Not My Plan, But God's Plan | Pr Alvin Keng

You're listening to a message to go from ex Church.

We hope this message will light up your day.

So today's message is something that I am learning and

continuously learning. And I also believe that most in all

Christians are learning right and as I am learning well,

I wouldn't say that I'm an expert. I wouldn't say

that I know better or more than all of you,

but I can definitely say I've experienced God a lot

in my life, right, and I think that's the one

thing that I've been encouraged.

You know.

In X we believe in discipleship, you know, and Jesus

was here he taught his disciples the way of the Kingdom,

right and being ex Church, I've learned the way of

the Kingdom and the way of God, you know, the

way we make decisions, the way we decide on things, uh,

the way we do things, the way of God, you know.

And it's been very beneficial, you know, it's been very good.

You know, God has been good, you know. And it's

not just a word, but is life, you know. And

recently I've been also thinking about like when we live life,

this life, think about it. Okay, of course, this is

a lecture style, you know, a lecture style, theater style.

If you study the history of well, actually Jesus did

it as well as someone on the mound, you know.

But of course the more beneficial parts where you read

in the Bible is always done in the tutorial. You

understand more practical, more tutorial. So actually I would encouraged most,

not all of you here, if you're a believer, please

do get involved in a discipleship relationship because there is

your tutorial that is your customize.

Uh uh.

You know, I'm not just saying that, you know, or

just because in extra ship practice. No, I think every

believer need to be discipled, and every believer needs to

disciple someone, you know, because that's what the Bible asks

us to do. We are called to make disciples and

to teach them, teach them what, teach them, to observe

all things that Jesus has taught us.

Right. And again it's not just heat knowledge, it's so

life right.

The way we raise our kids, the way we live

our life, the way we work, know is it based

on the word right. And recently I've been learning, well,

God has been affirming again right, this lesson that I

hope that I came in part to you, and I

hope that you will be blessed because at the end

of the day, you know, yeah, at the end of

the day, we're all in this together, I guess, you know.

And I wanted to see every single person here, you know,

not just you know they say succeed in life. Actually

I wouldn't want to use that word, because your virgil

success can be very different than God's virgual success. But

I think I want to see everybody here have abundant life.

You'll catch that not all of us here will be millionaires.

Some will be and praised a lot if you are,

and God call you for that great awesome, you know.

But but if even if you're not, you can still

live abundant life, right, you can still live an abundant life,

you know. And I know I did it just now,

But I just want to congratulate Lucas and Joanna for expecting.

I know they were not expecting, but now they're expecting.

They expected, they're not expecting this, but they're expecting. And

the reason why I do that because we want to

celebrate as a church. Right, So Congress, and if any

of your parents here, you want to you know, give

them extra power or.

Whatever, please do. So okay, cool, I guys, good? Are

we ready? Okay?

So the title of the message today is not my

plan but God's plan.

Okay, not my plan but God's plan.

Very simple words, and sometimes ex christions we when things

don't go away, we use this liner, no my plan,

God's plan when things don't go away.

Right.

But actually, if you think about it, life in totality

is really not our plan but God's plan.

Right.

Of course, sometimes it goes according to our plan. You

know why, because our plan and God's plan align cora right,

because we know that God is in control, in charge

of everything, so it's always his plan, it's always his will.

So the question is some whether or not our plan

aligns with his plan, because if our plan aligned with

his plan, then praise the lot will be, you know.

But if our plan don't line with plan, you know,

then it's very difficult. Sometimes it's very hard to understand.

Then then we get into this whole existential question or

you know, all these different things like okay, you guys

follow me la, Then hopefully at the end of the

message you all will go deeper a little bit.

Isaiah fifty five, verse eight to nine.

I love this verse and just now I think it's

really you see God's plan.

I didn't ask.

Daniel to sing this scripture, but as we were worshiping

one of the songs, he was singing this scripture. Isn't

that God's plan? I think that's God's plan. It's definitely

not my plan. For My thoughts are not your thoughts.

Neither are your ways. My ways declares the lot as

the heavens are higher than the earth. So are my

ways higher than your ways? And my thoughts than your thoughts?

We just sung this just now. We just sung this

just now?

Right? Do we really believe you we sing? Or not? Okay?

So let's talk about plans. Are it is wise to plan?

Coroer not coray not? You agree it is wise to plan?

Some of you are still deciding. Actually no, it is

wise to plan. The Bible ask us to plan, right,

so please plan? You don't plan your finances, plan your

you know? Some parents are they wear power? You know,

don't have baby yet?

Ready? Plan which kindergarten they're gonna go through? Ready? Right?

Some parents are weir power? They really plan? Are they

really chart the way? And Asian parents are that chat

the way, Oh my son is going to do? Parents,

can I encourage you? And I used the word if,

if you've really dedicated your child to the Lord, you

can have plans great, but make sure when God changes

your plan, you don't be hot on your kids, okay,

because it's a lot of stress.

Right.

My parents didn't plan for me to be a pastor.

My father actually wanted me to be a doctor. And

my capabilities is way, I cannot be doctor. I see

blood of probably fain in the operating you know, face

in the person anyway, you know, And I did a

design instead. So weird, right, how the Lord leads I

did design. That's how I know Evan. Evan's sectly my junior. Okay,

of course now he's he's using his skill sets usefully,

and I don't know whether I am using my skill

set us. Actually, everything I learned in college I never

use after I started working. I only use some theory.

And because I'm doing video, I'm not even doing treaty.

My goodness, right, but not my plan by God's plan, right, amen,

not my plan by God's plan, I guys, okay, you

guys away, no kenna, okay, So even the Bible encourages

to plan.

So when we say now my plan, but gosplanner? Do

we mean? Do I mean? Oh? Let's not? No? No

no no.

Friends, please plan, Please plan and be a good steward

of your life, Okay, Be a good steward of your health,

Be a good suward of your finances, be a good

suward of your relationships. Because if you fail to plan,

you plan to fail. That's another word that people like

to use. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

That's true.

Right, And we got a plan and we got a project.

What does it mean by that? We got to count

the costs? Okay, let's go to scripture.

Okay.

Problems twenty one, verse five, It says that the plans

of the diligion lead surely to plenty. Okay, very nice,

Old King James, well, new King James English. But basically,

if you plan diligiently, then you will have plenty.

Right.

If you don't plan, then you will not have plenty.

Lack Okay, So you need to plan. You need to

plan a lot of things, right, But those of everyone

who is hasty surely to poverty. Hasty means impulsive, hesti

means just well, what's the latest trainer. How can I

get rich?

Quicker? D in juruslam?

Okay, if you talk to any wise financier, I use

the word wise.

You talk to Warren Buffett, will I use his name? Man?

Okay, he's still around. He he's show and stady. You no,

show and city wins the race. Right, that's what he'll say.

But if you talk to any young person very exciting

new technology, then you have all the is more exciting

but slow and stay win stories.

Okay. That's that's that's a principle. Right. Let's go deep

into Bible. Okay.

Luke Chapter fourteen, verse twenty five to thirty three. Okay,

are you guys?

Okay? Can I yeah?

Because I don't know whether you're paying attention to me

or thinking about lunch. Sorry, if your first time in XBJA,

this is the way I roll. Ouch, Okay, Father, forgive

them for no, no, forgive me? Okay, forgive me?

Okay?

Luke, Chapter fourteen, verse twenty five to thirty three. Okay,

what does it say here?

Wow?

The main title of this passage is living all to

follow Christ?

Wow? Where drama so drama? Okay?

He says, now, great multitudes went with him and He

turned and said to them, if anyone comes to me

and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children,

brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he

cannot be my disciple.

Woo.

This is a very strong statement from Jesus. You understand

these statement not I used to not understand the statement.

Nor is huh God, you may I need to start

hating my wife and all were very easy? No, no, no,

that's not easy. I'm just joking.

Okay, I hate my parents.

So easy to hite my parents now you know, because

of all the trauma they put me through. Friends, friends,

It's not about that kind of hate. Basically, what Jesus

is saying, who do you love more? You love Christ more,

or you love your kids small? You love Christ more

or you love It balls down to that. Okay, it

balls down to that, who do you love more? And

only you can answer that question. Nobody can answer the

question for you one, Only you can. Only we know

who we love more? One who are we willing to

put above?

Only we know?

And he may say very clear, if you love all

these other things more than me, you cannot be my disciple.

We're strong, right, We're strong. Right.

Let's continue, okay, And whoever does not bear his cross

and come after me cannot be my disciple. Whah, this

is not a big cryptic. What is your cross? You

mean Jesus we need to walk everywhere with a cross

in our back. No, lad, that's not what Jesus meant.

Okay.

For which of you intending to build a tower does

not sit down first and count the cost, whether he

has enough to finish it less after he has laid

the foundation, and it's not able to finish all? Who

see if it begin to mock him saying this man

began to build and was not able to finish. Or

what king going to make war against another king does

not sit down first and consider whether he's able to

whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him

who comes against him with twenty thousand, or else while

the other is still a great way off. He sends

a delegation and ask condition of peace. So likewise, whoever

of you does not forsake all that he has cannot

be my disciple. Okay, well, Passel, where did Yeah?

It is so?

I think Christ right was very practical. I think God

is a very practical god. I think God is a

very orderly God. The more I learned about Hima, the

more orderly I feel God is. There is certain structures

that he says, since Genesis right, a man shall leave

his father and mother and be you know, joined to

his wife. It's very structured. Now, even when we talk

about the family unit is very clear. But then, of course,

now you have all kinds of things happening. Okay, I

won't go into that, but I just want to let

you know that God is very clear and the moment

we go out of the order, we will put ourselves

in trouble again. Now, it's not about oh, God will

curse us, you know, friends, God doesn't curse us.

La, can I be on us?

It's kind of like this law. If your mom and

dad say, when you cross the road, look left and

right because if there's cast you'll get hit. You can't say,

and you don't listen to your mom and dad, and

you won't get hit by a car and say, oh,

my mom's fault, she falls. Hello, your mother didn't do

anything to you. But when we live life and sometimes

we treat God that way, you know, right? Can I

let you know that a lot of things in the

Bible is for our good and our benefit. A lot

of things that God teaches us it is for our

good and benefit, and the moment we come out of

that covering the moment we come out of that. Right

we get in trouble, there's no one else to blame

but ourselves. We have to take responsibility. If you don't

plan things, you plan to fail. If you don't if

you live beyond your means. If let's say you earn

a certain amount and you cannot come and say, oh God,

you know, Hell, provide for me, don't make sense, right,

there's no wisdom in that.

Friends.

So likewise, when Christ talked about following him, he was

very clear, and I think he was very fair. He said,

if you really say you want to follow me and

be my disciple, and please consider all these things first,

because once you become my disciple, right, once you say

Jesus I follow you, you are top. When Christ gives us instructions,

we need to follow and all. But if there's a

constant struggle, then we are not the disciple. You'll catch that,

you know. It's like it's like, for example, let's just

use Exerces as an example. Here, right, you come here,

you you you like this place. You love the thing,

but you don't to follow hundred percent everything, And then

you and then we we say, oh, I'm part of

the church, are you really or not? Okay, not knocking

anyone here, I'm just I'm just asking a question. Right,

And again, we all know different people, different life. Not

everybody can adhere to everything. It's fine, it's fine. I'm

not against that, but I'm talking at least about Oh.

It's like I can't pick and choose or no, right,

I can pick and choose friends.

You can't pick and choose. Have you counted the cost?

Have we counted the cost of following Christ? Right?

We can't say we follow Jesus and then I only

take half on it. I follow Jesus in this area,

but the second half of the Bible revelation I don't like.

So I don't believe. How ridiculous is that? It's very ridiculous?

Right, we understand that principle In normal life, I can't say, oh,

I love my wife, and I will say, you know,

in sickness and in in no no no, in health

and in health, in life and in life, in richer

and richer, it's conditional.

Right.

It shouldn't be conditional. Have we plan, Have we counted

the cost? Have we countered the course or not? Because

if we have not countered the cost, then be very

careful with our decision. But if we have counter good

and say yes, Lord, I follow you, I really meant it,

help me with all the other things, because at the

end of the day, we still have challenges, we still

a struggle.

Do they understand right?

The Bible says we are constantly our salvation is being perfected.

So yes, we continuously be perfected, but we cannot remove

that part. We need to know that we are working

in progress. I'm a work in progress. I've not gotten

everything right. Right, That's why God works in my life

and I continuously allow him to work in my life.

You get what I mean.

So if the decision is firm, let's say the decision firm,

we plan, Really, decision is firm.

This is the decision.

I'm married to my wife, Okay, I love her in

sickness and in health till death to first part whatever

comes after that.

Now, I have to adhere to the vowel. No. If

not the vowel, it's meaningless. CORENTO. If I change my

mind halfway, then I've been lying.

All this wild makes sense, makes sense no matter how

big the circumstance is and how difficult that it doesn't change.

I made a vow, so friends, can we live like that? No?

Not, or is it the flavor of the week. That's foolishness.

That's why. That's what the Bible means by that, and

not even me. It's what the Bible means by that.

If we are clear with our decision, no matter how

hard is it, we have to stand strong to our decision.

It doesn't change just because we're having a bad day.

Imagine if all parents here, just because you're a bad day,

you can say you're not my son today. So easy, right, Parents,

Sometimes we feel like that, but we know that's not

true because it's our flesh, and no how you want

to deny it.

Now, even this on you.

I watch all those Chinese drama at this on you,

you know you will not have any of my inheritance.

And no matter what happens, and you cannot disown the

blood and the DNA.

That's the reality.

No matter what your kids say are oh Mama, I

don't like you, It doesn't matter know.

What they say, because it really really they cannot deny

because it's there, right, you'll catch that.

Okay, so we need to plant friends. Please, let's plan.

Let's count the costs. Let's count the cost with everything

we do. It is foolishness if you uh start a

business venture but you don't count the cost that if

it fails, for what will happen?

You know?

And only we all like to see things that are good,

you know, and there's nothing wrong with that, But we've

got to count the cost if all else fails. How

I cannot put all my ages in one basket. See

these are wisdom stuff. So in life it's the same

thing in relationships, the safe thing. How are you counting

the cost in a relationship? Or the only cost is

brownie point pretty thing? Never check everything else? Just pretty enough, ready,

just handsome enough it it just do like oh pie

enough ada.

Oh.

Every morning I wake up, I look at this person,

you know, and I'm happy.

Hello. For those that are married, we know.

So can you talk to a married person and you

realize after a while looks so go away? After a

while you want someone that how how horrible you are?

In the morning, they can seou mind say good morning, darling.

That's more important. No, you give me no. No matter how

nonsense you are in your life, are they will come

and see how you That's truer, friends, Amen, no matter

how difficult you are in the person I tell you,

I've given my wife a lot of stress, I know,

but one of the ways I know she still loves

me is that she still following you all my nonsense, right,

and I have to remind myself. Okay, Elvin, stop having

bright ideas and learn to listen to your wife also. Okay, So, friends,

have we counted the cost of following Jesus?

See?

I'm not saying this to discourage you. I'm saying this

for you to be aware. None of us are perfect. Yes,

you make mistakes, right, Yes, the week was tough, But

have we counted the cost? I'll be true to whatever

we have decided, because being true throughout the excided means

doing the difficult things sometimes in life. And when we

do that, do you know that you honor the Lord?

Do you know that God is still there looking at you,

seeing your life? Do you know that He has a

way out for you? Don't find your own way? Trusting him? Yes,

you're in a difficult time, but trusting him imen the worry.

After this, I got some stories and hopefully you will

catch these principles from the stories. Okay, have we for

second all or are we still standing on the first.

I'm still standing on the fans the moment Jesus don't work,

I jump the other side.

If Jesus worked, so my.

Life as a believer means everything will be perfect, everything

will be awesome.

It will be testimony all the time. Friends.

Hello, if you really study the Word of God in

the Bible, you will learn that the Gospel of Christ

is the gospel of suffering.

Go to read some more? Okay, going to read some more?

Okay, let's read Revelations chapter three, verse fifteen twenty one.

I guys getting something from this? I hope you are okay,

Revelations tree.

Uh.

I really love when Passa met preachers because he he

brings a really academic view on things and and and

and stuff. And I really love how our church we

have so many different speakers. You know, Elder Terents last

week preach about uh, and I know something with and all,

like you know, there's no such as burn out?

And do you know that I agree him? Fully? You know?

I because one day I realize how come you know

we surf can take break, take breaker, but then pass

can pass all every week?

There a no every week? You know?

Of course I can say their job, Ma, what you

mean our passes are super human? They're not getting any younger. No,

actually I'm not getting any younger. Ah, And I'm like,

cannot be what God cannot be. The scripture sayer that

out of out of you are you will flow rivers

of living water constantly.

You mean God has a limit.

If we serve God, then shouldn't we be able to

tap into his source twenty four seven all the time?

Yes, there is wisdom to rest.

Okay, So I'm not saying that no, because in the

Bible is in fact the Sabbath is a weekly thing.

So the question is, when you talk about burnout, how

many of us have honored the sabbath? And I know

some people they look at severn oh al must follow

exactly sabbatical.

I totally do.

Friends, friends can We don't be legalistic about it. We

all need rest. You need one day, why we can recover. Yes,

you're having a busy season, but at least have some

time to wrestler, because if you're going twenty four seven.

No wonder people burn out? No wonder have you come

to the court wisdom? Wisdom, I guess. Okay, so rare

relations Tapter three. Anyway, I was talking about put the mat.

He's currently now on this series on the seven Hitches

of Revelation, you know. But of course he is like

heres Sonday there right, So if you cannot go and

listen to his messages, really good. Okay, So Revelations Tree,

We're going to read from verse fifteen to twenty one. Okay,

it says here it talks about the Loukewarm Church. I

know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.

I could wish you a cold or hot. So then

because you are look warm and neither cold nor hot,

I will warming you out of my mouth. Because you

say I'm rich, and I become wealthy, and I have

need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind,

and naked. I counsel you to buy from me goal

refine in the fire. Then you may be rich and

white garments. Then you may be clothed, and that the

shame of your nakedness may not be revealed. And on

your eyes, with your eyes self that you may see.

As many as I love, I rebuild and chasten. Therefore

be zealous and repent. Friends, Can I give us another encouragement.

It is a blessing of the Lord that we get

rebuilt from him. It is a blessing of the Lord

for the sake of our souls that we repent. Because

the problem sometimes is pride, and if we think that

we have all of it right by doing things, we

are put in a.

Very dangerous position.

So when God rebukes us, yes it's painful, it's suffering,

but He loves those he rebuked. Do you know the

amount of times I have been on my knees and

apologize to God for doing things that I shouldn't do

as a father, as a husband, as a church leader.

So many times, and I always allow God God speak

to me. If I knew say sorry, I say sorry.

It doesn't matter because I'm more concerned with my own

soul than with my face. But I know, some nice

red difficult to get there because Asian man, right, Asian,

we have this Halid say, we got this challenge. Lam Sorry,

can someone help me close the back door because it's

wide open?

Yeah, So he.

Says, Yah, behold, I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I

will come in to him and dine with him, and

he with me.

Wow, you all want to dine with Jesus? Cool?

Right to him who overcomes, I will grant to sit

with me on my throne, as I also overcame and

sat down with my father on his Stam.

Okay, I'm gonna pause here for a woman. There's this.

You know, the Bible promises us that he will make

us overcome us. So, friends, can I give you this

principle in life? We don't have all of it right,

but we have the power to overcome our wrongs.

You'll catch that.

It's not about being perfect, it's about overcoming. So yes,

we got different, correct, But but don't give up, don't

don't be offended forgive, don't don't move on so fast?

No overcome over You know that I tell you family? Okay,

family cannot and sometimes we do as family. Do you

know how powerful family can get? If that, no matter

how bad things get, they still stick together. Isn't it

a powerful story? But sometimes I will say family, no choice?

Are God stay same house?

Man? Do you know why?

Why did God use family to explain church, because it

is a greater testimony that if we can overcome our

differences and overcome our challenges, and overcome our offenses and

still stick together for the glory of God, which one

is a greater testimony? You think nowadays, when I look

at life, I think about this a lot. When I

look at the way people make decisions, and when I

advise you, but I think about this a lot. What

is a greater testimony? I've learned this from Pascna. What

is a greater testimony? It is not about who is

more famous, No, No, it is always about what is

a greater testimony? Because at the end of the day,

all we can do to God when we go and

meet him next time is to account for a life

and to say, Lord, I obey you, because when we die,

you cannot bring a lot of things that you have

with you right now in your life. That's the reality

of life, right, So what is a greater testimony?

Okay?

So the Bible says you're either hot or cold? So friends,

can I challenge you in this top process? It either

works or it doesn't. Our faith either works or it doesn't.

That's not in between.

There's no.

Oh, when the stars are aligned the sun in the

moon is fine. No, no, it either works or it doesn't.

That's the way we should live as believers. Right, No

in between, because the moment you have in between, it

is not pure anymore. So our faith either works or doesn't.

God's commandments either work or doesn't. Oh, but Passelving, you

don't know in the world now, in the world, now,

in the world. Yes, the world is always against it. Okay,

so let's not have any debate about it. Yes, the

world is totally different than what God does. Okay, that's

very clear. It's getting clearer and clearer. How different the

world is, how different people in their own wisdom are different.

It is very clear, right, very clear. So we don't

have to argue about that. But it's still a decision

we need to make today. Is my godrail or not?

Is this Bible that I read reel or not? Do

I fully believe in everything? Is it true or is

just good words and good teaching. We have to decide

that because that determines the way we live. That determines

whether or not we are witnesses to the people around us.

It boils down to that. You know what, doesn't determine

whether we are witnesses wearing a cross. Suddenly, do business

have Christian name?

Hello?

All these things are don't need one know you mean

if I have Christian name? When you go no, no, friends,

God can answer your prayer with any name you have,

because all I mean under Him. So it's not just

the external surface. It is always following the world of God.

It's the business following the word of God, our families

following the word of God.

Are we teaching our children? Let me share.

If you're a convision that I've hary recently, wish it's gonna

be tough for me to implement, but I'm going to

try a new.

Way because I've got two kids.

They're influenced by a lot of things that they read,

see whatever, which is good in a way for some,

but not go for some. Now, of course, now we

know that there is a gender out there rect clearly

friends even in schools agenda out there.

Okay, I won't go into it.

So then I'm thinking, what is your compass the word

of God? And I'm like, well, reading got so quite

boring us sometimes right? Well, sorryse we actually said that

out loud. Yeah, I'm saying, what is in your hearts?

No choking something? You love the world. I know Passamette

loves it.

You know. Actually, very very very fun to see pasta.

Matt shared Bible last time.

He said, I remember there was a there was a

story that came up on my feet and I remember

pass me or sharing something about the ship and all,

and he was like geeking out all the scripture. I'm like, what,

It's so exciting to see him geek out old scripture.

Quite quite cute. La Okay, where was I?

Oh? Myn my goodness.

Romans Truth too says, do not be conformed to this world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that

you may prove what is that good and acceptable and

perfect way of God. So okay, I'm coming back to it.

So I think this God, He's convicting me to read

the Bible with my kids. No devotional nothing, just read

Bible and maybe have one or two questions and we

go deep into it because by reading the word of

God and keeping in our hearts, I believe God will

stir something. No need system, no need to have oh

let's pray, No, just read Bible, just boringly read the

Bible together, chapter by chapter, day by day, let's try

and see. I'm gonna probably try and start. I will

probably fail because I don't think I can do it

every week, but I'm gonna try at least. They're probably

gonna make noise because it's not fun. There's no pictures,

there's no nothing. But I'm gonna do it anyway because

I want to see whether God can instill things in

their hearts as they read the word, because we believe

in power of You know, do you know that in

the olden days there was no writing?

Do you know that?

And this very interesting fact, do you know that the

Israelites since the Egyptian days, were the most literate group

of people in the history of mankind?

Do you know why?

Because since the days of Joshua they had to you know,

when the script just say pass this on down to

your kids. In our mind like, oh, pass this on now,

maybe pass no friends? Are it is word by word?

I got no paper, I got no iPhone, I word

by word remember coming to memory, very boring one no,

and I regurtitate talk to my kids and they have

to have out. They do it until today. That's why

they are reallygious but is it bad? No, it's not

bad because God promised when you keep your word in

my heart, when you follow it, when you follow my commments,

you'll be well with you. So on one hand you can

see legalistic, loud and all, but another hand I see, actually,

I see there's power in it, especially now when I

have challenges with my kids, I won't go to them

and to do that.

Also, okay, not, we'll never end guys. Good. So is

there a testimony there is? Why? What's the next thing

aligning to God's plan? Okay? Aligning?

And by the way, the pictures always basically my house renovation. Okay,

I'll get to that.

Okay.

So friends, can I give you an encouragement this morning?

Whether you're a Christian, you're not Christian, whether you're new

here or whatever, God has a plan for all of you.

God has a plan. You know.

There's a book written by Rick Warren Purpose Even Life,

Powerful book.

Right.

I will encourage you to go and read it if

you can, to have an understanding about this truth.

God has a plan for each and every one of us,

you know.

Jeremih twenty nine eleven says why I know the thoughts

that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of

peace and not of evil, to give you a future

and no hope. Do you know that if you're aliveing

with God's plan, it's rare have to see the future,

but we look at the past. You're like, oh, now

I understand why. Oh now I understand why Mary dispress it?

Oh now I understand again if you follow into God's planner.

Because if you don't follow into God's plan, then you

won't be able to have the old moment. But if

you following to God's plan, you will have the old moment. Oh, no, wonder,

but do you know that if you don't follow we

have to say, it's just a man.

It's pain of the pain, the pain of the pain.

Okay, So the big question is, so let's let's let's uh,

let's let's just nail this today.

Okay.

God has a plan for each and every one of you,

and it's a truth. Okay, it's the truth. But the

bigger question is that are we on his plan? Let's

that's a bigger question. It's not about whether God or

not God, but the bigger question is are we on

the plan his will? The plan that God has for

us or are we on our own plan? Are you

on I want you ste but never mind do one?

Are you on the company that Cheryl is working for?

That in Cheryl?

Are we using ways to follow his plan? Ways? Are

we relying on the way, the truth and the life?

What is our compass? Friends?

What is our compass? Who? Or what is guiding us?

He's a very good question to ask ourselves now, because

a lot of times I think even for me myself.

Oh Lord, I follow your plan by here, I got

ten thousand plan that I will not I will never

let go of this.

Right with that? Who?

What is guiding us? Let's read problems Chatter sixth verse

three to nine. Okay, problems six three to nine, guys, good,

Oh sorry, problem sixteen, my bad, problem sixteen.

We're gonna read three to nine. Okay.

He says, here, commit your works to the Lord, and

your thoughts will be established. You want your thoughts to

be established, Commit your works to him?

Okay.

The Lord has made all for himself, Yes, even the

wicked for the day of doom, your wicked boss, God

was so your wicked boss. Everyone proud in heart is

an abomination to the Lord. Whoh he stayed with addressed priority.

You proud, You're an abomination? Do you know why it's abomination?

Do you know abomination? It means corrupted, corrupted, abomination. There

was an intended purpose to it, but because of pride,

it was corrupted.

Does that negate that there was no plan?

No, there was still a plan, but then there is

prone to corruption. Right, there was planned, but he can

get corrupted. So to not allow it to get corrupted,

you have to wash it. For example, recently, I just

decided to go homeowner, you know, and then renovate the house.

So decided to do a lot of other things solar

on my own. So my driveway has been a certain

color for a long time. And I'm like, oh, don't

know where I can clean or not. I try and wash,

but cannot clean. And recently I saw a lot of

those videos they washed the power washer, right, you know

where cool washed, and then from like that green suddenly

can be like right, and I and then eld Terrence

is very very handy, and I said, read it and

buy my own. Let me borrow from him first, Sorry,

I borrowed. I washed it. Oh my goodness, my house

looks like new Man. I mean, staying there for ten

oh years. Now I'm thinking, Hey, why never do this?

We need to upkeep. Sometimes our life signs we live

our life, or we do things right and then got

more No, and then we we get used to it.

Friends, knew washer now?

Sometimes son, you knew power washer right, and you really

scruped the thing away, and then it will be not

an abomination to the Lord.

Amen. What can wash ohway my sin? Nothing but the

blood of Geeus? What can make me whole again? Nothing

but the blood who is your ways? Amen?

Though they joined forces, none will go unpunished. In mercy

and truth, atonement is provided for iniquity, and by the

fear of the Lord, one departs from evil. When a

man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies

to be at peace with him. Wow, friends, you want

your enemies to appeace you, Then your ways need to

please God.

Our ways need to please God? Is our wayte pleasing God?

Or not? Better?

Is a little with righteousness than vast revenues without justice.

A man's heart blends his way, but the Lord directs

his steps. Some strent thievers forces.

May He grant you according to your heart's desire, and

fulfill all your purpose. Do you know this heart desire thing?

You know?

You know you said, oh, may God grant your heart

desire again? It is conditional. Is your heart's desire what

he desire? You know, if you use an example of

a family, you need the same or your father your

mother want the best for you, no matter what right,

they want the best for you. Okay, majority, okay, let's

not talk about evil and corruption. But majority of parents,

if their heart is pure, they want the best for

their kids, no matter what right. But if the kids

want something else, there is not aligned to their heart

because they know you very well. Do you think they

are okay with it? Sometimes they are not. Again, if

they are not acting out of their own selfishness.

Stuff.

If I'm talking about parents, okay, if they are there,

very difficult. But if they has a pure and we

know that God is pure, he knows as well, He

knows our perfect plan.

It's God we're talking about, not just human parents.

But sometimes we choose to do other things and then

he goes like, can I wait, la, Actually, yeah, the

planner is set in motion, but I'm just waiting for

you to comply to it.

You know.

Problems nineteen twenty one says there are many plans in

a man's heart. Nevertheless, the lord's counsel that will stand

a guys ready for testimony.

So not my plan, but God's plan. So uh So.

House renovations start this year, Okay, don't know, Okay, never mind, Shore,

just leave me here first, thank thanks or XV have power, Risha.

So I started house reveraging this year.

Uh.

It was a dream that I thought will never happen. Okay,

for what practical reason? Because we had other goals. We

want to do other things. You know, I'm in full time.

You know, my wife is in the marketplace. You know,

we have a very wonderful and unique relationship. You know,

unique as in the way we navigate it. Uh, you

know when it comes to finance and all these different things.

Right, but God has.

Been good, right and and I And honestly, it was

a desire, but it was like, Okay, if it happens, happened,

what happened to happen, I'm fine with it. You know,

I'm at peace with either way. And of course I

think I've shed here on this stage that God is

the one that said let's start something. You know, in

the beginning, it was not very clear and then later

it got clearer with different things that He did right

and different things that He provided, It gets clearer, you know.

And the thing for me is always it's not just

deciding and making it are moving forward?

Is you really got to slowly work?

We've got on now, right, because God can say let's

not do it, and I won't.

Right. That's something that I have learned to get out

of trouble in the past. Right.

And when God is with you, he's always there one,

He will provide, he will take care of everything. Okay,

So I really had one or two testimonies. Has happened.

That gives me confidence that God is here.

Right.

We are not out of the woods yet. Hopefully now

it looks like mid December you'll be ready. But I

can tell you it is a testimony project really because

God has taken care of it.

So we have to do different things. Right.

So what you're seeing here is basically the fiber.

Line in my house.

And prior to this, this wall was the outer wall,

but we've built another wall inside. So this is in

the kitchen right in the new kitchen area. How beautiful

it is nice?

Right?

No life to move the wire career not so I

had to call a telco company. I won't say, you

tellcoal company to move the wire. And if you're familiar

with big corporations, it is red frustrating to speak to

a person. Okay, I see Cheryl laughing. Really don't worry.

It's not her company. And the thing is because you

don't really think about it. Once you got fiber, you

don't really think about it, you know. And I don't

remember what's the process. And let's just say that I

was stressing out for this problem for a good three weeks.

I was really stressed out. Just asn't know. She only

saw the bursts here and there of stress, but she

don't know.

But I was worrying about it. Cannot sleep, you know,

worry and can not sleep.

No, because if you don't relocate these I cannot tell

the place. If I cannot tell the place, it will

delay the product. If they delay the project house narration

of anarchy, that's the reality of it. Are So let

me tell you the testimony. So one week, call ding

Dong and yeah, so call one week then ding Dong.

And then on the day where I took leave, I

pussly took leave to short it out and I'm like,

it has to happen.

Right after much pain.

We were setting a pointment for a two pm okay,

and then the person supp come take a look, and

I thought, okay, all is done. And I was at home,

so we got different things done with the workers. Because

I was at home that day and it's the end

of the year, I don't have a lot of leaf left,

very stressful, and I'm like, oh, sort that. Twelve o'clock

the technician called me, asked me what is the problem,

because it's internal relocation.

Da da da da da.

And I'm like, well, ABCD, this is the issue. He said, oh,

I cannot do anything about it. I'm like, okay, but

I've called your people. I've okay, so stretch it. Yeah,

and I said it must be done today. What is

the solution? I know a friend, you know, when you're

doing corporate with no friend, you know what I mean?

Slah And I'm like immediately I went like defensive, flower,

Well this friend, how come you know I call your company?

I thought, can you know all these different things are?

You know?

Just call your friend so so? And then I think

I prejure him a little bit. I said, how much

is it going to cost and stuff like that, because

according to the company that called, I'm not supposed to

pay anything, but now suddenly cannot. Then have to call

a friend. Okay, fine, because I to me, it's like

get it done. I want to sleep, you know. So

he called a friend and then it was a two

hour combination, so basically discussed then this.

Then I'm like, okay, that was about triel.

Then he said, okay, my friend's going to come at

two and then see how see how how much you

know and behore. I was outside my house and uh,

I think there's a he said, a photo of the clouds. Yes,

it was a bright and shy any day in the morning,

and at twelve thirty.

The storm clouds were coming.

I couldn't find an identa of Atla, but I could

literally see bright sun and storm cloud and I'm standing there. Oh,

by the way, my wife was at home, but she's

happily somewhere else. So I was tressing my I'm looking

at the clouds and I'm like, God, another weeker, because

it really cannot set the today have to call again,

so I really almost like want to give up with you.

Like ahh.

And then now we're going to rain. Now it's an

outside job. No rain means they cannot do anything, you know.

And and it was nicely blowing. The window's blowing and

I can't see the thunder. Friends, I've not done this before.

I was like, Lord, please hold the rain, please hold

the rain. I need it done today, right. I just

left it and sunny. The guy caught me, Oh, I

will come early, will come a wanta ta.

They came.

So they came out, no discussion. Straight we start working

at it, and a friend all go and see what's here?

You know. Now, I keep pressing how much? How much?

How much?

Okay, just to give you a picture last the loid

before I already found out roughly how much it cost,

so I have a rough gage planning early planning, so

I have a rough gage or how much it can cost.

And then the guy later caught up me and I'm like, okay,

he started working. You know, he didn't even talk to me,

you know that. I'm like, hello, when how much he's

gonna cost? And he quoted me a certain price and

I'm like, okay, this's way less. I'm like, fine, let's

just get it done right. And then he did the

work right. Can you go next picture. So he came, Yeah,

he did the work. He kept to go and do

one Tatia came, did the work and after that next photo,

no scripture, no, no, no scripture, no scripture. Yeah, so

that's the bear in my house. So he had to

like disconnected, pull it out from the whatever and then

put it in at one tote. He finished the work. Hey, sorry, no,

at two thirty. He finished the work, finished the work,

paid him, he left, and then I realized.

It didn't rain, and it didn't rain the whole day.

And I'm like, hey, Betty, did storm clouds go? It's

literally storm clouds though it was gone. And then I said, God,

was that you small testimony?

Okay? For those of you are very logic, you're like,

oh no, that cannot be. But to me, God answered

my prayer in no way.

When I look at the clouds, because I stayed them

many years, I look at it, I'm like, confirm rain one,

it's a confirmarial.

It's been raining heavily. No rain, this is a bit

me and disperse. I believe God answered my prayer. It

wasn't my plan. My plan was two pm, but God

changed my plan. You know.

I realized so on the day, nothing followed my plan,

Nothing followed my plan. It was rey stressful for me.

Nothing followed my plan, but everything was done by four

o'clock perfect. Until today I got peace because that was

stressing me out for a long time, and it was

last week.

So, friends, what is it in our lives?

Are that we're planned so perfectly that has to follow

a certain flow that when the plans are changed, we

cannot see that God is orchestrating it for a better plan.

I realized that it didn't go according to my plan,

but it was a better plan. He finished faster, so

thought all that news, So everything was nice. It was

God's plan. Really what happened? Amen? So are we aligning

to God's plan? That's the question, friends. I hope that

we will, But say, I mean, what if I get lost?

Maybe when I was younger, when I was you know, uh,

you know, uh, you know, more in tune, maybe I

read more the Bible and and and then I was

I was clearer. But whenever I get lost, well, then

you need to RecA recalibrate on you know, when we

drive ways and then you make the wrong turn finding

a new route, recalibrating I don't know that.

They say that.

Now I switch ways, of course too irritating, so I

don't listen to ways.

I just see you need like you know?

And then I do you know that when I make

a wrong turn, I will confidently still drive and wait

for the road to change.

How confident that is?

How confident are we in our Christian faith that when

we make the wrong turn, we say, Lord, looks different?

Are you still here? Are we recalibrating? We've got all

the time, are we because we can make mistakes? That's

a reality. But are we recalibrating or is it ha

don't work? Are some of my parents are that hat?

Wastetart working?

Right?

They make the wrong turn, then you blame waste, and

then you don't use waste anymore, and you continue going

wrong four hours later, fighting in a car for what?

Friends? Recalibrate? Are you aligned or not not aligned? Never mind?

Never mind, recalibrate, realign on. Oh but it's been ten

years since I've been out?

Is okay? One? Maybe God'll give you a shortcut. God

can no as long as we recalibrate.

No.

Some study three eleven says the counsel of the Lord

stands forever, not for a while, not for a season, forever, right,

the plans of his heart to all generations. Do you

know that God, when he plans your lifer, he's not

just spending your life. No, he's spending your life, your children.

He's spanning every single he orchestrates things. I have been

amazed at the orchestration of God when we all align

to him. I have been amazed because it is just

too coincidental to be luck. How XPJA started. I think

I've shared before. It is just too coincidental to be

luck or coincidence that we start experienced seriously, just to coincidental.

It's too perfect. The authoring of the story is too perfect. Right,

How I met my wife can start a series? How

am I your mother?

Okay?

How we got together? It's just too perfect if you

heard the story. But we have to align to golah

Luke nineteen nineteen says Jesus said to them, today's salvation

has come to this house because of this man, too

is a son of Abraham.

For the son of Men came to seek and save

the Lord. Pass a wh I got lost. It's okay,

Jesus came to save and seek the loss. That's what

Christ came. It's okay with your loss.

It's okay if you don't know your purpose is okay, friends,

because that's what Jesus came to do. He came to

seek and save the loss. And that's what we are

called to do, as believe us. We are called to

go and help people who are lost. This is the

way it has helped me. Now it will help you.

Don't be how to say said?

If they don't, it's okay.

As long as you continue following the way and your

life changes and people see that, then you will see

that something different.

How many times we heard stories? What makes Christians so different?

Because we are not lost, We are found in this

world and we know the truth and we can live

a life of purpose. Because of that, we can live

a life peace because of that. We have peace in

our life because of that, because we know the truth.

Amen.

So friends, we've gotta trust in God's plan. Have the confidence.

Don't be unsure of your faith. Be sure you're not

sure of your own plans now, mind, that's why we

have decided by ship talk to people are fine out

There are many people that have gone beyond know experience this.

Why am I sharing all these stories you. It's not

just to no I friends, I want to share it

so that you know that you can live this life.

Also when you trust God, if we can work for

me here, what for anybody here? So we're gonna trust

God with confidence.

Amen.

Emphicients one eleven says in him also we have obtained

an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him

who works all things according to the counsel of his will.

Friends Christian sometimes talk about predestination and see like who

is say?

Who? Do not? Say? Friends? Can I give you something

else that is more important?

How do you live your life in this earth is

more important than theological knowledge. Your life is more important.

How you are as a person is more important. It

speaks more to people how you live than what you know.

Amen.

Romans eight twenty eight that he says, and we know

that all things work together for good to those who

love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

If you are here and you're stressed out, if you're

here and you're going to a tough time, if you

are here, as long as you are aligning, We've God's planned, Hey,

everything will be okay. Yes, it is hard to hear

that now when we're going through the fire. But everything

is going to be okay. I have so many stories

and testimonies about how things are not okay, but now

things are okay.

My son.

Two years back, my mom start in Brisbane. So many

stories for those who align themselves according to His purpose. So, friend,

the more important thing is that I need to align

myself to his purpose, because then whatever challenge I face

is going to be okay. But the more I find

my own way, the more I will suffer. Philippians one

six says, being confident of this very thing, that He

who has begun a good work in you will complete

it until the day of Jesus Christ. You know God

is working in your life. God is working in your life.

And I've got a testimony to share. As I was

preparing this, I just thought i'll share you the you know,

broadband story that you heard just now. But God reminded

me of another testimony. And his name is Edison. Three

years ago I was called to pass the center's office

and she said, Elvin, you know a y ah, that's

his family.

Uh. They are you know, refugees in Malaysia. They are

from this country.

And they're they're not doing too well in this right

after the pandemic, and he said, one of them does video,

you know, and we're thinking, maybe this person can come

and work, you know, hell because three years they've been

here for three years and the person has been a

h a security guard and been you know, going through

different challenges mental health, you know, depressed and stuff like that.

So maybe we can help.

Because at the end of the day, you must know

one thing about our church and our organization. We're always

there for people. Of course, we have to verify in

all these things, but we always give her a chance,

right uh. And we always want to see people grow

out of their circumstance. That's the reality of it. That's

the heart we have right here for the loss. So

he came in to be really honest three years ago

as web Buzilae. Now, so we're busy. Every time I

got a new thinger, I ready defensive and I'm like, huh,

I already so busy. Now you're giving me this person

to babyca and I really know the challenge because I

have to work now, you mean, I have to try

and communicate with this person from this country. He's going

to be very hot, immediately going to have communication problem.

I really know, idea, I have to take care of

people that it's going to wear hot.

So I I didn't. I was not willing to. Can

I be honest? I was like, God, why but boss

they do do? Lah?

Yeah, bossy do So okay, I'll do things in there,

I said, let me see how first, still very defensive.

Came in for for for a week so I could

do something. I'm like, okay, let's try.

Let's give it a trialer Okay, because I know the

heart of the organization, right, so give it a try.

Spend time with this person, try and pass on work

with this person, Try to try. You know, different country,

how to understand English? Very difficult. Cannot all the stuff,

all the work that I need help with our very hard.

Tree. Years has passed. I fast fall her. Edison has

become a close friend.

Edison has become I don't cry, and this has become

someone that I trust fully trust them for those who

you know, I think leone know. Edison has become a

key person in our team. He has grown so much.

Do you know what God has done in his life

in his past three years? And again he will say

a y a, A y a. The things he learned,

you know, but I can tell you it's not a ya,

it's God. And the things he learned from us is

God's words.

That's all. He's learned.

How to live life the way God. That's that's what

he learned from us. He's not he's not the organization. No,

that's what pass it can teach us how to follow

God's word. Right, and we leave it.

We don't just say you need His marriage has changed,

He has changed as a person.

She has different vices that he said he used to

do and I didn't even know about it, different vices

that he was involved in because he wanted to. Last

week he was here. You all saw him. Nice guy, right,

you know I think two years back he was Jesus

or so oh yeah, you need a change for thor next. Ah, Okay,

God changed his life in no way I can take credit.

Right.

If there's any credit I can take is that I

discipled him, just that I see him every day.

Ma, you see every day.

Of course you will talk about life live, right, You

mean we see every day and then we keep it professional.

Only people suffering. We don't help people, got no food

to me. We don't take them mouth for lunch. No friends,

that's life.

Right.

We don't talk about Jesus. No, we talk about Jesus.

We talk about Christ. He asked questions.

Right.

He has changed so much, he has grown so much.

He's now a blessing to his family. You know here

he's now a good husband. Not say he was not good,

but last time he don't. He had no guidance. But

when he's here and the different leaders and the different

people spend time with him, talk to him, not just me,

other people, and he was fathful. He's one of the

most honoring people that I've experienced in my life, so honoring.

And God has blessed him so much. He's going to

be a dead soon. Right.

And of course for those who know, he's going to

relocate soon finally after three years, only God can open

the doors. There are more and more, many more testimonies.

But I just to to ensure you this you might

not know. Just give me you a little bit of

an idea that when God has a plan for your life,

and when you're align yourself to God's plan, you will

experience abandon life.

So whose plan are we going to follow? Our plan?

He came to Malaysia with his plan, but he's living

here with God's planned. He's very clear. You can talk

to him.

You know, he's not gonna be around soon, Redilar, So

if you connect him online or whatever, I don't know.

We're hoping to capture his testimony and maybe one day

share it. Right, but he's been such a good person,

totally changed. Did I expect it? Totally not expected. I

told you in my mom I don't know why I

can trust or not, you know. And then we have

a lot of discrimination, refugee, all these different things. Right,

but God transformed, God transformed, No, I transform, not we transform.

God transformed through his word through life, he has changed. So, friends,

what is the conclusion of the matter. And I'll end

with this.

We just got to keep walking. We just got to

keep walking. Oh the market is like that, Oh you

know life, We just got to keep walking. Oh I'm

just going through so much heartbreak.

We just got to keep walking. Oh this wasn't the daisy.

We just got to keep walking because the Second Corinthians

five seven it says for we walk by faith and

not by side. We walk by faith and not by side.

We hope you've been blessed by this message. For more

information on our church, please visit as church do org.

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that this week is going to be a good week.

I hit for you. God bless