Faithfulness | Pr Alvin Keng

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

will light up your day. So it's twenty twenty four, Okay, I

wonder how has your twenty twenty three been? Huh great, some good,

some not so good. You know, I'm not sure. Well, next

question, did you manage to do what you needed to do or not?

Three? Do you many should do what you need to do? Maybe at

the beginning of the year you had some plans you know, you wanted to

do. I know, I know Eric and Scheril probably did what they had

to do, kay, which is bring a beautiful baby here, not just

them, I think in a couple here as well. That one you can

all stop one another one. Okay, but yeah, you know. Next

question, do you manage to do what God asked you to do right in

the beginning of Yeah, I don't know whether you guys receive anything from the

Lord like, oh you don't do this, or you know you you want

to do something for the Lord. You know, I'm sure you have.

You know. Maybe The next question I have is were there anything which distracted

you? You know, because this year is a good year to consider,

you know. January everybody's excited. We're looking forward, you know, and

then maybe through the year something happened, you know, someone said something wrong

or something bad happened. It's always the bad good thing. You would never

complain, okay, it's always better at something would happen, you know,

maybe the leaders say this, or maybe their pastor said that, you know

in church DA, or maybe your boss said that, you know, and

then you're like, oh, forget this company, forget this. You know.

Maybe you do you get stayed off course from what you wanted to do

or what God asked you to do. Do you I hope not, But

if you did, then well it's good to recalibrate, it's good to realign.

Maybe a more clearer question is was there any challenges or discouragements which affected

you know? We always said, you know, you know. The one

thing I realized more and more as I lived this life I am I'm not

very old. Okay, it's forty two year wow. Yeah for two this

year not very old, although some of us say I do acrostom my white

hair. Yeah, some of them trying to convince me to diet, which

I said never I really did that. In college. There was enough.

It was great then but anyway, Uh, discourage man is very powerful thing,

you know. You know, I realized that discourage man, right,

can derail people of the destiny. Really, if you discourage you in Malaysia

and you want of my great there is a major derailment. If God wanted

you to do something in Malaysia, there's a major derailment. You know.

Disgarage man can derail you know. Uh, disgarage man can derail you from

from from I don't know, doing what you needed to do last year,

you know, And because of disgarage man, you decided, you know what,

it is not worth it. The pain is not worth it. Uh,

the no thanks is not worth it. No thank you to the no

thank you you know, or whatever it may be. Lah, you know,

and it's very powerful. So as we move on to twenty twenty four,

I think it's good that we maybe spend some time to reflect. Okay,

reflect on first, see what we can do better and what we can

prepare to weather what might happen. If you didn't know, let me pre

emb you this year twenty twenty four, you will get offended. Okay,

this year twenty twenty four, I tell you first, you will get offended

Okay, This year twenty twoey four, it's not gonna be easy. There

will be days where you'll be difficult for you. There will be days where

you don't feel like waking up. There will be days where something wrong will

happen when you're serving and you'll be late. There will be days where you

know you pack the baby up, everything radiating, and then suddenly you realize

she did a booboo. There are days like that, you know. There

will be days where your best friend is gonna, you know, make you

angry, not nice, so it's pc offla. There will be days where

I might say something wrong and you might not agree me. There all be

days where xbu, it's not going to be the rainbow and sunshine place that

you thought it was. There will be days by it every day. I

don't think so I think there'll be days. Can I pram you? Life

is not easy? Things are hard, but God is still good? How

do you reconcile that? Right? God is good? Ma? So it

means everything have we got all the time? Guys? That's not real life.

Real life is hard. This year you will get off ended this year

things are not going to go your way? Okay, right, it's gonna

happen. So how what do we do? Right? What do we do?

Let's prepare you know, it's very powerful to prepare yourself to know what's

gonna happen. I give this example because I share this message in XB.

Actually last week. Last week was the you know thy first it was the

last time. I'm like, hey, as we look to a tornatorfore what

you know, what? What what can we look forward to? How can

we reflect to see? Hey, what can I do better? So the

next year I stayed the course. Next year, I'm sure of doing what

God asked me to do, not like be derailed. If it was derailed,

you know, this year is another chance to like, okay, you

know what, I'm gonna exercise. You know. I shared with X v

J and I come to them that I went to the gym last week and

I didn't enjoy it, but I'm going again tomorrow. Yeah, he's painful.

I had to recover. You know. My my staff was asking me

howling tomorrow recovery? I like, cannot cannot everything, you know, but

tomorrow I can because I think I think recovery. I think let's see,

you know, if if if we say we need to decide. You know,

I shared this with a young person because a young person shared this example

in me. What happened was, uh, you know, there was a

good friend and then it was quite late at night, and then the friend

just came back from somewhere, and then the young persons like, okay,

you know it was like til fredy okay. And then his good friend suddenly

just like sat on the couch and started talking and catching up. And then

young person told me like, but I don't know what to do. You

know, the person just came back, and so I lie on the person.

Okay. I just continued talking and I look at the young person.

I say, hello, it's chopped midnight. Asked the fillow to go back

home? Right? I'm like that, I told these person, I said,

you know what, because you have not decided that after chop midnight,

you're not going to entertain guests. That's why you couldn't decide when it happened.

But you if you would have already decided that that's something that's not going

to happen, you're just following through your decision. You'll get that. Why

am I telling you about my gym? I have already decided last year that

I'm going to do it, and enough thought, I'm just going to do

it. So I'm doing it now right, And every time I feel like

I don't want to, I would just have to follow through my decision that

I was making right in the beginning of the year. Right, I'm just

falling through what I've already decided. No matter what I feel, no matter

what situation presents to me, I need to make it happen, right,

because I've decided already. So similarly like preparation this year, what have we

already decided that we will do that we will follow through. If you have

not decided, that's why you struggle. If you have not decided that Sunday

is the day that you the law has made and you will rejoicing and glad

in it and you'll always be here. Then every time you face a ya

holidayla I had this person e fact, then you will have to decide again

because you actually have not decided, but you have decided. Then you will

make things happen. Then you were not mess Then you will shift your schedule

because you have already decided. I'm just using one example. Okay, don't

stone me, but what is what is that in your life that you have

decided? Because if you have decided, that is very easy. You don't

have to decide again. How how no decide? Radia? Oh wow,

you're gonna give me this, but I already said I'm gonna go here.

Sorry, Lo Canlan you decided? That's why preparation is important. What can

we decide now that we determine a twenty twenty four right when we know it's

gonna be difficult? Right? So that is the message to day? Okay,

that's the message to day. Can we reflect a little bit? So

let's turn to Matthew chapter twenty five. Matthew, chapter twenty five. I

guess okay, because as I was praying and asking God, like Lord,

what do you want your people to know? Preparation is key to determine what

will happen at the end of twenty twenty four this year. How we start

is important. I share with XPJ just now that as a church, you

know you need to thank God for your church because your church and the leadership

knows what is important. On the first of January twenty twenty four, five

two and a half hours, well, they couldn't put to forty. They

put th thirt Okay, ten percent of our first day of twenty twenty four

to prayer, right, and I think a lot of you were there.

Right. We didn't really push it. I was telling the Bidia cry.

And we're proud of them because I saw a lot of them there. You

know, and you know when you have things like prayer, don't know why

people come on no, no, no, because when you have concert then

people are coma. When you have insert Christian band name here, people comela.

But when you have prayer where the lot is the focus, I don't

know who were coamla. We said, right, the way we operate where

humans are okay, we operate away, but we think about it as a

church, right, as a church, we came together. We invested ten

percent of prayer to start the year. How important that is for not just

the church, but for you as well. Right, a church that understands

that, Hey, we want to tie ten percent. That's why it's doing

half hours. You want to know what was powerful? God came took over

and it extended to three hours. And you want to know. I share

this testimony with them. I said, you don't observe things I this.

I'm a leader observe things at it. Normally, when you have things like

prayer. Okay, I'm not you guys are all awesome, Like Okay,

I'm just saying generally, La, we have things I prayer, and when

it goes over time, you're start saying people solely leave after the three hours,

Right, ninety percent people are still there. They were still there.

They didn't leave because God was doing something. Wow. Our church is healthy.

Wow. I'm looking forward to what God has to do because we got

our priority straight. You know, it's not just prayer, really, you

know, your just want us to pray. Guys, don't be so shallow.

Who don't be so shallow? Okay, don't be so shallow. It's

a deeper thing. The church come together to say, Lord, we five

ten percent of prayer to you, right, we honor you Lord less our

year. That's very significant. He's very significant. So what are we going

to decide now? Or how do we stay the cost? Okay, let

me just read Matthew chapter twenty five. I'll read from twenty one and twenty

three. Let's talk a little bit about the parable of the talents. Right,

So I have this statement that I've met and when I made it here

before. Do you know that God didn't call us to be successful? God

just called us to be faithful? Parable of the talents both in Matthew twenty

five to twenty three, it says, you know, you you, so

you've got a story about the three servants, you know, And this is

something Jesus himself shaid, right about how a master gave one five talents,

two talents, one talent, and he left. After a long time he

came back, and then the first servant multiplied the five two times hundred percent

increased, right, And then did what did the law say? He say,

well done, good and faithful servant. You were faithful over a few

things. I will make you ruler over manything enter into the joke the lord.

And then after that the second one came, and then the second one

or so showed, hey, Master, look, I multiplied, you know,

my two talents. And then what did the master say? Right the

master said twenty twenty three. I think, yeah, yeah, the master

said the same thing, Well done, good and faithful. Seven you have

been faithful for a few things. I made you rule over many things.

Entered into the joke. And of course, finally you have the last guy

who didn't do anything, just very into the ground. And the Master even

told him, hey, you know, if you could have just banged this

inner, you woul at least earn some interest and that would have been enough.

You know, look at how low the bar is, guys, the

bar is so low even that also cannot do. The Bible teaches us to

be faithful friends. So what is it that God asks you to do this

year? Or is asking you to do yes this year? Maybe you don't

know. Oh, I don't know that passdea say anything. Time to find

out, law, Time to find out law, time to find out.

I don't know. Maybe he's serving what you just heard from passus Steven,

I don't know. Okay, what is it that the Lord wants you to

do? Right? We got to remember this because you see, men,

we celebrate success. Look at me, Look at how big my church is.

Wah, look at xbu here is one year? Really, guys,

we are a very successful church. Plan. I don't know whether he feels

it or not, but I tell you we are very successful. Why I

see people serving, I see lives change, I see God in this place.

Good enough, good enough? But passelwa, we do have the numbers,

So you think God see numbers are Time and time again, the Bible

has proven to us God sees things differently than we see. We see beautiful

number, handsome, tall, that handsome when he was choosing, when they

were choosing the king, right, what was Samuel looking at? Wow?

Jesse's boy's all very handsome and taller. And then they picked them one day

for good working in the field, shepherd boy. God saw his heart,

not his outside friends. Do you want to see the way men see or

do you want to see the way God sees? We gotta be a clear

there, no, because if you're not careful, we fall into that trap.

We celebrate the things that God don't celebrate one. No, actually,

oh look at the numbers. Look at the numbers. Oh, look at

what we're doing. Look at how happening xbo is right, that's what people

see. Do you know the most happening church plan in x chesch now is

the most happening church plan you know where x s k They're very happening.

I'm not saying that bad. I'm saying that were happening, been noisy,

but doesn't make them more successful than the rest. No, what do you

see men? Sees outside, God sees inside. You know, I believe

xs K is also growing white because we see transform lives. We see people

serving the Lord. Yeah they're a bit more noisy and crazy Ela, but

they are no different from XBU because we see the same thing XBJ, same

thing. We see people transform, We see people experiencing God. We see

people stepping up, stepping up. I don't know that any of you here

know Kevin want not today, first time serving as guitarists, the most quiet

guy in my homes. Guys, we see all these things. What do

we see? Right? God calls us to be faithful, not successful.

So this year's God asking you to be successful? John, you should actually

have gotten ten talents, not five. Or just be faithful, Just be

faithful. You got one on need, just be faiful with the one.

It's okay, friends, is okay. Don't compare yourself with the next person.

Be faithful. What is God asking us to do? Okay, your

cart track. Don't measure your success upon others. Don't measure it to what

God has entrusted to you. Okay. Every person is different and we need

to run our own race. In short, don't compare, don't covert someone

else's life or wife. You're gonna get a joke right near. Mind.

It's in the Bible, okay. In the Bible it says, don't covert

someone's wife. Okay, don't cover someone else's life. Don't the more we

do it, you know, I was quite brave to declare this. I

think here before so that if you go on social media and you yearn for

something, you're cover thing. You're yearning for something you don't have cover thing

on, So be great careful with the spirit of convidousness. No, it's

everywhere, right, Oh, but then it's ministry. Yeah, it's also

covered thing. What it got us you to do? You mean, got

as you to follow after someone else? No, got as you to fall

off to Jesus, not someone else. So let's not be unsure of ourself.

Let's be clear on where we stand. Amen. Right, So I

prepared this thing design normally, don't do it. I don't do five step

three, step two, step one, step by go five steps Okay you

guys are okay? That? So five steps to help us stay the course

as we get ready for twenty twenty four. I put it prepare, uh,

no more prepared, but here ready we're here ready guys. Okay,

it's a seven day right? What seven day is the day of what perfection?

Is it? Yeah? Seven is perfection is new beginnings? Right?

Yeah? Yeah, well it's perfect. Wow, be blessed. Okay,

So five steps are you? Guys? Really? I give you five steps

again? So if you've been derailed, if you were discouraged last year,

don't worry. Time to pick up. Jesus haven't come back yet. The

Master is not back yet. We stay got time okay, even if you

need to put the one talent in the bag and please do it, do

it now, okay before he come back. He's not back yet. We

say got time. Let's remember these five steps that will help us as we

stay the court for the first one is target. I try to keep everything

in tila Okay, So I hope you will forgive me because I didn't make

ste You to do it. A good job and we will find out later

why. So the first one is target okay? Or purpose? What do

I mean? Focus on the goals? The goal as the goal this year

for you? What is the goal this year that God has asked you to

do? Focus on what God God asks you to do? A yes,

you have your own goals. Great, great, But what is God asking

you to do? If you didn't ask him yet? If you don't know

what, then it's time to ask him. Lah, pray, huh,

prayer pass awayen, Sorry I passed. I always asked. We were praying.

Read by Bill. These are the two things I ask we will do.

Okay, it's nothing new. Okay, if you in Christ all these

all these other things that you need to do, and if you'll not been

doing it, start doing it today? Right? Pray ask God God,

what what is it? Right? And read his word? Lord? What

does your word say? Can you guide me? What do you want me

to do for twenty twenty four? You know why I encourage you to do

that because when you summon yourself to the Lord, he will take care of

everything. Meant you six study three, seek if and King of God,

and all should be added to you. You want to be blessed, sick

his kingdom. Don't say other things. You say blessing, I don't want

you'll find you say God, you say his kingdom, he will bless you.

You experience blessing, you don't have to go find it. That is

a promise. Right. You want proof I got no proof, I got

evidence. My life is right bless because I sik his kingdom, and I've

constantly experienced his blessing all my life. And I don't have to work hard

for it on now, guys, I don't have to oh force it,

No, no need, just believe God. Trust God, move in his

direction, and somehow He'll make things happen, all things beautiful in his time.

Right, And I've been blessed with that. I think I've shared my

decat worry about my heart? Right? Yeah? Same would I have im

imagined that. No, he restored my life. Praise good. Now I

have to go Jim more of dinner. Don't test God? Right, they

say, got another time? No another time? Okay? Not fine,

not fun? Right. You know that Jesus was very focused with what his

father has entrusted him with, even when became very hot meant sixty nine says

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

Oh, my Father, if it is possible, let this cart pass from

me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but you will. No.

Even Christ was focused. He was very focused for the first thirty years of

his life. He was a faithful son to his father on earth. Carpenter

the last three years of his life full on God's business ministry, and he

knew he was going to the cross. This prayer he prayed was in the

garden of Gatsemane. One hour he did a devotion there before he was betrayed,

sent to the Sanhaarin, and then sentenced to CRUCIFIXI, where he died

for all sins right. He also went to challenge all you think Jesus well,

but Jesus were powerful everything he knows. He also suffered. He suffered

a lot for us, but he still kept the cost. He still stayed

the cost. If Jesus can do it, why can't we Because we're his

followers, right, shouldn't we follow Christ? He can, we cannot He's

but we can't. We stake the court, stake the cost. That's the

first thing. Because when you don't know what got us you to do,

then it's hard. It's hard to be faithful where you don't know what you're

faithful to words, right, it's hard, I admit it. Yeah,

But when you are sure of what you're faithful to us, then it's easy.

I wouldn't say easy, it's easy. Year Lah you won't be unsure.

Alah, at least you're right. That's how you got to know.

You got to know. If you don't know, better find out right,

don't don't lie. I don't know. I don't know. He cannot tell

you, why know? Can I be honest? I also cannot tell you

what God wants you to do unless we've been doing life together for many years.

Huh and through your life I observe and see, oh this is your

calling, then I'm very clear. But most of the time first hand that

I might not know why, I don't have to give her prophecy, So

I apologize. I don't want to pass see if you have great lacks how

but why can't you go and find out yourself? Because I think I'll speak

to you. And don't you think it's more powerful when God speak to you

redd than I speak to you. I speak to you, then I am

wrong? Who are you gonna blame me? La later on? But who's

what is it? Your fault? Lie? Listen to men? Men can

fail? Hello? Sorry, sorry, I have you guys out, okay?

Having a bit finding you correct and not better? Trust God all my

dealer. He will never get it wrong. But wish voice is this hey,

then you better learn how to listen because what are Yeah, you have

to learn what you know. I share this with PJ this Wedness day picked

some dayla this Wednesday. When you are your lecturer, when you're your boss,

right, I'm not going to be there with you. You know,

Passes Steve is not going to be there. If you know when your boss

and your lecture and your mother are score you are and you're angry at them,

You're not going to have Passus Steven picture there and then look at your

brother or sister forgive. We're not going to be there with you. You

know who's going to be there, you Holy Spirit. So if you don't

know how to do a how loa that come to check you, Nilan,

you need your work. We've got Cory not. You need to say the

cause. You need to know who your Jesus is. Don't just rely on

the leaders. I mean you can call Passistel every day, but habisla,

you know every other days my boss say this, you know my mom said

this. No, can you ask Jesus were also human? We also can

get angry. You know. I was just sharing the PJA team yesterday that

yesterday I had. I had to do something for my dad. You know.

My dad's with me and I'm just trying to be a good son,

you know, because he's all and I'm just trying to honor him, you

know, and he organizes this dinner thing. Can I be honest with you?

Okay? It was not fun because he was very cleaning style. Sorry

if you're Klanger, okay, if you're from let me be honest, very

cleaning style. You know, everything that I said that says a lot.

It will happen automatically one okay, So that's how it runs. So I

was very frustrated. I was driving to the dinner angry. Okay, guys

in the car think I was alone, angry? How God cannot cannot so

on some music, I pray, Lord, help me, help me.

By the time I reached the winner, I was very happy. Well,

I'm not very happy. I was at peace. I could run the dinner

well. I could see some of my homies to day. I was smiling

at them. I was at peace until today. No, and Gerdy,

why let go to the lot day. I need to know how to do

that. You need to know how to do that. We need to know

how to stay the course. But if we don't know, Oh God,

how are you going to stay the course? Right? Yeah? But I

rely on Sunday, Lie, come on Sunday. Sunday is once a week.

You know to cut massa. Then sometimes the topic. If the topic

not gummy what you're then you don't know. No, everyday daily devotion,

that's how you will know. That's how you will know. That's how God

will speak to you. Amen. So focus on the goal. What is

the goal? Find out liah okay, second point tahad perserve Yeah, stay

the cause, you know the goal? Ready, right, stay the cause,

James wan to the fosse is my brethren, counting all joy when you

fall into vest trials, knowing that the testing of your faith producers picions.

But let patients have this perfect work, then you may be perfect and complete,

lacking nothing. So you want to lea thing. Then when God challenge

your life, are be happy? County or joy Ma? You got challenge

or praise the Lord? You have challenge your heart each other and cry together.

Okay, you know, persist and persevere even when it's difficult. Yes,

friends, I know it's difficult. But if you say the course,

if the Lord has said, do this if you know in your heart of

us what you need to do, stay the course. Do you know that

you cannot build anything lasting without time and investment? You know, I know

in this generation a lot of people you know. Again, different pursuit.

Okay, different pursuit. Okay, no judgment here, but there's this encouragement

to like, oh, just change your utter two years stuff because you get

better pay package. Right, great, you get a better pay package.

But what are you building if the No, Seriously, if you're not just

here as a worker, and if you're here to build something wrong lasting,

it will take time. You will take time, right, it will take

time. I've been working in my come eighteen going to be nineteen years ready.

If I just ship shift like that, I won't be able to build

a lot of things in my current in my current organization, which is a

YA and extresla, I won't be able to build that. But persevere,

persevere, then you can build something xbu this church plant, it's not gonna

grow. It passes steven next next year. I say, okay, guys,

you know what see you If he has that perspective lower, I'm just

gonna be No, he's not gonna grow. Only we say, Lord,

I'm gonna be here until you call me. Then it will grow. Right,

then it will grow. Nothing is built without time and investment. It

will take time and investment. So what is it that you need to build

in your life? Remember you got to persevere? Right, Paul ran his

race two Timothy four six to eight. For I'm already being poorer as a

drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I thought

the good fight. I've finished the race. I've kept the faith. Finally,

the slaid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord,

the righteous Judge will give to me on the day, and not to me

only, but also to all who have loved his appearing. As we read

on, So Paul said, I have run the race, I have kept

the faith. I steady, and I'm still giving. He's in jail,

no writing all these letters. You know, he would rather go out there

and do ministry at all. But somehow people I've heard scholars say that maybe

it was a good idea that Paul was in jail. Okay, sound quite

bad, right, because if Paul was not in jail, we wouldn't get

the epistles because those are all the letters he wrote while he's in jail.

He got time in jail, right, pray Lord right, and then sending

out to the churches to encourage them last time. No Internet, no Facebook,

and now we use it as part of the Bible. So everybody is

jokingly sailor you know, maybe it was good that he was in jail.

Wouldn't get their basils right? I don't know. Will you'll be happy if

someone said, thank God you went through that trouble. Because you didn't go

through that troubler, many will not be will not be blessed. Do you

like that? You know when I look at my life, a lot of

times I look at them, I'm like, yeah, Lord, you have

a sense of humor. I go through challenger and people are blessed through my

challenge. Praise the Lord, Harlee Lujah sent me, bring me to Heaven

faster. It all right? That that that that's well. I wouldn't say

that's how God, that that's how God works, like I don't think that's

how it works. But just to give you a perspective, persevere, okay,

And do you know that as you read on you also see people hurt

Paul. You know, I was surprised when I discovered this portions cure after

I I so, let me give you a tip when you read a scripture

and don't just read, oh why something? Husband? And that's it.

This is my life calling that make sure every why something? The husband not

reading that? Why not reading the scripture? After that? Wife needs to

Sorry, husband who love their wife like Christ love the Church. You know

what that means. It's an unconditional love means when your wife piece you off,

you still got to love her. You want her something to you.

You're willing to love her like Jesus love the Church. Not read in context.

So I like to read scriptures in context so that you will understand read

before and after that. You know, oh, this is what he means.

This why he says this the intention of the text. Right, Let's

read Second Timothy from nine to sixteen. Because when we think about Paul.

I don't know whether you know about Paul much, but when I think about

Paul, he's a tough guy. Okay, he's the first missionary. He

planted many chesches. He's like super steady, okay, but in his life

also the lord of drama, you know, a lot of drama. Okay,

we read four nine to six. Let's yeah, so he says,

yeah wa. The title of my my scripture here is the Abandoned Apostle.

Okay, be diligent to come to me quickly, for Damas has forsaken me,

having loved this present world. And as the part for Thessalonica questions for

Galicia Titus for the Mesia. Only Luke is with me. Get marked and

bring him with you, for he's useful to me for ministry and taiki kas

I've sent to Ephasis. Bring the crook that I've left with Coppers at Trouus

when you come. And the books, especially the patchments Alexander the Coppas did

me much harm, made a lot repay him according to his works, so

ganasa, So as you can read this, you will learn a few things.

Okay, let me unpack a little bit of you. You also must

be aware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words and my first

defense. No one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it

not be charged against them. Wow. Even Paul went through Challenge Minis three

Challenges, Guys Minis three challenges in the First Church where the Holy spirit was

there. So all the challenges we face your normal la forgive and move on,

ask her to move on. You look at his response strong, But

he ended with this, but all forsook me. May it not be charged

against them? What does that mean? He forgave them, He forgave them.

Yeah, they left, but he forgave them. Wow. And then

the part with the most drama and the coppers myth the cop person. You

say, what, Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm? May the Lord

repay him according to his works. Let me teach you something here. God

doesn't need you to justify yourself. Someone wrong you. The only thing the

Bible asks us to do is forgive, because God will deal with them.

You don't need to do anything. Don't be so quick to do something you

get yourself in trouble. You've been wrong horribly. It's okay. Forgive them

for they don't know what they're doing. That's what Jesus said, right.

God will be your indicator. If they need to be punished, let God

do it. Don't you go and do it for them? Don't so fast

pass Stephen, you know, and you teach him a lesson so that he'll

be a better pastor. Please don't do that. You know sometimes we very

quick to do that. No, let God be the innicator. You do

your part, you forgive, you submit. God will deal with people want

he will. You read the Bible. He will cautum them and you don't

have to cault him them. Right. Sorry, clang, clang clean coming

out. I had too much clang yesterday. You know, I don't know

what happened yesterday. One of the one of the performances, it was like

a like a what sorry, it was like a charity dinner. So one

of the performances, one of the ladies sang Howkins song. Well I really

touched my heart man, so this morning whole money. I've been listening to

songs anyway. Okay, but but you you know what I mean? What

is our response? See, when we have got on our side, we

we respond differently. One the only reason why sometimes we get a little bit

model is because we don't realize that God is actually on our side. God

is actually on all our sides. Okay. So even if someone we didn't

the church offense, you do you know that God is also on their side.

When I say that, I don't mean God will vindicate no, no,

no, let God handle the person, because God will also have to

handle you because maybe you also got stuff to learn from this situation. We're

all his children. So what fight we want another for? What? Waste

time? Waste energy? You know there are many people out there they don't

know Jesus yet. No, we need to spend more effort, energy and

and you know, brain power, prayer power to reach them. No,

because that's harder internally. Let God deal with it. Just forgive one another.

It's okay, So stress one right, yes, angry, then deal

or that county or joy? You are angry offender? Oh praise God,

brother Stephen, you are you will be able to persevere and not develop your

faith. I'm joking, but you get what I mean. Of course,

here we have a community that supports one another, you know, so we're

also understanding yourself one another. But yeah, what is our part? Okay?

Third point? Okay? Thankful? Okay. I try to think of

a P word. I cannot think. The only thing word I can think

of is please, okay, please please do what? Well? The nice

way to say is be discouraged proof Huh? How do I be disguised?

Well? Let me share a few James one two, My brethren, count

it all joy when you fall into various trials. Okay, this counterculture guys

rejoice in persecution. Huh Med, are you yeah, mad? James one

twelve to twenty? What does he say? Do we have it, my

brethren, James twelve, Sorry, James one twelve to twenty, They put

it there. Ah, Okay, So blessed is the man who endures temptation,

for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life,

which a lord has promised to those who love him. Let no one

say, when he's tempted, I am tempted by God. For God cannot

be tempted by evil, nor does he himself temp anyone. But each one

of us is tempted when he's drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

Okay, Then when desires has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and

sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death. Do not be

deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from

above and comes down from the Father of lives, with whom there's no variation

or shadow of turning of his own will. He brought us forth by the

word of His truth, that we might be kind of first ruts of His

creatures. Stop here, For all we are the first fruits of what God

has intended, of a new being and creation creator. You're you're catch dead.

If we continue to operate like the world, we are no longer his

first fruits. Okay, we'll read on and I'll try and unpack some of

the scriptures of his own will he brought us a yeah, okay, next,

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear,

slow to speak, slow to wrap. For the wrath of man does

not produce the righteousness of God. The wrath of men, the anger of

man, does not produce the righteousness of God. Okay, let me unpack

this scripture a little bit, right. Can we go to the first one

just to remember what you said? Okay, So I give you this perspective.

God is in control over everything correct, right, He's in control everything

right. But do you know that God gave you free will and a choice.

Do you know that you can be this obedient? You can make mistakes,

even God said in this word. When that happens, please don't blame

God your cash that are not don't blame God. If you didn't ask him,

don't blame him. If you didn't check with him, don't blame him.

You know, we think for granted this, this whole thing about not

being responsible is rec clear. Oh by my Christian one. You know God

should God bless me? Yeah, yeah, God bless you and all these

things. But are you disobedient? You know it's like a father, and

I'm a father. I have two kids. Right, do you know that

my kids have everything, all the privileges they have, right, but what's

the condition they have to obela? They have to comply. But imagine if

I have these obedient kids, do you think they still get the privileges your

casht an? Not so? Sometimes, right, we have a tendency to

remove ourself from the equation or everything. God got in control everything God,

right, Yeah, he is in control, but he loves us and he

wants us to submit to him. That's why there's sumission. But then sometimes

we know, Tila, we tempted la. And then we say, God,

you tell me why you put me this person? Hello? Who knows

Tea? We know Tea very easy. We remove ourself from the responsibility,

But God, you should me why maybe one ready, but you didn't listen.

So think about it now, right, So what are the things that

we need to remember? Number one, do not be tempted. Let your

heart not be deceived. Oh I'm following my heart. Don't be any want

to save? Oh God, THEMN me, God cannot themn anyone. Very

clear. Okay, let's go to the second portion. Let me encourage you.

I know is what but let me encourage you. Yes, every good

gift, and every perfect gift is from above. You see, everything God

has for you is perfect and good. Your life now is perfect and good.

What you're experiencing now is from the Lord. Okay, it's from above,

right, and it comes down with whom. There's no variation or shadow

of turning. If you feel that your life now is being short changed,

I want to let you know that there's a lie of the enemy. God

does not short change anybody. God does not short change anybody. I'm talking

about thankfulness. Huh. But I have to establish this first for us to

understand thankfulness. Go next of his own will. He brought us forth by

the word of his right. There might be a kind of first roads.

Okay, let every man be swife to hear us so to speak, so

arounday, I'll go to this later. So when I say, how do

you be discouraged? Proof? We need to learn to be thankful? In

James one trivelve to twenty, we just read we need to learn to love

God under trials? How when we're going to trials and tribulations? How do

we love God? And can I be honest with you? You will come,

guys, we may not meet as a church that is freely. You

know in the coming years. I don't know. I don't know what's going

to happen, right, But how do we deal with this courage? Man?

How do we deal with challenge? It's very clear. Be swift to

hear, hear who hear God? Be slow to speak, be slow to

ralph. That's your part. Be swift to hear, slow to speak,

slow to rah. Or when there's trouble, we need to prove something.

We're the first one. I'm going to be the one that will safe everybody.

No, guys, swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to

raph. In any situation, In any situation, challenge your boss, swift

to hear. Don't so fast say anything, don't so fast get angry?

God, are you here? I'm going to a challenging time. God,

can you come true for me? God? Are you here? Right?

We got to be thankful, white, thankful. Let me give you that

verse seventeen again. If we realize and know that everything we have is given

by the Lord, then we can be thankful. Friends. The next time

you feel like you don't have everything together, can you maybe spend a bit

of time looking at what you have? Sometimes we are so focus on what

we don't have, we don't realize what we have, right, We are

so focused, you know, you know? Can can I be honest with

you? I experienced that quite recently, Okay recently, me and my wife

we did talkt about my great thing. We did. We were honest,

We did because we saw what we didn't have. That apparently going to Australia

was solved all our problems. And I didn't realize what I already had and

go ahead to speak to me when I started, And of course it was

also during a challenging timeline or whatever that I have. But then after different

things happened, God really spoke to me. Right after the whole incident with

the hospital, I realized man Man, Malaysia is the best place to get

sick. Not not to say that you should laugh, but if you want

to get sick or you have to get sick, Malasia is one of the

best places. You know. Why we got free health care. At least

there's a solution. No, it won't cost me and I'm an a lake.

At least you have insurance. So you've got no insurance? Peace going

to buy it? Now? If I went overseas, Oh my goodness,

have you seen health care overseas? The moment you fall sick, Deasila,

bye bye? You rather meet the lot no than survive Milasi. You're not

so bad. No, what do we have that we can be thankful for?

What do you have in your life now that you can be thankful for?

I tell you what. If you can develop a heart of thankfulness,

you will be discouraged proof no one can get you down. You will be

the happiest person on earth. Nobody can get you down because you always got

something. Thank God fall you know and can can I be honest? I'm

not thinking. I'm not asking you thank God you know sometime again take it

next level? Okay, I'm not asking to do Oh, I thank God

for the breath in my life. And I thank God for the star.

Guys, if you becoming that, I'm like, oh Lord, okay,

if it works for you, praise the lot. No, but that's not

what I mean. I mean, look at your life. What are you

thankful for? Right? We actually can find one. I'm sure can find

one. Right? Amen? Fourth point, time out? Pause, Take

time to rest and reflect. You know, this life is so busy,

you know I I'm the type person right, A little bit similar pass Steven.

Okay, we like to get the job done. One, it's all.

That's how we operate. Like, okay, everything I thought. It's

just working, you know, and sometimes people like that can get the job

done, but don't know how to rest. But as I grow older,

I realized, Hey, you know what, Resting is good because it helps

me to recalibrate, It helps me to adjust. We reflect. I give

you this line. Take time to reflect so that you can help, So

that you can have self introspection. Be good. What do I mean by

that? Reflect on your life and rest so that you can adjust when you

need to adjust. Okay, don't see you Remember I'm talking about preparing for

this year, not preparing, but staying the cost for this year. Think

about it. If you only do like a oh, I will have a

one year retreat. You know we're at the end of the year. I'll

just a bit too late, like guys, a bit too late to adjust

the year end ready, you know? Uh oh? Are you asking me

to rest every week? Well, if you can now you know, sunday's

a sebbab rest. If you have the time and effort to do that,

great, But I'm just saying trying to rest often, especially especially especially if

you come to a place where you feel like I don't like this word,

but are using it anyway. You burning out or you're tired. That's just

your body saying you. You need to rest already, please make it happen,

or you're falling sick, you need to rest ready, Passes see when

every time he fallings out there, bro, your body's telling me to rest.

So you gotta clock off everything and rest because if you push further,

you will crash and burn. And that's not good, right because God never

intended to run away, even he said on Sabbath. The Jewish culture seventh

very important. No, even they took offense to Jesus when he heal on

the seventh. No, but we all know that Jesus is the lord the

Sabbath. He can do whatever he wants. Man, he's the one that

created it. But we need the rest. Why not just all rest to

chill and be lazy? No, no, no, reflect to adjust?

Hey, how's my goal? Hey? Last week this thing happened, and

maybe I I shouted at someone I should have done that. What can I

do better this week? Maybe I don't apologize to the person. Adjust,

Yeah, you go, of course it's okay to go. Of course,

one just come back bad just a little bit. Oh I can do it

better this week, you know, Or I can do better. Reflect,

have a self introspection. You can't change the things around you know, but

God can change you. So rest, right, that's how you carry on

because after you rest and you're like, yeah, I know what to do,

then it's like a you know, a burst of energy for the next

the next, the next thing. You gotta do right And when you rest,

don't just rest like that, lad, Okay, don't just like oh

let me go in zend. No, don't zen please? Zen is not

what we believe on can No people joke about that. But no. The

Bible talks a lot about rest Psalms fifty five twenty two. Cast your burden

on the Lord, and he shall sustain you. Who gives you sutennance.

It's not the rest, you know, guys, it's God. Have you

been tired all this while You've been looking at the wrong place to get your

sustenance. When you look at God to get susternance, he will sustain you.

He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. What does he mean

by that? You will be stayed fast if you cast your burdens on him.

First Peter five five seven says, in the same way, you who

are younger, submit yourself to elders. All of you clothe yourself with humidity

towards one another, because God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the

humble. Humble yourself therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he might lift

you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he

cares for you. Oh, I love that. Are you anxious today?

Are you a person that you know? Nowadays we try a lot anxiety.

The Bible has answered, The Bible has answered. Trust God. Cast your

anxiety and him because he cares for you. Who have you been casting your

anxiety on another human being. Sorry, the human being can just listen to

your you feel better. I believe that the Lord God Almighty, my father

in Heaven, won't just make you feel better. He can solve the problem

for you, whatever he may be. Amen Matthew eleven eight that he says,

come to me, all you who labor and I have be laden,

and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from

me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find

rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is like

so resting is important. Okay, last point posts, Yeah, I'm saying,

praiseler. Okay, learn to celebrate milestones. One of the joys of

being a young parent is that every day is a milestone. Right now,

I see and set back. Every day is a milestone, good and bad

molestone. It's a milestone for parents because you are rejoicing in trials, and

it's a milestone for your child. You know. It's like I remember talking

to my wife, and I've heard this many times from different parents, like

oh the day it's crazy, you know, and then we're frustrating, you

know. And then at the moment the child sleeps and you look at them,

You're like, okay, I'm willing to do it. So I'm like,

oh, maybe it's like a drug, you know. But we well,

you know, sometimes we forget to celebrate milestones. What is the milestone

that we can celebrate? You know? You know you only look at domain

group. No, maybe there is a milestone, right, I just share

a view about my gym. What's my milestone? I did it once air

Wait, dere share? Were you here about my gym? No? I

didn't. Okay, I can remember thinking PJ in here. Okay, you

know that I'm going to do it tomorrow again. Praise the Lord. Okay,

yeh. The goal is every day, but right now I'm doing once

a week first, and then little will increase. We need to learn to

celebrate more. It's more about perspectives at the end of the day as well.

What do you see in your life and in this church? Do you

just see doom and gloom a lot of people believing, Oh they are like

that, Oh, or do you see God in the picture. One of

the things that I'm very thankful for that God has given me perspective. He's

taught me how to see things differently. That's something I really thank God for.

So when I look at a person, and I think, it's all

about how we approach people. Right, So now this when I look at

a person, Yeah, the person might not have everything there, but there's

definitely something that a person is doing right one that you can celebrate and hopefully

that person will and be encouraged to do other things. You know, it's

never about perfection, guys, It's always about PROGRESSI right, So what do

you see? You know? Do you see God moving or do you see

or doing gloom? And sometimes we see doing groom because of what we hear,

because of the people around us. Maybe time to change perspective sometimes,

I'm not saying all the time. Sometimes we get so affected by our friends.

Guys, I think you need to get more affected by Jesus because very

dangerous, know, very dangerous. Gossip is very powerful. Okay, it

may not be true. I'm beginning to realize, right the power of gossip,

whether it's in the church context or organization context. Can gossip untila,

no problem become God problem? Do you know that? Actually? No problem?

I know. But because one person not happy with other people, then

then suddenly suddenly half the church or half the group or half the whatever say,

oh it's doing, it's gonna die everything, but actually nothing will know

actually nothing one pointless right, So be careful what you say, and be

careful who you hang out with. Be very careful because your heart is receiving

the side sometimes is always good. Before I talk to anyone, if every

I tell you this, how I teach you, how I deal with it

that I don't like to and maybe because when I was young, so my

mom taught me this. If you've got nothing to say, don't say it.

Okay, I have a lot of things to say, but I'll keep

quiet. I will only speak to God. But you know when I do

that, he speaks to me. Elvin. Opened up your eyes to see

Elvin, is not true, Elvin, look at what's happening, Elvin.

See the fruit? Okay? And then I come with my own Oh wow,

actually it's not that bad. Oh wow. Actually you're doing awesome.

You know. I was speaking to a young man, and let me just

be honest with you, okay, because some things that we've been dealing with.

But I believe that twenty twenty four be a good year. Hit right,

the young man told me this. He said, you know how you

know everybody's leaving? Okay, say that liner that I'm like, Okay,

I told them personally, I said, well maybe you feel that way because

the people around you all are moving on. But if you're in my shoes

and I'm the churchmark connector and I have eight homes to see her, can

I tell you the testimony about some homes that are growing, that are experiencing

new people coming and experiencing God. Then you tell me that everybody's living or

not. This is why our perspective is important. This is why we need

to be discouraged proof, because discouragement can derail us from our destiny. Do

you know that? Do you know that talk can derail you from your destiny?

You know? How? Do you know how? How how easily we

can be affected by talk? Who do we want to believe God or the

people around us? You know? Because when I talk to these young men,

I said, if you were in my shoes, and you will see

that God is moving in our church. No, and all this is just

talk. Look at the fruit. I'm encouraged you different ones, and of

course I mean as leaders are something we see. Okay, you look at

the entire thing like, oh, this sign gotta be a problem. Then

you have going to support them and encourage them. Design is doing well.

Then you're like, Okay, I don't have to do much because you know,

but the goal is the same. We're all encouraging people to follow Jesus

no other reason. But I realized that it's very powerful, this whole thing

I'm sharing you a little bit more. Again, it can happen in church,

it can happen in your company. So you've got to be very sensitive

to what God wants you to do. Don't be sensitive to what people say.

We get so affected by what people say. I think we should be

more affected by what God says, you know, so be careful. Why

our hearts is deceiving. Just giving you some some handles because there is a

goal. No friends, if God has asked you to be here, and

if God has asked you to do something in your school, your company,

in this church, stick to it. Do you know who doesn't want you

to achieve those things? The devil Lah. Of course, he will send

you problems. He will send you you know, he will discourage you.

Because you know when you are discouraged, you will give up and then you

will go and you will I don't know what else you will do after that,

hopefully still believe in Jesus. Lad So stay the course, don't be

distracted, and learn to celebrate. If we can learn to celebrate, we

can remember that God is still with us. One of the things I always

look at in my own life is that I always ask, Okay, God,

I'm going through a challenging time, what can I celebrate? How can

I see what is good? And God always gives me things to celebrate?

Or no, yeah, not everything is perfect, low, but there are

some things I can celebratey thank God for this. Thank you a lot for

this, Thank you a lot for this. You know. Yeah, other

things I need to figure out a way and pray love. Maybe I have

to pray moll lie, you know. But yeah, we can always celebrate.

Salms one or three says bless a lot, oh my soul and all

that is within me, Bless his holy name. Salms one or six says

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his

mercy and yours forever. See the perspective of celebration is not just for yourself,

Oh look at me what I did, But it is God. God,

I bless you. You have done so much in my life. I'm

only here because I'm being submitted to you. Nothing else right, And can

I give you this last encouragement whether you realize it or not, this something

I realize. But whether you realize it or not, God is doing a

great one in your life. He is every one of you here. God

is working in your life, however you're at. So let's not short change

ourself. Okay, let's not be very doing good, let's not be impatient.

But let's trust God and know there is God. Just because there is

trouble doesn't mean that God is not there. Just because it's difficult for you

doesn't mean that God cannot help you. So don't be so fast to life.

A bit of no peace does it? No? No, no,

Let me give you this other thing that I used to will be my yet

stick. The peace of God is something that is very important to me,

very very important, more important than anything else in terms of how I decide

on things, because I've experienced God in such a way that when there's no

piecea better not do because I've done it in the past, We've got no

peace. So I like, okay, it sounds like good idea Lord,

and then they offer, oh why did I do this? You know?

So he stopped me enough? Thank God? Right? So I always seek

for his peace, right, But how do you seek his peace just like

that? Know, you have to know who he is. You have to

experience his peace to know. Okay, this is God's peace. Yes.

So when there's stormer, when let's say, give you this picture, like

let's say that's a storm happening. I see a storm everything, I always

ask God, where are you in this? Give me your peace? What

should I do? And a lot of times he confirms it, and okay,

I say your peace. And then when I walk into the storm like

chill, brether, chier la sister, why don't you ask God what you

should do? Don't look at your life? You're right, look up,

ask God asking him for peace. Don't so first come to me and say

look at this, look at that, look at what? No, no,

no, don't look at all these look at God. Look at God.

First ask him You got peace on that? Right? Then you won't

get yourself in trouble, you know. But He is doing a work in

your life, you know. That's why it's a struggle. You know what

I mean, Why why struggle? Because he's doing away in your life,

He's doing away in my life. He's been doing away in my life ever

since I was a young person until now. Right sums for the six time,

says, be still and know that I'm God. I'll be exalted among

the nations. I'll be exalted in the earth. Romans talk wanted to two

says, I beseech you there, for brethren, by the mercies of God,

that you present your bodies a living sacrifice wholly acceptable to God, which

is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but

be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you may prove what is

good and acceptable and perfect will of God. I have been changed time and

time again. I personally have been transformed time and time again. The Elvin

you see today is very different from the Alvin that first came to Exchechs in

two than five. The Elven you see that was very different from the Alvin.

There was a young man I know John for a very long time.

I change quite a lot, right, I can tell you. You know

he also changed quite a lot. I know, No, No, you'll

tell you. I think in the one year, you've seen how much he's

changed, right instead of you know, Uncle John become Father John redly right.

No, See, God transforms us for better. That's the work that's

happening, you know. And every time we face challenging we have to make

a decision. Trust God, rely on him, or go out one way.

That's the dire. Sorry, there's not other decision besides trust God or

go away frustrate to go away trust God. Sometimes we go away thinking that

we're trusting God. Are we really trusting God? Are we really staying the

cost? You know? Amen? So God is doing a great one in

your life, every single one of you. Here. He is, whether

you realize it or not, He is doing a work in your life.

And the work is perfecting you right to be more committed to Him, to

follow Jesus more, to trust him more, right, slowly, day by

day. You know, you look at the progression of people serving. They

were once in a different place, but now they're like, I'm committed and

see it's not just about serving you. You got to understand this. We

don't celebrate the action. We celebrate the heart behind it. We don't celebrate

the Oh West, you're gooda, you're doing x TV. It's not the

x TV, you know, it's the West is saying. You know what,

it's not going to easy because someone new dad. But I'm gonna wake

up early, dress up and come to church. Even though I have to

dress up every day. I'm gonna submit myself. It's not the dressing up,

guys, it is the heart behind the dressing up. So do not

be deceived. Why we be these, I say be deceived because we see

things that God don't see. We see the heart submission, you know,

learn to see things God's way right, and God is doing her work So

allow him to do that way in your life right. Allow him to do

that work and you'll be fine. Amen, guys. Okay, but I

want to share this testimony. I didn't make sure shit when I was seventeen

years old. I remember, I used to serve in church a lot,

and uh part part of the reasons why I do that is because things at

home was not great. So my refuge was church. Right. I would

love to tell you like, oh no, I'm holy monly sin start like,

I can't tell you no. Yeah, I was running away, running

away from my family. So that so the refuge. I found us in

church, so I was very committed. Okay, I knew the full time

worker and you know, full time workers and all, and I started serving.

Last time, we got no slices. We use o HP right,

right, you know, take time to do. It's a lot of what

we're know. You're right, they have to be nice that you can read

not they're seeing the wrong thing. And then we progressed from Oshpe and then

sudden my church invested in media staff and then we had we needed, you

know, people to do the camera. So I really start and I remember

clearly one Sunday I was praying to God. I think I was ministered to

by the message now okay, uh and uh and and I just told God

God, I want to surf you with my talents. I want to surf

you with all I have, right, and I remember clearly he I didn't

understand that prayer. And last time, when we were younger, we don't

know much. So we always think that oh self got means become pastor up.

Okay, that was not a prayer. That and okay, the prayers

not become past I know I am one now, but there was not it.

Two years later, a few years later after I started coming to ACTS

and then I joined full time. Uh. One of the reasons that gave

me the decision to say, hey, a long story about Clige shot okay,

was I was sitting at the site there that Connor I remember, Parsaconda

was preaching and it was after service, I mean after the message and we're

praying, and I was still deciding should I go and join full time or

not, you know, or join a y a at the time, because

I know I know what will happen, you know, is it's not a

life that is like, oh, you know a lot of money and money

and fame and all. It's just a life of service, a life of

trusting in God and having faith. And I tell you I was single,

I wasn't married. God spoke to me. God said, Alvin, don't

worry, I'll take care of your family. And then he dropped this scripture

Mentel sixth Retreat, which I just said, silly for s and aby,

I've been holding onto the one worner until today, this many years ago.

Already I've grown to have a family. I've grown to you know, be

okay in life right, got house cat car or not too better? Okay,

No, I'm not very rich, but not too bad. Why am

I sharing is to you? God has a work that he's doing your life

right? But do you know that you can discouraged. I can remember in

this courser that there were at least three times I almost quit full time.

The first time, I was very frustrated. I remember very fasted, the

young, young, ambitious, you know, like, oh no, see

you you can receive a word from the Laurna and you can still be frustrated

because it's tougher because you see your friends doing whelma right, and then you're

like, what about me? About about me? Right? I remember,

actually I was sure already. I spoke to el Kenya, and I think

the decision was to you know, release me because I'm very frustrated, okay.

And then I remember sitting with Bakena and I started crying. Sorry,

I pulled myself together. I'm trying. I'm remembering back call memories. So

I started crying. I don't know why, and I think the other was

surprised because we had a dinner and I look at Bide said pasta, I

don't want to miss what God is doing X. I don't know I to

say that I was still frustrated. So in the end I didn't quit.

And they were like, oh, you're supposed to me to talk about the

release it and suddenly, you know, I don't think I remember this.

I remember. I'm like, I don't want to leave. I don't want

to leave. You know, God was dealing me. I didn't understand.

There's one second time frustration. I wrote letter the email to a pass ken

of Okay, I wanted to hit. Said, you know the one thing

that is powerful is before you do anything anything crazy, you better pray.

So I remember to pray what I'm gonna He said, yeah, peace,

but very frustrat did no peace, but it's the right thing to do.

No peace. I closed the email. I stayed for another few more years.

A few years back happened again, and this time it wasn't even a

frustration. It was just more like, hey, maybe maybe since I'm so

established, I can work out something where I go out there and do business

and then you know, all these ideas that men have. Men have a

lot of ideas, right, Thank God God direct that not brilliant ideas.

Okay, I thought I could do white yearning, yearning, A lot of

yearnings This was way before we started the special needs thing in church. Frustration

yearning, You see all these frustrations and yearning, frustration, ambition. I

don't know why that time or so I prayed lack, you know, I

see prayer all this idea. Right now, I'm like communicated to the lot

because I learned really a true pain now that whatever a bright idea, I

have a better pray first, because I've had bright ideas before and I don't

pray and I suffered, So to me, suffering is a good less good

teacher. I don't want to suffer. So I pray Lord. I got

this bide there. I think it sounds all correct, but I pray first.

No peace, okay, lot, no peace. I will stay a

lot of things in life. We kind of need God to guius, you

know, because frustration yearning after what other people have looking outside, you know,

this is phrase us outside. Why are you wasting your time? No?

People outside doing much better. So I tell me that my friends and

I look at that. I'm like, no, I'm noticing my time.

I'm using my time to the fullest. I'm using my time to the first

because now I remember having a stought, because when I met the dish.

I was a young man, and I thought to myself, Okay, lot,

I trust you. But only time will tell whether or not this is

a correct decision. Or because I have other friends that go another way,

and not to say that anything follow what the law is saying, go out

another way. I will be able to see whether or not the decisions of

life and consistency will bad. Food and God reminded me of the choices I've

made that trusted him. It is not just for myself. Yes, I've

gained it, but I believe many has been blessed. I trust many.

True the outpouring has been blessed through the obedience have been blessed. And I've

heard it again and again. I've been encouraged recently by another person that wrote

a letter or a little cart, and I'm like, Okay, I don't

have everything. Everything's note, but it's still with it to pour up.

It's still worth it to invest, it's still worth it to trust the next

generation, you know, as God has caught right and yeah, it's going

to be okay, guys, it's going to be okay. Yeah it's not

easy. Yeah, I feel like quit think I just got to share with

you, because sometimes when I share things that this, you might seem I

have all all of it really and all of it aligned. No, guys,

I'm still figuring it out, you know. And remind shared about friends.

So I've chose a life of purpose, right, And I recently caught

up with a friend as well, and I was talking and my friend is

doing very well and have big house, big car, everything, you know,

planning to buy Tesla. And I'm like, I cannot follow. But

there was a very clear difference in our focus. He was looking for He's

looking for purpose now, very clearly looking for purpose. Well, I want

to do this on that And I'm like, he has everything, but he's

looking for purpose and he's still looking for it. And I was very clear

in my purpose. I'm like, okay, it's that I know what to

do for the next two years of my life, you know. But my

friends just starting to figure it out. I pray that God will lead him

because he's on his journey of comparison. But what are we going to choose

today? Amen? How are we gonna leading to the form? Right?

Is it gonna be a year of testimony or are we gonna take it like

a tree? Is like that. It's gonna be like that. No,

no, do you know that you have a choice. God is really here.

We think you know. Hey, come on, I'm ready, let's

go. Are you ready? We hope you've been blessed by this message.

For more information on our church, please visit as church dot org. We

are also active on Facebook and Instagram. We're believing that this week is going

to be a good week. I hit for you. God bless