Overcome | Pr Ronson

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

We hope this message will light up your day.

I had a provision, not from my job salary, but

a provision from an investment I've made, and the return

covers everything. It covers my flight, It covers again back

then the flight ticket I body on that week itself.

So how was my flight cows my on ground transport,

It covers my love gave and bear in miner's times

three Malaysian currency, it is not doing too well compared

to Singaporean currency. So it's about times times back then,

I think it's two points something close to three. But

got provided, God provided painfully. Now why do I share

with you this right? Because for this recent trip in Cybu,

after I purchase my flight ticket, after I confirm my

Airbnb provision came, provision really came. One of my investments

decided to give a dividend and it covers eighty percent

of all the expenses I incurred. Now why do I

share with you this right? Testimony is will flow after obedience. Now,

if you ask me it, actually you can pay off

the amount. Actually I can. I have savings that will

enable me to cover the expenses. But to me it

is a testimony when provision comes unexpectedly, so that to

me is like a second confirmation that God you ordain

this strip for me, even though I want to go

there and have a shot break, but you have prompted

my heart to go. Therefore I I go. And many

of you know that I have a work, right, I'm

not a full time pastor. I am not a part

time pastor as well. I'm a pastor with a secular job.

I work in a UNI and by my salary savings

I'm able to cover with this. But the fact that

God provided through another mean tells me that he had

a plan for Cebu and in Cebu. Now know I

mentioned the word investment for some time, right, I want

to say that I believe in responsible investment. Responsible investment

means you got to know what you're investing into. There's

some one number two, you got to know why are

you investing. So I always gauge this. We must not

be reckless in our investment, and we've got to be

very careful and be very discerning, and do not let

money be the driver of our decisions. Do not let

money be our ultimate multi weight, because there will be

days when when you get your written, God will challenge you.

What are you doing with the return? Is it just

for yourself? Are you using it to be a blessing

for others? It's not wrong to keep the returns for yourself,

but when God prompts you to give, you just got

to release it. Amen. So let's show you some highlights

from Cybul before I entered into the word. So you

remember Dennis, all right? Still remember Dennis. Dennis came to

church in November two. Why do I remember November to

because was our last general election and there was there

was election there. So Dnis rededicated his life to Christ

November two to two, and ever since then God has

done such an amazing transformation in his heart. He is

one of my spiritual sons. Right, without hesitation, I say

that he is one of my spiritual sons. If you

asked me twenty years ago, ten years ago when I

started New life, can I say spiritual son? Cannot Today

my age, I can say it's one of my spiritual

son because his mom's age is not so far from

my age. So he hosted me. You know, he was

very very honoring. I would say, Dennis, if you know doing.

Dennis is very, very honoring. Every day he will pick

me up, he'll bring me around, he'll pay for my meals,

not that I expect, but I will also pay for

his meal. You know, when you really know that people

honors you, you know where the heart is, LA really

you know, I was reminded him. Back in twenty eleven

or twenty twelve ish, we got a student that went

back to Botswana and we were just praying for venue

in Botswana, and pastors actually make that effort to go

to Botswana. There was but one student who actually had

the capacity to host our pastors didn't really did his best,

La because there was a lot of reasons why he can't,

you know, right, So what I want to say is

that if you really want to know what honor is right,

honor cannot be given by lip service. Honor usually is

given through your action, and the test of honor usually

is the test of sacrifice. Honor doesn't come cheap. This

church believes in honor. Now, why do I when I

go up and have meals with people, why do I

pay for your meal? Because I honor you? But will

the same honor be accorded? It's always that question Mark.

So for Denise, Dennis he's a guya because I lead

Denise sounded like girl, so for Dennis, he carries such posture.

Before I went to Cebu, I also google is there

any house of prayer that we can go? So I

found out that there is a Seabul prayer house. They

just uh completed it October this year. Uh yeah, October

last year. I got even more excited when I look

at the testimony of the prayer house. It was an

abandoned house. It was haunted. Nobody wanted to buy, nobody

wanted to do anything until God moves in the heart

of some believers there to convert that house into a

prayer house. So when Dennis asked me, pastor, what do

you look forward to in Cebu Joey Joey, I told them,

let's go to the prayer house. Because Joey lovest prayer

houses as well. Uh So I say, okay, let's go

to the prayer house. Where I go, I really hope

to sold a prayer for the land in prayer houses.

So I brought them because not just denis right, the

other leaders there next light so ya remember Crystal Crysselle, Right,

she came back she was in lawas she went back

to Cebu. Maiten is there, traveled from Kuching to Cebu.

Jennifer is there, Denis is there. There's not a Joey there.

Joey on your far left is from ncmc nelai Chinese

Methodist Church, so she she's very honoring. Also, she used

the car to drive all the girls around us, who

usually we go into cars, right, and we just had

a really good time. And the rest is Joanne. Joanne

is the person on my left there. She founded the

Prayer House. And of course you have Moses, Moses behind me,

Lily and Shirley. So we went there, we pray and

God moved in a prayer gathering. So my main motivation

number one is to encourage our own people because they

are back in their hometown. Right. Number two is to

bless the land, and sadly, without me knowing, they posted

these things. Right, Civil Prayer House we actually won in

twenty six las you know twenty seven Yeah, yeah, we

went on twenty seven. Yeah, an awesome worship session with

brothers and sisters from ex church. You guys are really

on fire now. I didn't ask them to post this one.

Listen didly post one without my knowledge. We appreciate your

love and prayers upon this land and Cibul prayer house.

Pray Scott for that. The next day, actually it's that afternoon.

The next day, Dennis us Dennis, I must visit this church.

This church is the mass Land Methodist Church. Right, mass

Land Methodist Church. And on that day only I found

out faster this is actually my church law, he said, Oh,

I never knew that there is to be I told

you before what Yeah, I'm getting older. But anyway, so

I decided to visit this church because in nineteen thirty

six there is a revivalist by the name of John

so Right that came from China when to Cibu preached

the gospel. Due to that, Cibu, Malaysia has the most

number of churches either in the country or the state

among the fuchal community. There was a revival back in

nineteen thirty six and upwards there's by going one street,

they'll tell me, ah, faster, this is the Catholic Church,

is the Methodist Church, is the Anglican Church? Or in

one street? And I give you up. When I landed

from the airport at night, when he brought me around

you see a lot of crosses, a lot of crosses.

So before I enter Sebu, I did a quick research

because I knew about Johnson's story with Cebu and Stiawan.

I say to myself, I need to visit the place

where these revivalists have went. So I decided to go

and visit. It was really a good experience with all

of our church friends there. Next day we went to

Sara Ki and Bintango. So from Sibu to Saraqui and

Bintango it's about thirty minutes of forty minutes last right,

So you remember Angue Yeah, Angue is it from Sarah Kai.

So we traveled to visit Anguei. And you remember Steven

Stephen is the guy in the yellow highlight shit. Steven

got saved last year. He made the ultimate decision to

follow Christ during our getaway, but before that he was

on and off. I always tell people he's like the

most on fire new comer ever because since day one

visiting us, he has been very regular with us, and

ultimately he decided to follow Christ. So in the planning

of my trade, asked Dennis, Dennis, how far a Cibu

and bintangle, Because I have a stirring to visit. Steven

say oh, actually, if you want to go, we can

drive one okay, So we made a pre plan. I

also wanted to be an encouragement to Stephen because I

want him to remember that my pastor came all the

way just to meet me. It is very important, you know,

because at a point when you will at a point

when you doubt the church, at a point when you

even doubt your own faith, please remember when you were

a young Christian, someone took the effort to fly all

the way to encourage you in your faith. So I

say hi to the grandmother. I say hi to the

grandfather as well. And you know that as saim, I say, Steven,

how do you go to church? Since there's no ex

church in bin Tango, Say oh, my grandfather will send

me to church. The entire family is non believing. Yep,

my father was send him to church. And again one

straight role in bin Tango. You got four or five

churches there as well. Hello Chi Saraha. I I couldn't

bring it because I'm like here right in some man joke,

right you want to put up a cross or so,

people will make a lot of noise, but there every

way you go is just churches. Yeah, that's why Rabah

is very very blessed. And so this was the end coach, sorry,

next yep, yeah, So these are people in uh Surrecay

and bin Tango. Next. So I had a conversation with Crystal.

Do you remember Crystal can Okay, So it's not easy

for her in lawas because of isolation. She also has

friction with housemates, different conflicts. Thiscent Netla. Right. So when

we were having Roja in bin Tango, Hey, bin Tango, Roja,

you'll put sweet with that door, You'll put different kind

of funky things. So we by having Roja, I felt

led to just sit next to Crystal and ask Crystal

Ah questions and she asked questions. So she shared with

me about the difficult dealer that she's going through with

relationships with housemaid people and all because sometimes they I

wouldn't say bully, but I would say bodyline bullying her. Right.

I remember telling her that I think, Crystal, we need

to learn to see people in the lens of how

Christ would see people. We learn to see people in

the lens of how God would see people. And that's

all that I say and try to encourage her and

be there for her when I came back I reflect

on a trip. It's true, you know, your perspective will

change when you see people in the eyes of God's love.

His love for you and others will enable you to

overcome your preferences and biases. To really overcome stereotype being

to really overcome biases, really really need to die to

ourselves and put on God's lenses. So if you're no Crystal,

usually when there is a testimony, she'll send to you

and no weel, she'll send to you super long paragraph.

So when I before I go to the airport, she

send to me a super long testimony. Say that passen,

thank you so much for sharing. I caught something and

my perspective has changed. My housemaid now is dealing better

with me. In fact, her church a s ib Lawas,

hosted a dinner. Her friends actually went for the dinner,

you know, and she told me that, oh, my friends

will never step foot there, this, and there, but they came.

She had a friction with her landlady. The land lady

doesn't want to give her back her money because she's

moving to another occasion. Certainly, Lendley did texted her, okay,

you can have your money back. This and that. So

God in a way taught me something for us to

experience testimony. Our perspective have to change. Perspective meaning how

we see things has to shift, have to change. Amen.

So I came back from Sarah Kay and bin Tango.

Next I saw a sunset, very nice Sybil sunset. I

stayed in a high rise building. This is actually a

lens effect, right, So when I put it in my camera,

I saw a cross. Actually I remember the day before

we prayed for Sybil, and to be able to see

this glory in re minded me that God has a

plan for Sebul. I really believe it with all my heart.

In fact, I believe there's going to be a very

good revival happening in Cebul. A lot of focus was

on Ching, a lot of focuses Mary, a lot of

focusy in Bintulu. Very good. But I believe God will

also not miss Sebul. Right, So on Sunday, there's so

many churches to go to, so many I got Danny's

church to go to. I got here and there, so

I told every one of them I'm led to go

to this church. It's called b e m Hosanna. Praised church.

All right. I got to know about this church from

different ching. I just felt that my spirit is leading

me there and only to find out that it was

actually Gabriel Dayste Church. Gabriel is one of our leaders

in U s Money, so I didn't know he was

there before I flew off. It was on Christmas Day

that I found out that he was there. So that

was there is Gabriel's pastor pastor he which I paster

he So we were. Then we worshipped and the pastor

was very welcoming, very warmed. Uh. She almost fell off

her chair when I started speaking to her in man

dream which wait the hahah. So we connected and we spoke.

I was just sharing to her also about Pastor's dream

about dream Malaysia revol. I told her that many many

years ago we had ravel Sebu. How about that we

are revel we have Saraka and Sebu. And I was

just sharing with her what we do. The jaw almost dropped,

you know, when she found out that Gabriel actually took

one hour just to go to church on every weekend.

Because you must understand her people there one our way,

it's very far, you know, you can go to Sabbah.

Really it's very far. And we were there, we were

encouraging each other. So before we left, she asked whether

we can pray for the church. So I decided to say, okay,

since Pasta you are hosting us, you requests for prayer,

we pray like So I prayed said very simple prayer,

release a very simple word to her church and also

to her let me laugh. So when I met up

with Gabriel later on, then I found out that Gabriel

asked me, past how did you know that this this

this happened in the church. I say, I didn't know.

I just as a spirit led. Yeah, that confirms the

word that the church needed. I won't say to you

because it's recorded, but it's exactly the word that they need.

It was in that afternoon itself. I thought Dennis, I say, Dennis,

we've got to go back there. The church is very unique.

You know, next to the church is actually a semmetery.

Already the plot of land that you got a church,

then you got a cemetery. Then for the down the

road you got three uh three, three institutions of learning.

You got a Woodlands private school which is from kindergarten

to secondary. That's where Gabriel studies. You got college like

La type and you got UTS, which is University Technologia

in Cibu. Three campuses there. I thought, that is Dennis.

Let's go pray. So we entered a prayer drive in

the college, their prayer drive in Woodlands. Then we step

foot into UTS and we show a set of prayer.

I'm really really excited about Sibu. I'm really really excited

because I know the spirit of God is moving there right.

So next time and you go Sibu, please go to

Sibul Prayer House. Don't be afraid of the ghosts. They

all have left. The holy ghosts have taken over a.

Please go and bless the leno in any landing in

I told the pastor. I said that we are praying

for Strawa and you know passes straight away. Asked Denise,

asked Gabriel, Ah, when are you coming back to Sarawak?

When are you coming back to Cybul. They all have

their answers are right. Some will say that, oh, I'm

really working in care. I find out that the churches

then need a love encouragement. So when you're there, pray

for them. So I told the pastor that, I say, Pastor,

we are praying for East Malaysia, praying for Strawa. In fact,

that's kind of is going to do something in Bintulu

very soon as well. And I told the pastor is

that we as a church, our goal is to raise disciples.

So that I don't share it like Crystal, I say,

you know, Pasta, like Crystal, she is in Nawas right

while the students span two and three years here with us,

we will do our part to disciple them and when

God eventually will to call them out. God eventually, let's

say it leads them back to Sibula, lead them back

to Srawa. We know we have done our part to

contribute to bless Sarahwa. And I think she's touched by then.

All right, So there was some of my key highlights.

I came back really rested. I came back really really refreshed.

It's a holiday for me. But when God was really

in the picture throughout me, it's a perfect holiday. God

can show up in your holiday. You gotta make room

for him. So that was Sibu. So it's a new year.

I believe God has a word for all of you

this year. I believe the word is overcome. Point foward

will tell you that this year many of us will

need to come front and overcome long standing issues in

our lives, deep rooted, unresolved matters that have made us

comfortable yet hinder the growth of our faith. So I

got this when I was in c Woo. So because

I know I'm sharing Sunday, It's like, God, can you

give me a message for Sunday? What should I share?

And the word overcome or overcame? Kim. See, there are

two things that we need to overcome in our life, right.

The first one is Satan, second is self. Self is

the most hardest to overcome. Satan is quite easy to

overcome because Jesus has overcame him, and Jesus will continue

a triumph over Satan. But the most difficult thing to

overcome is usually self. It's usually self. Right, So point

five will say, well, Satan is our adversary. We can

take courage in knowing that Jesus has already triumphed over

him and will continue to fulfill prophecies in the Book

of Revelation. The battle still rages on. You know, the

battle is not it's not end yet, right, So why

sometimes you feel certain things in your life. Because Satan

is at work right, he'll come to still kill and destroy.

But Jesus has came to give us life and life

more abundantly. So Genesis three fifteen. Next, like all the

wisits are there, he says, and I will put enmity

between you and the woman, and between your seed and

the seed. He shall bruise your heat, and you shall

bruise his heal. So, when God confronted the serpent, God

already had a redemption plan for mankind. God already said

it in motion that the enemy will be defeated by Jesus,

that Jesus will stab with bruce the head of Satan,

and Satan will be defeated. Look ten eighteen to nineteen.

And he said to them, Jesus said to them, I

saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give

you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions and over

all the power of the enemy. And nothing shall by

any means hurt you. Jesus have already given you the

power to overaco him the enemy. You gotta walk in

your authority Collosians two fifteen. Having these armed principalities and powers.

He make a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them.

In it one John three eight, he who sins is

of the devil, For the devil has seen from the

beginning for day's purpose, the Son of God was manifested

that he might destroy the works of the devil. Revelations

twelve ten to eleven. Then I heard a loud voice

saying in heaven now salvation and strength and the kingdom

of our God and the power of his Christ has come.

For the accuser of our Bedron, who accused them before

our God day and night, has been cast down. And

they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and

by the word of the testimony. And they did not

love their lives to the death. Last one Revelation twenty ten.

The devil who deceived them was cast into the lake

of fire and bringstone where the beasts beast mean the

Antichrist and the false prophet Ah. And they will be

tormented day and night forever and ever. There are just

some scriptures to let you know that in as much

as we have an enemy, we have an adversary. As

long as we abide in Jesus, we leverage on his victory.

Point six. When Satan reminds you of your past, what

should you do? You remind him of his future, because

Revelation twenty ten describes his future that he will be

cast into the lake of fire and bringstone, and he

will be tormented day and night, forever and ever. So

point seven, Jesus has already overcome Satan. Our role is

to abide in him and declare his victory by exercising

the authority he has given to us. The enemy doesn't

have authority over your life. He doesn't. Sometimes we give

ETN too much credit. So to me, I'm not speaking

out of pride. I'm just speaking out of what I

read from the Word that it's easy to overcome Satan

because Jesus has overcame him. Period. The most hardest thing

to overcome is actually self, which is our flesh. I

was asked this question during a supper from one of

our partners. This was after Taylor's chapel You're all Right.

Last year, together with ex campus, we planted a midweek

service in Taylor's praise Scotler that people are coming, and

recently one brother was water baptized. He comes from a

nation that the Gospel is restricted but to be able

to see him following Christ wholeheartedly and going through water

baptism is amazing. So on supper, this person asked me

what's answer? What is your most difficult challenge? And after

being ministry for so long, what is your most difficult challenge?

Need to eat far that health sciences and warm teat

far that health science is. What is your most biggest challenge?

What can I young? I tell her? I told her

what juic City. The biggest challenge is me myself because

sometimes I need to deal with my own unbelief. I

need to deal with uninspiredness. I need to deal with

things that I haven't really let go. The biggest challenge

to me itself because they'll be doubt. But I can

honestly tell you what kept me alive these years. It's

three things. Relationship with God, God's given purpose over my life,

and His Church, which speaks about discipleship. You see, this

year we've got to really confront things that you know

is hindering you. You got really asked God to uproot

certain deep roots that are not healthy for you. So

why I start off with Satan is this because the

more years I walk in ministry, the more I realize

it's so easy to blame Satan for poor decisions that

we make, and then we give glory to Satan, to

say that, oh, because it's the enemy. I am like that.

But at the other day, it's a matter of taking

personal responsibility. It's not rocket science. It's not rocket science.

You know. I've counseled people where over the years they

go through the same challenge. And I've also seen people

where they will go from church to church, and every

new church they go to, they'll share to the pastor

the same problem. Okay, Oh I have problem with drinking.

Right then the pastor tell you, okay, I give up

your drinking, since when you get drunk you will hit

your wife, you will say things days that, Oh Pastor,

I don't agree with you. You go to the church there,

you go to the another church. The passa tell you

the same thing. No, pasta is demonic. You don't understand.

These demons are causing me to drink. Honestly, overcome yourself,

have more self control, seek help. No pass I have

a problem with loss. The demon of loss is influencing me. Hey,

how about just stop watching photography.

El.

Pastor, A demon is attacking my studies. Huh really, Yeah,

every time I want to study, I can't concentrate. Hey,

how about giving up your mobile? Legends are so we

give Satan too much credit for things that we know.

We are weak in our own flesh. This year, deal

with your flesh now. Someone say, you know, the year

can be new, but if the attitude is the same,

it will just be like another year. Deliverance is important

as a start, and it is a consistent discipline of

dying to self that keeps us in victory. Yeah, same people,

you don't going faster or pasta leader to leader faster.

Paid for my deliverance, I have this. Pray, pray, pray, Okay,

then come here again, pray for my deliverance. Pray for

my delierance. How many time you want to get delivered?

How about start leaving a lifestyle of discipline. Deliverance should

not be seen as a substitute for poor discipline. We're

gonna learn to crucify the flesh Galatians two twenty. I

have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I

who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life

which I now live in the flesh. I live by

faith in the Son of God, who loved me and

gave himself for me. If you're a Bible believing Christian,

and if you are a practicing Christian, you will know

you are not alone. You will know that you identify

with the life of Christ. You will know that the

Holy Spirit leaves in you. Remember three things I say

that keeps me relationship with God, God's given purpose, and

his Church. I have been crucified with Christ. Means I

put my flesh to death whatever desired that is ungodly.

While we desired that is in contrary to His word,

we have to put it to death. And the new

life that Jesus has given to you, you can leave

it for His glory. You live by faith in the

Son of God. One John two fifteen to seventeen. Do

not love the world or the things in the world.

Sometimes as Christians we struggle in this. We love the

world more than we love Christ. Do not love the

world or the things in the world. If anyone loves

the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the last of

the flesh, the last of the eyes, and the pride

of life, it is not of the Father, but it

is of the world, and the world is passing away

and the loss of it. But he who does the

will of God abides forever. So the treatings here the

last of the flesh, the last of the eyes, the

pride of life that we need to deal with this

yet Verse one is the last of the flesh. This

basically refers to sinful cravings, desires that caters to our

physical and sensual nature. Now, I'll be the first one

to say that I'm not perfect. Have I seen before?

Of course? Have I has my heart grown cold before?

Of course? Have I done things that disappoint God? I have?

But you think about it. Right the time when you

are away from God, it was also a time when

your heart has grown numb to the voice of God

because something else have taken over. It's usually the last

of the flesh. Paul encourage us to walk with the spirit.

But if you would walk with a flesh, we are

hating to destruction. And usually if you are being led

by the flesh, we will also be numb towards the

conviction of sin. The lions of the eyes. This year,

we really need to get our eyes really focus on Jesus,

don't focus on other things. Really this year, say put

an end to compare reasons. Many of us are not

happy because we have been comparing either with ourself and

others or others with others. Then we talk about others.

End to compare reason. Ask God to frame how you

see things. The pride of life. Pride must die basically

means dying to self zero point ten second last point.

Overcome excuses that hinder growing your faith. We're gonna learn

to overcome excuses. Really, God loves you so much that

he has a plan for you. God loves you so

much that he wants you to be better. He wants

me to be better. Be route in a community of believers,

and actively serve your community. Actually, there's this eleventh four

He who observed the wind will not sow, and he

who regards the clouds will not reap. So basically, right,

if you're a farmer, you're supposed to be out in

the field sowing. You're supposed to be out in the

field working. You know. Post COVID, what I've realized is

there are more and more instances where people give good

reasons that can be seen as excuse, and as a result,

it stopped them from growing their faith. Because as a farmer,

when you see the wind blow, when you see the

clouds gathering, it's a good reason not to go out.

I think this year we really need to overcome preferences

that we have for ourselves and have a bigger heart

to ask God what is the priority you should be

focusing on, because sometimes his priority may not meet your

personal preference. So if God's parity for you is to

start doing certain things that he has asked you to do,

I think you should start looking into it. James one

twenty two. Be doers of the word and not hearers,

only deceiving yourself. You know, we live in an era

where people are more in tuned to messages, but doesn't

mean they are doing what the messages encouraging them to do.

Feel good messages doesn't change lives. It may entertain you

for a while, it may make you feel good. Only

the Word of God changed your life. And the Word

of God can only take effect in your heart when

you start applying it. With the application, the word of

God is going to be like the seed at the wayside,

the seed at the stony ground. We want the word

of God to take effect when our heart is like

the soft ground that's when we read. That's when we

read so last point point eleven. Discipleship keeps us in

check and on track. Pass said this year our focus

is disciples first. Discipleship can't share with you a revelation

I had in Cebu. It's this la now after passing

here for so long, fourteen years, I can't really put

myself in the shoe of Christians who come from other towns,

other towns, right, because I always feel that how come

basic things like this, Let's say, for example, coming to church?

How come is it a struggle coming on time? Why

is it a struggle? I couldn't understand until I went

to Cebu. Then my eyes get opened, Okay, And it's

a depending how you see it. So what I'm trying

to say is that what is normal for me may

seem radical for others. Okay. Because when I was driving

with dan Is, we will also I will usually call

it discipleship drive. I mean, someone drive and we disciple.

There's the two hours and he'll ask questions, right, and

he asked, PA, how can we connect with the younger

pool of new students who are coming. They don't seem

to be interested in faith, They don't seem to be

interested in God. They don't seem to be interested in this,

and it's very hard to get them moving. I remember

saying that you know these are probably your third, your second, third,

or fourth generation Christians. LA Basically they grew up in

Christian family. Usually first generation, they are quite one thing.

To grow their faith, second, third, fourth, it takes a

lot of effort because of familiarity. So I always find

myself when someone tells me that come from this place,

I've been in church, this and that. Then the next

few weeks they go me seeing these that I couldn't relate.

Then I realized this powerful statement. Growing up in church

doesn't mean you're growing up in Christ. You got to

let that sink in because someone can say or back home,

I follow my parents ten or years to church. Yeah,

but are you growing up in Christ? Or have you

grown up in Christ? It's very very important, very important.

You know, Christ is the reason why we live. Christ

is the reason why we do what we do. That

gives meaning, that gives purpose. This year, when you overcome

your flesh, you will begin to see what Christ has

in store for you. So back to discipleship. This year

is discipleship even discipleship. I you know why I say

it's a revelation to me because this is my first church.

I was saved here, I grew up here. Whatever pastor

taught us, I take it, I ran with it. I

didn't know it was radical for other people, like one

hour to church, jaw drop ha, come early to pray? Yeah,

discipleship you mean you you fly all the way to

Cibu just to meet with your people and disciple them.

Couldn't find a jaw already? Mean to me, I thought

this was normal. When you know, whatever God tells us

to do, we just do lah what To other people,

it's like it's radical. So what keeps me going is

relationship with God. It's really it's time for us to

reflect and review back where are we with God and

allow him to bring us back to the place where

He intends us to be. That's why discipleship matters. I

got to allow myself to be having someone to speak

over my life. Maybe this year for some of us,

we've got to allow that voice to come into our

life so that we're kept in check and we are

kept on track. And discipleship does that for you. It

does all right, So we're gonna end by closing in prayer.

So that's one thing you can take away from this message.

I know there are eleven points there. It's basically this

this year, overcome your flesh, overcome your personal preferences that

have hindered you from growing in God. So the new year,

new beginning. God has a plan for you. With his grace,

you will be able to overcome. Amen. What do we

stand as we close in prayer? Thank you Jesus for

your word. Thank you for your spirit in this place.

Thank you for your work not just in this church,

but right now, God Lord in our hearts. Thank you,

Holy Spirit. I know that you're here. I hear your heart. Lord,

I hear your heart. You're drawing us to you. Thank

you for today where we are able to hear from you.

We thank you and you are spoken to us. Thank

you for revealing to us God, things that we need

to deal with. Sometimes people may not know the pain

that we have been going through, the suffering that we

have gone through, or even our struggle, O God, But

you know, you know, you know, you know, O God,

and you're always the good Father who is ready to

restore us, heal us. You're always ready to help us

to break through in areas where we need to break through. Today,

God asks that you will help us. Our flesh is weak,

O God, we still have our sinful nature. That's why

we need you. That's why we call Jesus our lord

and our savior. Pray that this year, O God, Lord,

you will teach us to crucify our flesh, that we

will learn to deny ourselves pick up our cross to

follow you, O God Lord. That's a price to be

paid for those who wants to follow Jesus. And we

say that God, we are ready to pay this price.

It's not about restland. Maybe it's almost We are still

struggling God with our past. No one is righteous before

you were God, including myself. No one is perfect before you.

Maybe we have done mistakes in our past. Maybe past year,

we have done many sorrowful things God, that have broken

your heart. The Lord, your words says, when we are

sincerely repentant of our sin and turn to you wholeheartedly,

you will restore us. You will forgive us of God,

and that God will past sins. Our past wrongdoings is cowed.

By the blood of Jesus. So why you sent Jesus

to die for us? It's blood washes thoroughly clean, clad

in the righteousness of Jesus. Claude in a robe of righteousness.

Thank you. You know want to pray for us if

you're saying that, pastor this year, I want to learn

to overcome my flesh. Just raise both your hands. I'm

going to ask that Holy Spirit help you. Holy Spirit.

These are hands that are responding to you. And as

I commit them to you, a God.

Sends a fresh stut.

A sends a fresh beginning, sends fresh wind coming over

your life.

So the new beginning. So God Lord, I ask for

grace as for your strength. We are weak, but you strong.

Your grace is sufficient.

For us, and your.

Strength is made perfect in our weakness. I PRAI this

year everyone in kneelie who experience more of your strength,

more of your presence, more of your power. When we

deny ourself, we will see the glory of God over

our life, over our family. In the Mighty name of Jesus.

By uproot every seed that the enemy have planted in

your hearts, every seed of remorse, every seed of guilt,

every seed of condemnation.

Uprooted in the Mighty name of Jesus.

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

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

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

this week is going to be a good week, a

hit for you. God bless