TRIBULATION: THE MEAT OF ALL CHILDREN OF GOD

First lesson: Luke 17:25 "But first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation." Second lesson: Matthew 16:21 "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the eiders and the chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised again on the third day." Golden text: 1 Peter 4:1 "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh; arm yourselves „ likewise with the same mind; for he. that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin.” Today we are going to eat bony type of gospel. For all along you have been eating of the muscles. But today you are going to taste of the bony type. Brethren this is no parable neither is it conversation but this is the veritable truth. Your problem is that you do not believe in the word of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ believed fervently in God. For it is said that we must see tribulation. And our Lord Jesus Christ said that if he had suffered in the flesh we should gird up our loin to suffer too. Therefore, brethren for somebody to tell you that ye shall suffer and you start to go on fasting, praying God to take same away, it means you are trying to tempt God. If somebody tells you that the road that leads into life is narrow but on getting to that narrow point you pray God to widen the road, is that person sane? Therefore, this is exactly what we are hearing. First must He suffer many things and be rejected of this generation. 1.1 Whosoever is in tribulation has ceased from sin Right from Genesis it has been nominated throughout the scriptures that first must He suffer many things and be rejected of this generation. Brethren if there is any other way, mention same to me. That is why He himself has to say it himself concerning the tribulations that were ahead of Him, that he must go to Jerusalem and be tortured by the Scribes, the elders and the chief priests. This, he knew himself and this is the meat for all children of God. You have heard our golden text. It says if Christ had suffered in the flesh we should think of this and also take this tribulation and wear as an armour of war. He did not pray that, it should be taken away but so long as the tribulation is the cup of tea of all children of God then must we face it for whosoever is in tribulation has ceased from sin. In all portions of the scriptures it is nominated that he must suffer many things. If you turn to other chapters it is written that He must suffer many things and because our Lord Jesus Christ came to this utter truth he carried tribulation and put on himself as an armour of war. And that is why no matter all the tribulation that He faced. He received them with happiness that he must suffer many things for whosoever suffers has been separated from sin. 1.2 No type of prayer can take away the will of God It is said that heaven and earth shall pass away but not a jot or spittle of the word of God shall pass away until all is consummated. Therefore, all those who do not believe in the word of God the same are the children of perdition. If you choose to fast, go on such a fasting and that will not take what we are saying away. And if you want to pray, pray with a high tone, but that will not take same away. Does it mean that our Lord Jesus Christ never prayed or you are better in praying than him? Do you remember how he fell on the ground with his face .three times until his sweat turned and became blood ? When He went to the tomb of Lazarus He prayed the Father that: Father, I know that you always hearken to my voice but for the sake of the people gathered, so that they may believe in you, wrought this miracle. And he called upon Lazarus and he came out of the tomb. All times he has been boasting about the Father, all his pride has been in the Father. And when He speaks those words will be consummated. But on that fateful day did the Father hear His prayers? And He prayed the Father that, if it be your will let this cup pass away from me, and the Father did not answer him. He fell on the ground and his sweat became blood. He prayed the Father that he should take this cup away from him. But because this had already been written it had to be that way for boasting is not in love with indebtedness. 1.3 You cannot flee from tribulation You have been hearing that you should eschew all evil tendencies. In what manner will you forsake sin? For if we are not made separate from sin we shall not be able to see this kingdom. And if you do not want to face tribulation, in what manner will you be able to cease from sin? For it is written that whosoever suffers in the flesh has ceased from sin. It is tribulation that alienates man from sin. If then we do not face tribulation we shall be wallowing in the middle of sin. We shall drink of sin, and we shall ultimately die from sin. Can you then not realise the multiplicity of sins prevalent in the world today? It is so because we dodge tribulation. We say that we do not want to suffer, we do not want to be afflicted. When tribulation comes you dodge and take a corner. But now can you dodge again? 1.4 The concept of destiny But it was said unto Timothy that he should face tribulation, there is no other way excepting passing through tribulation. And you have heard our text that since our Lord Jesus Christ had suffered in the flesh we should take this condition and put on ourselves as armour of war for whosoever faces tribulation has ceased from sin. Whatsoever had been written of you brethren, run away from same and let us see. Do you think that you can run ahead of your shadow? People argue that destiny is not in existence. But I tell you vehemently that destiny is in existence. Whatsoever had been written about you the same must you face in life. You have heard our text and this was written of our Lord Jesus Christ that first must He suffer many things and be rejected of this generation. That is why tribulation came to Him. And even on that day he (Pilate) prayed the multitude of people that our Lord Jesus Christ should be released and Barabas detained. But they cried with a loud voice to give to them Barabas and crucify our Lord Jesus Christ. He asked to know what was amiss with him. But they chorused; “crucify Him.” Everything written about Him was that He will face tribulation. For tribulation is the meat of all children of God. And in all the statement made by our Lord Jesus Christ he was always repeating the whole issue of tribulation, that the children of God must pass through tribulation for this is the only way. But in your own case you try to dodge tribulation and you say, this type of tribulation is so difficult to carry. You wonder why Brotherhood of the Cross and Star is so calumniated against, but on my own side I receive it with joy. For this is the only short cut to heaven. 1.5 Our patriarchs were faced with tribulations Mention any man of God who did not pass through tribulation. You call - God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob. Can you say of the degree of tribulation that Abraham faced? Until when Abraham died he never knew the land of his birth. A son of the soil as he was, at the age of seventy-five God told him to leave his land of birth to go and wander to where he will tell him. He obeyed and continued to wander as a nomad everywhere. And so he continued until he died. Consider Isaac as a case in point. He faced the same state as his Father. Everywhere he went to he was always persecuted against. They will tell him at times to leave them for they knew him not. If there was any other way excepting the way of tribulation I would have made it known to you; but this is the only sure course. You have heard our golden text that since our Lord Jesus Christ, the one that we continue to shout upon; O! wonderful Father, wonderful God, friend of man - He was the Son of man, Son of God and God himself. The scripture says that since he had suffered in the flesh then we should take this suffering and put on ourselves as the armour of war for whosoever faces tribulation has ceased from sin. 1.6 As Christ's disciples suffered, be prepared to suffer The children of God take tribulation for nothing. That is why the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ even when they were buffeted, they were kicked, they were slapped, they were put in the fire and they were ultimately killed. They never bothered because they knew that was their luck in life. For the children of God, tribulation is their meat. I have only come in here to see something new. You carry your hands on your heads and continue to lament - O! Father do not allow this rain to be upon me. Do not make people to say I am Beelzebub, and I ask, do you want them to call you God? As I have put tribulation as an armour of war upon myself, as tribulation has turned to be my meat, I am always joyous when it comes. I turn this side and it is said Olumba Olumba Obu is a good man. And I will not come to that side. But when it is said he is a bad man, is an abominable person, an evil doer, is a ghost or apparition and I will shout and say that is myself I will go to them and bubble with light. 1.7 Who are these in white? Come to think of Saul who later became Paul. He was learned lawyer. What did he do that he should face such tribulations in life? The scripture says that ye are persecuted for no just cause. Even if you should tell the truth you shall stilt face tribulation. No matter what you do, if your name has been enshrined in the Book of life, tribulations shall be your cup of tea. and there is no way you can run away from it. It is said that this kingdom admits no iota of sin and when you do not face tribulation it means you are not made separate from sin. And with this condition as it is, can you say that you do not want to enter this kingdom? An angel told John asking him, those who are arrayed in white, who are they? He replied and said "thou knowest". And he said that these were they who came out of great tribulations, whose raiment had been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb. They are those who are sitteth before the Holy throne of God. A great many of us but for the gospel of this morning, we have been sitting about and I am entering within us. Why is persecution so great in Brotherhood of the Cross and Star? When we were in the world committing theft, we were praised and received well, when we were in the world as celebrated harlots we were highly received by the society. But now that we have forsaken all these sins and changed unto God why is it that they are buffeting us from left and right, and are calumniating against us in all directions? And this is exactly the matter which has caused many to backslide from Brotherhood of the Cross and Star because they do not want to face tribulations. 1.8 The prophets of old passed through many sufferings You can go your own way, I will continue to forge ahead in the face of tribulation. And you have heard our text and this was said a long time ago through the mouth of Jeremiah, Ezikiel, Job, Isaac and the rest of them that He must first suffer many things. The plight that befell Jonah where do you think it came from? He was facing this tribulation, All the sufferings faced by Jeremiah and the rest of the Prophets it was this same tribulation that was facing them. What sin did Daniel commit to cause him to be thrown into the den of lions. He committed nothing but he was facing this tribulation. What felony did Shedrach Meshach and Abedenego commit to be thrown into the furnace of fire? It was this same tribulation that they were facing. This, I say to you, so that you may rearrange your thinking because, maybe hitherto you have been fasting, you have been running away from tribulation. You have been saying - let me not commit any sin, let me not tell lies, let me not do this or that so that I might not be disgraced. No matter what you do this is what must come unto all children of God. 1.9 Our lord Jesus Christ set the pace A great many of us argue that our Lord Jesus Christ had taken up all manner of tribulations and had done away with tribulation, that tribulations shall not be experienced again. That is erroneous for He was merely setting an example for all humanity to follow. And here he was the Son of man, Son of God and God himself. One that was spotless without a jot of sin but if he could face such degree of tribulations who are you? You all criminals and armed robbers that should not face same? The other malefactor crucified with our Lord Jesus Christ said that they suffered as the repercussion of the sin they committed but of this man he did not offend. 1.10 What is meant by suffering? These sufferings for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ is quite different from when you suffer because you have stolen, when you suffer because you have committed adultery with somebody's wife, or if you suffer because you have committed one sin or the other. The tribulation you face because of committing those sins are quite at variance with the type of tribulations we are talking here. Once you suffer for the good you have done, if you are disgraced because of the good things you have offered to the people, that is the sufferings for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. A thief knows for sure that the stealing expedition that he is going, his life might be terminated with the bullet. But he maintains that even if he carries that same money and he is gunned down they will use that same money in burying him. He does it because he knows what he is trying to put ahead of him. Before somebody embezzles government funds he knows what he is doing. And he is ready to face the consequence no matter how odd and rough it may be. Whether he will be imprisoned or sentenced to death does not matter to him. All he knows is that while wallowing in detention, he has taken the money, and the money is resting until when he shall come out of the confinement. He shall make use of that money. But somebody who goes in innocently, any little tribulation shall be very painful to him. He will shout that it is so painful. This is the type of tribulation we are talking about as far as suffering for Christ's sake is concerned. 1.11 Whosoever rejects tribulation is a child of perdition You do nothing but you are being faced with a lot of tribulation. In reality this generation is the luckiest because all of us in Brotherhood have seen the exact intricacies of what we are saying face to face. You came to Brotherhood seeing nothing but see how people are saying you are Beelzebub, apparition, that Brotherhood is cannibalistic. They blaspheme against the Father in all ways. And yet, He utters not a word. How do you think? This should serve as a lesson for us that we should take this tribulation and wear as an armour of war and be not worried. And if anybody rejects it/ it means that such a person is a child of perdition. It is said that our Lord Jesus Christ remained the same yesterday, today, and forever. Mention the prophet that never suffered? Mention the prophet who was not persecuted. Does it mean that they were born within the same month or within the same year? During the birth of Moses Pharaoh decreed that all infants should be killed from three months to a day old. And come to the time of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, Herod gave out the order that all children from two years old down to a day old should be killed. The mother of Moses put the young Moses in a basket and placed him by the river side. And the father and mother of our Lord Jesus Christ fled with the young Christ to Egypt. And this is exactly what we are saying. Ebito Choir has a rendition in this regard, and this issue of the tribulation can be likened to a child enjoying the inheritance of his father. 1.12 The narrow path: a way that leads to God's kingdom And this is the luck of all children of God. And if we suffered, ahead of suffering is enjoyment. I know that they will always render this song for me because at all times I feel happy when they sing this song because it strengthens the faith in members. Can you see what hinders you from entering into the kingdom of God? It is said enter ye into the narrow path for the road that is wide leads unto destruction. This narrow path is difficult and persons that see it they are few. But concerning the wide path many have gone into it and it leads unto destruction. Unfortunately God has not kept the wider road as the path that leads unto eternal life. And fortunately God has set aside the narrow path as the sure course to eternal life. This is the only way to have life, and along this narrow path we have thorns, wild animals, crocodiles, hippopotamus, and they are all abundant along the path. And there is no other way excepting for us to tread upon it. 1.13 This is the eternal condition Remember when the women of Jerusalem wept bitterly but our Lord Jesus Christ cautioned them that they should not weep for Him. But they should weep for themselves and their children for if this is done, with the fresh and life tree what then shall be done with the dead tree? A great many claim that the word of God on getting to a certain point will terminate. That is not so. It is eternal condition that all those who will enter into this kingdom must pass through this way. The Father has said that everybody should forsake sin, and if you do not face tribulation how then will you be made separate from sin? Alright you may choose not to wear the white raiment so that people may not disgrace you, they may not curse and abuse you or put you to shame. Alright you decide to put on the ordinary dresses, continue in your ordinary dressing but your sins shall remain with you. People say that Brotherhood do not give drinks, they do not do this, they do not observe tradition: that is the reason why they hate Brotherhood. Alright you go and give drinks, obey tradition and do these things. You shall face this same tribulation. Brethren, I do not want to take you further than this let our first lesson be read. This theme of our revelation shall endure forever. You need not pray that God should take it away. First lesson: Luke 17:25 "But first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation." Has history not repeated itself? That what was done unto the Israelites shall also be done unto the Gentiles. When they came to arrest Him, Peter pulled out the sword from its sheath and chopped off the ear of one of the servants of the High priest. What did our Lord Jesus Christ say to him? He told him, Peter, put back thy sword into its sheath for whosoever carries the sword shall perish by the sword. And he added more words; thinkest thou that I cannot pray my Father and he would send down twelve legions of angels to wage this war? But if this I do, how shall the scriptures be fulfilled? 1.14 When the Father pronounces all things must surrender Had this not happened here in the year 1977? The members of the Youth fellowship faced with persecution rose up in concert with their guns, and sticks and knives that this persecution of Brotherhood and the Holy Father was, getting out of hand that they must stage revenge. They wrote letters to the Police force. Did they answer you a word? They wrote letters to the different church denominations and no answer was given to them. Other quarters were also intimated accordingly but no answer was given. But the persecution was still going the one way path. When I saw that they were tired I called Pastor Odudu and asked him whether he has got any reply from any of the authorities they had written to. He said no. Then I ordered him to inform me in writing all what was transpiring so that I might stretch forth my hand and proclaim since it was beyond their powers. And when I did proclaim there was an end to all commotions. Can you see the reason why I say that this generation is very lucky? For if I did not come who among you would have survived? You can even see this when minor things happen. You melt up completely. You remember in 1969 on that eventful day in December, when I will shout hallelujah and nobody will give me a reply. Why was the situation so? It was because your relations were in Biafran enclave and you were left alone here, and in your own estimation what was the need again for you to continue living? That is why when I will shout hallelujah, no answer came, I shout again, hallelujah, everybody remained quiet. And realizing that you were not able to carry the weight of this problem, I stretched forth my hand and proclaimed. That brought to the end the Nigerian Civil War. And this is exactly what has been written that this tribulation is the type that has never happened and will never come to pass in the world. If it was not shortened nobody would have been saved. But for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. 1.15 Many continue to resist the will of God A great many of us wondered - does it mean that the Father cannot cause the rain to cease? Does it mean that the Father cannot terminate this or terminate that? Alright, if the Father does so, how would that which was written be made manifest? Does it mean that you want to carry the whole bundle of sins into the kingdom of God? Does it mean that you want to resist the will of God? For it is written that first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation. Can you not then realise that if you are trying to dodge this it means you are a child of temptation. You are trying to resist the will of God and you are a child of perdition trying to put to naught the will of God. It is said that heaven and earth shall pass away but not a jot or spittle of the word of God will pass away until all is made manifest And when you begin to persuade somebody, come to Brotherhood you shall be blessed with children, with cars, with promotion, with good health, and I ask, are all these the only bounties in Brotherhood? And this is why you have not told the truth. Tell the people your experiences here, what you have seen in this kingdom. A great many persons who have come in here have wondered that when they were stealing in the world life was easier for them to live. But now that they are in this kingdom they are facing hardship and your membership in Brotherhood will even make your biological brother to deny you, and your children to forsake you. Those who had loved you will cast all aspersions on you. Do you think that this thing is a mean phenomenon? Do you think that one who is seeking for God is seeking after a little thing? And do you also construe that one who is looking for this kingdom of God has chosen a little share? Tribulation is before you. 1.16 You suffer because you know God There is no other way which you can enter into the kingdom excepting this. If you cook food for somebody, it will be with that your food that you have cooked for him that he will use to disgrace you. This tribulation that I am talking does not end with sickness alone, neither does it terminate with your being imprisoned. But even if you do good to somebody he will pay you back with a bad coin. You do something, for somebody but the reward of what you have done for him, the glory that goes with what you have done, he will give unto Satan. None of it will reach you. And this is exactly the type of tribulation that is before you here. What type of sin did our Lord Jesus Christ commit? But He healed the sick free, preached good gospel free of charge, and fed the people without charging them a fee. What felony did He commit that the people sought to stone him to death? This so happened so that it might confirm the scriptural nomination that they hated him without a cause. All the sufferings that the children of God are suffering, the same has come upon them "without any reason. You suffer because you know God. The moment you know God, you suffer for no just cause. 1.17 Joseph was faced with this tribulation Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not commit murder, thou shalt not do this, thou shalt not do that. Somebody else will steal and the suffering will be upon you. You will be accused of stealing and everybody will laugh you to scorn. Come to think of Joseph as a case in point. What sin did he commit to face such a situation in life? He was the beloved of his Father and mother. But his biological brothers sold him out to the merchants. He was the one with the better ways of life than the rest but he was the very one that was sold out. He was ultimately sold to Portifer. He grew up in the house of Portifer. And on growing up, Portifer handed to him everything in his house and at this stage Portifer's wife demanded of him to be sexually intimate with her. He told her It is true that his master has handed over everything in the house to him but not herself. And because of telling this truth the woman was infuriated and had to tell lies against the truth unto the husband that the Hebrew slave that the brought attempted to be sexually intimate with her and she ran away. And because of this, for no just cause, Joseph was thrown into cell. This is the type of tribulation that is at stake before us. Prophet Jeremiah told the truth to the king and for the truth he was carried and thrown into prison, the like of the maximum security prison (kirikiri) in Lagos. And this is the true situation with the children of God. For he did not tell lies to him. The Prophet who told the truth to the king was remanded in custody. He said the Prophet should remain there until he came back to deal with him. But he had told the king that he would not come back from the war, that he would be defeated. But those who foresaw victory for him he gave them accolade. When he went all of them did not return. See how it happened; for telling him the' truth, he was kept in cell and was to be there until the king was back to come and met out appropriate punishment to him. 1.18 You are covered by the Comforter And this is the reason why a great many of us do not want to be faced with such troubles. We argue that this thing is too much but on my own side I am always happy when these things happen. If you choose to cry, you can cry and if you want to shout you are very free to do so. But it is the veritable truth, that is why our Lord Jesus Christ, realising this situation said, it is expedient that I should go, for if I go not away the Comforter shall not come. If the Comforter did not come, no one person would have survived this matter. Nobody would have lived. Every person would have been beheaded. What you are seeing is exactly what has been written about this time. The inhabitants of the world wonder. Upon what they have done against you - they have boiled hot water and poured over you, they go to your work place and blackmail you, they cast aspersions at you, they calumniate against you in all ways. But notwithstanding all these, you are brightening up. You are looking better and healthy. This is because you have carried tribulation as an armour of war, and the Comforter has covered you. 1.19 Temptation abounds everywhere for God's children What befell Shedrach and his two friends is exactly what you are facing now. People will come and begin to tell you that you should cling tenaciously to this your God, because upon all they have done to Him nothing has happened. And if that Comforter did not come nobody would have called upon the name of God. But since that great Comforter has come He has swallowed us into himself and nothing can rear its ugly head wherever you are. That is why they maintain that this one is no longer the concept of God Now in your bethel there is temptation. In your house there is also this temptation. Between the husband and wife, or a brother and sister this temptation is still existing. Between two friends walking along the street or lane the temptation is still there. For this is our food, our own holy communion. And where would it lead us to? It will lead us to the Promised Land. Therefore, you should not run away again whether it be tribulation, or hunger, or persecution, or any form of difficulty that we should face for that is the meat of the children of God and nothing can flap its wings. 1.20 The sufferings of Paul Paul was directed by the Holy Spirit that he should go and tarry in Jerusalem that imprisonment was waiting for him. The Holy Spirit did not conceal this matter from him It did not tell him that he should go to Jerusalem that a car was waiting for him or a pair of shoes was waiting for him. But he told him in plain terms that he should go to Jerusalem and that imprisonment was at stake for him there. But when the brethren saw visions for them, the type that we see here, so wonderful as they may be, they revealed to him that the owner of the girdle will be tied and will be tortured, will be afflicted at Jerusalem. Because of this vision other Apostles and brethren dissuaded Paul from going to Jerusalem to avoid all these ills awaiting him at Jerusalem. But he asked them why is it that they wanted him to be downcast. That he was quite prepared to go to Jerusalem and even be imprisoned, or ultimately to be killed with Christ. And they reasoned within themselves and agreed it should be as the Father wills. He went as it was the will of the Father. And that was exactly what happened to him. For there was no other way excepting that God had put before him. 1.21 This place is like a showcase Therefore, whatsoever transpires here from day to day is that which was ordained to happen. And here is like a landing base. It is like a Laboratory where all these things are expatiated to your understanding. Thus when you come in here and experience what is happening, you will then flash back to your memory things that had happened at a certain point in time. If you say you have so suffered have you not seen a greater torture here? It is for this reason that I am the Super-Natural Teacher for I have come to demonstrate all these things to your understanding. All the things happening here, are meant for you to draw lessons from. Thus if these things had happened to the Father how much shall it not come to you. Now everybody is chorusing that even the Father suffers also. If this did not arise, the situation would have not been very educative. People would argue that the Father is riding on a white horse or that where He is you cannot experience any noise making there. Nothing disturbing happens and they will claim that these type of troubles are never found disturbing the Father because they do not exist. But have you not seen pandemonium here? Have you not seen things being torn apart here? Yet I still remain indifferent and calm. 1.22 What was done to the Israelites shall be done to the gentiles You can remember some years ago there was so much confusion around the Christ students' quarters. There were so angry to the point that they would carry knives and matchets. But today have you heard such confusions again? Everything has calmed down. You are all witnesses of the different events that have been happening around this town, within other places in Nigeria and even outside. But this is exactly what had been ordained will happen for there is no other way excepting this. And this is exactly what is nominated in the scriptures. Our first lesson confirms that, but first must he suffer many things and be rejected of this generation. Has He not been rejected of this generation? Times ago you will even give money out of the purse of Brotherhood to people and they will refuse to collect, arguing that it is money of Beelzebub. And this is what has been preordained to happen; He must first suffer many things and be rejected of this generation. This is the only sure course. In 1964 we butchered seven cows, brought different brands of gin and called the whole world to come and make merry with us. No one person turned up at the function. We killed seven cows, the eighth one was pregnant. You are all crown witnesses to these happenings. You go to buy with money, they will refuse same, saying it is money of Beelzebub. You cannot even sell in the market. These were things that we experienced ourselves during that time. It does not mean that we see these things because of anything evil we committed, but is that which was predestinated to happen. That was the chapter we have to face at that time, and what was done unto the Israelites shall also be done to Gentiles. Let our second lesson be read. 1.23 If the Comforter did not come no one would withstand this tribulation Second lesson : Matthew 16:21 "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the eiders and the chief priests and scribes and be killed and be raised again on the third day." Today you behave like a child asking God to put in prayers and put family in prayers. That is why any time you come into Brotherhood great pandemonium must be erupt between members of your family. They will call you wizards. They will call you witches. They will calumniate against you in all manners. And this will endure for a short time and this is exactly what had been predestinated for you to face. You should not be infuriated to find a Brotherhood member who has decided not coming again to Brotherhood of the Cross and Star. He had backslided because of the handiworks of people, and what has happened? And he can no longer endure. All of us are witnesses to the fact that if the Father did not come none of us would have been capable of carrying this weight. Who are you and where would you have got the strength or weight to carry this. This is against the background that He says when the Comforter shall come; he shall take you to the accurate wisdom of the truth. And he said nevertheless I have many things to say unto you, but ye shall not be able to endure them now. No person can endure this situation unless he has the gift of the Holy Spirit. 1.24 Hitherto you were hated by the world Now we have passed from Cross to Star. Can we not realise that we have asked who are these arrayed in white and said that these are they who came out of great tribulation, who had washed their raiment white with the blood of the Lamb. And we are those bright things before the throne of God. Before you were petrified to find members of the different orthodox Churches hating you in many ways. People in prayer houses they are calumniating against you and so do others in secret societies, the harlots, the criminals, and all humanity. They were against you in very strong terms. This is what has been predestinated for you and has been enshrined in the Holy writ. When somebody dies they say he has been given to the Father. This is what had been ordained to face us. This is the tribulation that the children of God must face. Therefore, do not believe the Father to take anything away, let that thing so happen. Because a great many of us wish we were in the Father's position. Alright, face the tribulation the Father is facing. The little suffering that we are facing no man can endure same in the world. This is why our kingdom is called the Christ Universal School of Practical Christianity. In the world, you learn in theory, but here you learn in theory and practice. If you are taught the theory and also taught how to put those machines into use, you will know exactly how to utilize those tools. For us here, all these things have been experimented for us daily. We are taught and these things are shown to us in practical terms how they affect us. 1.25 Live by examples and not precepts When you went to Lagos to launch that book (I AM THAT I AM) why did you not run away when that rain had to rain so heavily? This happened because of my children that went there from here. They remembered what had transpired here in 1971. During Pentecostal a shed was erected with mat but suddenly a great down pour came and the Father was still standing in the rain and still continuing his work. (Snr) Pastor S.I. U. Etuk and the rest of them remembered that great incident and that is why you were able to withstand that rain in Lagos. And this was very astonishing to the people. Anytime I go to 26 Mbukpa and I go under the rain, people would bring the umbrella and I say I have no need of it. Your coming in here is to come and receive this great teaching. I go bare footed. You will easily flash back your mind that the Father goes bare-footed. And everything that is transpiring here is meant for you to learn from. Whether they hate me or do this or that, they are meant for you 'to look upon those things happening and draw lessons from and be able to stand up and face tribulation. 1.26 If the master was rejected, the servant shall be rejected also Our Lord Jesus Christ said that a servant is not greater than his master and messenger is not greater than the one who sends him. But if a servant walks circumspectly within the doctrines of his master, he resembles the master and practises exactly as he saw from the master. It therefore means that if the master was called Beelzebub he must also be called Beelzebub. The' problems plaguing the inhabitants of the world emanate from denying our Lord Jesus Christ. They say they are not Jesus Christ. That he was himself. This is the downfall that has met the inhabitants of the world. You argue that you should not be mentioned with him. And I ask; are you better than Christ? You say that He alone saw tribulation that you are human beings and therefore, you are incapacitated to carry this tribulation. 1.27 If you have not the Holy Spirit you cannot carry this cross It is true because you have not the Holy Spirit. Anybody that has not the Holy Spirit in him cannot face this tribulation. When Jesus Christ was yet to receive of the Holy Spirit, those sufferings did not come His way. But on receiving baptism and the Holy Spirit coming upon Him, the first thing that happened was that He was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. And it is against this promise that we are told, that except you be born of water and of spirit, it shall be impossible for you to enter into this kingdom. Somebody who has not the Holy spirit; in what manner shall he be able to endure this tribulation? Somebody will accuse you of witchery. A minor person will use his finger to strike your forehead. Somebody will enter your house and buggle all your belongings and yet you only look at him without a reaction. How can this be? Therefore, we should carry this upon us. We should not allow history to repeat itself for it seems a great many of us have denied the Father when we say this should be for the Father, we are human beings, we should not face this type of tribulation. But today we should carry it as amour of war upon ourselves. But if we say that we are human beings^ that we are not the Father, therefore, we cannot carry this tribulation, who are we resembling? Brethren, I do not intend to overload you, let our golden text be read. Golden text: 1 Peter 4:1 "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh; arm yourselves „ likewise with the same mind; for he. that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin." 1.28 You have to be silent while suffering When you are told to be repentant, this is one of the many ways in which you are truly saved. Somebody accuses you falsely and you do not utter a word. Somebody buffets at you, you do not say a word. Somebody beats you up, you do not utter a word. This happens because you have been alienated from sin. For when somebody does something against you and you retaliate it means you have committed sin also. And when somebody steals your property and you drag him to court, do you not think that you also have erred? 1.29 Your twenty years here is of no value if you are not separated from sin When you impute sins against anybody you have also erred. But if somebody does something harmful to you if you do not impute sins against him, if you do not drag him to court, and you are not exasperated, it means you have been separated from sin. Therefore, we should arm ourselves with this thought since the scriptures say we should be holy even as he is holy. This is the only soap, and the only sponge, the only water and the moment all those sinful acts have been washed away. We are made separate from the world of sins. Are you not flabbergasted for twenty years you have been in Brotherhood, you are still wallowing in sin? This is so because you have not looked upon him, you have not carried this tribulation as an armour of war upon yourself. You still continue to say that you are a human being, therefore, you cannot withstand it. If you do something good to somebody but he repays you with a bad coin what shall you do? You should not stop from showing such a gesture to that person. If you fail to do so it means that you have gone back to wallow in sin. The scripture says that whosoever knows to do that which is good and he refuses to do same, to him it is evil. Now you are one and you know that which is good to do. Therefore do not go back to wallow in sin. 1.30 Mortify the flesh And since our Lord Jesus Christ had experienced tribulation in the flesh this shall remain the meat for all humanity, and we should no longer say we are human beings, and not our Lord Jesus Christ, therefore, we should not be faced with difficulties. But rather let us carry tribulation as armour of war upon ourselves. Let tribulation be our own cup of tea, for if we face tribulation, this is the way that we will be made separate from sin. If you will see the bed-bugs and pour some hot water on them, the mother will instruct them that they should stand steadfast for whatsoever is hot shall become cool, and no hot water can kill bed-bugs. The only way to kill the bed-bugs is to keep that property they have infested separated. Nobody should sit upon it, when the bed bugs shall be there without eating, hunger shall be upon it. That in the end it shall kill them. In the same manner the spirit of arrogance, the spirit of pomposity, being not submissive unto another, fornication, telling lies, the spirit that controls all manner of sins, when once we fast and pray, some of them will die off while some others will depart our mortal selves. When the spirit of food stays and you do not eat, it will wonder what is amiss and will leave your body. If the spirit of fornication stays, without your dabbling into fornication, it would tell you look at this beautiful sister and you say you do not have need of her, look at this handsome man and you say you do not have need of that man. He will leave you. 1.31 Fasting is the weapon against evil spirit A great many of you count this fasting as great punishment, but this is the manner in which the negative spirit are made to leave us. Many members are still finding it very difficult to undergo the three days fasting excepting that you have received this gospel today. Therefore, you should endure all manner of tribulation. Let us arm ourselves with this thought, put upon us the armour of war fare. Saint Paul has said that the slight tribulation that we witness at present cannot be compared with the glory ahead of us. It is said be quick to hear but slow to speak. Somebody destroys your property but you answer him not. In that manner you have started doing that which is good. Somebody calls you a wizard, or witch and you do not reply him, it means you have started to move circumspectly. You have started to be a man of God. Somebody attempts to call you a celebrated harlot but you do not answer him, you do not deny the accusation, you do not even utter a word. It means you have started to be the man of God. Therefore, if we carry this as armour of war fare upon us, as a thing of protection against anything in life, then we will be made separate from sin. For if we know that whosoever suffers in the flesh have been alienated from sin then we are free. For our Lord Jesus Christ had suffered in the flesh and by that manner he has gone away from the world of sin. Brethren, it is said, that one stroke of the cane is sufficient unto the wise. We shall not be tedious unto you. He who has ears let him hear. May God bless his holy words; Amen THANK YOU FATHER.