify the Lord you cannot dwell here. Spirit of the living God begin to move THROUGH THIS ROOM. WHATEVER THEY CAME WITH THAT IS A MARKER of bondage. LABRAKAYA LABROSA, PLEASE SOMEBODY JUST LOOK OUT FOR PEOPLE. WHATEVER they came with that is a marker a marker a marker OF BONDAGE. I COMMAND THIS room to be a purification room in the name of Jesus. Every demonic spirit, you will not find rest. You will not find rest. You will not find rest. Leave now in Jesus' name. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. >> [music] >> Thank you, Lord. In the name of Jesus. Kayala Labranamaka Labrakaya Labrosa Heavenly Father Jesus, we thank you. Jesus, we love you. >> [music] >> Everyone in this room is marked by you. I speak freedom and liberty in the name of Jesus. They will not leave with any chains they walked in here with. I speak freedom over their loved ones. Over their family. >> [music] >> In the name of Jesus. Lord, anything they have ingested I command them to come out. That found legal grounds of bondage. Lord, I command it to come out of them. In the name of [music] Jesus. Lord, let their minds [music] I I I speak a covering over their minds. A covering over their hearts. That they would know that you Lord Jesus, you surround [music] them. You protect them. You go with them. I cancel the chatter of the demonic. Every voice that will try to keep them back in a place of bondage. >> [music] >> I cancel it in the name of Jesus. Let them leave this place in the confidence [music] that if God be for me, who can be against me? Where they have been victims, let them find their voice. Let them find their voice, Lord. Let them find their voice. Let them find their voice in prayer. Let them find their voice in intercession. Let them find their voice against wickedness. Let them find their voice against darkness. Against manipulation. In the name of Jesus. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Just be careful as the Lord will still be at work, but I'm going to call Mariah. Thank you, Lord. Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Lord. As Pastor Stephanie was speaking, I felt very clearly that this was a kairos moment. [music] And I want to encourage and exhort you to not let this day of decision pass you by. Do not harden your heart before the Lord because you have two choices to either in pride decide to keep going your own way or to choose to be humble and to submit to the Holy Spirit. When the Lord delivers us from oppressive spirits, the Bible says it's it likens it to a house that has been swept clean. >> [music] >> And then the spirit goes out looking for seven more friends to come to that house. And do you know how you protect the house? You set it on fire with the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus wants to invite you into a loving relationship with him. You're not called to do this life alone. He is the helper. He is the advocate. He is the one who abandoned the riches of heaven to enter into human flesh to dwell with [music] you and I. The Book of Revelation says it this way, "Behold, I stand at the door and I knock. If anybody who hears my voice and opens the door and lets me in, I will come in and dine with them [music] and they with me." I remember first hearing that passage and a pastor said, "Jesus is such a gentleman. He's going to knock on the door before he lets himself in. But when I read the text, I felt the Lord drawing my eye to the urgency of the moment. Because the text says, "If anybody who hears my voice, which indicates he's not just knocking, he's talking. Hello? Is there someone in there? Hello? I see smoke. HELLO? THERE'S WATER COMING from the doors. Hello? The foundation looks like it's about to cave in." And he stands at the door and he knocks because he doesn't want you to be abandoned as an orphan. He wants to invite you into loving relationship as his son and [music] as his daughter. So with every head bow and every eye closed, I want to invite you into [music] a relationship with this loving savior. I want to invite you into a relationship with the Jesus who descended and became man and dwelt among us. I want to invite you into a relationship with the king of glory who allowed himself, keyword allowed, himself to be crucified, >> [music] >> to die a sinner's death because he wanted you to be reconciled to him. The Bible says, [music] "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through our Lord Christ [music] Jesus." You have a choice today, life or death. I tell this to our team, >> [music] >> choose your hard. It's hard following Jesus. It's hard submitting to the sanctification process. >> [music] >> It's hard maintaining the freedom that he died to give you. It's hard. But you know what's harder? Going to hell. [music] It's harder being bound. It's harder dying to sin. [music] It's harder living a life separated from him. So, in this moment, in this place, if that's you and you say, "God, I don't know you, but I want to. Jesus, I don't yet have a relationship with you, but I want [music] to." I want you to raise your hand. If that's you and you say, "Yep, today's today. Praise the Lord. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you, Jesus." I can't see you in the balcony, but heaven can see you. Raise your hand in the balcony if that's you and you say, "Today is the day I want to be reconciled to Jesus." Thank you, Lord. [music] I want us all to repeat this prayer after me. Say, "Dear Jesus, today is the day [music] that I repent of my sin. I confess that I need you. I believe that you really lived, that you really died, and that you really rose again. I accept your invitation >> [music] >> to dwell with me and I in you. Come into the home of my heart. Set my home on fire that I may be born again, baptized in the Holy Spirit, and live a life [music] free in you. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Amen. Amen.