What Does A Disciple First Look Like (Part 2) | Pr Stephen Kong

You're listening to a message to go from Acts Church.

We hope this message will light up your day.

The title is know what does a disciple first look like?

You know, I was in a reflection and as I

was prepaying the messages, I thought about this question, what

does a disciple first look like? And just we kept

I told you that, you know, we are first a disciple,

before even a student, before even a parent, before even

a husband, a spouse, a wife, an employee, or even

a boss. You know, we are first disciple of Christ

because that is our identity.

That's who we are.

And our identity comes before our job or our responsibility,

is our vocation, whatever it is, you know. And so

I said to you that we live by priority and

not by pressure. Remember that I mentioned we know that

we ought to live by priority. If you don't live

by priority, we will live by the pressures around us.

And in this world today, there's a lot of pressure,

you know, from social media. You know, sometimes we post

on Instagram hoping that you will get likes or views.

You know, there's a lot of pressure, peer pressure, I

think it's a word, you know. And if we don't

have priority, if we don't have conviction in our life.

We will succumbed to a lot of pressure in this

world today. So I said to you two points. Number one,

live by priority and not by pressure. And number two,

live by conviction and not convenience. Got that, okay? And

so today I'm gonna continue on another two more points.

And I hope to continue on another two more points

the next time I share with you. Hopefully I can

keep going on this. Okay, So today's second two points

will be the first one is to live by seeking

God and not just good. Okay, I said it again,

seek God and not just good. There is the difference.

How many of us know that God is good? Or

it's not very convincing. How many of us know that

God is good?

Amen?

Sounds better? God is good? Yes all the time? Yes,

thank you? Like I said, all the time, God is

God is good. Yes, you're you're awake. Yes, God is good.

But can I say that not everything that is good

in this world is of God? He would have heard

us say that before. Okay, not everything that is good

in this world is of God. Okay, but God is

good all the time. So everything that comes from God

is good. And if your life situation is not yet

in a good place, then, missus.

Not the end.

God is still at work and he's still working. Okay,

give it time, But I want to say not everything

in this world is not everything that is good in

this world is of God. For example, I can share

with you and I'll share a destiny later. As working adults,

some of us here or half overs ye are working,

and you know we're always looking for a good paying job.

But how many of you know that just because the

good paying job is good in that sense, in the

earthly sense, doesn't mean it's from God. Because you can

have a good paying job but be in misery. In fact,

I would say that if your good paying job draws

you away from God, then maybe you should rethink if.

That job is from God.

Okay, because although it sounds good, right, a good paying job,

but it shouldn't draw you away from the Lord, or

it shouldn't make you bean on your principles, or you know,

change a conviction, you know, or to compromise is the world.

I'm looking for compromise, and so we've gotta be very careful.

And so allow me to just point you quickly to

a very interesting story. It's found in first Semulary chapter

twenty seven. Okay, first Semich chapter twenty seven. Let me

give it the back story, and this is but this

is a person called David. Okay, his name is David.

He's not king yet, but he will be king soon.

Okay.

So in first seven twenty seven, very interesting on this story.

Let me point to you first Semuel twenty seven, verse one,

First seven, Chapter twenty seven, Verse one says, and David

said in his heart, now I shall perish someday by

the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me

than that I should speedily escape to the land of

the Philistines. And Saul will despair of me to seek

me anymore in any part of Isuel, so I shall

escape out of his hand. So I'm just giving you

a simple example of a story in a Bible where

David was fleeing from King Saul. Okay, if you're familiar

with a story, go man read first. It's very interesting

in the story, okay. And basically King Saul was jealous

about David and he was seeking his life. He knows

that David is going to take over his shone and

he wants to take David's life, Okay, and to cut

a long story shot and give you the context. King

Sauw was pursuing David's life, okay, And two times David

had an opportunity to take Saul's life, but he said,

I shall not touch the lots anointed. Okay, two times

are One time was in a cave, the second time

was in the tent. I think David went by the

side of Saul and took his spear and his jug

of water. Can go and read it all in first semmer.

Very interesting story, okay. So the Bible is very alive

and O the stories are very interesting.

You're going to read it.

A lot of things we can learn from it. And

so what happened was that David was fleeing from King Saul,

and then we come to this chapter of the story,

first chapter twenty seven.

And what did David say in his heart?

He didn't say it out loud, you know, but how

many if you know, if you say things in ourhada,

God knows, God hears, God knows, and many things that

we say in our heart right can shape our destiny,

you know, really can change your future if you're not

careful about it.

Okay, I pray it will change for the better, not

for the worst.

But let's look at David's example here in first seven

twenty seven, David said in his heart, now I shall

perish someday. First of all, there's already a curse. He's

saying that I would die one day from the hand

of Saul. I would remind us that life and death

is in the power to the tongue. So be careful

what you say. You know, choose the worst. Why see

that you speak? So he said, I shall perish someday,

And what did you say? There is nothing better for me?

Basically he's saying, Eh, the best thing I can do now,

or the good thing I can do now, is to

go to the army of the Philistines and hide with them. Now,

if you unders tend to back out of the store,

you know where I'm going at. Okay, because ten chapters before,

ten chapters before this, now, Derek mit mentioned about it

when David fought Goliath in first Semur chapter seventeen, First

Semo Chapter seventeen, just ten chapters before David fought the

fort Goliath the giant. Okay, which from there Philistine army

ten chapters before, No, right, he fought Goliath on a

phytishen army who defaulted the armies of Israel. And now

ten chapters later, what is he thinking. Maybe it's a

good idea. Maybe it's a good idea, go and hide

with them, because the pasta army is stronger than Saw's army.

No way Saw he was gonna come and find me, hight.

He was scared of the fast army before that.

So can you.

Imagine it was good? It was a good idea, But

he said a good idea?

Certainly not?

You know for sure if you read the story, you

don't a A Phyistan army is an enemy against Israel, right,

why would you go and make friends with your enemies?

Okay?

And he will read the story for the all you

know it didn't And well a okay, this I mean say, like, look,

I can't have this, this David serving with me, a

fighting a bettle with me.

You've got to kick him out. Okay, even though his

reputation is good.

You know I stand by his reputation, but sorry, I

cannot have my enemy fighting at all with me.

And so just to.

Tell us that not everything that looks good in our

eyes is of God. And if you're not careful, we

may end not always seeking good and it's not of

the Lord. And so I want to say to us,

don't just seek good things, you know, don't seek the gift,

but seek the giver, which is God himself, the giver

of all good things, because God knows what we need

before we even ask of it. Matthew six, verse twenty five.

And we have you have a Bible with you. Why

didn't you turn with me to Matthew chapter six, verse

twenty five. Matthew Chapter six, verse twenty five to thirty four,

It says, and I was afraid. Oh sorry, I'm in

the wrong chapter chapter twenty five. I'm somebody saying Matthew,

chapter six. No wonder that I was afraid. Okay, Matthew,

chapter six, verse twenty five. Sorry, give me a moment. Okay,

here we go, Matthew six twenty five. Therefore, I say

to you, do not worry about your life, what you

would eat, or what you were doing. Know about your body,

what you were put on. It's not life more than food,

and the body more than clothing. Look at the birds

of the air, for the neither's soul nor reap, nor

gather into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Are

you not of more value than they? Which of you,

by worrying, can add one qbit to his stature? So

why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of

the field, how they grow. They're neither toil nor spin.

And yet I say to you that even Solomon, in

all is gloud worry, was not a rayed like one

of these.

Now, if God so close the grass of the field.

Which today is and tomorrow is thrown into the oven,

will he not more clothe you, oh, you of little faith. Therefore,

do not worry, saying what shall we eat? Or what

shall we drink? Or what shall we wear? For after

all these things the gentiles seek for your heavenly Father

knows that you need all these things. But seek first

the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these

things shall be.

Added to you.

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow we'll worry

about its own things. Sufficient, for the day is his

own trouble. Amen, the Lord bless the reading of his word.

And so I just want to say to us that

do not worry. You know, seek God instead, and he

knows all the things that we need, and even all

the leadings of the field, and you know the bursts

of the air are taking care of what more earth?

And I, who are His people made in his own image?

So God loves you, and I I pray that you

be reminded if you need to hear that today, that

God knows what we need. You and I need not

to worry. But we ought to seek first His kingdom,

Seek God and his righteousness.

Amen. And Psalm seven or so reminds us.

I think it's in verse eight he says, when you

say it seek my face, my heart said to you

your face, Lord, I will seek. And verse eleven it says,

teach me your way, oh Lord, and lead me in

a smooth path because of my enemies. And so I reminded,

why is it that when we seek God's face? Mean,

why did God asks us to seek his face? And

I thought about it. It's because when you look at

someone's face right, you will be able to tell you

the expression whether they are happy or they are sad,

or they are pleased or they're displeace. Quite not, And

wouldn't make sense that God said seek my face. And

so if you want to know God's will for your life,

and what is his perfect plan and his purpose in

your life. Then seek his face, because when you seek

his face, you will know whether he's pleased or not.

Be your decision in life.

And someone remind us don't just seek good things, because

many good things today in this world is very disfigured.

They look good on the outside. Let me give you

some example. Past I just spoke about meggime last week. Right,

it looks good, looks good on the outside. But you

and I know that if you eat a lot of

meggi me, it's not good for you. Right, same for

fast food. Right, thing about fast food? How many alvers

say A love fast food? Right, we all love it.

Actually we know it's unhealthy, but we still love it. It

looks good on the outside. And every time you go

to the shop, the menu, they will say that the menu,

they will show the photos for illustration purposes only right,

because it looks good. It looks really really good. But

we know that it's unhealthy for us. So so beware

because many things look good on the outside. And the

Bible also wants us about false proffits. You know they

come in uh they are like wolves, but they come

in sheeps clothing, you know, for that if you're done

the Bible, they come in sheep clothing. So it looks

good on the outside, but be careful, be careful where

it leads you. And so I want to say to us,

you know that that's a saying. There goes a Lisa.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Have you heard this for well? Strong saying?

That means Ah, even if you're only doing just good things, right,

it's not enough to get you to heaven. Okay, it's

paved with good intentions, you know, because not everything that

is good is of God. Again, I come back to

my main point. Not everything that is good is of God.

So we can chase and do things that are good, charitable,

you know, give to people of need, do good deeds.

But every good thing that we do will never be

enough to earn our salvation. I want to say that

to us, never be enough to earn our salvation. Our

salvation is found is only found in God and God alone,

by grads true faith men. And so we need God

in our life. Just because we do good works, We're

not balancing the scale of good and evil works. Okay,

you know we can't balance the scale on our own.

We need God's help, we can't do it in our own.

And so there's a proverb in the Bible is found

for us fourteen verse of Fast fourteen verse Chef says,

there is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way of death, so be

very careful. There is a way that seems right to

a man, but it's the end. But it's end is

the way of death, so be very careful. So once

again I say to us, seek God, and not just

good things.

Seek the giver of good things. Amen. And so.

I was just I was thinking, what is that in

our life? You make many choices, right, every day we

have we make choices in life. We make decisions in life.

Some are crucial, some are less crucial. For example, what

you eat it's less crucial in that sense. But the

person you marry or the job you take is very crucial.

You know, the way you choose to settle down there

is a very crucial edison that will shape your life.

And so I was thinking about it. Right, it's easy

when we choose between something that is good and something

that's bad. White not because most of the time, if

you see something good and bad, you likely you know

how to choose what's good because you can see that

something is bad. But it gets even trickier when you

have two good things. How many of you been there?

You know what I'm talking about, right, when you're placed

with a choice right between two good things?

Right?

And these are moments, right that we really have to

come to the lot and say, Lord, I know you

have opened the door for me, and are there are

two good things in front of my in front of

my eyes, right, and which is the one that you

want me to walk into? Because I tell you again

there's a difference between what is good and what is

of God. And I pray that the love will reveal

to you even as you seek his face, you will

find the right direction.

Amen.

And so I just want to share with you the

story of my life of finding a job. I'm sure

many of you have heard the story before about shit

for those of who have not heard of it. So

I start off working, I mean working for ten years now,

still very young. But it's okay, they laugh because they're younger. Okay, right, yeah,

So ten years now, and in my first five years

of working, I got into a job because my dad

had a you know, he's working in the company and

a very good opening to learn, a very good experience

in the company.

So he got me in. So I was in a

job for five years and a background. The story is.

That it was a very tough job, very very tough job.

You know, I'll work six four days a week and

have like eight no, I think seven annual leaves a

year and eight public holidays a year or something like that. Okay,

So that doesn't make sense to you, right because normally

most of you will have like fifteen or twenty leaves

and you have like fifteen to twenty holidays.

Okay, I have like half of that. Okay. Sam is

pointing me, saying, you don't have any teacher's life. Okay.

So so it's very very tough life, right.

And every year I prayed, asked the Lord Lord, is

my time up? Because I want to move on already?

And a lot told me, finish what you started, because

I'm a god who is a finisher. And so every

year I prayed, I praid finished what you started. And

so I stayed on for the company for five years.

I suffered to five years, and then it was time

to move on. At the end of the five years,

the company came to me and say, look, the job

is over. Thank you so much for the service. Here's

a bonus, and can you please go, you know, because

there was no other job in kl The job was

back in Epo or in the northern side, and so

I said, no, my home is here, so I'm staying.

So I had to resign. Basically, long story shot. Okay,

So there was the time during COVID, and if you

were here looking for a job during COVID, you know

how difficult it is.

Okay, it was a really tough time. All of that.

Our jobs were hit, economy was hit. Some of you

studied from home. It was a terrible time. And so

I began to pray and to see God for a job.

And so I went to look for good things, you know.

I went look for good companies, searched for good companies,

good paying jobs. So I searched for everything that was

good in my eyes, and I began to apply, apply, apply, apply,

long story shot. I didn't get any of it. Okay,

I didn't get any of it. And I began to pray.

And this is when the Lord told me, trust in me.

You know this next job that you will find, you

will not look for it, I will give it to you. Basically,

you will come looking for you well. Scarier, scary, very scary.

So I want to say this first when you were

facing this situation, right, please always practice wisdom, okay, because

if you're not wise, then we may end up blaming

God for our our decisions and our choices in life.

But I want to say it to us.

When God speaks to you and gives you faith to

act by faith, then faith will.

Take precedents or wisdom. Faith comes first, okay.

But if He has not yet spoken to you, okay,

please practice wisdom. So I told you such a willful job, okay,

And to.

Apply I did all.

I did all I could in the natural what you're

supposed to do, okay, So some of you will be

looking for a job soon. So I did everything in

the natural unless the Lord gave me a very specific word.

Even then you need to test the word and make

sure you're very sure about it. And I can only

share this testinity because He has come to pass. That's

why I can testify to you, okay. So I'm just

saying to you, practice wisdom. And so that brings me

to my next point, which is lived by faith and

not by fear. A disciple is one who lives by

faith and not by fear. And so I'll continue my Testimonyator, Okay,

live by faith and not by fear.

What the difference.

Faith is from God, Fear is from the enemy, from

the devil. Faith gives you direction, fear gives you doubt.

That's the difference.

There's a huge difference between them. So live by faith

and not fear. So let me point you to a

scripture or story in a Bible. His name is Annonius

ex Chpter nine, chapter nine, verse ten. Okay, let me

give you the background the story, and then I'll read it.

So except the nine verse ten.

This is the time whereby Saul okay, not King Saul,

but Saul who later became Paul in the Bible. Okay,

the one who wrote the episodes. Saul was on the

road to Navascus. He had an encounter with the Lord

through a bright light that was brighter than the sun,

and he was blinded, and he entered into this city.

And then came chapter nine, act chapter nine, which God

spoke to this person called Anonius. Okay, So verse ten

says Act chapter nine, Verse ten says, Now there was.

A certain disciple.

Somebody say, disciple, come on, that's where I'm gonna start with.

There was a certain disciple at Damascus name Anonius, and

to him the Lord say, in a vision, Anonius, And

he said, here I am Lord. So the Lord said

to him, arise and go to the street called straight

an inquiry at the house of Judas, for one called

Saul of Tassus. For behold, he is praying, and in

a vision he has seen a man named Anonius, actually

seen himself. It's Anonysa coming in and putting his hand

on him so that he might receive his sight. So,

first of all, it's very specific, the instructions given, very clear,

very specific.

Okay.

Then Analyus answered, Lord, I have heard from many about

these men, how much harm he has done to your

saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the

cheap freest to bind all who call on your name.

But the Lord said to him, go, for he is

a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name before gentiles, kings,

and the children of Israel. For I will show him

how many things he must suffer for my name's sake.

And Anonius went his way and entered the house and

laying his hands on him, he said, butts all, the

Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as

you came, has sent me to you, sent me that

you may receive your sight and be filled with the

Holy Spirit. Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales,

and he received his sight at once, and he rose

and was baptized. So when he had received food, he

was strengthened. Then Saw spend some days at some days

with the disciples at the Mascus. All right, so you

can see this story, Anonius, Do you think Anaeus was afraid? Definitely?

You know what Saul.

Was was known, okay, to persecute Christians. In fact, there

was a guy before that, his name was Stephen, who

was martyred, and Saw was the witness, I don't know

what they call it, like like a witness, you know,

to certify his death right. And so Saw continues on

to threaten or continues on to persecute the Christians. And

he was on the way to the Mascus to continue persecution.

In fact, I actually say, is you're going to drag

them back to Juusalem, jet them back, you know, to

get uh you know, uh justice or whatever this punishment

or persecution, and so this Anonius would have been very fearful,

don't you think.

So what did the Bible say? He went?

God gave him very specific instruction. And I like it

that it starts to suss off by saying, right, there was

a certain disciple. So I want to say to us,

disciples will live by faith and not by fear. The

Lord has given you very specific words, and you have

confirmed it because that has actually reasoned with a lot.

Now he actually asked a lot lot like.

This guy is here to kill us, right, And it

got to him actually bisky and asking Lord like clarifying

with the Lord, are you sure?

Lot? Are you sure you know? Maybe? Why me? Why

are you sure? Or not?

God gave him clarity, and friends, one word from the

Lord's enough, just one word can change your life. And

with clarity there is confidence. And so ed and I

as edited by faith. I believe way by faith fear

and trembling, and did according to the word of the

Lord to him even though he was afraid. I would

think so. So the Bible reminds us that the just

shall walk by faith. Amen, the just shall walk by faith.

And you and I ought to walk by faith and

not by sight. That's what the Bible reminds us second

Conventenance five to seven, to walk by faith and not

by sight. So do not fear about what things may

come your way or the things of this world, because God,

who is in us, is greater than he is in

the world. You and I not should not fear, but

I should act by faith. And so I want to

point towards the scripture. It is found in Second Timothy,

verse one, Second Timothy, Chapter one, verse seven. Second Timothy,

Chapter one, verse seven says, for God has not given

us a spirit of fear.

You should see that.

So remember this whenever you have fear in your hearts,

whenever you have fear in terms of fearful of your decisions,

fearful of life, remember this does not come from God,

because God has not given us a spirit of fear.

But instead, what has it given us of power and

of love. He has given us a spirit of power

and of love and a sound mind. So if you

fear many things today, okay, if you fear many many

things today, maybe we have fear of failure, We have

fear of rejection, we have fear of uncertainty, we have

fear of making the wrong decisions. Maybe we have fear

of death, you know, and maybe many of us can

have fear of the future. That's something that we're always

thinking about. We have fear of the future. Remember that

this feeling of fear does not come from God.

It does not.

It could be within your character, It could be within

your personality. It could also be because of your past

experiences that causes you to fear. But I want to

say to you, it's not from the Lord. It could

even be from the devil to rob view of your destiny.

But do not fear. And I want to say to us,

do not fear about your future, but instead have faith

in the one who holds the future. Amen, do not

fear about your future, but have faith in the one

who holds your future.

He is one who holds us.

So, if you look at this context of this story

or this passage, Paul was actually encouraging Timothy to leave

up his calling. Right, So do not be timid, do

not be fearful. You know, God has not given you

a spirit of timidity, not given you a spirit of fear,

but of power and of love and a sound mind.

And so he was encouraging Timothy to leave out his

full calling, because it's not easy. Timothy was like a

pastor back in those days. Pasting a church is not easy.

So Paul was encouraging him. Come on, you know, do

not do not fear. God has given you power to

do what he has called you to do.

And so.

There is another scripture in the Bible whereby when Jesus

was preparing to go to the cross at the pass

of Over festival, the Bible actually says, right, Jesus knew

that the Father had put all things under his power. Okay,

at the past of Over festival, the Bible says, Jesus

knew that the Father had put all things under his power,

and that he had come from God and was returning

to God. So he got up from the mill, took

his outer clothing, he wrapped himself, girded himself with a tower.

And what did he began to do. He began to

wash the disciples feet. So listen to this. When Jesus

knew that all things were given to him under his power,

what did he do? He served the disciples and loved them.

So I want to say to us, God has given

us the power to do all that he has called

us to do. To serve him and to love others

around us. So you and I will not need to

be fearful. You know, whether way we are inadequate enough,

we're good enough. Do not fear but the lie of

the enemy. Don't let the enemy rob you of a destiny.

God has given you the spirit of power to do

all that he has called you to do, and to

act by faith. Jesus no knew that all power has

been given to him, took a tower.

And washed the disciples feet.

Can you see the correlation, knew that all things were

put under his power. Instead, he served and loved his disciples.

So so do not live by fear, but live by faith.

I want to say to us, live by faith.

Amen.

And so I'm just reminded of this funny story. There's

this story of this man who one day was climbing

a hill, the cliff, and at the age of the cliff,

he fell down, you know, and he was hanging on

a bunch, you know, hanging off a cliff. And as

she looked down, it was a long way to go below.

In the cliff.

And as he was hung hanging on a bunch, he

looked up to the heavens and shouted God, if you're

out there, save me, help me? Is there anyone out there?

And a voice from heaven says it is, I let go,

I will catch you. And this guy looks down into

the cliff below. He thinks for a moment and then

looks back up and then shouts.

Is there anyone else up there? Did she get a joke?

Is there anyone else up there?

And So, friends, I want to say that our faith

it's not like blind faith, not like how the stories

says it's a joke. Actually, our faith is rooted in

the confidence that we have in the Lord.

Amen. So it's not blind faith.

But yet, even living and living by faith will take

you a lot of courage.

He will require a lot of courage.

It's about letting go and trusting God to do what

he wants to do, knowing that He has the best

for you and for me. But it will still take faith.

Believe me, it will take faith. So I want to

say to us, don't live by fear, live by faith.

So the question is how do we have more faith?

How do we grow our faith? Romans ten seventeen tells us.

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the

word of God. That's exactly what you and I are

doing right now. We are hearing the word of God

so that they will be faith planted in our hearts.

Amen.

And so we oftentimes think, right that faith or unbelieve

has got to do with the circumstances or the environment

that we live in. I want to say to us, right,

faith does not really come from the experiences and the

circumstances that we live in. In fact, I a should

say faith comes from the word of God. There is

planted in our hearts. But it's the circumstances and the

situations and the shuggers in life that we go to

that gives us opportunity to test your faith and activate

your faith that you have already heard from the word

of God. There's a difference. There's a difference because sometimes

we may tend to blame the circumstances around us. God,

I don't have faith because look at my family. I

have a broken family. How their family have faith? Right,

we can often times blame the circumstances around us. But

I want to say to us again, faith comes on

the word of God, and your circumstances around you is

an opportunity for you to activate your faith.

And to put your faith to the test.

That's where you know whether your faith is really at

work or not, whether do you really have genuine faith

or not?

Do you really have it?

Because when Paul said to Timothy, he said to him,

I see genuine faith in you, not only in you,

but in your grandmother Lewis, and you in your in

your mother's units. You can read it there. It's find

the scripture right earlier. And so he talks about the

genuine faith that Timothy had. And so I want to

say to us, your circumstances in life will be opportunity for.

You to activate your faith.

But you must first build your faith on the Word

of God that is planted in your heart. And in

those times the Holy Spirit will draw out from within

you the Word has already planted in you to act

by faith.

Amen.

And so I'm gonna about to close alreadio. I'm going

to show us a story in the Bible about the

child spies. They went to this land called Canaan. Okay, Now,

if you have a Bible, you want to turn me

the numbers chapter thirteen. Numbers chapter thirteen, you go all

the way to the front of the of the Bible Genesis, Exodus,

Leviticus numbers fourth book in the Bible, Okay, numbers chapter thirteen. Now,

this is a story of the child spies that was

sent into the promised land called Canaan, the land that

was throwing milk and honey, which the Lord had already

promised to the Israelites who were in the wilderness, and

they were about to enter the promised land. And this

is numbers chapter thirteen, verse one that says, and the

Lord spoke to Moses, saying, send men to spy out

the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the

children of Israel from each tribe of their father's. You

shall send a man everyone, a leader among them. So

what's the first thing we can drop from here? The

Lord already said to Moses, or say to the people,

send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which

I am giving. It's already been said. The Lord has

already said I would give the land. It's already given,

you would take it. So there was the promise, I

am giving you the land. Now to give you the

context of the story, if you read on the story,

you will know the spies went into the land. They

were asked to take on some grapes, some fruit of

the land, go inspire the land, see who stays in

the land, and things like that. Okay, And when they

came back, ten spies came back with a bad report.

Okay.

Actually, in fact, in fact, he started with a good report.

They said, oh, indeed, it's true, right, it was a

land throwing a milk and honey. It's indeed a very

good land. However, I didn't the word ie we use. Nevertheless, nevertheless,

the people in the land was very big. They're like giants, well,

like grasshoppers to them. You know, we cannot overcome them.

So ten spies came back with the report saying that

we cannot overcome them, and two spies said they could. Okay,

So I'm going to read it to you in the

same chapter number thirteen, verse twenty six. Now they departed

and came back to Moses and Aaron and all the

congregation of the Chune Israel in the wilderness of Paran

at Kadesh. They brought back the word to them and

to all the congregation, and he showed them the fruit

of the land. Then they told him and said, we

went to the land where you sent us It truly

flows with milk and honey, and this is his food. Nevertheless,

the people who join in the land are strong, the

cities are fortified and very large.

Moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there.

The Amalakis drewell in the land of the south, the Heatites,

the Jebuzies, and the Emais drew in the mountains, and

the Canonized draw by the sea, among the sea and

along the banks of the Jordan. Then Caleb, okay started

with us are calop Us. Then Caleb quieted the people

before Moses and said, let us go up at once

and take possession, for.

We are well able to overcome it. What do I see? Faith? Faith?

Amen, Because the God has always said to them, I

will give this land to you. All you need to

do is obey trust in my word, Obey in the

word of the Lord, and do it. And that's what

Caleb said, we will be able to overcome it. Where

do you think Caleb got his strength from from his faith? Again,

I tell to you, I said to you, it's not

blind faith. It's because God had already given the word right,

it's not blind faith. We have confidence in the world

and the promise that God had already given today's the lights.

So Caleb is mainly exercising his faith in the.

Amen.

And I believe we have calubs today more than one.

I think you know means here today Caleb exercise of

faith because of the word of the Lord has already

been given. And then after we see later on Joshua

comes in. The picture is found in verse It's found

the next chapter numbers fourteen, verse six to nine. Okay,

then Joshua comes in the picture. But Joshua the son

of None and Caleb the son of Jeffuna, who were

among those who have spied out the land toward their clothes,

and they spoke to all the congression of the Tulne

of Issue, saying the land we passed through the spy

out is an exceedingly good land. Why don't we see

the word gouda? But this is both good and of God,

because God wanted them to have it. So he's both

good and also of God. If the Lord delightes in us,

then he will bring us into this land and give

it to us, a land which flows with and honey.

Only do not revert against the Lord nor fear the

people of the lend, for they are our braid. Their

protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us.

Come on, somebody say, amen, the Lord is with us.

Do not fear them. And if you read the next verse,

you will see the people wanted to store them.

They think it's crazy. These guys are crazy.

I want to say to us, act and live by

faith because they hung onto the promise of the Lord.

The Lord will deliver us. The Lord delights in us.

It will come to pass.

Amen. So don't live by fear, but live by faith.

And so I want to say, I want to share

you getting my story, just not want to continue on

my story. And the first thing I'll say to you

is before we can hear a word from the Lord,

we learn in the homes yesterday that we need to

know the written word of God before you will be

able to test the rama word of God. Okay, it

depends on which day your homes was, if I is today,

we learn that in our homes right there's something called

a written word, the Lord goss word and the Rama

word that is revealed to you either true a person

through a revelation or you know the Lord spoke to you,

reveal to you directly, because you will need to know

the written word in order to test the rama.

Word of God very important.

And that's why I said to you earlier in my

testimony that you and I ought to practice wisdom. The

Bible tells us to be why is innocent as a derth?

So why is its a serpent innocent as a dearth?

Right?

And so in all things practice wisdom. But when the

Lord gives you a word, gives you a promise to

hang on to then live by faith and not by fear.

So back to my story.

I was.

The time I was without a job for three months.

Three months okay, and before I finished my job in

my prevost company, I was, I was already looking okay.

I did the natural again. I practiced wisdom. I continue

search for a job for one two months and was praying.

And as I told you earlier, the Lord gave me

a word.

Was very clear.

He said, this next job, I will give it to you.

I would give it to you very specific, not a word.

And I said, Lord, wow, I don't know if I've

got a faith to believe that, but I trust you

a Lord. If you say it, I would trust you

all the way. And so after I received that word,

I acted by faith by not applying anymore. Again, I

tell you first, please practice wisdom. But I acted by faith,

and I trusted in the Lord. And in order for

us to hear the word of the Lord, we need

to be close.

With him, you know.

So I'll always ask you, it's a quiet time, all

right with the Lord? Do you have a good quiet time?

You have solid quiet time, you know, because if you

don't have it, then you wouldn't be able to say

you heard from the Lord. So that time I was

very very tight with the Lord in my quiet time.

I was very sure about it. So I acted by faith.

Long story shot my housemaid, which I didn't even tell

me about it. He knows I'm looking for a job.

I didn't ask from him for anything or whatever it is.

Long story shot, my housemaid meets up with his friend

who is actually a boss of a company, and the

chair chat and then he said, oh, my houseman is

looking for a job. Then he just asked me for

the CV, and he sent over the CV to this

friend of his. And about one week later, I got

a call from a random for number, unknown for number,

and I pick up the phone and they said, oh

so so and stor which company, can you please come

in for an interview. That's the first time I heard

the name of the company. That's the first time I

go and check out the company. I know, I do

what it is, okay, but it's still in my work

of line, my work, my industry.

Okay.

And so I went into the interview and the boss

himself interviewed me. It was a one hour two hours interview,

very very long. We connected a lot, We checked a

lot about lot of things, chat about life, chat about

church because my boss is a Christian. And long story short,

I got the job. And so just to tell you

that really I lead by faith for the three months,

I really really lived by faith because the Lord gave

me a word.

It was very specific. If you ask me what I was,

I fearful. Yes, of course.

Where I do it again, No, I hope not ask

the Lord. Lord, maybe not the next time. But I

want to say to us, practice wisdom. But when the

Lord gives you a word, and the Lord speaks to you.

It will challenge your faith.

And I pray to you and I will be obedient

to obey the word of the Lord and to act

by faith. Amen, come, I mean invite the worship team

to come up with even close.

And so.

Having faith in the Lord is really like the story

I shared with you about the guy hanging on a branch,

you know, whereby you need to let go, let go

of your own desires, let go of your own security.

If I can put you use that word, let go

of your own familiarity, things that you're used to. Even

planting a church, planting ex money was by faith.

You know.

We planted it nine years ago, nine years ago that

time when uh, I can't say to you, and when

when you're looking for a venue, right, looking for a

church venue nine years ago?

This place never existed. This place was a jungle. Okay.

So I've lived long enough in Semonia to tell you

where I'm standing on used to be a junger.

Okay. There was nothing here. Okay.

I was study opposite UH and we were just looking

for a venue. And we were pray, praying, way before

we started church. We'll pray for months and years. We

prayed for about two years, I think, praying for a venue,

and we begin to prophesie it we'll have a venue.

And then someone one day this building started to come up.

There was some we started to see life.

You know, there was a building coming up.

Okay, And after the building was completed, uh, and then

after that we still need the exercise our faith. We said, Lord,

where next? Where's the venue? Where do you want us

to go? And we begin to look, begin to do work,

you know, practice wisdom in the natural, pray, asks look.

And then I still remember very clearly, you know, the

day that we walked into this univilige management.

I walked into the fund ass. I asked, I'm here.

I'm a church.

I'm looking for a place to rent a venue. Do

you have a space for us? And they're like, no, no, no, sorry,

don't have nothing here for you. It's a student accommodation.

And there was a young man inside the room who

hurt my conversation with this fun dest lady. And he

came out and he said, yes, young man, what are

you looking for? And I said, I'm a church looking

for a place to meet. Do you have a holiday

we can meet? He said yes, I have, Maybe we

can talk. So he brought us around. We made friends.

Long story shop. We are now friends with him. He

has been promoted. He's sitting in another history office somewhere

in care But they started off with just the act

of faith, believing that when God has given us, you know,

a word and an inspiration to.

Plant a church. We just had to act by faith

every step of the way and the rest is history.

Nine years have passed and we're still here, by the

grace of God. It is by faith. And I want

to say to you, ex church was planted by faith. Really,

every church that we plan we planned by faith because

it's not easy. One of our latest church that was

planted is with the deaf community. If you happen to

be in Field brig Feels, I encourage you to go and.

Check out a church.

After you check out x X, I had to say

x big Fields, when you come back to worship with us,

your experience of worship will be different because when you

go there, there's no music.

Worships from the heart. Yeah. Amen.

So I want to say to yours live by faith,

not by fear. Do not fear of the things of

the world because God is with us, and take heart

because Christ has overcome the world. Don't know, I fear

of the future, but in staate look to the one

who holds our future.

I don't remind us, don't.

Just seek for the good, but seek God because not

everything that is good is of God, but everything that

comes from God is good. And so we seek Him

in state. We see God in state. Hallelujah. Thank you Jesus.

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

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

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

this week is going to be a good week. I

hit for you. God bless