Future, Favour, Faith | Pr Alvin

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

We hope this message will light up your day.

I thought my message today is future favor and faith.

Future favor faith, okay? And why future favor faith? Well,

I'm sure some of you will be interested in what

this message means because here it says how to discern

the will of God in your life and make major decisions.

While you guys want to know that or not, how

to discern the will of God in your life and

make major decisions, I think it's something that a lot

of us want to know. You know, how do you

know whether this God's will? How do I know whether

I'm you know, doing this? And I want to let

you know that this is something that I have learned myself,

and thankfully I didn't have to go through the trouble

of suffering to learn this lesson. I am thankful because

our church believes in discipleship and I learned this from

my spiritual other. You know, pass he sends his love

and regards to all of you. He's resting at home.

I think he's getting a bit nsy staying at home.

So you know, if you go on Facebook and all,

please do encourage him. Hopefully he'll be out soon from

his home confinement running around, and but he sends his

love and regards to all of you here. And also

do keep passes Sendra and prayer because it's not easy

being a caghgiver. And we also pray because you also

have to stay at homeland. And if you know Passes Senra,

she's not the type that will stay home most of

the time. And yeah, anyway, just keep going prayer. But

the and and anyway, if you want to do more

further study on today's message, right, I would encourage you

to get this book because I took some notes from

every believer can okay. And it's in chapter four, okay.

And chapter four actually talks about is God calling me

to plan the church? Okay? And I know sometimes when

we read a book like all this was just planning,

I'm not interested in just plan thaying God called me

out in the marketplace. Nothing here will appeal to me

or nothing here is connected to me, not necessarily true.

And I kind of explain a little bit. Okay, So

when we say how to discern the will of God

in your life and how to make major life decisions,

what is these life decisions? Actually this principle or I

would say, yeah, principle right, can can even apply if

you're choosing life partner really are Yeah, let me give

you an example. Men here that are still single. If

the women don't see a future with you, you won't even

go into the next areas radio. Okay, if you talk

about future, if people don't see a future, So it

actually applies to acquire a lot of things in our

lives when you talk about these principles, right, maybe you're

sweaching careers. Which careers should I go with? Thee the

biggest paycheck? Biggest paycheck means good. For those of you

who have been in career for a long time, you

will know that just because the paycheck is big doesn't

mean that it's good or that as a man's god, you know,

sometimes the opposite. You know, you know, I always telling

people like, paycheck is good, but they're paying you for

a reason. So be ready to work like man. Because

there's no such thing as free money in this world. One,

you know, that's the reality of life. Okay, maybe you

want to start a business. You know what, what principle

do I apply? How do I know God is leading

me to start a business? Well, maybe you're buying property. Huh.

You mean this principle can use for buying property, yes, can,

and so much more. Okay, why am I saying this?

Because these are the principles I've learned from my spirit

of Father, and I've applied it to my life and

I've seen the fruit. I've seen the fruit of it.

Someone to encourage you, guys, right as I'm thinking about,

you know, what would the people need? You know? And

I'm praying, Lord, what will help your people grow? You know.

I think it's good to learn principles. I think it's

good to have an idea, you know, and to have

direction in life, to have consistency in our faith because

I don't think God is a god of lottery. Okay,

I don't think God. I mean we don't believe in

luckla I can I be honest. We don't believe in Oh,

it just happened, you know. We believe in God's destiny

and call. You know, we don't believe in love. We

don't believe in a god of the lottery, because God

is not a god of the lottery. God is a

God of order, so there's ordering things one. You know,

the Bible teach us about sewing and reaping. When you

sow in something, you will repeat one's actually there, I

know the truth, you know. But sometimes we can come

to a place because of a lack of understanding or

a lack of understanding of the word and understanding of

how God works right and what his characters are, we

get confused or we we chase after you know, Oh God,

God's blessing, you know, and we use all these terms

and we don't understand how it works. So hopefully today

you guys will have a little bit of a deeper understanding.

Because when you have a deeper understanding of how something works,

when you apply to your life, you'll see the fruit.

But when you don't have a deeper understanding, then you know,

it's really really like mindtame. But one Okay, that's the

Malay word we use anyone here, that is, don't understand

you here, everybody understand. Sorry, I just came back from Indonesia.

You know. That's why I got a little bit of

basa here and there. Okay, yeah, yeah, but I yeah,

I needed you there. But anyway, so so have I

caught your attention? So I know this book talks about

church planting, but Actually, the principle can apply to a

lot of things. Right. I had the benefit of experiencing

first true Church, planting this principle about future favor and faith,

and as applying in different areas of my life, I

realized that, wow, Lord, you work, you know, so let

me give you some basics verse Okay, let me give

you some basics. First. This principle is not be all

and do all? Okay, the three apps we call it

future favor faith. It is just a yard stick of measurement.

It's just a measurement, you know, measurement evaluation, like how

do I know what I'm listening to? God? These are

the few things you can consider, right. Would it work

like this every time? May not? But it's a safe

yard stick to know whether or not you're following God's

will if you consider these things right, and I'll explain

more the tree appsod that you have an understanding, can okay?

So the question is, how can you be confident that

it's from God and not ourselves and not our own desires?

How can we be confident? So this is the yard

sick you apply whether or not, okay, it's a God

thing or not? You'll catch me Okay, So the first

foundation is first step. First step is to prayer, to pray, right,

The first step is always to pray, and the first

step is to wait for God's response. This is the

first step. This is always the first step. You cannot

circumvent it. You cannot. Okay, now past the Alvin, you

give me this a secret future favor faith. I don't

you pray? No, no, no no, you still need to pray.

The future favor faith is just a yacht stick. You

see the difference, right, It's not a method, it's a

yard stick. It's the Okay, am I going in the

right direction. These are the three things I think about

to consider, right, Like, for example, we all know the

method to getting healthy, eat right, exercise correct, not take medication. Yeah,

although now they're selling that that's not very co actually right, Yeah,

it works, but is it good for you? Talk to

any athlete, Talk to any not any athlete, likely they

just talk to anybody they study health science. That they'll

probably say, not a good idea, right, but it works. Okay,

So just because it works doesn't mean that it's a

good idea, and not everything is good for you. You'll

catch that. But you see it's the method. But what's

the yard stick? Your blood pressure? Your blood pressure is

the yard stick. Your heart rate is the yard stick.

You get what I mean. Your blood test is a

yacht stick. Your health check is a yacht stick. So

this is kind of like a health checkler whether or

not deside, the question is how do you discern right?

So it doesn't circumvent praying. So if you've not prayed

and you just apply this, it doesn't work. Can I

be honest? Because you've not talked to God. It's just

our own desires. It's just us one thing to do

what you want to do. But there's no counsel, there's

no talking to God, there's no praying, there's no seeking

or waiting. It's just oh, that's the law on me.

So really, so this is a good yard stick? Is

God really saying it? Your cash? Your catch me? Okay?

So we'll go one by one now. So I'm not

just gonna preach from the sky. I'm gonna preach from

the scripture. Cannot okay? Mantel fourteen, twenty six thirty one.

And I think that if you look at different different

situations in the Bible about how God follows his will

you can almost put this principle in practice in one

way or the other. But Matthew chapter fourteen talks about

something quite out there, right, and I'm gonna read, okay,

when the disciples saw him walking in the lake. You

know what, maybe i'll read before that. So if you

got your bibles, or I'm sure most of you got

by bibles, I'll encourage you to open your bibles right

and read, okay, And we're gonna read from verse twenty

two all the way to verse thirty three. Okay, he

says here. Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the

boat and go before him to the other side while

he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent

the multituus away, he went up on the mountains by

himself to pray. Now, when evening came, he was alone there, right,

But the boat was now in the middle of the sea.

Talks by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Okay. Now,

in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went to

them walking on the sea. So amazing, amazing miracle. Jesus

walked on water. Right. Everybody knows, the whole one knows

that you just get what water because of this scripture, okay, right,

and then what happens? And when the disciples saw him

walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying it is

a ghost, and they cried out for fear. Got giaa,

it's a GHOSTA it's a gosa right. And then Jesus

wearing white color some more as all the pictures to

pick him right, la gi la loo like ghosts, long hair,

white color with a red color, sash wah, freaky man.

And then when and wet get ready you know right

then what happens next. But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying,

be of good cheer. It is I do not be afraid.

How many of you right in your times of fear,

in your times of uncertainty in your life, it's not changed.

The storm is still there, but you got a word

from the Lord, be of good cheer. Don't worry. I'm here,

and then you have peace. I'm sure some of you

will have to understand this. The situation has not changing.

You know. We all want the situation and change. We

all always believe when the situation change in your peace,

no no, no no no. When Jesus comes in the picture,

then your peace situation can still be the same. It

can still be crazy, right, and it's not fun. Things

that are uncertain, things that are you know, you don't

know what's going to happen. I've been through that. But

when you receive a word from the Lord, we have

good cheer. It is I and a lot of times,

a lot of us we just keep quiet and say, okay,

thank you Lord, that's it. By love Peter, he's the

most brash person. And what did he say? He say?

And Peter answered and said, Lord, if it is you

command me to come to you underwater, how many of

you actually say that? I wouldn't. This guy that looks

like a ghost is walking to us us and then

says it's Jesus. Sure bo, really is it you? Right? Okay?

Now Jesus come nearer so they can see you straight away.

Peter said, if it's you, call me and I will

be able to stay on water. Well this weather, really

want to die on this other really want to asking

for it? Right? But Jesus said, come and what happens?

And when Peter had come down out of the boat,

he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But

when he saw that the wind was boisterous. He was

afraid and beginning to sing. He cried out, saying, Lord

save me. How many of us here we receive a

word from the Lord in uncertainty, and then we have peace,

and then we act in faith because we receive and

are confident that God called us. And then our eyes

look elsewherey no longer on Jesus, look elsewhere, you know,

at other things. Maybe start okay other preachers, Maybe start

okay out the church. Maybe you start looking at other countries,

go somewhere else. Maybe you start looking at other marriages

or dangerousa danjeousa. Maybe start looking at other people's life

on Instagram? What are we looking at? Friends? God, you

promise me this wonderful marriage, wonderful business, wonderful career. But

my friend is enjoying their lives? Sure not, they're enjoying.

What you see online is not real one honestly, how

are you evaluating? And then there's fear, and then there's

uncertain day, and then what happens. Peters starts sinking. He

starts sinking, and he cried out, saying, Lord save me. Well,

thank God's kids still ask what Jesus help me? Thank God?

He knows, and thank God, Jesus was near enough to

snatch him out. So immediately Jesus stretched out he said, immediately,

you know, immediately Jesus stretched out his hand caught him

and said to him, you of little faith, why do

you doubt what maras I'm on? There's no like Oh dear, dear,

poor Peter. Why did you go and look at the sun? No?

Why do you go and look at the wind? And

oh no, no, no, no, no straightways go? Oh your

little faith? Wi do you doubt? Because Jesus knew that

Peter really was walking on water, he could have continued

give Jesus a high fight and walk back to the boat,

but his eyes was on other things. So what are

our eyes on today? He started with Christ, and he

ended with the wind, and then he thank God he

knows to look bad Christ, Thank God. And when they

got into the boat, the wind ceased. So then you

think about it, is it? Why did it happen? Now

if when immediately got into the boat, right the wind ceased? Right,

what was the lesson of this situation? Was it just

so that they'll be safe? What was Jesus trying to do?

It was all about faith? It was never about the wind.

They were never going to get capsize, your catshit or not.

You know, we go through challenges in life, we go

through different things in life, and then when we finish,

we always think it's about the destination. We always think

it's about the safety. We always think it's about the blessing.

But it's actually about you, friends, It's always about you.

It's always about whether you trust God or not. It's

never about your life and how perfect it can look like.

It is always whether you trust him or not. It

is always about your faith and your relationship with him.

It is always about that. But we get blindsided. We

think it's about life. We think it's about doing things. No,

it's not. And when they got into the boat, the

wind sees then those who were in the boat came

and worshiped him, saying, truly you are the son of God. Okay, scripture,

Now let's go deep. So let's talk about the first principle. Future.

What do we mean by that mantel fourteen twenty six

twenty It says, Lord, if it's you, Peter replied, let

me come to you on this water. What was Peter saying?

He didn't wasn't seeing he was seeing a future. He

was brave enough to think, if Jesus can, I can. Right.

So the question is when we are facing different things

in our lives career, change, uh, you know, choosing my partner, no,

in ministry, planning, church, right, different things. The first question

we've got to ask is can you see your future here?

It's not even about what other benefits is the can

we see a future? Can we see ourselves there? Not? No.

One of the best advice I've gotten from Pascna is

you know and and and I practiced this constantly. Right

when I'm faced with the with the with the with

the decision to make right, I still remember when I

was deciding where to stay, you know, and I look

at all the facts. And again, we should consider all

the facts. I look at all the facts. Right, should

I say, PJ Should I saying? You know? I look

at all the facts. But the best advice that Passa

gave me was walk the land, feel the land, look

at your potential neighbors. Do you see a future of

you staying there? Very important. A lot of times we

don't do that. We just look at the benefits and

there's a tick ck done. Really, there's no walk the land.

There's no feel, there's nothing you know? Right? You know

if you talk about yeah, you know, do you do

you see? Like if you talk about driving a car,

you test drive the car. You're not we left the

car so much, right because the best thing ever? But

you got test drive now? No test drife? Friends, can

I put a carveat? This doesn't apply to relationships and

can alsoe me test drive on now? Relationships? Okay, but

I'm talking about walking the land? Do you see a future?

Do you see a future? Right? That's the first question.

Are you guys catching something or not? Everybody's like very

quiet here, right, I'm not calling you guys. I'm giving

something so that when you make decisions you know to

do la can or not? You know to do some

of you are making decisions now you need something to

help you. Right. What does future mean? Future means potential, potential,

That's what future means. Right? And do you see a

future together? For those who are married, right, husband and wife,

you must see a future together. Maybe you're in a team.

You must see a future together. Right. If not, it's

going to be very difficult if you don't. Wife say yes,

husband say no? Very hal ready husbands say yes, wife

say no, very hal ready fight on? Do you want

the com future? I don't want a camp future. Right.

As a team. Maybe you're working in a team. Do

you see a future with your team? Right? Do you

see a future? Need him? My aunt who seventeen Nihi

Maya saw a future. He said, come, let us build

the wall of Jerusalem that we may no longer be

a reproach. Do you know that the walls of Jerusalem?

And we did this study, you know, I think two

years back, you know, rebuild a wall? Right? Do you

know that the wall ruins of Jerusalem? Right, sat in

disgrace and disrepair for one hundred and fourteen years. That's

very long. And then Nihi Mayah came in the picture.

He got everybody together one manner. I think no one

else saw or no he saw, but because of his

faith they believe or so, and they also saw a future.

So sometimes you just need one person to see the future, right.

Sometimes you just need one person to see the future.

And then the next question is who else is with

the person? So future for us? Do I see a future? Right?

And actually this point is very easy for all of us.

I don't think any of us here would not be

able to see a future. Right for guys who are singer.

You see a pretty girl, you see a future her.

The only problem is that's another time. More guys, I

see the same future that you see, Corey or not?

Then how cut log cut in. I'm just joking. I'm

just your king. It's gory dy that that's the thing

we see. So future seeing future no problem. Always can

see one or a nice house and anything that's nice.

I can see a future. You want to know when

it gets a bit interesting, remember I say it to

pray and wait on the Lord. If you pray and

wait on the Lord and God speaks her, that's where

you have to go and see the future. They're not

and it's true. If you really don't see, then it's

difficult to believe. So do you see a future? So

future seeing it's not hard. Can see potential, can see

the future. Not very hot, right, but it's still important

to see. Do you know how long it took them

to rebuild the wall after they see the future. Fifty

two days and they didn't build the wall with we

you know, they build a wall in distress. You know,

one hand holds on one hand build wall. Now do

you know that there was the situation if they didn't

have that. Now they were completely faster. They were ready

for any attack any time. How many people feel like that?

When you're doing something, you're like, man, this is crazy.

You know I have to be ready. You know you'll

be great if everything is aligned and everything is lined

up and everything is perfect, that I can just do

it without worrying about anything. No such thing in life. Sorry, guys,

there will always be stressed one. And then God said,

don't worry. It's tough, but that's the thing. Do we

see a future but fifty two think about it? Think

about it. Think about it. One hundred and fourteen years

in disrepair and it only took fifty two days with

distress to build the wall. Amazing, amazing when we are focused,

when we are clear, when God is with us, just

like that. There are certain things in your lives right now,

in my life that maybe we've left or too long ready,

that we've left in a state of disrepair because we

don't see a future in it, or because maybe because

we are looking at something else that we shouldn't look at.

That's the other danger, right, we're looking at something else

I'm looking at something else to fulfill my need. I'm

looking at something else that will fulfill this longing in

my heart. Friends, can I let you know that the

only thing that can fulfill the longing in your heart

is Christ. No matter where you're at in life, if

you're looking to your marriage to fulfill you will soon

discover that it's not all. Yeah, maybe during the wedding

day and after that now it's a problem or no,

it's challenged one every time I look at it. I

tell you, can I tell you something. I'm super happily

married with my wife, really really, I love my life right,

but it's still hard work. It's still hard work. I

love to do this right, but it's still hard to work.

Do we still fight, of course, do we still disagree?

Of course? But it's frun you you think, are you

like skids? No? No, no, no, no, really, it's frun. And

I'm not saying it as a joke. People who are

truly happily married are happily married because we know that

I'm not looking at my wife to fulfill my life.

In fact, I look forward to support her in all

that I do. Those that are happily marry you understand this.

We don't look at each other to fulfill because she's

a human, she will feel me. So I don't look

at her too. You know, I look at Christ. If

you're looking at our business, if you're looking at getting

a certain thing to fulfill your life, it will never happen.

In friends, I'm sorry, you will be from one you

were looking at being a self sufficient you know all

of these things. It's good now, I'm not saying it's

better now, please, it's good. But if that is your God,

you're going to be discouraged. You're gonna be discouraged. Don't

do that. Are we in church or not? Friends? Are

you guys catching something? A lot of quiet people here.

I know I'm challenging your thought process. Remember this sentiment

on whether or not God is asking you to do it? Oh? Sorry,

my okay. So that's the first principle of future. You'll

catch that future? Not right, hard to see the future.

But but how do you see? Go? Go see look

at the place? You know? Right? I got this. Well,

it's not really joke, la what so I don't know

a greel disagree with me as I'm thinking about this

my top of future? Right? So, girls, girls girls? Okay,

what would make the guy that like you? You know,

there's only two types of okay, guy would like girl.

Some guys that the girl that likes the girl. The

girl will saying, Oh no, he's a stucker. He's texting

me every day. He he bought flowers for me. Oh

my good nurse, he's so creepy. But the girl, the

guy that she liked, Oh he's a romantic. He's texting

me every day. He bought flowers for me. He saw romantic.

What is the difference One can see future, one cannot

see future? True or not? Don't say true? Okay, same

action now, different response. Don't care length time, no length time,

it doesn't matter one right. I also got to experience

when I started liking my now wife. Then not your

girlfriend friend, only good friend. She can see no future,

so got rejected. Then go ahead to intervene and then

she can see her future. Then sun not reject. I'm like, what,

So it applies you guys catch something. So that's the

first principle. Can you see a future or not? If

you don't see future, why are you considering it? I

was just advising someone yesterday. What are your options? All

these these these is, but you do they have to

ask do you see a future here? No? That's it?

Way is it on the table? If you really don't

see a future, where you put it on the table

of course? My mother, my father, your mother? Leave your life?

Is it your father? Leave your life? Is it the market?

Leave your life? Is it your friendly? Your life?

Is it?

Whose life? Is it? Their life? Or your life? Your life?

Then you decide that, but you're still not sure. Do

you see a future? Yes or no? Now we come

to the second principle, which is actually a very exciting principle, favor.

What is favor in this scripture? Well, just one word

Matthew fourteen twenty nine says come. Jesus said just that,

comer one word from the Lord. Come. And that's so

the next question you ask, Okay, I see a future here,

I see a future. I see a future with this person,

or I see a future in this place. I see

a future in this house. Then how do I determine

what's next? This exciting design exciting? Then the question, the

next question you're gonna ask yourself, is is God's favor here?

Because the reality is we can see future in a

lot of things, but then the next question is a

hard question. Answer is God's favor here? Or even deeper

question is do you have a divine appointment in this place?

Harder to answer or not harder to answer. So let's

go into a bit of definition. To receive favor is

what to receive favor is to receive an act of

kindness beyond what is due or usual not. The interesting

thing is, sometimes I'm not downplaying people's testimony, but sometimes

I think sometimes we need to be also a bit

practical to really determine whether it's God's favor or not.

Because God's favor is crazy one you hear also everybody

who hear the story or say, oh this, I thank

God you get. I mean right to favor something? What's

to favor something? To favor something or someone or something

means to show approval of preference. You know God's preferences

with you. You know God's approvis with you. Okay, let me

go deeper. Psalm ninety seventeen says in NIV, May made

the favor of the Lord our God rests on us,

why so that it establishes the work of our hands

for us. You know, God's favor established the work of

our hands right, Yes, establish the work of our hands,

NLT says. And may the Lord, our God show us

his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our

efforts successful. So this is the kicker, friends, How do

you know that God's favor is there? How do you know?

Because you see you can see a future and you're

saying it right, then you are being led by God.

Remember will of God, not our will. But he is

right because anything else will be her will ready, so

all of us can see if it can see future one.

But then the next question is is this God's wiel

on my will? Right? Is it God's feel on my will?

I give you a few more handles. Is that going

to be more strife, hardship and heartaches compared to testimonies

when we pursue it? What is it going to happen?

You know? Sime? Here testimony? People say, oh, no, I

got this job. I've been praying for it, I got

the job I love and wanted. And then after they

get the job do and then start complaining immediately this

job is horrible, this job. Then I kind of wonder

whether or not that's really the job that God gave you?

A law because I don't think God will give you

a job matter you will hate immediately. You know, it's

very interesting one human beings. Don't you know any think

about it? Then? Didn't that kind of like negate your

testimony in the first place? Neither do I think that

God will give you something that will not bring you

further away from him. I really don't believe in that.

So we pray, pray, prayer, us a testimony, get it,

do it, and then, Sonny, you don't see them in

church anymore? Big question mark, big question mark. You mean

God's going to give you something that will bring you

further away from Him and his people? Or will he

give you something and bring you closer? Think about it,

Think about it, think about it right? Being very practical here, right,

think about it? Right? If there's more strife, hardship and

heartaches compared to testimonies in the decisions that we've made,

thinking that's from God? See everyone here, you want to

follow God. I believe in that. I don't doubt that,

But sometimes I say, due to a lack of understanding,

due to us just understanding whatever, then we get ourselves

in trouble unknowingly. Right, If that's where we're at, and

I've been there before. Friends, I've been there before. So

whatever I'm sharing now is not out of it out

of my own problem as I've experienced, I've been put

in the situation. I'm like, oh man, why there? I

put myself here? Right then, perhaps it's time to ask God,

is this really a will from your Lord? Because you

can change no, friends, that's the wonderful thing about life.

As long as you're still alive, as long as you

still around, you can make the decision. I don't believe

in anything as I got no choice, no, no, no, no, no.

All of us got choice. Saying you got no choice

is a choice. The only question is the choice is harder? Lot?

Now you know what I mean. So it's not about

no choice. Is whether or not we are willing to

make the harder choice or are we stuck with the

I don't want to make the hard choice. It balls

down to that. That's life, right, you know? Who have

no choice? Here? Our kids because they'll start with their parents.

We got no choice. Even if you're in the company

and a job. You can cut your job right now,

but scaryla Cory or not not sure? Ah, it's harder right,

But always have a choice, and if we make the

right choice, we will benefit. If we make the wrong choice,

we will suffer coronal. It's true, it's true. Right, whatever

you're embarking with, understanding the favor of Lord, whatever you're

embarking with on has to be done with joy, a

sense of fulfillment and purpose. That's the thing. It's a

growth level, right, And I'm not saying it's immediate. See,

joy is different and happiness for filment is different than

a lot of money. And purpose is very clear. The

why why am I doing this? Why is God leading

me here? Why do we plant XBU in the first place?

You guys want to hear some stories. Just give you some.

So talk about God's favor. Let me talk about planting

church first, then I'll talk about other things. Okay, So

I I caught this or I saw this in practice.

When we plant the XPJ, right, we prayed, Okay, pray first, right,

prayed for six months. We pray for six months, and

we were praying for a few things Lord, because we

know God's heart is people. God's heart is people, And

when we plant chache, we know that we're out to

reach people. We're not out to get attendance. We're out

to reach people. We are to have people. We're out

to you know, share people about God and see them

experience God and see them have transformed lives, and see

them grow in their faith, and see them experience life

and have abundant life. You see, that's the goal to

be saved, you know, not just to attend church. Hello.

You know how boring it is if it's just about attendance,

so boring life. Life is not boring, your FAFE, It's

not boring. It's very exciting. One. It's very exciting when

someone's sick and then you pray when they get healed,

it's very exciting. It's very exciting when you see someone

who got no direction in life and then you know

they receive a word and then you see them change.

It's so exciting to see that, right, and that's why

we do it, So no need to question the purpose.

We started. We prayed, We prayed, Lord bring and I

remember the last time we prayed about you know. In PJ,

one of the challenges was materialism, because that's the focus

of people, you know, building, we building, We are building wealth. Right,

It's not bad, it's not good, but it's become a god.

It's not good, right, and we pray for that, and

then we pray, of course for venue. Where are we

going to meet? And let me tell you the story

about how we got PJ lif us. So there was

someone in the prayer group and say, hey, let's pray

in my office, right, and the office was in jaia Wan,

and we're like, okay, I want to pray. Better pray

in PJ because the time we're praying souba. So we

went went to BJ pray, pray in the office. And

then suddenly he found out that oh, actually in jaia

Wan that's a theater and we're like, oh, okay, let's

try and see whatever you can meet there, and let's

try and ask line in Quiela. And then we met

up with the management and the management actually told us, hey,

you know, before you guys inquired, we actually for one

year a church was meeting here. I'm like, oh, great thing, right,

A lot of ticks are but they had a very

bad experience of the church. They had really they had

a bad experence to the point that that you know,

they were honest to say that we had a bad experience,

and and we were like okay, like that, and we

haven't even told them we were a church, ye know,

and were like, do we tell you now because you

got bad experience. But the interesting thing is that church

helped them build that their third did that sound like?

So it's like perfect for us at perfect? So you see,

do we see a future? I see a lot of future.

I see a lot of future, right, And then they

say this is the costs. I can't remember. I think

it's about two three thousand. Get the time one week?

You know, I'm like, so expensive? And you see that time.

I was an observer because pass the kind of EA

was the one doing all the talking, and I was

just watching by the side. Future favor faith, So future

now need to seek God's favor. Don't you think it

looked like uh uh, you know how to say a

roadblock because they said, oh, we used to like check

check check, and then suddenly, oh, you know, we decided

to end that relationship with the church because we had challenges.

They didn't go through what challenge? But we're like oh

and then when they say, oh, actually what you wanted

me every week? Then I say, well, actually we are

a church and then we talk talk But they were

quite keen. And then we thought, okay, we're not gonna

get that place. Really, let's go look for other places.

And after I actually looked at other hotels and really expensive,

so one heard, but do you know they agreed to

rent to us, and they were like, okay, God, is

that you? And then next the price and then we

said we can only afford this much, and then they

said okay, it was almost fifty percent. And then we're like, hey, God,

is that you? Remember what I said about favor? And again,

at that time, I don't don't have the maturity to

make decisions, so I just followed Puscnal's gonna say good good.

You know what's getta say bad bad? You know, and

so far it's been good, good good bad good good

good good. Right to receive favor is to receive an

act of kindness beyond what is due or usual. They

didn't have to do that to USA. They didn't know USA.

There was no some uncle reach nothing. They just like

see us, like us, God's favor. We met in the

place and I remember, actually we liked the theater. We

met in the studio and two, you know, and maybe

we're they're testing us. We're testing them right feelings out

And I remember Pastor telling me Elvin the moment we

hit fifty people, go to the theater really and I'm like,

I me of little faith? Right, got maybe another six months?

You know, we're practical, six months, one year. You know,

we got to build right passive when you know you're

planting these chairs. Do you know when we shift to

the data three weeks later because we hit eighty people

and I'm like, this is not sustainable. We have to

shift the difference between the rental from the studio to

the theater was three times small now, but got provided and

we had favor and friends, can I testify this? Until

today we have the favor of the lot from pjlf Arts.

Let me tell you why they change your management three times.

I'm still there. You are to know the funny thing

every time they change your management and new management asked me,

so passe Alvin, just wondering how does things work here?

And I'm like, I'm the tenant, you are the manishment

you you know what you mean. But how those things

were here? It's so weird. It's such a weird thing.

I tell you, it's the weirdest thing ever. But I

recognize God's favor. You see, I understand and recognize where

it's God's favor. So I always look for God's favor.

And if God's favor not there, better not getting it

sounds good, looks good. I see a future, but I

don't see no favor. It's okay. Let me give you

a story about Xbu. I still remember, and then passed

Steven see I learnally teach him. So what are you

Himo and passus? Steven knew fresh right freshy write everything

new eagle right. Let's look for a venue in Quota

da Mansara because before Xbu is ex God Damasara, what

happened when when look? When look, He's chopped massel going final.

Then I become like Pascna. Ah, now my turn to

work and then decide. And then he found a few places.

Then we found one possible. And remember if it's the

name of the place. The hive was a minute. Sounds

like a resident evil thing anyway. Yeah, so it was

supposed to be let's tell this story. It was supposed

to be like a shop lot three stories up, no liver, parents,

no liver, one leave on one even small leaf cake anyway. Yeah,

but he saw the future. This is the place we

can reach out campus students. We can reach out all

these wonderful campers students in export dramas are right passus Steven,

but god Nula. He saw the favor, he saw the future.

And then he tells me, and then I'm like, okay,

and of course the dealing with some of it, it

sounds nice, but not sure, not sure. And I remember

we went and did a wrecky. We actually went in

the WRECKI and Kanchangla. You know, we really said we're

gonna branchish better, faster plan. Prady mar got open the door,

you know, so much favor. He saw a lot of favor.

He saw a lot of favor. Okay, he's all not

not no, he's four, but he's and I thought a

favor yeah yeah, but he this guy did this. This

guy did the pricing decision. But then there were few

things in the deal. There was a big evy. For example,

they wanted to lock us in for a year because

it was a rental of a shop loot. They didn't

want to do weekly. But we were like, we're not

sure because sometimes we have to combine. It will make

it difficult. So already one which and then after that

we did recky and I remember our church elders came

and everyone left the place. Got a nice place for

x kids, got a nice place for you know. He

can imagine, Oh you know this is going to be.

Then people are going to park here, and then you

know you're gonna mac. You see a lot of future

Banya future can see. But then the question is got

favor or not? So the one thing I remember, I

asked him hey, and then they lowered the rent thirdyll

from what they wanted, so one check it on. But

then there's just that one year contract. Once you commit

your stuck. What if XB you grow, sorry, x K

grow bigger. We're stuck. No, we are stuck there one

thing and the other can you came? And this and

other principle that I've learned, submission to your leaders and

understanding the role of different ones in the organization. Right,

the church elders are there to help govern the church.

God will give them wisdom that I will never understand.

El can came, so nolah doesn't work. Imagine when they

are young families, you're better. Thank the Lord for these

young families. Young families coming with their strollers and kids

squeezing into that one small lift and going up and

down the third floor and then packing also not the easiest,

and all these things and passers. Stephen is the campus pastor, exchestion,

no right, he needs to care for young families. Man,

he's going to be a campus church. Plan right, passus Stephen.

We cannot see. We cannot see. Elthers say no me

elder is my discipler. Ethers say no means nola. Do

I fully understand? Nope, But I'm sure there's the reason

it was tough for him. You can go and talk

to you after this we struggle. He not happy when

I tell him no. He like, huh, I have to

deal with this guy, you know, I promptly, so he

had to go to his journey. And I told and

see I knew God's favor enough to say don't work.

So a few confirmations there should know work. But he

didn't understand. Didn't understand future favor. Faith, didn't understand at all. No, friends, don't.

As I'm sharing this story with you, I think that's

how you'll be thanking God. Oh thank god. We didn't

plan in X Katy and that chop block because we

got so much better than you now. Thank god we

didn't do that. Thank god it was not just a

campus student just plant. Look at them male young families

we had. Did we know? Did I know? Did he know?

We didn't know? But we follow God's favor, okay. And

then after that, let me share read this other story.

I think something you might have heard this before. Ready,

And then after that we were stuck for a while.

Then Passecna suggested One World hotel, and then there was

this thing about the name change maybe xbu becauses one

World and stuff like that. We went one more hotel

right when I look for venue, never considered it cost

expensive hotel. So then they showed us the hall, beautiful hall,

new renovated hall. How much five one weekend? Very expensive

when they're five thousand okay? And then no, no, it

was the five k one creative I K I remember

five k okay? Anyway, he re three for five. Then

we were going to leave it, you know, because okay,

never mind, we're gonna leave. And then Andy said, hey,

hold on, hold on, there's this one place we saw

that might suit you guys. And we're like, okay, go

in Seila. And that was where you're met when you

were there, Okay, so you'll kind of know the ending

of the storyline. And then after that he's like, okay,

but this is less like maybe I don't twenty percent

less from that, right, And we're like, okay, still cannotford.

And I remember by the time, I think Steven is

so like give up with you don't want to fight

a day, right because I remember telling him asked for

fifty percent, and he like he last time he used

a question like hah, but it's solely turn you know.

Then he like, I just followed, Nila. How did they

say follow following you? If I'm right, you know, I

can't blame him later, maybe they agreed to the fifty percent.

Don't you think that God's favor? You see, that's the

reason why we move in this direction, you know, because

so much favor in their place, right, God favor not

in the place. Let me ask you that God there

you can see it. You can see the favor of

the Lord. Right. And of course I'm just using church

and ministry, But do you know that the favor of

the lot doesn't just apply to church and ministry. It

applies to a lot of things in your life. How

I got my house a lot of favor. God opened

door to different things I never had. We got to

learn to see God's favor. And there are many, many

more testimonies, and of course I think Possessed Steven has

shared how God opened the door for your to meet here.

We are constantly looking for God's favor. Friends, And when

you when you are, when you know how to look

for God's favor, and when you understand it will be

well with you. You will be successful in the things

that you do. You will be less stressed out, you

will be happier or more joyful. But when we can

see a future, don't really regard whether God's favor or

every single thing is God's favor? Very dangerous, no, so

just because it's good doesn't mean it's God. You'll catch

something and on. I've got one line that I always

ask myself right and to be honest, sometimes I will

find myself making decisions because any of the day we're

not perfect. I will make decisions thinking that it's God's

favor and all. And then I will find myself in

this place and I will always ask myself this question,

does this give me grief? You know it's different with

stress No, stress is stressed. Everything you do is stress.

Sometimes something you do are is stressful, but you're still

willing to do it because you see a perposon fulfillment.

But when you experience grief is a totally different thing.

Grief equivalent to regret or so you regret constantly. Why

they do this, why they are made the decisions? Why

there you know all these things you find yourself in

that situation grief, Then I know it's not from the Lord,

because I know God never gave me, never want to

put me in a place of constant grief. Maybe stress

to expeand capacity God. Maybe when I know that it's

things that I need to learn about myself, yes I'll grow.

But grief is never in the picture. That's why. Sometimes

for those of us who you know, when you talk

to your disciple or holid, sometimes the question is do

you feel the peace of God as you make this decision?

That's the question, not do you feel peace? No, you

feel God's peace on it, and you feel good peace

and decilah. But then when you feel God's peace and

then you decide, and then you go through grief, then

you got to ask the question, Then I really feel

it correctly, or I was so hell bentned used that

term of hell band on one thing to do it

my way, that everything was from God. It's a good

question to ask ourselves. That's why at the end of

the day, if there is more strife, hardship, heartaches compared

to testimonies, see, there will be challenges, but the challenges

will be circumvented with testimonies. But if the challenges is

not circumvented with testimonies, then you got to ask yourself

that question, is this still the right decision? God? Are

you still here? And if God shows here he's still there,

then carry on. If God doesn't show that he's still there,

then you've got to come to Jesus. You know, we

say have a come to Jesus Moburn, Say Lord, sorry,

I went ahead of myself, so I need to come

back and realign. Right, let's talk about the third principle

faith right Matthil fourteen twenty nine. Then Peter got down

out the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.

Jesus and say Peter, come, come, Peter, come come. And

then he grabbed Peter and pull him out. He's standing here,

and he said Peter, Come, Peters. He had to stand

up and come. This is the other thing. We see

a future. We see God's favor, but we don't want

to move. God, Please show me more, show me more. Right,

A need to make the decision, give me a give me,

give me the money of us. That's not faith. This

is why it's important to see God's favor, because when

you have God's favor there not just his word, no

his favor. Then we need the faith to move forward.

Second Corinthums five seven says, for we walk by faith

and not by sight. Proverbs three five eight. Trust in

the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on

your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him. He

shall direct your path. You know what. Faith is important

because Hebrews eleven says six eleven sixcess. But without faith

it is impossible to please him. For he who comes

to God must believe that he is, that He is

a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. After we

saw the favor of the Lord, we have to move

forward with faith, you know. And sometimes we move forward

with faith and then challenges happen. Then we realign again, God,

are you here okay? You're here, let me move forward.

That's how. It is a step by step.

You know.

It's not a food on let's go all the way

everything we do. See as I'm sharing with you about

what happened with you and all, it was a step

by step. It was not a oh, green light, green light,

green light, go go, go, go go. No, it was

a step by step. This un can no thissun can

or not. You want to be sure. So it's not

blindly just going to anything. But once you receive, then

move really. Once we receive check check, check, not much issue.

Move really or do we see a whole back? Oh,

I'm not sure, allowed to see how? I'm not sure?

Allowed to see how? No, once you receive, then have

to move in faith. There will be an element now

that we will have to move in faith. No, that's

the reality of it. There will be an element that

we have to trust God and move in faith. Amen,

have two. It is by faith that this church plan

was planted. Do we know that all of you will

be coming today? No? Do we know that we'll have

different ones that have now come to call XBU their home. No,

Before XBU existed some of the faces here. We also

don't know. Somehow the Lord let you hear XBJ when

it started. I know that there will be people coming,

there will be people calling. No, there were a lot

of people that when we started the church plan. They

came and they grew, and I see them discipling other people.

We have to move in faith. Once we know that

God is with us, move in faith. Sometimes we get

stuck here. As I say, the first one, everybody can do,

no problem. Second one at least can recognize. Can once

you know recognize, you recognize because like I said, just

using an example of PJ, I observe passa Kennav. I

see how he moved. I follow, and then I try

to replicate with Steven de Zybersham, same situation. He didn't understand,

but he submitted and he followed. Then he caught it.

The shift from avan from from uh from one word

to him? Is he lying Himselven? He jiled himself because

he knew, and he brought the LSBO along. And your

saw the favor. You cannot deny the favor, right, Isn't

it awesome?

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