God Is Able | Pr Alvin Keng

You're listening to a message to go from acts Church. We hope this message

will light up your day today. I've got a message for us this morning,

and you can turn to Daniel chapter three. Verse Well, we'll we'll

read the whole of the chapter, I think, right, j Daniel chapter

three. We're gonna read the scripture first, and I'm gonna share with you

a little bit about, you know, some testimony if you guys like to

hear stories. Here, right, We're gonna be reading from well, let's

see. Okay, I'm gonna skip skip here and there because it's like about

thirty verses, but I'll skip, okay, and I'll try to summarize because

I don't have a lot of time. So and you told me I can

end at one o'clock. I wrongly, just now one o'clock, right,

okay, one o'clock. I'll in for that, right, okay. It

starts with saying Neba the king made and Nebu made an image of gold whose

height was six de cubits and it's with six cubits. He set it up

in the plane of Dura in the province of Babylon, and King Nebukan Naza

Sen worked together together the set traps. Basically all is goncho, right,

and all the officials and provinces to come to the dedication of the image with

King Nebuka Naza has set up. Okay, so this who is this king?

This king is a non believer king. And again the Israelites. Uh.

You know, the Israelites were captive in a foreign land, right Uh.

And the Lord has promoted some of them to be you know, leaders.

So you have Daniel, you have his three friends sharedrag mes ab goal

right and uh. You know, when you're in a foreign land and and

there are laws that you have to abide by. I mean we are in

where we are in Malaysia, but there's certain laws that we have to abide

by, you know, set by the government, things that we have to

do. Thank god, we still have freedom of religion. Thank god we

can still worship openly in a hotel while you guys not thinking for that.

I think you guys need to go to a country that you cannot do that.

You know, then you'll start thanking God now and realizing how privileged we

are as believers. We are so spat with the Internet, We're so spalled

with all the messages that we hear that. We don't realize that there are

certain places where if you have a Bible, you'll be put to death.

Thank god, we have this privilege's let's not forget that, amen. So

what happened? He said a rule, decreed a law. He said that

every time we play music, you must bow to this statue. Imagine if

your boss does that, Build a big statue of gold and tell you every

time you come into the office on Monday to Friday, you've got a bar

in front of the statue. Are you guys going to do it? Not?

You know, you lose your job. We'll lose job when you're no

big deala for them, they'll be thrown into the fiery fulness. Okay,

thrown into the firy fulness. And that's what happened, right, So let's

let's just read continuously therefore verse eight, I'm jumping. Therefore at the time,

at a certain time, Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews basically even

in that country, although they are different, different people from different nations,

they kind of don't like eas adella. And somehow the Jews also get it,

maybe because they do very well, maybe because they lead very well.

I don't know, right, Maybe because they don't like their face. I

don't know. Some of you feel like that. Well not you don't like

hopefully you don't like other people. White people don't like me something we don't

know or know. Maybe they don't want your face, you know, they

say, I look very Uh, what the way is garrang? I apologize

for those of you. If you don't know Bahasa, because I'm using it

a lot. Please ask your neighbor if they know. If you don't know,

it's okay. Passa Julian will translate it there. So they complain,

right, And they said, oh, you, O King, have made

a decree that everyone who hears Verse ten, the sound of the horn fluit,

halt lyre and saltery in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall

down and worship the gold image. And whoever does not fall down and worship

shall be cast into the midst of the burning fiery fulness. There are certain

Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, shadreck,

meshack and bending goal. These men, oh King, have not paid

us. Do you regard to you? They do not serve your gods or

worship the Gold image with you have set up. I mean, this story

is not if you've been a believer for quite a while, unless your new

believer today, you would kind of be familiar with this story about how three

young men, well I will consider them young. Uh, then they're not

they're not lowly servants. No, they're not like the cleaners. They are.

They are like the CEOs of companies or they they govern. They govern

like a province. That's their role. They are not not anybody, but

they will complain by their fellow workers, fellow managers. Hey, King,

they're not doing it right. They're not doing this that you decrete right,

So you gotta, you know, do something. And of course the king

got angry. He got angry, and he said, and he let let's

read for the okay. There are certain Jews whom you are set over the

fest. Okay. Then nebukud Nasa enraged and fury gave the command to bring

Shadrack Michag and a banding goal. So they brought these men before the king.

Nebukud Naza spoke saying to them, is it true that you do not

serve my gods or worship the gold Image? Why I have set up now

if you're ready at the time you hear the sound. Okay. So basically

he's giving them a chance. He's he's saying, hey, First he checked

is it true. He didn't just straight away through them. He was angry,

he said is it true? And then he gave them a chance.

He said, guys, you're gonna do this again just in case you didn't

get it, and you need to adhere to it. You need to adhere

to this rule if you didn't get it. And then what happened? Right,

what happened? Shadrack machag and a bandy goal answered and said to the

king, oh nebukud Naza, we have no need to answer you in this

manner. So action, so action. If that is the case, our

god, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning,

fiery furnace. He will deliver us from your hand, old King. But

if don't, let it be known to you, o King, that we

do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you

have set up. That Nebuka Nazza was full of fury and the expression on

his face changed towards Shadrack mission and a bannago. He spoke and commanded that

they hit the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated. And he

commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army, to bind them

and cast them into the burning fiery furness. Then these men were bound in

their courts, their trousers, their turbans, and other governments, and were

cast into the midst of the burning fiery furness. Therefore, because the king's

command was urgent, the furnace exceedingly hot. The flame of the fire killed

those men who took up shadrack mission, and the bannago, the people who

were doing their job, died doing their job. Okay. And these three

men fell bound into the midst of the burning fiery furness. And then King

Nebulkarnezza was astonished, and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his

counselors, did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire.

They answered, and said to the king, true old king, Look,

he answered, I see four men loose walking in the midst of the

fire, and they are not heard. And the form of the fourth is

like the son of God. Okay, let's just review this. Uh,

you know whatever we just read. Okay, I'm more like a summary of

what we just read. Shaderik Maschek a Bennigo was facing an impossible situation.

Corona, they were facing an impossible situation. Go left, also, die

go right, also die Asians like to say, you know, go frunt.

Also die go back. Also die everything, also die well. In

a way, Nola, they could have agreed to bow. But think about

it. You have been living on this principle your entire life, that you

will not do a certain thing. Okay, let's just put that in perspective.

Okay, what is the principle that they live by? They only self

on God. And then now you're a boss, now a person with authority.

Now, someone who has more power than you on this earth is asking

you to go against your principles. Pass Julian. Sunday, we got company

dinner. We need you to be there. You must be there on Sunday

and Saturday night and then the prayer service later. Well, they only use

this word start. They'll just Sunday you need to be there, Tuesday night

you need there, and maybe Friday and you need to be there. Right,

You're gonna get this kind of well, not you are going to,

but sometimes we are. We are starting this situation. Then how then,

how passe Gulian? If you don't go right, you will lose your job.

In fact, you have to pay us back pay from the day we

hired you. Well quite bad right, lose job money, easy find new

job. Law asked the Lord to bless, but pray back pay. That's

a different story. They were facing an impossible situation. Impossible I know Passidiens

company won't do that likely because I know the boss. You know. They

were stuck because if they wanted to survive, they needed to do something they

didn't believe in, something against their principles, something against their beliefs. It

was tough. They were given a chance by the king, but they stuck

to their guds. The King said, hey, let's play the music again.

Guys get the picture, and they said, no, need to answer.

You so confident? How many of us will be that confident? I

can tell you I also cannot. I won't be as confident as that.

I would definitely think and then maybe do what the Christian people do. Pray

first, pray and fast. Lord, please change the King's mind. Lord,

please do something something, Lord, They had to face what was coming

anyway because of their decision. What did they answer? Let's read it again.

We have no need to answer you in this manner. If that is

the case, our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us

from the burning fire fulness, and he will deliver us from your hand,

O King. Wow, But this is a kicker verse eighteen. But if

not, But if not, let it be known to you, O King,

that we do not serve your God's nor will we worship the gold image

which you have set up. We all like verse seventeen. God come true

for us. God, I know you are a god of the impossible.

You can move, But how many of us here are confident with our God?

Confident we will believe, in confident with what is truth to say.

But if not, God, if I'm supposed to suffer, I'll suffer.

God, if you're gonna put me in this situation, and because of my

belief, I'm stuck here. I know you can provide. I know you

can do things. But let it be known that, no matter what,

I will not serve your God. No matter what, God, I will

not give up on you, No matter what, God, no matter how

bad things get, no matter how bad our country gets, I will still

believe that you have caught me here for a purpose, not an easy message.

This morning, the furnace was not hot. It was seven times hotter

seven times. The people that cast me to the fire died. That's how

bad it wor was known. That means, sir, collateral damage. Not

because of your decision. You get collateral and some of us we probably cannot

accept that right. But God did a miracle. In fact, one of

the things that I caught in verse twenty five is that I see four men

loose walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt,

and we think it's an angel. But King nebukn Nasa said the fourth side,

the son of God. Let me read a little bit into the verse.

Okay, I'm not really a Scot. Let me read a little bit

into the verse. Okay, son of God. The only other time someone

used that term is saying, we describe Jesus Christ was with them even then

and the end, in the end, what happened, God was given the

glory. If you read further right, the king who didn't believe started worshiping

the God or God of Shadrack measure at the Pannago. And not just that

he promoted them, he promoted them they also were promoted and blessed because of

this experience. Wow, powerful, right, how many of us here?

And you have to raise your hand. We are going through fire right now,

or maybe we are gonna face fire soon. Why am I sharing you

this verse, this scripture, and with this I think you will get to

know me a little bit better. This is a story that I can relate

to because in my life I've gone through many, many tough times. But

one of the hardest things I've gone through was in twenty sixteen. So I

share you how it started and the sorry the slight can go. So sometime

in April twenty sixteen, my wife and I we met up with our sons,

you know O eldest son, my son el a son name is Timmy

Timothy. Okay, So we met up with the teachers in his daycare,

right, and they broke the news to us that they think my son might

have symptoms of autism or symptoms of special needs. Okay, So symptom like

no eye contact, plays alone. Harley joins the other kids, right,

and he also runs around every time he comes to place, like if he

comes here when he was younger, he will probably run for good five minutes

after that he'll be okay, then he will sit down. Okay, that's

him, right, and the place that he visits for the first time.

And he also has a slight speech delay. Right in twenty sixteen, he

was how old are ya twenty sixty three years old? Yeah, he was

three years old then right by that time, still no speech right, So

of course not easy to receive such news, right, worried, I'm sure.

And during that time, I remember in our church nobody really talks about

this. Actually even now also in I noticed in Maisure it's a taboo topic.

We don't talk about it, you know. We don't talk about specialists.

We don't talk about you know, all these learning disabilities. You know.

The thing about Asian culture, we attach shame with a lot of things.

So I don't want to be shameful. I don't want to tell you

my mistake because you might think that I did something wrong, and we stay,

some of us, we stay have that perspective. Unfortunately, Oh if

I if something bad happened to me, means I sin. Do you know

that there's a lie from the devil. Just because something that happened to you

doesn't mean you sin No, But why do us as Asians think that way?

Most of the time Asians will think that way. It's very shame based,

where like I do something wrong, then you know something bad. Yeah,

we always attach it to that, right and no different. And it

was tough, right, But the reality was also that I had to trust

the day care because they see forty kids. We only see one kid land,

so who who has more experience? Right to us, it's like my

kid? Okay, So again not much news. I kind of know there

are some families who will go to it, but we don't need to talk

about it like it's table, you know, don't want to talk about it,

right uh. And we were also not sure, right, but we

decided to follow the advice and we took him assessments. So we went to

this place called Nassam, the National Autism societi Maysia, right uh, and

went for assessment. Right. And at the end of the assessment, it's

about two hours. Right, they interviewed me, interviewed the teacher, watched

my son about two hours. The psychiatrist told me that he didn't hit the

markers. They have this market thing so kind of like I think a seven

to zero to seven and then he only hit three lane. And then the

way the psychiatist told me, he was very funny. He's like, oh,

mister Elvin, uh, you know, I've got news, like very

very solemn. I thought, oh no, so, oh, your son

didn't hit the markers, so he doesn't qualify to be to have autism isn't

a good thing, right, And I've been praying. I've been praying.

I said, Lord, please, you know. So he didn't hit the

markers right to be in the spectrum, right, but he had he had

challenges, he said, speech delay, and he said he had sensoriy issues.

You know, some of you who are familiar you will kind of know

thiss terms sensory issues. Right. So the the recommendation was occupational therapy and

speech therapy. And of course at the time he was like, oh,

praise the Lord, my son doesn't have autism. But because we are the

parents and you've got this problem, uh practically speaking, just send him for

help, you know, in these areas, and then he will improve in

these areas and be better. Right. So you started finding out where we

can send him for OT and spreece therapy. Uh. And it was a

new world to us. It was a new world that was open, right,

but we were still close. That doesn't make sense. We're open but

close, you know, like playing again open clothes. We should use it

open and close and and and again we were unsure. Not much we will

talk to went online and read. But praise the Lord. He's fine,

you know, very strong. Praise all it's fine. So of course we

took him for OT and spresh therapy. We didn't do anything again. When

you have a problem, and then when you have good news, sometimes we

kind of like chill the way after that because you don't think you new work

hard, so you chill right. Like how when we want to get a

health exam and we're so worried, and then before that we start stopping to

eat sugar, we do it, you know, we do all these things

and we exercise. And then once you get the health check and it says

you're fine, who are immediately back with right, That's that's the way we

function. Okay, we're human. So took him for OT for two years

and then nothing happened. And then two years later in April twenty eighteen.

While everything happened in April, we went we were caught again to the office.

You know, parents, when you're caught again, no, no call

to the principal's office. They're like, oh, no, what has my

child done this time? We're caught again? And uh, Basically they had

challenges with him. He was five this time and five years old. What

they do is that they will prepare them for class, so they will,

you know, sickly for two hours. They will sit in like a classroom

setting. They will listen to the teacher. Before that, it's like free

play or whatever. It's very chill, right. But apparently since January,

and we didn't know about this since January, there were challenges, right,

They had two hour class, you know, basically getting them ready for school,

right. Unfortunately, and this verbatima, I'll tell you one. He

was disrupting the class. Okay, it doesn't seem like he was paying attention.

Also, he was reprimanded daily for his behavior because he was a behavior

issue man, right, and he wasn't compliant and the teachers were strict with

him, right, and he keeps disturbing his classmates during their two hours.

He shouldn't, but he is. So every day they will put him outside

so that he will learn. But if you understand learning disability, they don't

get it. They'll be like, why are you punishing me? Right?

And then they asked to take him for assessment again. Damn. Like,

guys, you must understand when you have a good report and you think everything

is fine and you praised the lot for his testimony and then sunny you faced

with the same problem again, worse in fact, how you feel, God,

I thought you did something, God I thought you and it was quite

let's just say it was quite. Back, it was like, send him

for assessment and h and we might have to release him from the daycare.

Wow, our whole world turned upside down. So we actually had to this.

We actually had to take one week leave, me and my wife to

come together to figure out what to do, right, because if you're familiar

with assessment, and during that time, a really two years sent for occupational

therapy, so there's a little bit of exposure, really a little bit.

And I remember the occupational therapist telling me, huh, what you sent for

psychiatrists? You know, if you want to get a proper diagnosis, you

only can go and see a developmental pediatrician or a clinical psychologist, any other

form of assessment. Well, not to say cannot trust. More like they

cannot diagnose. They cannot officially diagnose. They can recommend, but they cannot

officially diagnose. Right, so you won't be able to get a clear medical

diagnosis unless it's these two people only that can diagnose your child for learning disabilities.

Okay, So I knew we wanted to make an appointment. We found

a few. I think that time it was trying to remember April, right,

so April, the earliest appointment was September. Earliest appointment of September,

and the daycare is saying within a week, you need to say taking of

assessment. If not, bye bye. World turned upside down, face with

the firey fulness. Right, so we two one week. All that we

thought we tried didn't work. We felt really alone. Really it was soul

searching, okay, really so searching the things I knew or thought I knew

crumbled. I was stuck with a problem which I couldn't find a solution,

and it was very heartbreaking. No answer ask church also, no answer.

Ask people are no answer. Nobody gonna help you. How you're alone.

You only have got I was confused, and I questioned that many times and

again two years readio. So I kind of have an idea about therapy,

about how much it costs. I kind of have an idea about some of

these things. Not fully into it, but kind of no right. And

I was working full time. Guys, it was twenty eighteen. How many

years did you work full time? Let me see seventeen fifteen years of you,

you know, doing church dream ministry. Wow, guys, it was

tough, man. I questioned, God, Lord, fifteen years serving you

and you do this to me? Why do you do this to me?

I don't have the money to send him for therapy. I don't have to

you know why God, you gave me the testimony? Why they keep back

a lot of questions? It was tough. Nobody could answer me. I

met Passee tend a few times. He couldn't give me an answer, though

he doesn't know. He tried his best. Nobody. I really felt alone.

Your tough. I felt like quitting my job really to pay for all

the future bills that will come. Why do you usues me? God?

So we had to meet and for six months we had a hard to thought

this time and to be really honest. It was also a time in our

marriage. It was challenged because she had an eye idea, I had my

idea. We had. I mean, we literally had to work things out

right. It was tough. It was really tough. We had to find

a social and move forward the other details that we send him to. And

so in the end, no choice, I cannot sign for assessment. Took

him out first, put him in another day care, try first, still

same problem. Disruptive. I tell you the word disruptive. It's not very

nice to hear. No, right, disruptive And if you know my son

when he's young, he's a very sweet boy. Disruptive and him, I

cannot see the connection. You get me. But they used that word disruptive

in your system. Right doesn't follow your system. So disruptive not the wrong

way to use, but not so nice to hear. So during that time,

God was really dealing with our hearts. There was no open door or

nothing, but God was dealing in your hearts. We were in denial for

two years. That made my son has this challenge. Two years we were

in denial twenty sixteen, twenty eighteen. But this was a wake up call

for us. It was like, maybe we have to take it a bit

more seriously. You know, you can pursue something and find a solution for

something, but you can be not fully committed to it, you know.

And this was out turning point to be fully committed to fully come to the

place where I say, okay, God, after I come through out of

my well, maybe about a month of depression. Maybe I don't know,

I can call it depression now, but I was where set okay and I

said, okay, God, something has to work. You know, something

has to happen. We're sending him for daycare. We were finding a way,

and you know, Paster Cane suggested this school. It was an inclusive

school, and we were considering it for a while. So after three months

in the daycare, we kind of gave up the daycare and then we took

him out and then for a good one two months, right, he didn't

go to any We just stayed in my house. And then during that time

we were discussing and we were researching, and that's where I went full on

research mode. I found out everything and we went for we went to a

developmental ped later on, you know, that was opened earlier. I think

sometime in August, we went and the developmental ped diagnosed him to be ADHD.

And I'm like, cannot be because he can play Lego for six hours,

four hours without any distractions. How can he be ADHD? So we

didn't really accept that, but we were open to find out more. Then

we did different research, and then sometime in September, remember I said April,

then September I really made a booking anyway, Suddenly I got a phone

call from the clinic. And by that time, me and my wife we

were we didn't really have a full pathway, but we were inching or moving

towards the direction forward, you know. And I was like, hey,

let's go and see lah. You know, we kind of know that something.

We finally accepted it, but we don't know what. So let's go

and find out. So we went to the developmental ped and then oh,

sorry, let me let me read here, right. Yeah, So by

this time we were mentally prepared for the diagnosis. If anything, it was

just to confirm our suspicions, as we were already open to what we were

experiencing. So we're already doing our own reading, already finding out we kind

of know roughly, and then we went to see the developmental ped and in

the assessment she confirmed my son to be mal autism. Right now, the

term they use is a SD one, so there's one, two three,

they make it simple, assam, there's aspertures and all. They've simplified it

ASD one to and trusse. So he's in AC one. Okay, today's

classification right. And as she was. The funny thing was, as he

was actually sharing the assessment, one of the things that she said, which

I didn't really think much about the time, where she said, oh,

he hasn autism, but he's much better now right that, I'm like,

you know, it was very weird comment. And then later I can't left

it. And after that he kind of confirmed our suspicions. So we're okay,

since now we know he has this thing, let's find help for him.

Let's do research. So we went all out to find out what the

options s is. Now we know what is the diagnosis. Right, with

direction, it's easier to move forward, right And later on I reflected,

oh wow, she could see that even though I was in denial and we

were in denial, we still invested two years of occupational therapy and that helped

his speech was not working because we didn't invest later on, what happened was

we went for training. We went for speech therapy training. I tell you

this way, I think, Okay, send for speech therapy one time a

week, pay money, go for training. We suffer for eight weeks.

Do training well, not eight weeks, but two hours every Saturday for eight

weeks. Not easy to find time, I think, parents, you know

you kind of know that it's a commitment to do that, like go for

tuition again. But we can do therapy every day because it becomes so normal

to us because we kind of know what to do, so we kind of

like do it every day rather than send for one week. So training was

good, right, So she said this, he's much better now, right

Damn? Like wow, Okay, So as parents, we already committed to

our son no matter what. God brought us on the journey of discovery and

also learning to be better parents for our kids. Nowadays, when I tell

people, I will tell people my journey as a father, autism made me

a better father. Really, I have changed a lot because of this and

it's caused me to learn a lot. Right, So it led us to

be better parents for the kids and also to find out more about this world

of special needs. Thankfully, we had help along the way. We had

a good church. Even though people don't know what to do, they were

still helpful, you know. And I kind of know because I've heard from

a friend that exclaims also very good, you know, to help children who

have learning disabilities, because I know sound that might here. We had a

community who supported and loved us, and God opened doors for us. And

God opened doors and leads to us on what to do, where to go.

The journey is definitely not an easy one or a cheap one, okay,

but it was definitely a spirit led one. It is on fourteen of

October twenty eighteen. Again, a lot of things are under wraps. Now

I'm opening up and sharing you we're openly right, but a lot of things

were under wraps again, a lot of shame. But in October twenty eighteen,

after we got the diagnosis and everything, God challenged me to share about

what's happening in our lives to my church in BJ. One of the things

that parents are concerned about is labels. Were very worried. Again, oh

what the people labeled my son going can retarded. You know, not a

nice way to use okay. Uh. We were fearful about that. Oh

I don't people label my son. But God challenged me. He led me

to share a message titled the Parable of the Lost Son, looking at the

perspective of the brother in Church, and I shed about my situation to the

church. I was scared. I didn't know how the church will react.

I was fearful of labels and judgment. But friends, can I share with

you something that opened up my eyes. We kind of got to have a

little bit more faith in the House of God. We kind of need to

have a little bit more I'm a pastor, by the way, just to

let you know. And I'm still scared to share with my church about some

of these things that's going through that I'm going through, But we need to

have a bit more faith because we were pleasantly surprised at the response of the

church and the love we receive. And I tell you there is breakthrough in

telling the truth. There's breakthrough in saying that, Hey, you know,

I'm a parent with a child's pasionist and there's nothing no problem with it.

And God gave me a son that I can love and help to grow and

that's good. That gave me another level of faith. Right. So we

as parents started observing our son, and we realized that he was very good

at building, right. I think that's some photos, right, yeah,

well, pacity, go back, go back. Okay, he was very

good at building, let's see. Uh yeah, and his spatial skill is

very good, right, So we encourage Lego building to build that skill,

and he's very good. He also likes cars, right, and he does

that. And the one thing that I find very interesting about this whole journey

is that if you know autism, the definition of autism is a social developmental

disorder, means that social socially very hard to relate to people, where hard

to see social cues, don't know whether you're angry or not, stuff like

that, right. But at the same time, my son is the most

caring and affectionate and kind boy that anyone who knows him will know, right,

and most of the time to strangers as well. So for O Kate

with autism, it's quite weird that he's okay with people, but sometimes he

still can't get social settings. As we got to know him more, we

appreciated him more and not just the good we see, but everything we see

as we put on a new lens as parents. So really it's a perspective

change, not just expectation and what he needs to do, but who he

is and the potential of what he can be. That's why I believe for

every child expression is they can be there again, wonderfully and fearfully made by

God. I don't sorry, this might scene very bold. I do not

see autism as a sickness or illness. Neither do I see as a superpower,

because I'm saying it's about, oh, it's a super bowerl your genius.

Please, I don't go that direction now, not all that my genius

are. They're human beings like me and you, so don't put such expectation

on them, right. But I see as something that is just different.

It's like how some of us have black hair, blue eyes, different skin

color. This life amen, not just expecting or have an expectation or what

he needs to do, but who he is really. So we enrolled him.

So when he was five, we finally mentioned and rode him to the

school mind space called Upward Learnings. He's an inclusive school, okay, and

he attended for five years from twenty eighteen to twenty twenty three, and he

improved there so much with the care from the teachers, and we're very thankful

for that. Really is by God's grace that he has come a long way.

I mean, if you go meet him and say hi, daim later

or but just to let you know, we haven't told him yet that he

has the condition. So don't say you autistic. Please don't do that.

Please, You're gonna give me a lot of problems. I think he's not

mature yet. Just can I show you he's not mature? Will I have

that discussion. Yes, when he's a little bit moreture to accept it,

to know that this thing doesn't define him, then maybe, But for now

we have not told him yet. Okay, so please don't beat me,

do it now? Right, But he's starting to realize it a little bit

because today he came daddy, I know why you call them autism conference to

me? Is it because of me? I'm like, yeah, kind of,

but that's all a consition, you know, not really telling about it.

Let me share your testimony, Okay. In November twenty twenty one,

during one of the parent teacher meetings, the teachers were really blessed with his

performance and informants that they were taking him out of the e IP program,

so early intervention sorry, early intervention program in the school. They decided to

take him out after three because he's improved, and then he will be doing

his classes like any other kids. So we will were surprise because we thought

it's going to take a long time. But we were surprised at this news,

but also a bit dumbfounded there it was this quick. I can only

thank God for his faithfulness. It is really God faithfulness. It's not because

I'm more power, No, it's just God. Amen. So let me

share you eight points of what I learned from this experience. One of the

hardest things I had to go through. God can make any test into a

testimony. And I know for some of you here I'm looking at Calice,

I know how God can do that. Any test, He can change you

to a testimony. The other thing that I learned from this is that we've

got to stick with our convictions and principles. Shadreck Measure and a bat and

Goal stuck to their convictions and principles. Yes, I confess to you that

I blame God. God, I serve you for fifteen years. Why do

you do this to me? You know what came back to me, Elvin?

What do you believe? Elvin? Who do you believe? It was

a real soul searching moment. No soul searching for me. We need to

stick to God's word, especially when it's difficult. Not when it's easy.

Guys, when it's easy, very easy. Do you know when you really

need to stick and be faithful When it's hard, When you hear the word

no, when you go to trouble, when you see your neighbor who's not

believer or maybe believer, being blessed by the Lord so well, and you

are stuck here suffering. Stick to the word of God, Stick to your

convictions. Don't give up. I am still standing. It counts more when

it's hard. Conviction and principle is very important. Faithfulness and perseverance is important.

We need to be faithful and persevere with what we believe in and practice.

There will be times that you want to quit. Trust me, I

almost quit well. I was seriously gonna quit, I said God, if

certain things don't happen, you can say bye bye to me. Serving you

wow so brave to challenge God that way. As you can see, God

has come true. I'm saying HeLa. And He's also rebuilt Mela for being

so brave. And some of us has quit. Friends, can I encourage

you even if you have quit, come back. God will revive that dream

that died. He will align with God and see where the spirit leads.

It is all about alignment. We look at the result, but God wants

us to align with him. He always wants us to align with him.

Alignment with God is important. The fourth point trust in Him beyond all understanding.

Trust in the Lord your God with all your heart. Really the peace

of Christ. Will God you you know beyond Honestly I didn't understand. I

didn't understand. Do you know one of the things that Christians like to say

to encourage you pass Julian, I know you're going through this very difficult time.

But one day, God, will you see to bless other people?

Do you know that when you're going through that problem you hate to hear things

like that. Do you know the amount of people that good intentions spoke to

me? Yea, I almost lost my faith because I never know. I'm

like, Hello, this is my son you're talking about? You think what

very fun is it? Of course, now I eat my words and I'll

share a bit more testimony later. Okay, we need to trust that God

can come true for us, and even if he doesn't, don't back down.

There were many times in this journey I felt like he didn't come true.

But I can tell you God has you know? Can I share you

another revelation? When we trust God? What are we trusting? Are we

trusting the result? Are we trusting? Oh? You know, God,

bless passe? Sorry, you seem a lot because we're good friends, you

know, as got use anyone else and your offender? Okay, are we

trusting that God has? No? We are trusting God's character. Do you

know that when you trust someone, you're trusting that character. You're trusting that

they will say they will do the thing they say they would. You're not

just trusting the result. No, Oh, I trust the person, skill

set, skill can fail one. You're trusting God's character. You know what

else you're trusting? You're trusting his track record. In this journey, I

remember the amount of times that God has come true for me. His track

record, his track record. You're not just trusting oh you know? No,

you're trusting his character, his track record. And can I challenge you

here if you are a believer and you've never experienced God's character or you've never

experienced God's track record, You've got to start today. You got to start

today. It will strengthen your faith. He will. Do you know that

He's God of the impossible. He can make an impossible situation turn to our

favor. My own story is a testament of that. God also gives us

abundant life even in tough times. You know, he doesn't just saves us.

He gives us more than what we can imagine or hopeful. Like the

Israelites in the desert. Do you know that the Israelites in the desert experience

the most miracles in their life. Every day they see a pillar of client

and fire. Guys, every day they experience money from heaven, and they

can still complain hallelujah every day. No imagine we see pill of fire and

cloud every day. Afterward. I think you, I don't know. I

don't know if you still a complain. But God gives us abandoned life.

Amen. Number seven, God is able, He's more than able. And

number eight at them the day God gives the glory. I don't get the

glory. I don't get the glory. I'm not a founder, by the

way, I'm a co founder. And can I show you something I didn't

want. I never grew up thinking that I would ever start the Specialist Ministry

or Specialists Society. Never. Never do you know thatice a lot of work,

work, guys, but God gets a glory because he wants it done.

Amen. So we started this ministry inteas twenty eighteen. Okay, he

started as a specialist ministry to help parents to maybe share a little bit,

bring more awareness. Last year, on the twenty three or March twenty twenty

three, we incorporated to be a society. Why because well, the main

reason was because we wanted to do more and we wanted to maybe one day

engage the government. But at the end of the day, we are hoping

to help other families who might be on the same boat as us. So

I share you three testimonies true to the Specialist Society. I've got three testimonies

to share you, Okay, and with this our end number one. I'm

not sure that you've seen video, but there was once where a dad,

you know, I think two three years back after pandemic. You know,

I was connected to this father which I heard came to our service on Sunday

and uh, he has a he has a child with autism, young child

and when you know, bass Sarah connected us and I said, okay,

let's let's have a chat. Okay. I only spoke for like what one

like. I only asked like two questions la. And he spoke for two

hours LA. And after that he is like, oh, thank you so

much for you know, all that you've done. I didn't do anything.

I just asked you the questions and say I understand, you know. But

you can see a person who really needs to connect. His story is quite

sad because he apparently, again I don't blame the church for doing this,

but apparently he was asked by the church to leave the service because his child

was making a ruckus in the service and you need to be I don't know,

Reverend in the president of I don't go against that. Again, they

don't understand and I don't know what happened. But he was sad because he

was that's his home church. He was there for twenty four years and he

faced a lot of rejection and then when it came to our church, I

mean, our church would be more chiller when it comes to kids. Right.

He mentioned once he came and then his child came and then straight ran

on the station the moment came into the hall, run on stage and he's

like, oh no, I'm gonna get reprimanded again and extra startari. We're

like, oh, okay, you know, come get go to the site.

He was very short and he's like, hey, you accept my child,

you accept this, and then he even went to excess and say again,

Now a person who has rejection now normally put on a very guarded friend.

I went up to the teacher and said, my child's autism, you

can accept, not straight away, like I want to fight it. And

then the teacher's like okay, can no, bro, thanks for letting.

And then he was shot. And of course, now this this person is

one of our parents who's helping us with the parents. He found life.

Right. I heard this story from our leader called me base Alvin. There's

his lady grandmother, you know I'm connected to, has a grandson who has

especially what should I do? What should I do? I'm like, I

also don't know because you know, uh, and the story is quite sad

eldest son, two kids. Parents apparently will only go out with the two

other kids as normal and leave him at home and then the grandma will take

care and just don't care. Didn't do anything, didn't send for terby nothing.

Okay, again, I understand, maybe they're frustrated, maybe they don't

have the right information, they're start Okay, I understand. I'm not judging

the parents. I get it, but they should at least find out more

and how to help. And the grandma is concerned. I think the sun

is like seven years old a minute, So I said, okay, a

bit hard to help because this is like third hand information. So I suggested

to this did, I say, why don't you ask the grandma to bring

them to church, because I'm very sure ex kids will take care of them,

because central, you know, I think come claiming so yo, I'm

sure you'll take care of them. So trueing up, the grandma brought the

child and they came once advice, and I never heard from this leader for

a while, and then recently I heard from an excitus teacher that this boy

that came loves to hug people, will come and will hunt every teacher and

everything, and and he has such a great time. In fact, he

came once and he didn't want to leave and that was an encouragement. But

you know, I was a sad thing because again, when you kind of

know learning disability and autism, you roughly know where the need comes from.

He probably does that because his parents don't huguement at home. So that's sad.

That's why when he comes to excids he will. Of course they don't

stop it next to you, but they got teacher teach him. But I'm

thinking myself, if he didn't come to church, he will have never experienced

love. You know, it's very small, you know. Something we think

like, oh, let's do therapy them, and let's do all these things.

But sometimes all it takes is just to be human, to understand,

to be open, which anyone always can do. And you know, through

this history also, I think God has opened up different doors for me to

connect with different parents, just having conversations. And there was one mom I

remember talking to and the mom's doing quite a lot of things really and I

say, you're doing well, don't worry, your daughter will be fine.

You're doing your best and it's good. I'm sure you'll be okay. And

all that was all the mom needed to hear, you know, and these

are non believers friends, Yes I'm eating my words. One day God will

use your tests and changing into a testimony and use it to encourage other people.

I don't know what you've caught out of this, but I just try

to share that with you and that you encouraged. But I think I wut

to summarize this. Maybe some of you here are in a tough spot.

I just hope that my story and the scripture will encourage you to still trust

God no matter what, to still follow Him no matter what the reality of

life is that it's not smooth. And again, I'm not here to compare

life story with you. Some of you might not be in such a tough

situation, and it's okay. Your difficult situation is your reality. I understand

you know, but I want to encourage you no matter what challenge you are

going through, hold on to Jesus because He can come true for you.

However bad things are. Is he a broken marriage? Christ can come and

heal? Do you have a charm who has a challenge? God can come

and help you. Are you in a situation where I don't know it's difficult

work. You expected to deliver something that you don't know whether you can deliver.

You want to know that Jesus can come true for you. He's not

just relevant in church. No, He's not just relevant just because we've got

story to share and he has to do it community. No, God wants

to give you life and life more abundantly in every area, and he wants

you to rely on Him and say, God, give me the answer.

Let me give you this revelation of Court recently X one. It says,

but you shall receive power from Me to be witnesses. Right, you share

received the Holy Spirit to be witnesses. Well, yes, the Holy Spirit

is here to help us with ministry. But the Holy Spirit is also here

to help us to be able to connect with God because He's interested in very

hero of you're like, you know why because when God works for you in

your work and your family and your studies in every other area, when He

helps you in those areas, right, you can be a witness for Him

to others who are going through the same who don't have God, and you

can say, this is how Jesus helped me in my family, This is

how Jesus helped me in my exams. This is how Jesus help me in

my work. This is how Jesus help me in my relationship. This is

how Jesus helped kill my body. This how Jesus helped me reconcile with my

parents. This how Jesus lifted me up from the pit and caused me to

have freedom. This the significance of God in our lives, and He gives

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

information on our church, please visit ats church do org. We are also

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good week, a hit for you. God bless