Keep Your Shop Open | Ps Steven Soon

You're listening to a message to go from axt church.

We hope this message will light up your day.

The title of my message today is called keep your

Shop Open. Keep your Shop Open. In the Book of Matthew,

chapter five, fourteen to sixteen, these were Jesus told the

disciples this, you are the light of the world, like

a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No

one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead,

a lamp is placed on a stand where it gives

light to everyone in the house. In the same way,

let your good deeds shine out for all to see,

so that everyone will praise your heavily. Father. My friends,

if you call yourself a believer of Jesus, if you

call yourself a disciple of Jesus, your light is always

meant to be on twenty four to seven. Your shop

is never meant to close down as and when you wish,

it's meant to be open. The first point I want

to share with us is this, when business is not

going too well for you, keep your shop open. And

why share this because many times in our wark with

Jesus we face disappointments. We face the discouragements just as

we want to pursue God more and more, as we

want to serve God more and more, just as we

feel like God, we want to do more for you,

then challenges come away. You see, as Christians, we are

never promised an easy life. That is a false gospel.

As believers, we are called to deny ourselves, to carry

our cross, and to follow Jesus. Nothing in that say

is easy, nothing in that say is comfort. There is

our call. Therefore, don't be surprised when you are on

fire for Jesus the challenges come. Actually, expect for it

to happen. It's better that you expect for it, so

that when it comes you're not surprised. You're not taking

off God. You will go like all challenges have come

my way. Okay, I know I'm on the right track.

I'm doing good for the Lord. Therefore their challenges even

more so. As believer us we face more challenges than

people who don't believe. Don't be surprised. But sometimes when

challenges come. We are human also, we have emotions. We

sometimes can get tired. Sometimes the challenges cause us disappointment,

and disappointments cause us to be discouraged. But my encouragement

to you is when challenges come, don't give up so fast,

don't close shop so fast, persevere and be steadfast in

what God has called you to do. Hebrews twelve, verse one,

reading from the NKJV version, he says, therefore we also,

since we are surrounded by so great a cloud witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight and the sin which

so easily and snatches the sin which so easily and

snatches passed. Kennev has pushed this message before. There is

an answer to what this sin is, and we're going

to get to that. Continue on in the second part

of verse one, and let us run with endurance the

race that is set before us verse two, looking onto Jesus,

the author and finishing of our faith, who for the

joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising

the shame, and has sat down on the right hand

of the throne of God. Verse three. I want us

to pay attention to this, for consider Jesus, who endured

such hostility from sinners against himself. Lest you become wary

and discouraged in your souls. Now, I believe when Paul

talked about the sin that's so easily and snatches. He

gave the answer to what this sin is in verse three,

it is weariness and discouragement. Weariness and discouragement that's so

easily and snatch us. In the same scripture, encouragement came

by saying endure and deal. Because Jesus himself endure this cross.

Therefore we ought to run with endurance the race that

we are on. Yes, denying ourselves, carrying our cross and

following Jesus is not easy, but we are called to endure.

You see in the scripture here you realize the Bible

does not say the most gifted shall finish the race.

The Bible does not teach that the fastest runner shall

finish the race, because you see even the fastest runners

sometimes give up halfway. We are all very inspired when

we see videos of runners, whether in the Olympics or

in the World Championships. They start running their fun me

the race, but they halfway. Maybe they trip, they fell,

they sprain their leg. But I don't know about you.

Every time I watch those videos where they get up

and they limp their way to the finish line, I

tear up because that, my friends, is endurance, and in

those moments people don't remember the winner. They remember those

that endure in spite of challenges, in spite of impossible odds,

in spite of being last place, having to limp all

the way to the finish line. But you know what

inspires people the fact that they did not give up.

In our Christian faith, it's not about how fast we run,

It's about how much we can endure till the end

of the race. Because the time is coming, my friends,

that people who fall away from faith, and we are

in the end times now, aren't the people who run

who runs the slowest. So the people who are not

as gifted as others, people that will be falling away

from the race of faith, will be people who will

not be able to endure. And in such times we

aught to ask ourselves, during these end times, whether we

are able to endure? What I didn't sign up for

Christianity for this, Oh, good news and bad news, this

is it. When you sign up to be a believer

a follower of Jesus, Jesus says again, deny yourselves, carry

across and follow me. There is a saying that, yes,

following Jesus is tough, It's not easy, but at the

end of it all He'll be worth it. He'll be

worth it. I'm going to share hopefully a story or

two later about this. Galicians six' nine says, This so

let's not get tired of doing what is good at

just the right. Time we will rip a harvest of

blessing if we don't give. Up, so my, friends don't

give up business not going too, well don't give. Up

don't close the shutters of your shop just. Yet keep

it open in our. Faith as we run this race of.

Faith when discouragements, come when we fall, down we sprain our,

leg get back up. Again liveve your way to the finish.

Line don't give, up, endure for those who endure will

receive the crown of. Life that is what The bible.

Says and this is also an encouragement to. Us there

are many of us, here AND i was preparing this.

MESSAGE i just sensed that The lord has this world for.

Us many of us here are, believers but we are

just going through the motions of. Religion but we have

given up walking With. Jesus we come Every, Sunday, yes we,

Serve yes on good. Days we go to homes on

even better, days maybe prayer. Service AND i can say

this confidently because Of. Stetza, yeah we portray, everything almost

everything right about being a. Believer but yet in our

hearts we have given up Following jesus because maybe it's

just too. Hard, lord you want me to give up on. This,

lord you want me to do even? More, lord you

want me to give even? More god is too hard

coming To. Sunday maybe it is enough for, Me, Lord

but don't give. Up, Friends it's. Tough, yes things come

away sometimes when we do good things for The, lord

when we go by, faith things happen to our loved.

Ones it's very. REAL i know some of us here experience.

That but don't give, up because know that the ultimate

victory is the. Lords and if it is the lords

and we Follow, jesus it is also. Ours so don't give.

Up and to those who have been serving very. Hard

many times we sow and sow and sow into. People

we sow and give our. Best so and give our,

best and oftentimes the biggest discouragements that come are from

these very people that we care. For my, friends don't give.

Up sometimes when we saw and we saw and we,

saw and we know that this is good for the

people that we are. Discipling we, say, hey sign up for,

this come for. This you come and you'll be. Blessed

and the response we get is the pilsons, say, okay,

COME i do you a. Favor oh you heard the leaders,

respond my, Friends it's. True as a, leader discouragement can

be very. Real sometimes we sow and we sow and

we sow to that person to encourage that, Person, hey have,

faith have. Faith but end up you see On sundays

every day that person is on the phone during the.

Sermon it's very real whenever you, encourage have, faith trust The,

lord have. Faith but a person decides to not stick

to conviction after all the journeying that you've done for the, Person,

leaders don't give. Up keep at. It the battle belongs

to The. Lord we are just faithful stewards of the

people the law has given. Us SOMETIMES i also have

to remind myself it's. Okay people don't. LISTEN i check my.

Heart HAVE i done my? Best? YES i. Have, Okay,

lord it's up to you, Now it's up to. You

but don't troll in the towel just. Yet don't close

your shop just yet just because things are not bearing.

Fruit keep at. It keep. Going. So first point is,

this when business is not going too, well keep your shop.

Open second point is, this when you mess, up keep

your shop. Open, also there are some who runs business,

here there are some who have done. Business you know

that mess ups are. Inevitable sometimes things. Happen sometimes we

make the wrong. Decisions sometimes we out of, emotion responded

to a client in a way that we. Regret, oh,

NO i just lost a. Client we mess up, sometimes

but you know in The bible that a lot of

people who messed up as. Well matthew twenty six that

the treated the day. Five this is Where peter, declares

even if everyone else deserts, You, JESUS i will never desert. You,

wow if you were, there you will, Say, peter this

man of, FAITH i want to be like. HIM i

want to be Like peter to be so bold to,

say even if people Desert, JESUS i will be. There

and Then jesus, said what preparing a bucket of cold?

Water he, SAYS i tell you the, Truth, peter this

very night before the rooster, cross you will deny three

times that you even know. Me cold water Onto peter's.

Fire And peter say, this, no even IF i have

to die with. YOU i will never deny.

You.

Wow and you know what. Happened he even inspired all

the other disciples to vow the same. Way such a

man of. Inspiration fast forward verse sixty nine to seventy.

Five within a span of an, Hour peter Denied jesus

three times the same night he vowed that he will

not do, so and in verse seventy, five Suddenly jesus's

words flashed Through peter's. Mind before the rooster, crows you

will deny three times that you even know. Me And

peter went away weeping. Bitterly this is a man that

suddenly realized the frailty of his. Faith he thought he

was on the right. Track he thought he was probably

one of the best disciples that believed In jesus the,

most and the suddenly all of that came crumbling. Down

and sometimes we as believers go through this walk of

life having experienced the same. Thing we thought we were doing,

well and then things happened and we, Realized, LORD i

have disappointed, You, LORD i have betrayed. You and sometimes

that is enough to cause us to give up the. Guilt,

matthew In john chapter twenty, one we see how Disappointed peter.

Was he was so disappointed that he gave up on

his calling to be a fisher of. Men and then

we came back into a. Fisherman After jesus was nailed the,

Cross jesus died and was. Buried peter was probably so

in guilt that he, FELT i don't deserve this calling no.

MORE i can't do, It, lord and he went back

into his old trade as a. Fisherman he went back

to his old. Life and, friends that's what sometimes guilt

can do to, us that we feel so, bad so,

guilty that we go back to our old ways because

we felt that there's no Point i'm going to fall

back into the same situation. Again but in verse fifteen

Of john twenty, one, no how many of us know

that this part is Where jesus appeared And jesus cooked,

Fish he cooked, breakfast and after, Breakfast jesus Asked Simon.

Peter and this was after she Again jesus resurrected and

appeared before the. Disciples jesus Asked Simon, Peter simon's son Of,

john do you love me more than? This? Yes, Lord peter,

replied you KNOW i love? You then feed my, Lambs

jesus told. Him jesus repeated the question second. Time simon's

son Of, john do you love? Me, Yes lord, said

you KNOW i love. You then take care of my.

Sheep jesus, said. SEVENTEEN a third time he asked, Him

simon's son Of, john do you love? Me peter was

hurt That jesus asked us question a third. Time he, Said,

lord you know. Everything you know THAT i love. You jesus,

said then feed my. Sheep let me tell you how

Disappointed peter, was and the answer is in the original

text In greek When peter first, Asked When jesus first Asked, Peter,

peter son Of, Simon, simon son Of, john do you love?

Me the love here That jesus was Telling peter was.

Agabe do you love me? Unconditionally But peter, Responded, JESUS

i feel your love. You felio is a form of

conditional love that we have towards, friends, brothers and. Sisters

agape love is the higher form of. Love felio is

below That jesus, asks do you love me? Conditionally? Unconditionally

But peter, Responded, JESUS i love you with. Conditions many

times we Think peter probably is so like a faith

how can he not Love jesus who have journey with

him for three. Years but What i'm hearing and seeing

is a man in guilt because he started realizing that

he is not able to Love jesus unconditionally because of what.

Happened how he Denied jesus three. Times so this is

a man that is. Discouraged this is a man that

realized him messed up big time and is plagued with.

Guilt so two Times jesus Asked, peter do you agape love?

Me But peter, RESPONDED i feel, YOU o love You.

Jesus and the time you know What jesus Said, peter

after saying two times of alkabe, love he, Said, peter

do you feel your love? Me and at that point

you see the scripture Says peter was hurt Because peter

probably Felt i've Disappointed jesus, again Did jesus have to

drop his? Standards but you know the amazing, thing after

even these three rounds Of peter responding this, Way jesus still,

said feed my. Sheep even after such a big screw

up Denighing jesus three, Times jesus still extended grace To

peter and, Said, peter keep, going don't give, up don't close.

Shop why are you close? Shop you're calling and open

back your old shop of. Fishing stop. It don't give.

Up you see news, Flash jesus already knew what Wrong

peter would. Do that means even before it is mentioned in,

scripture even Before peter actually Deny, Jesus jesus already. Knew

that's why he, said you're going to deny. Me but,

yet do you know that in that very same vicinity of,

scriptures back to the, Back jesus actually Told peter before

the betrayal upon this, ROCK i rebuild my, church knowing

full Well peter was going to deny. Him that Means

jesus already calculated our mess. Ups he knows he he

knows that we're going to screw up again and. Again

BUT i think we can learn something from disgrace That

jesus extended To. Peter peter was on his way to

give up, entirely going back into his old, life really getting.

There but thank god he. Didn't in the. End we

all know that That peter after that went on to

continue and when he preached his first. Sermon If i'm not,

mistaken five thousand came to The. Lord this is a

man that could have given, up really on the, brink

but chose to not give up and Follow jesus. Again

he went on to fulfill his life's purpose while in

constant communion With god in the form of The Holy.

Spirit After jesus extended to. Heaven, friends maybe you have

done things that you felt have Disappointed, god but his

grace is never out of. Reach it's good news for.

You you already knew you were going to mess. Up he

is not, surprised and his grace for you is never

out of. Reach maybe you have done things like you've

heard someone in. CHURCH i, have and because you've heard

someone in, church you feel like you can never face

this person, again and that causes you to. Withdraw. Happens

maybe you backslided and you feel, like, MAN i already.

Backslided it's very hard for me to come back up.

Again not because you don't want, to but you felt

that it's very hard to face what you. Did maybe

some of, us, YEAH i don't. Know stepping down from, leadership,

mate you feel lesser and just you can never bring

yourself back to that capacity. AGAIN i just want to

encourage you that you can bounce back, stronger and not

just you, can you should because that is What jesus

wants for. You in the midst of your mess, ups

in the midst of your, disappointments in the midst of.

Guilt jesus doesn't want you to dwell in. Guilt The

bible gives you a contrast of two people who Denied

jesus the same. Night one Was, peter the other Was.

Judas one was on the brink of giving up but did,

not but another one was so strict with guilt that

he could only take his own life and hang himself

to a. Tree don't Be. Judas the part about Disappointing.

GOD i hope we're over that all Will news, flash

we all. Will we will do things That god it

won't be pleased. With but what's important is how we

respond to what we. Did Are we're going to be

wrecked with guilt and just withdrawn because that's what the devil.

Wants the devil succeeded when it came To, judas but

he failed miserably when it came To. Peter but the

choice wasn't the devil to see the choices on the.

Person so what choice will you make when you mess?

Up will you bounce back? UP i encourage those of

us here who have either been hurt or have hurt

people in church and you find yourself in a position

that you can't rise up, again don't give. Up take

that boat step of courage to go like you know,

What i'm going to come. Back i'm going to do it.

AGAIN i messed, up But i'm going to do it.

Again the first point was when the business is not

going to, well don't close your. Shop my second point

was when you mess, up keep your shop. Open this

is my third, point when a storm, hits keep your shop.

Open when we go through difficult situations in, life when

we feel like we want to them our, lights close out,

shutters don't do. That keep your lights. On i'm gonna

share a. Story this is a story about a town

which was hit by a. Hurricane and when a hurricane

came the warning blair and everybody was going into their

houses a, sheltered closing. Shop this one man, decides, No

i'm gonna keep my shop open and the lights on.

Bright people thought he was. Crazy why are you? Doing

why are you is your, shop stay. Open hurricane is

coming for your, sake please close your. Shop but he

chose not, to and people thought he was just a stubborn,

man and everyone went into hiding and. Shelter and that

was when suddenly there were people that started to flirt his.

Shop who are these? People the homeless people who don't have,

Shelter and that was the shop owner's plan all. Along

when all lights are, closed he turned his all his

lights on so that people can see that there is

an open shop THAT i can find shelter. In and

the homeless came true the. Doors the owner didn't just

make a living out of his. Shop he made the.

Difference in the midst of a, storm he decides to

keep his lights, open his shop, open even though he

himself was at risk and in. Danger you, know it

is often in difficult, moments my, friends that our light

shines the. Brightness i'm going to share a story to

bring this point. Across this happened very recently and it's

very personal to. Me about a mile, AGO i was

in a pit of, discouragement just not share about the, sewing,

sewing sewing and not. REAPING i was in that. PIT

i was Like God i'm doing so? Much is it my?

Problem AM i not good? Enough Am i'm not well?

Enough AM i doing something? Wrong AM i not seeking you?

Enough AM? I is it just my? Wisdom or is

it your? WISDOM i was going on a rabbit hole

of why is this? Happening why is it like? This

Why i'm not seeing fruits in the things THAT i.

Do why is all this? HAPPENING i was so discouraged

at that. Point so just that there was a month,

ago two months, ago three months, AGO i signed up

for a gym. Membership that is. RELATED i signed up

for a gym membership and started working up for health

reasons because a LADY i hurt my. Bad i'm, like,

NO i don't want to have back pain at. Thirty

SO i, thought, okay time to work, out time to strengthen.

Myself and then WHEN i go work, OUT i usually

put on my. Earphones, oh by the, way earphones are.

Healthy gave, me actually have. Earphones they gifted. Me it

has been a blessing to. ME i put on my

earphones AND i would do my workout and usually because

of rush of, TIME i would try to finish my workout,

fast minimal rescu between not. TALKING i don't like talking

to people during When i'm working, out like it's a

waste of. Time it messes up my riedom and my.

Timing so but THERE i was working, out and then

a month in a month and a half IN i

see people coming, in going, out coming, in going, out

working out beside the same, people BUT i don't know their.

NAMES i don't know who they. Are they look at,

ME i look at. Them SOMETIMES i don't even look at.

THEM i just look. Down and then one Day god,

says why are you keeping your lights? Shut what do you, Mean,

god why are you not talking to? People? Ah i'm, Like,

God i'm here to work, out not to talk to.

People i'm in a. RASH i ned finish this work

in one and a half. HOURS i got meeting later

at eight. Pm talk to, People god. Said and Then i'm, like, Okay,

god you may find this hard to, believe But i'm

actually an. Introvert you see some of you laughing. READY

i don't Believe i'm actually. Introvert SO i really want

to just close. Up it's my. TIME i just don't

do my, WORKOUT i don't talk to, people AND i

just want to. LEAVE i put on my favorite. MUSIC

i talk to. People But god said, so SO i, say, Okay,

God i'll give it a. Shot i'll give it a.

Shot and then almost IMMEDIATELY i saw one person walking

into the, gym and it's almost Like god telling me

that's the person you're gonna talk. To First i'm, like

But i'm, like, Okay, god AFTER i finish my, workout

when the opportunity presents, Itself i'm going to go and say.

Hi but, Yes i'm doing my. Workout the person came to.

Me he came and the first thing is say your

form is. Wrong this is the Person i'm supposed to

be the light. To first thing he, says my form is,

wrong but he was very. NICE i was very. Nice

he taught me the correct form AND i got to

do it. Properly and then case. Close fast forward one

my later discouragement people off, discourage, man oh why AM

i doing? This you? Know why AM i doing so?

Much SO i was in that zone and THEN i

was still going to the, gym putting on my earbats working,

out and then the person came into the same person

second TIME i met him one and a half, months

AND i Guess i'll work out, times never just aligned

and was never. Aligned but he came through the. DOSS

i was doing my staff and then it came to,

me your form is wrong second, time AND i, said

would you mind If i'm, like, yes please to teach.

Me teach. Me we did all, that all, Right so

we did all, that and then suddenly it just struck

up a. CONVERSATION i put my earphones. DOWN i know they, Okay,

GOD i know. ALREADY i know the. ASSIGNMENT i will.

TALK i will talk AND i talk and THEN i

say so actually it was a. Name what do you?

Do and you, say, YEAH i do business. Development he

asked me what DO i. DO i, say, OH i

work full time in. Church i'm also pastoring a. Church

and he, said, oh all. Right and then we started

talking and talking and, talking And i'm, like where is this?

GOING i from five minutes talking to ten minutes to fifteen.

MINUTES i haven't finished my workout. YET i was in

the middle of my set that was bugging. Me But i'm, like, Okay,

God i'm gonna put that. Side and then suddenly the

person Goes you, Know, stephen you remember one month ago

when we first talked for the first, time WHEN i

walked through the, doors AND i was doing my own

workout and you were doing your own. Workout SUDDENLY i

saw a light in. YOU i was, like, WHAT i

saw a light so bright in. You that's why today

even THOUGH i came to talk about workout at, first

BUT i really wanted to talk to. You and then

after that he just, WENT, i ACTUALLY i know more

to work. Out really you want to, Go, MAMA i

haven't finished my, set but, okay, okay let's, go, said

he's begging. Up we went to the mama next door

AND i sheard he he grew up in a very troubled.

Family it wasn't often for a period of, time troubled

relationship with the man the monk who were taking was taking.

Drugs very similar story to Base. Kennev actually AND i

got to, share and AS i was sharing and, sharing

and he was, LIKE i would like to visit your

church one. DAY i want to come.

Back.

FRIENDS i want to remind. You this happened in the

deepest of, discouragements and IF i align the, TIMING i

realized the MOMENT i, Said, god, okay you asked me

to be the light even Though i'm. Discouraged, okay i'll.

Try it was that MOMENT i believe that the light

shone true and he saw. It he didn't see it at.

FIRST i saw it. LATER i started with the Scripture

matthew five fourteen to sixteen talking about how we are the,

light but we keep our lights. Sometimes that was. Me

WHEN i go to the, GYM i shut my, LIGHT

i close. Shop but the MOMENT i Say, God i'm

going to be, open the light shone true and immediately

the person saw the. Light and these are things as,

believers we don't fit lead when you, know because we

are in the. Light but for someone who is in the,

dark they. Recognize and There's jesus in. Us SO i

want to encourage us in AS i wrap up in

your most difficult, moments keep your shot. Open when the

storm hits the, hardest keep your shot. Open turn on

all your. Lights it's, difficult, yes it's, discouraging, yes But

god wants to use this season to make your light

shine the. Brightest and there's my encouragement to you feeling, down,

disappointed feeling that you messed, up feeling that you're in a,

pit that you're just so, tired keep your shop. Open

god you'll surprise you. Obey continue to obey, Uncomfortable, yes obey.

Anyways you see WHEN i, OBEYED i didn't even have

to go and talk to the. Person the person came to.

Me god is there to help you, also you not

on your. Own god is also working very hard while

you are thinking whether or not to. Obey he's already at,

work and all it takes is just that step of.

Obedience Say, god it's, tough But i'll keep my light,

Open i'll keep my shop shutters. Open i'm ready for. Business,

Lord i'll try my, best and that is All god

is looking. For and the. Rest let The lord ork

the straight for. You as disciples Of. Jesus AS i wrap,

up let's keep our shops open twenty four to, seven

don't real all? Love twenty four, Seven convenience, Stores oh

HOW i wish nineteen, Nine speek Mid is twenty four to.

Seven as, believers let's not hide our lambs under the.

Bed we're not meant to do. That there are people

out there searching for, answers looking for a, light and

many times we don't even have to say a. WORD

i was probably in my ugliest form WHEN i was working,

Out but yet there was light because when people are in,

darkness they see and recognize light without needing you to

say a single.

Word we hope you've been blessed by this. Message for

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WEEK i hit for.

You god bless