Take Heed | Elder Rosalind Ang

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

will light up your day. Are you alive this morning? Okay? So

because we are alive, we cannot be day and right, we cannot be

silent in the house of God, because in the House of God, that's

where life is right, that's where transformation is happening. And so we want

to grow in God's word. And so I just want to also just share

with you what God has put in my heart. You know, just in

the past week, I think many of us are very aware of what's happening

in the Middle East. Yes, you've been reading the news, and as

we read the news sometimes it can get very disheartening. It is very disheartening

to hear what's happening that in this day and age, that there is actually

a war going on, right, and here we are living our lives like

normal, waking up in the morning, worried about traffic, worry about being

late to school. You know, what's for lunch, what's for dinner,

and so on. We live our lives like that. But the reality for

some of the people in other parts of the world is very different. It's

waking up thinking when is the next bom I'm gonna hit thinking what about my

lost family? I've lost my family. In fact, there's so many people

who have died through the war, and it's there is no ceasefire at this

point, right. And so in my spirit I was asking God, God,

how should I respond? Right? Christians? Do you want to know?

How should we respond in such a crisis as this? And I think

this is a stock reminder for us that we cannot just live in our little

comfortable lives every day without knowing what's going on and without catching what God is

trying to do in this world that we live in. Right. I think

it's this is a wake up sign for us as believers. It's a wake

up call for the church. What is the church doing in this time?

Right? And so I came to God with all this burthen in my heart,

like I said, God, what am I as a believer supposed?

How am I supposed to respond in what's happening to this world? And as

I was reading in my devotion, God led me to Luke chapter twenty one.

So that's where our main portion of scripture will be taken from. All,

Right, So let's turn to Luke chapter twenty one, and it's gonna

be quite a lot of scripture. And I just really want to bring scripture

to you, because nothing like the words of Jesus. Yes, and so

if you have some printed Bible, then this will all be in rec color.

So this is important, right. Rac color means the word of Jesus,

and this is not on my word. And so let's hear what Jesus

is saying to us this morning. I'm reading from verse eight all the way

to thirty seven, so bear with me, okay, all right? So

verse eight, Luke twenty one, it says, and he said, take

heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in my name,

saying I am he, and the time has drawn near. Therefore do not

go after them. But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not

be terrified, for these things must come to pass first. But the end

will not come immediately. Then he said to them, nation will rise against

nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various

places, and famines and pestilences, and there will be fearful sights and great

signs from heaven. But before all these things they will lay their hands on

you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You

will be brought before kings and rulers for my Name's sake, but it will

turn out for you as an occasion for testimony. If you have your Bible,

you can underline some of these words. Therefore, settle it in your

hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer, for I will give

you a mouth and wisdom for which all your adversaries will not be able to

contradict or resist. Verse sixteen. You will you will be betrayed. You

will not be betrayed. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers,

relatives and friends. And they will put some of you to death. And

you will be hated by all for my Name's sake. But not a hair

of your hate shall be lost. By your patience possess your souls. But

when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.

Then let those who are in Judaea flee to the mountains, Let those

who are in the midst of a depart, and let not those who are

in the country and to her, For these are the days of vengeance.

That all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe to those who

are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days, for there

would be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. And they

will fall by the age of the sword, and be led away captive into

all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by gentiles until the time of the

gentiles are fulfilled. And there will be signs in the sun, in the

moon, and in the stars, and on earth, distress of nations with

perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring men's heart, failing them from fear,

and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for

the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Sun

of men coming in the cloud with power and great glory. Now, when

these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because

your redemption draws near. Can I hear an amen? Then he spoke to

them in a parable. Look at the fig tree and all the trees,

when they are already budding. You see and know for yourselves that summer is

now near. So you also, when you see these things happening. Know

that the Kingdom of God is near. Assuredly, I say to you,

this generation will by no means pass away, till all things take place,

heaven and earth will pass away. By my words, will by no means

pass away. But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down

with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that they come

on you unexpectedly, For it will come as a snare on all those who

dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always

that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to

pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. Amen. Man.

May the Lord add to the reading of his word. Now, let me

hear some response from you. What's going on in your mind as I read

this verses, as we read those verses together, how are you feeling at

this point? Anxious? Okay? Thank you? What else? Jesus is

late? Okay, thank you? What else? Sense of urgency? Some

of you, I don't know how many times have you read this? This

isn't the gospels, right? One of the gospels of all lot Jesus Christ.

And sometimes we read it and we say, oh, this is not

relevant to me. I live in Malaysia. I've never visited Israel. I

don't know what Judaea and Jerusalem is. And that's their problem, not mine.

Many times we read the Bible, right, we are saying, yeah,

all these things is like I cannot find any relevance to me, right,

And therefore we just read it as like a nice story and like,

oh, okay, thank you, and that's it. Right. That could

be one perception of reading it. But when you read some of these things,

I hear some anxiousness, some worry, some say Jesus, you're late.

Right. There is a sense of urgency, and I think it's important

for us to understand, right, this is a prophecy. Yes, so

the well is full of prophecies of God, and the Bible has so far

been one hundred percent accurate, one hundred percent accurate. If you want to

know of anything else that is so certain in this world, it is the

word of God. Everything that has been predicted. I think about eighty percent

of the predictions have come true, and all of it has come true as

it was written. So some people say, but not everything has come true

yet? Yeah, correct, because not everything has been fulfilled. Correct,

And so I think it's important for us to understand our hope as believers.

I didn't hear any persons here who were hopeful. Oh you wanted to say,

okay, together with anxiousness, there is couple we hope. Right,

there's like a tension, right, How do we have anxiousness? You know?

But then there is also that whole part. How how do we sort

of balance these things out right in our walk as believers? Now, the

first thing that I want to draw your attention to is the very first uh

in inverse eight he says, and he and Jesus said, this is the

very first thing he says, is invest eight. What's the first words that

he said? Take heat? Okay, guys, take heat? What does

it mean to take heat? Pay attention? All right? So are you

paying attention? Okay? Pay attention? And this world takes heat? Right,

bleepole is not just to understand something, And if my slides can be

on, I will give you some of the meaning of this word, bleepole.

Take heat is to discern mentally, to observe, to perceive something,

to discover and to try and understand what's happening in the world. Yes,

right, so we need to discern. There is a lot of discerning that

needs to be done that cannot be done through the discerning of your knowledge of

your mind. This is the discerning of your spirit, Okay, discerning to

turn the thoughts or direct the mind to a thing, to consider, to

contemplate, and to weigh carefully and examine what's happening. All right, take

heed of all these things that is happening. I want to read to you

from Matthew twenty six. So I'm going to flip forth between Matthew and Luke

because they run peril. Right. In Matthew twenty six, verse thirty seven,

he says this, and he took with him Peter. So this is

Jesus, right, Jesus taking Peter with him and the two sons of Zebedee,

and he began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Now this was just

before Jesus was crucified. Okay, this is the scenario. Just before Jesus

was crucified. He was in the garden of gethsemone right, and what was

he doing? In verse thirty eight, he said to them, my soul

is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me.

He went a little father further and fell on his face, and he prayed,

saying, Oh Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass

from me nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will. Then

he came to disciples and found them sleeping, sleeping, Church, are you

sleeping? And he said to Peter, what could you not watch with me?

One hour? Hey, guys, one hour I have with you.

Please stay and watch with me. One hour, watch and pray. Let

you enter into temptation? Are you tempted? Right now? Put your phones

away? That's a source of temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but

the flesh is weak. So when I was praying, I was asking God,

God, what is my response? And the very first thing that dropped

into my spirit was this, watch and pray, Yes, watch and pray.

Christians, are we watching and are we praying? Many of us are

just watching. Watch, watch, watch, watch, But are we praying?

All right? This word watch you will see many times Jesus said,

all across towards the last part of his ministry, He's always asking his disciples

to keep watch, watch right, And this watch comes in two Greek terms.

One is greg girl, I don't know how to pronounce this and a

group now and it means to stay awake and to be sleepless and the term

that actually use it? Right? Oh, okay, how many of you

have been on a camping before camping trip, camping trip? How many of

you were posted to stay watched, to stay guard overnight? How many of

your experience that? Nola? Okay, So you don't know how many of

you because I cannot ask you whether you've been a guard guard before, right,

a house guard or the one way you do twenty four twenty four seven?

You sleep, you know, you watch through the night? None of

you? Right? So not relevant? God, I gotta oh you've been

okay? So yeah, So it's it's it's not easy, right. You

have to be awake and you have to be vigilant and on guard. That's

what you're on duty for. Correct. You're not awake for the sake of

being awake. You're awake to keep guard, to watch what's happening, to

make sure that everyone else is safe, to watch against perpetrators or whoever that's

going to come at you. Right, that's the duty of a watchman.

So you've gotta be fully alert, aware and very focused. Now, how

many of you have seen guards also like that. That's not watching, that's

not standing guard. And many of us spiritually are like that. Okay,

So we need to be spiritually watchful. And it's not just watching. So

Jesus doesn't just ask us to watch, She's asking us to watch and pray.

Okay, So how do we be watchful? Okay? So I'm just

gonna take this straight from what we read earlier from Luke. So the first

thing about watching, all right, the very first thing, how do we

keep watching as believers? To be spiritually discerning is number one. To be

wary of deceptions? Okay, Now, what kind of deceptions do you think

that we are coming against? What kind of deceptions? As Christians? Think

about it? What deceptions are you facing? Or I'm not deceived? If

you say that, then you're already deceived. Correct? What do you think

are some of the biggest challenges of deceptions that Christians are facing? God is

not good, God is late? Sorry, I had to say that it's

a deception, right, And where does deception come from? There are many

times thoughts planted by the devil, right, and all the whisperings and this

started, Sorry, realize it's not news to you, but from the garden

of Eden, it already happened, all these thoughts, all the seas of

doubt. Do you know what? The devil is very good at casting doubt

on God's character. That's what deception is. The moment you find yourself not

being able to fully trust God, not being able to fully say, Jesus,

I believe in you. That's where deception happened already. It's as quick

as that God is not good. God. If you are good, how

could you allow all the babies and the elderly and the woman to die?

Correct? But I think we need to be very careful with how we are

thinking in our minds, because the moment we say God, you are how

can you right this question? How can you allow this? It's almost we

are facing God and saying, God, I think you're not doing a good

job because we have a wrong view of who God is and our understanding.

The biggest deception that we face or we carry today is that God, when

everything in my life goes well, God, you are good when I get

that promotion, when I get that wife, when I'm healthy, you are

good. But when I'm sick or my loved one is sick, or someone

got into an accident, or when there are people dying, or when I

missed that promotion, or I felt my exam papers. God, where are

you? You're not so good anymore? So it seems that we pain God

in this picture depending on our circumstances. Correct true or not? Am I

the only one that's thinking that way? God? If you close this door?

Oh God, you're not goula. God, why you bless Jason so

much? Then I never get the blessing? Correct? Where is that deception

coming from? Because if we say God is good in his nature and he

never changed, means he is good all the time. Can we today,

in the midst of the war that's happening in the Middle East, still say

that God is good? Do you believe that God is good today? Some

of you're not very sure. If you're not sure, then I think that's

a place for you to come before God. I say, God, how

can I come to the truth? How can I remove this deception that says

God? But if you see, the thing is right when we think of

God in a way that God, if you're good, you will not allow

suffering? Then I would say you have not read your Old Testament. You

have not read your New Testament. Because if the idea is that God is

good and he will not allow anyone to suffer, then Jesus should not have

suffered at the cross, his only begotten son, to die the most gruesome

death, to be pit on, betray humiliated. Is that a good father?

Would you do that to your children? By the way, anyone,

you probably think that's the worst father on earth? Right? So so where

where is our theology coming from? And I use this with theology because it's

just saying our theology logy means logic, what is our understanding? THEO means

God? What is our understanding of God? Don't be afraid of theology right,

because it's like biology, right, you understand the human part of it.

By you THEO God? What is your theology of God? If God

can allow his only begotten son, whom he loves to go through the most

excruciating pain, to die or a cross, what kind of God are we

serving? You have to think about it, No, seriously think about it,

because until you get that concept of God right, the picture of God

right, you will always fall under the deception. You will always fall under

the deception of the devil and of the world. Right. I don't intend

to go on the theology of suffering right now, but I think there is

a part of us that we need to understand that our God is a holy

God. Amen. God is righteous. Yes, our God is a God

of justice. And because there is a we have a God who loves A

preacher say this once, you know, and it kind of rattled me a

bit, but I think it's food for us to think about. It says

that God loves holiness more than he loves people. Think about it. Does

that rattle your theology? But I thought, God, you love people?

Why you love people so much that you can just allow them to destroy each

other without having them to pay for the price of sin? What is the

price of sin? Death? And we know that right. And God is

more concerned about setting holiness and righteousness, and he will allow these things to

happen. He will allow certain things to happen to bring about righteousness justice.

So let's let's let's have a new perspective of who God is really right and

because sometimes when we don't get this perception of God who is holy and righteous?

Do you know there are many times that there are verses in the Word

of God that says God is like the consuming Fire. Have you heard of

that before? How do you feel about coming before the consuming fire? When

you read about the wrath of God, the anger of God. I think

there just needs to be a sense of new reverence and new fear of God.

Do you know that? This is why I pray every morning God.

I pray that the fear of God will God my heart. It's not other

things. It's not how much I have, It's not how good God is.

Yes, we praise God for his goodness, but it's the fear of

God that keeps us against deceptions. Really, Church, I just want to

implore you that if you've never understood what it is to fear God, because

it is the fear of God that gods me against the way I treat another

person. You know, really, it's the fear of God that causes me

to say, man, this person is made in the image of God,

and therefore I should treat this person just as God would treat him, right

with honor and dignity. And that's what's happening right now. There is no

more sense of the dignity of a human life. And that's what God's angry

at Do you know in the Old Testament, when God gives the commandments right,

do not murder. He's saying, when you are murdering another person,

you are killing the image of God. You are killing the image of God.

Do you know when you gossip about someone else, you are killing the

image of God? Can I say that when you talk bad about someone,

you are destroying the image of God because guess what that person is made in

the image of God. And if we cannot lift someone else up, we

are putting them down. Think about this. In your relationship with other people,

we don't see them, right, We see them as Yeah, that

nasty boss, Yeah, that very selfish colleague. You know we we think

of others in a very wordly perspective. That person wronged me, he should

deserve to die. Oh and then God says you too, because guess what,

all of us are sinners. So if all of us and we acknowledge

that all of us are sinners, then we all deserve that the way so

have the fear of God. That's the way you got against deception a man.

Deception is something that leads us away from the truth, and then we

can go down this whole root of bitterness, anger, unforgiveness. Someone has

me before and I turn away from that person, and worse, I turn

away from God. Right. I don't know how many of you have gone

through that journey, but praise be unto God that you are here right now,

Amen, redeem by the word of God, standing only by grace.

None of us can be standing here except by the grace of our Lord Jesus

Christ. Amen. Amen. So we praise God that he continues to keep

Jesus is asking us to Hey, guys, continue to be watching because the

spirit is willing, but the flesh is Our flesh is weak. The carnal

side of us, the selfishness of us, the us one thing, everything

for my own interests is very real. And we battle against this every day.

And Jesus is, do not be deceived. Watch and pray lest you

fall into temptation. Temptation is so real. Don't say that I'm okay,

I've never been tempted. The moment you say that, bomb, something will

happen. And God wants to keep us humble. Amen. Yeah, let

us just continue to have a humble heart before God. Every morning. Just

come before the God, watch over me, guard me, watch over my

mind, let me not be deceived. That's why Jesus, in his perfect

wisdom taught us the Lord's prayer right. And part of the Lord's prayer is

lead me not into temptation and deliver us from the evil one. There's the

reason why Jesus say that prayer this daily because every day, you know,

God gives us Like I love how the Lord's prayers designed, because it says,

give us this day our daily breain. So what it means that every

day our sustenance we ask of for today's sustenance. Don't ask for tomorrow,

right, God says, tomorrow, I will give you new one fresh manner.

Right, just like the children Israel forty years in the desert. He

says, don't go and collect extra, guys, what are you going to

collect extra? You're greedy, al right, Like I want extra for tomorrow.

If cann I keep until next month, buy your bigger fridge, keep

can on? Not, God says Rola, Because what that's doing for us

is God wants us to keep going to him every day as our provider,

as our sustenance. God wants us to go to him daily to know him,

to remember him, have we worshiped God this morning? Do we worship

God every day? Because that's what he deserves? Right, Let's let's let's

every day go to God. And you know God is not the kind father

like a ya every day. You can't ask me, haya? Why are

you ready? Persistent? Very annoying? Do you think God looks at our

prayers as annoying? Then why you never pray to him? Think about it.

It's either you don't believe that prayer works, that's why you don't come

for prayer, or you don't pray, or you think God's too busy for

you? Which one is it? Another false reception? Right? Why aren't

we praying? Guys? If there's any power that you have more than anything

else in this world, it's prayer. Christians, If you are not praying,

how different are you from the next door neighbor who is not praying to

the God who answers prayers. How different are you? No difference at all,

no need to come to church? How different are you? It is

true prayer that you are making things happen in the spiritual atmosphere. You might

not see it in me, you might not see, but you know it's

the constant going to God and say, God, I will faithfully come before

you. I will continue to ask, you know, like the woman who

had an issue to settle right, and she went to an unjust judge and

Jesus thought that parable right. She kept going to him, going to him

he was an unjust judge, and yet he still gave her judgment as she

deserved because he was annoyed. Ler. But do you think of God like

that, like he's gonna be so annoyed? God, give me parking.

God, you know I need this right now. I need your wisdom.

God, I need your strength. Why don't we Why don't we ask God?

So you know our theme? This is Heaven rules right. And what

I've learned is that, guys, we every time we come across a worry,

a trouble, or challenge, my first default mote is Jesus. I

need you right now. Jesus, you reign over this situation. Heaven you

roll no matter what people say. Heaven you are ruling even right now over

the Middle East. Can you begin to practice that? Because I tell you

it takes time to constantly quickly go before the Lord and don't just say I

think I'll pray about it. Later, No, now, The situation needs

your prayer now, not later now when you receive prayer links, and I

hope you do. The situation needs you to pray now, not three weeks

later when discharged from the hospital. Already right now, right now, okay,

So just be very careful of the deceptions that we fall under. All

right. The next one is this, to not be afraid? Right w

A I'm gonna go through w A t h okay, So to not be

afraid Jesus already said, right, he says in verse nine. But when

you hear of wars and commotions. In Matthew twenty four, it says rumors

of wars, do not be terrified, for these things must come to pass

first, but the end will not come immediately. Now, what did Jesus

say about worry? What did Jesus tell us about worry? Do not worry?

Thank you very much. That's it? Okay, Can you take it?

Can you take jesus diction or not? Can you obey that or not?

It's very hard, right, especially women, I understand, because our

minds and the way we think, it's like what what if? Right?

So another mind or deception that what if? What if? What if and

usually you'll be what if the worst happens? Correct? So we already know

the strategy right immediately. What do you do if you worry? Pray?

Because it says do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayers

and supplication, with thanksgiving, present your requests before the Lord. And I

love the promise that comes after the end. What else? The peace of

God will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus Amen Amen. Another

thing I want to encourage you. Can you keep the Word of God in

your heart and in your mind? Can meditate memorized scripture? Guys, if

you don't know the Word of God, how can you use the word of

God? True? Not all right? Don't think of it a Sunday SCHOOLA

my children can memorize. Hey, but we need it more, man,

we are facing more challenges. If you are facing more challenges, you need

more weapon. What is our greatest weapon? The Word of God. And

what's even more powerful is when you pray the word of God. Don't just

pray empty words. Don't just pray according to your knowledge, your understanding.

Pray the Word of God. Come on, right, That's the most powerful

thing that we can pray. The word of God. But before you can

pray the word of God, you got to know the word of God.

Make it a point. What is that one verse that you will put in

your heart and in your mind and just meditate. Account to your your husband

and wife, please, parents, account it to your children, you know,

friends, neighbors, account to each I say, okay, this is

one verse that we want to memorize, and I think we need it right.

We need this for our family. Do something right. That's also part

of watching, guarding ourselves because the best shield to guide us against deception is

the word of God. Again, the word of God. This is our

greatest weapon. This is the lenses that we need to see the world through.

Amen, don't be afraid. When you're afraid, pray, pray how

pray the word of God. Okay, all right, let's go. The

next thing in watching is some expectation. I need to manage your expectation.

Can I not judge? Huh? I need to manage expectation, right,

because I don't us to say, but I didn't know. I didn't know.

As Christians, we will have testings. Never tell me, or so

I thought, they say, when you come to Jesus, Right, all

your life will be like a bit of roses. They forgot to tell you

that there will be torns as well. I'm not asking you to purposely look

for challenges. Yeah, don't purposely be a pain and cause trouble, and

then you can expect testings for sure. All right, how many of you

are in a marketplace, you're young working adults, you're working in a marketplace.

Do your work with excellence, okay, ken, that is the way

you show as your testimony. Be the Lord light and soult of the earth.

Be the best that you can be. Okay, don't slack. If

you slack, and then there is testings that come from your boss, expect

it like okay, the one you deserve one. Okay. But even if

you've done your best, and you know Daniel in the Book of Daniel,

we read right, he served God with excellence under four kings. He served

right. He had a spirit of excellence, and God blessed him and gave

him what ten times ten times more wisdom? Do you want ten times more

in your work? Yeah? Yeah, yeah, self God with excellence,

Self, God with excellence. Right, but even in the midst of that,

haha, this is the expectation that I have to manage. You can

expect testings to come. All right, Christians today, please be not naive

and gullible and saying, oh, you Christian also go through this oner.

Yes, Christians also go through challenges because we're only humans, right, we

will also go through sickness in our bodies. That does not make you less

of a Christian. In fact, you, being a sick person, now

have an opportunity. Do you see that? Do you see how your mind

needs to change? Ina I was saying, oh, whoa with me?

I got all these issues, I got all these burdens, I got financial

problems all of us. Oh my gosh, I tell you things are so

expensive now right, things have just increased in the last two weeks. I

don't know why everything has just gone up. It's man, but I'm worrying,

right, I'm worrying. I'm going to God. God, you said

this is gonna happen already. You already predicted in Matthew twenty four and now

look twenty one. You already predicted all these things that's gonna happen. What

are some of the predictions that there will be wars, rumors of wars,

and of course when there's war, prices will go up, there will be

earthquakes, there will be famines and pestilences COVID nineteen not too far distance.

All these things are to be expected. So why you're so surprised, Oh,

what is this thing happening? Why so surprised? Because we are not

watching, because we are not guarded, because we don't know the word of

God. So all these things that come to us, and then we get

afraid, we are worried, like, oh gosh, what's happening right now?

What do I do? Right? So expect testings, but it shall

be turned in to testimonies. And let's go back to verse twelve and thirteen.

It says, but before all these things, they will lay their hands

on you and persecute you, delivering you after the synagogues and prisons. You

will be brought before the kings and the rulers. For my name's sake,

I love verse thirteen. If you have a highlighter, highlight this. He

says in verse thirteen. But it will turn out for you as an occasion

for testimony. Amen. So now, and I didn't get to hear Ellison's

testimony, Maybe next time, right, Jesson was saying earlier you had a

great testimony to share of how a challenge and it usually starts with a challenge,

right, it became an occasion and God turned it around for a testimony.

Wouldn't you like to live your life that way? There was an occasion,

a challenge in my health, but God turn it and use it as

an occasion for testimony. Wow, some of you are going through right now

a challenge. Right, but wait, wait upon the Lord because He's gonna

use this as an occasion for testimony. Do you believe that? Amen?

Amen, we need to wait upon the Lord, Isaiah says. Those who

wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. Are we waiting upon the Lord?

Sometimes we want God to wait for us, right, No, we

want God to wait on us like a waiter, you know, waiting on

us, like God at my back and call do this for me. Sometimes

we all prayer like that, right God, When I pray, you fulfill

my prayer. That's the wrong view, Okay, we don't go to God

in prayer because of that. Do you know prayer doesn't change God? Who

does prayer change? Yes, prayer changes us. So if you want to

change and be transformed by the renewal of mine. You gotta go prayer.

You gotta go pray, really pray, pray, pray. You can expect

persecution in verse sixteen and all that you will be betrayed by your loved ones,

by your friends, by your family. Expect that. Verse seventeen was

very real to me. And you will be hated by all. For my

namesake, I'm in part of a chat group of my ex company's alumni and

my uh yeah, and so all the big shots that there like, okay,

so, but they are majority, they're of the majority faith, and

right now, the tension is very real, right, and they're sending all

these news articles about how this whole conflict was. You know, it's a

blame game. Who started it first? One party will say this one and

they said, no, no, it was because they were oppressed and for

so long it was only right that they retailer d Okay, yes, you're

reading all these things right, and I'm saying enough right because part of the

persecution against Christians that this is all caused by Christians Christian Zionism. Wow,

when I read I was very stird, you know, I was like,

how dare you defame my God like that? You know. And I was

very, very tempted to put something in the check group, but I refrained,

and I came to a place right where I just say, they will

be hostile as long as you are a Christian, the world is going to

be hostile. At you don't be surprised? Can you not be so price

and say why nobody loves me? Why do they say like that, expect

hostility because of your faith in Jesus Christ. They think we are lunatics,

you know, they think we are crazy to believe in this Jesus who died

on the cross. But what if God says, I'm gonna use the foolishness

of this world to shame because ultimately only God is to be glorified. Amen.

So so with that, say, say I had to counter all these

things with the word of God. If I didn't know the word of God,

I would be like, oh no, no, I have to go

ahead and like fight this, you know, and fight this this with with

words and and you know, defend my faith. Oh gosh, do you

know? But there is one victory. You know. I was just reading

and this is just new. There was an Illinois college that they so so

a Christian student a Christian student girl. She voiced up and she she held

a conservative view. She's a Christian, right, so Christian, you're a

conservative, you're traditional in our views. So she raised out some of these

things in her belief when it comes to issues like LGBT and all that stuff

like abortion and all that. She voiced up, and what the college did

was they ordered a stop gag order on her and said that she's not allowed

her freedom of speech because it was causing a lot of tension amongst others in

the college. So, of course she sued the college law and guess what

she won. Only in America you can do this lah here, don't bord

it, okay, don't waste your time, don't waste your time here.

But in America she won and the college had to pay her eighty thousand dollars

because it violated her rights of the First Amendment, which is the freedom of

speech. Like I said, don't try it here, don't try it here.

But in America it's that it's you See, the thing is right,

people are saying free speech. Everyone is entitled to their own views. Correct

the moment you make a stand for Jesus. No, you're a biggot,

you're causing dissension and discrimination. O can right. It's so lopsided. The

world is so lopsided. We cannot have our own opinion, but everyone else

can do. You see how the attack is against Christians and you begin to

wonder why why are Christians being attacked that way? Because the truth is always

attacked. Yes, And who's the most active person right now attacking us?

Is the kingdom of that mansla? Correct? Not when you are doing something

right, Please expect that the devil's not gonna get very happy with you,

and he's going to cause all these things for you to deny your faith or

to be so distracted La that you're like, oh, I got no time

for Gotla. Let me just do my own life, right, So just

be very careful. Verse nineteen A really caught my attention. It says,

by your patience, possess your souls. I'm like, oh, I need

England up. I don't understand by your patience possess your souls. But when

I read further this what patience? Right? It means how many patient people

that do we have here right now? Anyone patient? All right? Oh?

John Lee? So we have a model of patience. Okay, guys,

So if you don't know what patients look like, look at the life

of John Ley because he married his wife so so so patience right, So

as how do we watch in this time? Right? Is we gotta be

patient? We have to have this quality amongst us that is stepfast. You

know, patience means steadfast and it steadfastness means right, you hang on to

something. I like a definition that was given here. It says this,

right, the characteristic of a patient person is a man who is not swerved

from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest

trials and suffering. Enduring Are we able to tahan or not? In Malaysian?

Right in basa Malaysias, tahan is to have that enduring power. Can

you hang on? Because it also says in the Word of God that those

who endure to the end shall be saved, Meaning you cannot give up.

Please do not give up. Right now, the moment you feel like giving

up, that's the point where you stick on and you say, God,

no, I will not give up. I will continue to trust you,

I will continue to believe despite what everything is, what everyone else says,

despite what everything is going on, this is the moment not to give up.

Guys, this is the moment not to give up. We need to

be patiently enduring, to be steadfast. And how do you be steadfast to

something you fasten yourself to someone who says someone that you're fastening yourself to Jesus.

Not the time to give up, not the time to let go.

Time to hold on even tighter, hold on to your faith because those who

endure to the end shall be safe. Imen the fourth one. We need

to comprehend the signs. Okay, I think right right now, because it's

so real that the Word of God never became more real to you. Right

because of what's happening in the Middle East. Do you see that wars,

rumors of wars, all these things is happening. Right. You will see

Jerusalem surrounded by armies. You will see those days of vengeance. And it

says woe to those who are pregnant. And they're saying, oh my gosh,

scary la scary in sense they will fall by the age of the sword,

let us captives. Jerusalem will be trampled by gentles. We haven't seen

this yet. The signs of the star's moon, because if it is,

then the Lord is coming. Readly, are you ready? Are you ready?

Really? No? So watch and prepare yourselves. In Matthew twenty five

it talks about the parable of the ten virgins. You remember that, don't

be like the foolish virgins. Sometimes I ask myself, am I ready?

No? If Jesus says so he's coming back today, am I ready?

Not? Am I excited? No? No, no, no, no,

no, Jesus not yet. So much in life that have not explored,

so something for us to think about. Right, all these things points

to the King of God. I just want to give you a quick understanding

of the theology of the people of Israel. Okay, I think it's important

to understand that everything that's happening right now, right is according to God's plan.

How do you feel when I say that, huh killings? Do you

know that it was a miracle that in nineteen forty eight, after the diaspora,

right, the whole nation of Israel was sent out into exile. There

was a whole diaspora, and in nineteen forty eight, this is very recent

now, nineteen forty eight, the nation of Israel was established. Yes,

that is a miracle. If you cannot see it as a miracle, I

don't know what else it is. Because as the smallest nation with no capability

or capacity, they fought for their land and they want so if you interview

right the army generals, they're like, how did you like a small nation

surrounded by all these other nations still stand today? And in fact every war

that they fought, they want how can this small, weak people win?

The only answer is because they have a big God. Can you see that?

You know? It's go and read, Go and read some of these

things that's happening in the world. That's also one way of watching right.

Knowing where our heritage comes from. By the way, if you don't love

the Jewish people, I asked that you begin to ask God for our heart

for the Jewish people. Guess what Jesus is Jewish. Jesus is a Jew.

He came from that heritage, and so all these things right, And

that's why I began to have this interest of wanting to know the Jews,

right, what is their place? Do you know that this is a Jewish

book written by Jewish people majority and for the Jewish people, and we are

just the butt that has been grafted into the original tree. Read that in

Romans eleven. Yes, so our heritage right is of the Jewish people.

You know, we have so much to thank them for in this world.

It's crazy. Just zero point one percent population. They have produced top percent

of the scientists of this world. It's crazy. All the big Hollywood studios,

five of the big ones, they're all Jewish owned. In fact,

all many of the top financial institutions are Jewish own. You're like, huh,

how is this? There is a special favor upon God's chosen people.

And if you don't recognize that, go and read your Bible. God say,

I chose you, But why because the favoriteism is it our God likes

I don't know. No, He chose them as an example as an example

of if you are a people who choose to obey and love me, I

will bless you. I will bless you. In the inverse is true.

If you are a people who disobey me, I will curse you. And

do you know that the Jewish people have gone through the holocausts? That's a

sign. This is how we begin to comprehend some of these things that's happening.

Right, So God is bringing people back and they are staying that.

Okay, so the nation of Israel is established there. And guess what,

God, God's not gonna let them be annihilated. There's a special shield of

God upon them. Do I agree with the killings? And another, of

course not. No life is every life is precious. No life should be

just deemed like that, and to be killed, you know, innocently.

But do you can you see that there's an underlying picture of what God's trying

to do with redeeming the people of Israel. And by this they shall know

that the God of the Israelites Israel. Can you see what's happening in God's

mind, in his big plan of all that's happening. Right, So we

need to comprehend. And yes, we read the news and say, okay,

this is not good, but this is according to plan. This is

according to God's plan. Right, And so we begin to have a new

perspective, right, And how should we then pray for this situation? And

I'll give you some outlines later. And finally, how do we keep watching?

How do we keep watching? It says here in verse thirty four,

And this is so so key to all of us, right, It says

here, but take here again, take heat, discern take it to yourselves,

lest your hearts be way down with carousing, drunkenness and cares of this

life, and that day come on you unexpectedly. Are your hearts heavy?

I think we need to do a hat check constantly daily. We need to

do a hat check. Okay, don't just go for your hat check,

you know the cholesterotype, but do a heart check daily. God, is

my heart constantly way down with the cares of this world? What am I

worry about? Why am I spending all my time on things of this world?

Jesus says, Hey, the day is coming near her. Why is

your heart so heavy? Why is your heart way down, way down?

You know, you know the reasons why we as Christians cannot be light hearted

and be focused on the work of God. It's because we're way down,

way down by the cares of this world with drunkenness, carousine. And it

will come. That day will come as a snare on all those who dowell

in the face of the earth. So all of us, right, we

need to keep our hearts light. Okay, can keep your hearts light?

Okay, Hands clean, no, yeah, clean, hands pure? Hearts

and light hearts as well. Okay, just if there's something that's bothering you,

right, just let go surrender to God quickly, quickly surrender, surrender,

and just say God, okay, you deal with this unforgiveness. Surrender.

Let God keep your hearts light worries. God, Okay, I'm gonna

surrender this. God, you will provide. Lord, you will heal this

relationship. Surrender. Continue to surrender before the Lord. And that's how we

continue to keep watch. God is asking us to keep watch in Isaiah sixty

two, and I will close shortly. I just want to read to you

Isaiah sixty two Versus six to seven. He says this, I have set

watchmen on your walls, Oh Jerusalem. They shall never hold your peace day

or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent.

We are people of the Lord. Yes, don't keep silent. Don't

keep silent and give him. Give God no rest, guys, time to

this step God. Okay, give him no rest until he establishes and until

he makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. That is our role as watchmen.

Right, We are continuously supposed to be watching over and guarding over and

so how should we pray? Right? Very quickly? How should we pray

in this situation? So I told you? How do we watch? Ready?

Right? So? Number one is how do yeah be wary against deception?

Let us ask God to say, God, continue to give me your

eyes, continue to show me true the word of God. How I should

process and comprehend things that's happening in the world. Number two, how do

we keep watch? Don't be afraid? What's your response? Every time worry

sets in? Pray? Okay, pray? Pray right after this. So,

so, something that's bothering you, go to God straight away. What's

the third thing? Expect testings, but it will be turned into testimonies.

Can you hang on to that, hold on to that truth, hold on

to that truth and deal and deal and deal to the end. What's the

fourth one? Comprehend the science. Begin to understand what God wants to do

in the redemption of the people of Israel right in our lives. Comprehend what's

happening. Keep watch over Israel and you will see what God is doing.

Amen. Finally, it's the fifth one. Do a hard chat. Okay,

let's keep each other accountable as well, and check each other. Also,

right, we are our brother's keeper. Jesus says that we are our

sister's keeper. Let's keep each other accountable. Right. If you see something

that's not right, then can you have a conversation about it? Like,

hey, you know, how can we trust God more? How can we

put our faith in God more? Our faith is not dead. Our faith

is not a figment of imagination. Our faith is real because Jesus is real

and he's coming back. Amen. And so how should we pray? How

should we pray for the situation right now? Right? Firstly is to pray

for God's protection? Can Can we continue to ask God? Because God has

called us to be his watchmen? Can we ask God to pray for protection

of all the lives that's there, you know, the young ones, the

babies, the children, the weak, the elderly. Pray for protection?

Also even upon the soldiers the armies on both ends? Can we pray for

God's protection? Secondly is to pray in alignment with God's will? Like I

said, things are happening according to God's plan. You might not understanding.

You might not understand it. I'm not asking you to understand it by asking

you to pray pray that God's will be done, because Heaven's rules, Heaven's

still rules, and Heaven will always rule. Imen. And third one is

to just to pray for the salvation of our dear Bread. And there many

of them hold on to the law of Moses, but they need to know

that Jesus is their messiah. Amen. And if they begin to understand that

Jesus is their messiah, they too shall be saved because no laws can save

you. Accept the covenant of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. I just

want to give you some other verses. When we pray, can we pray

with expectation? Yeah. In Hebrews nine twenty eight, it says those who

eagerly wait for him, he will appear a second time apart from sin for

salvation. Can you remember this, pray we should hope for his return,

expect his written and pray for his written. Yes? Would you pray that?

Would you say, God, come come, If I'm not ready,

help me to be prepared for your second coming. That's watching right, watching

that our hearts be ready to expect the Lord's return. In Revelations six fifteen,

he says, behold, I'm as a teeth blessed is he who watches

Blessed is he who watches and keeps his garment, lest he walk naked and

they see his shame. Let's be clothed with the righteousness of God. Amen.

And the righteousness of God is holiness, holy living. If you want

to know how it is my life holy, go to the Word of God.

God will teach you how to live a righteous and holy life. Amen.

Pray with vigilance. In Collisions Chapter four of US two, he says,

continue earnestly in prayer, Continue earnestly in prayer, be vigilant in it

with thanksgiving. Meanwhile, praying also for us that God would open to us

a door for the Word to speak the mystery of Christ. Amen. Can

you pray that be vigilant with thanksgiving, but also praying that there will be

doors of opportunities open, Because Jesus says in matter for that all these things

shall be shall happen, and the Gospel shall be preached to all the nations.

Right that the Gospel needs to be preached, Guys, we need to

be continuously preaching the Word of God. One Peter four seven says, but

the end of all things is at hand. Therefore be serious and watchful in

your prayers. And above all things, have fervent love for one another,

for love will cover a multitude of sins. Can we be loving in this

time as well? Be loving to one another, and be watchful. And

first bit of five eight says is be sober, be vigilant, because your

adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he

may devour. Guys, the fight Israel. We sang the song earlier right.

We are fighting this battle. But who has won it all? Jesus

has won it all. But we still need to fight the battle. We

need to run this race and finish it to the end. Amen. Amen.

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