Sermon
POWER - That All May Know | Rachel Ann
Publisher transcript
Transcript
-
You're listening to a message to go from acts Church. We hope this message
-
will light up your day today. My message is really for us to remember
-
to remind us who we are in Christ and what we can tap into,
-
what we have access to as children of God. And I hope we all
-
go home today a little bit more confident knowing what we really we actually have
-
access to, because some nis I think we forget sar wars who either we
-
could have been Christians for many, many years. Sar wars are maybe new
-
in the faith, but sometimes we may not actually know what do we have
-
access to. So this message actually has been brewing since the last pray pr
-
for Why back in that Comember, March or April when we were singing,
-
you know, we're wresting songs about Holy Spirit coming upon us, Pour out
-
your Spirit, Holy Spirit, give me power, and the Spirit started stirring
-
in my heart, like why why are we asking for the Holy Spirit?
-
Why do we actually ask for the Spirit. Is it just to feel nice
-
woman fuzzy? Is it to feel comforted? Yes, we do find comfort
-
in Him, but there's something more, all right, there's something more.
-
I want to just pray for us before we go deeper in the word,
-
Holy Spirit. I just asked that you speak to each and every one of
-
us, open our heart's lot to hear from you. It's not your word,
-
Lord, but it is yours. And I know you want to deposit
-
things into the hearts of your people, things that we cannot comprehend on our
-
own. Not but you drop those nuggets of truth in our spirits so that
-
we can live victorious lives, so that we can live in obedience to you
-
and to really live out our true calling, to live out in the abundant
-
life that you call us into in Jesus name, in pray, Amen Amen.
-
So after after pray, I think a couple of weeks later, my
-
colleague actually introduced but he had this book. I'm like, oh, what
-
book is that? Right? And he was telling some of the stuff.
-
It's called The forty eight Loss of Power by Robert Greenen. Anyone read that
-
before? Because we are not very interested in power, but the world,
-
people, human beings always won power. And so when I googled it,
-
a, right, what is this book all about? These are the forty
-
eight Loss of Power? And going through it, right, I felt quite
-
disturbed. Let others work and take the credit. Oh wow, know your
-
opponents. Crush your enemy totally, let your victims feel smarter. And then
-
I saw this on the sheep and pretend to be like them. Jesus won
-
his disciples. Beware of the wolves. They're just like sheeper. We are
-
the sheep. Yeah, it's just so many things there that this is the
-
world, this is the world's power. But we as believers, you know
-
what God has been reminding me, we already have power. We don't need
-
this, We don't need all these laws. We don't need all these things
-
to try to get power. We already have power. And if we think
-
about the world, that the issues that we have in our world today,
-
So okay, can close this off so that we don't get distracted by this
-
the things, the issues that we have in our world, like war,
-
What is it about? What is what caused war? Power? Right?
-
Countries? One thing? Power? What causes bullying in school? Power?
-
Yes, that's your point, Number one kid's power? What causes office politics?
-
I've been in the same company, well, different company names, but
-
essentially the same place for eighteen years. And as much as I stamp out
-
politics, so don't I don't believe in it. I don't buy it.
-
I preach about it. I don't you know. I do not tolerate politics.
-
It always still exists no matter what, there will always be people that
-
will play the political card. And why again, power want power if he's
-
not pay it's powers do things. I don't want more money or you know,
-
want power. But yeah, but us, it's believe us the same
-
power, right we sing about it. The same power that resurrected Jesus lives
-
in us, conquered death, conquered sin, and lives in us. But
-
sometimes we don't seem to really live like we believe that. So let's read
-
the first verse. Okay, kids, we're taking our notes. The first
-
one is power, and I want us to really at the start of it
-
established that we have this power. Can I get everyone to read with me?
-
Okay? I put. I put all the verses in my slides because
-
I take from different different versions, some and energy, some in KJV,
-
some of the message. Okay, let's read this together. One, two
-
three. The spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in
-
you. And just as God raise Christ Jesus from the dead, he will
-
give life to your mortal bodies by this same spirit living within you, that
-
same power. Okay, if we really believe just that, we're saying your
-
soul and it's all. I believe in God the Father, I believe in
-
Christ's Son, I believe in the Holy Spirit, right, and then I
-
believe in the name of Jesus. And if we really believe in the Name
-
of Jesus and the power that it carries, then this this is the foundation
-
I need your to really buy into this. At the start, let's written
-
a lot of us ephesions one chapter nineteen to twenty, and this is from
-
the Nalty New Living Translation that's release together as well. One two three.
-
I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us
-
who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the
-
dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the
-
heavenly realms. Amen. Amen, do you believe that is power? Hours?
-
Okay, some I think not very convinced, but we will be convinced
-
by the end of this. And I really pray that the Lord will speak
-
to our spirits. Okay, it's not just about words. It really is
-
the Holy spirit convicting us. So I'm gonna show a video. Okay,
-
wake you all up a little bit. Oh no, yeah, still taking
-
notes? Okay, this is what happens in in excuso. Wait waitbe teacher,
-
I haven't finished right thing. Okay, can go already. Okay,
-
our parents, if you're not taking notes, it's a good encouragement. Kids
-
taking notes, you also need to take notes. And we used to learn
-
our younger days that passed aways. Remind us why because a short pencil is
-
better than a long memory. Okay a lot of times. Actually, when
-
we write, we remember better. Even if you don't get refer back the
-
notes, right, just writing it actually keeps it in there. But yeah,
-
but even if your pens are shot, yeah, it will still lasts
-
longer than your memory. You can refer back. Okay, ready for the
-
video. Let's watch this, and then who knows madagask Are who watched Medagasca
-
before all the kids watched? No, no, not really the parents and
-
the Okay, let's wash and see what we can learn from this clip.
-
Okay, happy birthday to you. You live in uh zoo. You look
-
like a monkey. Sah. Well, now you guys are just embarrassing me
-
and yourselves. What are you talking about? We worked on that all week.
-
Let's go. Let's make a wish, baby cakes. Come on,
-
what did you wish for? I can't tell you that. Come on,
-
tell no, Surrey, I'm telling you it's bad luck. You want some
-
bad luck, I'll blow it out. But if you want to be saved,
-
would you just tell us? I mean, really, what could happen?
-
Okay? I wished I could go to the wild, the wild.
-
I told you it was bad luck? Are you nuts? That is the
-
worst idea I've ever heard, sanitary? No, No, really really,
-
I just certainly none of this in the wild type of bood thing that you
-
do not find in the wild. You ever thought there might be more of
-
the life than steak Alex? He didn't mean that. Baby. Doesn't it
-
bother you, guys that you don't know anything about life outside the zoo?
-
No? Nope? Well, I mean come on, that's just one subject.
-
You got a little uh yell, little schmutz right there. Thanks guys,
-
thanks for the it was great. Really wow two up there watching that
-
right? Do you think some of us believe us are like those animals in
-
the zoo? Like the lion, the giraffe, and the what's that hippo?
-
I forgot the names on lions, Alex. But we we think it's
-
all to life. That's what they thought, right, he's live the zoo,
-
we get fed steak. We're safe, right, We're safe in the
-
cage or something's there outside. They once in a while perform for the kids,
-
for the adults at the zoo, but that's all to life. And
-
the zebra. Martis like, aren't you even bothered that you don't even know
-
what's out there in the while, And so was I think we don't even
-
know what's out there, what God has for us out there in the wild.
-
We don't realize that power. We don't realize the wild, the wild
-
in us, you know, the power in us that were men for so
-
much more. We're not meant to just sit in the zoo, you know
-
zoo, but say we're in the four walls. We're not just meant to
-
sit here and be fed, right, Like like I said, just feed
-
me the statement, not just sit here to be fed by your pastors,
-
your leaders. But there's so much that God wants to show you in the
-
wild in a while, and that's outside. I think it's because we don't
-
really believe it. That's why we don't really live it. And this is
-
what I've been asking myself, sharing my own journey, why we, as
-
the children of the Most High God, our creator, are not living lives
-
like like how we're reading the Bible. We here, we read about it,
-
We're like, wow, so cool, right, all the disciples,
-
the things that they do, even the profits of all there's so much power.
-
And then we go about our lives. We're quite comfortable. Actually,
-
if you look at our lives and sometimes you don't even live out the power
-
we were going through going through things, or just day to day, the
-
mundane, Right, Why don't you see science and miracles today? When I
-
read the Book of X, I'm like, why am I not seeing it
-
today? Why are we not going around healing the sick, casting our evil
-
spirits? In the morning, I sang the song there's a song we used
-
to sing as kids. You know, when Peter and John, so i's
-
Peter and John went to pray, they man and lay men on the way.
-
They asked for arms, and what they held out his palms And this
-
is what Peter did say, silver and gold have I none but such as
-
I have give ida in the name of Jesus Christ. Some Nancal's rise up
-
and walk. He went walking and leaping and praying, sing God. And
-
it goes on. And that's how the Apostles lived. Wherever they went,
-
there was a need there. It's a bet. I mean by right,
-
we just give money right out? What do we do when we see beggars
-
today? I was thinking, so I ways walk away? Sometimes we give.
-
But why is not our first thoughter to fit spiritual food, whether it's
-
pray for them or not them. You know, if they're mad, they
-
are you know, not not fully able. We our first thought is not
-
I'm gonna heal it person, right? But why I asked for so?
-
Why? Why as Christians we're not like that? And I want us to
-
just start. I hope it starts playing our minds and our spirits and we
-
hunger to see that at work. Now I'm going to read bring it through
-
some verses, and then we can watch another video. Kid's okay, little
-
chapter ten, verse nineteen. Let's read this together from NLT. Look,
-
I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you
-
can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.
-
Look, I've given who you who's you? Us? All of us believe
-
us authority over all the power the enemy. The enemy has no power over
-
us. Right, we can walk among snakes and scorpions, not real ones
-
don't go doing their kids. But in saying that, we won't get hurt
-
because we have that power in us, we meet one of us marks sixteen,
-
verse seventeen to eighteen. Help me out, and these signs will follow
-
those who believe in my name. They will cast out demons. They will
-
speak with new tongues. They will take up serpents, and if they drink
-
anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them. They will lay hands
-
on the sick and they will recover. And these signs will follow those who
-
believe. How many of you believe in Jesus here? Yeah? Right,
-
most, if not all, of us believe this. This wasn't just to
-
the apostles or the disciples. It wasn't just It's not just to pass the
-
kenna Passandra passa Daniel. It's not just to the leaders here. It's all
-
who believe, and in my name you were cast out demons I don't think
-
any of us who have done there before, not even myself. But would
-
we be when we are faced with one, would we actually know? Yeah,
-
demon, you gotta go right. It's not as it could be just
-
spirits of depression that we see in our our friends, our family can be
-
spirits of illness, you know, different ones just falling sick. Can we
-
cast it out? What's eighteen says they would take our suppers, they'd drink
-
anything deadly, will by no means hurt them, not saying anyone go and
-
try and drink poison and see if it you know, but what it?
-
What it means? You know? When I think about it is even if
-
people try to hurt you, and they will always be right you, always
-
saying no, out of ten people, six will like you, three won't
-
really care, and every one person that I'll always hate you, Okay,
-
keep that minor so there've always been one person that hates you. And throughout
-
my throughout my career life, there's been a few times where I remember people
-
trying to bring me down. One was when I first became a manager and
-
the director hitr director actually told my line manager at that time, my boss,
-
to say, I don't think Rachel's fit for this role. Very young,
-
you know, can can't carry this role. He told me. So.
-
He was asking me to, you know, blow your trumpets, make
-
yourself known, show what you can do. But the Holy Spirits world to
-
me is just just be still, Just just be just resting me be as
-
short. And even though I felt inferior right and ave been inedequate at the
-
time, I just trusted God. And what happened was that hit a director
-
got removed from what was made redundant. Yeah, like a month later or
-
something, because I mean the company was into restructuring, et cetera. And
-
then just recently, like two years back, again had toxic leaders in my
-
company. I remember one specific time where they tried to get me in trouble
-
with HR just reported some things about me, and so he tried to speak
-
to me. So I knew they were they were trying to get me out.
-
But what happened God also removed them. So they also asked to leave
-
some of you know this story. That's why I ended up in my position
-
today because I was asked to step up. You got something flying around.
-
I was asked to step up, take the role, to be a country
-
hit. And when I see all this, you know it's really God just
-
working in favor of us who believe in Him. Like, we don't need
-
to do anything. I don't need to try. I don't need to strive.
-
I don't need to try to climb the ladder and get something for myself.
-
I don't need to try to be successful. But God allows all these
-
things. So that, so that, and we're going to get to the
-
purpose. Okay, but let's just watch another video. You're ready for video?
-
Yeah, okay, let's watch part two of these Madagascar. Now,
-
let's build up some stave you the case. Who's the can, who's the
-
can, who's the who's the good, who's the who? Who's the cat?
-
Who's the cat? Who's the gun? Who's the cat? Who's cat?
-
Who's the cat? Who's boot? Who's the Cat's right? Oh?
-
You're it? You're it? Can't cat can'ts too quick? Who? Who?
-
I feel like a mile high for Strommy, I'm right on the fly
-
from the billy in the sky. Wow, let's go wild. Now you're
-
talking different, like he said, baby crack, Ain't that right? Now?
-
Yeah? So happened to Alex the Lion when he goes into the wild.
-
He's like, Arah, I'm alive. This is what it's like.
-
This is life. This is what life is supposed to be, not stuck
-
in the zoo, right, just getting fat steak now really feeling it's his
-
eyes are sor ry suddenly opened. Later on if you watch, actually he
-
started seeing all the animals a steak club because okay, because that's usually the
-
food, his food in the wild. But anyway, how many of us
-
one day to like really live out the power of the Holy Spirit, feel
-
alive like that every day, just ready to pounce, you know, to
-
jump on opportunities where God can show his power. Okay, And when we
-
look at Paul's life, or so I think about his life, you know
-
whether in trials in prison he was shipwrecked, he was stoned. What did
-
he do through it all? Especially in prison? Youn't remember what he did
-
in prison? He's what you do in prison? And know what happened?
-
What came up? He came out? How do you come out? The
-
ground shook, Yes, there was an earthquake, but he was praising God.
-
Why it's because the power of God. Right, It's like, there's
-
no time to feel down. There's no time to just swallow in self pity.
-
But he just sang until the prison doors broke. And I really want
-
all of us to live like that. We will go through ups and now
-
we will go through challenges. But come on, let's live victorious. He's
-
really if we really believe it, we know that the Holy Spirit power is
-
in us, the resurrection power from Jesus lives in us. And so we
-
know I mentioned earlier right with the world or people or humans, they want
-
power. It's all about power in this world. But the children of God,
-
we already have it. I want us to say, okay, it's
-
the first point number one. Power is already ours. Eron, say that
-
to your friend. Amen. I'm gonna read one more verse from First Corinthians,
-
chapter four, verse twenty. If you're wondering want a title is,
-
I'll give it to you later, okay, First Qrintians for all of Us
-
twenty. The NKJB says, for the Kingdom of God is not in word
-
but in power, And in New Living translation, it says, for the
-
Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk, It is living by
-
God's power. Why is it sometimes we feel defeated? Why sometimes we can't
-
even win our family and friends. I think maybe it's just talk. We
-
try to we try to convince, we try to talk, we try to
-
just share. But it is the power of God that needs to work,
-
and he's living walking in his power. Amen. The question then, is,
-
so we have established that we have the power. I got the power.
-
The song came to mind. Yeah, we have the power. Okay,
-
you're convinced. I hope so. I hope by the end of the
-
service you will be The question then, is for what why do we believe
-
us have power? Is it to get us for exams? Is it to
-
strike the next business deal? Is it to resolve conflict? Is it to
-
help me out at work, which I do need God's power a lot of
-
times at work. Is it to wisdom to raise our kids? Oh,
-
we need to watch wisdom right, to raise our kids, mianswatch grace.
-
But what is it really for this Holy Spirit power? Let's read You're no
-
except one verse eight. Can we read these together? Okay? I want
-
to hear the kids reading out loud. Ex Chapter one, verse eight.
-
But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and
-
you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judaea and Samaria and
-
to the ends of the earth. This is the first time when the Holy
-
Spirit came right this. After Jesus went back, he said, promise a
-
helper. I need to go back to heaven so that I can send you
-
a helper. And is the Holy Spirit. And he came upon the disciples
-
and they received what power? Okay, they receive power to be to be
-
witnesses. And that is your second point. Okay today your four peace,
-
hey, four piece are your first time is power, The second one is
-
purpose. What is the power for? And it's very clear when the Holy
-
spirits came upon the disciples and gave them power, it was to be witnesses
-
to him, right to him in Jerusalem, in Judea, Samarian, to
-
the ends of the earth. And and if you don't know what that means
-
the Jerusalem today Samaria, I'll share with you. So Jerusalem is you're here
-
like your city, Okay. So for us it's our eco century Rien Bayou,
-
Tropican aman Gouta commaning. That is our Jerusalem, our city. Judaea
-
is our state. So kids, what state do we live in? No?
-
What state? Our state? Do you all know Dinnut geography. Yes,
-
Slango Okay, we live in Slango. And then Samaria is like the
-
region case of Malaysia and the Apec region can be our nearby countries Indonesia,
-
Thailand, Mama Kembodia allows okay, and the last one ends of the earth
-
would be there the whole world. Right, that's why we plan all over
-
the world something. That's why we were planning UK and Japan, Thailand,
-
Mahma Botswana is at UK a Christian nation. And tell you what, I
-
work for a UK company and throughout my time working there, actually even when
-
I was working for US company, right, I have not come across a
-
single believer, like a true believer. Some grew up in Yeah, I
-
grew up in a Christian upbringing, Catholic upbringing, but they don't really believe
-
in Christ. And he's really sad and they're like surprise this, this person
-
from some Muslim country is a Christian, Like they find it very strange.
-
But yeah, you know, even UK needs Christ again, we plan all
-
over right, Japan, Thailand, Mama Abotswana. And so I come back
-
to the point on being witnesses. We know that that's why the holies break
-
came. Now we're saying we established that he came to give us power to
-
be witnessed. That's the purpose. But how many of us, when we
-
think back and we're honest to ourselves, right, that's probably the thing that
-
we do the least in our lives, and we're just not always thinking about
-
it. It's it's you know, is there when can I and past appreciation?
-
Oh? Yes, we need to reach the loss. Oh we cast
-
the theme of this year that all may know there we think about it,
-
But is it always on our mind day to day? I don't think it
-
is, you know. And yeah, most of the press I think about
-
when we pray is usually and we have that power to call up on God.
-
God is our you know, I'm not discounting that God is our good
-
father. He gives us good gifts. That one is a given ready.
-
It's like we don't even need to ask. He knows our needs. He
-
told his disciples that I already know your needs. But when you pray,
-
were usually asking, you know, God, help me provide for me,
-
give me this, help me through, help me through my exams, help
-
me resolve this conflict. It's always asking for that. But actually, why
-
why did the Holy spiritually come? Why do you give us that power to
-
be witnesses? Okay, so it's not just to be successful. I want
-
us to remember that it's not just to be successful, not just to be
-
influential, make wealth. But I'm really convinced right that as we as our
-
hearts, you know, desire to see more, come to know, humor,
-
all those things will come on your blessings, your success, your influence
-
is like I was writing my thoughts down, it's a byproduct. It's like
-
a byproduct, you know. God will give us all that so that we
-
can share, so that we can be a witness. Like we heard this
-
morning and just now you hurt may Funk's testimony as well. Why does she
-
get such testimonies She can share with you know, other parents who don't know
-
Christ and are struggling with the same thing, and she can share this is
-
what Jesus did for me. And like my whole life journey is so you
-
know, people ask, you know, how are you doing what you do?
-
How do you get where you are? The story is Christ put me
-
here. He's helped me the whole way. He's led me, and I've
-
always got the opportunity to share that even with my colleagues. Okay, So
-
you know I struggle to explain this part because I don't need to sound like
-
grace is free. Okay, we have to see the difference of God's love,
-
the One's given to us unconditional. It's not like I will only love
-
you if you'll be a witness. No, his love is unconditional. He
-
loves us no matter what. He will bless his children, his churn will
-
not back. But to really experience his power, the calling, the greater
-
purpose is to witness. And sometimes I feel like we are limiting. We
-
are limiting ourselves from experiencing the power. Not that God has a limit,
-
right, He's limitless. We've seen that God's limitless. But we limit ourselves
-
when we keep that power, and we keep the success when we keep the
-
our salvation to ourselves, right, because salvation is not meant to stop at
-
ourselves. And I think even even if just say we feel like we're struggling,
-
I'm I'm not victorious, I'm not overcoming. How do I even I'm
-
not on fire? How do I even share with others them? Encouragement is
-
ask ask the Father for fresh encounters, ask him for just new testimony so
-
that you can share. Right. It's like, God, I need I
-
need a story to tell. I don't have a story to tell this week.
-
Give me something to tell. And I started asking God for that note
-
when I pray before I go to work, like, God, give me
-
something, give me something that I can share with others. And the kind
-
what I'm praying for the church is that our our encounters will be the kind
-
that we cannot contain. It's like, what's you experience? It like I
-
need to tell I need to tell everybody, Okay, and not just tell
-
my church friends. I need to tell my friends who don't know. Oh
-
Jesus, because He's so good. I want us all to have the kind
-
of experience. Amen. Amen. And I One of the things I've been
-
asking myself was, so is why do we not see the same kind of
-
power reveal today like how we read in the Book of X. Those who
-
haven't read the Book of X, please read it. That's why we name
-
X Church because really believe in the works of the Holy Spirit and how he
-
really moved right the disciples when he sent them out after he went back to
-
heaven. They just went out and turn the world upside down. Man.
-
They were going around healing the sick, casting out demons and you know,
-
just preaching God's word. And yeah, I just really decided to see I
-
want to see the days of X now, like can we live in the
-
days of X? And I was thinking about my kids so so, so
-
I talked a bit about faith, children's faith when they pray. So,
-
my two kids, when they pray, right, the response is usually just
-
say, they pray for my back. I used to have a lot of
-
back problems. So I said, I can't carry you because my back pain
-
really really not make excuse, it's a no point. I couldn't carry it.
-
And because I a lower back problem. Then they'll pray for me,
-
right, pray for my back to be healed. And then the next time
-
he asks me to carry and I still say my back still pain, They'll
-
be like, but Mammy, I pray for you a really, why still
-
paid? Oh is it? I didn't have faith that it would be completely
-
healed. And then now they're having they've been having an ezeema issues, right,
-
and they pray, they pray for healing, and then they'll ask me,
-
Mommy, I really pray for healing. Why is it not healed yet,
-
And I think children, you know your kids, you'll pray, you
-
really believe Jesus will do it, But sometimes adults are I look at myself.
-
So we pray for healing and God really does it, and then we
-
go wow, Wow, God did it. But why are we so surprised
-
that He did it? It's what he wants to do. He really wants
-
to heal. He really wants to bring breakthrough. At all the times we
-
get a price because we're not Maybe we don't expect it, and we are
-
as we get older, we get more cynical. Right, We've been through
-
times where we maybe don't see a breakthrough. But I want to encourage us
-
start believing again, believe again. As I look through my journals, I
-
was remembering all the things that God has done over the years. So I
-
will love to share with you some stories and I hope it encourages you because
-
I want to see more, even for our own life and the people around
-
me. Okay, so we talked about what's the first point, what's the
-
first p power? Okay power we already have it, and number two purpose
-
to be witnesses for Jesus. Now the question is how right, they give
-
you the title really you know, okay, the title is power that all
-
may know. Couse we already established that we already have power. But there's
-
a purpose for it that all may know. Okay. And this is the
-
theme for this year though, so I knew it was an extra o theme
-
for these years that all may know, because we really want the whole world
-
to know about Jesus and what he's done for them. Okay, But for
-
us it's like to being like, yeah, okay, it just talks about
-
it. How how how does that relate to me? How am I?
-
How do I become a part of that? Let me bring you through the
-
next two points. Also in p Okay, I got four piece for you.
-
The first two piece really established the next two piece. The first one
-
is how let's read this verse together first Timothy, Chapter two, verse one,
-
and I put it in the message version. Can you read this with
-
me? Pray every way? You know how for everyone? You know,
-
all of us know how to pray or not very sure. Pray is just
-
talking to just talking to God. Don't need big words, bombastic words.
-
In fact, Jesus always say, don't pray like hypocrites, right, using
-
all kinds of big, big words. God's not interested in that. Just
-
talking to your father. Pray every way you know, so you don't need
-
to know all the right words. It's just how you know how to pray
-
and for everyone you know. And I want to encourage you. It's not
-
what I've learned over the years. It's not just praying like I used to
-
do this, sir. You know someone is stick whatever, I'll pray for
-
you and then it stops there. Not that stops that you go home and
-
you prayer, but you don't actually there to pray for the person. Then
-
we're all quite scared of doing that, right I know, I used I
-
used to be, and she still am. Sometimes depends on who. But
-
we'll say I pray for you, and then we go home and pray.
-
But I really believe in praying at that moment for that person, and even
-
more so if they don't know Christ yet. I'm very convinced her that when
-
we pray for those who don't know Him, God really wants to answer because
-
He wants them to know and experience Him. Right, so when we pray
-
for them, at that point, they hear the prayer, and whose name
-
are we praying? In in Jesus name, right, is they ask anything
-
in my name and it should be done for you. We prayed they get
-
the answer or the healing. We didn't say, see Jesus did it,
-
so he really wants to do it. And I've and I've experienced that so
-
many times. Now, you answer me, if you were confident that every
-
pray, every prayer that you pray will be answered, would you do it
-
right? If you're confident, it means you know, I pray this,
-
I sure happened. Would you do it? Yeah? Of course if you
-
knew that everything you ask for in Jesus' name, that healing, that breakthrough,
-
that provision, if you knew that it would be done, you know,
-
for the people around you as well as yourself. Won't you do it
-
more? You will? You do it believing because you know. But I
-
think SUVs maybe don't always believe, or we struggle with it, and we
-
really need to pray that we will right cast away the doubt. We say,
-
Lord, take away my doubt. I'm going to read two verses Jane
-
chapter five, verse sixteen to eighteen. I'll just read this. Confess your
-
sins to each other and pray for each other, so that you may be
-
healed. Okay, again, pray so that you may be healed. The
-
earnest prayer of a righteous person. And I want us to know that we
-
are only made righteous through the blood of Christ. Okay, it's not about
-
how holy we think we are, or it's you know, it's not just
-
past us here that are righteous people. Each and every one of us have
-
been justified already, so we are righteous in Christ's Amen. So ernest prayer
-
of a righteous person has great power and produce us wonderful results. Elijah,
-
you're no proper Elijah. Yeah, he brought down fire and all that.
-
Elijah was as human as we are. He was no different from us.
-
And yet we always look to the proverbs like, oh my goodness, I
-
mean, we will never think that we'll be like them. But the Bible
-
is saying he was as human as we are. This is the nalty vision.
-
And yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell
-
for three and a half years. Then when he prayed again, the sky
-
sent down rain, and the earth began to yield crops. Luke chapter nine,
-
verse one, give you another verse. Then he called his disciple twelve
-
disciples together and gave them what power and authority over all demons and to cure
-
diseases. Wow, I have power of authority over all demons and I can
-
cure diseases. Let me share a few stories, Okay, Can I how
-
much time to have? Twenty minutes? Okay? So I have colleagues and
-
this is again is a journey for me. Okay, it's start off same.
-
I rescue, I'll just say I'll pray for you, okay. But
-
then there came a time where the Lord convicted me just pray, just pray
-
out loud. So Minia's Bank one of my colleagues. He had a pain
-
in his risks. He knew he knew colleague. And then I'm just like,
-
just pray, just you know, thick face a bit and just pray,
-
as awkward as it feels. The first time prayed for his race.
-
Following we asked him, how is your race? Hey, no more painter,
-
Can you can pray for my wife or so? Okay, First,
-
I mean it's one of the early memories I can recall of praying for people.
-
And then another another he knew colleague his daughter was born with two holes
-
in the heart. And I prayed for him. I prayed for him,
-
and I also taught him you pray in Jesus name. Like pray in Jesus
-
name. It works. The final report, you know, after several months,
-
I think in our hospital to check both the host clothes on his own,
-
no surgery, anything is God like. Okay, it's really not me.
-
Then his father so got into an accident, critical condition. I prayed
-
for him, pray for the father. I even got eloping home one of
-
our elders to come with me to the hospital pray for him. And he
-
survived. Okay, So over the years that God has been working and he
-
wants to And these are again all these are not believers. Okay, Christians,
-
I think we just we can pray for ourselves and donate. Other people
-
pray for us all the time. Life right. And then another one my
-
colleagues, I still remember when her mom had a stroke, first stroke,
-
and we prayed. I can't remember it did the you know it was it
-
was quite critical at that point, but we prayed and I assured her that
-
you know, God is, God is in control. And again we recktlessly.
-
She recovered very quickly. The doctor said it was very quick recovery,
-
and this same colleague she was also trying to conceive. For some time,
-
she was trying to try and she started getting worried, like, is something
-
wrong with me? Something wrong with my husband? I need to go and
-
get checked. And I remember praying for her, and the next few weeks
-
it was next couple of weeks in me she conceived, so like, wow,
-
God, yeah again, oh gosh, now has two she has two
-
beautiful children, and one of it. I remember then her best friends again,
-
our journey with these people. There's all the different situations that they go
-
through, right, family and all that. And then her best friend suddenly
-
collapsed, had multiple ruptures in her brain. Yeah, her brain and neurism,
-
call it, doctor saying she had twenty percent chance of survival. Prayed
-
for her and took the opportunity or so to share the resurrection power. I
-
used that resurrection power of Christ, and no surprise, the friend came out
-
of coma. She's still life today. The many years back. A man,
-
God is good, and give him some give her a shout, praise
-
him, man, thank him Lord. He's good. He's powerful, and
-
there's power when his people pray, and he will answer because he loves.
-
He loves all these people that don't know him, and he wants them to
-
experience him. Now, this colleague of mine, she's the one who always
-
asked me to go in. She asked me to pray for her and also
-
pray for others. So recently one of her friends also at work, it
-
was going through anxiety and depression, and you know, she calls into the
-
boardroom and then she asked me, Rachel, pray pray for her. So
-
pray. They were both crying. I mean, I believe God's ministring to
-
them. And then just I think a month back, you know, she
-
shared me some challenges at work, and then right there in the workplace,
-
is like, can just pray for me? And I'm like here, like
-
I'm no one nervous because there's people around. This is like in the open.
-
You know, our office don't have we don't have our own rooms.
-
I don't have our own room, so it's open work space. I say
-
here. She say yeah, So I just pray for her there, and
-
you know this comes from her experiencing the power of prayer. Man. Okay,
-
I read on from just now looked at the nine just how first one
-
verse Tuesdays He sent them to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the
-
sick. It came hand in hand. They went out, they preached the
-
also heal right. They fulfill both the physical needs and for healing some also
-
spiritual right, and also preach the Word and second Timothy for us two to
-
five. Yes, okay, I need you to come here, read me
-
now one until the three preach the Word. Be ready in season and out
-
of season. Convinced, rebuild, exhort with all long suffering and teaching,
-
for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according
-
to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up
-
for themselves teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth,
-
and we turn aside to fables. You'll be watchful in all things and dear
-
afflictions. Do the work of an evangelist and fulfill your ministry, Amen,
-
Church. When I read this verse, I was thinking to myself, who
-
is this director to it? Can't be the evangelist, right because they'll say
-
it, but I am an evangelist? Or do the work of evangelist?
-
Is that asking, Pad and President, we won't you do the work of
-
a youth pastor. But I am right. You tell a doctor do the
-
work of a doctor, but I am a doctor. That's my work.
-
So it must be for the rest of us who don't think we are evangelists,
-
right, we just believe us. We may not think our gifting is
-
evangelism, but it's saying, do the work of an evangelist and full feel
-
your ministry. So just recap. We already talked about power. And one
-
second p purpose to be witnesses for Jesus. The third one pray right for
-
no, pray every way you know, for anyone you know, everyone you
-
know. And so I bring you to the fourth P, which is,
-
yes, preach, preach the world. Okay, preach the word. And
-
the only way I think to fulfill our ministry as believers. Okay, we're
-
all called, we're all calling to the ministries. Is not I say ministry.
-
It's not just those who stand up here and speak, all of us.
-
When we, once we accept Jesus, we all called to work with
-
him. We are already in ministry. And the only way to fulfill our
-
ministries to preach the word. Again, one of the things, one the
-
hard thing, hardest things to do, right it is. We always feel
-
very I don't know to offend people. I don't want to be awkward.
-
You know, I still do feel like, wait, I'm not pitching for
-
a place where I got it all right, very easy, I can go
-
and just talk to anyone. No, I still struggle with it every week,
-
every day. And I had to tell Holy Spirit, fill me with
-
your power, give me your bonus, and I'll show you a few more
-
stories. So even just recently, I think a couple of weeks back,
-
I had to have a difficult conversation with one of my stuff from my managers.
-
So those of you who are in the marketplace, you know sometimes we
-
have these difficult conversations because it's around performance. It's you know, it's it's
-
about results, maybe the work not showing results. And I had to have
-
the conversation and this person broke down because it's not like he's not trying,
-
it's just things have been difficult. And at that point, you know,
-
I'm like, Spirit, tell me what to say, teach you what to
-
say, and I really believe and we are as He will come upon us
-
with power, and so he gave me the bonus to share Christ in that
-
moment, talking about performance results and just talked about Christ how he has Again
-
it's my personal testimony how through all the challenges that I faced that world,
-
this is how my God has come true for me and how he can do
-
it for you. And so it's a challenge back to him, like just
-
try Jesus, nothing to lose, just try him. And you know,
-
there was another time where one of my colleagues, also from the majority of
-
faith, was going through depression and the Lord just dropped my heart, why
-
don't you just do a Bible reading plan with her? Because there's life,
-
right, there's life and there's power in his word. So we did it,
-
right, I mean, she she agreed to. So we did a
-
Bible reading plan on you know, the onliner, so the Bible app we
-
did a plan together and through that, you know, just discovering the word
-
that nothing can separate us from the love of God. That was like the
-
conclusion of that that reading plan. But through all this it's just pointing them
-
to Jesus to experience him. And earlier I didn't share. But both this
-
praying and preaching, it doesn't have to just be again, it's not about
-
standing here. It's not just about ministering to our fellow believers. But it's
-
in your everyday life. You know, there are opportunities every day. I'm
-
so encourage the campus students going out to connect, to connect with the you
-
know, workers, workers in the shops, restaurants nearby. But take care
-
a step further, a step further from that connection, you may hear things
-
from them, the different needs. It's not only looking out for the believers
-
as well, it's looking out for those who are lost, who are in
-
darkness. So I've had many experiences right, opportunities where every day life things
-
okay, So just say there was once we were doing our nails, our
-
girls doing nails before our friend's waiting. Uh, and these two ladies,
-
what the ones doing for us? It's too kaka, and we just talked
-
and you know, spoke about their lives, the different challenges they're going through.
-
And again the host were just the prompting is just pray, pray for
-
her. So we prayed and she, you know, she broke down crying
-
and again got mini stream through us. But we need to take that boat
-
step even though it's awkward, that's the truth. I know it is awkward.
-
Last year, I think we're coming back from missions. We were in
-
the car grab and I always use this opportunity in the grab car right going
-
to airport and back. You're stuck there forty minutes an hour with the driver,
-
talk to them, find out what they're going through, and there will
-
be opportunities to pray or even share about our faith. Okay, there was
-
Adobe last time, there was one Adobe I used to go to more frequently
-
and didn't wash all our clothes. Uh, and also just talking to her
-
finding out and then you know she hadn't had a miscarriage, et cetera.
-
Prayed for her, she's an Indonesian lady, and then we can't in touch
-
and on she did you know she did finally conceive again and got a baby
-
again. But just all these opportunities that's presented for us day today, and
-
I want us to really take hold of that. But before we take off
-
of that, we need to be convinced, right, we need to believe
-
that this power is working in us and through us. I'm going to read
-
this verse two of us as First Quarantians, Chapter one, verse eighteen,
-
for the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but
-
to us who are being saved, it is the power of God, God's
-
word. Right. The gospel may seem foolish to the world, but to
-
us it is God's power. It is God's power. Second Timothy one,
-
chapter one, verse seven to eight. For God has not given us a
-
spirit of fear, but off but of power, and of love and of
-
a sound mind. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our
-
Lord. That's the gospel. That's the God's word. Not of me is
-
prisoner, but share with me and the sufferings for the gospel according to the
-
power of God. Okay, remember those four points. We bring it up
-
for extreme ministers to us. Number one powers already ours. Number two,
-
there's a purpose for that power. It's to be and here to be witnesses
-
for Jesus. How are we going to do it? Pray every way you
-
know how for everyone you know? And fourth, they preach it, friends,
-
preach the word. Be ready in our season. We hope you've been
-
blessed by this message. For more information no our church, please visit aschurch
-
dot org. We are also active on Facebook and Instagram. We're believing that
-
this week is going to be a good week. A hit for you, God bless