Stephanie Ike Okafor - Develop Supernatural Faith

The voice of God is not just in the moments when the Holy Spirit is directly speaking to you. It shows up in many ways. So when you're facing what you call a storm in your life, when you're facing what you call you know, it feels like there's this mountain that is against you, when there is something the Lord has called you to do and you can't seem to find your way out of it, and it feels like it is attacking the very word the question Jesus is asking you in that moment, Are you persuaded? But I want us to get into the word of God. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you. We thank you for what you've already begun to do this day, Lord God, and what you've been doing all along. We thank you for this house, Lord, the blessing of that is this house, and the blessing of your minister's Lord God, that you've called a shepherd, not only this house, because their impact reaches way beyond that what they can ever even know. But Heavenly Father, I'm just grateful. I'm overwhelmed with joy and gladness of what you are doing. And even in this moment, as your word comes forth, I pray our Lord, that you would break every callousness of heart. I pray that your world will penetrate the souls and minds of your people, that it would bring transformation that can only be done by your Holy Spirit. And so holy Spirit, I ask that you will glorify Jesus through everything. That we do. In Jesus' name, we pray Amen. Amen, you may be seated as we get into the world today. You know, something that has been just a heavy burden on my heart is for us as believers to really get into a place of intentionality in how we live for the Lord. Not just passive Christianity, you know, but intentional faith, having a concept and an understanding and a consciousness rather of the Kingdom of God and being those that would also advance His kingdom. Not just living anyhow, not living for just the pleasures of life. You know, you can have things that you enjoy, hobbies, things you're into, there's nothing wrong with that, but having your priorities in order because the life we're living we are at war. You know, something that. As just I was coming in and I just I. Was reminded by it. Oftentimes in when there's like deliverance happening. There is something that the Lord will. Sometimes show me, and it just wrecks my heart because you would see how the enemy, the contention the enemy has for the life of a person. There are things that you don't even realize. You think you're just doing it passively. Their doors you might just open passively. You know, their relationships you entertain passively, and you think that you're just like, no, it's not that big of a deal. But you don't realize how wicked Satan is, how evil he really is, how intentional. He also is. That even there's some of you that even from the moment you were born, his eyes were set on you, that, oh, I'm gonna get you into my kingdom. And when you start trying to break free, there is a warfare over your soul. And when you're not intentional about how you live, you've already given him the victory. And so even as we go into the world today, you know, I just want you the posture of your heart. God, awaken me to truth, show me what this life is really about. I have my hobbies, I have things I enjoy, I have things that you know, entertain me and all that stuff. But let my priority be the kingdom of God. Let my priority be about advancing God's kingdom. I remember hearing this. Testimony, and it was a young man who had you know, he died and went to Hell, and when he did, literally demons were mocking him and laughing at him. In his time on earth, he thought he was just living for pleasure, right, He was enjoying himself. He wanted to do all the things he whatever he felt, he did, and he thought that's what life was really about, you know. At the same time, yes, he will be kind to people whatever, but he was living for himself. And this was a young man who grew up in a Christian home and when he died, basically it was due to an overdose. He found himself in hell. And what happened one of the things that stood out to him where the demons were laughing at him and they were mocking him, and they said to him. Oh, we finally got you. We were always after you, and look at look at where you are. We were able to deceive you, We were able to get your attention off, you know. And I can't remember there was a way they said it, but basically they were talking about Jesus and they were mocking him while tormenting him, and he cries out in that moment because he grew up. He grew up in a Christian home, so there were things ingrained in him. He had just stared off the faith, and when he cried out to Jesus, he found himself back in his body, and then he started to share his testimony. And why that stood out to. Me is because what he was describing is similar to what I often see in moments of deliverance where the enemy is fighting that this one is mine. But you wouldn't see it in the natural. You wouldn't think of it like that. When you're just living for your own self. You don't realize that it is a deception of where ultimately He. Wants you to end up. And so I want you to start to see this life as what it really is, and it is warfare. It is warfare. You're not just here on earth to do your own thing. You are here to advance a kingdom. You are here to reflect the life of God on this earth and to walk with him. And so as we are continuing in the Supernatural Shift conference, you know, I want to really speak on supernatural faith because there are things that need to shift in the world. There are things that the Lord has already ordained for the season we are in and seasons to come, but he. Does it through people. There is gonna be an increase of wickedness in the land. The Bible tells us that in the last days the love of many will grow cold. We're already seen that even now, but there's gonna be an increase of it, the type of wickedness. We're gonna see that. There's a new strategy of the demonic at play. But at the same time, there is a strategy God has in the works. There is a plan of God that he's looking that. There are things discussed in the councils of Heaven. You see, Heaven is not just a place where everybody is walking around saying hallelujah. There are meetings that happen in Heaven. There are conversation stations and decrees that happen concerning what is taking place on the earth. There are times that people are even caught up to Heaven for meetings about what needs to be happening on the earth, and instructions that are given and assignments that are given on the things of God that are revealed to men and women of God, and so there is a strategy at play. And as believers, we don't wait for the news before we know how to move. We don't wait for the news to inform us about life. As a believer, you get your information and the news from the Holy Spirit. That's why there are times that the Lord, for example, will give you in direction and you know what in this season, begin to save Meanwhile, nothing around you looks like you know, I have a great job, I'm doing what I need to do, and you don't realize the Lord says, downsize your life because he sees what is to come. He sees a recession approaching that that job you have, that is your security, you're not gonna have it for much longer. So we don't wait to be for things to be announced to us. And that's why we often find ourselves in places of disappointment and discouragement. Because if you would have listened to the Lord, then it would not be the loss of a job that will not make you fall into not only depression, but bitterness. And then you start pointing fingers at people. It is because of this person and that person. It is not anyone's fault. Anyone can do whatever they want to do. What are you gonna do to take authority over your life in partnership with the Holy Spirit. And so even when we look at how the Lord. Is shifting and moving in these times, there are gonna be on usual instructions that he gives you, because it's not based on what you see, is based on what he already knows. It is based on what is to come, and you will do unusual things in. Order for that shift to take place seamlessly. But here is the thing. That that must we must understand to really come in a posture of humility, because just because the Lord will give you an instruction does not mean he is dependent on carrying it out through you. Because in times and seasons. There are things that need to happen in the land, and if you will not come in partnership with the Holy Spirit, he will find another. But here is the thing. For every act of obedience, there are rewards. Some of those rewards you receive on earth, but some of them, and if I even say majority of them, you receive in heaven and not heaven in regards to you, know, well, that's that's a shame. I want to see you. Now. You have to have any turny mindset because this life we're living does not end here. You know, oftentimes when people would you maybe fear if you've ever been to a funeral when someone passes away and they're like, oh, you know here, or she just received her wings, and it's like, no, that's not really true. They're not They don't become angels, you know, they don't become this weird little creatures just flying everywhere. You have an awareness of yourself, even their languages that the Lord will use talking about these are the least in heaven, so they can be a least in heaven. You don't want to get to the place. Of eternity and feel as though, what did I do with my life on earth? Because salvation is the floor, it is the entry way back to Eden. But in Eden it's about walking with the Lord. So you can just rely on the fact that you're saved. What have you done with the instruction of God? When you find yourself in the eternity, where would you be? Because the rewards systems are different. Not everyone finds themselves on the same level, and that's based on how you lived on Earth. And so when you're thinking about your life. It's not just enough to you know, sometimes we move in so much arrogance, as if the Lord will wait forever on you. It is his mercy and his love when he gives you an instruction, he's inviting you into partnership with him. And the beauty of partnership with the Lord is that it's not just about the outcome of the thing, but that in the outcome of. It, you grow in your walk with Jesus. You grow an intimacy with him, you grow in your knowledge of Him. You see, there are times, for example, that you might be praying for healing and it could feel like, God, I've done everything, and it still feels that you don't want to heal me. But you don't realize that the end result is not just for you. To be healed. Is that in your healing there is something you knew about Jesus. There is something you grew to understand about the ways of God. And because it's not just about the things God gives you, the ultimate gift he can give you is himself. So in everything that comes from Him, he wants you to have a deeper revelation of Him because it is first of all, a revelation of Him that allows you to receive, and it is when you grow more in that revelation you can ascend in the things of God. So when we talk about supernatural faith, oftentimes when we think that you know, there's something the Lord has spoken to me and I'm finding it difficult to execute, maybe you fall into procrastination. You fall into you know, self sabotage. You just you know, we know how to sabotage ourselves. There's something that has a deadline Tuesday, twelve o'clock. I need to send this in Tuesday. Eight am, you're cleaning the house. Nine am, you're buying groceries. You're like, I just want to prepare the home and my mind to really sit down and send the email. You do everything except the thing you're supposed to do, and we make excuses for it, and then twelve o'clock kitchen, you're like, you know what, I'm sure, God, please just give me grace. I'll do it tomorrow. And we find ourselves in the same cycle again and again and again. There's some of us and some of us people are me. I used to do this before. You know, when there's something you're just avoiding. You just don't even read the message. They don't even know if you read the message. You just I'm just gonna read the message self sabotage something that would unlock you into the next thing. And we think that God, I just need more faith, And it's not about more of faith. And I want to show you in the scripture you said there was a time that in Matthew seventeen, it gives us this account of a boy who had this demon that the disciples of Jesus could not cast out. And it was interesting because prior to this, the Lord has already given them authority over every unclean spirit. But then all of a sudden they're praying for this boy, and you know, nothing is happening. The demon is not coming up. And so in verse nineteen it says, then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, why could we not cast it out? So Jesus said to them, because of your unbelief. For assuredly, I say to you, if you have as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you. Now when the Lord talks about because of your unbelief. He's saying the weakness of faith, not the size of it, the weakness of your faith. So you have faith, but the faith you have is weakened. And then he now talks about you. See. I love how. Jesus speaks, because Jesus would answer not the questions of what you're not only what you're saying, but also what you're thinking. Because could it be that the disciples may have felt I need more faith, Maybe we need more faith to cast. Out this demon. But then when Jesus responds, he says, it is because of your unbelief, but that the world has to do with no, it is because. Of your weakness. And there are certain translations that would say is because of your little faith, because it's almost like even in the human translation, they're trying to make it about the size, but when you look at the original language and what the original language means, it was never about the size, but the strength. He says, it is because the faith you have already, because to each of us we are given a measure of faith. So it says with what you have the problem is that it's weak. And then Jesus addresses the issue of size, and so he says, if you have the faith of a mustard seed, and then what he describes is literally the supernatural. You will say to this amountain move from here today, and it would be moved now. Oftentimes, when you hear this message taught, we look at it from again our humanity, because one of the things that we love to invest is the potential of a thing, not the reality. Especially in dating. Somebody felt that you're dating someone and you're not looking. At the person in front of you, You're looking at the potential of what they could become. We've all been there before I met my husband. You know, I think God, the Lord gave me a husband that it was the reality of who he was and who he is. But we've been there. I remember my brothers, you always make fun of me. They said, Stephanie is the person that would marry a stripper. Let me just say what they said, not what I said, she will marry a stripper, And tell you, I just see the glory of God. On him. I just see who he will become. So my mom used tobata because really that's how I am. And you have to know how to balance it right. You have to know how to use discernment because when I see people, and it's a prayer that I've always had. God show many people the way you. See them, so you can see a person not based on where they are, but they are decisions you have to make that cannot be based on where they're headed, because where God sees them. It is the will of God, for example, that no one should perish. But do people perish. Yes, so you have the potential. To not perish, but your decisions can lead you to perish. And so we find ourselves in this place where we're speaking about things only based on potential, and that works, but not in everything. And so in this situation, you would hear this, and when. You hear people talk about it, they tell you. You know, when you plant a mustard seed, it grows into this massive tree. So Jesus was talking about the potential of the mustards. No, Jesus was. Being very practical, he says, if he didn't say, if you have the faith of a mustard seed when it's planted, he says, if you have the faith of a mustard seed, you see, I can have an orange seed in my hand, and the difference between when it's in my hand and in a farmer's hand, is that the farmer knows how to plant it. In my hand, it's waste. It goes into the trash. So when Jesus is speaking about this, it there's a practicality because a mustard seed is a very tiny seed. So he's using something practical in front of the people. That your faith could be as tiny as a mustard seed. But if that faith is strong, you can say to the mountain, move from here to there, and it would happen. Why is Jesus saying this, Let's look at Romans ten seventeen. It says, so then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. You see, faith is not about the size. It's about the revelation of the one who is speaking. Faith comes by the word of God. What do you know about the living Word, the one who is the Word Jesus. It is what you know about him that can strengthen the faith you have. It is the lack of revelation of Him that causes. Faith to be weak. You see. It's so interesting. If you think about your own life, all of us have that one friend who you can't really rely on. Their word is not their bond. So when you ask them, here are you going to be at this event? And if they're like, you know what, I think I'll be there. But let's just see in your mind that's a nun. You're not gonna make concrete plans around them because already, based on their track record, they're untrustworthy. But there are people you know that when they tell you yes, that's what it is. If they say I'm gonna be there, they're gonna be there, you can make concrete plans around them. So it's according to what you know about a person that gives you confidence about how you move. What you know about Jesus is what gives you confidence, is what persuades you to act on the words he gives you. You see, it's not just that we are trying to be wiser than the Holy Spirit. When the Lord gives us an instruction, and even though that instruction can wreck your life, when you know who spoke it, there is more of a confidence that based on what I see, I know this instruction is gonna just I know this instruction, it's gonna cause a lot of chaos, but based on who I know, he will work it out. You see, just on Friday, we were able to host the first gathering right here at. The Liberty Church. But the journey to get here was really a journey, not just faith in a sense of isolating faith, as though you see, sometimes we make faith. We think about faith in isolation to Jesus. We think about faith as just boldness. And when we do this, we end up living life recklessly because then we now bring in self ambition and reckless decisions and call it faith because we think faith is about being a risk taker. Just anything risky is faith. You just say, Lord, I'm just stepping out in faith. I live in La and La has so much I mean, the rate of homelessness in La is just ridiculous. And the reason is people would move because La. People just believe La is the city of dreams. And you know, you always hear stories about this actor or this musician or this artist who moved to LA with a backpack and three hundred dollars and now they're a multimillionaire. And so people become reckless. They have a dream, they have a personal desire, and they said, you know what, I'm just gonna move to La. Where you're gonna live? I don't know, do you have a job not yet. Do you have a car? Not? Really? Where are you going? What are you gonna do? I just believe by faith. I have enough money to put me in a hotel for two days, and just believe by faith. No, this is reckless because you're not acting on a word from God. You are going by your own self ambition, and you just think being a. Risk taker is faith. And then when disappointment happens, who do you blame? God? And then all of a sudden you start pulling away from the faith because you're like God. I thought you would show up for me. I thought you would be there, and look at where I ended up in That has nothing to do with God. He never sent you on that mission. You sense yourself. Faith comes by the word. Faith brings you into alignment with the things of God. So you must know Him first, even discern his voice, and then have a revelation of Him that carries you through obedience. But you see, so when the Lord gave us the instructions for the gathering was actually last year around the Supernatural Shift conference. And I remember because there was a I keep forgetting his name, pastor Satish Satish she was. This was an Indian man who was also going to be a pastor from India and he had he built this massive church in India. But I had never heard of. Him, and so when I saw everyone who was going to be at the conference, he really stood. Out to me. So I was like, huh, let me go watch some of his messages or you know, listen to a video. And the first thing I watched, he was talking about how the Lord literally you know, just put on his heart to build this massive church and to do it in fifty two days. I was like, whoa that is? That is something you know building. I mean, I mean, I've been in real estate and I'm like, I know what it takes to renovate a house. It's not in days building that. It just blew my mind. So I was like wow. And so then all of a sudden, the Lord shows me you know, counts because at first I was having so much I was really trying to figure out how the Lord wanted us to do the gathering, because he had shown me, you know, to do it in Los Angeles and to do it at this location called the Hollywood Bowl. And so with everything, with the planning, with all of that in my mind, I'm like, wow, we're gonna need a lot of time to do this, and the Lord shows me, count, you know, count the weeks until the time I gave you, and it was exactly fifty two weeks. So then I said, okay, Lord, if he could do it in fifty two days, I'm sure we could do it in. Fifty two weeks. Now, based on the location alone and some of the things required, the cost of doing the gathering would have brought us into the six figures. And I remember discussing it with my husband and we're just like, you know what, at the end of the day, God, whatever we have is, we are only stewards over it. It belongs to the Lord. And so the revelation we had that Jehovah is Jyrah is what propelled us to move in faith that whatever we would need, he will provide. And so we started moving forward with the plans. And but then there was so much resistance with the location and everything, even though we had been there, we did a walk through there, they were having change of staff. It was just so many things. That were resisting us to just even acquire the location. But then you see there sometimes that God would give you an instruction and you don't realize that it's the seed of the instruction he's given you that will come, but that perhaps he's also testing your heart. Are you willing to sacrifice at this level? And you have to understand on the journey to this. Then we get pregnant. Now you have a family. We're growing into a family of forward. That's when you want to save more money. But yet the Lord is still pressing the same instruction, and we were still moving forward with it. And so then we're getting. Closer to April of twenty twenty five and it's nothing is working. And one night I cried out to the Lord that said, Lord, all I'm asking is that you give me favor with the building. If this is the building that you want us to let us have it, give us favor with it so that they can. Give us a date in April. There was so much resistance, and so I'm like, and if maybe, if you don't want us to do it now, just let me know. But I mean, we're all in. We were not divided in our obedience. And then that night the Lord encounters me and he said, no, you're still gonna do this, but actually you're gonna do it in London and you're gonna do it at the Liberty Church. And I remember waking up and counting and before I could even count the days, but I was like, okay, wait, okay, we're gonna have it here, you know. So I was like, okay, need to reach out to Pastorala, not knowing that that very morning Pastor Schela had also reached out to me because we had been trying to figure out dates to do the supernatural Shift, and the dates that they were originally were gonna have it, we were gonna be in Australia, so we're like, yeah, it's gonna be Really, I couldn't find something in the calendar and when I when he reached out to me about you know, what day could we possibly look at, and I was like, oh my gosh, because we hadn't even you know, talked him sometime. And I was like, okay, let me call him and share also what the Lord put on my heart. And it's funny because remember the very first. Time the Lord gave me the instruction, it was leading up to the supernatural Shift last year, and then this year he says, you're gonna do it here, and I reached out to when I called Pastor Sheela. I shared with him and I just just what who key is in the kingdom. He prays a body. He's like, you know what I. Was just even asking, I was approaching the situation. She just said, could we do at the church, not expecting that the church will also back us up, that the staff will get involved, the volunteers will get involved. It blew our minds and. There was just Pastor Schella went above and beyond to show that the church will support you. And you see, the beauty of this is when you in the revelation that Jehovah is Gyrah, you could move on an assignment, not not because you're moving in the abundance that oh yeah, this amount of money doesn't mean I could. I would feel that money it was it was gonna be even happening here will still be a sacrifice. But then God showed up based on what he has already revealed himself to be everything all like it was crazy how provision just started flowing in specifically for this. People would reach out to us and say, the Lord put it on my heart to put this towards the Gadran. The Lord put it on my heart to do this towards the Gadut. It was just incredible, and I said, Jehovah, you are Girah. So it is in your revelation of God. If you're waiting to make sure that you see everything aligned, there is something you need to know about him, because it's not more faith you need. It's a deeper insight of the God you serve. And when you recognize that, you can come before Him and say, Lord, this is an area of my life. I've been procrastinating. This is an area of my life. I don't believe you the way I want to believe. You. Help me, because this is also how we partner with the Holy Spirit. You will know where you are. In your journey with the Lord based on how you react when things don't go your way, when the breakup happens. What are the things you say in prayer. When someone betrays you? How do you respond? Because your response reveals what's in your heart. When everything is calm and everything is nice, you would be the most gentle person ever. But when things are stirred up, it stares up what's also in you. And so when you look at you have to look at certain circumstances as gifts. Because It reveals who you really are. You don't know who you really are until you encounter circumstances that you never plan for. When that person betrays you, when money is not moving the way it's supposed to, when that loved one falls ill, when a family member passes. That you were not expecting. It shows you what is in the heart, how you respond to God, how you respond, what are your words in prayer? I'm not saying, don't grieve, You're human, godn't grief. You're gonna have sadness. Jesus also had moments where he was grieved, where he would be sad, where he cried. But Jesus, even when he literally had a disciple who he knew would betray him, the other disciples could not tell. Even after Jesus said, one of you would betray me, they're wondering, Lord who That shows you that the same way Jesus loved John was the same way Jesus loved Judas, even though he knew he would be betrayed. And so how do you react to circumstances? It is a gift from God to show you what's really in there. When the Lord gives you an instruction, what is your first point of reaction. You see, I've experienced this on two extremes, because at the end of the day, to know the Lord is a journey of eternity, going to constantly grow in this. But I remember in December, we were going for my brother's wedding and we're going to Nigeria, and we're going to the. Eastern part of Nigeria. And right now in the East, things are a bit chaotic. Kidnappings, killings and all. It's crazy, and so many people were advising in our family against it. Even my mom had moments of doubt where she's like, am I really doing the wise thing of bringing my entire family down to the village. But then there was a confidence she had in the Lord. We're bringing I mean, my husband and I our daughter, and then we found out we're also pregnant, so we're bringing our family as well. And so even when people would reach out and say, hey, how do you feel like this is not safe? I don't think this is the wise thing to do. And my response was, if Jesus cannot protect me in the East, he can't protect. Me anywhere else. Now, my revelation of him, there was something I knew that would protect me even when it came to for me. In my mind, kidnappers, I'm not seeing them, they will not see me. Asa says, I don't see them, they will not see me. There was just an understanding that Lord, I'm protected, I'm covered by you, and I know that at the end of the day. The same way I need your protection when I get in on the plane is the same way I need your protection when I'm in a place where everybody's telling us you could be kidnapped. And then recently my mom was sharing with us. She said she found out that there were actually people who were planning to kidnap one of us. But then even the kidnappers said, you know what, don't go to that woman's house. She must be crazy to bring this whole family here. They said she must be moving in some kind of occotic powers. And she said, what they don't know is that, yes, we're moving in a power, but it is the power of the most high. But here is the thing. Now that's so that already sounds amazing, it makes you want a clap. But there's another story, and that story was when I received an invitation, I said, this country earlier by that you know anyone from this country, I don't want to make them feel a certain kind of way. But there's a war torn country in the Middle East. And when that invitation came, my first response was now, because I. Said, to go where, at least in the East, in Nigeria, there are people. They're believers, there are people who love the Lord. There. You know we are more there. There are many of us than the kidnappers are the few. But you see what I'm talking about. The increase in revelation of God when I shared that story makes you excited. Yes, if God can't protect me there, he can't protect me anywhere. That was my truth. But something in that was still connected to Site a little bit because in my heart, I'm like the people in the East. Many of us love God. The kidnappers are the minority. We are the majority. But Lord, you want to send me to a country that the killers are the majority and we are the minority. I said now, and immediately the Holy Spirit convicted me because anytime I go to minister, my first thing is to pray about it and ask the Lord are you sending me? I don't make decisions because I like it or or I dislike it. It's always about. Lord, if you're because if you're sending me, then your spirit is going with me. If you're not, I'm gonna do it in the flesh. But I bypass any prayer or inside. My first response was no, and the Holy Spirit convicted me, whate are you afraid of? The Bible says, perfect love cast out all fear. Not love as an emotion, not love as a feeling, love as a person. Your perfect revelation of who Jesus is, cast out all fear. So in that fear, there was an area in my life that I was not perfected in his love, in the knowledge of him. I remember sharing it with my husband, and this is a man who is just not really moved by anything for him. What did the Lord say? And he asked me, I said, I don't know, because I can't even hear right now. I'm too clouded. I was like, maybe you please pray about this. But I had to get to a place. Where I had to come back in worship. Let the Lord know how I'm feeling, because in that moment, all kinds of it. Was you said, there were fears that were staring out of me. I knew what it meant. To up without a father, and the idea that I'm gonna bring my family into harm's way like everybody here is. You know, there could be a missile just walking. I said, Lord, now I have kids, I have a daughter. I need to make sure I'm like she were there for her. So I had to bring all my fears to the table, and then he reminded me, I am the one who covers you, I am the one who shields you. I would be with you. So in that moment of honesty with the. Father, then he could speak to my heart and remind me of who he is. That now gives me the ability to carry that revelation of him in obedience. And so from there, now you could pray from a place of peace. I say, okay, Lord, if you are sending us, we will go. But he showed, he made it clear to both myself and my husband that it's not yet time. And I'll be honest. I was relieved because I'm still maturing in that area, but I was willing. You see, sometimes. We have these things that we don't want to address in ourselves, but the Lord stares it out of you so that you can bring it to him. Because when you reveal to the Lord. Lord, I'm afraid of doing this thing because i feel like it will leave me without I'm afraid of doing this because i feel like I would look as though I'm less than I'm afraid of doing this for whatever reasons it may be. Bring it to him, and then He will give you a revelation of himself to your heart. There will be something you will be studying in the world, and it will jump at you where it goes beyond the t of what you're reading. But then the revelation of who Jesus is becomes your reality that you know, Father, we can do this together. She I want you to be committed to growing in your revelation of Him, because as you grow in your revelation of Him, the fruit of that and what is stirred up out of. You is supernatural. Faith is the faith to move mountains. That when the Lord begins to give you on usual request, on usual instructions, that you can believe him and move in it. And you see, when your heart is committed, all of a sudden, the Lord starts bringing confirmation to show you. That He will be with you in this. And it's not to say that just because you believe him, everything becomes this beautiful experience. The Word of God says that when tribulation comes because of the word, When you receive a word from God and you accept and believe it, tribulation comes. But that tribulation is to test your resolve. Do you really stand on what you say? You see? When Jesus spoke to these two There are these two blind men who came to the Lord. This is in Matthew nine twenty seven to twenty nine. And they came to the Lord, and they said to him, son of David, have mercy on us. And Jesus responds to them in verse twenty eight. He says, do you believe that I am able to do this? Why? Because Jesus already knew that these blind men were coming to receive from him their sight. And then they said, yes, Lord, And look at what Jesus did. He touches their hories, and he says, according to your faith, let it be to you. Do you believe? Are you confident that I am able to do this? Are you persuaded that I'm able to do this when tribulation comes? Are you persuaded that God's word will still stand? Are you confident. You see, there are times that there are experiences we have and you don't realize that there. Is the voice of God in the experience. For these men, it was a moment face to face with Jesus where he could verbally say to them, do you believe I can do this? But for you it looks like the storm, it looks like in tribulation is the voice of God asking you do you believe I can do this? Are you confident that I can do this? You see, the voice of God is not just in the moments when the Holy Spirit is directly speaking to you. It shows up in many ways. So when you're facing what you call a storm in your life, when you're facing what you call you know, it feels like there's this mountain that is against you, when there is something the Lord has called you to do and you can't seem to find your way out of it, and it feels like it is attacking the very word. The question Jesus is asking you in that moment, are you persuaded. That the word of God will still stand? You've been believing and praying to God for a child, and it seems year after year nothing is happening in the midst of the tribulation is the voice of God saying, are you persuaded? Will you still believe? Are you confident in the fact that I will keep my word to you? And your response in this moment the blind man said, yes, Lord, But it's not just about your verbal response. Your action is your response. Your response is in how you act on the word of God that in the face of tribulation, Lord, we're still moving forward. If there's anything that will shake me, is actually I need to first come to you to know are we still moving on this journey? Is this still the thing you want me to do. It's not that I quit and blame you. I don't have the liberty to quit when you have spoken. I want you to look at your tribulation differently. Don't just look at it as the giant in front of you. Look at it as the voice of God to you concerning the word he gave you. Are you persuaded that I can do what I said? When David saw Goliath, he didn't just see Goliath. Are you confident, David that you will be the king I called you to be? Because kings fight wars, Kings don't coward in the face of difficulty. So David, a shepherd boy, did not care about the voices of those who oppose him, because you have to understand that for David to say that he would fight Goliath, remember that there was a deal that whoever wins this battle or whoever loses rather would now be the slave of the other ones. And David shows up from nowhere. He's not known to be a warrior. He's not known. I mean the majority of people on the army, on the Israelite side, they don't know who David is. And for those that know him, you're the boy who plays the music for the king, and you want to fight on our behalf, you want to mortgage our lives. You have to know that when you're reading the scripture. You bring it to life. Every step David took towards that fight, there were voice against him. There were voices that were angry with the king. How dare you accept for this child? And the child does not even have armor. He went to the stream and he has stones. You have to understand the opposition he was dealing with externally before he ever got in front of Goliath. But every opposition, the voice of God was in it. David Are you persuaded that I can do this with you? David had the ability to shut out the noise and not just face Goliath run towards him. That is someone who was persuaded. That is someone who was confident that God will do this. Don't look at your jib as your stumbling block. Don't look at it as the reason that this is the confirmation that God has abandoned me. No, let it be the voice of God to you. Are you persuaded. That God would do this? But something that. Is also so significant about this moment is when is what these blind men say, son of David, have mercy on us. Whenever you would hear the title son of David used, it was point into very key things. It was pointing to the prophecy that the Messiah would come from the lineage of David. It was pointing to the fact that he was not just that he will come from the lineage. He is the promised Messiah. When people will. Say son of David, they will respond revelation. And here is what is so intriguing. These men were blind, yet they could see physically blind, but spiritually they had insights that this man is the promised Messiah. The revelation of what they knew about him is the reason they could seek. Christ for mercy. They didn't just come and because someone said, hey, there's a man right there and there's healing people. They didn't just come to him and say, have mercy on us. They said Son of David. When they called the title. It was the fact that we know you are the Messiah and we know that you have it in you to open our eyes. Jesus did not even question them. Jesus did not even ask them what do you want? You see, there are interactions, there are times that Jesus will literally say what is it you want? But in this case, he says, do you believe I can do this? He just went straight to it because he already knew that the mercy they were asking for was for their blind eyes to be open. But the request was rooted in revelation. When Peter walked on water, what is so significant about that moment. It's not that Peter was trying to walk on water just because he felt like someone random was walking on water, And actually before he did, he wanted confirmation because he knew that the only way he could walk on water is based on the person that speaks back to him. So when you study it, Peter says, Lord, if it is you, because you. I know, can give me the ability to do this. If this is a ghost, I cannot put my trust in a ghost. Because the disciples, when they saw someone walking on the water, they had fear. They didn't know who was walking. They had never seen Jesus do such a thing. So some of them are thinking, is this a ghost? But Peter says, Lord, if it is you, bid me to come, and I will come. He knew that if it was Jesus that was walking on water, and if it is Jesus that tells him to come, the waters will obey. What do you know about. Him that when a word comes to you that your confidence can go into Lord, if it is you that spoke to me, I will do it. Yes, there are times that in your walk with God, maybe you're not at the place where you are confident that God is the one who spoke, and you need confirmation. And if that is truly your heart's posture, God will give you confirmation. So maybe there are times where you're like, Lord, if it is you, confirm your word, and I will do it. But then it's still connected to what you know about Him. And my charge to you is that don't just be a Christian who lives on the words of others. Build a secret place with God. When you come to a meeting where a word is being preached, take the word and build on it. Take the word and begin to ask the Lord the scriptures that were read. Asks the Holy Spirit, give me a deeper insight on these scriptures. You see, when a word is being taught, there are many things that has the ability. To come into your heart beyond what a preacher said. Many ministers know this. There are times that people will come to you and they're like, man, when you preach that word and they start telling you things that you did not say, and you're like, wow, Amen, you received that. Amen, you know you didn't say it. What the Holy Spirit minister did to them. There is always a revelation beyond the revealed word being preached. So you need to take what you receive because that's how you can grow an increase. It's so significant to me that. The first to encounter, my first encounter with the Lord Jesus and my first experience even when I was taken up to Heaven. Both encounters happened in response to a question I had from what I had received from a minister. That after I had received a word in settings like this, and one was in my home, I was watching a sermon that I still I went into the scriptures for myself and I had questions of the text, and I. Was asking the Holy Spirit to make some things known to me. And in response to those questions were encounters. You say, there are encounters that the Lord is waiting to have with you, not for your pride, because some would just say, Lord, why do these people see angels? And I've never seen an angel. They're not for entertainment. It's not like a film. But they're encounters in response to questions. When you even read about a man named Daniel, there were encounters he had why because of the question of his heart? What are you meditating on? What words are you meditating on. After a service during the week. What questions are you asking of the Lord in your in your private in your intimate space with him? What are you asking about how you can know him more? Because these are things that he wants to make known to you because it would equip you in your walk with him. I always say this don't only fast. Is it good to fast for marriage? Absolutely? Is it good to fast and pray that God will give you increase, you know, in whatever area of your life. Absolutely? Is it good to fast for for you know, for certain things connected to what God has entrusted you with. Absolutely, but also pray and fast to grow in him. Set time where you can say, Lord, I'm coming before you in a twenty one day fast, in the forty day fast, and all I'm asking for. Is to grow in my knowledge of you. Don't just fast for things, because the scriptures tell us that seek first the kingdom and all other things and the things that we being that were mentioned are not even once there were needs. What you're gonna wear, what you're gonna eat, these are needs. Nobody wants to be naked or hungry, even though there's a show called Naked and something, but that's not like these are needs. But then he still says seek first the kingdom. So it's not that seeking those things are bad, no, But when they are your priority, they become an enemy to destiny. The kingdom should be priority and those things should flow from it. So if you're gonna pray and fast for marriage and increase and all children and all these things. Make sure that. You're also allocating even more time to understand him, to grow in him. There are times where you fast and you're like, Lord, I want your word to come alive to me. This is the reason, and I just want to present myself before you that I may grow in intimacy with you. Because you see when the disciples came to Jesus about how they could not heal the boy, even after Jesus says onto them that you know what, if you have the faith the size of a mustasy, then all these things. And then he says, but this kind comes only by prayer and fasting. Prayer and fasting is I'm not in isolation from the Holy Spirit. Prayer and fast it actually postures you to grow in your knowledge of God. So Jesus to speak it to many things all at the same time. It's not that you need more faith, but that the faith you already have is just weakened. And how you. Strengthen it is in growing in the knowledge of God. If you find yourself struggling in an area where you know you're actively procrastinated, I encourage you. Maybe you fasted for many things, why don't you take a fast. Just for him? Why don't you take a fast to say, Lord, I'm afraid, I don't know how I'm gonna walk this journey. I don't know how I'm gonna do this thing. I need you to encounter me. Leading up to the gathering, did I have moments where I felt unequipped? Absolutely, because I said. Lord, you're saying that that as we host this, that many of your children. You're not just saying it in private. You're saying we should make it public, that people would be delivered, people would be set free, people would be healed. Do we see these things happen often? Yes, But then you're making a proclamation like this is gonna this is what is actually taking place here. And there are moments where you because no human being has the power to do anything except by the Holy Spirit, and so there are times that where you're weak, you need to have a deeper insight of God. And in that moment of preparation, one of the things the Lord told me to to let go of was just media completely. So as I was emptying my soul out of all the media and television and all that junk, what was coming in was more of him, and and through that they were now encounters with him that will not bring a confidence in what the Lord wanted to do. And even until this morning, we're still receiving testimonies of what took place on Friday, not because of any individual, but that the Lord had his way. So what I want to encourage you that where you feel unequipped, where you feel scared, where you feel like you don't let me just push it back until I'm there, why don't you come before him and say, Lord, what am I lacking in my revelation of you? Because where there Is fear in my heart, there is something I'm not perfected in what I ought to know about you in order to execute sa