The 7 Churches | Pr Matthew Chang

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

We hope this message will light up your day.

I prepared a message. There's actually a few messages I

can get to choose from. And I'm actually been starting

on a series called the Seven Churches from the Book

of Revelations. But I'm not going to go on a sequence.

It doesn't need to be going on sequence. But today,

as I was praying God, which one should I preach on?

I felt like there's a particular one that I wanted

to preach on. So, you know, we pray that you

know you will speak to you. Guys. Turn with me

to Revelations chapter two, and I will read from verse twelve,

and it's about the church in Pergamos. Okay, church in Pergamos.

How many if you have learned about the seven churches

in the Book of Revelations? Hands up? Oh? Okay, I

get about thirty percent. Thirty percent? Okay? Cool, all right,

So let's read first, Okay, Revelations chapter two, Verse twelve. Okay,

it's the title here. It says the compromising Church, who

today is going to be interesting. Readly, you see the

word compromising will be very good? Ready, he says here

verse twelve, and to the angel of the church in Pergamos.

Right these things, says he who has the shark two

edged sword. Okay, now just pause for a while. You

will notice that for every church that uh you know,

the person who is saying this in latter rauch Jesus,

that every time Jesus did reveals himself to these churches,

he describes or gives him a different himself a different title. Okay,

uh some sometimes you know. In the Book of if

you read in the earlier versus, Jesus reveals himself as

the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand,

to the efficiency and then the next one in Smyrna

he holds. He gives himself the title the first and

the last who was there and came to life. But

to the Church of Pergamas, he gives himself the title okay,

as what as the one who has the sharp two

edged sword. Different titles to different churches, and these titles

are very important. There's a title, there is an address,

there is a warning, and there is also an ending,

a farewell or what they call it a call to

response as well. Okay, so this is how the letters

will will be structured, but Jesus calls himself the ones,

the one who has the shop to edged sword. Now,

a lot of times when we talk about shop to

edged sword, we think about cutting, cut, go to world warfare,

yes to their past. Is gonna talk about spiritual warfare, Yes,

it's one. But today the sharp edged sword is more

about not so much about you know, hey, Jesus is

coming to stay in the end means know what Jesus

is talking about is the war with the world. Not

in the sense is that in trying to engage in battle.

But the shop to edge sword has always to do

with one key thing. And what is that division? Okay,

the key word is division. Turn your neighbors say division. Okay.

This is one of the most important ability that God

manifests through his creation to all of us. Even from

the book of Genesis. Did you know that one of

God's glory and his power and the foundation that God

reveals and exhibits even from the Book of Genesis is

the word not to speak, not just to speak, but

the speaking that divides from darkness and lights the heavens

and the heavens, the different heavens, from the lands and

the seas. Notice or not the sun and the moon.

You notice what is happening. There's always a division before

there is a division nothing, there's only chaos. Without division,

there is only confusion. And the same way I'm saying,

if a believer is not able to know the Word

of God and clearly define what we have raining in

your life, it's not revelation but confusion. It's just chaos.

So without division, without parting, you know, separating the land

and the sea, the lights, everything, there cannot be seeds

that grow from the ground. They cannot be life, animals,

living things in the water, birds in the air. You

see what I'm saying that there must be a found

day and the foundation comes from clearly dividing with the

word of God. I under saying what I'm saying. No,

some of you here is how come there's no life

in my life? But this is more I can preach

on the next time. Okay, there must be a very

clear division. So ask your neighbor right now, are you

able to clearly divide things in your life? Turn to

your neighbor right now, seriously, are you able to clearly

divide ten divided by one? It costs so much on

hundred divided by ten costs how much. Don't confuse yourself.

It's very important enough to be able to clearly divide things.

And so when Jesus introduces himself who has the sharp

two edged sword? What he says that I can look

into your life right now, and I can clearly divide

and separate which is true and which is false, which

is light and which is dark? And I can tell

you based on how I separate, I know whether there

is life in you or not. Oh, Scarier. This is

how Jesus comes into your life. A lot of the

last one. He says, Hey, Jesus, you come as our

lord and save you, oh the one who loves us. Yes.

But if he comes into your life and he reveals

himself to the church as the one who has the

two where's the shock two edged sword? What does he

mean as the one who comes to divide? Okay? And

he says, yeah, not coincidence, Let coincidentally Okay. In verse thirteen,

what he says, immediately, I know your works? What is

it about the vision? Okay? Division? Immediately he comes into

the church, he comes into our lives. You know I

know your works? Ready, that's the first thing. Division? Clear? Okay?

How does God divide? Let's look at here, he says,

I know your works and where you dwell, oh, where

Satan's throne is. Ah, we're gonna get into the spiritual stuff. Okay.

And you hold fast to my name and did not

deny my faith even in the days in which Anthropase

was my faithful martyr who was killed among you where

Satan dwells. Now, should I pouse you for a while? Okay,

Let's let me pause your a while. Okay, I think

it's better that I do it lane by line now,

so we see here. Jesus says that he sees their words,

but not only there, but where they're dwelling. Now, it

gives a lot of revelations in it. It's not just

about what Hey, what have you done? It's not just

about Jesus. When he looks and considers your situation, he

then't just look at your fruit. He also consider your circumstances.

You're surrounding as well. Makes a lot of difference. Okay.

A tree is determined a lot by the surrounding. Of course,

you wander the roots to go deep to the fruits

to bear as much as well. But if a tree,

if it's not planted with good water saucers. If it's

planted with a lot of thorns and a lot of animals,

there is always pecking away at the tree. It is

not in a fertile environment. Now the church in Programas,

it's in a unique situation. Okay. Now this is a

good time to introduce the slides. Okay. Can I have

the slight number one? Okay? The church and Programma or programs, Okay,

is a powerful place. When I say powerful, uh, it

has First of all, it's known to be a place,

you know, have nice very nice heels. You know, if

you go to like places in what they call it

in Italy and the rolling hills you know, Olive what

they call it, farms and orchards. You know, program is

a beautiful place. Okay, it's in Turkey, very beautiful place. Uh.

And and you will notice, first of all, a lot

of the this is the the what they call it,

the ruins that they have to stay on this one.

So on the top of these hills are always the

most important structures. And the most important structures are not condos, okay.

The most important structures are the places of government, the

places of worship, and the places of what they call

it congregation for any events. For example, one they have

the theater okay, and they also have the places of

worship now in during the Roman rule okay, and they

are at the pick of their civilization. They have two

religion k two main religion okay. One is their pagan worship. Okay,

officially they have their pagan worship, but the pagan worship

is also divided by nationalities. They have the official the

Roman gods and also they have the also believe in

the Greek gods, but they are actually similar. Okay, I'm

not going to go into that. The Roman gods and

the Greek gods are similar, just have different names. Okay.

So Athena and Diana they're all almost the same, and

Mars and stuff like that. Okay, So I'm not going

to go into that too much time. Okay. That's the

first for the pagan worship. The second worship they hand

it is what they call the imperial cult heard before

it was the imperial cult. The imperial count is another

religion introduced during the Roman time. There is about worshiping

the emperor, so the emperor the king became a religion

and most of the time we have a king. But

it's one thing to have a king and another to

think of the king as a religion. It's a different thing,

you know, very different thing, you know, very very You

can say that, hey, this guy is a dad, or

this guy is a dansy, this guy is a prime minister,

but it's another to think of him as a god.

And because not just to think, but to be officially

recognized in the law as a god or got such

a thing in Malaysia by lawyer, recognized as a god?

You know, got such a thing. You're finding incredible, You're like,

what in the world. But yes, there is this thing

called the imperial cult. And so apart from just pagan worship,

there is also a temple dedicated to the Roman Caesars. Okay,

they will have the human Statute there and you're supposed

to worship and they'll give you an example. Okay, not

all places will have this imperial cult, but the newer cities, okay,

like say, for example, if they plan a new city

is say, for example, like Smirna, which is the second church,

like Jaya, like a Cyberjay. You know, cyberg are unique

because they are very young, is in it. They're not

all like Malacca like Pinang, because they are young, they

are planned by the government, okay, And so a lot

of the culture is set by the government, read by history.

So you can plan the town, you can do everything,

you can organize it. It looks nicer, the parts are nicer.

The culture is organized by them. So the younger cities

will actually have more influence from the government as actually

by the king. So the imperial cut worship would be

stronger than the pagan worship. So and it's so important

to do this, all this imperial cut worship that before

you go to the marketplace to buy things, you want

to go and borrow money, you want to buy a house,

you want to do anything. It's all ending within this

market square. And at that market square, say, for example,

there is an entrance before you go in, and there

will be gods, Roman centurions standing in front there. You're

supposed to gut there. And then there will be a

ball sort of like a two altars okay, two altars

of balls okay, One will be in front of you

will be chuckle, okay, they're making barbecue chicken. You know,

sat run dawn, you know whatever it is there or

just kidding, Okay, but on the other balls powder okay,

but we call it incense. Okay, So before you go

in before the soldiers, you're supposed to take a pinch

of the incense and you do a salt bay mano kidding, Okay,

you take a pinch, and then you're supposed to sprinkle it.

You would, and then you would say Caesar is God.

And then only you show your good will and your

what they call it, your allegiance to the Emperor, then

only you can enter into the market place. That was

how they're actually where they call it implemented all these

things as well. Interesting, So that's how. Because so if

you are not a Roman Roman, if you are not

a Jew, neither one. And because Jews are actually exempted

from doing that, you know, so interesting of all the

people of different nations, are Jews were the only one

exempted from me. But i'll talk about it except exempted.

But if you're not a Roman, if you're not a Jew,

but if you're a Christian, the Christian is like you're stuck.

You know, you're not a Roman, You're not You're you're this,

You're abandoned by your own people. You're stuck. It's like

if I send you to Australia. You're neither Australian, You're

not a Malaysian. You have not embassy, you go no

passport because of Malaysian government won't recognize your passport as well.

Who are you? Then? You are stuck, really stuck. You

know you have an illegal You can't buy, you can't

do anything. You can't even exchange currency. So how would

you live as a Christian at time? Very challenging, isn't

it extremely extremely challenging? Okay, anyways, here's a sound of

things that actually go through so in programam Okay, there

are temples, but not only but Pergrama is not just

only famous for their places of worship. They are famous

for this one, this very big altar of Zeus. You

know you've got the third big chuldren and the slight

very big, oh so big. This is the biggest barbecue pit. Okay,

So you can go to the fourth side next one.

If you see this is at the heel topics are

all the places of worship, all the temple. This is

sort of like a replica architect. Okay. If you look

at the bottom there and you will see the altar

there Okay, and within the court yard. There there is

a big what they call it platform, and on that

platform it's where they offer meat, offer the sacrifices. You

must understand now at that time, man, there is no

jaya grocer, no tesco. Okay. Most of the meat they

are called, they are farmed, they are raised, They are

brought up to the heel first to be offered a sacrifice, burned.

Then only from the hill that are brought down and

dispersed the marketplaces to be sold. Okay, Now talk about

either foods eaten? Now are we able to eat foods

offered to idols? Next? Lesson? Okay, next time I'll talk

about it. How we're going to talk about it because

it's not so straightforward, but it's also very had to

clearly divide how we But when is it eating? Is it?

Is it wrong? When is it when you come down?

Is it wrong? Next time we go ahead on time. Okay,

We've got other things to cover, Okay, But there was

what the Christians were actually dealing with. Okay. So the

myth almost when you buy will come down from the

altar at the ground floor at the marketplaces. Okay, very

very challenging for them to also observe as well. Okay,

but that place where the certainly I cannot remember what

is it called ready or the altar of Zeus? Okay,

it's what they call the seed of Satan. This is

most likely what they referred to when you say where

Satan's thrown is, Okay, and it says there. There was

also a martyr Antipasse. You can go and research on

Google or Wikipedia as well if you find. If you

think that the Bible is in a myth, you will

know that this guy Antipus is a real person. He

was martyred and the way that he died was extremely cruel,

which I will not disclose here because yeah, it's very cruel.

I don't want to obey censored the body. Okay, you

can go and check it out yourself. Okay, who was

killed among you where Satan dwells? But then see the

division happens. It starts there. From verse twelve all the

way to verse thirteen, Jesus commends them and acknowledges what

he sees. There's one part. I see what you do,

and I see the martyrs. I see your challenges where

you are. But then from verse fourteen onwards, Jesus clearly

divines but I also see another side of you. What

is the other side, Jesus say said in verse fourteen.

But I have a few things here against you, because

you have there those who hold the doctrine of Baleen,

who taught Ballach to put a stumbling block before the

children of Israel. What did they do, okay? To eat things,

sacrifice to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Ah. Thus

you also have those who hold the doctrine of the

nicol license, which thing I hate. Okay. So now a

lot of times we think that God doesn't divide. Hey, God,

I serve in church. I must be good. Ready, I

tell you serve in church as God will still divide

things in your life. Yes, I see you serving in church.

But at home, who are you? What you do sound scarier?

Remember this, God divides, young people. Remember this on your own.

This is who you are. It's not what you are

in church. God divides. You give money to times good.

Even then, God will still divide. He will acknowledge what

you give, but he will also acknowledge what you do

not do. In the dark. God clearly divide. He's a

shark two edged sword, very very important. It's a warning

to all of us to be always be vigilant as well.

Away you see there. First of all, let me talk

about this doctrine of Baylem, which which is where I

want to emphasize the most about how many of you

know the story of Bailm. How may you have heard

of Bailm before? Yes, most of you heard of Baylem before. Now,

I won't go too much on it, but I just

want to give you the the concept and I'm going

to expand from there and then I will stop from there. Okay.

Because of time, Okay, Bayleem was a prophet, very powerful guy.

Not all prophets have a booker. Okay, not all prophets

have a booker. Baylorm didn't have a book. You don't

read the book of Baylorm meanside here Okay, there are profits,

there are people who operate with that gifting. That is

very clearly recognized. And he existed during the time of

Moses as well. Okay, in time of Moses when Moses

and I'll let the people out of Egypt into the wilderness. Okay.

They also encountered many different enemies and people dreaded them.

Of course, they were numerous. And also they used to

have a dread because everywhere they went they were basically overwhelmed.

And the word there was used to describe the Israelites

were like, you know, flocks of cows that will lick

up the grass. There was the word you know, imagine

like you know, half like a million or two million

cows coming to your gattaca, moaning through and just lick

up everything like New Zealand cows. You know, you know

how you might not understanding that. You think cows are

just like dogs are just walking walking. Tell you when

the cows come to your lander when they chew, are

they don't leave your land and your cross the same way?

And want to know you know how they chew? They

just chew it poor and pull. Your land doesn't look

the same anymore one, you know, And I don't know

where you want as any put one, put one, put one,

put one. You know you said it gave me right.

It's a mass one and all you know what I'm saying,

it's a mass one. And you don't like it. You

all you're like, why about? And these are talking about

millions of them? You know, no cows, okay, but we're

talking about the Israelites. But they look at them like that.

It's people of so much of them. And one of

the kings that didn't really dread the Israelites was this

guy called Ballack, And so he heard of this guy

called Balem, who was to say, Hey, I'm not going

to be able to defeat them in war, but I

know that there is some force, there's a God there

is giving them favor. Maybe I can get this guy

who is renowned for his words to go and curse

this Israelian. So what he do He hired Baalem, and

he knew and he hired Balem knowing that Balem had

a weakness. And what was Balem's weakness that even the

world knows, you know, a weakness so clear, so strong

that even the world knows. He's loved for money. He's

loved for money. Okay, go and read it. Okay, go

and read it. I'm not go through to my love

of money. But just to keeping sure, God appeared to

Baylim in the visions, say that you shall not curse

the Israelites because they are my people. Okay, so cut

the shory store they see even a story about him

and the donkey and stuff like that. I'm not going

to go through in there. But three times I think

three of four times, Okay, I'm just checked the numbers,

and number twenty five to thirty one, I think three

the four times Baylim was asked to curse, but Ba said,

I cannot even you give me so much money or so,

I cannot do it because God told me I can't.

My life is more important. But after number thirty one

you start to read they're suddenly out of nowhere. The

children Israel started to get into a lot of trouble,

started to you know, start, and then after that, like

I think about twenty four thousand of them was judged

and died because they were bringing so much idolatry, you know, uh,

you know, into the into the nation and giving them

problems curses so much so, and the root came from

their assimilation and their marriage with the foreign women, and

the foreign women brought in all the foreign gods into

their land, which God prohibited. And these foreign gods are

not just any gods, okay, these are bales, you know,

but ours terrible, terrible worship and practice children sacrifice, humans sacrifice,

all sorts of witchcraft and nonsense. They actually brought in

as well, very very very powerful very very evil stuff

they've actually brought in as well. Okay, So when if

you come back to Revelations chapter two, what does it

mean here? In verse fourteen, it says that who talk

because you have you have those who hold the doctrine

of Baalim, who taught Baala to put a stumbling block

before the children of Israel. What does it mean to

post the main block? What is the thing that we

want to learn? We see, but Balem couldn't curse the

Israelites because God wanted him not to. Cannot. I don't

have the authority to do it. Yeah, I mean right,

But he loved money so much. He was revealed later

that it was Baalim doing. I can't curse you, but

I can get the Israelites to curse themselves. Okay, So

I wonder maybe give a statement here and also ask

a question at the same time. Some of you, Hey,

the devil is is Is the devil out there to

curse me? He can't. There are things that the devil

can't do without the permission of God. Don't know, you know,

to see what I'm saying. But a lot of times

the devil will put you in the position that you

curse yourselves. Turn to your neighbor and say this, don't

curse yourselves today the lesson will be, don't curse yourselves.

How why this is an important concept and a how

do we, as you know, in the times of Moses

as believers, as people say from Egypt, get don't get

into a position of cursing ourselves. And now as we

move forward and this time we're imperm how are the

Christians save by God but also in the position of

endangering themselves cursing themselves. It's not always the enemy's fault

in a way, it is, but we are the ones

cursing ourselves. You all you know what I'm saying. What

are we doing to curse ourselves? So the cursing comes,

you disobey God and you bring a curse. But how

exactly did you disobey God? How is it that you

are actually tempted? How are the peoples in actually programam

actually tempted? With the same teaching? And how does it

apply to our lives as Christians? Right now? You see

the struggle of the Christians in program are the same

as us. Why is the struggle the Christians are tired?

It's not lack of doctriner. They are tired. They are tired.

Why is tiring you? Why they're tired because tired of

always being different from the world. It's tiring one and all.

After a while, I was like, oh, I can't do this,

I can't do that. Oh I can't do this, I

can't do that. Everything can. Also I was like, oh,

I feel like I'm missing out or tiring one and all.

After a while, it gets like, is this the abundant

life that we are called to? Every time I have

to separate ourselves, divide, divide, divide after one gets very

tiring one and all. It's like, oh, my dad told

me counters the church can or they justid? The Bible

said why? And so when you're tired, the world will

start to introduce the teaching of bailim and that what

they call the Nico Latans. And what did they introduce? Syncretism? Okay,

turn your neighbor says syncretism. You know why syncretism. Syncretism

comes from the word synchronizing, synchronizing with the world. It's

like you tired to use your own data and you

decide to go on the world's WiFi. Can I have

a WiFi password? Please, I need to sink with the world,

you know, tiring in all expensive, in a costlyier to

do your own way, you know. But you want to

sync with the syncretism. It's taking God's truth and synchronizing

with the world's convenience, the gospel plus convenience. Hey, doing

all this adulters this give me right? So balon be

the same thing. Hey, Moses saved you. Is it safe

you save your regular These women, they are no harm

to you. They are also daughters. Can give you many

children children. At that time I look at as resources are.

Now this we look at children are as expenses are

at that time. My children are our resources. Are more

children good? Can take care of my can tell my

chicken and my cow and my lending know they are

they are they got go arrow I one and all

Now this way look at them as negative arrow I

won and no more children. That's why they have like

ten eleven, twelve children and one are like, oh, this

is labor force. Free labor. Don't to go a platform

work permit money, okay, free labor force more children, better

get more. We've got the time. They can marry even better. Still,

this is a teaching in the world. Hey, take from

the local one and take from overseason one or so

sinkling with the woman, practice the thing after with my Hey,

eat your food or solar God's Hey, how can they

get to enjoy more one? How can they can do

more one? Hey every Sunday? You still need to do that? Hey, well,

you know certain foods you cannot eat on. Hey. When

you mile if, then you start to realize that there

are a lot of things you miss out because you've

been dividing so much. No no, yes, yes, no no.

Then they tell you why you've been missing up and

you start to get even more tired. And now after

they you get fed up, and then you start to like,

let's merch. Let's merch with the world. So today I

want to talk about how we are merging with the world,

especially I'm not talking about the world. I'm just talking

about us as a church, how we as Christians have

merged with the world, have lost our key core beliefs

as a Christian nowadays, and then merged with what the

world as, especially in terms of our feelings and the

convenience that we want. How much time do I have? Okay, good,

let mean, let's do this. Everybody Okay, let's turn to

that slight that table. Okay, so not this one, the

next one, this one, don't have time for cover. Talk

about it next time. Okay. So I call the first

groom it's like you're in a relationship. I call it

the dating phase. It's a Christian You start on the date.

You know it's a new couple. You start to date. Okay,

but then if I have a daughter, I would don't

want to hear them. My daughter is dating a guy

for ten years and never get married. If a guy

wants to walk from my daughter and you know it's

serious about relationship, I want to know your business plan.

You plan to marry my daughter? You don't plan to

marry my daughter? Don't even think about dating? All the

fathers and mothers agree the rest? No Ah, Hey please, hey,

well the fathers and mothers are what is happening? Okay? Yeah,

you're okay? The guy to day your daughter for ten

twenty years okay, thirty years, not marrier, no commitment? Okaya,

your daughter for forty fifty years old? You don't even

get a weddinger. Okay? No O care right, ladies? Are

you okay with there? Ah? Guy date you for twenty

thirty forty years No okay, okay, or so talk about anything,

anything except talk about marriage. Canna, oh God like that one.

I will say bye bye, no, no, no, no thank you.

I will tell my daughter to forget about him. Makes

sense or not. That's the dating phase. But you must

always have what settling down, A maturity, the fullness of

what marriage is supposed to be, a marriage, not just

getting married, but a successful, a blessed marriage as well. Okay.

The first phase, it's what we call dating, where you

are very romance driven, entertainment driven. Hey, dating either when

you first fell in love before you married, of course

exciting you know, hey, you know I just found like

he likes me, oh she likes me? The talk and

the fields like wow, so nice? What can I do?

You don't even thinking about having you do? You know?

Maybe some of you do, but you know I think,

yeah about Hey, what movies should we go? Hey? You know?

What food should we eat? You know, all the things

that you want to do as a young couple. Okay,

But and your worship begins like whoa I love these music?

Yeah?

Ex church man, awesome? You know when we have a

full band? So nice, you know, what the song so good?

Well you're singing Bethel song, Heales song song, wow, whatever

song you're saying, Ah, thank you so much, you know,

really connecting with me in my own home as soon

when I play the music. Whoa, that's my favorite song. Oh, listen,

so so nice. When they need to grow older radio

and then church becomes smaller and white the younger, and

then all the talent has let has left you on

go and in other places ready okay because God demand.

Then you're like, hey, I don't know why that the

worship here in the church are different radio. I come here,

I cannot worship her see the same song, maybe play

a bit differently. Maybe you don't have the skill that

like what you like. Then you're like, ah, I don't

feel like worship the word that is being thrown around

most of the time. I don't feel like worship. So

hard to worship her. I tell you the word heard

and don't feel that worship doesn't exist in the Bible. Never.

Once you know no such thing, wan to know no

such thing doesn't mean it appears in your mind, means

it's bigger. I'm sorry to break it to your world.

Doesn't mean it appears in your mind or you feel

like it means it's b bigle one to know. It's

never appeared once in the Bible. Tell me once you

feel like worship. When I mean this, I'm not I'm

not borrowing people, I'm not working people. I'm telling you

from my own learning experience where I have to grow

as a believer. So I realized that also when I

went to missions in I tell you, no guitar, no lyrics,

open air worship children, ten o'clock in the morning, under

the hot sun. No only lyrics. They sing and the

children cry. And I'm talking about your children. I'm talking

about fourteen fifteen year old teens.

You know.

Ah, we do house visitation, fifteen houses in the morning,

just fifteen houses. Every house we went to, we sing

the same song, no guitar. Everybody memorized the lyrics. They

sing like, oh, okay, you got praying, Okay, come all right,

before we gotta pray for you, we're gonna start worsh

there's the shows for five adults are singing like, oh,

I tell you such a now we don't see it. No,

it's just four five fifty year old season. Oh come,

there's single. There's the show. I was, Yeah, come down,

let's prey anty. Don't need to think about which song

should we pick? Which you want talking to my heart?

Oh this one connect to me. No, all such thing one.

People they worship because it's right to invite God's presence.

You get me, right to make you feel good? Where

God such thing one? People? No such thing one and

not your worship, because it's right to invite God into

the midst into your lives. That's what worship is about.

So when worship initially starts to be fleshy and emotional

cicis we grow, you start to divide what worship really is.

It's about reverence. Reverence replaces everything, your comfort, your convenience,

your feelings, your past, and your preferences. Goza, it's about reverence.

You get me right. If you are going to see

the king or the Prime minister, doesn't matter what you

dress before in the past twenty years. You have to

dress right before to see the Prime minister the king

as well, doesn't mental your passion. Now you sure the

way you ought to with reverence, Worship is the same

way as well. Reverence And I tell you one of

the most reverent thing you can do is to raise

your hands nowadays, and when I go to places, I

touch people. When you worship, please raise your hands, please

offer and don't put it down. Don't be holding a coffee.

Don't do that. Imagine if you have a five year

old son and talking to you, when you're talking seriously

and holding a cup of coffee or maybe something. You know,

the kid is this distraction? You know it, you know it.

You go to interview, do you do that? Don't do that.

The interview will not take you seriously. You want so

your body is what representing what is going on in

your mind as well. Reverence people, reverence and it's about

God centered not about you anymore. You can remember. This

is the rest sensitive. So you have children, I have

children as well worship. I will tell my children I

don't care, it's about God. You're busy or not busy.

You want a tord Trampton. It's about God. You have

to teach them that not gonna show reverence to God.

It's very hard to show reference in your own house.

Wanting know your children nyficult, and that's one of the

biggest battle we have with a parent. It's very hard

to teach the children reverence in it to listen, but

we have to. Okay, worship is not about songs, but

it's about truth. I won't hear. Did you know that

the hymns are when we're written? Now, what were they

written in Himsa? How come for one? Stanzas second stanza?

Third got four versus one? And you know why they

were worship written like that? It's not about music and

all because at that time they noticed the preachers noticing

that when they were worshiping or they're listening to the

word of God. Right, a lot of people were walking

out the church, taking a small doing all these things

as well. They won't stay anymore. And so because of that,

a lot of Christians who came to the church during

Jonathan Edward's time, okay they didn't know they come to church,

but they don't know anything about Christ at all. So

these people this for Father's what did they do? Say? Okay,

they don't to listen to the world. I'm going to

put the word into the song. So the hymns actually

are theological teachings to teach the people the world of

God by singing. Ah. Now, when you check the hymns

out actually talks about birth of Christ. What Jesus has

done how he paid for our since Christs will return again?

Did you know that the hymns were to teach us

bibical truths about God? Now we're talking more about Hey,

this is how I feel. I feel like a rain

in the ocean. I'm not saying it's wrong, but it

has to be more than that makes sense. We have

gone very far. We have gone very very far. Aware,

but Scod's still device. Remember, no matter what, God's still divide.

When there's no division, there's only chaos in worship as well.

You must clearly find what is true worship and what

is not true worship. If you don't do that, even

in your worship, you have confusion. Imagine a chaotic worship.

You know how down this is while we have chaotic worship? Okay, everybody, Okay,

so far am I talking sense here? I'm not getting

everybody quiet? Doesn't doesn't make sense? You want chaotic worship? Oh? No,

we want clarity? Okay? Second one Bible study, minimal engagement. Ah,

now this we have so bless her. I feel like

today I had a tough day. Tough day, JPD, Can

you find me a good YouTube message that would inspire

me right now, and then I notice your blood pressure

has been feeling a bit low and you've been sleeping

very late. I would suggest to you this guy who

speaks on this to tell you about this AI can

minister to me. And that's how AI will minister to

you next time. Can you not a I will integrate

into everything and will be your personal minister. You get

to choose the kind or ministry that will serve you,

not what not what you need to hear. Okay, there

will be the kind of Bible study, okay, inspirational talks

rather than scripture. But when you settle down and you

realize that, hey, have I read through the Bible? You know?

Can I give you one tip? A lot of people say, hey,

pastor ask me this question, heyse of what I don't

claim to know the word like crazy. A lot of

people ask that, hey, how do you study and all

the word card. A lot of people say, oh, massive revelation,

or think that you must watch certain teaching series or

go to these classes class. Yes they are youthful, but

the key most important thing for you, as and they

give you A tip for everyone who really wants to

learn the world of God is to read the Bible

many times. If you say, for example, if you're reading

the Book of James, some of you will read then

or take your time, speak to me, oh I cannot

squeeze the coconut or nothing come up after they get discouraged,

you know, oh yeah, so hard. That's why I don't

want to do bat but study so hot. I pray

that in orders this Sunday someone will talk about James.

Maybe if they're one, then maybe give you a bit

of revival. But you don't do like that my advice.

I'm not saying this is the only way. I'm just

saying that one of the ways is to read James

many times, many times. If you can do it doing

reading one day, finish, then really a second time, then

really a third time within the spand a few days

read it true highlighted, second highlighted, read it many times

until you know all the Book of Jim's so clearly inside.

Then you meditate it's totally opposite that then what you're thinking.

That's the key, because it has to appear in your mind.

Now it's like it's it's like you're watching TikTok again

and again and again. It's in your mind it's stuck.

It has to be worked like that where the Bible

has to stick in you, not because it's fuels inspirations.

It's stuck in you. Then wherever you go you are

literally meditating in and out of your door of your house.

When you wake up, when you see that it is

stuck in you, there is what to know the work

God is. It's stuck in you. That's the key. So

if I can suggest a strategy, if you really are

serious about the work God, really many times, many many times,

change your strategy of it, really many times until it

stick to you. Some of you remember the funniest jokes

and funniest videos because you know what. You keep watching it,

you put it on safe watch it later. All these

things we will do for the favorite videos, but we

will never do it the Bible. If you really want

to do a difference and tell me next time, maybe

I come. Maybe you know, next time, maybe after I

will retreat that next time if I see you guys,

are you tell me it makes a difference thing? Oh

but I actually read it second time, third time, and

I stick to it. And then realize when you go

through something, before you think about bad things, before you

think about what you want to. Suddenly the Book of

James comes. Now, the book comes alive. You know. Oh yes,

you tell me out because it's stuck in you. You

say what I'm saying now, you don't need when you

are at that level, you don't need some big time

preacher and teachers to call and tell you something. It's

totally different now, okay everybody, okay, so far let me

copy quickly rap it up. Okay, faith experience, you're seeking

fuel goal emotions. Oh fulgo is when the preacher preaches

a good message, then my faith grow. That's where you start.

But faith actually grows when you go through trials. That's

when you recognize, hey, I went through the same thing,

but I'm different Now. I no longer whine and complain

and ask why it's I used to. I have a

bit more hope now, I believe more. Now I stay now,

I will come regardless of how. Now. That's when your

faith grows. That's you have myselna. There is when your

faith grows. You knoww there is why when you go

through difficult when you still come, that's faith. That's when

it grows. You know, say what I'm saying. If you

are married, you only come home when you feel like it,

when you love your wife or your husband. Now got

such thing when you come back home. Some husbands and

wives are just stay in the car because they're fighting.

They don't want to come down from the car. My god,

that one. You start off maybe like that, like because

you're so emotional. But after a while you realize that

marriage and making it work is more than just my emotions.

I come down, I still sit at the table, even

though I don't agree. I will still come. But after

a while I realize we make it work, we work

it up, and my marriage grows because you did what

is right, not what you feel. Community engagement, ah, god,

chie events, it's about your enjoyment. Hey, first thing, what

can I get out of this missions conference? About other people?

What about me? Nothing to do with me? Never to

do with me. How many of you like? How many

of you as parents are? I speak to yellow young family?

You love to attend many many, many many many birthday parties? One?

How many of you love kids? Birthday parties? One? You like? One?

Too many? Ready some of the parties like about too

many McDonald's. Ready, too many happy meals for me? Already,

way too many already, I also get hired one. You

know some of you are laughing. You'll have a guilty smile. Hairhird,

my wife, don't get angry. I know why A s

that you're true. But since when it's the birthday party

about you? Never about you? Isn't it never about you?

It's about other people. Church event's not right about you.

Want to know, when you grow stronger and more mature,

it's never about you. It's about others. So when you

become more discipleship focused, you realize committee engagement is about

serving arthers. When Christ came to anything was about him

feeding his needs. No, he's title when he first came

to earth, what was his title? Meeking, his title was

the servant king. Turned to your neighbors said, Christ is

the servant king. That was his title people, not mee king,

you know, servant king. He came to serve one and all.

He came to the the to turn wine. Now the

water into wine was about me, about people. He came

to visiting all the different towns was about him, about people.

So you go to all the events of the day

about you know, it's about pe. Your difference you're showing

up makes a difference you like it or not, because

you see yourself differently, you must ever change your mindset

of people. I'm not saying that you are thinking you're

walking to the air. I'm the massa. I'm here to

be a blessing to my brothers. I talk and I serve.

I watch out for the kids, even I just eat

happy men. Also I watch lie. You know then you

will have your After you serve a day, you will

have your twelve basket day as well. God's portion will

always be there for you. Prayer, life, prayer for personal desires.

But instead of prayer and personer, it's about not just

about me. Hey, you have family prayers are hey, sons

and daughters. Every day you must pray about me and

pray for me and pray for me. You talk, tell

them to your parents, tell them to your children. No,

you are saying what do you need? What do you need?

That?

It's always serving others come to prayer service and never

about you. Want to know. Yes, I'm not saying that

we cannot pray for people. Yes, it's a howd of ministry,

prayer for wonder, but when you come your number added

up today is about serving others. Midor a close view

of love. Focus on romantic feel good love, ah, how

I feel. But your love in church it's not so

much about you know you feel good, hair, your tick, dogs,

whatever picture. Your love in the church is defined by

how much you and I sacrifice for one another. Community

is not driven by the number of pictures on our instagramm.

Community is defined by how much you actually sacrifice your

time to visit one of those who was sick to

give to the church sacrificially. When was the last time

you sacrifice something for the bigger for the bigger body

of chriss Okay, growth, move on. Church involvement participates in

fand activities. Involvement is not just about serving. Serving it's good,

make no mistake about it. But true church to be

rooted in the church, true routing in the church. It's

about the discipleship. Doesn't mean that the boyfriend that comes

into my house and help to wash the d good.

But until you want to marry my daughter, you're no business.

You know. I don't care how good of a quality

of a boyfriend you are. I don't care if you're

driving a nice car, I don't care you watch the DeSUS,

Oh good life. You do live, but not eventually. If

you become my son in law, good lad But if

you just pend to marriage, just do I have fun?

Only get out? You must have commitment, You must have

accountability people, true or not? Makes sense or not? Do

you raise your son just to have fund and then

just to be a customer in your house? No, your

son and your daughters will bear responsibility and commit themselves.

What time are you coming back? Have you done your

study or not? Everything you require from your son and daughter,

from your mom and your dad is accountability. Why is

it not in the church? So the true thing is

never just serving. It's always about this apple. Always make

no mistake, always, but there is always the one thing

that everybody leave. Everybody want to escape. I want to

do everything. I want to serve, but I don't want

to be disciple. I don't want to be accounting. If

you met a boyfriend and girlfriend, be careful, very very careful.

I want to know your plans. Are you plan to

get married my daughter or not? That is where you

tell me you're serious. Fathers and mothers agree on huh.

If you got boyfriend girlfriend like that, you very be careful, ladies, guys.

If a woman and a guy like that come in

your life. Are talk to me okay? You taught to

your parents? Are we have to do do diligence okay.

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

information on our church, please visit as Church Do RG.

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that this week is going to be a good week

ahead for you. God bless