BEHIND JESUS TEXT: Acts 18:28 SUPPORTING TEXTS: John 1:1–14; John 4:8, 24; Philippians 3:3 OBJECTIVES At the end of this teaching, participants should be able to: 1. Understand that God is Spirit and that He has revealed Himself to humanity through Jesus Christ. 2. Recognize the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ, and understand why God manifested Himself in the flesh. 3. Explain why Jesus is the only way to salvation and why human religion, morality, or religious tradition cannot save man. 4. Defend the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God manifested in the flesh, using Scripture. INTRODUCTION Acts 18:28 (KJV): “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” The subject of Jesus Christ goes beyond what can be seen physically. To understand Jesus, we must look behind Jesus—behind His humanity, His earthly appearance, His birth, His ministry, His death and resurrection—to discover who He truly is. The Bible teaches that God is Spirit: John 4:24 (KJV): “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” God is also love: 1 John 4:8: “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” Love cannot be seen with the physical eyes, and the Spirit cannot be seen with the physical eyes. Yet both are real. QUESTION Have you ever physically seen love? Have you ever physically seen a spirit? Although you cannot see love itself, you can see the manifestation of love through actions. Likewise, God, who is Spirit, made Himself known to humanity through Jesus Christ. John 1:14 (KJV): “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” Jesus is therefore the visible manifestation of the invisible God. Colossians 1:15: “Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.” 1. GOD MANIFESTED HIMSELF THROUGH MAN God revealed Himself through the human life of Jesus Christ so that humanity could know, believe, and receive Him. John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” Jesus did not merely come to teach people about God. He came as God manifested in the flesh. 1 Timothy 3:16: “God was manifest in the flesh…” Jesus showed mankind what God is like through His character, words, works, compassion, holiness, power and love. 2. THE BREATH OF MAN IS LIMITED Man's physical life is temporary. The breath of man is dependent upon God. Isaiah 2:22: “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” James 4:14: “For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” Man's life is limited, but God's life is eternal. 3. THE LIFE OF GOD IS ETERNAL God does not depend upon another source for His existence. He is the eternal God. John 1:4: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 11:25: “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life…” 1 John 5:11: “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” The eternal life of God is revealed to humanity through Jesus Christ. 4. THE CHARACTER OF MAN IS CORRUPTED BY SIN Humanity, because of sin, cannot become its own saviour. Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked…” Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Man therefore needs salvation from outside himself. 5. THE CHARACTER OF GOD IS GOOD God is holy, righteous, loving and good. Psalm 100:5: “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Psalm 145:9: “The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” Jesus demonstrated the goodness and character of God among humanity. Acts 10:38: “…who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” 6. MAN CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF — JESUS SAVES Religion cannot save man. Human wisdom cannot save man. Good works, by themselves, cannot save man. Ephesians 2:8–9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith… Not of works…” Salvation is found in Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12: “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” The God whom humanity could not physically see came near to humanity in Jesus Christ—and Jesus saves. THE REASON GOD MANIFESTED HIMSELF IN THE FLESH 1. SO THAT WE COULD SEE HIM God became visible through Jesus Christ. John 14:9: “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father…” Jesus is the revelation of the invisible God. Colossians 2:9: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” 2. SO THAT WE COULD TOUCH HIM AND KNOW HIM John testified that Jesus was physically real. 1 John 1:1: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes… and our hands have handled…” The apostles did not proclaim an imaginary person. They witnessed, heard and physically encountered Jesus Christ. 3. SO THAT WE COULD FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM Jesus did not merely appear to humanity from a distance. He lived among people. 1 John 1:3: “…that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us…”»l Jesus also fellowshiped with His disciples. Matthew 26:30: “And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.” He ate with them, walked with them, taught them and fellowshipped with them. 4. TO REVEAL THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH THE FLESH Jesus demonstrated God's power through miracles, healing, deliverance and authority. John 2:11: “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory…” Acts 2:22: “Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs…” His works revealed what was behind the humanity—the divine nature and power of God. 5. TO EXPERIENCE HUMANITY AND IDENTIFY WITH US Jesus experienced hunger, thirst, weariness, sorrow, rejection and temptation, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…” Hebrews 2:17: “Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren…” He understands what humanity experiences. 6. TO SHED HIS BLOOD FOR OUR SALVATION The ultimate reason for His manifestation was redemption. Matthew 26:28: “For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” 1 Peter 1:18–19: “…ye were not redeemed with corruptible things… But with the precious blood of Christ…” Jesus came to die for the sins of humanity and rise again. 1 Corinthians 15:3–4: “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day…” YOU CANNOT GET GOD CHEAPLY Gold does not usually lie openly on the surface. It must be sought, discovered and refined. In the same way, we must look beyond the outward appearance of Jesus to understand who He truly is. Jeremiah 29:13: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Behind the soil, there may be gold. Behind the humanity of Jesus, there is the revelation of God. Jesus appeared as a man, but He was more than merely a man. John 10:30: “I and my Father are one.” John 20:28: “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.” The Messiah was hidden behind the humanity of Jesus until He was revealed to those who believed. ANY SPIRIT THAT DENIES JESUS CAME IN THE FLESH The Bible gives a serious warning concerning any teaching that denies the incarnation. 1 John 4:2–3: “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God…” Jesus truly came in the flesh. He was not merely a spiritual appearance. He was genuinely human while being divine. WHY ACTS 18:28 IS IMPORTANT Acts 18:28: “For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.” Apollos and the early Christian preachers had to convince the Jews from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. Many Jews expected the Messiah to establish an earthly political kingdom and deliver them from their enemies. They struggled to understand the manner in which the Messiah would first come. Jesus did not come first as an earthly political ruler. He came as the suffering Servant who would deal with the deeper problem of humanity sin. Isaiah 53:5: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…” His kingdom is ultimately spiritual and eternal. John 18:36: “My kingdom is not of this world…” Luke 1:32–33: “…the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever…” Therefore, Jesus did not fit the people's expectation of what the Messiah should look like, but the Scriptures testified concerning Him. PRACTICAL EXAMPLE: WHY PEOPLE STILL REJECT JESUS Even today, many people reject Jesus because they do not understand what is behind the Gospel. Some see religious hypocrisy, fanaticism, scandals, poor leadership or people who claim Christianity but do not demonstrate Christ-like character. But the failure of people does not invalidate Jesus. We must distinguish between Jesus Christ and the imperfections of people who claim to represent Him. Hebrews 12:2: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” Our faith must ultimately be placed in Christ, not in imperfect human beings. Some people look to God for survival, prosperity, longevity or protection but do not truly know Him. They may place their hope in religious traditions, human philosophies or personal beliefs while rejecting God's saving grace. But the Gospel points us back to Jesus. THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GOD Jesus made this clear: John 14:6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Peter also declared: Acts 4:12: “Neither is there salvation in any other…” Jesus did not merely claim to know the way. He declared Himself to be the Way. His resurrection became one of the greatest proofs of His identity. Romans 1:4: “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” The Christian faith is therefore not founded merely on human philosophy but on the person, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. CONCLUSION: WHO IS BEHIND JESUS? Behind the humanity of Jesus is the divine revelation of God. Jesus is the Word who became flesh. John 1:1–3: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him…” And then: John 1:14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” Jesus is the image of the invisible God. Colossians 1:15: “Who is the image of the invisible God…” The fullness of God dwells in Him. Colossians 2:9: “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” He existed before Abraham. John 8:58: “Before Abraham was, I am.” He is one with the Father. John 10:30: “I and my Father are one.” Thomas called Him God. John 20:28: “My Lord and my God.” And the Father Himself speaks concerning the Son: Hebrews 1:8: “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever…” Therefore, when we look at Jesus, we must look beyond the physical appearance of the man and understand the divine truth revealed through Him. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. Jesus Christ is the revelation of God. Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the Saviour. Jesus Christ is the Way to the Father. And in Him is eternal life. FINAL CHALLENGE Do not stop at what you see on the surface. Look behind Jesus. Look beyond His humanity and discover His divine identity through the Scriptures. John 20:31: “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” The goal is not merely to know about Jesus. The goal is to know Jesus, believe in Him, and receive the salvation and eternal life that are found in Him.

❤️ COME TO JESUS — He Is Calling You Home Have you ever felt too broken, too guilty, or too far away from God? This new song from JGG Worship Music is a reminder that Jesus has not forgotten you. His arms are still open wide. His grace is greater than your past, and His love reaches you even in your darkest moments. 🎵 “Come to Jesus” is a Christian worship song about forgiveness, healing, repentance, and coming home to Christ. ✝️ If you have wandered, come home. 🙏 If you are hurting, come to Jesus. ❤️ If you feel unforgiven, remember His grace. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28 May this song encourage someone today to lay down their burdens, surrender to Jesus, and take His hand. 🎧 Listen, worship, and share it with someone who needs this message. Jesus is reaching out… Just take His hand. You are forgiven. Come home. #ComeToJesus #JGGWorshipMusic #ChristianWorship #JesusChrist #ChristianMusic #WorshipSong #Forgiveness #Healing #Repentance #ComeHomeToJesus #GodsLove #ChristianEncouragement https://youtu.be/Noj_m_tD3oU?si=r7mFJ4OHNfHQsY_S

God can use dreams for many purposes. Here are four biblical ways He speaks through them. 1 –God Can Impart Through Dreams In 1 Kings 3:5–12, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and invited him to ask for whatever he desired. Solomon asked for an understanding heart so that he could lead God’s people well and distinguish between right and wrong. The Lord was pleased with his request and gave him extraordinary wisdom. Solomon did not merely dream about God—he encountered God in his dream. What happened while he slept resulted in a genuine impartation that affected his waking life. There have been times when I sensed the Holy Spirit’s presence intensely in a dream and then awakened with that same sense of His presence in the room. A dream can become a genuine place of encounter. God can impart wisdom, courage, direction, or spiritual strength through it. 2 –God Can Reveal the Future Through Dreams Genesis 41 records Pharaoh’s troubling dreams and Joseph’s God-given interpretation. The dreams revealed that seven years of prosperity would be followed by seven years of famine. Because God revealed what was coming, Egypt was able to prepare. God can reveal future events through dreams. Sometimes, He may show you something before it happens; at other times, He may confirm what He has already been speaking to your heart. Years ago, at about age ten, I had a dream in which I saw an old man carrying a load in a "Ghana Must Go" bag. I took the load from the old man and walked with him for a distance. At a point , he asked me to put the load down, and when I did, he opened the bag; it was full of Bibles. He gave me one of them and told me to cherish it. He then said he could carry on from that point. He moved a distance away and vanished into thin air. In another dream at a different time, I was given Genesis 17:1–4. In a third dream, a well-built man in a white robe came to me and gave me a briefcase, telling me to guard it well, as everything in it was for me. I opened it and found a Bible and a white handkerchief with a dove drawn at the center, inscribed with the words "Holy Spirit." When I shared these dreams, I was told God would use me. Since then, God has used dreams to show me what lies ahead, what is present, and even what is in the past that needs to be unraveled. 3 –God Can Reveal Important Information After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him it was safe to return to Israel with Mary and Jesus (Matthew 2:19–20). The dream provided the information Joseph needed for a decision in that moment. Daniel also declared, “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future” (Daniel 2:28, NLT). The Holy Spirit may reveal a missing piece of information, bring clarity to something you have been sensing, or expose a matter that needs prayer. But dreams must never make you paranoid or suspicious of everyone around you. Do not make accusations or major decisions based on a dream alone. Remain discerning, levelheaded, prayerful, and submitted to Scripture. 4 –God Can Warn Through Dreams God may use a dream to warn you about physical danger, spiritual attack, a damaging decision, or a difficult season ahead. Sometimes a warning calls you to act; other times, it simply calls you to pray and prepare. In Genesis 15:12–14, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a terrifying darkness came over him. God warned him that his descendants would be oppressed for 400 years, but He also promised to judge the nation that enslaved them and bring His people out with great wealth. This passage corrects a common misconception: a dream from God will not always feel pleasant. A warning may produce a serious or even troubling emotional response. The presence of a negative emotion does not automatically prove that a dream is not from God. The more important questions are whether the message agrees with Scripture and whether it ultimately leads you toward faith, obedience, prayer, and redemption. God bless you!

Sermon Title: "RIGHT GIVING IN A WRONG SEASON" Key Texts: 2 Corinthians 9:7, Malachi 3:8-10, Matthew 6:33, Hebrews 12:1-2, Psalm 51:17 INTRODUCTION Beloved, we are in the last days. Times of hardship. Times where many are pressed on every side. And in these days, giving has become godly for some... and desperate for others. God loves a cheerful giver. But the enemy has twisted giving into a trap for the wounded. Today God is calling us back: Look to God first, not to giving as a formula. 1. GIVING IS GODLY, BUT MOTIVE MATTERS 2 Corinthians 9:7 — “Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” Giving is worship. It is obedience. It is sowing. But in this last age, error has entered. Many are giving not out of faith, but out of fear and desperation. "If I give this, then God must heal me. Then God must pay my rent." That’s not covenant. That’s bargaining. And when we bargain with God, we leave ourselves ungodly and still desperate because our eyes are on the gift, not the Giver. Isaiah 1:11 — “What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord.” God wants the heart before the hand. 2. THE REAL NEED: REPENTANCE AND RELATIONSHIP Your message says it: “Look to God in repentance, obedience of God's word and be right before God.” Hardship will come. 2 Timothy 3:1 — “in the last days there will come times of difficulty.” But the answer is not just to give more. The answer is to return to God. Joel 2:12-13 — “Return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” God’s priority is not your offering. It’s you. When you are right with God, He heals both: Physical wounds: Psalm 147:3 — “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” Spiritual wounds: Psalm 51:17 — “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” 3. THE DANGER: USING GOD FOR THE GIFT You said: “Unfortunately receivers of what they give. Ain't looking to this but after their more giving in. Leaving them ungodly before and desperate in life.” This is the trap. Using God like an ATM. Acts 8:20 — Peter told Simon, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!” When we chase the blessing more than the Blesser, we stay in cycles: Desperation → Give No instant result → More desperation → Give more We become tired, bitter, and far from God. Jesus warned us: Matthew 6:33 — “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” 4. GOD’S WAY: HEAL FIRST, THEN GIVE FROM WHOLENESS God is not against your giving. He is for your healing. Hebrews 12:1-2 — “Let us lay aside every weight... and run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.” God’s order: Repentance - Turn from sin and self-reliance Obedience - Walk in His Word daily Relationship - Seek His face, not just His hand Giving - Now give from a place of faith and joy, not fear When you do this, God restores. Malachi 3:10 — “Bring the full tithe... and thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you.” But notice: the tithe comes after “Return to me” in verse 7. CLOSING CALL + PRAYER Church, don’t let hardship push you into error. Don’t give to manipulate God. Give because you love Him. If you’ve been giving out of desperation, today is the day to return. Prayer: Father, heal us. Heal our finances, but more than that, heal our hearts. Forgive us for making giving a transaction

Matthew 28:19-20 — with a message to go in all nations and which strengthen, encourage, and call people to sanctification in these last days. TODAY'S DAILY WORD - Day 1 Text: 2 Peter 3:11-12 “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God...” MESSAGE: LIVE READY, LIVE HOLY Beloved, we are in the last days. The world is shaking, but God is calling His people higher. 1. STRENGTHENING: Don’t be moved by what’s collapsing. Your foundation is Christ. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever Hebrews 13:8. Stand firm. 2. ENCOURAGING: Jesus is coming back. That is not fear — that is hope. It means every tear, every labor in the Lord is not in vain 1 Corinthians 15:58. 3. SANCTIFICATION: God’s will for us is holiness 1 Thessalonians 4:3. In these last days He is purifying a people for Himself. Ask the Holy Spirit GREEN7 🌱 daily: “Wash me, set me apart, make me ready.” PRAYER: Father, in Jesus’ name, make me ready. Strengthen my heart, encourage my soul, and sanctify me by Your Word and Spirit. Help me to live holy as I wait for You. Amen.

A Nugget of Truth. GOD’S WARNING AGAINST QUICK-PROFIT INVESTMENTS, WHAT CAN MONEY STEAL BEFORE IT IS EVER LOST? “He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” — Proverbs 28:20 God does not condemn honest business, careful saving, or wise investment. He warns against speculation—reckless ventures driven by haste, greed, excitement, and the dream of wealth without patient labor. The greatest danger is not an empty account. It is a heart emptied of Christ. Inspiration warns that the feverish desire to become rich quickly is contrary to the faith God’s people profess. --- ① IT AWAKENS A HUNGER MONEY CANNOT SATISFY Speculation whispers: “One more gain—then I will have enough.” But covetousness never says, “Enough.” “They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare.” — 1 Timothy 6:9 When money becomes necessary for peace, identity, or security— Christ is no longer treated as sufficient. --- ② IT REPLACES FAITH WITH FINANCIAL EXCITEMENT Faith asks: “Lord, what is Your will?” Greed asks: “How quickly can this multiply?” Soon charts are watched more carefully than Scripture. Prayer becomes hurried. Family worship weakens. Mission is postponed. “Trust… not in uncertain riches, but in the living God.” — 1 Timothy 6:17 Satan need not make us openly deny Christ— only too absorbed in gain to walk closely with Him. --- ③ IT RISKS THE MASTER’S PROPERTY Everything belongs to Christ. We are stewards—not owners. “It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” — 1 Corinthians 4:2 Speculation treats God’s entrusted means as though no account must be given. Stewardship asks, “How can this serve Christ?” Greed asks, “How much can this serve me?” Every peso carries a responsibility. --- ④ IT PROMISES FREEDOM—BUT OFTEN CREATES BONDAGE Quick-profit ventures may begin with hope— then produce anxiety, secrecy, debt, sleeplessness, damaged homes, and desperate attempts to recover losses. Inspiration warns that speculative enterprises become a snare and may bring financial and spiritual ruin. Failure can empty the pocket. Success can enthrone greed. The worst bankruptcy is not financial. It is spiritual. --- ⑤ IT TRAINS THE CONSCIENCE TO COMPROMISE When profit rules the heart, conviction becomes negotiable. Truth may be softened. Dishonesty may be excused. Giving may feel like loss. The Sabbath may become inconvenient. “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” — Matthew 6:24 Money is a useful servant— but a merciless master. A venture may earn greatly and still destroy the soul. “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” — Mark 8:36 --- ⑥ GOD’S WAY BUILDS BOTH PROVISION AND CHARACTER God’s path is not reckless haste, but: honest labor, patient diligence, careful planning, contentment, generosity, integrity, and trust in His providence. “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” — Proverbs 13:11 Speculation wants the harvest without cultivation— the reward without discipline, the crown without the cross. But God is preparing more than our finances. He is preparing our characters for eternity. --- CHRIST IS THE TREASURE THAT CANNOT COLLAPSE Jesus did not grasp for gain. He surrendered everything to save us. “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” — 2 Corinthians 8:9 He exchanged heaven’s glory for Bethlehem’s poverty— and Calvary’s cross for our eternal life. No earthly return can equal the riches found in Christ. Therefore: Work honestly. Plan wisely. Reject greed-driven risk. Live within your means. Give generously. Seek Christ first. “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” — Matthew 6:20 The safest investment is not the one promising the fastest return. It is the one you can place before Jesus with a clear conscience, manage without covetousness, use to bless others, and explain faithfully in the judgment. Beloved, before asking, “How much can I earn?” Ask: “Will this strengthen my faith and serve Christ—or quietly make money my master?” A fortune gained while faith is lost is not profit. It is eternal bankruptcy.

A Nugget of Truth. GOD’S WARNING AGAINST QUICK-PROFIT INVESTMENTS, WHAT CAN MONEY STEAL BEFORE IT IS EVER LOST? “He that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.” — Proverbs 28:20 God does not condemn honest business, careful saving, or wise investment. He warns against speculation—reckless ventures driven by haste, greed, excitement, and the dream of wealth without patient labor. The greatest danger is not an empty account. It is a heart emptied of Christ. Inspiration warns that the feverish desire to become rich quickly is contrary to the faith God’s people profess. --- ① IT AWAKENS A HUNGER MONEY CANNOT SATISFY Speculation whispers: “One more gain—then I will have enough.” But covetousness never says, “Enough.” “They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare.” — 1 Timothy 6:9 When money becomes necessary for peace, identity, or security— Christ is no longer treated as sufficient. --- ② IT REPLACES FAITH WITH FINANCIAL EXCITEMENT Faith asks: “Lord, what is Your will?” Greed asks: “How quickly can this multiply?” Soon charts are watched more carefully than Scripture. Prayer becomes hurried. Family worship weakens. Mission is postponed. “Trust… not in uncertain riches, but in the living God.” — 1 Timothy 6:17 Satan need not make us openly deny Christ— only too absorbed in gain to walk closely with Him. --- ③ IT RISKS THE MASTER’S PROPERTY Everything belongs to Christ. We are stewards—not owners. “It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” — 1 Corinthians 4:2 Speculation treats God’s entrusted means as though no account must be given. Stewardship asks, “How can this serve Christ?” Greed asks, “How much can this serve me?” Every peso carries a responsibility. --- ④ IT PROMISES FREEDOM—BUT OFTEN CREATES BONDAGE Quick-profit ventures may begin with hope— then produce anxiety, secrecy, debt, sleeplessness, damaged homes, and desperate attempts to recover losses. Inspiration warns that speculative enterprises become a snare and may bring financial and spiritual ruin. Failure can empty the pocket. Success can enthrone greed. The worst bankruptcy is not financial. It is spiritual. --- ⑤ IT TRAINS THE CONSCIENCE TO COMPROMISE When profit rules the heart, conviction becomes negotiable. Truth may be softened. Dishonesty may be excused. Giving may feel like loss. The Sabbath may become inconvenient. “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” — Matthew 6:24 Money is a useful servant— but a merciless master. A venture may earn greatly and still destroy the soul. “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” — Mark 8:36 --- ⑥ GOD’S WAY BUILDS BOTH PROVISION AND CHARACTER God’s path is not reckless haste, but: honest labor, patient diligence, careful planning, contentment, generosity, integrity, and trust in His providence. “Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.” — Proverbs 13:11 Speculation wants the harvest without cultivation— the reward without discipline, the crown without the cross. But God is preparing more than our finances. He is preparing our characters for eternity. --- CHRIST IS THE TREASURE THAT CANNOT COLLAPSE Jesus did not grasp for gain. He surrendered everything to save us. “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” — 2 Corinthians 8:9 He exchanged heaven’s glory for Bethlehem’s poverty— and Calvary’s cross for our eternal life. No earthly return can equal the riches found in Christ. Therefore: Work honestly. Plan wisely. Reject greed-driven risk. Live within your means. Give generously. Seek Christ first. “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” — Matthew 6:20 The safest investment is not the one promising the fastest return. It is the one you can place before Jesus with a clear conscience, manage without covetousness, use to bless others, and explain faithfully in the judgment. Beloved, before asking, “How much can I earn?” Ask: “Will this strengthen my faith and serve Christ—or quietly make money my master?” A fortune gained while faith is lost is not profit. It is eternal bankruptcy.

Hebrews 10:25 (Not forsaking the assembling.) 1 Corinthians 14:26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. Acts 2:46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart. Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. Hebrews 10:25 commands us to assemble so that everyone can actively encourage and stir each other up in love (Hebrews 10:24). In 1 Corinthians 14:26, the biblical assembly is where everyone participates not a show where everyone sits silently watching a stage. According to Matthew 18:20, whenever even two or three of us gather in His name, Jesus is right there. Gathering as the church is about active fellowship and home to home community (Acts 2:46), not spectator attendance at a venue. Matthew 5:6 (Hunger and thirst for righteousness.) Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Matthew 23:5, 23 But all their works they do to be seen by men. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe... and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. 1 John 3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. Jesus said those who hunger for righteousness will be filled, but He defined righteousness as doing the Father’s will in real life (Matthew 7:21) practicing justice, mercy, and faith (Matthew 23:23). In Matthew 23:5, Jesus explicitly condemned religious leaders who turned faith into an outward show to be seen by people. True righteousness isn't chasing an emotional high at a service; it is walking in obedience, truth, and love every day (1 John 3:7). Psalm 122:1 (I was glad when they said. Let us go into the house of the Lord) Acts 7:48-49 However, the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands, as the prophet says: Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house will you build for Me? says the Lord. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? John 4:21, 23 - Jesus said to her, 'Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth. In the Old Testament, Psalm 122 referred to the physical temple in Jerusalem. But under the New Covenant, Acts 7:48 states that God does not live in buildings made by human hands. Jesus told the Samaritan woman in John 4:21-23 that true worship is no longer attached to a physical mountain or venue. 1 Corinthians 3:16 proves that we are the temple of God. A church building is just brick and mortar; we are the house of the Lord wherever we go.

The Kitchen Newsletter Good day, Welcome to The Kitchen, where we explore, prepare and serve the contents in the Body of the Word as the delicacies of God—to create the form of the Father on the earth, to make the earth in His likeness, and to take charge of the economic destinies of nations for God. Relax, and let's journey through the scriptures to see the Body of the Word. What if the descriptions of the body of Jesus Christ in Scripture are not merely descriptions of what John or Ezekiel saw—but windows into the invisible God? John was on Patmos when he heard a voice behind him. He turned, and what he saw was extraordinary: a figure like the Son of Man, standing among seven golden lampstands. His hair was white like wool, His eyes were like blazing fire, His feet like bronze glowing in a furnace, His voice like rushing waters, and His face like the sun in all its brilliance. John did not encounter an idea. He encountered a Person. He encountered Jesus Christ, the living Word of God, in the appearance of a man and with a body (Revelation 1:1–2, 12–17; Ezekiel 1:26). This gives us a remarkable way of reading Scripture: the Body of the Word is a revelation of the invisible God. Hebrews 1:3 calls Christ “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” Paul similarly speaks of “the light of the knowledge of God’s glory” in the face of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6). Therefore, when Scripture describes the eyes, face, feet, voice, garments, or other details of the Word, these descriptions are not empty imagery. They invite us to inquire into the Person they reveal. Consider the eyes. John says: “His eyes were like blazing fire.” — Revelation 1:14 Why blazing fire? Hebrews 12:29 tells us, “Our God is a consuming fire.” The image therefore takes us beyond the physical description of eyes. It begins to tell us something about the nature, passion, desire and activity of God. The Body of the Word becomes a language through which the invisible God makes Himself known. And this is where the subject becomes particularly provocative. The Father has a hunger. We often speak about our hunger for God. But what if Scripture also teaches us to consider the hunger of God? Isaiah speaks of the tongue of the Lord as a consuming fire (Isaiah 30:27). Jesus declares: “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” — John 6:33 And: “I am the bread of life.” — John 6:35 Then He makes the statement even more striking: “This bread is my flesh.” — John 6:51 The bread placed continually before God in the tabernacle was called the bread of the Presence (Exodus 25:30). So the Body of the Word is not merely something we study. In this revelation, the Body of the Word is the food of God—the object of the Father’s intense desire. The dining table becomes a powerful picture. Song of Solomon 7:2 speaks of a rounded goblet, blended wine and a mound of wheat. The imagery presents the Body as a place of nourishment and abundance. What if our understanding of the Body of the Word is itself part of the Father’s desire? What if the question is not merely, “How much do I know about God?” But: “What does God desire to find in me?” This takes us directly to the image of the blazing eyes. The eye is described by Jesus as the lamp of the body (Matthew 6:22). The blazing eyes of the Word therefore present another dimension of the Body: the lamp of God. A lamp searches. A lamp illuminates. A lamp reveals what is hidden. Psalm 11:5 says that the Lord examines the righteous, while Psalm 14:2 says that He looks down from heaven to see whether there is anyone who understands and seeks Him. Notice the connection. The blazing eyes are not merely looking at us. They are looking for something in us. They are looking for understanding. The Father is looking for the knowledge of the Body of the Word in the hearts and minds of His people. That changes the way we think about revelation. Psalm 119:130 says: “The unfolding of your words gives light and understanding to the simple.” The Word contains depths that must be unfolded. And when the details of the Body of the Word are unfolded, they bring light—the revelation knowledge of the Father (Psalm 119:130; 2 Corinthians 4:6). This is also why Jesus said: “These are the Scriptures that testify about me.” — John 5:39 The Scriptures are not merely information about religious subjects. They testify about a Person. The descriptions of the Body of the Word therefore become places of investigation. The eyes speak. The face speaks. The feet speak. The garments speak. The voice speaks. And through these descriptions, we begin to encounter dimensions of the Person of the Word—and consequently dimensions of the Father. The emotions of God are also revealed. Isaiah 59:17 describes God clothing Himself with zeal “as a cloak.” A garment covers and expresses the person wearing it. If the garments of God are described through Scripture, and Scripture testifies about the Word, then the imagery of God's garments becomes another doorway into understanding His Person. The Body of the Word, therefore, becomes a profound vocabulary for understanding the emotions of God. His zeal. His longing. His desire. His hunger. His compassion. His grief. His expectation. His pleasure. His intensity. These are not abstract theological categories. They are dimensions of the Person of God that Scripture progressively reveals. And who searches these depths for us? The Holy Spirit. Jesus says in John 16:13–15 that the Spirit of truth will take what belongs to Christ and make it known to us. Paul adds: “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” — 1 Corinthians 2:10 The Body of the Word is therefore not a closed mystery. It is a treasury to be searched. The Holy Spirit searches the deep things of God and unfolds them so that we can know the Father more precisely. This is why revelation is more than acquiring information. Revelation is discovering what is already contained in the Person of the Word. And perhaps this explains one of the great spiritual questions of our time: Why does God seem to be searching the hearts of His people? Because the Father is looking for a place where the Body of theWord can be understood. He is looking for hearts that can become tables upon which His food is received. He is looking for minds that can accommodate the revelation of His Son. He is looking for people who will not merely quote Scripture, but will allow Scripture to reveal the Person of Christ. The blazing eyes of the Word are still searching. And the question is: What are they looking for in us? Perhaps the answer is simpler—and more demanding—than we imagined: Understanding. An understanding of the Body of the Word. An understanding of the Father. An understanding deep enough to shape how we live, how we build, how we govern, how we work, and ultimately how we participate in the economic destinies of nations. The Father wants His form reproduced on the earth through people who have seen, understood and received the revelation of the Body of the Word. This is why we must return to Scripture—not merely to read it, but to unfold it. Because somewhere within the details is light. And somewhere within the light is the knowledge of the Father. And somewhere within that knowledge is the revelation of the Person of the Word. I am Omodolapo Ogunye. Listen to The Kitchen Podcast by Omodolapo Ogunye on Audible, Spotify, Deezer, Amazon Music and Apple Podcasts. Please share and spread the Revelation Knowledge of the Body of the Word. celebrating the Body of the Word #foodmoneyshow #bodyoftheword #marketplace #moneymindset #money #worldwide

Matthew 26:2 NASB “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion.” Our Lord Jesus knew exactly what will happen to Him and He did not run away from it, though difficult! How many christians run away and complain about the difficulties because of being christian. But He already told us difficulties will come just because we choose Him! Prayer: John 15:20 NASB “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also." May we be faithful to our christian calling including to being persecuted just like our Lord Jesus Christ. In Your Name we pray. Amen.