Are we revived? | Pr. Alvin Keng

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

We hope this message will light up your day.

Turn your bibles to Mark chapter one, and we're gonna

be reading from verse fourteen. I'm just gonna give you

a little bit of a uh well, it's a lot

of scriptures today, so I hope you can follow me. Yeah,

Mark chapter one, verse fourteen. What they say, Okay, it

says here. Now, after John was put in prison, Jesus

came to Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of

God and saying the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom

of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel. Okay,

So Jesus basically started his ministry. And you read all

the way to verse twenty eight. I'm just gonna, you know,

summarize for us. So he began his ministry after John

the Baptist went into prison. Okay, you'll know who Jesus

is right here. Who don't know who Jesus is? Just

with your hand. You don't know who I'm talking about.

You have no idea who this Jesus is to you.

He's just a swear word. In the Hollywood film Noah

Noah everybody knows. Okay, I you roughly would think that

you will know who this Jesus is.

And yes, he's not a swear word.

His name is above every other name and in his

name every tongue, confess every initial about Amen.

And we will never use his name as a swear word.

Amen.

Yeah, because his name is more powerful than that. We

pray in Jesus name.

So just a background on this Jesus as we read

the scripture, so before that, before he started his ministry.

And you must, you must, you must follow me in

this journey because we all have the benefit of uh, hindsight. Okay,

you know what hindsight is. Hindsight is we we can

read mo, Jesus was born in the manger. Then last year,

if you watch the Christmas play, you will see, you know,

in pijina I joke, we got to do Jesus. We

got a baby Jesus and we've got adult Jesus. That

Jesus the hell like Jesus. Right But no, no, okay uh,

because he also acted as as Jesus. But we have

the benefit of hindsight. But I want us to kind

of follow us as though you don't know Jesus right, No,

no one knows who is Jesus is. He just started

his ministry, right, Uh. And he started right after John

the Baptist, you know, was in prison.

And John the Baptist was a prophet.

Uh. And John the Baptist's role was very specific. It

was to declare the coming of the Messiah. Okay, So

Jesus is the Messiah, Okay, the Savior, the one.

That the Jews will believed that they will come to save.

Until now, actually, some of them still do believe that

the Messiah is coming because they rejected Jesus, you know,

so they still believe that there will be a Messiah. Uh.

And the missiles actually foretold, you know, even in the

scriptures in Isaiah, in Jeremiah, you know you read a

lot about it. In Isaiah. Isaiah talks about you know,

that's where we pray, you know, by his tripes were healed,

because that's where what's declared in Isaiah. Right, and he

talks about you know, he died for how since he

died for Nicodees, right, So they were so he was

quite a big dealer. Okay, So just follow me in this.

And John came, he was there to declare and then

he was imprisoned, right, he was in prisoned. Probably they

think that he was a crazy person. So he was

put in jail, okay. And that's when Jesus started his ministry. Okay.

And of course Jesus was baptized by John, right John, Okay,

he was baptized by John the Baptist. This this John

more you know, more more sharper looking, don't have hair

on the back. I'm not sure if to ask the wife,

but that that John got hair on the back. That

John it lucas uh did. A lot of things are okay,

But yet he was recognized as a prophet, okay, a

great prophet. Right. So Jesus started his ministry, and he

started the ministry preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

That was what Jesus preached. He preached the Gospel of

the Kingdom of God. He didn't preach the Gospel Blessing.

He didn't preach the Gospel of you know, he preached

the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Right. And if

you read the scriptures, you will notice that Jesus always

talks about God's kingdom. This how God's kingdom works. This

how God's Kingdom works. That's what he constantly proclaims. Okay

and uh. And what happened next, So he began his

ministery uh. And then he went to Galilee preaching the

gospel of the Kingdom of God. Okay. And the first

thing he did was he had disciples, so he called

his first disciples to follow him. If you read on

his scripture, his disciples Simon, Peter, his brother Andrew, and

James and John right, and then they went to Kaeperanam, right, Uh,

let's read, let's read where are Yeah. Then they went

into Kaeperanam and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the

synagogue and taught. And the people there were astonished at

his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority

and not as a scribes. Of course, now like say

we got hindsight. No, he's Jesus Ma, of course. But

think about it now, if you were here and suddenly

you don't know this person from Adam right, you know

passes sever and you know the and then the is

this guy that just appear of nowhere and started preaching

the word with authority you know, right describes of course,

just preach it as they probably didn't preach it. They

probably just reiterated what you were saying, right, because they

they revealed the Word of God, so they probably just

do it like habit lah, you know, right, read read

read read read like read textbook like that. But this

guy came and preached the authority. You know, he preached

the authority. He preached with conviction, right, and they were amazed.

And right there in the synagogue there was a man

with the unclean spirit. Okay, anybody here with unclean spirit

later passed, still pray for you, okay. There was a

man unclean streamans demon or something not so right, okay.

And the man with the unclean spirit cried out, you know,

and say, what have you do to you, Jesus Nazareth?

Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are,

the Holy One of God? And Jesus rebuked him. Hey, quiet, okay,

this is the other interesting thing about Jesus. He's just

starting off his ministry and he came to preach the gospel.

Don't you think it.

Will be easier if he allowed the demons to just

because if you continue to read, now, every time he

see demons, the demons got no choice but to profess

that he's lord. No, you see the power there the

demons fall under. They were fear fearing him to the

point that they would say, hey, why you hear why

you hear Jesus? Right? And of course later on the

Pharisees they didn't really understand. They say, oh, he must

be the same gang one. And of course if we

read the scripture, you know that how can we be

same gang? If I rebuke them and they live and

the person is a free don't make sense, right, It's counterproductive, right,

so so, but he always asks them to quiet, don't

say anything. Ah, I find it way interesting. Wouldn't it

be easier if they just proclaimed that Jesus. Let the

demons proclaim la that I'm not ma. I wonder why,

I wonder why? Anyway, so he rebuiked the man. The

people saw and were amazed, and then his fame spread

through all the region of Galilee.

He became famous.

Wakula Jesus became famous though throughout Galilee, small town. He

became famous. Right now, what happened next? And then as

soon as they come out of the Singer gout, they

entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John,

but Simon's wife Peter. Now you know Peter's married. So

Jesus went to Peter's mother in law's house, right, And

for those of you, okay, let's tread anna.

And what happened, right?

And his wife's mother lay sick with fever, and they

told Jesus about her at once, and Jesus came and

took her by the hand and lifted her up, and

immediately the fever left her, and she served them. So

Jesus healed Peter's mother in law. So for those of

you who are married, love your mother in law, okay,

because Jesus also healed Peter's mother in law.

Right, And what happened after that last week? And versetardy two?

Okay, it says at evening, when the sun had said,

they brought to him all who were sick and those

who are demons possessed, And the whole city was gathered

together at the door, and he healed many who were

sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And

he did not allow the demons to speak, because they

knew him. Interesting, he did not allow the demons to

speak because they knew him.

I don't know why, Okay.

And then let's read on now now in the morning,

having risen a long while before, they like, he went

out and deputed to a solitary place, and there he prayed,

and Simon and those who were with him search for him.

When they found him, they say to him, everyone is

looking for you. But he said to them, let us

go into the next towns that I mean preach there

also because for this purpose I've come forth. And he

was preaching in their synagogue, thraught all Galilee and casting

out demons. Okay, okay, let's pause here for a while.

So Jesus became famous in Galilee because he cast out

an unclean spirit. And then after that he went to

the Peter's mother in laws house right, and then healed her.

And people were amazed because he just went to the synagogue.

So don't you think by that time he might have

maybe a small group of people following him. Don't you

think by the time what would have been spread? You know,

you must, you must think about it. Now. This is

before internet, before AI, before everything. You know. Now, we're

very skeptical actually, like Shore Boshobo, you probably won't believe that.

But the timer it was amazing, you know, and and

the guy with the unclean spirit probably had an unclean

spirit for a long time, probably long enough that they know,

you know, let me just use xbu as an example

or less. It is the synagogue, right and uh, and

then there's someone here who have a problem, right pro

long time.

You're probably noma. Don't you think if that person is.

Set free, you will be so excited to tell people

about it that more people know. And then maybe let's

take Steven as Jesus as King Steven is here and

then he's preaching the word, you know, with conviction and

then healing the sick and then casting out demons. Right. Uh,

you know, at at someone's house you can use say

an example, use JOHNA now John's mother in last house,

right or maybe here like here, s u. And don't

you think that more people will come? Because if you

read the miracles were happening, and the city, the whole tama,

they were at the door now waiting for him to

cast the you know, to heal the sick, cast out.

They were waiting for him, you know, to do magic,

to do miracles. No, right, imagine that. And of course

Jesus he was doing that, he was doing his thing

and probably you know, it was late ready, lie, you know,

the whole day late ready, and we only rest is

tight and they are still I'm sure still people out

there who are sick.

And then you know, probably think about it now.

I'm just trying to imagine it from Peter and the

Disciples perspective. They probably thought, now like, wow, this guy,

this was the best decision we've made because now I

brought him to my mom in lost house and he's

healing the sick, and now I'm very important. Now everybody

have to go through me to come to Jesus. No, Now,

sonny Ma Matter's Law's house is like the most important

house in the whole of Kapinham. Think about it, because

the whole city was here, you know, to see this guy,

and this guy was in my health. And the Disciples

probably were the bodyguards. They were waiting outside. Everybody want

to see us, pass to see what example, everybody to

see passes one.

And then the host was there, you know, just guarding.

And and he's late, really guys late, really ten to

three ready we only go sleep ready, But there were

so many people out there, they say, you know what,

you're not come back tomorrow, come back tomorrow to be heal,

come back tomorrow. Jesus will see all tomorrow. Okay, I

speak on behalf Jesus. Jesus will see you all tomorrow. Okay,

can you please go go? And of course I'm sure

just doing his sting, like he's just hitting the sick.

He's just you know, ministring. And then who have to

do crop control? Disciples are right, and they sent everybody back,

go back, go back, go back. Come next day. Probably

some people are still staying there. Maybe they don't go.

I don't know.

But early in the morning, early in the morning, Jesus

went out and prayed on his own right. He went

out and prayed on his own right.

Could it be that he was bothered by something?

I don't know. Maybe you know, wouldn't you say that

he had a very successful ministry in Galilee, so successful

on the moment started. Ah, so many things happened, so successful,

right you know, xbu started or suddenly everybody want to

come xp you. It's like the most happening chest plan ever, right,

most successful. A lot of people are experiencing. Be true.

But Jesus rose up early in the morning, didn't tell

anyone where he went didn't tell anybody. He just went

out and he prayed somewhere. Right. Could he be that

he was bothered by something? Could he be that maybe

he was reflecting about the success of his ministry. Okay,

that's read on now. And Simon and those who were

with him searched for him. And when they had found him,

they said to him, everyone is looking for you through

what everybody's looking where the whole city is here?

Hello, everybody's looking for you, Jesus.

But he said to them, let us go into the

next town, that I may preach there also because for

this purpose I have come forth. And he was preaching

in their synagogue straw or galilee and casting out demons. Okay,

let's reflect a little bit now. So Peter was searching

for him. Everyone was searching for him, expecting Jesus to

continue performing the miracles and healing to say, don't you

think that was the kicker?

And I'm sure, I'm sure we will be like that.

I'm sure like you know, this guy can give you

a break?

True, No, go and see this guy. He's the real deal.

Let's all come. But this is why I love my Jesus.

He was very clear of his purpose. Because we will

have seen that as success. Man, then probably just make

the Madain Lost house bigla. Then Jesus, you just stay here,

Just stay here, Jesus, just stay here and be doing

all that you do because he's helping people all. Stay here,

don't go anywhere and stay here. Let's make the house.

Let's now, maybe let's start collecting told. I don't know,

I don't know what would help the organization be more efficient.

Maybe let's let's start building a places outside so that

people can so that they don't have to suffer. They

lets let's let's let's let's be more organized, Puss Stephen,

maybe maybe you should start hiring people bodyguards because very hard,

you know, then Galilee will be known through all the earth.

But Jesus was clearnest purpose. This is why I love him. Man,

He's so clear. He aligned to the Father, and the

Father aligned to him. John fifteen seven. It says, if

you abide in me and my words abide in you,

you will ask what you desire, and it shall be

done for you. By this, my Father is glorified that

you bear much fruit, so you will be my disciples. Friends.

Would you agree with me and by saying that people

were always looking for the spectacular. You know, we're looking

for the spectacular. Oh, what's the greatest thing, what's the

best thing out there? What's the most exciting thing that

I can get involves? You know, yeah, yeah, this will

give me break true? Right, you're looking for that. But

Jesus redcurar on his purpose because he said, let us

go to the next town that I may preach there.

Also because for this purpose I've come for.

Right, we don't want to be performing, friends, It is

not just a performance. I don't think the extremers came

up early this morning to have a Sunday performance, to

sing the best songs and always just feel good. Friends.

It is not about performance. It is about purpose. Why

do we worship the Lord? Because if we don't catch that,

we will miss the point. It will be about the performance.

Maybe I should come a bit later this morning because

the song's not as good as my radio, because my

radio is album quality, and I can worship got better

in my car. And I don't know, I don't know

what'speaking of mind. I'm just I'm just saying that sometimes.

That's why I think. Now I'm just joking. We do

want our leaders to have to performer, perform, perform.

Come on, do a trick, Come on, do a trick.

Right.

I love him because he wasn't concerned about the car crowds.

He was not. He was more concerned about why they

were there, because he came to preach the Kingdom of God.

He came to give us the keys to the kingdom.

He came to give redemption, to set people free, not

to get people hooked on another thing. He came to

give us freedom. No, let's read on Luke chapter seven,

verse eleven seventeen.

Are you guys, okay?

Luke seven?

What does it say?

Now? It happened the day after that he went into

a city called Nane, probably a German city, and many

of his disciples went with him, and a large crowd.

So you see, he famous city, Jesus famous. So many

people follow him everywhere he goes, follow him, follow him, right,

everybody's just following him, okay. And when he came near

the gate of the city, Behore, a date man was

being carried out, the only son of his mother, and

she was a widow, and a large crowd from the

city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he

had compassion on her and said to her, do not weep.

Then he came and touched the open coffin, and those

who carried him stood up souci her, and he said,

young man, I say to you, arise. So he who

was dead set up and began to speak, and he

presented him to his mother. And then fear came upon all,

and they glorified God, saying, a great prophet has risen

up among us, and God has visited his people. And

this report about him went throughout all Judea and the

surrounding region. So first he was famous in Gality. Now

he's famous in Judea. Wow, Jesus is so famous, right

he is? And he raised he raised someone from the date.

Know this big deal? Man? Don't you think it's a

big deal?

So big deal?

Feel came up one oh, and they glorified God, saying,

our great prophet has reason, great prophet, not the Son

of God, not the Messiah. Great prophet has reason, and

God is visiting his people, which is correct. La. His

name is called immanuela god weirdness, right, so that's correct.

The report ran out right. What happened after that? Then

the disciples of John reported to him concerning these things

and John was still in prison. Okay, And John, calling

to his disciples to him, said, sent them to Jesus saying,

are you the coming one? Or do we look for you? Huh?

It's so weird that John's asking a question now.

And this is John, the same John that prepared the

way for him, isn't it John? The same John that

when Jesus came to decide to be baptized by him,

he said, Hello, you are the one should be baptizing me.

And Jesus said, hey, so that the scriptures will be fulfilled,

you better baptize me. Didn't this John? Wasn't this John

clear in his mind who this person is? And then

a man came to Jesus and they said, John, the

baptists sent us to you, saying, are you the oner?

Or do we find another person? Ah?

Why?

So interesting? And that very hour he cured many infirmities,

afflictions and eble spirits, and too many blind. He gave sight,

too many blind, just too many blind. He healed Jesus are.

And then Jesus answered and said to them, go and

tell John the things you have seen and heard, that

the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed

the death. Here the dad are raised, the poor have

God the Gospel preach to them. And blessed is he

who is not offended because of me? What interesting was

John jealous? Was he jealous that Jesus was called a

great prophet? I won't know why, let's read on it.

When the messengers of John had departed, he began to

speak to the multitious concerning John, what did you go

out to the wilderness to see a reed chicken by

the wind? What did you go out to see a

man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who are gorgeously

appareled and live in luxury are in king's courts.

But what do you got to see? A prophet?

Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet,

this is he of whom it is written. Behold, I

send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your

way before you.

This is John the Baptist. The messenger is John the Baptist.

For I say to you, among those born of women,

here is not greater prophet than John the Baptist. But

he who is least in the King of God is

greater than he. Oh, Jesus trying to say, although John

kind of looked like he was a bit offended by

Jesus because they called him a great prophet. They called

Jesus a great prophet, right, But Jesus still honor John

to say, this is a messenger. He reminded. He tell

the people, look, John is a great prophet. But it's

what you're not reading there. Jesus didn't claim himself to

be a prophet because he was the Messiah. He was

the Messiah. And when the people heard him, even text

collectors justify God having been baptized with the baptism of John.

But the pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God

for themselves, not having been baptized by him. And the

Lord said, to what dan shall I liken the men

of this generation? And what are they like? They are

like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying,

we played the flute for you, and you don't dance.

Say hello, I played fluid. You're not performing dance, Pussus, Stephen,

dance we moant for you, didn't we? Oh, I'm crying man,

Why are you not affected? For John the Baptist came

neither to eat, neither eating bread or drinking wine. And

you say he has a demon. You'll know John the Baptist, right.

I think that was a song. I tried to remember it.

Just now. There was a man in the desert with

hair on his back. Okay, it's a song, okay, And

he ate locusts. He came to prepare the way for

the Messiah. He was seen as a crazy man, right.

And they said he had demons. He didn't eat, he

needed that and he said they had demons. And then

what what he continue saying? The son of men has

come eating and drinking. And you say, look a glutton

and a wine beaber, a friend of text collectors and sinners.

But wisdom is justified by all their children. And then

Jesus came hang out with text collectors. Well, hey, you

know that text colotors a quite rich one. Now do

you think they were just surf anything? No, they'll probably

surf the finest wine, the finest meals. Text collectors know

they're they're like the one taking all the money, you know.

And Jesus went to see them. And yet the people

say this feller, so both us are wrong. Go out

into the desert, preach the gospel orso wrong? Demon go

and hang out with text collectors, seeing us all so wrong,

But we all did hear the scripture? If you remember

the scripture, Jesus, you say, I didn't come for the healthy.

I came to see the sick corona. Who are the

sickest we were around? Unfortunately the text collectors. So he

went to see them, and then there was transformation. You'll

remember if you read your Bible. If you don't remember,

you don't know who I'm talking about. Peace, Going to

read your bible, zach Yus. He said he will give

four times poll who do that? Only a person now

who has changed will do that to go at a

loss to repay what he has taken, right Jesus. So, friends,

I have a question, what did you come out here

to see? On a Sunday? What do you come to

X b X Church in banal Oa, Tama this morning

to see? Do you come to see a man who's

bent and swayed by his environment? Hey, Busan, I can

use his name, of course, it's here. You know the

latest song that we should sing? You know what we

should do? You know down? You know? Have you seen

the latest thing in Christian culture? Have you seen the

latest dressing in Christian culture sharing. Have you seen or not?

Don't you understand? This is our generation? Have you seen?

Did we come out to see that? Are we bent

by pop culture? By fashion about what's hot? Are we?

AI is the latest thing? Man? We should use it.

You know, we should create stuff with it. You know,

we should do all kinds of stuff with it. I

was just telling you, PJ. One of the interesting things

that I've seen right now is that it is so easy. Friends,

I don't know. It's a good thing or a bad thing. Okay,

someone argue is good?

Before this?

I never do, man, Now I do, Mama, Yeah, yeah, yeah,

But I remember the Bible teaching us to search the scriptures.

Such an excitement now all such, I wonder how many

of you use AI to search the scriptures. You're probably like, yeah, Pa,

you don't do it, right? Actually no, I don't. I

honest you, I don't. I might use it to do research,

but I don't use it to such a scriptures because

artificial intelligence is not God. No, in my sound right,

but it's not good. So I tell you upfront, I

account to you. I don't search a scriptures to bear message.

I don't. I don't search AI to prepare message. I

search the scriptures. I read my Bible because the Lord

is asking us to search the scriptures. I know my Bible.

The one thing that I said that I'm noticing now

is do you know that you can actually listen to

the Gospel or a book of the Bible in different

pop culture songs. I just saw one the Book of

James in R and B and it's about one hour

you play you literally work forward Book of James n KGV,

but in R and B singing.

Style or amazing Man. Probably Okay, I don't know.

I don't know.

I feel it's very gray area, okay, ver great area.

I feel.

I'm not saying it's right. I'm not saying I don't know,

but I worry if.

We rely on it too much. I worry if we

just rely on our if our entire faith just relies

on a pop up we get in the morning, a

scripture pop up we get in the morning, and therefore

that one scripture it will define our entire day. Am

I saying that God's way it's bad? No, I'm not

saying that. I'll say, please goory God's work. But I'm

worried that we over rely on convenience when we should

be searching the word of God. I don't think relationship

is something you can just rely on convenience. For those

of you who are in relationship, you know, it takes

a lot of hard work to make it work, a

lot of hard work a lot of effort to communicate,

a lot of ever try to understand you sh other.

One more of faith, friends, one more of faith. I'm

sure none of you come here this morning to extras

to see a chicken left and right one minute, days

one minute that. No, right, I'm sure none of you

come expecting that. No, it's our faith so easily. The

thing is, if we are honest and the truth is

that people will go where they secretly desire, they will

they will go where they secretly desire.

So the question is, what are we desiring this morning?

What are we desiring this morning? People followed Jesus.

What are they looking for? Were they looking for the Messiah?

Or were they looking for him to perform tricks? Sorry,

he wasn't for wing tricks, miracles. Yeah, I use those words,

my strong words. Right, but what are we looking for? Right?

John the Baptist came also accused demon Jesus came also rejected.

How can I win? Friends? Can I present something or

talk to you? Guys? The question of the question, or

the title of my message this morning, right, is are

we revive? Actually we think about it's a rhetorical rhetorical question.

Because I believe that you have Christ in your life.

You are I reply, you should be? What He's your savior?

What quite not? If you truly receive christis your personality savior,

you'll be realvived redy. There's no question about it. There's

no doubt about it. The question is do we have

a relationship with him? Right? We are not just giving prophecy, friends,

We are living out the prophecy because Jesus was prophesied

and we are his disciples. That is the kicker, Amen,

Jesus has been prophesied and we are his disciples. It's

clear as they no more questions, Ady, should I have

any question? But that's the thing about life, That's the

thing about people. Because the easiest, the easier things get,

the more we think you for granted, that's reality, our friends.

The easier things are made for us, the more we think.

For Okay, let me give you one example, which I'm

sure none of you here like that. Okay, I say

this in PJA, but I have to wear careful. You're

not my chest plans, so you don't know me that well.

But it's fine because I stay not near. I stay

in Sharalam for the good morning. I actually have to

plan coming to PJ, you know, I actually have to plan.

I have to plan to come at least one hour

before no, right, and of course earlier on Sunday because

we are here at least half an hour earlier, right,

So I actually have to plan. And the more later

I mean's gone ready come from late on? Right? I

actually have to plan actually too, I don't know to second,

I'm so used to it, but I have to plan.

But because mainly I stay way, it's not convenient. But

I wonder how many of us who stays in PJ,

how how early we are, how how do we plan

to come for stuff even like today morning Sunday service.

I wonder how convenient is it for us to come here?

Just think about it. And that's the thing, you know, friends,

technology is making things easier for us. And again I'm

not saying it's a bad thing. I'm not saying you shouldn't. No, no, no,

But my worry is that we over rely on technology

for our faith because the reality is if we are

looking for convenience, we can find it. Right. I was

just telling the BJA for us. You don't like my

message today, It's okay. You do have many tours in BJ.

You can go to anyone, so many, so many good

passest preachers say oho, go find something you like. You know,

that's the danger of our faith. Go find something you like.

That's no longer. It's no longer about who is Jesus

to you? Is find something that suits my faith. I

thought it was supposed to be. Admit that you need God,

believed that He died for your sins, and commit your

life to him. That's the reality. That's the reality of

what we're dealing with now in this day and age.

That's the danger because from what I understand, relationship with

Christ is relationship. We know the song, read a Bible

prayer every day if you want to grow. How often

do we do that? How often do we do that?

Do we such a scriptures? That's my question? Can we

at least try so? I like you people who I'll

tell you this now, I say, go back and read.

Hopefully people do that. At least got some encouragement now.

But that's the reality or where we are today. Friends.

Let me read XT Chapter nineteen, verse thirty and seventy

and I think I will and oh quite fast, no bad.

I think my thoughts are clearer now. BJ took a

bit longer. X nineteen three. Are you guys okay everyday? Require?

Oh serious, very seriously. I was joking, it's not because

it's now. In PJ, we had a prayer, we had

a prayer, pre service, prayer. And then because Elisha Lim

if you know her lot, she was chairing for the

first time, so Elisha chearing whoa. Then after that Evans,

you know, playing worship, he's worship bleeding and because we

are on a slot smaller team, he was playing the

keys while or worship bleeding first time, not first time.

And I said, oh, we've got our own Chinese Michael W.

Smith leading was she got Michael the Missmith played keys

am right? And anyway, they say, oh, Puss, I've been preaching.

We're quiet, and I'm like, okay, La, you all don't

like I understand, Okay, it's okay, it's okay, It'll be good, okay.

X Chapter nineteen. First, dais and let's let's bring it home.

Let's meet home. Okay, what does it say? Okay, it

says here? Okay, then okay, let me read from eleven. Now,

God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul. Okay, interesting,

lesson now, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought

from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them,

and the evil spirits went out them all very power,

very power. Probably can sell their handkerchief and aprons. I'm

just joking. I'm just joking, Kay, don't think it's seriously Okay,

then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcies, well, you can

be an itinerant Jewish exorcist, man one, can you be

an itinerant Protestant exorcist to get upon themselves to call

the name of the Lord Jesus over those who are

evil spirits, saying we exercise you by the Jesus home popaches.

It'd be funny, right, don't you think that sounds really funny?

Remember just now I said, you know, pass Steven here

very anointed. Then probably you know he's just say and

imagine if I come and say, hey, let me pray

for you. I pray in the name of the Jesus

that passed the prey. Stephen confesses, that's not in savior

someway funny, right, somewhay funny? Shouldn't it be? I pray

in the name of Jesus. There is a lot of

my life. Isn't it more correct? Because it sounds like

I'm riding on someone else's believe. I don't believe, but

he believed and it works, so I use his belief.

Do you think it works that way? Let's see what happens.

Let's see what happens. Right. And there were seven sons

of Skiva, a Jewish chief, priests who did so. So

a few of them did it, and the evil spirit

unswered and said, Jesus, I know, Paul, I know, but

who are you? Then the man in whom the evil

spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, prevailed against them,

so they flat out their house, naked and wounded. This

became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in

Ephesus Ephesus, and fear fell on them. And the name

of the Lord Jesus was spring five, and many who

had believed came convincing, confessing, and telling their deeds. Also,

many of those who had practiced magic brought their books

together and burned them in the set of all and

they counted up the value of them, and it totaled

fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the

Lord grew mightily and prevailed. Friends, I pray that we

don't come to place where we have the form of

godliness but no power. What does the scripture speak to you, Well,

it just speaks to you that they were just relying

on someone else's face law. They were just relying on

someone else's power. Lah. You know, I think there was

another there was another scripture in the Bible, you know,

because the apostles really were healing the sick and doing

great stuff, and people actually come on of pay Hey, JOHNA,

I know you can hear. Can you give me this power?

Not I pay you, I pay you to give you

this power. You'll know it's not right, right, You'll know

it sounds funny, right, and of course the person is

rebut lah, right, and and not just that even brought

a curse on their life, because it's not about the power,

It is about relationship with Christ. Can we get the

focus right? Can we get the focus right? Is it

just about the life? Is it just about the or

is it about relationship with Christ? Okay? My last scripture,

second Timothy, Second Timothy, verse three, TREATI five. Okay, I'll

read from verse one. But no days that in the

last days, perilous times will come, for men will be

lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemous, disobedient

to parents, unthinkable and thankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slenderers, without

self control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, hate, strong, hearty,

lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a

form of Godliness but denying its power. And from such

people turn away. Friends, Admit, then you know God. Then

you need God. Sorry, believe that he died for his sayings.

Commit your life to Christ. It is a relationship. It

is not just a culture. It's not just a membership.

It is a relationship. Friends, and I imploy you, I

encourage you. It is your own relationship with Christ. I

believe all of us here will have said the seniors

prayer ones. I believe all of us here were being

excited receiving God as my personal lot and savior. You know,

it's not just joining a club. No, it's your personal

relationship you've got. No, it's not about praying and and

and the thing about these friends. As I share this,

I reflect on my own life being a Christian for

so long, right, I tell you it's the best thing

ever man, knowing who Christ is, knowing who Jesus is

for yourself, searching the scriptures and getting the Word of

God in your life, experiencing him. Just just now, I

was praying for a brother and the brother, you know,

was just sharing me some really encouraging testimonies about their life,

his life, about from work staff that he went through,

and he just went through some challenges and you know,

he was just like trying to navigate some business deals

and he was just saying, like, you know, I took

this job and this job was actually I know I

was under paid, but I was desperate the decade and

I just did it. But I just met up with

the the partner and they were so impressed. They well said,

you know, our expectation for you was here on me,

but you over delivered. You over delivered what we needed,

and because of that, we're going to give you a

gift that will help this person. And it's like yeah,

and he said, hey, you know what after this. I

know you're doing your own business, but we still want

you on board and we want you to be able

to be under a pay road even though you have

own business. You know, no confit of interest, you know.

And I'm like, oh, so pray, Scott, you know. And

he kept telling me, I remember what you prayed. I

remember what you prayed. Remember you prayed not this door opened,

but the next door. I don't remember I prayed friends,

he remembered. I don't remember.

But I told him. I said, Bro, it's not me, Okay,

it's the Holy strait.

It's not me.

I think no credit over it.

I think no credit is God. How can I pray

like they can pray? Well? Oh, I guess Holy I

get relationship.

Rah, I think that's the only thing.

Do you want that? Do you know you can have

that for your own life? Do you know all the

text is just a relationship with God? Do you know

all the text is just relying more on this and

less on this. Sorry? Yeah, let me direct with you

less on this? Or have our faith been summed up? Two? Oh?

You know when I wake up. I have to study

the world and all then, yeah, you know. And the

first thing I do is I read the first scripture

that comes through my ad, the same scripture that sent

out to treat billion people on this earth. And this

is the word of the lot for me. Sorry, I

mean sarcastic, la. Can it be the word of love

for you? Can? Can? I speak to you? Can? But

is that all your faith is one scripture on an

app in the morning, or you see deeper than that.

God's word says, God's what says, I will make you

the hit and not the tail. God's what says, you

know you can do all things to Christ within you.

Do you know the scripture? God's what says, do I

walk through the value of the shadow of death. I

will fear no evil because You're right, and your staff

they comfort me. That's what God's word says. God's what says,

seek ye first to care out of God, and all

day should be added to you. Gods what says all

these things? Do you know it? I know it. I

read it. I highlight it in my way. Trust the

Lord with all your heart and leaning on your understanding.

Oh yeah, I don't understand the Lord why am I

going through this? Trust the Lord with all your heart,

and Lena, you're understanding. I don't get it. Lord, I'm

starting this situation. I see this personal face, so I

want to want me Trust the Lord all your heart,

and Lena, you're understanding. It is a relationship with God. Friends,

if there's anything that you catch out of today, I

pray that you will be confidently praying. I cast you

out in the name of Jesus, my Lord and Savior.

Not in the name of Jesus that passes young preachers,

Not in the name of Jesus that pass the kind

of preachers, Not in the name of Jesus that john preachers.

Not in the name of Jesus that you know, in

the name of Jesus that is my.

Lord and Savior. Do you have that confidence. I encourage

you to have that confidence, because a lot of things

will fall away. Friends, I don't know how long more

we can meet in this wonderful place. That's the reality

of life we live in right now. A lot of

things can change, just like that. Just last year, no problem.

Now suddenly everybody can jump Becau's not not patrol. Now

suddenly Milaysia is such a good country you live, you know, John,

huh suddenly suddenly, why, of course we've got patrol other country,

very difficult, land down under quite difficult.

Now, so funny how life can change.

I'm not making a joke of the situation, but I

just want us to think about our own faith and

how God will use us every step of the way

when we can have a faith that's real. That's why

the question can we go to the question are we revive? Actually? Yeah,

there was another word I put right, because that's a

I have actually closing line, he says, here, enough of

the doing. Let's concentrate on being. Maybe we've been doing doing, doing,

doing doing. I come to church cust I'm a Christian.

I do this becaustom, considerate doing. It's not wrong to do.

Just just do do do do do do?

Oh you know, I why you go to church? Or

because my father go to church?

Or why do you you know? Like what John said,

Oh why do you all couse? My nothing wrong with that,

But I know that my own children will need to

receive Jesus for themselves. They cannot rely on my faith.

They cannot be praying in the name of Jesus that

my father believes in Yes, to be in the name

of Jesus that I believe in. I recar on that.

Friends, I hope we are clear on that.

That we are enough of doing. Let's concentrate on them being,

because when we are and we be, the doings automatic.

That's why this question.

Are we revive? Is rhetorical because by the mere fact

that christis in your life, you are revived. That is

the truth.

That is the truth.

By the mere fact that you said, I have received

Christ as my personal lot and savior, you are revived.

That there should be no doubt about it. Maybe the

question is not whether you're revived or not. Maybe the

question is, oh, God, are you far away? Maybe the

question is have you worked on this relationship? Have you

built this relationship? Have you gone closer with the Lord?

Have you committed yourself to him? That's the question. Maybe

that's the real question. Have you searched the scriptures? Lord?

Speak to me? Speak to me.

Lord.

I don't know.

I don't understand how a lot in the Bible speak

to me.

You know that that was me? Do you know how

I used to do my quiet time? Last time, when

I was a young person, I heard someone say, oh,

you know you just flip the Bible open and then

that's really to do. You know that I believe that

for all and I realized that's probably not the best

way your faith. It worked for a while. God was

kind to me a few times, Daddy, and after all,

I'm like, you know, I think I needed to be

a bit more structured and I were invest in the

what good, what daily bread? Right? So how to find

last time John deliberate? So had to find so how

small book?

So it's free?

Some more devotional so had to find. I have to

go and look, go and check on new one and

not have to rely on the old copies of Deliberate

And then not everything is real phone so easy, huh,

don't don't don't worry about you, your your the scripture

pushed to you. Easy come, easy go. If it's not easy, go.

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