Faithfulness | Pr Alvin Keng

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

will light up your day. I've got some questions for you. You don't

have to raise your hands to answer, but just think thing. Thing.

I got some questions for you. First question, how was your twenty twenty

three? We just started twenty twenty four, So you know, as you

start the year, then you've got a new resolution. You know, one

of my resolutions is, and this is how I keep myself comfortable. I

tell the church what I'm gonna do, so that I got no choice for

to do it. So one of the things I'm gonna do is I'm gonna

consistently go to gym. Right and I declared to you because my trainers here,

So tomorrow morning, tomorrow Monday, I will go to gym in my

office. I've been quite consistent because I tell the church, and I got

no choice because after that people ask me persily you win or not? So

I went, you know, and I can prove. So you know,

we all want to have resolution. But it's also good to think about last

year and to reflect how we've done and what has happened so that we can

us you know, So, how was how was your twenty twenty three?

Was it good? Was it bad? Did you manage to do what you

needed to do? Maybe you had a plan in January February? I don't

know, Maybe you had a goal. Did you manage to do what you

needed to do? And again I'm not asking questions to me. You feel

bad, don't feel bad? Please, you know it's questions to think because

if you didn't manage to do hey, four year, can start again?

Can try again? You know I wanted to lose weight last year, Tayadi,

Now I'm doing it. You know? Did you manage to do what

God asked you to do? Oh? Did God ask you do something?

Actually saying don't have God didn't say anything? Actually have for the past twenty

years you didn't say anything. Oh, then maybe you knew ask him really,

maybe you knew do your devotion ready, because I'm sure God has an

assignment for all of us one or maybe God did ask you do something.

But was there anything that distracted you? Now, maybe something happened. Did

you get stayed off course? Not your fault, No, not your fault.

You got to stay it. Of course, something happened then you got

to stay off course? Maybe to go deeper, I will ask were there

any challenges or discouragements which affected you? You know? The one thing that

I've learned, well, I'm not very old. I think I'm still quite

young at the same time, I think or I'm like in between old young.

I'm not sure. But for the life, for the two, for

yeah, for the for the two this year, for the year, yeah,

but by look at him anyway. A discouragements is a very powerful thing.

Do you know that? Do you know that discouragements can derail you from

your destiny? Nice quote? Discouragements in your life life can derail you from

doing what God wants you to do. That it can happen you see how

maybe your friend's family make decisions that change your lives because they're discouraged. Okay,

let's use our country for an example. If you're very discouraged, you

know what's happening in our country? You move on true or not true?

Again? Now, am I against migration? Am I? No? No,

no, I'm not against any of these things. But sometimes you got

to ask yourself why are you doing what you're doing. If you're very discouraged

in your relationships, you might say enough is enough. Let's change, let's

quit, let's move on, let's let go, let's give up. Discouragements

is very powerful. We need to see that. It is very powerful,

and it's very dangerous. A man, it's very real. Okay, So

my message today is about faithfulness if you right now, it's faithfulness as we

move on to this year. It is actually good to reflect on what we

can do better this year and what we can prepare to whether what might happen?

Okay, what do I mean by that? Let me make some predictions

just now in the eight fifteen am. I use the word prophesy, but

I think that's not the right word to use. So I fix my what

I'm saying. Let me make some possible predictions that might happen. Friends,

Can I let you know that this year you will be discouraged, Something is

going to happen that will affect you. Do you know that this year you're

gonna get offended one way or another? Maybe right now I'm offending some of

you ready, I don't know. Do you know that that can happen?

Do you know that you will face challenges this year? It will happen,

some predictions it will, It will happen for somewhere else here, we might

get in a car accident. I was sharing recently that I got in a

car accident and it was purely my fault. You know, things will happen,

challenges will happened. But we can prepare. We can prepare. Amen,

we can't prepare. You can't prepare for a rainy day if you know

the rainy day is gonna happen. Really, you can't prepare. You can

prepare your heart, you can prepare your mind, you can prepare resources.

You can if you already know that people are gonna offend you. Our friends,

your love one's gonna offend you. Husbands, your wife is gonna irritate

you wife. Your husband is gonna do something so smart that you be so

bothered. It will happen, But how do you approach it? Do you

forgive? Do you move on your love? You still love the person even

though they made mistake? Right? You patchings up? Do you work on

the relationship. I had this incident that happened. I'm trying to see if

I can share it properly or not. I was talking to a young person,

and this young person it's very simple thing. This one was just telling

me about how you know, they have friends that are much older. And

uh, this young person had this friend that uh, you know, the

young person was helping take care of a cat, you know, and his

friend came to, uh like take back the cat up because when I came

back to get a cat and he was very late, really in the house,

very late, really about child clod midnight not no, no. And

then the you know, the younger dog like it was just telling me,

by the way, just telling me like, oh, you know, the

person came to the cat, and then Sunny sat down and started talking,

you know, just want to catch up, you know friends. Parents.

Is twelve midnight? Ready, you know, time to sleep? Ready tomorrow

got school? This person cannot think it. And then I asked the young

what do you do? I do know what to do. So I just

said, now to talk to the personal. Yeah, I'm like, hey,

your mother nails say anything? My mother sleep? Really my mom like,

hey, next time, I tell the person go home and sleep.

And now I told this young person this, I understand why you were stuck.

It's because, right, you have never decided yet or you haven't decided

yet that anything happens in your house after twelve is not a good idea.

You'll catch that because if you have decided, that child may not is the

you know, no one that I'm not familiar with, not my family member

will come to my house after twelve. Right, if you really decided,

when that situation happens, it is easy to easy, easy to just follow

through your decision, you know what I mean. Once you already decided something,

it's easy to just follow. True. But because this young person have

not decided yet, it is a new situation, and you're pressured even more

so, like, oh know, how what do I do? Am I?

You know? If I say no, the person's going to get offender,

you know, and you know all these things, all these questions come.

Do you know that in life if we have not decided on things in

our lives and when life happens, we will go at the floor. And

that's where dangerous, know, because you might go with the wrong floor,

or you might go and dig the whole deeper. This is what I mean

by preparation. This year, we need to be faithful. This year is

a year that is new, right, and challenges are going to come.

But the question is not the challenge. The question is how are we going

to respond, the question is what do we need to do to say the

cost? So today I've got five steps to help us stay the cost as

we prepare for twenty twenty four. But before that, let's go to scripture

Matthiel chapter twenty five, verse fourteen to thirty. Are you guys okay?

Okay, I can see all focusing. Okay, that's good, right,

So Matthew, chapter twenty five, verse fourteen to thirty, what did you

say? I'm just going to read it real quickly. For the Kingdom of

Heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own

servants and delivered his goods to them, And to one he gave five talents,

to another two, and to another one, to each according to his

own ability, and immediately he went on the journey. Then he who had

received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

And likewise, he who had received two talents gained tumor also. But

he who had received one went and dug it in the ground and hid his

lord's money. After a long time, the lord of those servants came and

settled accounts with him. So he who had received five talents, came and

brought five other talents, saying, Lord, you delivered to me five talents.

Look, I've gained five more talents besides them. His Lord said to

him, well done, good and faithful servant. You're faithful over a few

things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy

of the lord. Take note of this scripture. Okay, takenal this scripture.

He also he also, who had received two talents, came and said,

Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Look, I have gained

two more talents besides them. His Lord said to him, well done,

good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things. I

will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of the lawn.

Huh, same response from the boss, same response, nothing different,

nothing, the same response. And then what happens later? Then he would

received the one talent, came and said, Lord, I knew you to

be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where

you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid and went and hit your

talent in the ground. Look there you have what is yours? But his

Lord answered and said to him, you wicked and lazy servant. You knew

what I read where I've not sown and gathered where I have not scattered seed.

Okay. Basically the boss was being sarcastic laugh when he said that,

Okay, so you to have deposited my money with the bankers and and my

command, I will have received back my own with interests. Therefore, take

the talent from him and give it to him who has ten talents. For

to everyone who has more will be given, and he will abundance. But

from him who does not have even what he has will be taken away.

Okay. And the last part, it's not so nice and cost unprofitable servant

into the Autho darkness, there will be being a national thief. Okay.

So what can we learn from this scripture? Let me just draw some things

out from here. Okay. One, this is a parable Jesus used to

explain the Kingdom of God. Right, meaning, this is a parable that

Jesus used to explain what is important to God. Your cash that what is

important to him. Again, what is important to God and what is important

to us can be very different. And I think as we read the Bible

more and more we learn that a lot of things that we find important he

finds not important, and we've got to be very sensitive to that. Okay,

So based on this, this is why I can get Because the one

that have five talent and the one that have to talent have the same answer.

Doesn't mean that the one that has five talent did better than the one

has two talent. What did you have to use example? Because we will

see the five and two. But God sees one hundred percent, God sees

the result. No, God don't see the amount right. In fact,

from here I also can gather that the expectation is not as high the servant

with the five talent and the servant t talent, Praise the Lord, they

go one hundred percent. If you're doing business here, a hundred percent of

it is very good. Okay. But the one with the one talent,

what was the response? Of course, we can knock came and say,

ay you do, but actually the master gave a reference point of expectation.

You're your catch that. Let me let me explain further, because the master

said you knew I was say that sarcasm you could have and what could have

the servant done? Just put the money in the bank earned zero point two

six percent interests That could have happened, but he didn't even do that.

He took more effort digging hope, put inside the whole and then coverage.

That took effort. Right, both also took effort. Put money in the

bank, digging whole wishildn't. But then the servant decided to dig hold and

give back the same thing. Didn't use no increase at all. What is

God expecting of us? He's not expecting a lot. No. I know,

we celebrate the one hundred percent, but he's saying, hey, even

if you have put the money here and earn a little bit of interest,

I will be Okay, that's what he was saying. So that tells me

that the the buy is very low. Actually, the bow of faithfulness is

actually quite low. The bath way faithful is quite low. Okash that So

I've got this statement. Okay, I don't know how it will rall you

up or not, but I'm gonna say anyway, because I believe something that

is saying. God actually didn't call us to be successful in life. He

called us to be faithful. Let me give this perspective to you are.

Do you know that here a lot of us or a majority of people are

not successful. We are not successful in the way the world defines success.

We may not have all the money in the world, we may not be

the most famous, we may not be the most light person. Not successful.

But I'm sure a lot of people here are faithful. You'll catch me.

I'm sure a lot of people here are faithful, faithful, faithful,

difficult. Also do faithful? Don't get it all right? Also do faithful?

Not successful, but faithful. And of course you can argue that by

being faithful, you're sucessful. You got eyes. Okay, let's not go

there. Okay, I'm just giving this this this top process. What can

I derive out of this scripture? Just gonna give you some statements? Are

I think the first point is we shouldn't measure our success upon others. You'll

catch that. Who was the determining factor? Who was the one that measured

the success? The master? No, not the servants. No, the

servants are the servants. The master rewarded both the servants that produce one hundred

percent the same reward the same compliment, right, because the master decides man.

Right, So do you think it's fair if we measure our success in

life to someone else. It's not fair. We're all very different. We

all are from different backgrounds, different different economic state, you know, different

experiences, different opportunity. But do you know that God is fair? He's

just like Actually, he will look at you based on what you have,

what he has given to you. He won't look at you and anywhere else.

But men we judge based on a lot of other things, based on

the external. Let me give you another example. When Samuel was supposed to

choose another king, right, God said he would come from Jesse, And

Jesse rolled up all his famous, strong, good looking sons and conveniently forgot

the last one that not important one. David was not important in Jesse's eyes.

They had a big party, and he was forgotten. Why he's just

a shepherd boy. But God saw David, he didn't see the way Samuel

saw. Samuel was impressed. Oh one of these, right, God say

no, no, no, no, no, no no no. Then

Samuel, I God, they're all here, Then asked Jesse, anyone else?

Got one more? But I think him not important. Now that's how

God sees it. That's how God sees you. If you think you are

being forgotten, he has not forgotten. You don't compare yourself with others.

Measure success, your success to what God and trusted to you. What has

God and trusted to you today? Your family, your job, what is

it? Don't compare you and not person, no point, You're gonna be

very frustrated if you do that. Don't don't, don't, please, don't

do that, right. Every person is different, and we are running our

own race. We are we are all running. I'm running my own race,

but Danny is running his own race, right, And even the Bible

tolt us not to compare. In short, we shouldn't compare. And if

you shouldn't covert. You know this work covered? Okay? Covet means like

you want in hock? Can I think we used to gain? Now you

gain someone else's things? Not you're coverting it right, So you don't cover

someone else's life or wife. You didn't get a joke. It's fine covered.

Someone's wife is inside the tank, commaments la. Okay, anyway,

you know I use this example just now, and I was quite bold when

I share with BJA. I'm a bit bolder with bacause my bom so I

just but yeah, I'm a bit careful to get stolen from me? Can

I let you know that social media is a good tool. But then the

problem with social media is the spirit of covetousness that can come out. Because

if you look at someone else's social media and you start thinking, oh,

I wish I have dangerous really dangerous ready, there's a discontentment that will come

out of your heart, and then you chase after something that is not known

for you, or you chase something that will distract you from what God wants

you to do. See, God gives us all specific giftings. God gives

us all a specific call, and we should be faithful to that call.

The one that had two talents are shouldn't look at the one that have five,

you know, and the one that have five? You know something,

we think five got more? Do you know? Some some of us have

five talents, but we look at the door and say, oh, man,

I wish I'm doing less. You can feel that way or so any

form of this contentment, any form of cover thing, is not good.

It's not good. It's not good. So you've got to be very careful

because our hearts are receiving, are you guys? Okay? Okay? So

I'm sharing all these things. Let's go to the five sets. So this

year, this year, let's look at this year. Let's not look at

last year. Let's get look at what has happened. You know, if

all I'm saying and you trusa, don't trust anymore, Let's move forward.

Can let's move forward? Okay, don't don't, don't compare. Let's start

afresh. Don't worry about other people. Nothing you're like, nothing to do

with them. Okay, they are a problem, your problem. Don't need

to mix the problem. You mix the problem. You got more problem.

Okay, what's the first thing we need to do. We need to focus

on the target. We we need to focus on the purpose. We need

to focus on the goal. I'm trying to put everything in teas Okay,

but I think I fail. Later you'll find out why. Focus on what

God asks you to do this year? What is God asking you to do

this year? Right? Maybe you don't know? Actually pass away. I

don't really know what God ask me to do? Well? Can I you

to ask him? I mean, you can ask me, but I may

not. No, So you know, I believe. I believe God can

speak to you. You know, That's why I believe. I don't.

I don't think you need to be super holy you know you know something we

have this perception or you must be holy Moly, you must don't even know.

I think if you ask God wherever you're anna actually got for what should

I do? Is there a goal? Is there a mission that you have

for me? And it doesn't have to be big? You know, oh

the mission needs to do this? You know I want no? No,

no, no, no, don't want to do just ask a lot wise

it It could be as simple as, hey, can you spend more time

in your family? You've been working a bit too hart ready can you invest

in that? It could be Ah, young people I'm talking to you are

can you be nicer to your parents? Are right? It could be dead

and then but very Hardlla. Every time I talk to my parents, so

I feel I want you to get them. No, they don't understand.

You know, I don't know. You got twenty twenty four to work it

out. You know what is it? It doesn't have to be anything.

It is always something that will benefit you and it will always something that will

help you to be perfect because God wants us to be perfect. Recently,

I was just talking to all my guys. You remember, I reminded,

you know, I'm just talking to one of the someone that I've been,

you know, counseling person in a challenging time. And it was quite funny

because the person told me, you know, God is speaking to me in

every area and they're so encouraging, but in this area, I find you

very difficult. Now I told it. Besides, I said, you know

what, I think God wants you to deal some stuff in this area because

this is the difficult area. That at the area not difficult, he say,

you do, but the one that's difficult, it's the one that he

wants you to change. Why. He wants to perfect you. He wants

the completion of your salvation. He wants you to be patient and kind and

exude the fruits, the fruit of the spirit. That's what God wants,

right, That's what God wants. So focus on the goal, Focus on

the target. Amen, Assimila ha so easy, Yes, it is easy.

I used to not understand the scripture in Matthew, Knock the door and

it will be open to you. Ask and you will find it. Sorry,

sick and you'll find it. Ask and you'll get an answer that is

basically God's promise to you and all of us here that if we ask him,

he answers. So ask, Oh, but I don't know whether it

is God's voice or worse voice. Well, let me give you an a

tape. Read the Bible law anything ah and any voicer that is against the

Bible. Lah, I tell you confidently it's not from God. Will never

ask you do something right, there's against his word one. It is always

aligned to his word. That is our God. This is the yardstick that

we measure ourselves by. Ask God, ask for yourself, you know,

And of course we got leadershire a different one. You can you can discussion,

No, you's sure, not not sure you know things like that.

But I want to encourage you. Ask God, what is that thing some

of you you might already know. Actually, yeah, this is the thing

that I need to do. You know, you might really know anyone you

know, but you don't want to touch it's okay, okay? Can I

let you know that Our savior Jesus was also very focused on what his father

entrusted him with, even when he became hot. Matthew chapter twenty six,

verse thirty nine says he went a little father and fell on his face and

prayed, saying, Oh, my Father, if it is possible, let

this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not as I will, but as

you will. Let me try and draw this picture. Jesus Christ, our

savior, the one that died on the cross, the one that died to

say, if our sins and give us an you know, redemption to Christ

had second thoughts. Even Jesus had second thoughts. Even Jesus say that whole

thing. In mant To twenty six, he was the garden of Gasemane for

one hour, he praying, Lord, please let someone else do it.

That was his struggle. In the end he followed true, in the end

he had the strength. But there's him having second thoughts. Even he had

second thoughts now, but he's stuck to the goal. Imagine now, if

Jesus only say, you know what, God, it's okayla, I think

crucifasion is not something that I want to Maybe he can get one of the

disciples to do it. I'm out by what would happened. We wouldn't be

here, I wouldn't be here, You wouldn't be here. We might still

be dragging bulls to the temple to sacrifice. I don't know. We might

not have experienced grace. I mean a lot of a lot of you here.

I'm sure you've experienced Christ in your life. Might not I have happened

if Jesus had second notes and you follow through the second thoughts, dank God.

He focused on the target. How about us? Can we focus on

the target? What is it? What is the target this year? Don't

look to the left, to the right. Yes, maybe last year we

do do the same thing, but we were distracted. Hey, hopefully this

five sets will help us. And I know last week I shared about five

things to look out for look at OSLA for that. Be careful because you

know what we want to do. We want to at the end of twenty

ten, ifore look back and say, praise God, we run our race.

We did it, guys, we did together. We experience God.

That's what we want. But now it's the beginning. Okay, it's the

beginning. Second point, you, guys, Okay, second mond is Tahaden.

That's why my teas are not very good. Okay, persevere, persevere,

stay the course right. Very famous was James want to to for my

brethren, counting all joy When you fall into various trials, knowing that the

testing of your faith producers patients. But let patients have its perfect work,

then you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Hey, if you

want to like nothing, be happy when you go through a problem. Something

funny, right, yeah, it sounds funny. You know you want to

have nothing, You want to like nothing, you want to have everything.

Ah, when you face regius trials, be happy, rejoice, persist,

and persevere even if it's difficult. I think the more mature generation understands this

because I know that this will be a bit too sensitive to bring up.

But uh, this generation, there are a lot of broken families. But

I remember my parents' generation. Now how they fight you? So are they

just two together? One? Of course? Not not ideal? Are it's

not ideal? Okay, can be better on But I think the understood perseverance,

you know not? So is it they give up? Not so easily?

Say? I have known? Can I give you another benefit of perseverance?

And I do see a lot of business owners here. Do you know

that you cannot build anything lasting without time and investment? Right? The journey

can be hard, but if we don't persevere, you might not experience the

food of it. So perseverance is important, you know when you're doing gym,

right, I can use Jim examples. Now, I remember, right,

I remember the first time the first time I did you know? Ever

Square kind to me. Okay, he gave everybody crazy workouts. He gave

me a fairly simple workout, and then he actually told me, no,

you do three sets, right, but if you really cannot, ah,

you know, I can change on the two. So I'm like, you

know, can can do it? Okay, you go, can I can

do it? First set? No problem? Second set okay, third setter.

I had to rest longer, and I had to think to myself,

Okay, should I just tell but now that last year I had a heart

problem and maybe I cannot finish it last set? How Yeah, I'm sure

you'll understand. Dumb starts coming in. No, I mean we're honest,

because you know, because I was the last leave for so the first time

and I'm like, I'm sure you understand now you know? Or maybe I

bluffy, lah, I say I finish really although I haven't finished it.

You know, no, you because you have it's painful guys. After that,

okay, can I tell you I persever it and I complete it,

or are said, praise the Lord. But do you want to know the

interesting thing that happened? For seven days? I couldn't stand up properly every

time I climbed the statsa I wanted to fall. Okay, yeah, persevere.

Then the next time I did it a little bit easier, right,

not any easier? Actually, no, huh, Tree says, I'll do

fall. After that, I regret. So I finished, you know,

And then I mean, I'm counting to you tomorrow I'm gonna do again.

I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. I please pray for me,

Okay, pray that. As a wife, we gotta persevere. It's not

gonna be easy, but persevere. Amen. Paul ran his race second Timothy

four six to eight. Less than to that Paul himself ran his race,

He says here, for I'm already being poured out as a drink offering,

and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good

fight. I have finished the race. I've kept the faith. Finally there

is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the

righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me

only, but to all who have loved his appearing. No, I'm when

I read this scripture, I pray to myself, Lord, please give me

that, give me that testimony to say, I run my race. I've

done it, you know, I finished it, and I'm not deviated from

what even trusted. You know. But as I read or another very interesting

thing I discovered from a posture, he just like, I've run the race.

I've did it, all right. And then if you follow on with

tewod Timothy four nine to sixteen, now and I'll read to you, are

right, Let's see yeah, second Timothy four. Okay, the title of

this portion after he said I have run the race is the abandoned Apostle,

So dramatic, Honor, be diligent to come to me quickly, for Demus

has forsaken me, having left this present world and has departed for Thessalonica questions

for Galicia titles for their Maysia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark

and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for ministry and

taiki kas. I've sent to Emphasus bringing the cloak that I left with coppers

at Truers. When you come and the books, especially the parchments Alexander the

Coppers faith did me much harm? Whoe made the Lord repay him according to

his works. 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 forsooed me. May it not be charged against them? Wow? Even

Bauler was betrayed and hurt by people? Have you been hurt by people?

Were you hurt by people last year? Did your close friends hurt you?

Did your love one hurt you? I pray that you have the strength to

even say, may it not be charged against them? He forgave them,

He forgave them. In fact, he didn't say, you know what,

Albert, this guy hurt me out. You know what, let's ax him

out. Let's not be friend. You know, he didn't do that.

He forgive me and say kill you go do what are you're gonna do.

I'm still gonna stick to my guns. I'm still gonna be faiful. What

you do is not gonna affect me because I'm clear on my target. Right.

So we gotta be very careful with dis garage mans, because really we

can be derailed because of discaraieonments because we hear news. You know, I

was just sharing it. Fifteen. One of the lessons I've learned, which

is very interest very interesting. Well, I wouldn't say interesting now, but

I've discovered that now you know, sometimes something or no problem, you can

talk until a problem. Do you know that? Do you know that?

Actually? Everything okay? One? But all it takes is one person to

see one problem and then at one person talk to another person, talk to

one percent, talk to one person, talk to repersent until fifty percent now

and then suddenly, oh the ship is sinking. Oh but actually, if

you look, actually, if I'm outsider, see nothing wrong one nothing wrong.

Actually, in fact, it's better than what I have experienced. But

then because of the talk, then becomes really bad. So can I can

I warn you? Be careful of the talk, be careful of being negative,

be careful of bad news you hear. I mean, if you want

a very five verified But if not, I will say, be careful because

gossip loves to go and gossip can destroy things. Right, It's all about

perspective. At the end of the day, Amen Paul's side was on the

lot and his confidence was in him. Where is our confidence today? You

see, if you receive something from the Lord, if you receive a mission

from the Lord, and you face discouragements by people along the way, will

you be able to have that perspective that the people doesn't affect your result at

the end of the day. That, yes, you might be discouraged.

Yes, someone even close to you might say what are you doing me?

Imagine my wife came in and say, Elvin, what are you doing?

How you exercise? So? So? Are you're not going to be as

fit as Albert? Don't bother? I read you spend time with us.

Of course, my wife don't do that, lase she wants me to read

that fit Albert, I think, what never happened? But hey, you

know that might happen and you get a yellow Actually, dear, you're right,

law, Why are you going so dumb going spend so much time exercising?

Well, I know why. I need to live a healthy lifestyle so

that I can live longer. Very clear, that's my own goal, right,

whether or not Elba's there, Whether I'm clear on my mission right?

Right? And would I get discouraged along the way? I might, But

I'm trying to find ways to not be discouraged find ways to account myself.

Let's start using church as example. Hey, guys, if you don't see

me to horror as we are you exercising, I would definitely have to do

it. Okay, So Tahan third point, thankful, thankful? I use

I write that? Please? Okay? James one too, my brethren,

counting all drawing when you fall into various trials. I put this line here,

be discourage proof. Okay, what do you mean by that? Pass?

I mean, well, let's read James one chelve to twenty. Okay,

James one chelf to twenty. I don't know why I heavy here,

Yeah, I think okay, right, So Jane's one twelve to twenty.

So he says here, blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when

he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the

Lord has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he

has tempted, I am tempted by God. For God cannot be tempted by

evil, nor does he himself temp anyone. But each one is tempted when

he's drawn away by his own desires and entice. Then when the desire was

conceived. It gives birth to sin, and sin, which is full grown,

brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every

good gift and perfect gift is from a birth and comes down from the Father

of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. This

scripture basically tells you in seventeen that every good gift comes from God and He

does not give you anything less everything good in your life, whether you believe

it or not. Maybe this is why I are. Is very important for

us to have the right perspective in terms of God and us. If we

have a spirit of conveteousness in our life, no matter what good thing God

gives you is not enough. No matter what good is happening in life,

it will never be enough because you're always looking at someone else. But if

you're looking to God, you will recognize that He has everything good for you,

that a lot of things that we can be thankful for in your life

is from Him, and He does not shot change you. How is our

perspective of God? Amen, let me continue of his own will. He

brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind

of first ruths of his creatures. So, then, my beloved brethren,

let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath,

For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. So

how do we be discourage? Proof Number one very important? You need to

be thankful. I'm sure in your life, no matter how bad it is,

you can give thanks for a few things. Can I share an honest

story? Well, you know, I'll share the honest story later. Okay,

let me talk about this. Was we got to be thankful in our

lives? Are we thankful or not? I'm sure you'll be able to see

something that God has is doing a life. They say, you know what

if you know? Actually, I say, don't compare. But sometimes when

you compare with those who have less than you are, then you're happier and

very funny, right human beings, you know. But maybe it's good that

we look at our lives and say, hey, is there anything I can

be thankful for? Can I give thanks to the house that I have,

to my kids? You know? Can I share the storyline? So there

was a period of my life not so long ago, that I was not

happy in my house, really not happy in my house so much so,

and it's be for pandemic. I was so not happier that I wanted to

sell out my house because I didn't have time to do it it up.

It didn't I mean, I won't tell you where my house is, but

it's not the best start, okay, it's not the nicest. And dinner

you start seeing other people spend time on your house and you jealous Stone yo,

this fellow, you know. And then now you you start thinking a

lot, I serve you, right, Why can't I renovate my house?

Why why can't I have money to do? Not? All these things?

Right? And I really my house was released something that I was not happy

with, okay, really not happy with. Okay, so I take care

of but just by BJA, what's the next best thing, say, b

jna be take a lot of nice spaces, man, right, Maybe I

can get a condo or something that will look nicer. Then I can invite

people to my place. You know, I tell you that this contentment of

the house was so great. Now then I was very serious on selling it

off and going to be you know. And then I convinced myself, Lord,

I'm supposed to serve your people here, you know in PJ. Wouldn't

it be better if I have a house here? So then I can invite

them to my place? Do homes are all these good things? Friends?

Can I tell you that was the most foolish thing that I have ever done?

This before pandemic. My wife she released something. She didn't have any

uh, she was not she had no peace, but she just followed her

husband husband pastonma so follower, right follower, Okay, So I go on.

So for two years, off we search for the best house, of

the best house the can of I tell you, our friends, thank God,

thank God, by God's grace, I am old enough to not do

things too hastily, if you get what I mean, meaning, no matter

how discontented I am an aller, I will still at least pray than ask

for peace, because I've been enough. I've been enough trouble not doing that

to be to be unwise. So for two years we look for the best

place. For two years, I calculated, friends, After the two years

of prayer and convincing and talking and figuring out all right, I concluded that

it was not wise to shift, and that God didn't open the door for

me to shift, right and I tell you what, and this is something

that I remember I did today. The day I told my wife, Hey,

dear, you know what, it doesn't make sense financially, and there's

no open door. I think we will just stay here. I was still

not happy in my house. Are we'll just stay here? When I saw

my wife's face, it looked like two years of stressor left her facer.

I knew that for two years I've been doing the wrong thing. I caused

my wife two years of stress because the husband really wanted God to bless him

and get another house. This before pandemic. Let me tell you the testimony

they came after. So after that, don't look for housing ja, okay,

stay in Kla. I settled for whatever I have now. Okay,

the way of thinking. Do you know that God started to change my perspective

about my house. He started teaching me about Stewart Chip my house, right,

nice big house, uh, not renovated. I started noticing he actually

a lot of parts of my house that I have not used properly. And

I felt like, hey, even before I think about buying another house,

maybe I should fully utilize what I have now first, Maybe I should start

you and I started having ideas on you know, so my perspective change from

hate to hope, from stress to excitement. Same house, guys, same

house, steal no money. And I started doing different projects also much and

I started getting happy, like, oh I us like, for example,

there's a part of my house that like, for the longest time is just

okay. Then I don't know why I do And then and then a pandemic

hit, right, so then we were stuck at home right there. One

also a test when I share about that data, so, uh, place

was junk. I decided to I say, hey, I need to do

something. So I changed you to a garden. So then my house had

a garden. Please don't go to look at the garden because it's it's not

a garden. But at that time, he became a garden. At that

time, I hope things are the same. The house is the same,

but why is different inside? Right? Inside? Right? And uh?

And I started doing different things, you know, updating the house, you

know, and and I started being happier staying there. Let me show you

the other testimony remind said that it was not financially viable for us to shift,

right, and I'm like, no, like if we do it,

we would be in a loss, you know, because we didn't want to

sell it and we wanted to rent a place. So we thought we ran

out, but I don't know why until today ran very cheap one but PJ

aren't very expensive. So even if I did that, we were being a

loss, you well, being come a more money. And then pandemic hit

friends, I realized her, thank god I didn't shift. My house is

big enough that when me and my wife are because if we were to shift

to PJ, a house wouldn't make sense. We would be staying in a

condo during pandemica. I realized that, hey, if I'm upstairs too long

and i'm border, I can at least go downstairs to my living room.

If I'm in this two room too long seeing my wife and I think I

need a breeder, I can walk over to the next room and till it

was big enough. But and I had two kids, know, right,

every day it was a different project in a different room for them, right,

And because of that, now we kept our sanity. And I realized,

wow, Lord, thank god for this house. Because I'm talking to

different friends they are living in you know, Condosa, and they're already pulling

their hair, already small, confined area, claustrophobic. I can at least

go out to my lawn and look at the sky, and you know,

so, I'm like, thank God, thank god we didn't shaft. I

figured. If let's say I shifted and pandemic hit, two things will happen

or might happen. One is, I will be in financial rule and converment.

Okay, just believe in God and want to do foolish things. Right,

I'll be in financial rule. The second thing that might happen I'm not

saying, well, but might happen is I think my marriage might be affected

because under high stress, right, marriage confirmed canalan, but during pandemic it

was rare, peaceful. We were happy. In the case is a pretty

nice place. Lak Okay, thank god God saved me from hitting. Amen.

We got to learn to be thankful for what we have. Yes,

you don't have everything. Yes it might not be as perfect as the next

person. Yes it might not be ideal. But we got to learn to

be thankful and then we can be discouraged proof Amen. Fourth point, time

out. We got to learn to take time to reflect and to rest.

Okay, let me just read some scripture. Now I'll expound on that.

Psalms fifty five two says, cast your burden on the Lord, and he

shall sustain you. He shall never permit the writers to remove first bitter five

five seven says, in the same way, you who are younger, submit

yourselves to your elders. All of you clothe yourselves with humility towards one another.

Because God opposes the proud, but shows favor to the humble. Humble

yourself therefore under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due

time. Not you live your arminal, He lives you up. So we

humble ourselves to him. And I love these words. Cast all your anxiety

on him because he cares for you. Are you anxious today? What is

causing you to have anxiety? Cast it on the Lord because he cares for

you. Is your spouse giving you stress? Cast it on the Lord?

You know? Are you having challenges with your kids? Casting on the Lord

because he cares for you, because on your own you cannot do it.

One because in our weakness is made strong. You'll catch that right. We've

gotta trust in him. But rest is so important. You know, this

is another thing I've learned, uh uh, living life. Okay, generally

living life. I've learned that if my body start falling sick, I'm starting

to feel stressed. Okay, I know he be stressed out, but I'm

starting feel stress. Or if I notice right that my wife is like on

the verge of like going to crack it, yea, I will immediately organize

a holiday, even if it's overnight in kl just to chill. I tell

you, it does wonders, no for the soul. It does wonders for

the soul. To rest. Some of us here we might have been going

on on on on on on on on on NonStop. Why because we need

to achieve this. We when you do that, when you get this done,

we need chill, guys, slow down, rest and don't just rest.

Rest Rest in the lot right, rest in the Lord. Why do

we need to rest? Why do we need to rest so that we can

reflect? We need to rest so that we can reflect. We need to

rest so that we can reflect, so that we can have self introspection.

Big Weather. It just means that if you're going this direction and then you

come to a place where you need rest, it allows you to pause to

see whether you're still hitting the right direction or you need to adjust. But

if you don't rest, you keep going this direction and then you don't realize

that you might end up at the cliff. It's very dangerous if you've got

no rest. That's why even in the Bible, right the Jews, you

are very big on the Sabbath because the arrest are it's not just rest,

don't do anything. You know. Okay, they took to the reaction,

but they are supposed to write because on the seventh day God rested and looked

at his creature and said, it is good. God rested to do a

reflection. He stopped working and did a reflection. That is what we need

to do, right. We need to know that actually we need to rest.

We need to take a time out. Sometimes don't go all the way

and then look back and say, where have we? How can we reach

share? Some marriages can can appear that all the way, all the way

up, never never checked, and then suddenly reachpeck. I don't know how

we end up here. You know this something I believe, guys, I

know it's truer. Nobody get married now, one thing to break up one

nobody everybody get married, lovely, devon one thing to build a life together.

But what happened along the way? What happened? People forget, people

forget or people don't rest together, and then other things come creeping in.

Before you know it. You look back like, oh no, what happened?

Be very careful and when you do when you rest, please don't rest

one time a year. Please don't do that. A bit too late.

Lah, okay, in the beginning of the year. This the goal all

the way to the end. A bit too late. Try to have more

frequent rests. It helps you know, how do you know you need rest?

Well? When you're studying to for sick you're working really hard, it's

ending force time to rest. You got to listen to your body right and

you will help. You will do one that's for you, amen. Fifth

point and last point toast. Yeah, I'm saying we need to learn to

praise. You need to learn to celebrate milestones. You know, life is

heard, really la. You know something, I when I talk to people,

right and then they come to me and they they I mean, I'm

okay, they share all their problems. You know, I'm okay, But

I feel like, can you look at the bright sire, can you is

there anything not that you can celebrate? You know, it's all about perspectives.

You know, if you are looking for trouble, you will find your

one. But if at the same time, if you're looking for celebration points,

you'll find your one. You know. One of the things I really

respect a bas kind no matter how bad things are, he can celebrate on

serious That's that's one thing I'm like, Well, pasta your powerla, somehow

you can look at the situa and say, praise be to God. This

is good, you know, and and it's tolf, but it's important for

us to celebrate. We got to celebrate my molestones. You know, if

you're a teacher here or if you are in early education, that's why you

learn what Oh you know, we need to encourage the kids and celebrate your

milestones so they will keep doing it. Do you know that as adults you

need to celebrate your milestone so that you keep doing the right thing. Not

just kids, you also need a celebate your maustone. I don't know,

are you married, Have you celebrated your marriage milestones? Okay? I know

our people when they first got together, then they've got monster and all these

different things. Right when I look at him like, oh my goodness,

they celebate every other one a bit too much other one. But what about

those of you who's been married two years? Have you celebrated your moulestones?

You should? You know. I was talking to a young man and then

uh, graduate, gonna graduate, And basically he said, hey, you

know what, I don't want to do my graduation because there's a waste of

time money. You know, it's a commercial thing that the union want to

you know, he didn't want to do it at all. And then the

mother was so distrang can't talk to me. He listened to you. Can

you appreciate him? Then I look at him like, rather, your graduation

is for your parents to bowsla. Can you please do it for them?

You you know they work so hard to put you in college. Give them

the graduation now, so at least, And I told him, I said,

you know, my parents are okay, my parents, My dad said

in the top anyway, my parents, right, I knew the graduation for

them because I don't put my graduation photo in my house. You don't you

come my house. You don't see it one But do you know until today

my graduation photo. My brother's graduate for is all up on my parents' wall

for everyone to see a reathon they come. It's for them why they want

to celebrate. It's breaking rights for them. You know, we need to

learn to celebrate things, right. Isn't it good to that we celebrate so

we forget? But we need to learn to celebrate this something I also learned

marrying my wife. Learning to celebrate. We need to celebrate more. It

is more about perspectives. Okay, what do you see? Do you always

see doming gloom? It's always doing gloom? This thing happened not good enough?

Oh you know? Well, don Albert, you know you want what

was you know the I think it was huh powerlifting under forty yeah, national

record powerlifting? Do you all know that you're there? Not right now?

Now you'll know? Okay, I remember asking him like no nothing wanta okay

for him? Nothing now? No, but it's worth celebrating, right.

You can tell people know this? How you invite people? Exkate, Hey,

you want to meet the you know over forty national powerlifting? Masia are

coming? We see him here and then you'll see who they're right? Do

we only see dom and groom in our situation or do we see God in

the picture. One of the most important questions I ask myself every time I

see trouble God, Are you here? God? What should I see?

Because I know you see things differently I would see naturally, I will see

things differently naturally. Other people, when I hear them, they will see

things differently. But I know you see things differently. I want to see

how you see. I don't want to see how my neighbor sees. I

don't want to see how the person that is always complaining sees. Don't scary

you all life is. Life has enough trouble enough ready. I don't need

to add more to it. I want to see your way. Amen,

bless the lot on my soul and all that is within me. Bless His

Holy name. You can only bless the lot if you're encouraged. If you

can only bless the lot, if you're thankful. You can only bless the

lot if you see good. It's very hard to bless the lot if you

think that God is cruel to you. Salms one or six one or give

thanks to the Lord for his good, for his mercy and yours. Forever

you know, God is doing a great work in your lives. I believe

He is different ones here at different stages of your faith. It's okay,

right, it's okay. But God is doing something specifically for you. He

is teaching you something. You are growing. Yes, sometimes it's painful,

sometimes it's hard. Twenty twenty four hour will be exciting here for all of

you here, not just me, not just the leadership, everyone here.

It can be. It can be because God is doing great way in your

lives. So don't shot change yourself, don't deceive yourself, don't look at

what other people have and want it right, and don't be wary of doing

good. Don't be impatient. But trust in God and know that he is

God. You know the word, know that He's got implies that you don't

have to do anything, the subscripture and the Baba that says be still and

know that I Am God. One of the other things that I'm learning now.

And this is hard for me because I'm a diestyal I get things done

on. I'm that that person. You know, I will like, oh

do this, I will do it on. I'm that type. But God

is teaching me to wait. God is teaching me to Elvin, be still

and know that, imn God, you don't have to do everything. You

just need to declare my glory once it happens. That's why he's teaching me

again. Now it's not a h don't do anything. No, it's like,

don't be so quick to do something. Don't be so quick, you

know, be swift to hear first, slow to speak, slow to raugh,

and then we can overcome challenges. Amen, let's not be impatient.

Let's trust him and let's know that's God Sums forty six ten. Be still

and know, damn God, I will be a exalted among the nations.

I will be exalted in the earth. Why do I say that God is

doing a deep work in our lives? Well, Romans twelve one to two.

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 that

good and acceptable and perfect will of God. I expound this a little bit

to you, cause I was sharing this with someone. My understanding of God.

My understanding of how God works in my life is limited to my experience

and my understanding of the Word. Similar to all of us here, one

of the best ways are to grow in data is to experience God more and

to study His word more. Friends, I'm sorry, there's no other way

I can be sharing my heart out to you about my experience. You will

be touched, but you will never fully understand how God is with you until

you're experiencing yourself. That's why God is wonderful when you see this, because

he transformed our minds. Every day. He transformed our minds to go.

I'm excited this year because I'm like, what else are you going to do

in my life that will show me that you're real and you're bigger, you

know, and like whise for you, it would be the same. You

will learn new things this year, like today, I hope you're learning something,

okay, but it's new. You know, it's not like oh I

agree, no, no, no, no, it's God's wor's new like

oh wow, fresh perspective. I'm sure when Pasta shares, when Pasadonia shares

fresh perspective, you know, I tell you what when he I've never heard

him preach before, but every time he preached, I'm like, wow,

mind blown. You know I remember when when when I found out that he's

going to be the the you know, so like the teens leader pastor.

Right. I remember sitting with him at a SI bar, right because I

want to, you know, sussim out talking to him friends. The testimony

he shot me just confirms one thing. God, this is your man.

Thank you for choosing him for such a time. Insty, sorry, emotional,

God, this is your man. Thank you for choosing him for such

a time, Andsies to have our church. He's the right man for the

job. I see God in that. God changed my perspective about different things.

And God can do that for you as well. I pray He will

do that for you today. Amen. We hope you've been blessed by this

message. For more information on our church, please visit as church 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