Watch with Me | Rachel Ann

You're listening to a message to go from axt church.

We hope this message will light up your day.

And so the title my message to day the snights

can come up is watch with me. Watch with me,

and we're gonna read a key scripture for today. If

ee can turn with me. I didn't put it up there.

I just put a verse there Matthew, chapter twenty six,

verse thirty six to forty six. Ever, I got your

bibles e bibles or your physical bibles, turning me to

Matthew chapter twenty six, verses thirty six to forty six,

And this is the prayer in the garden of Gestsemone.

If you're there, give me a year. We need a

bit more time, say waiter Waida. It's on screen sport,

really all on screen. Those thank your bible is good? Okay,

you follow along as I read this verse the thirty

six onwards, he says, then Jesus came with them to

a place called Gethsemane and said to the disciples, sit

here while I go and pray over there. And he

took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee.

You know who are the two sons of Zebedee, James,

and John. Yes, signs are thunder, and he began to

be sorrowful and deeply distressed.

First thirty eight.

Then he said to them, my soul is exceedingly sorrowful,

even to death.

Stay here and watch with me.

He went a little further and fell on his face

and prayed, saying, Oh, my father, if it is possible

that this cart passed from me, nevertheless, not as I will,

but as you will Verse forty Then he came to

the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter,

what could you not watch with me one hour? It

was forty one, Watch and pray lest you enter into temptation.

The spirit indeed is willing, but the the flesh is weak.

Again a second time he went away and prayed, saying, oh,

my Father, this cup cannot pass away from me unless

I drink it.

Your will be done.

It was forty three, and he came and found them

asleep again, for their eyes were heavy. So he left them,

went away again and prayed the third time, saying the

same words in verse forty five. Then he came to

his disciples and said to them, are you still sleeping

and resting? Behold the hour is at hand, and the

son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise,

let us be going see my betrayer is at hand.

What did Jesus say, watch with me? The word watch

in Greek is great good rit oh, great good at

I don't know how to pronounce. Didn't study Greek, Okay, gregortt.

And the definition is to be or become fully awake,

to be vigilant, to watch a lot of times it

speaks of spiritual vigilance.

You know, in prayer.

You can see it here He's he's saying, watch, watch,

stay alert, you know, avoid temptations, stay awake.

It is. It's active vigilance.

You know, it's like shaking off spiritual spiritual latagia is right, like,

that's why we're feeling this fast. It's half yr you know,

spiritual attagi, being fully awake.

It is.

You know, a lot of times we see the world

was used for being prepared for the Lord's returning. But

in my context today and I'm speaking, is just being

prepared for God's move whatever that may be, not just

his return. Yes, we need to be prepared for his

return and so but for him to move for you know,

for his revival. We need to be preped head we're

going to avoid spiritual complacency. And it's also used this

word is also used in a military sense, like military God.

And so it's suggesting that we as believers be on God,

be like sentinels, like sentinels, like watchmen. Basically, and you

see in verse forty one, right says watch and pray.

Let's you enter into temptation. The spirit, indeed is willing,

but the flesh is weak.

You know, three times Jesus prayed. All three times.

These are the closest disciples of Jesus, his best friends, right, Peter,

James and John. They were with him all the time.

They loved him. Jesus loved them. But at the most

crucial hour they may have known it, they may have

not known it, but they knew something was going on

for sure. And yet they were found sleeping all three times.

And he said, no, no, no, Jesus, I'll be for you.

They said all these things, right, I will, I will

die for you, you know, we won't leave you, and

all that, and then they sleep. And when Jesus needed

them most, you know, when he was in agony from

the weight of the sin, of the world.

We see how he was.

He was praying until there was they say, right, it

was like blood it came out, you know, like blood

he was. He was carrying a weight and the sin

of the world. He was in such agony, and yet

his disciples we're sleeping, we're resting, and I'm sure the

disciples desire was to be with him.

Just like all of us.

I think all of us. We want our hearts desires

like Jesus. I want to be with you all the way.

You know, I want to be involved in whatever work

that you're doing. All our hearts are there, or at

least want to be there. But just like the disciples,

our flesh is weak. Always flesh is weak. We want

to be faithful to Jesus. We want to continue his work.

We know we don't want his his work got across

to go to vain. Right now, we are the ones

here on earth continuing his work. But how many times we,

like the disciples, have failed, have fallen asleep. Yeah, our

spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak. In a moment,

we hit a problem, once we hit a discomfort, that's it,

you know. We find ourselves in this like, oh God,

I don't know what's going on.

I'm tired. It's this this spiritual attagy.

I mean, it makes it hard to even bring ourself

to do your devotion, to pray, to read the Bible.

Right when you go through those moments were really discouraged.

You just be like staying in bit. How many have

you been there?

Yeah?

I found myself a few times like that.

Like just don't to face do to face the world,

don't want to think about everything. And for women, our

minds are continually working. Right, there's no such thing as downtime,

and so even when not at work, I'm thinking about

the people, continually thinking until the moment I.

Dove to sleep. When I wake up, I'm thinking about

it again. What can I say?

Say?

What?

You know?

Who can I Who else can I speak to? Who

else can I? You know, try to turn the direction

of this ship? And yeah, but it just seeps in,

like Lord, I want to be on the ground, I

want to be doing your work this year, but yet

all this discouragement comes in and I fall into this

spiritual ata.

You know, the the.

Disciples were probably physically tired yor probably also spiritually tired.

I mean they knew something was going on, and persecution

had already started, right, They knew people were out to

get them, and they were out to get Jesus, and

they would have been tired, and so they slept now

first forty three, right, it says, and he came and

found them asleep again. For their eyes were heavy. Their

eyes were heavy. And I see, you know, in our lives,

the reflection is, you know, this, this is what we

go through. We could be physically tired, we mentally drained, burdened.

Maybe I'm just carrying different burdens, stress, anxiety, all these

things is what can cause us to sleep, physically sleep

and also spiritually sleep, you know.

And and I think that's what I've reflected, and that's

what I've.

Been feeling mostly this this quarter, tired, mostly mentally and

mostly mentally tired, you know, like I said, continually thinking,

muddling over what to say, what has has just been saying?

What did this person say? What did that person say?

How to strategize, you know, trying to come out with

different ways, to try to come with different angles, you know,

to approach this situation, like what else can I do?

And I don't know for you. For me, it's a

work situation for you. I don't know what it is.

Could be a.

Family, be your kids, be a marriage, be your business,

your health. You know, something that is continually plaguing your

mind as something that's bothering you and draining you. Has

it caused your spiritual eyes to close? Because Jesus wants

us to keep watch, to be religion, to be prepared

for him right ready for his move. We keep talking

about revival, you know, but are we prepared? Are we

watching the Lord and keeping eyes on him? Or are

we getting spiritually complacent? And I realized, you know, throughout

this hole month, going through all these things, really it

really sucks, sucks the life out of your line, It

really drains you. But I realized that that's not the

main thing. That's not what life is about. God has,

you know, probably all these plans and He's working and

doing things, and yet my eyes can be blinded from it.

But I'll share a bit more in a bit. So

we talked about some some of that tiredness and someone's

could be going through that. We see a different angle

in Luke. So Luke Chapter twenty two was forty five.

I think I had the verse up there right, Yeah,

So he says, when he rolls up from prayer and

had come to his disciples, he found them sleeping from sorrow.

So Luke keptures it that they were sorrowful. And I say, no,

we are so, we're so sad. We just want to

sleep the day way right, We can be just down emotionally.

We are depressed, discouraged, disturbed, like give you all these there,

but all these things can just make us. I just

want to sleep. I don't do anything. I don't even

think about it, you know, just close your eyes and

I mean both again, spiritual eyes, physical eyes, just to

get away, you know, from these problems. And yeah, the

disciples were sorrowful, and so they they fell asleep. And

when I was reflecting on this and I rewind back

and I think about September five, so last year, September,

that's when that's when I had, you know, experience while God,

you you do it impossible. You know, when I wanted

to when I thought I need to either be in

full time or in the marketplace.

God actually opened the door to let me be in both.

So still being in the marketplace, still working, you know,

in my company, and at the same time being able

to go into yn pursue something that's that's on my

heart and many streets on my heart, and you.

Know it, it's really got favor.

I mean, how many bosses that you can you reduce

your working day, you can do whatever you want still

be employed. So that happened. And what started off as

a testimony, right a launch a launch out like a

step outline I think, into into my calling and into

what I've been dreaming about over time, like I said,

it became like what am I doing? God, I don't

see much impact. I don't see you know, there's no

big waves of anything, you know, just like trading to

be here, a little bit there.

And and work.

Like I said, right things it felt like things were

crumbling my CEO change. I don't know how this this

new person is going to be, Like what's he's gonna

what's his vision going to be?

And my mind became just consumed with all of this.

And I hardly talk about it at homesoever say yeah,

I don't talk about it because already thinking about it

so much. Right, it's like a dark cloud over my head,

uh everywhere, And so I find I'm just a be

quiet quiet or in the days ministreet that ministry, We're

still coming. You know, we still give we still give

out all uh and then but when your own you know,

the thoughts will still plague me.

How do I stop this from happening? Et cetera.

And like I said, but even through this time, you know,

the Lord, especially when yeah, those two announcements came out,

then the Holy Spirit really spoke to me and asked

me this and asked me to look look at the

things that He's been doing. And I'll share a bit more.

But because I'm going through this discouragement instead of watching

for a revival and looking at God's hand prints, right,

He's moved at work and anywhere else in ministry. Because

I'm feeling heavy and sorrowful. You know, it's like my

spiritual eyes are closing. I don't see it.

And it feels like at that time, that's the main

thing that you're struggling with.

Like I say, it's like as if it's the main

agenda whatever you're going through. So it can feel like

the main agenda in your life, but actually it's not.

It's not right. God's work it's the main agenda.

What he is doing is the main and genda is

his kingdom, his kingdom, and he's still moving.

He's always moving, whether.

We are moving or not. And to ask myself, am

I moving with him? Or am I just stuck here

looking at this big mountain right? He's moving, he's you know,

can I recognize his work?

Do you recognize his work?

Even in the mundane or even in the difficult times?

And when I started reflecting on all that has taken

place in this past half a year, then I start

recognizing God's hand upon things even throughout this time. So

I want to bring you through and I share a

bit more, you know, at one of the points about what.

The things that have taken place.

But I want to bring you through three points and

three w's today three sub points a out of the

first or you know, watch with me.

But the first W.

Is wake up, Wake up. Ephesians chapter five, verse fourteen says.

Therefore he says, awake you who sleep, arise from the dead,

and Christ will give you light. Romans thirteen eleven. Just

give you some verses that Romans thirteen eleven says, and

do this knowing the time that now it is high

time awake out of sleep. For now our salvation is

nearer than we first believe believe it. Say amen, amen,

tell your neighbor wake up. They are the neighbor. Bang on,

bang on.

To chimukah.

Kay. And then mark mark Chapter thirteen, verse thirty six

is thirty seven.

It says, this is a enalty version.

Don't let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning,

because this is talking about jesus second coming. I say

to you what I say to everyone, watch for him.

But it's not just about it's coming. It's about his move.

So what is he doing this year? We don't want

to miss out. It's like the year passes in there

like God, I didn't see your move. You know, I

completely missed it. We don't want that, right, So that's

the first point. I want us to search our hearts check.

I'll walk with the Lord. We recognize what are those

things that are causing us to sleep, to feel like

what we want to sleep, Recognize the things that are

making us the tgic spiritually. And I know they can

be very very valid reasons, very valid. But when Jesus comes,

when he moves and we miss it.

The reasons will be irrelevant.

Right. You can give the reason, but what can you

do is past is done. You know he has come.

So what's the first point? Wake up, let's wake up,

let's wake up. Let's open our spiritual eyes. I see

what what are you doing?

And second? Second, w is we wrestle not against flesh

and blood?

First Peter five US eight says, be sober, be vigilant again,

it's that same Gregoria okay, Gregorial, sorry, same root word.

Be vigilant, Be watchful because your adversary, the devil.

Who's the adversary? The devil? Okay, not your boss, not

your cleage, not your subordinate adverse.

Really, the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking

whom he made divar. There's a song that says the

enemy roams like a roaring lion. Don't even know this song,

looking for the sleeping, looking for the sleeping. Who's ald

enough to know Tuila peris? Or look at me, who's

that Ula Peris? And I used to like her songs? Yeah,

but I always remember that that lion. You know, the

enemy roams like a roaring lion, looking for the sleeping.

And so if we are not watchful, if we're sleeping,

we're easy targets for the enemy.

But what what from does it come in. It comes in.

You know, he's not gonna be standing there beside you, right,

the enemy won't do that. Usually it comes with all

kinds of right in your work and your health, and

your relationships in your family. And through all this for me,

through all this fighting with management, fighting with the decisions,

disagreeing with staff, et cetera, you know, I've had to

recognize that, Hey, they are not my enemy. They are

not my real enemy. At the end of the day,

is the devil that's been trying to rob me off

my my purpose, my calling, my confidence, my peace, my joy,

all these things. That's what the enemy's trying to rock

from us. Right at the end of the day, whatever

you're going through, that's what enemy is trying to You

can still kill and destroy, right, my sleep I still

I still can sleep, thankfully. But my piece, my joy,

and my confidence and the people that's that's around those

are just distractions, right, They're they're not the real enemy.

So recognize that we wrestle not against flesh and blood.

No matter what you're going through, recognize what is it

behind what spirit is behind it all? What's it trying

to rock from you? What's it trying to get from you. Thirdly,

the w this was so important for me to recognize.

Lookout for his works. I said, he's working. He's always working.

Even when we don't see it, we don't feel it,

he's working. John five, verse seventeen says, but Jesus answered them,

My father has been working until now, and I have

been working. Our Father, our heavenly Father, has been working

all this time. And Jesus is working, and the Holy

Spirit is working. So look out for his works. Even

when it's one dana and feels like nothing's happening, look

out for those little things.

He is working.

And even when we lose focus, even when our own

eye is closed.

Right, God is still working.

And it's whether we recognize it or not, and whether

we get involved in it, whether we are the one

stepping in to God's work. I love this verse Psalms

one hundred and twenty one versus three. It says, he

will not allow your foot to be moved. He who

keeps you will not slumber.

Hallelujah. Oh there's not slumber. It's our Lord. It's our

Lord Jesus.

And the word keep that is actually the Hebrew word

that is you know it basically the same same root

word as the Greek word gregorial okay by Shama in Hebrew,

and it says it means to keep to God, to

watch over and our father keeps us see gods or us,

he watches over us. And you know, is it such

an assurance that he will never slumber. We might slumber,

he will never slumber. He will never.

Sleep, And it's yeah.

So I started, you know, through through this journey that

I started recognizing God's hand his fingerprints.

So many things.

And let me try to name a few things that

I look better, and like, wow, God, actually you were

doing something. So through these exercise, you know, there were

people that I was fighting for and trying to say,

come here reasons why we shouldn't let this this you

know role go or this person go. But over time,

now that it's done, it's been announced, I realized that

probably God allowed it because some of those people had

to go. Why because the belongs that are coming up,

you know, over the past few months, and I realized, actually,

these are the toxic people. I didn't know that, you know,

but different ones then started.

Revealing to me.

And this person has been talking like days or saying

days and all that. I'm like, oh, I didn't know that,

But God knows, right, he sees all things. When people

are against you or say things about you, God knows

you may not know, and so I saw you know

God actually while actually so the people you know, there's

only something that I know now. Of course the others

I don't know. But maybe God has better plan for

them elsewhere. And then there was one that really I

was like, God, thank you Lord. So there's one colleague

who is we wrote many years together, it's like fourteen

twelve years maybe twelve years together, and the person is

really good, you know, and what he does, but sometimes

we don't see eye to eye or he didn't see

with a lot or so. And so there was one

season where it got really difficult, to a point where

I'm like, I don't want to have I don't have

the difficult conversation because it's going the wrong direction. But somehow,

by God's grace, we managed to turn things around. You know,

we had I had a very honest conversation with him,

and things turn around. But with this, with this thing

that came about, what I realized is we managed to

have a peacefully That means it reached a point where

he he's the one who decided that he, you know,

wanted to take the package and go, and we didn't

have to because it was still I mean, we did

fix some things, but his line manager was still like Caddler,

this guy is not not working in the same direction,

So I don't think we should keep him on as

a leader. But we didn't have to let him go

because himself decided that he wanted to go. So yeah,

I'm like, God, thank you, and and you know, because

of that, it became a very very pleasant and peaceful departure.

Actually we had a farewell, you know, and he was

actually quite emotional about about leaving, and and.

He was he was so thoughtful.

He created a whole everyone in the whole team, and

he made a like a photo montage.

Thing with with.

Like words, I mean he wrote some some were quotes

and then some were like personal messages, but so thoughtful,

and a lot of them were like, oh, I never

knew this guy can do this kind of thing. But

you know, it just became very nice departure and honoring departure.

So like God, thank you know that it worked out

that way. And then and through this also different ones

you know, one of the closest ones to me, who's

worked with me nineteen years now, also has decided, you know,

I think it's it's time to go and and through that,

and he's one of those that have been really praying

for and reaching out to but just just never can

never like seal the deal. You know, it's like a

bit there, bit there. But again through through this discussion

and it's a difficult decision for him to make, but

again managed to share the gospel like just give you

need Jesus, like you need Jesus, you know, just try

him out.

And different lives.

There's been different conversations that have had you know that

I noticed like, hey, God, you gave me those opportunities

to share with them or to pray with them. And

then there's this one. So this one guy, we've never

really had many conversations, but then one one day, this

was before the announcement. Then it came to me and

told me about his health issues. So he had to

go for a major surgery to lengthen his leg because

one is shorter than the other and he was causing

everything else to have a problem on his back and

all that slip. This all because of the lake issue

and knee issue. So he came to me to share

and because he had to go and leave and all that, right,

and so I just said, can I pray for you?

So I prayed for him.

Then he went, you know, to seek medical advice and

things like that. So long story shot. He he was

scheduled for surgery. And on the day that he was

supposed to go for surgery, because I wanted to visit him,

but because of timing, I couldn't.

But he said, no, I'll come to the office. He

can barely walk up.

He's in this metal I don't know, rasting me that's

holding and his own crutches. He said, no, I'll come

to office. I just feel like I need I need

to see you. I need you to pray for me.

Not believer, And so he comes. He comes all the

way from where I clang I think to Cyberjaya the morning,

just so I can pray for him. Some of you

are were standing here, so you don want to walk

down right here o prayer. This is a pre believer,

doesn't know Jesus personally, and he's like, no, I just

need you to pray for me. He said, I don't

know why. But I just need to see you before

I go for surgery. And I got to share him

the gospel as well, share with him about Christ. He said, yeah,

when I was young, my friend took me to just before.

But now, yeah, I believe all things. One of those lines, yeah,

I need you know, he does. Usually they believe in

all the God. So it's it's a bit hard. I've

got to pray for him, minister to him. And he said, yeah,

really I feel.

The peace, you know. And the surgery went well and things,

and then now he's recovering.

But then I, yeah, I just start seeing how you

known God open these doors again, I said, I hardly

speak to but for some reason he came, you know,

to speak to me, and then got this opportunity and

he came all the way for prayer. And then one

of the other things, I see God moving or so

is checking my own heart. So so with one of

the you know, let goes. There was disagreement and someone

was quite bitter about it, say say quite hurtful things,

you know to me, and and the human side is

like I need to justify myself, like this is not

my fault. No, it's not my decision, you know, I

want to say all these things, and then I felt

the Holy Spirit just generally stop me and say, it's okay,

don't need to justify yourself. Like Jesus said, justify yourself

just silently, silently went to the cross without you know,

even fighting for his own rights.

So it's okay. I just humbled myself at the.

Opportunity to forgive and to forgive us extend grace, and

then also ask for forgiveness, even though I didn't feel

like it was my faultler, but just ask for forgiveness anyway.

And so all these things I start seeing, you know,

God's hand prince and fingerprints, I'm like, God, actually you

are you are doing something. You know, there there is

revival brewing even in my workplace, even I don't feel

me and so many all these things happening. But actually

there's been so many opportunities, you know, to even share,

share what God has spoken to me, you know, how

he's how he's comforted me, how he's he's assured me.

I share this with the majority faith as well, and

they asked you, okay, I mean they're on.

Was actually very so.

Then there's there's one one lady, she's so sweet. She

just extended her arms and just you need a help,

she said that. But she just did that because she knew,

you know, everyone's like angry and all that. But she

she kind of says that I would also be going

through a tough time.

So she just extended her heart.

But I got to share with her, you know how

how my God has encouraged me. So as I draw

towards a close, I want us to, okay before that,

so that the third point was what the third w.

His works? Okay, look out for his works.

And as I drove to close, I want us to

read a story from the Old Testament. Second Kings. Yeah,

if you missed any of the three wis is there? Okay,

wake up, resta not against flesh and blood, and look

out for his works. But we're going to read now

from Second Kings Chapter two, verse one to fifteen. And

this is the story of Elisha Elisha.

It's Elijah and Elisha.

Okay, so the guy version, yes, okay, So Second King

said the two of verse one to fifteen, it says,

and it came to pass when the Lord was about

to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind.

Then Elijah went with Elijah from Gilgal. Then Elijah said

to Elisha, stay here please, for the Lord has sent

me to Bethel. But Elisha said, as the Lord lives

and as your soul lives, I will not leave you.

So they went down to Bethel.

Verse three.

Now the sons of the prophets who were Bethel came

out to Elisha and said to him, do you know

that the Lord will take away your master from over

you today?

And he said, yes, I know. Keep silent.

There's a probably a polite way to say that. Then

Elijah said to him. Elijah said to him, Elisha, stay

here please, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.

But he said, as the Lord lives and as your

soul lives, I will not leave you.

So they came to Jericho.

It was five Now the sons of the prophets who

were Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, do

you know that the Lord will take away your master

from over you today? So annoying going to keep asking it,

So he answered, yes, I know, keep silent. Then Elijah

said to him stay here please, for the Lord has

sent me on to the Jordan. But he said, as

the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will

not leave you.

So the two of them went on.

Now was seven and fifteen men of the sons of

the prophets went and stood facing them at a distance,

while the two of them stood by the Jordan. Now

Elijah took his mentle, rolled it up and struck the water,

and he was divided this way and that, and then

the two of them crossed over on dry ground. No,

that sounds familiar like Moses verse nine. And so it

was when they had crossed over that Elijah said to Elijah,

ask what may I do for you before I'm taken

away from you. Elisha said, please let a double portion

of your spirit be upon me. So he said, you

have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me,

if you see me when I am taken from you,

it shall be so for you. But if not, it

shall not be so. In verse eleven. Then it happened

as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot

of fire appeared with horses of fire appeared.

A chariot of fire appeared.

With horses of fire, and separated the two of them,

and Elijah went up by a whirl wind into heaven.

In verse twelve. And Elisha saw it.

He saw that happen, and he cried out, my father,

my father, the chariot of Israel and his horsemen. So

he saw him no more, and he took hold of

his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He

also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen

from him. And he went back and stood by the

bank of the Jordan around verse fourteen, and he took

the mental of Elijah that had fallen from him, struck

the water and said, where is the Lord God of Elijah.

And when he had also struck the water, it was

divided this way and that, and Elishah crossed over. Now,

when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho

saw him, they said, the spirit of Elijah rests on

Elishah to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.

Elijhah was promised a double portion, but with the condition

as long as he saw Elijah taken up in the

chariot of fire.

And so he was looking at Elijah the whole.

Time, right, I don't want to miss it. When is

he going to be taken? I don't want to miss it?

And so he's looking at his master at all times.

He's keeping his eyes on his master at all times.

Away keeping our eyes on our lord and master at

all times, as we might we might miss his move

if we don't. Yeah, so what what are you looking at?

What are you watching? You know, I'm reminded. It's quite funny.

I was reminded of you know.

V spots.

They happened recently, and there was this one hundred meters

race and for some reason, right, so it was a

nice we went to help help international school, Hi s

Indistry school. So there's nice, super nice new track, right,

Olympic size retrick.

I saw we were run with them or quite t

after that. My link was.

Beautiful anyway, So they had there, right one hundred meter

run and for some reason, I don't you're there, you're

seeing right, the kids kept running into each other's lanes. Know,

they're quite far apart, right, they're like not like even

one one what do you call this lane? Yeah, they're

not even in one lane apart. They are two lanes apart.

So like one kid and then empty lane and then

one kid and all of them right, always end up

like crashing do each other? You know, like can you

see the line where But I realize it's funny because

we are what are we doing when we're running a race?

I'm sure they weren't looking at the finishing line. They

looking at a friend. I kept running into each other

and it happened a few times, not like once or twice,

It's like at least three times. I'm like, what's going

on with this?

You're running? Sing it the wind blowing them or what? Yeah?

Where where are we looking at? Are we looking at

our friends? Or are we running in the race, you know,

looking ahead at the finishing line and looking at our master.

Then there's this other game called tower defense. It's created

by coach Albert I think so it's it's like hula hopes.

They build it looks like a little building building and

these are for the primary and a lower primary. So

they have to throw balls and like break down the tower.

And so I noticed, right, one team they train the ball.

Ever was listening when we're talking about tower defense to

train the ball, and so the ball miss really right.

It's like rolling away from the tower, and.

Instead of looking at the oncoming balls, this kid keep.

Looking at the ball that's going away.

So I'm like what's not balls coming? You know, don't

look at that one. That one is safe. It's not

going to hit your tower. But I thought about it

when I was writing this message, goes again, are we

looking at the wrong thing? Basically, are we focusing on

the right thing supposed to protect and block the balls

from he that already look at the balls that are

already rolling away. Let's not Let's not do that. Let's

keep our eyes on Jesus. Hebrews, Chapter twelve, verse one

to two. It says, Therefore, since we are surrounded by

such a crowd of witnesses to the life of faith,

let us strip away, strip off every weight that slows

us down, especially the sin so that so easily trips

us up, and let us run with endurance the race

God has set before us. We do this by keeping

our eyes on Jesus, the champion, who initiates and perfects

our faith because of the joy awaiting him He endured

across disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the

place of honor beside God's thrown Let's continue to look

unto Jesus. Keep our eyes on Jesus. Revival could be

happening right now before eyes, and we can completely miss it. Right,

if you're so caught up, if we're engrossing our own

lives and what's happening in our lives, our troubles, even

our vanities, o'ur come. But even we can miss what

God is doing. And I print none of us will

miss it, you know, I've been ah well. The last

time when I spoke, I spoke about one rolled out

book was oh, yeah, so I just read Matilda to

my kids.

Have you all read Matilda? So are you ready to?

So she's like a phenomenon, right, she's this but you know,

extra extra extraordinary child.

But her parents completely missed it. They didn't see it.

She's like a miracle standing there and they didn't see it.

I think something like that. No, like God's working a

miracle and we didn't see it because her eyes are closed.

You're sleeping.

Even Jesus when he was among the Jews, he was

the prophet, side messiah that they'd been waiting for all

this while, and they missed it. Only these twelve disciples,

not that there were more than that followed Jesus, but

the thousands of them, most of them missed it. They

completely missed it. When it happened. They knew the prop

and yet they were blinded. Right, they were so caught

up with how they pictured the Messiah, to be caught

up with religion. So for us as well, let's not

be caught up, you know, in our own beliefs, our

own fancies, our troubles, until we can miss God's work

of revival in our lives and in our church, in

our marketplace, in our nation. Amen, man ben, when you

come up, so I urge you today this morning to watch,

watch with me, watch with the Lord. Keep your eyes

on our master. Let's stay awake, let's wake up if

we are sleeping, Let's be vigilant.

Let's be watchful. Let's be on God.

You know.

Just remember we don't wrestle with flesh and blood. Look

Out for what is it? What is the enemy trying

to steal from you? Look out for God's work. Look

out for his work in the trials or in the

mundane He's working. Let's keep our eyes on Jesus. Let's

recognize the distractions. We don't want to miss his movie.

We don't want to miss his anoying thing. We don't

want to miss the double portion. Like Elishah is like,

you know, keeping his eyes on Elijah. He didn't want

to miss it, and he got it. And if you

read the Bible, I mean Elijah, he's known for the

battle on Mount Carmel. Right, bow that's that's like the

big thing we remember Elijah fire coming down. But you

read Elishah. There's many more accounts of miracles that Elishah performed,

not such a big one like the Bowel story, but

may need more. I mean he read to us end

of his life. When he died, he was in a

tomb and some some guy, I mean they I think

they put him in his tomb because they're rushing, because

the raiders some other people can protect them.

They put the.

Date men in the same tomb as Elisha. And when

he touched his bones, he came to life. You know it.

M M, just think right, see dat OsO miracle get?

That's how powerful. That's the double.

Portion anointing that he received from Elijah because he kept

his eyes on his Master.

We hope you've been blessed by this message. For more

information on our church, please visit as church dot org.

We are also active on Facebook and Instagram. We're believing

that this week is going to be a good week

ahead for you.

God bless