Knowing Our Why, A New Year Reflection | Dr Daniel Kong

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

We hope this message will light up your day.

And most of the time when we set let's say,

set targets, look what's it hit? It's always about the

what's what are we doing? What are we planning? You know?

This year, I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna be a

more loving husband, I'm gonna be nicer to my kids.

I'm gonna achieve this. Try to achieve this. I'm gonna

get new guitar strings. Thank you Joe for worshiping with

all your heart. He broke it strings, so it's gonna

get new strings. Uh. You know what things are gonna

accomplish or plan to set for yourself? Targets? Uh? You know?

Or what what award am I hitting trying to hit?

Whether it is at school, you know, scholastically or professional sense?

You know, sometimes you do have awards that you go

for as well. But everybody starts off the year with

the what. Most of the time the targets right, and

I ask for myself. Didn't set two high targets this year.

I justedt to read a bit more. That's all read

what is a different thing altogether? But I just want

to read more. I read generally read quite a lot,

but more technical stuff because of work. But I want

to read more than just what work requires me requires

of me. Okay, that's the non spiritual side. Okay, could

be spiritual as well, depending on how you look at it.

But maybe the spiritual side. I would like to fast

and pray more, not just because I have to, but

because I want to so uh account to keep me accountable. Okay,

But if you're like me, uh an engineer mine, when

we look at the watts, right, we also talk about

the house to achieve the watts makes sense? Okay, So

the whats and the house, and this is how to

do this better? And this time around this season rather

before New Year, during New Year, a few weeks after

New Year. I always look at it also as a

time of pausing for a while, a time for reflection,

a time for also restrategizing. Okay. Now, why do I

say this is because if you think about it very carefully,

most of the time, the targets are similar. It's just

a slight tweak on the targets. Every year, I still

try to lose ten kilos. That's the ongoing target for

the last I don't know how many donkeys. In fact,

I need to increase that target a bit more because

I'm not been doing a good job the last year. Right,

the goals are similar, same, same, but maybe the strategies

might differ a little bit of how so I might

be googling, you know, what's the the better way to

do this better this year? Start this year? Right? You know,

I maybe some of you might be looking at you know,

extending your your I guess your your financial health. You know,

you might be looking at ways of uh reinvesting some

of the investments, et cetera, more money. No, no, no, that's

not good. That okay, all right, you know, preparing you know,

better strategies to do business, et cetera. But as you

prepare yourself with the house and you look at the wats,

there is a general picture. I just put there the

wats in the house. Of course, the whats are all

the outcomes, the goals, the achievements, the targets. You know,

how do I want to achieve this year? What are

my goals selling? What are the milestones? What are the

one ups that I can do this year? Okay? And

of course I mentioned what awards like you know, if

you're in school, I want to be a better student,

if you're at working to get a professional wart, et cetera,

et cetera. But the house, the strategies, the actions, and

the steps are also part of the discussion. Generally this

time of the year, we talk about what are the

how to break down the steps right, how to overcome

the barriers of achieving the watts the house right? And

then how do I measure when I'm on the right track, Because,

as you know, things would diminish you sign up for

a gym membership. You go like ten times a day

in January, and then later once a month, maybe in February,

and then after that, I don't know. Once in it's

not diminishous. And it's like this in general. People are

gung ho at a start, but maybe not later on.

Now I also have this sort of a reflection about

what this is. Even though you're stopping and reflecting, it

doesn't mean you're actually idling. Just like how if you

were to drive, you hit the traffic traffic stop, a

traffic light right, it turns red. Now red doesn't mean

you switch off correct You're idling to a the ne extent,

but You're also ready to react whenever the light turns green. Okay,

So don't be full on stop fools too strategizing, not

gonna do anything, do things, be prepared and they get go.

You when it's green, you move, okay, So don't idle

too long as well. Okay, But today's message not about

the what's the house? But I want to touch on

something else because how we start the year a bit

differently this year may change the impact of this year. Okay,

So I'm going to focus more on the house. Stain

the house. The whys of the Watts and the house

be confusing right now? Why is this important? Why is

this important? No pun intended is because what am I

going to do and how am I going to do it? Okay?

If you understand why you do it, the first two

can be better achieved. There's more tenacity in the Watts

and the house. There's more drive, just like how the

traffic example, you are ready. You are ready because you

know why you need to be ready. Okay, So this

is what I want to to to to move into.

So the title of to this message is knowing you're

or knowing our why a new year reflection. So again

not the strategies, not so much what we're going to do.

Why what we do, And of course we know every year,

uh not just years. You know, it's always testings, right,

There's always challenges, there's always barriers. This is life in general.

Sometimes it hits you, knocks you over sometimes like suspensioned.

You close the year not so well. But it also

makes you stronger for the next year. It makes it

more resilient. But I want to focus on the why,

because the why will be the praying with Kusha. But

he said that, oh man, the his at least his

context of the start of the year, it's not so

good because he's got some barriers ahead of him. And

really we want to focus because it's also a time

to reset the whys, because sometimes we forget what our

whys and why we're doing what we're doing. We've forgotten

the why is what I'm trying to stay here. So

the focus today will be the importance of the correct

or the right why. Okay, now, if this is etched

in your heart, you have more drive, just not earlier.

When doing preservice prayer, I think that was the most

beautiful preservice prayer ever because not just because we are

gung ho h. But we talked about, you know, matters

of the heart, and if you can break down the

three things, it's always uh, this is where the teacher motor.

Really there's the psycho moto that the doing part, the brain,

the mind, the cognitive part. But the heart is always

the hardest, you know, the effective domain, the feeling it.

People can do without that. That's why sometimes is not

very effective because you get tired. People can think, strategize,

but because it's not connected, well, you also burn out.

So actually this is the most important. That's why Jesus

or God in general always look at matters of the heart.

He wants our heart. Okay, this is why, like I said,

we're focused on the how every Okay, so far, yeah

I pray, No, I didn't pray. Let's pray. First, Lord Jesus,

come into our heart's Father. We worship on you as

we start the year. Let your presence, Father fill this

room today in Jesus name, we pray. Amen, Amen, Amen.

All right, yeah, get too excited. Okay, Now we're building

on a foundation that cannot be shaken. This is the why.

Now I'm must start with a story. Okay, I've spoken

to Waning about this. Just shared the story with me

not too long ago. And I was just looking at

some of the old photos that I have of you know, us,

our journey, some of the people that have been we've

been doing church before the last ten years or so,

and I discovered a photo of Waning many many moons ago.

I said it to her, I say, hey, look at this,

you're so young. There's more than ten years ago, all right.

This was when we first got back fresh off the

boat from from from from Australia. Uh. And I think

she was one of our cell uh here we call

it homes our cell members back then, and she's been

around and just so share the story about how she

came uh to to to serve uh in in in

the host in the host team. Okay, now I'll share

a story with permissionary, so it's fine. So yeah, Waning

Weaning uh did her education in Australia as well. She

came back on fire for God, had a revival there

and she was looking for a church. Uh. You know

when she got back. Many of you may know Beatrice,

she's now based in Australia, but the two of them

were actually looking for a church and back then we

were in summit level two okay. Uh the other side

of the hotel site. Okay. Uh So the two you

couldn't find church went to the hotel. Hotel people don't

know where the church is as well, even though they've

been around for quite some years. Uh. And and they

were sort of lost, looking at signs, talking to people,

and and lo and behold they I think we caught

one of the you know, the very distinct orange ties

from Afar holding a sign black full black suit. And

that's not a very normal kind of dress code if

you think about it, not in the basement parking at least. Uh.

Uh and and and and that sort of uh you know,

led her literally to church, okay. And and of course

she she shared a little bit about her experience in church,

you know. Uh at the end of service, she went

to Expresso as well. Uh. Let there, But then nobody

spoke to her or them. But Dorin came along some

of you we know Dorin used to be with us.

She came along part of Expresso and then connected with them,

and the rest is history. She's still here today, right,

But that's not the main story. Okay, The main story

is really about her. She shared this with me. It

is that she actually joined the whole team. Many of

you may not notice, but she is part of the

whole team for quite a number of years. Okay, many

as many as bosses became boss Okay, but she was

actually motivated or rather she joined the host team mainly

because she didn't want anyone else to get lost or

no no to to to want to help people find church.

Right for those that are lost, they she leads them

there and also wanted to give them a good time

and you know, waning very warm especially right the hosting

right extend beyond the regular hello at the door all

the way to the end. Service is a full service

from start to finish. And then she also follows up

and and and and now I was very sernestly makes

me wonder why is she who she is? She's busy,

you know, she's very successful in her professional life as well.

She's still doing what she's doing well. And if you

look at it, you if you realize, because it's not

just the work that she does, but the how to

do what she does. But really she understands the why

she knew in the early days that if she wasn't

one of those that made an impact or a change

maybe people. There may be people who came to church

and we've seen that as well, and social didn't we

move around a little bit, right, People come and like

they went upstairs. The next week they come back, Oh

I went upstairs, but you're not there. The kind of thing.

We don't want that to happen. So kudos to Waning

and also the team. And you know, over the years

as well, nobody got lost. At least under her watch.

People are still in the basements till this day. And

the warmth, like I said, the same tender from start

to finish, right, she knew very well that the host

is the most important role because you're the first line

of contact. Thank you host team, love you. Yeah. Even

after retirement from the whole team, she still steps in.

I think in one of the commisers she steps on,

put it all and off she went again, all right,

and why because she knows the why? Right, you know,

many of you know her. She also has developed systems.

People don't fall through the cracks anymore. Last time we

wall say the door, the door to the church is

wide open, but the back doors are so wide open.

She made sure the door is closed because she made

sure that she uh you know, contexts everybody. And also

if you've seen her lists, everybody comes to church, right,

has a name, has a face. She's like c I

A F B F I B the BBI kind of

a person. But yeah, I mean thanksful, thank you for winning.

Clap for her please. But see that's the power of

understanding the why or why we do what we do.

And this is a simple analogy okay of using waning,

but more than that, because you know how and sometimes

helps us understand things, right uh and Jesus love to

use parables to tell stories as well, so I used

a parable, but it's real, real life story. Okay. But

if you have a white without a why sometimes it's

almost like having the the car keys to your car,

but you do not have a car. Now why do

I say that? It's because you know the key is

designed to open, unlock the door, or start the car

the traditional key Okay, nowadays all you know you know anyway,

those of you who are born in my generation, we

used to twist the key. But if you have a

key but you don't have a car, even though it's effective,

you can't really galant or use or move right now

this is a kin to that. You know, you don't

have a car, you cannot actually move right and not

having the why is a kin to not having the

car at all. Okay, because why even the key is function.

It's brilliant function. You will not go anywhere far. Okay.

This is why. If you know the why, it keeps

you focused on the purpose of the greater good. It

helps you do what we sometimes called the menial things,

the mundane whats and hows. You no, it's like you

know you you you, you know you do your kids

laundry and look at my wife. I don't know why

I also do your kids laundry. Oh gosh, next week

is already in the last week of school before they

go back to school. More laundry to come your eye

in the uniform you pack, we packed their lunches. You know,

uh you you you know. This is how you also

keep to your lane when you drive, to not be

an aggressive roape bully as well, because you know the

why or why you exist, not because of the why

and how to get to work. You respond to emails

me even better because you want you're a child of God.

You want to do things with excellence and This is

exactly why we need to focus on the why. Just

like how I've used Whening's example, she knew all this

and it helps her do her why, sorry, her what's

and the house a little bit better with a bit

more excellence, with a bit more than what she's required

to do, because she understands the heart of it. Okay,

So I have one slide over here, okay, to help

us all understand that the what, the whites rather, and

the house no longer matter. Don't forgive my english. Okay,

you get the idea, they don't matter as much anymore

because the why actually supersedes all of it. It sort

of covers everything. It helps us bring. It brings clarity

into why we do what we do. Okay, so far okay?

And not only that, this is why, right, Sometimes when

you understand why somebody does that? Right, do you understand

there why? It is also very contagious in a positive sense. Uh,

let's use the way it inspires instead. Okay, it inspires others.

A lot of us do things be built on what

we see is because we're inspired by them. That's why

sometimes when we hear of uh, you know why people

give the philanthropists give their motivation behind it. It's not

so much the amount or the why sorry the house,

but why they do it, what motivated, what makes them

take Then we are inspired to even be a part

of their journey. Right, same thing, same thing. And you

know Wanning's lineage, the legacy that she's left behind of

the different hosts, the excellence of hosts is just amazing

because it builds off what she said. So yeah, sometimes

that's why I say we need to calibrate the wise

as we start the new year. Airbreak is so far

because it's contagious. All right, now, that's so why I'll

share you very quickly next year rather this year, this

year five, we will also be sharing more testimonies and

the testis to be different. It's not just the what's

in the house, sorry, what's in the house? They are correct,

but it's not. It's also more on what drives those testimonies.

And you hear a lot of it. We want to

we call this segment store read more stories from the

different partners in X and you see a lot of

it coming in in in in the weeks to come.

All right, okay, so far Ye're gonna jump straight into

the word sorry, it is just more introduction or what

we're doing. Uh, it's gonna be a very simple message,

I promise you, because I always told that there's a

lot of stuff before this anyway, so it's okay, all right,

and that's why. Oh by the way, I'm Daniel. I

totally forgot. Yeah, I'm one of the leaders here. Hello

to church. Yeah, come here visiting us. See how to

you're pastor? But otherwise yeah, please stay on. Yeah, let's

let's beld on to a super new year. All right, cool?

More yeah, more is better. All right. Now let's look.

Let's look at the book of Samuel. Okay, first Samuel fourteen.

Now this is a story of Jonathan. Now many of

you may know Jonathan. All right. This is Jonathan and

his armor bearer Okay, the two armygos as I used

to call them. Now, this story also talks about how

it is very contagious because it's not so much of

the again though, what was what happened, but more on

why they did what they do. Okay, very powerful story.

So in case you do not know, Jonathan is the

son of the king King Saul. Uh. And there was

an opposing army against the children of Israel. So they

were being attacked. You read one chapter before, you will

also realize that the army, Saul's army was reduced to

just six hundred men. And if I remember correctly, if

I read correctly, they were with were without weapons. So

these six hundred people were didn't have weapons to fight.

So not only the numbers are small, they didn't have weapons,

and they were going against a vast army. The Bible

says that it cannot be counted. Okay, how do you

know you can it be countered? Is more than six hundred? Okay?

A lot? Okay, but nothing. He didn't hold back. He

still went ahead, crazy for the Okay, let's read. Okay,

we'se six here. Then Jonathan said to the young man

who bore his armor, come and let us go over

the garrison of the uncircumcised. Talk much about that. Okay,

these are the non believers, are not the lights. It

may be that the Lord will work for us. For

nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.

What happens next? His armor bearer got excited. He said,

do all that is in your heart go then and here,

and with you according to your heart. And in some

versions they also use according to your heart and soul. Okay,

So again, Jonathan and armor bearer, how many people? Two?

Doesn't take a genius county too? On? Need to We're

up against a garrison. Now, if you know the English language,

the garrison is a band, a body of troops, a

lot of army. In the modern days, sometimes they use

it to describe a military based a garrison or a castle,

a ford, a forty five ford. Okay, So all that

also tells you right too, felt against a lot of

people outnumbered, and only that it is a fortified kind

of setting. They were better armed. These are just two

people and somehow the odds are against them. Lives when

IM trying to stay here. Okay, So his courage excited

the armor bearer Jonathan's why, which we read about why

he did what he What he did was so contagious

that because he started slaying people and all that, his

armor bearers got excited. Oh he can do it, I

can do it too. He tried, and of course they

they did kill a few, they defeated a few. And

not only that, you will read later on that people

were all inspired. That's why men's contagious. People who used

to hide the Israelites who used to turn their backs

against their own people. They went to the Philistines and

some of them hid in caves. They all came back.

Not just come back, they went in front of the

enemy line and went and attacked. You see the power

of not what they do, but why did they do

what they do? The bravery inspired many. And this is

why I want to start the year with Your why

or our why can really shift the odds. Not only that,

it can inspire others. As you shift the odds against you, okay,

people will leave their caves. Of course, that signifies fear

and do run alongside you because you inspire them. That's

the power and the and the and the powerful nature

of knowing the why. Okay, So next light, Oh you

have the thanks and gape. Our whis are contagious, They inspire. Okay.

Your why can also make the same impact in the

people that God has entrusted around you. Okay, because why

people may be naturally, you know, paralyzed by fear. You're

afraid the oughts are against you, stacked against you, but

you a well timed and clear uh display of this

can really impact and inspire others to run alongside you, okay,

And this leads me to the to the next point.

If it is not visible, the why, it makes you

just do any the words and the house. But people

don't quite understand it's not on the surface, not visible.

People will not be inspired. People like this guy is

just working, hard, hard worker right now. And there's also

the other problem. If it's not visible or eviden, you

may not maximize the impact of how God intended it. Okay,

just like how some of us we say, oh we

love people, we all love people, right, we talked about

loving especially when people last the last time I was

here as well. And but if you put you in

the room people, you are not so loving anymore. Okay.

The one also don't align. But sometimes the why is

the is the big problem here. Right. You can't say

that you love children and kids, but then you start

yelling at them every single time, or I start yelling

them every single time you see me. The initial thing

that you would think is that probably I don't love

my kids as much. Right. It may reflect wise in

the heart through the actions. Okay, So the natural perception

is that yeah, I don't don't kids. I keep yelling

them all the time of coauruse I don't. I love

them to bits, but it doesn't mean that also we

need to be constantly broadcasting our whys. Okay, but the

why has to come out naturally. Okay, Now, let me

just quickly share. You know, sometimes, you know, some people do,

or some leaders that we see visibly, they do things

that maybe are not so popular, right, and then we

say why to do that? But if you understand the why,

the mortician behind you, understand why they have to do

what they did, and you're with them, it may not

be popular. Now I have also come to a point that,

you know, to realize that in the past I've been

very I'm a bit of a people pleaser, although I'm not,

but I sometimes I naturally do it. I think about, oh,

you know, how house the church going? I mean, are

we connecting enough with the people that are here? Uh?

You know, are we are we doing enough? Are we

connecting with them and making sure that they're back? But

the Lord has also reminded me that, you know, it's

not so much just on that. We still need to

do what we are told to do. We can inspire

them or share the wise, but we cannot be always

just focused on what the people feels right, because otherwise

it's a popularity contest even amongst churches, and we see

people moving from left to right because oh, this church

is not giving me enough. We need to just be

focused on the very important bits, which is to preach

the truth of the word. People can't sit well with

that because it's not a popular activity. It's okay, you know,

they may receive it elsewhere, but it's between God and

the person, not the person with either the leader or

the church. Okay, and I've come to to to to

accept that as well. Okay, but let me come back

to this as a sidetrack a bit. But let's come

back to this. The most important thing is that it

need is to radiate from you. And the next passage

that I have over there next one talks about this. Okay,

Matthew five sixteen sist talks about let your light shine

before men. Now, what is this shining? Is the shining

of what I just mentioned. The purpose that you have,

the why you did what you do is should shine.

Then only then they may see the good works, not

good works first. Most of us sometimes focus on the

good works first, and hopefully people will see the motive

of the good works. No no, no, no, it's actually the

light has to shine and then they will see the

good works, not the other way around. And of course

it will glorify your father in heaven. So the purpose

is more important than the work itself. Right now, next light,

do you know what this is? We recently caught up

with a friend who's based in the States. Is a

beautiful family of three kids. We grew up in school.

His name is After, but he's so developed. Someone you

may have seen him. He came before to our church,

but some of you may know that he's uh, they've

seen him, may know that he's actually progressively going blind. Okay,

younger than me, But this is what he sees, okay,

when it's not about not about that. But I'm just

an illustration of Sometimes this is called tunnel vision. Okay.

For him, his eye is deteriorating, so he sees a

lot black around him and he can see the focus

in the center. He walks around with walking state as well.

But even for us, sometimes we can be spiritually blind

if you're not very careful. Why do I say this

is because sometimes we can be very focused on what

are we doing for the Lord? And I've spoken a

little bit about this before you know, about doing what

the lot calls you to do. I put some slights here.

This this was back in November. Can just shed his

slightes very quickly talked about general calling God his cause

to live pure, pure lives, pure hearts right, and we

have to live holy and that's one of the general callings.

The other general calling is next slide is to serve him.

What motivates is serving The service is because we love

one another. Okay, I will not talk about this because

no time, but go back if you want to to

do ntigs is in November. It talks about calling. But

let's come back to the to the previous slide. We

are called to love and to serve. That's clear, that's

a calling from God. But sometimes you will be too

focused on that. As we serve our church, as we

serve our community, our workplaces, our schools, et cetera, we

forget what the larger purpose is. You know, Jesus or

wants about that, right, the Merry and Martha story right,

or simply put it, we do not either do not

know the why or we forgot have forgotten the why

as we do our missions. Okay, we're so focused on

the immediate task at hand that we forget the why

behind it. So my heed to everybody here is that

we need to bring back the heart, the why, to

the forefront, to the center stage. And it needs to

be visible. It needs to be evident, not for you

to just shout about it, but it needs to be

projected out even as you're doing your service to the Lord.

Because if your why is not visible to you, it

would certainly be not visible to the others. It means

you yourself forget why you're doing what you do. What

more are this? They will not understand this? Okay? And

then how oh will God be glorified, as we've read

in the passage earlier, if it doesn't shine the light? Okay?

So next light? Oh thanks. We must not forget the wise.

We must not forget the wise, otherwise it will be

like you know, the the tunnel vision. They just focus

on that we do. We forget about why we're doing it.

We don't know which part of the world we're building.

This is the large baller. Okay, So three points I

have for you, right, three points. The first point comes

from Matthew twenty two. Let's read Matthew twenty two, two

thirty six. It says here, when asked about the greatest commandment,

Jesus answered that we are to love people. So teacher,

which is the greatest commandment in the law. Then Jesus said,

you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

with all your soul, and all your mind, heart, soul

and mind. All right, this is the great first and

great commandment. And the second, of course, is to also

live enable as yourself. And I think I've shared a

bit about this in in in the in the last

few months. You can look up the MPG. Again. I

don't know why I plugging, but no, no, it's not supposed

to be plugging. But everything that has been shared this far,

there's some continuation to it. Uh. That's that's the beauty

of uh. You know, the in house speaker to an extent,

because I I I I get more showtime or airtime.

Therefore I have the opportunity to then progressively work on

certain things where the church is going. All right, So

I've spoken about that as well. Go and have a

look at it. But what I'm trying to say is

the why the foundation the platform should be on love,

love for God and love for his people period. If

you're why it's not rooted on that and forget about

doing it even it's kind of pointless. It's another way

to put it, Okay, So it needs to be visited.

You know how times you drive a car right, you know,

the alignment thing over time, right, the steering would turn

one direction, and then if you point it straight, it

will still go the direction. If a mechanical thing has

to be realigned every now that recalibrated, now and then

why not even this? Are we still doing our love

for God? Are we still doing this out of love

for his people? Not a selected few, not people that

are nice, people that are easy. But really, all last

time I came here, I talked about living all, including

those that are not so lovable, the sinners, et cetera. Okay,

so really you need to focus on this first corinthin

s their teen reminds us if I speak in tongues

or some transitions, use of word languages of men of

all angels, but do not love or don't have love. Rather,

I'm only a resounding gong and a clanging symbol. That's

a funny picture. I put that purposely, but without love

we're just noise Chinese say it's coming up. We're gonna

be like that, you know, ching qing chug chug. You know, simple,

no disrespect to the to the instruments. But it needs

to all come back to love. Otherwise your actions, your

work is only noise to God. So it's very important. Okay.

So when we operate with love for God and others,

your actions represents God's love to the rest of the world.

And this is what we're talking about. You know this

that all may know. We're still in that season. By

the way, we will only transition over to next year's

team after the twenty fifth anniversary conference. So still talking

about making sure that everybody sees God's love. And how

is it done. First point is when our wise wise

not not the credit card, but it's rooted in love. Okay.

It must not be selfish desires because it's to love,

love for God and love for others, not love for yourself.

Right I did share before. Loving yourself is very easier

and it's very natural and okay, so that's why you

need to focus on God and others. Okay. Second point

finishing the okay, second point, the necessity of this thinct

called obedience very simple. You know, kids understand obedience a

lot easier than older people. I shed before as well.

You know, sometimes obedience as an adult is almost optional.

It's a choice, but kids are not given a choice.

But why is it so you shouldn't be right? First, Samuel,

we read this whole thing about to obey is better

than sacrifice, and many of us are familiar with this verse.

But let's look at the full context is showing on

the screen over there. Okay, behold, to obey is better

than sacrifice, and to heat, and to heat than the

fat of rams. For rebelling is as the sin of witchcraft,

and stubbornness is as iniquity or idolatry. It means you

don't obey or you rebel is akin to ideal worshiping. Okay,

this is a simple that I love the message version better,

so it might be a bit easier to see. Let's

read the message Bible then, Simul's do you think all

God wants our sacrifices, empty rituals just for show? He

wants you to listen to him. Plane listening is the thing.

See even the word using plane listening. Don't overcomplicate it.

It's just simple obedience, all right, not staging a lavish

religious production. Not doing what God tells you is far

worse than fooling around in the cult. Let me read

it one time on the early parts. Do you think

all God wants our sacrifices? So this is where sometimes

we think that we can buy out of the things

that we've done. Maybe if you are you know, you

can give millions to please God. I give my offering,

I give my tithing faithfully give you know, fifty percent? Hey,

why not millions? Does that please God? If it's not

given out of an obedience? Maybe not as well, because

maybe God is not asking for that right even if

you serve but God is not called in the serf

in that capacity or in that particular area. I'm not

talking about this church, just elsewhere as us in your

ministry outside of church as well. If you're not serving

in the correct place right where God calls you to

in accordance to His will, it's also the same. It's

like just giving sacrifice, just doing the work without real

being in tune with the actual why. And that's scary.

So of course, this thing here talks about Samuel speaking

to Saul. God has given Saul very clear instructions. Right,

this is what you need to do with your people,

is the Israelites and their possessions. But Saul, this obeyed God.

What did he do? He's got some selfish ambition. You

go and take all the valuables, did something funny with it,

and then offer sacrifice. The sacrifice was still there, right.

Sometimes you must also understand it's not rubbitional that he's

taking and giving to God. It's the valuables. And sometimes

we look at it like this, As long as I

give God the precious even though it's not what he

calls from us, I'm still offering the sacrifice to you God.

And that's a scary part because this is when you're giving,

let's say in the church context, are giving time. You're

giving money, giving effort into something, but it isn't aligned

with God. What happened? But not? And we see that

often happening as well. The question is are you aligning

with God? That's just sometimes you always point you back.

Is this God? Where God wants you in this season?

We asked you to go on your knees and pray

about it. We won't guild you into doing something, whether

it's outside of church or in church, it's really where

God wants you to once you in that season in

the why, and most of the time, if you're being

very honest right, God would want to stretch you. And

most times they will ask you to be inactive. Okay,

but sometimes we blame the people, need the leaders, et cetera.

But this is also a personal sharing for myself as well,

because I have also been there. Even though the why

is there, the why could be a very weak or

very not very strong why. It mean, it's got some

right elements, but not fully really of God. You know,

I was quite some time back, I say him third story,

before I was revived, when I was abroad. But I

also some misaligned wise, when I was revived, I wanted

to be seen doing what I do, not in that

look looking away. But at least I know that, at

least my mind, this accounts for the works that I

want to catch up for the times that I've been

very disobedient regard and that's also not quite right in fact, right,

I receive a prophecy once from somebody. Again, when I

was in Australia, we had the luxury or the opportunity

to have different renowned speakers come in, renowned people who prophesy.

You receive it and you're like, hey, hey, I got prophecy

on that' kind of a thing, you know, That's what

I thought to myself. Right. Once I receive it, then

is God's job to activate it? Love, And I've just

been sitting on it. I think that better than my peers.

In other words, I've just been lazy as well. I

didn't position myself. Remember how I spent about the traffic light.

You're not ready to go. In fact, you're just waiting

for God to take And I'm just being very honest.

I've amendment thinking to it and washing mydlin in here.

But sometimes some of us may be like this as well.

We're waiting on God. To God is your role? No,

you need to discover, you need to get and you

need to need to seek God. You need to, you know,

pursue this. You can't just wait for something to drop

from the sky. I did, and in fact, that was

the very start of disappointments, because then I think, God,

you're you are in charge. I'm not growing because you

are not doing your part. I wrestle with God young self,

and this of course leads to pride right, And that's

why if you talk to just as she knows. Whenever

I see somebody who is spright for it, I can

see myself, my old self, at least as I don't

quite like like people. I don't like rap shoulders up.

I still love them, but it's just one of my

God helped me deal with my old self. But yeah, humility,

true submission to God is really true humility and true obedience,

because then I have learned to not desire to build

things for people to see, but what's important to God.

And I also recognize in that process of God beating

me and shaping me up just like a panel beater

anyway they I was, I recognized that he was actually

the true source of where I achieved, and he was

a true wine. Right. But sometimes for us we struggle.

We struggle a lot, a lot because we focus on

the weak wise and we use that to justify what

we're doing. And that's a so a scary thing. You know,

God has always desired to look for his people, even

as early as in Genesis. Remember the time where Adam

and Eve did the funny thing? What did God do?

God actually went to the garden and he couldn't find them.

But God was intentionally searching out both Adam and Eve.

Where are you why? Because he wants to gaze upon

his people, his creation. Right. So my question is to

my younger self even back then, is it more important

what God sees in me? Or rather, is it more

important what people see in me than what God sees

in me? Sometimes we traded the sight of God, the perfection,

the high level, the high grade, the high demands. Sometimes

we say the perfection of what God sees in us

for something lesser from others around us, that you cheapen it, right,

So essentially the reward is on other people or what

they've seen me, rather than what God sees in me.

And this is where, like I shed re openly, this

is where the una expectations come up. I feel that,

you know, it's not God, what can I do for you? God?

What can you do for me? And that's arrogance, right? So, Yeah,

that persense died. It's a new me many years ago already.

And I want to encourage everyone when you do serve,

when you you know you do the what's in the house,

That's why the why is so important. Give it a goal,

but align yourself with the wise fas before you give

a goal, and it's always a cushable to you know,

like what passes said partner with us, because I can

tell you if you get on your knees, if you

have relationship with God, God will steer you to that direction.

He wouldn't say, go chill, come and receive. Only we feel,

we feel, we feel, feel, we feel. Church is not

that only you know. It's also feel love people, how

love people, bless people, if your gifts, talents, et cetera. Okay,

now next slide. I love this interesting slide. Okay, I

call it weak or wrong wives or motivations can sometimes

drain us without us realizing it. Everybody is problem for

the this symbol, this dreaded symbol. You know some of

us who have got phones, stor all these things, so

you can see which which app is the culprit that

is training your battery. It's not immediately know by the way,

it wouldn't be one hundred percent to zero percent instantly.

But sometimes you can constantly come down us and you

do not know what is draining you. So what we

do not do for the phone, you go and find

out which is the culprit. Right, we shant to take

out more more battery than it's supposed to be right.

So the wrong and weak wise can sometimes drain us,

even though it may appear to be a good app okay,

to be a good thing. And for years during that season,

my weak wise has actually led me to the frustration

and bitterness even with God. All right, So yeah, we

need to not just focus on the wise, but also

make sure it's the correct why and if it's not right,

realign it. Fix the problem. Okay, And one thing you

get out very quickly. I just mentioned to you just

to give you, just to share you, so don't you

don't have to go to what I've gone through. God

need this. I was foolish enough to think that God,

if I'm not in the picture, this can't be done.

That's arrogant, you know. But I know many of us

think that I'm so important. No you're not. But of

course he wants to partner with us, and that's why

he wants obedience. Obedience, submission and humility are three things

that go hand in hand. Right. He needs us to

seek his will, not just do his will. Seek his

will first, and then serve others and In that process

you serve others, there's genuine love, and then his will

will be done. Not do first and then seek his will,

because most of the time you do first. You mostly

do your will first, Okay, And that is our That's

when our why becomes stronger. Okay. So it's next slide.

Second point is our why be built on obedience. Obedience

goes hand in hand. All right. So I talked about

weak wise, Let's talk about a strong wise. Okay. So

how does the why become strong is when you have

a personal encounter with God. I can't help you with that.

Your home leader can help you with that. Your harder

leader can help you that. Your friend can help you there.

Your parents, even though they are you know, they serve God,

they are you know, bishops of the or whatever, they

can't help you as well. It's a personal thing. You

need to have a personal encounter. And when that happens,

as I mentioned to you, the whats and the house

are no longer important because you are convicted and as

we are on fire, even your spouse can't help you out.

You need to do this on your own. You need

to understand the why in your own and extreme it

can come out right now. The last point is that

with a strong why, sustain you for the year. Right,

we talked about how we set goals targets, what keeps

you going. It's not the what's and what, it's not

the strategies, but really the understanding will sustain you beyond

and throughout the entire and beyond. I mentioned earlier, right,

the years is just a human thing, right four twenty three,

and all human things. We set a reset button for

ourselves to feel happy. But actually you think about it, right,

in the context of eternity, it's nothing. Do you sit

back and reset and feel happy again every second of

the day. No, you don't. You progress, right, But it's

a human thing. We like to reset and all that.

But if you want reset, please reset. Not the the

words at the house, but really the wise is very

important because a strong why will sustain you true hardships.

You know, I mentioned to you earlier that the year,

we cannot guarantee that year will be all hunky dory

and all easy PC kind of scenario. We will hit

brick walls, there will be calamities, there will be challenges,

there will be hardships, persecution, disappointments from people betrayals. Even

Hebrews twelve Year speaks about Jesus how he endure the cross.

So a strong white really sustain this true hardships. You

see this one here it calls the race of faith.

We are in a constant run. We're not stopping. Why

do we stop every year? And weset you know how

it is right when you do exercise, right, when you stop,

you need to restart engine again. It take some time,

I know, as you were meant to go on and

on and on and on. Yes, reflect, but do not stop,

stay stagnant, you know, sulk or you know whatever. Don't

think to keep going, keep going. Just like how Jesus is.

He's the author and the finisher. We talked about that previously.

Who for the joy was set before him? He endured

the cross. So what was his motivation? Really? The bigger picture?

The bigger picture, all right? When now why is anchored

in love? In obedience? We understand God's purpose. It will

carry us through every trial, every challenge that either God

allows or the enemy throws your way, because just like Jesus,

his purpose was solely to love people and making sure

that the lamb in the end receives that reward their joy,

you know Jesus. So he struggled little bit, right, he said,

he prayed to his father, if this is your will,

please take this cup of suffering from me. This comes

from Luke. Yet not my will, but yours be done.

In other words, nevertheless, not my will be done God,

but your will. If Jesus can come to that humility.

If we're not Rockstarsler, we're not exempted from it. Jesus

had a strong wife, and this is why he carried on.

Is sustained him. So I encourage all of us just

to stand. I'm gonna draw to close here. I'm gonna

do something a bit different here. I want you to

place your right hand on your heart. All right, it

is human me right, you were Jesus, why okay? It

was a joy for him, just like we were read

in Hebrews. For Jesus, it was the heart that your

hand is placed upon. And that is what sustained Jesus

and allow him to carry true what he had done,

even though it happened many many years ago. It was

because of you and I and our heart. He wants

our heart his motivated and even though he doesn't like it,

he wants to endure. So my last point really is

there is a power in a strong why. It was

sustainless through every persecution, just like how He was persecuted

to every suffering even till death. He was driven by

a strong why. So as this year comes our way,

I want to pray that the Lord will help us

go through different things, different testings, different forms of stretching.

We may even make stab in the back by different

ones who cares. Really, we need to understand our why.

We can laugh about it later, right, but we need

to remember this strong why is what carries us through.

So right now with all eyes closed and hit but

I sense God is working through our hearts even though

it may have been weak, or maybe it didn't exist

before or misguided. Today God wants to hit the re

set button in a different way in twenty five. God

wants to take away all the bitterness, the anger. It

is not to shame you, but it is really to

empower you, for you to start strong, for strong heart,

for trentionenty five. So God is really inviting you to

be a part of His work in your workplaces, in

your schools, through your church, through your company, in this city,

in this country, and beyond Let's align ourselves with why,

because the why aligns with His purpose. So go one

last light there. It's time to reset our why. Let

us be clear about the why. Let us be rooted

in love and obedience and make sure it is evident.

Let it shine through your actions. No actions have you

no opportunity to shine. We need to We need to

do something about this, all right. And just to end

up my message today, I want to us to take

a moment to just reflect, reflect on God and also

reflect on maybe perhaps you're why. Nobody looking around, just

you and God. If God has did something in you today,

if it's the first time you're realizing that the why

in your life or in your heart needs to be realigned, redefine,

or even refocus, it's okay. Let God do his thing.

God will make give you a greatest sense and purpose

and help you love people more. And if you really

they make that shift today, nobody looking around. You can

just quickly, you know, lift up your hand to God

in your own space and say, God, I want this.

I want to re anchor my why. I want to

realign my why. I'm not gonna rush this. Take a moment.

It's between you and God. And don't wait till tomorrow.

Like I said, it cannot be a borrowed experience is

between you and God. Let the why sustain you through

the year. And this is how we're going to start

the year right So, Father, you see this different hands

lifted for you and we know Father, why matters to you.

So we thank you Father for the different hands that

are you know, lifted up to you. Right now, I

pray that Father, you'll help us align ourselves. Align our

hearts if they are weak before, make them strong if

they're driven for the wrong reasons. If we are just

focused on doing with the wrong heart, Lord, let be realigned.

Forgive us lot, even if we've had selfish ambitions in

the past as well. Let pride and even fear Father

be gone. So today, Father is a new day. Let

us shift into this new season of understanding our why

and it will be founded Lord in our love for

you and your people. Help us Lord to guard our

whys and sustain us through the year. In Jesus name,

we pray, Amen, Amen. Amen. Now it's going to take

a moment to also issue a call. Maybe been searching

for the meaning of life or maybe even have this

heavy weight as you move into twenty twenty four, it

is pressing you down. And we just talked the about

the purpose, the heart, the why. You know, God has

said in his word that his arms are always open.

He's always open to receive you in his arms. So

if all hits about and all eyes closed, if you're

ready to begin that process, that journey to have that

relationship with God, or even if you're far away from

the Lord, you'll like to come back to the Lord.

I'm just gonna lead you in a simple prayer today

with not many words, but it's an invitation for God

to come into your life and your life will be

transformed from inside out, from your heart outwards. So if

all hits about and all eyes closed, if that's you today,

I just like you to quickly lift up your hand

and indicate to me. I will just see that at hand,

and I'll pray alongside you. Nobody else looking around between

you and God. This amazing way to start the year.

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

information on our church, please visit axchurch Do 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