The Reality Of Heaven vs The Realties Of Earth | Pr Alvin Keng

You're listening to a message to go from X Church. We hope this message

will light up your day. We're going to be doing a Bible study and

Collosions Tree. I can turn to Collosions Tree just to give you a little

bit of a background on collisions. If you read the New Testament, okay,

New Testament, you have the Gospels, and then after that you have

letters by Paul and different ones star okay, from the book X onward.

I think it's mainly written by Paul. And Collosions is Collosions Philippians or the

Asians letters that Paul wrote to the different churches, right the Church of Philippi,

you know, Philip Philisians Philippians is for the Church of Philippi, and

Collosions is for the Church of Colose. Okay, And just give you some

interesting things. As I'm reading this, right, I realized X Church really

is like the church in X those days. You know why we are church

plunting, you know, and then we're sending people, you know, to

support them, and then we're writing letters to them weekly reports on email.

It's the same thing like what they're doing. Then you know, there were

churches everywhere, you know, and Paul wrote letters to the churches to encourage

the believers, right, because believers need to encourage. I'm here, hopefully

to encourage you, guys. I don't see you every week, you know,

I don't have the chance to, uh, you know, do life

with you. You know, so I don't really know all the challenges that

you face. Probably Danny and Jess would know more. But I'm here to

encourage, you know. We go around, that's what we do to encourage

the church. And Paul wrote this letter Collosions to encourage the church of Colose.

And the thing is he's never been there. So the church was planted

by this guy name Try and pronounce his name properly appspus okay, bad bad

Chinese song. He planted a church. If you read chapter one of Colosions,

you will read it uh and uh. He imagined. It's like Pastor

France, how many of you have been to expocacy raise your hands one too?

Not a lot, a lot, but you know they exist, right

because we see for Tosta right, honestly, I will encourage you to go

and make a trip, go and go do mission trip. Going church is

quite encouraging. So it's like that, no the church in coloss is like

Pasta France in Bakassi. And then we're writing, you know, we're imagine

Daniel writing a letter to him to say, you know, I've heard about

your work, you know, well done to Pasta France, and then writing

a letter to encourage the church, you know, and every do you know

that every different place and demographic wherever you plant church is different. You know,

um uh here we are in the city, so we have different problems.

We're a lot of first two A problems here right, music not going

enough, you know, no acorn, these other problemsy we have very difficult

guys, such problems when you talk about you know, heard stories they have

things like they have to do incests, you know, all these problems.

You know, they to do with not having enough money they have to do

you if, kids not having food. I guess that's why the church can

grow very faster, because they're desperate for the Lord. You know. Sometimes

it's a good reflection on us, like as those their state a city one,

we have a lot of problems solved, you know. But again I'm

not here to compare. But what I'm trying to say is that in Collusions

it was the same thing. They had challenges. If you study the history

of collusions the people there, and I'm going to try to again I'm not

a historian. One of the challenges they had was that they had the mysticism

of the East and the philosophy of the Romans, and then they have Christianity,

and then the people that they are very intellectual. You know, you've

met people like that, verat intellectual. I think doctor NaN's wat intellectual,

wreat intellectual. And then you want to combine everything together, you know,

because because this on a bit very good, this are a bit very good.

So I combine everything so I have something better. Do you know that

we do not need to add to Jesus anymore? We don't need to h

can or will believe in that only for a few of you, um,

but we actually don't really need to add anything more to Jesus. He's complete.

He is everything. We don't need to add any more thing. The

Word of God is completely. We don't need add anything to the Word of

God. It is all complete, right, And I just thought it would

be nice to do a Bible study and collisions so that we can learn,

we can grow as a church. You know about our role as we believe

us. Okay, ken, So we read Collisions chapter three. I'm going

to be reading from verse one to verse eleven. Uh and uh. Okay.

If I got time, I'll do and KJV. But since I've got

no much time, I'm going to read from n LT. Right. But

you can flash it up, okay, can say and and K because when

I was reading the n LT, I quite like the way they say certain

things. You know, I'm not saying it's you know, it's the best

at all. I mean, please, okay, just a tipma, when

you're studying the Bible, I know there's something I talked to, right they

might, No, I must because King James is the origin you know Latin

to English translation. Please speak, guys, There's so many different ways.

Please find something that you understand. No point being eloquent about the word using

the doubt, die whatever, and then you don't understand the word. Find

something that will help you understand the word. Amen, Amen, cannot Yeah,

let's not be too intellectual for our own good. The best is we

understand the word, and of course the Holy Spirit will guide us and revealed

to a Scott's word so that we can grow as believe us. Amen,

it's not just what the chosen everyone or anywhere you are chosen. So let's

read. Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, Praise God.

How many you believe that we are born again, raised to new life.

Hey, you're a new creation today. Pastor may say, we are

a new creation in Pja. We are raised to new life in Christ.

Set your sights on oiler of heaven. Set your sights on the realities of

heaven where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. What

does right hand mean authority? The right hand means authority. So Jesus he

has all authority. That's why we can pray in Jesus's name. You are

healed in This is why we pray. This is the main reason why we

pring in Jesu name. You don't know why we pray in Jesu name.

It's not some mantra. No, we declare in Jesus name because he has

authority and only he. We cannot pray in Daniel's name in he doesn't want

one. Right, you can pray in any other name. He won't want

one. But you pray in Jesus name will work. Do you believe it.

I hope you do, la. I hope you don't realize that it's

just something we repeat. But then no, there is authority in there.

Think about the things of heaven not the things of this earth is not hard

to do. I'll expound on it later. Okay, For you die to

this life and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when

crimes who is your life is revealed to the whole world, you will share

in all his glory. So what do we do? Put to death the

sinful earthly things lurking within? You have not thing to do with sexual immorality,

impurity, last evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person

is an idolater worshiping the things of this world. Because of the sins,

the anger of God is coming. Who everybody say, WHOA anger of good

is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part

of this world. But now it's the time to get rid of anger,

rage, malicious behavior, slender and the Tai language don't seem say the Ti

language. Uh. Recently, I have to address my kids because they're watching

a lot of YouTube and they use Sutain language without realizing it's have to address

it. You know the te language. Don't lie to each other. Let

me repeat it again. Don't lie to each other. Okay, don't,

for you have stripped off your own sinful nature and all is speaker deeds.

Put on your new nature and be renewed as you learn to know your creature

and become like Him in this new life. It doesn't matter if you are

Jew or gentile, and this is very important, okay, very important for

us, size or circumcised. All the guys say, thank God, okay,

not everybody. Well means I'm the only uncircumcised anybody, but bearing uncivilized

slave or free Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of

us. And everybody say okay, let's right again. Everybody say amen.

So friends, my title, if you're writing notes, I can see Daniels

writing notes. My title for the message is the reality of Heaven versus the

realities of Earth. The reality of Heaven versus the reality of Earth. So

first question, what happens when we follow Jesus? We just read it.

There is something that happens when you say I want you know, after this,

after finished worship, some of you who have not received Christ yet as

your personalized say, well, we will give you a chance to do that.

I pray you will agree, because it's one of the best things you

can do in your life. Some of us here we maybe we have been

You know your system, you're not far away from the Lord. You know

you call it self Christion, but you've not really been following. You can

come back as well. But something happens when you make the decision. Something

supernatural happens, right, Something supernatural happens when you make the decision. Right,

So what happens when you follow Jesus? Our state of being changes?

Right? Collosians three one to eleven. What I just read talks about the

understanding of our state of being as a person who have decided to follow Christ,

redeem and born again, date to the flesh and a life in Christ.

And there are a few things Paul mentions in that, a few things.

The first thing he says is our focus. So what does he say

in the word set your sights look at Heaven ready, don't look at this

earth, don't look at your problems. How many of you here when for

WCC recently yesterday you were there? Brais out your hand? Okay, a

few you know, you will have heard the story of this businessman who do

very well, constantly setting their sights on Christ, constantly setting their sights on

God, and you hear amazing testimonies about how God is leading them. No,

not their intellect, not their wisdom. In factor, I think Bolden

has saved your time. I'm no one. God has made me all I

am for his glory. So where should our sights be set on heaven?

Our sides should be set set on God? Our focus is different. One

should become a believer. Our focus changes. That's the reality. It changes.

It has to change. If it doesn't change me, there's no transformation.

It has to change. Amen, Right, our thoughts changes. Set

your sights and think about our worries changes. What we worry about change?

Actually, that should change, you know, right, there is a transformation

that happens. There's a supernatural thing that that happens. Right. Why why

has it changed? Why has the focus changed? What has the thoughts changed?

You know? Of course you think that you act now everything else would

changed after that, right, because we have died to this world and we

are living in Christ. You know that that that concept is not just a

concept, it's a reality, you have died. Your old men have died.

It's not a version one point oh no, oh, I was version

one point Oh. But then I become Christ. I you know, I

accept the Christ. I become version two point Oh. No, it doesn't

look that way. No, you don't add on your life or I'm like

this, so therefore I add on, I end on Jesus, right,

No, no, no, it's a die to self and new creation with

Jesus. It's different than I add on. See, I end on means

I can go back to the old. I can downgrade back to one point.

Oh. But what the Bible says is we die already. You cannot

go back already. You know, we talk about baptism, no turning back,

no turning back. That's what baptism is a very very important thing in

our work or Christians, because it is an open public declaration that you say

you follow Jesus in a very funny way to say it. And again I'm

not saying this biblical. There's a lot. But I thought about perception.

Now, there's a perception that receiving Chriser and saying I follow Jesus, right,

you can still do all the bad things, but after you go through

baptism, you cannot do all the bad things ready perception. I'm not talking

about reality. By right you receive Christ. You shouldn't really because all life.

But if you go and last time, I remember, I've had a

chance to go for mission trips, you know, to go and reach out

to two people you know in the rural areas, and that is their understanding.

You talk to the ladies, They're like, no, I don't want

to become Christian. Let my husband be. Why because after I become Christian

and baptised, I cannot do all the things I like to do, which

is gossip, gamble and smoke. They no, no, don't even teach.

No, they understand there is something that happens in your life when you

follow Christ. Amen, and we are living in him. So what should

we do? We should actually put to death sinful and earthly things withinness.

Why did Paul have to say it? Because the monster can come back one

right, we can. I mean where Christians la bags like lave, use

whatever you want to use. Laugh right, because our sinful nature will always

fight with God's nature. It will happen, right, just accept it,

it will happen. It will come in you will come on. No one

here is perfect without Jesus. Only Jesus perfect. That's why you can be

good all you one. You can be the nicest person, all you one,

but you still have a sinful nature. We still fall, we still

fail, We still That's why we need Christ. We can on leave this

life without Christ. We need Christ. It is a choice that we need

to make daily. Do you know that? Do you know? Following Christ

is not easy? Easy peasy? No, it's every day you have to

decide. Not every day you have to decide. Every day you have to

die to self. Look nine twenty three says then he said to them,

or then this is Jesus. If anyone desires to come after me, let

him deny himself. Okay, friends, I don't know what you understand about

English, but what has denied himself? Mean? Say no to yourself?

Right recently, I've been wanted, you know, I've been trying to illusuate.

Okay, for health reasons, not just to look good. Okay,

I know I'm past my primary so for maybe for health reasons. Yeah,

anyway, I'm married, so it's fine, but for health reasons. I

want to lose weight. And it's been not easy journey, but part and

past of losing is to deny myself, to say no, I'm not going

to order KFC and I need to eat salad because I need to have a

lower caroler account so that I won't gain more weight. So it's it's there

is a focus as a purpose, and I have to deny myself. It's

not easy, but there's a goal, right, deny himself, take up

his cross and follow me. Friends, Yes, there is a transformation,

but there is also a daily decision that we have to make. We have

to be aware about it. We have to decide today who do you serve

today? Are you going to go according to your flesh or are you going

to allow the Holy Spirit to lead you? See, that's a difference.

Go according to flash right, all of us can do it. You don't

need people to lead you, okay, But allowing the Holy Spirit to lead

is saying, okay, Holy Spirit, what shall I do this week?

Okay? God? Where are you leading me? I roughly know? Well

you won't you may not know, but Lord, can you lead me?

Can you guide me? It is a reliance. Self reliance versus reliance on

God is two different things. Right, So there is a transformation when that

happens, right, and we've got to put away the sinful nature. It

is a choice. It is a choice, right, and we will be

presented this crisis, right, and God doesn't like these things, you know,

Um, I know, well not I know. It is a fact

that God loves us. Amen, do know. God loves you. God

loves you, Okay, he loves you, He cares for you. That's

why that if we fall, we can ask for forgiveness. We can ask

for forgiveness. But can I caution us, let us not have this understanding

that just because you know, sometimes we can. We can do that.

We can take his forgiveness for granted. We can take his forgiveness for granted,

and we gotta be work careful with that because actually, God not happier

or no when we do nonsense whatever the nonsense is, luck, He's not

happier on now. We can all now go no, yeah, yeah,

God forgive you if you repent. Lah. No that there's there's this weight

also about the word repentance, you know, not like you know, like

how kids like daddy, I'm so sorry out there and then tomorrow do the

same thing again, you know. Yeah, tomorrow, same thing. And

I'm trying to teach my kids to be more responsible. And one of the

things that they do, they will go upstairs. Embarrass our kids, go

upstairs, you know, go to and bathe, and then they will come

down and then because they want to watch TV, they will left their towels

in this array, left the light on, left the heat out on,

and then go down. And then every time I can't fail, You're not

every can you know? Every time go up I see it. I'm like

boys, I just need to say boys, say no sorry, and Daddy,

I needn't put up the things, and then they will come in and

they'll do that. I say, I've seen so many times, can you

they say yeah, yeah, yeah, I will do it. Do you

know some nimes we treat out like that. Not angry, I angry,

you know, I haven't done anything, and not not not reach that never

yet know who's who knows? One day, you know, just totally remove

everything, you know, then they like cannot bathe for so but yeah,

God gets angry. Okay, so I know I know God's loving, caring

at all. But friends, let's not take you for granted. Friends,

Let's remember there's a state of being that we are at. Amen. So

what do we do put on our new nature? It is a new nature

that we have to put on. You know why why are we encourageable do

devotion every day? Because it helps us put on our new nature. Okay.

I remember that there's a God. I remember that he's all powerful,

and whatever challenges I faced today, he is there, and I put it

on. I put it on. I need to rely on new God,

be renewed and learned to be right Christ. Okay, this one is a

little bit more. Let me let me give you a perspective on this.

So we are led by the Lord to be perfected. Amen. And what

is the perfection? What is the goal? To be like Christ? Amen?

Right? As the Bible says. And we are all progressing together.

Okay, So think about it this way. For those of you that have

been believers all this while, have there been a progression in your faith or

are you stagnant? Don't you answer? Just think about it if there has

been a progression in your faith. I'm not a faith I'm not talking abou

responsibility. Are selling people equate responsibility in church as faith? It's two different

things, meaning how much have you trusted God all this wild Are you trusting

more or less? Are you leading? Are you following the leader of the

Holy Spirit? More or less? Right? If you are leading it more

see not maybe not as power as Daniel or power maybe it's okay on But

if your progress means you are maturing in Christ. Amen, give yourself a

pattern, and I am maturing. Maybe yesterday I believe in headache, but

then today I believe in healing or flu Maybe I don't know. And then

sooner or later afterward you will. You will be convinced on that cancer and

be healed. I am super convinced that cancer can be healed. You bring

me any cancer pation or pray for them, because I believe that God can

heal them. Right, So you will progress in your faith. That's why

there is a constant renewing. But it's a good reflection. Lord, have

I improved? Maybe you're out of ten years that I increase a bit on

it. You know, it's good, really, all guys, because we

are slowly going towards being perfected in Christ. So celebrate that. But maybe

more can be done. Look at it as that, Amen, Look at

it as that, right, um, because we need to learn to be

like him. He takes a lesson when you learn. When you read the

Bible and you learn, you understand, you grow. But remember that there's

progression, and we need to progress for our sake, for the sake of

the people around us. We need to progress. Amen. And this is

the wonderful thing. I love this part about the truth of the Gospel and

about what Paul said. You know the scripture that says neither Jew nor gentile?

Why yes, I mentioned He's so. Do you know why it's important?

Let me ask you who are the Jews? Who are the Jews?

You don't know who are the Jews? The Jews are, Yes, God's

chosen people, right, That's who the Jews are. Do you know that

the plan that God had that they think was never for any of us,

It's only for them. Do you know that Jesus didn't only die for them,

and he had to come and mess up their plans and die for the

rest of us. That's why Paul have to say in the word, it

is not just what the Jews is for the gentiles, is for the barbarians,

is for the slaves, is for those that It's not about that,

No, it's for everyone, So, friends, I don't know what's your

background, but whether you are rich or poor, whether you have a functional

family or a broken family, whether you have an easy life or a heart

life, whether you have a lot of opportunities in a life or you have

no opportunity. The person next you have more opportunities you think. It doesn't

matter where you're at or where you're from, because Christ is all that matters,

and He lives in all of us. Let me repeat that again.

It does not matter where you are from and where you came from and who

was your earthly father, because your heavenly Father is everybody's heavenly father. It

is level bring ground. I don't know whether you guys caught there or I

feel like you guys didn't catch that. This God that we serve are is

not just for the English Church or the City church. This God that we

serve is for everyone. The Gospel that we have is for everyone. Do

you know the significance of that? Not just su can stand here away suit

British Gospel on e Jesus for me. No Jesus is for everyone. Jesus

is what the God downstairs. Jesus is what the bucking attendant that every time.

Now we stuck there, you have to come and Jesus for him as

well. Do you know the significance of that? It is level playing ground.

That means, sir, that however rich or who you are, you

can ask God for staffing or you'll catch tand or not. No, sometimes

we have this perception. No, no, no, no, only the

Holy Prayer every day. You know, like Daniel, you know, faster

the whole man, They don't you go will listen to him? You know

that God will listen to all of you. Oh, I'm so passionate about

these guys, because Jesus is for everyone. The swire where we do things

for chess, right, I don't agree that chess only fits a certain group

of people. Do you know how we are being executive at the Jews?

No, Oh, it's only for us chosen people. You follow the last

that No, Jesus came to die for everybody. Do we realize that?

Wow, guys, so refreshing. You know, I don't know that because

if we understand that Christ for everyone, then shouldn't everybody hear the gospel?

We gotta remember that Jee is not just for me, just for everyone else,

So don't hide your light. Don't hide your light, let it shine,

Let it shine. I'm sure every one of you here who have a

testimony of got moving in your life that you need to encourage someone else,

whether it's in the church or outside of the church. Definitely go on what

they got, provide for you, what they got heal in your life.

Oh no, very smaller just hearing it. Someone might be going through my

grain that needs to hear that testimony so that they can believe in the Lord

christis for everyone. That is a state of being. When we follow Jesus.

Our thoughts are different, the approach is different, the focus is very

different. I have all of us called that we got to catch, that,

we got to learn, we got to grow. Amen. Okay,

let's go next, you guys. Okay, that's actually three parts. I

hope I can finish everything. Okay. The next part from Collosians chapter three,

verse twelve to seventeen talks about the qualities of us as believers follow us

of Christ. Those two have said, Jesus are follow these are the qualities

that we should have. Okay. And again when I share this, don't

go on point and fingers say, will not like that? You know,

please We don't know that, because, like I said, we're constantly being

improved. But this is the qualities that he talks about, right, He

talks about the character and attitude of God's chosen people, how we should treat

one another as believers. So it's a good heart check. Okay, it's

a good heart check for Rest. We're good heart check for me as well.

Okay, let me just read Collosians chapter three, verse twelve. You

guys, Okay, since God chose you a God chose you? Cool?

Right, Hey, guys, if I was gonna say, past the Dannil,

maybe that one day past the Dannil come and ask you to surfer,

can you please tell him yes? And don't say don't wat a prayer bout

it first, because I think in the Bible it already says that God chose

you already. God chose you to be the holy people. He loves you

already chosen. Stop thinking that you are second best and last best. God

chose you to be the holy people that he loves. Okay, fine,

maybe you're going through a heartbreak. You know, people cannot see the wonderful

thing that's in your life, but God sees. I'm sure people here would

see laugh, right, how wonderful a person you are, But don't focus

on that one person who don't let you. No passer cannot share before out

of I think tenner right out of ten, or out of eight or out

of six, I think out of sixty people, right, five light you

one or don't let you? But why focus on one? They don't let

you? Focus on the five that likes you. Laugh. It is a

mystery, So let's not try and figure out the mystery. Maybe we will

die to go to heaven and we will find out why. But it's okay.

Focus on those that like you, then you'll be fine. Cannot right,

God loves you, so focus on him. A man, you must

clothe yourself with tender hearted mercy. This is so not my character at all.

Kindness No, Me and my wife always say hey, can we be

kind to one another? Yeah? Humility, gentleness, patience, Wow,

so nice. All the ladies were soon ready when they see what a guy

like that? Gentleman, clothe yourself with these things. Make allowance for each

other's faults. Huh, why do you say that? Make allowance? You're

not. Make allowance means have a buffer time. Know that it's going to

happen and count for it. How come I'm so offended? Now? How

can this person say these, sir, and then we act so No,

even the Bible say, make allowance because we're all not perfect, we're all

growing. We will all definitely start each other's those one definitely. So we've

got to make allowance for each other's faults and forgive anyone who offends you,

because we remember the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Why

do we forgive? We forgive us work, No, forgive others because God

forgive you. Forgiveness is an integral part in the faith of a Christian.

It is not an option. It is not an option. It is important.

If we treat it as an option, then we won't be able to

live a life of peace and abundance. But if we learn to forgive first

thing, you will have his peace from the Lord, and then you'll be

able to progress in life. So deal with your unforgiveness. Act the bonny

quickly, allow God to help you with it, and let it go to

Him, not anyone to him. Because God forgave us, he can help

us with it. Forgiveness, Amen, right, I know it's tough,

especially for those of us who have gone through difficult family situations. Deep deep,

deep hurt, very difficult. But God can because he's a God that

can raise the date. If you can raise the data, he can help

you forgive. You gotta keep reminding yourself. God raise the Dad. God

raised the Dad, so I'm sure he can raise this up. It might

take a while, but the process needs to start. You need to open

yourself up for it, and then now you will be. You will see

how, you will see how the forgiveness will cause you to have new life.

This is something I am passionate about because I experienced it myself. I

experienceding myself. Every time I come to a place where I say, okay,

I forgive, I experienced new life. Guys, nothing changed the person

I'll change. Our person is still as awful as they are. But I

have changed because Christ lives in me, and because a crisis in me.

I can forgive because when I look at the person and say it, man,

I'm ten times to ascended. Thank you Lord for forgiving me. I

need to forgive others. Amen. Above all, clothe yourself with love which

binds us all together in perfect How many it is quite awesome binds us all?

So what is the thing that binds us all? Is it unity?

Is it vision? Is it all these things? Guys? Is love?

Let me use the example of a family unit. You're in a family,

right for those that have family members? Quite difficult, right to be the

family? I think someone mentioned I think, I think it's past the jet

I mentioned. You know you love your family, but you don't like your

family sometimes right not? I mean, if you got a function of family,

love is a great great okay, But but you know the thing about

family, especially those of us who understand it, it can be signing.

Its difficult to like your family members. But family is still a family,

and that binds you together. The love binds you together. So likewise,

in the family of God, what keeps us together? Have you thought about

it? Is it just because the way we talk to each other? And

is that the thing that keeps us together? Or is it love? Because

there will be times where we will be stepped upon our toes. There will

be times that we will step out of Bill's toes. Yeah, I don't

know why. The day Jess I mentioned something, then you're not happy.

Then she don't talk to me for two weeks. I don't know. But

do we still be in the same place because we love one another? Because

that's that's love. We are binded by that. We've got to remember that.

If we forget that, right then all is lost. All is lost.

We've got to remember Christ, love the Church. We are binded by

love. Yes, fine, different people here call different Karad, We're alway,

we're different. Song of us are maybe more loving song of us not

so, you know, but that is you know, there's this thing about

um trying to find the right word the one. Okay. So one of

the things that I think I'm good at long, or at least I like

to think i'm good at, he said. I I think I'm good at

organizational structure. Okay, Um, I don't know, you guys understand,

Okay, let me let me change it. I'm good at putting teams together,

okay. And one of the things I realize about the power of teamwork

is that you need to have different strengths in the team. Amen. Amen,

Do you have the same type of people all in one team? Noah?

It seees how you're shaking it a day. Do things effective? Well,

you're effective to do one thing, but if you need an all around

the team. You need you know, the striker need to be a good

striker. Defender you will be a good defender, and they need to learn

to work together. We just have, right, So having different strengths actually

is a good thing. But you know they're having different strengths, it's a

rare difficulty because the striker will just focus on one thing and the defender will

focus on one thing and then will come together. You're like, oh no,

you know, you'll just be fighting about different things. So but understanding

the goal and knowing the strengths and leveraging on the strengths of the team will

help the team becoming a become a championship team, Amen, not just a

team of champions, but the championship team. Right. So there's something I

learned and I realize, you know, and when you put teams together,

Yeah, they're different strengths, but you've got to learner celebrate the strengths.

Celebrate the strengths, Amen, and cover for one another. So it binds

us together. Let peace that comes from Christ rule your hearts. For as

members of one body, you're called to live in peace and always be thankful.

Wow, Thankfulness is another very very important point right, and it can

help us let the message about Christ in all its riches. Feel your lives,

teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms

and hymns and spiritual songs to God. Be thankful hearts. Whatever you do

or say, do eat as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks,

true Him, True God, the Father. Okay, so what is

the qualities weadness as followers of Christ. I'm going to try and go faster,

I think a rep time. Firstly, we need to know God choses.

I think I mentioned that a lot already. Number two, we need

to clothe ourselves with tender hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Can we encourage one another to do that? None encourage not pointing I

say, well, you're not a gentle A person at point figure to say

you're not gentle is also not gentle. So help one another. Amen,

make allowance for each other's faults because we're not perfect. Means A people make

you unhappy, forgive them first, you know, because you never know when

you will make them unhappy. Right, forgive one another because God forgive us

first. Love one another because Christ's love binds us together. Let God's peace

roll our hearts. Amen, be thankful, Let God's word leaving us.

So we're sharing about God's word, God's word leaving us, and worship God

with thankful hearts. When we approach to worship, what is the heart that

we need to have? Constantly read the Bible. It talks about being thankful

because it is very easy to worship God when you're thankful. Do you know

it's very hard to worship God when you're not thankful. You will just be

singing. Psalm's one hundred four says, enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise. Be thankful to him, and let's his

name. When you were coming to worship, if you really want to experience

God fully, you gotta be thankful. You can say, okay, la

Lord, I don't feel like it, but thank you. Find something to

thank God for. Find something about this. You see, there are many

things are that we can pick on. Actually, you know, there's life

in life. And I look at my house that have many things. I

learn. I'm like, oh man, I wish, I wish, I

wish, I wish. Okay, I go way wrong, wish list right?

But do you know the moment you become thankful, the moment I become

thankful, I appreciate my house more. Thank God I got a big house,

you know, thank God? Thank God? Yeah, thank God?

Ever a place to stay? Right? Uh? You know a lot you

see when you have a thankful how you can thank of a lot of things

too. Likewise, when you want to find something, you're finding wronger You

can find wrong wrong in many, many things. So what kind of life

you want to live? See? See a choice? Right? You want

to be thankful and happy or you want to pick on things and be unhappy.

You choose a no. The rest of it's not affective or no,

well, maybe affected a little bit. If we have a person that keeps

complaining, there be a heart lad. But if we have a person that's

thankful, do you know that it's very fun to be a thankful person?

You know it's not so fun to be as we have a person and also

thankful. You know, I don't hang out here? You know everything is

something you say? One be thankful? Amen. Collisions three, eighteen twenty

five talks about what we should be practicing as believers of Christ. Okay,

what should be practican. So we talked about the state of being. We

are okay, accept christ state of being. Then the next point is responsibility

to the church, responsibility to the people around us, right, responsibility too

when we are here. And then the last one talks about our our role

as a Christian. Okay, our role meaning uh, what you do in

these situations, how you should act? Okay, and it stucks with this.

Wives, submit to your husband's the way. I'll continue Okay, as

is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. That means wise, if

you don't submit to your husband, you don't belong to the Lord. Well

where's stronger? Okay, hey, by say, but don't worry. Husband

also got a job. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.

Okay, never treat them harshly. Children always obey your parents for displeases

the Lord. Fathers. Do not aggravate your children. I do it all

the time, or they will become discouraged. Why are our kids discouraged because

we agree with them? A lord slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything

you do. Let me change that a little bit to be a bit more

in relation to us. Employees. Obey your earthly bosses in everything you do.

Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching.

You serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work

willingly at whatever you do as though you are working for the Lord rather than

for your bosses. Hard right, especially if it's a difficult boss. Right.

But Bible said this war how remember that the Lord will give you an

inheritance as your reward. And then the master you are serving is Christ.

But if you do what is wrong, so warning you will be paid back

for the wrong you have done, for God has no favorites. It talks

about the role of a wife and a husband. It talks about the role

of children. All of us here are children. We are parents. Take

heed of that. This is the Bible. When we follow God's work,

we will be blessed. God didn't say when you follow my word, things

will be easy. But God say, when you follow my word, you'll

be blessed. Amen. So we got to understand the defense. Do you

want to be blessed? Then we got to follow his word. Right.

It talks about what fathers shouldn't do. It talks about how we should work.

I think a lot of us here are working at doubts, right,

a lot of us right. And if you're not sooner or later you're going

to join the right race. Hopefully it's not a right race for you,

la, Hopefully it's fun, persual and all account of stuff. But it

talks about obeying. He talks about authority. We should please our boss's wall,

how tough please them? Serve them sincerely? Why? Well, we've

got to work wingly in everything as though we are working for God himself,

because you actually are working for God. Do you know that? Do you

know that when you serve on this earth? We talk about work being worshiped?

Do you know how you serve on this earth? And you are good

in all that you do? You see, there is a state. Remember

we address a few things are the state of being as a Christian. We

caught that, We caught the qualities that you have all very goes, stuff,

gentleness and all. Then now we're talking about the work part where the

actually puts in practice. Where after you are this state, you've got these

qualities, this is what you are you should be practicing. That's what the

Bible talks about. Right, We got to think about that guys, you

want God's blessing all your life. You want God to move all your life.

This is the process. This is the process. It's not going to

be easy. It's simple, but it's not going to be easy. But

can I give you an encouragement? But things all get better because you will

be matured. You will be matured, you will grow when you go through

the fire, you will grow, you will learn. And do you want

to know the exciting thing? The Lord will see and he will bless you.

You don't have to hope for any promotion from men, but know that

the Bible did say that promotion comes from the Lord. So when you are

faithful in the things that you do, when you are faithful in all that

the Bible is telling you, be confident that God will bless you. Be

confident that God will be the one that lifts you up. Be confident that

God will be the one that make you to hate and not the tail,

because He has a plan and a purpose for you. That is the relationship

we have with Christ in our faith. He's interested in everything I'm going to

finish. So do you feel exploited? Do you feel unappreciated? Do you

feel undervalued? Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as a reward.

You know, and you know some nimes Christians we always say, oh

you know y'allah when you go to heaven and you, guys, this is

my honest belief. I don't think this is besful thinking. I think He

will give you an inheritance here on earth. He won't wait until you die

and then let you suffer all the way die there only, okay, I

give you mention it no, no, no, I think God will bless

you here already. Case in point WCC. We've heard so many when they

follow in the Lord, when they obey our heroes you know of faith,

they're not a full time. There are people like most of you you know,

who are working out there, but they follow in the Lord and then

God gave them an inheritance. Amen. The master we are serving is Christ.

But be careful, guys, be careful because if we do what is

wrong, we will be paid back for the wrong we have done. For

God has no favorites. So friends, my encouragement today is, yes,

there are a lot of realities on the earth. There are. I'm not

downplaying the challenges we face. I'm not downplaying you know, um, the

things we go through, it's there. But we've got to keep in mind

the realities of heaven, which is so much more fun to think about than

the realities of this earth because the realities of this earth are no way out

one, no trust me, no way out one. But the realities of

heaven has so many promises attached to it, so many but sometimes maybe just

too out there. Lah, you know. And we, you know,

sometimes our earthly mind and our you know, we try to what's the word

logify it? Okay, very bad English, you know, try to make

it logical. No, guys, can I tell you one thing. God

is not logical. It doesn't make sense. God doesn't make sense. If

God makes sense, you're God ready. God doesn't make sense, friends,

the reality of heaven, you know. And my encouragement really is this.

We catch what's from the Bible, we apply it. And the wonderful thing

about application or Bible is that you will see the fruits because God promises us

whatever you saw you read. I think many many ones you have experienced that.

And that's how we encourage one another as believe us. We apply,

we reap, and we say, hey, so if you have a testimony.

Don't hide it, right, don't hide it. Don't it's not going

enough. It's not about you, guys. The testimony is not about you.

The testimony is about glorifying the lot that's working in your life because you

obeyed him. Right. And for those who have maybe going through a challenge

or maybe still doubting, come on, just give you a try. Try

these Jesus out, trust me, Try these Jesus out, and maybe you

will experience something amazing. Maybe your experience experienced more amazing things. You really

experience amazing things, Maybe experience more. Try these Jesus out and think about

the reality of Heaven in your life. Amen. We hope you've been blessed

by this message. For more information on our church, please visit x Church

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this week is going to be a good week, a hit for you. God bless