The 7 Churches (Part 1) - Ephesus | Pr Matthew Chang

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Today. I'm gonna be beginning. I'm gonna be starting on

a new series, okay. And this new series is going

to be about the seven churches in the Book of Revelation. Okay,

the seven churches Okay. And it's a good I think

it's a good continuation from the Book of Acts previously

I've talked about. Uh. There's a lot of tie ins

from the previous uh series. Uh. And it's gonna link

to a lot of what we're going to be teaching about,

our learning about and preach about. Regarding that all may

know as well, you know, just to take a step back,

how does reading and learning about the Seven letters connect

to that all may know? First of all, you've got

to understand, you know, what is the What is the

purpose of the church. If someone comes to you and

ask you, what is the purpose of the church? What

is the church for? Can we just do online? You know?

Is church just music a band? Is church about wearing

a tie? Is church about reading a book? What is

church about? I tested my homies, you know, it's okay,

What is church about? Okay, give it very simple. What

is church about? What is the church? You just learning homes?

You know, huh? Ministry to God first, okay, the church

is in order. The church exists to minister to God first,

that is why we are worshiped. Okay. Then secondly the

one to who to the believers what I'm saying you

have to do believers. That's why there is fellowship, a

communal prayer, communal gathering as well. The thirdly, to minister

to the the world. Okay, this is the tree for well,

we call it a ministry of the church. And we

manifested here and also or we are interpreted here or

we own it here in extrach as well, the fight

w as well. Okay. So these three things, it's not

a building. Okay. So if you take this essence, can

he happen inside homes? Yes, isn't it? Can it happen

in Germany? Yes? Can he happen in Botswana? Yes? Can

he happen in I don't know, some unknown place in Antarctica? Yes? Okay.

So you must understand what is the church? You know, essence?

What is what is the essence of the church? And

how what? What? What it is? Then you start to understand.

Uh that you know, all these letters that are written

to the church is very important because the church represents

or you know, and reflects the glory of God and

saying people will know the glory of God through the church. First,

you see what I'm saying, because God has redeemed, because

Jesus has bought and redeemed the church with his precious blood. True.

Now he has bought and redeemed the church, you and

I with his precious blood, and he sends you out.

He has not raised you up to heavens, yet came

here brought. He has redeemed the church, so that all

may no makes sense, so that all may not. We

do missions, but we don't just send one feather that

we send the missionary to plant a church. Get me,

It's always about the church. I'm saying. Hey, So the

seven letters to the churches are very important because you

realize that, oh, you thought jesus ministry was done. They

Jesus stopped speaking, you know, after he was he died

on the cross. But then Jesus said, ha, here I

come again, you know, to join the apostle. Then John

was caught up in the not he he was in

the island of Petmos. You know, where's the island of Patmos.

Where's the island of Patmos. It's not in Indonesia, Okay.

The island of Petmos is where he was exiled. Okay,

he was he They tried to kill him, but they

could he didn't die, so they exiled him to the

island of Petmost and then where he suddenly caught in

the truns and a vision, the trauma vision is like, no,

you're really standing there. You know it's a special word. Okay,

but you know he's really caught caught up, you know,

in the heavens. Okay. And I'm not going to go

through it, but just give you some understanding. In chapter one,

he says, there you know that they saw he saw

someone or maybe I give you the specific verse here

mayor First of Revelations, verse thirteen, verse twelve, verst Okay

Revelations one, verse twelve, He says, John says, then I

turned to see the voice that spoke with me, And

having turned, I saw seven goldden lampstands. And in the

midst of the seven lamp stands one the word one

like the son of man clothed with a garment down

to the feet and girded about the chests with a

gold band. Okay. And then I'm not gonna go through all,

but he explains all the different things, his chairs, his

you know, his feet and everything. But then you say

you'll be asking like, hey, John, you met Jesus before, right? Yeah?

I said, maybe? Then how can you couldn't recognize Jesus?

Why he couldn't John recognize that he was Jesus? Then

he said he was the one. He looks like Jesus,

sounds like Jesus, but I'm not sure it was Jesus.

But it was Jesus. But why John couldn't confirm that.

It's like suddenly I see I don't know who works

official work here. Uh maybe I see Leading? Okay, So

normally I see you at home. You know, hey, you

know he drigs we dressed down at home, isn't it?

Ay tou? But then you go to worker maybe say,

for example, you go to your working in the hospital

and you put on your full uh doctor uniform? Is

that Leading? So looks like her, sounds like her, walks

like her. Oh it is Leading? You know what's the

difference the garments? The garments So what was Jesus wearing

and what does it signify? You see, when they met Jesus,

Jesus was so of the shepherd, they teacher your friend.

But now in this vision, Jesus manifests himself again as

who He says that he's among the lamp stands, observing, examining,

you know, in breastplate with gold and stuff. What does

all the symbolized, Uh, priest, you know what I'm saying. No,

Jesus is a priest. Jesus. You know, it's like, think

about it. When Jesus gone to raise to heaven, he

didn't just go for a full time holiday, you know,

he didn't go for four days. It's like you have

to understand how the kingdom works. You know. The earth

is like our local state. You know, it's like slang

or state government. When Jesus went to heaven, he went

to federal government. Ah, makes sense. It is the higher law,

higher kingdom right now. So he doesn't do the work,

the state work anymore. He leads it to the church.

But there is a federal work that must be filled,

and that is the high priest. We call it prime minister. Huh,

But this is the high priest. So when he a

sense that he as sends full time work of a

high priest to intercede for us. That is why when

John saw him, he couldn't recognized it. Imagine if Leading

one day become prime minister, He's like, who he now you're?

He's like, look at that Leadin? Who recognize you you are?

Because your prime minister. The way you walk, the way

you dress, prime minister, it's like the one walking amongst

the seven lampsteads, but it is Leathen But you are

manifesting in a different glory. Makes sense right now. This

is why he's talking about the different glory of God

right now, manifesting outready. Okay, so it's very important to

talk about the seven letters. So let's talk about uh

we talk about that first church. Okay, and turn me

to Revelations chapter two. We're gonna read from verse one

all the way to verse seven. I don't know why

my notes are not appearing, so I'm just gonna pray

to God that I'm gonna preach this off the top

of my head and some slides. Okay, let's do this.

Chapter two, Verse one, Let's read this. I'm gonna read

this verse to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus.

Ooh didn't we we didn't we just cover about Ephesus.

I think two weeks two, three weeks ago. Okay, So

I'm gonna, you know, require you guys to remember what

I taught you. Guys, are okay, gonna quiza okay, make

sure that you remember. Okay, these things he's he this thing,

says he who holds the seven stars in his right hand,

who walks in the midst of the seven golden lamp stands. Okay,

the golden lamp stands, and the seven stars represent what

the church. Okay, and he says here nu Verse two,

I know you're works. Everybody say I know, I know.

Don't Your neighbors say I know, I know what you

did last night. Some people say I know what you

did last summer. I had no idea why it's that

different generation, okay. Verse two. I know your works, your labor,

and your patient and that you cannot bear those who

are evil. And you have tested those who say there

are apostles and are not, and I found them liars.

And you have persevered and have patience and then labored

for my namesake and then not become wary. Some Jesus

starts off us with all the commendations and all the echolics.

You know, It's like it's like before, Jesus is your resume?

You know, you know your resume? And I was like, WHOA,

over the years, what have you done, what have you tested?

What have you overcome it? It's a resume, okay. But

in verse four Jesus says nevertheless, and it's a very

strong word. Okay. He didn't say like, oh, you are weak,

but it became personal. It's like, imagine if you go

for an interviewer and someone rich a RESUMEA and they

say and then instead of saying, hey, but what is this,

instead of saying that they look at you, I said,

I have this against you. It's personal. I mean, I'm

saying why I say no, Jesus uses a very strong

word and he says that I have this against you.

Miss what means Jesus has been holding this out for

a long time. You know what I'm saying now, holding

this for a very long time, he has irked him.

You know. It's like, yeah, I see you every day,

You're doing good stuff, but this thing is been nagging

at me and irritating me and so much. And I'm

holding this until the day I can meet you. I'm

going to tell you about it. Here's a very personal word, okay,

that you have left your first love Verse five Okay.

Then it goes on. So this is so the accolades.

Then the number four is the judgment. Number four five

is the call to repentance. From verse fight onwards. Remember

therefore from where you have fallen, okay, underlining that where

you have fallen. Then the next word is to repent

and do the first works. Wow, you always think that

you repent only when you lie, when you cheat, right,

I tell you you have to repent when you felt

off your first live. You know all the spouses agree, Okay,

say if Hobby, why you have not loved me? Repent?

No e skidding? Okay? But Jesus held holds this against

the church so much, okay, that he deems it evil,

ungodly and worthy of repentance. Make sense? No, worthy of repentance,

you know, needing to repent okay, because you have fell

from it and do the first works? If not, what

or else? I will come to you quickly and remove

your lamps and from its place. You know it sounds

very harsh, very strong words are okay, but this is

the word of the Bible. It is what it is. Okay,

then esus say, I will come quickly, okay, and remove

you from your lampstem and its placed unless you repent.

But these you have that you hate, the deeds of

the Nickeltns, which I also hate. He who has an ear,

let him hear what the spirit says to the churches,

to him who overcomes, I will give to it from

the tree of life, which is in the midst of

the paradise of God. Oh, there's a lot of things,

but I won't cover a lot of things. Okay, there's

a tree of life. What's a tree of life? What

there's a tree of life compared to the tree of

the knowledge of going either or do we eat fruits

every day non forever after that when we go up

to heaven. You know. So there's many but I'm not

going to cover all. Okay, but but many things. But

if you are curious about the niccolcens, I think that

it's worthy to pursue. Don't understand a bit. I'm checking

my time, Okay, the Nicolatans. Basically, if you want to know, basically,

there are a group from the church. They started from

the Church. Actually, their name nicol Latins means the ones

their lord over people, the ones with very strong influence

over the people, nico Lathans. Okay. You know, I'm not

a great expert, Okay, but that's what it is, Okay,

a group we have a lot of influence on gro people.

So why what was their influence? What? What? Really? What

was the problem with their influence, their teaching, or their

belief system that it became so much that the Church

had to resist them, and Jesus even commanded them that

they actually resisted, resisted against the Niccolatans. Now, the Nicolatans, Okay,

I don't have my notes in and trying to remember

off my head. The Nicolathans, they basically what do you

call it? Try to include a lot of the world's

belief system. Now, this is a good time to bring

up about the background of Ephesus. How many of you

remember Ephesus? What is the pagan god of Ephesus? Right? No,

Athenia three? Diana, Yes, Diana. There's another name for a

Diana in the Roman Artemis. Almost there, almost, Okay. Athena

is hal for Athens Artemis okay, oh, is the goddess

of Diana, known for fertility, okay, prosperity and stuff like that.

And remember Ephesus, what do they have which is the

seven wonders of the world. Just talked about seven wonders

of the ancient world. The Temple of Artemis huge. You

know how big it is? No anybody want to guess

how big is a temple. It's bigger than a football field. Okay,

it's bigger, longer and wider than a football fielding people, huge, massive, Okay,

it's you know, it's everybody come and visit the place

where it's huge. And the temple also acted as not

just worship, it also acted as a banking sector. It

is where people put their money. Okay. People can borrow money,

loan money. So every all the commerce actually you know,

happened there. You borught and borrow money to buy a house,

to open a business. You go to the temple as well. Okay,

now I'm not gonna go too much. If you want

to the next time. There has a lot of practice

they have to do as well, and and ever, sirs.

It's a huge city, probably the second and third largest city. Uh.

They also have the Agora, the marketplace, huge marketplace. A

lot of people go there and trade. And one of

the biggest trade in Eversus was one. Remember Paul was

teaching there and then he made the you know, he

preached so long and so much until the people start

to burn their books and there all the all the scrolls.

You know why because they were practicing witchcraft. Okay, so

they were worshiping the goddess of Diana and then buying

all these small figurines, you know, and then all these

scrolls and books and they burn them. You know, I

think I remember how much was. I think was about

a few millions worth, five million, five five million years

that was worth of books. You know, they actually burned

on that single day. Okay. So the Agora was a marketplace,

but for Christians for you to enter. Before you enter

in good faith and in good terms into the temple,

you had there at the front there which I learned

is that there is an incense altar. The incense altar

is instituted by the Roman government. Okay, so the Roman

government are very proudly you know, the instituted. They are

coin as the official currency of the world that time.

You know what I'm saying. I understand what I'm saying.

There is why if you go to your at that

time in Jerusalem, there are money changes, Okay. The people,

the common people will use the Roman coin to trade.

But if you want to give an offering in the temple,

you have to swamp that out to a temple coin. Ah,

because the Roman coin have the face of the emperor.

But if you use the temple coin, you cannot have

the face Emperor. They'll put it like a stone, like

a weed or something like that as well. Okay, Okay,

there's a lot of detail. Sorry, Okay. So they have

to take their incense at the front of the agora, okay,

to show their allegiance, to show they are in good

terms day. They are coming to Rome by faith. They

are not barbarians. They're not here to spy. They will

take a bit of the incense okay, and then take

it up and then spread here like salt. Be kidding, hey,

And then they put it so that and then people

soldiers will they will observe you doing that, and then

they say that okay, you acknowledge that Caesar is Lord. Okay,

Caesar is Lord. Caesar. You can go in. You can

do whatever you want. So the Christians have a problem

with that as well. Not only that, not the cultures

in Ephesus. They also have a lot of different festivities.

This month is the festivity of what monkey festival? Okay,

in Ephesus they have many festivities. Imagine you worship the

goddess of Diana, the goddess of fertility, of abundance. What

kind of festivities do they have. I can tell you

it's definitely not moon cakes. Okay, they definitely don't have

moon cakes. Okay. They have other things in plant, and

they have a lot of sexual practices. They just keep

it away. Okay. It's just they're almost a whole entire city,

you know practices. You know, if you want to get

into good graces with them, all of them do that

as well. And there are many other ten twenty other

gods that they're actually you know, different gods. They actually

do some of them, you know, self flagellation and whip themselves,

self legilation. They mutilate themselves as an offering for the gods.

It's very, very, very barbaring. So why am I saying here.

I'm saying here is that there is a lot of

practices that is happening around Ephesus, and the church is

right in the center of it. Okay, right in the

center of it. So many influences, okay. And there were

also philosophers thinking Greek thinking, Roman thinking that pervaded the

whole entire city and trying to press inside the church.

So the nicol Latn's okay, they believe in this concept

called gnosticism. You don't have a heard before cognostic g

N or S T I C I S CSM okay, gnostic, okay, gnostic?

What does gnostic mean? Okay, I have to explain a bit, Okay,

I apologize. Gnostic means that our body and this world

is inferior. Okay. You look at this world. You know,

this body, this world is corrupt. Humans are evil, this

world is evil. What matters is the soul. Okay, you know,

so whatever you do in this world, okay, has no consequence.

What matters is your heart and your soul. Now there

is a problem with that teaching, and you know what

it is. That problem because they start to believe that, hey,

this world has no consequence. What do they do? They

start to indulge in everything in the physical and say

that there is no consequence, and then they merge it

with the gospel saying that God has set you free,

and you are free in this God has given you grace,

and God's grace can save you completely and utterly. So

go and do all the nonsense you have in the

Temple of Dayanama it all that you want to do,

whatever do you want, this world will have no consequences

on your soul. You know what I'm saying. You know,

you see how a teaching can actually really go that far.

So instead of focusing like you have been saved, my

life is transformed, not just my soul, my whole entire

body is redeemed, Okay, and one day God is gone

to give me a new body and completely renew and

transform and start. I want to start right now. But

instead these people have been this thought said, Oh I

know that Jesus is coming, but now let me live

the life I want, Let me indulge, let me sing

however I want. And you know, do all these promiscuities

all that I want because there is no consequence. Man.

And so because of that, you think the church become

a witness that people want to reach out to to

connect to. Do you think that if the church practices

like that, that, oh may know you see, look how

you make such a difference in it. So God is

so particular here. Then he says that I know your works.

He says he knows, he knows, he examines, and he

understands all the works of the church, So personally he

knows what does He says he knows, and that he

knows their works, their labor, their patience, and that they

cannot bear those who are evil. So far the church

is done very well. They do not tolerate. And he

says that they have tested those who said their apostles

are not not easier to go and test apostles. You

know how many if you like to test apostles? You know,

someone come and preacher, and I say, I don't think

you're preaching the right thing. You know how many you

how many have you dared to go and do a

standown there? Huh ah? You're scared in it. You're fearful.

He's like, I don't want to go out and get

struck by lightning. But there is a greater fear, isn't it.

There's a greater fear of God and more in that.

You must understand that, like I said, they don't have

the Bible at that time. They have called. There are

some letters, but they don't have the internet. They don't

have communication or can you verify an audiit? Right now?

No such things, you know. So the leaders up to

their rose very seriously. She's saying that what they devoted

themselves to prayer, to knowing God and to save guarding

the church and the message that the apostles had given them.

And so when someone comes and speak, their eyes are

like a hawk. You know what I mean? Right? Really?

You know what are you doing? What are you teaching? Okay?

All right? So then he says, here, nevertheless, I have

this against you that you have left your first love.

Now I'm gonna spend a bit more time on the

first I saw the thing. I think We've got a

bit more time. Okay. So, of all the things that

they did, Jesus held it personally against them that they

left their first love. Now, as I go through some

of these patterns and science, right, I'm going to draw

a lot pattern from marriage. Okay. Is it possible to

have all the accolades and yet your marriage is failing.

Is it possible that you look like a great husband,

great father, You go on trips, you come to church, okay,

you do your quiet time with your wife or so

or maybe your kids. Your Instagram photo looks perfect, clean, spotless, pristine,

you know, or it's like the envy. You know. People

even want to put you up as a role model

as well, but yet eventually you are at the risk

of divorce as well. Is it possible? Is it possible

for a Christian to be so called a leader or

even a pastor or an elder for the say, doing

all the writing, having all the right accurdues, and yet

risk falling away? Okay, now, what are some of these

science I'm gonna have a slight here. Let's do it

one by one. Okay, what are some of the science

that you are in danger already are in the danger

of losing your first stuff. So number one, okay, not

one by one. Ok I put animation readly in as

kiding hones. Sorry, it's okay, I had to do it.

So the first one your diminished passion for God's presence. Okay, Okay,

off it right now. Don't let them let don't let

them intro it. Okay, first one, your diminished passion for

God's presence. What does that mean? When you're worship you

don't connect. When people, when the world is preached, everybody

is like, but you don't connect. You're look warm, you

are indifferent. Go to homes okay, I'm not. I'm using

extra because we are in your extras okay. Or you

go to any place, you watch, you hear a song,

You're indifferent. It's just music. It's just words to you.

It's like a lecture. It's just this guy. Okay. There

is diminished passion lest and le's more and more missing.

It doesn't make a difference to you. Okay, doesn't make

a difference to you. Second decrease desire to serve God?

Why surf I go? I got better, I got more

important things that generate better ROI you know, we had

two hours I called republic, could have met for clients.

I got to play golf. I know a lot of

people play golf. A lot of people play golf during

my time when I work. Sundays are the best time

to play golf, and they wake up earlier to play golf,

then they wake up for church. They wake up so

early they will drive to Joe Ha. I know because

I used to work for different golf courses. Not at work,

but you know we have projects for golf courses different places.

I know this is what people will do. People from

Singapore will wake up and for something to go to

JB to play golf on Sunday morning. They will break

the traffic. Would you break the Singapore traffic to go

to church the border? What? But people will do that

any gold first. Yeah, Okay, don't need to raise your HANDSLF. Okay,

I'm not. I'm not. I'm not upset about golf. Okay,

but you can see where people's priorities are. You cat,

I'm saying how I'm saying, you know, really? You know,

so they say I have better hour, Hey, I've got

players do these things though I got my health check.

You know I'm doing. I'm taking care of God's temple.

You know, Ah, sorces of justification come out, you know. Okay,

decrease decided to serve God. I served before I did?

Why I serve again? Let other people serve la A

lot of times It's an excuse, isn't it. Hey think

about it for a while. If you're a parent, you

say that to your grandchildren, and your grandchildren hungrier or

let your father do with that. I tell you most

of the grandchildren, most of the grandfathers are more than

happy to serve the grandchildren once in it because he

reminds them who they were before. Isn't it true or not?

You go to your grandfather's place out there God and

I see there. I don't care that most of the time,

I mean, God, lah, But I can tell you that's

a very dull and boring situation, isn't it. Most of

the time the grandparentsh you eat it readio, you eat Readia,

I feed you more? True or not? There more I

scid to feed you on. Oh I feel I know,

I know I done my parent duty twenty years ago,

forty years No, it's not my time. Your eternality, you

know what I mean? Right, it's really not the heart

of a healthy I understand what you're saying, but it's

really not healthy. You know, you serve before you continue serving.

You repent it before you continue repenting. You have faith

before you continue having their faith. You step up before

you continue stepping out. Never change one and know people,

you know you say what I'm saying now. You see,

the old peoples in our lives are all people that

old people I don't offend. You are the people that

the oldest city people we love to hang out are

the ones they are youthful, true or not, then we

love to hang around with them. One, this auntie, this

uncle are sixty seventy year Oh, are still going out,

still meeting people. I tell you, you know I met

you know this be you. There are few couples they

are oh every time I talk to them, but they

are so lively. One. I love talking to them. You know,

it's like hanging out with them alive. They never stopped

doing what they've they've been doing. Give me right. They're

still hanging out with church members to talk. Hey, I

want to do visitation. Hey you know, hey girl, hey friend,

let's go and do it. Not meeting outside there. You

know they are so exciting, they know that all past

ready and because of their energy, people flock to them,

continue to follow them as well. I hope we have

the same people. Okay, Oh the scene and people raise

your hands, God bless you. Oh okay, thank you for

your energy. Okay, we want more of that. Okay. We

need to lead our young people as well. Okay, so

it's true. Okay. Number three growing tolerance for sin, growing

tolerance for sin? How can that be? How can that be?

It's a Christian that you have growing tolerance for sin.

You see it when you sin and you start to write, Hey,

keep doing it, keep doing it, keep doing it, keep

doing it. You start all right, Ah, God doesn't like me.

God hates me, and God's disappointed in me, and you

start the narrative sometime to change that. I don't think

God will punish me. God loves me too much now,

I don't think I will punish me that because I've

served so much. God must look at my past bad,

then that's bad. Bible says, yes, I do look at

your passwords. But you left your first life. Yeah, me right.

It's not why you start, you know, it's how you're continuing.

You know how you're starting continuing on. Hey, people, when

you get married, are you're married for the past? Is it? Huh?

How many of you get married for the past. I'm

still staying marriage because of the past. No, you want

to get in because you want the future. Actually, before

you get married, the reason you commit that is not

because of the past. You commit to that person, to

your life, to that person because you see a future

with you throw not. I said, I see a future.

I'm marrying you for the future. I see a future

between us, children have everything in life, growing, oh to death.

The worst part isn't that not about the past, isn't it?

So you have started to have a growing tolerance for sin.

You start to bargain, You're starting to negotiate. Nah, not

so wrong. I really like this girl, I really like

this guy. Yeah, it's okay, know God, I know there

are some qualities that you you know, but it's okay,

It's okay. The person is pure, the person is kind.

One day that person will come to know you. Are

you again? Before that, you will never even think about that.

It's not because you are a nicer person or worse person.

It's not about that person. It's all because you just believe.

I say no because I believe God, not because I'm

more righteous or anything. Because I say no because I

believe God. God, whether you bring that person into my

life or another person, you are in control. But for

my role, I will say no for now. You get

what I mean. It's simple as step. Okay, you have okay,

growing tolerants for sink. You start to blame others and

the church or everyone your parents, your care, your dogs,

and everyone else around you for your spiritual condition. I'm

not just talking about this, you know, just talking about

anyone you met in your life. People who have a

set back. Maybe they have felt business, maybe they have

felt relationship and they haven't recovered for years. Have you

noticed that they when they stay there and is the

one pattern that they always exhibit blaming and victimizing? True? Not?

I'm like, this is not because of because when I

was young my dad never loved me, beat me, or

because I did because someone hurt me. You blame me

and blame and then people around you as well, you

blame as well. People don't love you enough, people are

not kind enough to you, people don't care about you,

people don't pray for you. Huh. This leaders everything becomes

the worst enemy of it. You see the worst in people, really,

you know, you really see the worst in people. And

the more you do that, it becomes a part of you,

becomes your only lens that everyone you go to every job,

even if the job is there, you haven't had a

job for three, four or five years ready and the

job comes into you, you only see the words about

that boss. Can you see how I'm saying, yeah, And

if someone comes into your life a godly person, when

you will only see the person, you're gonna betray me

Like that person, you're just a religious fanatic. All thats

you gotta ask you where did that come from? Was

it by coincidence? Okay? Number five? Increase focus on self

and personal comfort? True or not? You blame O others? Ready,

but yeah, you see a pattern in your life? What

are you watching most of the time on YouTube? Or

your comfort? What can you buy more? My new cars,

my things? Why it's not just momentarizing your comfort? Your comfort?

Yo yo yo yo yo. Then you want space, more space,

more time, time to do one nothing? Why you need

time to do nothing? Because when I have nothing, I

feel free, I feel powerful. I feel I'm not beholding

to anyone. When I'm busy, I feel like I have

no control of my life. That's why I want space.

So when someone asked me if I'm available for anything,

I just said I'm very busy. But when you look

into that nothing, it's all about you. That's a problem. Okay, everybody, Okay,

I race sombird. I know there's my message. Okay, but

it's true. Isn't it. It's a pattern, isn't it. You

blame others. But then if you look at like you

focus on so much of yourself, on yourself, your retirement plan,

whatever you want, you have less joy and fellowship. Oh

I'll go for a luncher. You shiver, and oh my gosh,

I'm going to be there for one hour. I'm going

to be sitting in one corner and I don't know

what to say because you're like, you know, you're so detached,

you're so disconnected and you've never really put on a

hard and very really ready to reach out to people.

You talk to people. That's why you shrink. It is

not a coincidence where you are not Oh you just said,

I'm just a natural introvert. I'm an introvert or sorry okay,

he said, oh you bet. I'm sure. Then you go

online and you find all the videos that you know

justify that who you are, where you are, and why

you behave such a way. That's why you read that's

why you shrink away from public. Got such a thing.

But it's but it's but it is real, isn't it.

It is not a coincidence. Okay, my time, Okay, decline

in gratitude and thankfulness. When was the last time you

were really thankful. Some things don't go in your life.

I know, yes, and many things are go into all

my life as well. This week was not easy. I

just discovered I got to slip this. But when my

wife told me, well, why this is happening, then after

a while, we're setting We're sitting at the traffic light

there now looking my wife. The only thing is to

be grateful. This is the only thing. Really, this is

the only thing. And I choose to be grateful. God,

thank you for letting me know that I have to

sip this so they can do something about it. Right now.

You got me right. I choose to see the best.

I don't. I choose not to see that it's a

burden I have to carry. I choose to see that

at least I know right now, at least I know

I need to change my lifestyle. At least I know

I need to do something about it. Thank you. Okay,

it's a burden I'm willing to carry, and I'm thankful

that I have to do something about it. Things in life, Oh,

you feel you didn't get a business, you didn't do this,

and I, Oh, God, why do I pray it? I

do all these things and stuff like that. But God,

I'm thankful. I'm thankful because that you still remind me.

I'm thankful that you're still with me. Next one, last,

last one, and now I'll just go through the last part. Okay.

Loss of spiritual discernment. What does this mean? There are

many things that come into your life for you to discern.

You know it can do this, can do that. You

start to lose the ability to really divide truth and evil,

truth from falsehood, good from evil. You know what I'm saying.

It's no longer very clear. Yes, it's no longer very clear. No,

for you to start to see different. Ah, maybe it's okay, Yeah,

I mean have you seen people like that grow along

the life? They're like that. It's okay when I was Yeah,

I used to be like that. But no, I'm not

softer now. No. No, you think you are better, You

think you're more compromising, You think that you are more tolerant,

but you're not. You're just confused. You lack spiritual discernment,

you lack the strength to decide, and that happens to

countries before you know. You know that happens to leaders,

you know when they come out Electional oh, this is wrong,

this is right. No, you let me just after going

into first term, second term and third term. Yes, but

for me then after entering now, yeah, but you know,

there's a lot of things we need to consider. They

always say that there's a lot of things we need

to concedeer, and they will take the white to wash

the black, and the black to wash the white as well.

And I said, no, so scary. So I'm saying a

lot of things are Let me slowly close to prayer,

and let me close soon. Okay, Well, the causes, this

is very important. I had to take a bit of time.

Just give me five minutes, o heay. Causes what makes

makes us left? Our first love, the first one, the

most important one I feel personally is your unforgiveness and disappointment.

That is why if you read the Bible here, if

you read the verses, especially in verse five Revelations two five,

he says, here, remember therefore from where you have fallen.

So the remedy and the call of God for us

to respond is to remember where you have fallen. So

it is not like the natural thing, and not everybody,

no it is somewhere you definitely stumbled and you fail

in your spiritual war. There is a specific point and

a lot of times you think that you think you're

examine everything, really, but I can tell you in my

life also, I realized that a lot of my patterns

and behaviors in my life. So there are memories in

your life that you have forgotten. It's like when you

eat something in your life, when you eat something, maybe

you eat a very nice steak or dark or whatever,

it's a and you for that first night you were

trying to dig that out. Ah, so irritating, it's so nasty,

but you weren't successful and you slept. Then the next

morning you forgot about it, you know, but that thing

is still stuck in your teeth, you know, and after

a while, a few days, a few weeks, and you're

like wondering why your mouth stinks because there's something rotten there,

you know, and you never dealt with you know, there

are things in our lives spiritual life. There are things

like that, disappointments. You think you dealt with it. You

think that, oh God, is this moment that person that

offended me? You know, stuff like that you think you've

dealt with it, but you're not you. I wish I

could tell you that it would be a lot of

times in our life it would be just at one

point of breakthroday, you get over there, you do don't

have to revisit again. But unfortunately it's not like that.

I wish it was like that, so clear cut, you overcome,

you don't have no Unfortunately, no, Unfortunately, it's the time

that you overcome. The next day it comes back by

thing you twice as hot, and you have to overcome

again again daily, daily, daily, daily, crucifying yourself daily, forgiving, daily,

enduring that pain and still overcoming. And one point of

your life you gave up overcoming, You gave up forgiving,

you gave up dealing with that hurt. And you think

you're perfect, and you're right right there. You become self righteous.

I'm telling you that some of you you need to

go back and take the truth part and stop brushing

your teeth. Some not just brushing it. Someone you need

to go and see a dentists. You know, if you

know what I'm saying here, you know what I'm saying.

The thing that's stuck in your life, that means there

for so long. Okay, unforgiveness and disappointment, and that's just now.

If people are with God, really with God, maybe you've

been serving as a whole. Yeah, some people, eight out

of ten people are nice to you. Maybe one person

are cruel to you and yourself. For so long, nobody

notices you, and yet God maybe didn't bless you the

way you think. You didn't get a partner, Maybe you

didn't get a financial blessing, you didn't get a house.

Why everybody else like that? And what happens? Then there's

disappointment in you. We've got that's truth. You are disappointed

with God, and you got to deal with that. You

have to deal with that second one, having your heart stolen.

Sometimes the problem with your heart stolen is that you

don't realize you're stolen. Now, you know the story of

the rich and ruler. He didn't realize his heart was stolen.

You know that, he said, the teacher, a good teacher,

what must I do to inherit eternal life? Man? He

thought he had everything. He thought whatever goal deposit he

has in his life was still in his safe You know,

then you says, sell everything you have and give to

the poor and follow me. Then when Jesus asked that,

he's like, oh, let me go back to the safe

and open that door. No more goal, it's disappeared. It's

been stolen, stolen by one, stolen by riches. You think

you love God until sometimes God requires something from you.

And when you go back to your safe or you

go to your bank account, you check your safety stolen. Readly,

he's stolen. Until God requires something from you, then you

can go while you gave you such a demanding request. No,

let's say sometimes you're thankful because you realize you've been robbed.

You're saying what I'm saying. You know you don't realize

it last time when you have nothing you didn't bother.

I have all I have is here, I have know

some secret stash. I follow you completely. Oh Lord, I

dropped my net and I my fishing bottle. I follow you.

Holy you come saying no. That is why being a

rich person is hard. You know why because you rob easily?

Sound simple thing. It's hard because you get robbed easily.

Not by the world, not by the roberts are but

by riches. You know, the richest are the things that

rob you. Becoming self righteous? Oh you start to realize

that it's about earning. It's about you know, marriage is

about hey, you know, like give me your my wife?

There my wife said, hey, do you love me? What

do you mean if I love you? I fetch you

every day, I give you money, I give you this,

and there I serve the kids. What do you mean

I don't love you? What do you mean if you

ask me I love you or not? Haven't I done enough?

You know what I mean? Right? And we think by

our duty that we have a strong marriage, by our duty,

by virtue of that means that I love my wife.

Yes and no, you know what I'm saying or not.

I can tell you I can do all this. When

I'm fifty or sixty, I'll be divorced. I'm not saying

I am. But there's a chance, very high chance. Many couples,

if you see around your family, how like that, because

you assume you have a strong marriage just like that,

and between you and your wife, you had built this

this relationship of earning, earning, earning, and someone who doesn't

do that to you, you're like, you look at a person,

why and because of that? What? What? What? What? What

happens to the next thing? Is that you start to neglect.

You neglect, you start spending time with your wife because

you feel like you have not earned my love. I

have earned everything. You have not earned it. Why should

I spend my time with you? You neglect? You got

to go. It'say, God, I've done all this, I earn.

I'm like a math. I earn. I earned, I had done.

I paid my duals ten years, twenty years, thirty years,

I've done before. Why and because of that? You stay

because you think you've done, you've earned. Now you stop

doing your quiet time because you think you know everything

true or not. You think you know it all. I

go someday en nough my quiet time ready. I can

tell you it's really not there one. It's evil. It's

really really evil. I can tell you it's evil because

it doesn't work for a marriage. It really breaks the

family and one and all. That's why God all this

against the church. And lastly, business and commitment. Be careful

of the jobs you take. Be careful of the hobbies

you take. Be careful of the new car, new house,

new things you buy, new responsibilities you want to take

up a new pet. Also, I say tell you, I'm

not saying they are bad things. See, these are always

the good things that tip us over to make it ungodly?

Do you got I mean right things, the good that's

steal from us. Those are the dangerous ones. And that's

what I'm saying. You know, business, oh job, but pay better.

Some people will say that I'm uncompromising. When I was younger,

I got recruited by what they call it tobacco company

as well. At the time when I was I didn't

know better that I said. I asked my pastor younger

past I can work there, pay quite well, you know,

pay double my salary. You know, hey, by copro finance,

I'm not making the tobacco okay, am I coprofinance more?

And if I end it, I can jump lick good

And are you year by? Don't rough my around about then? Okay?

Oh no, I was like, But then I sit back, thinker,

can I you know what is it about the old man?

Knowing I sell what I have? Now I bargain. We've

got a reason. Well, I purposely wound my conscience so

that I can do that. Is it really worth it

or is there a better way? I don't know, But

I trust God not everything that is presented before you

got put put it in front of me. God myself

answered my prayer. How lot of people say that, you know, oh,

there is an opportunity must be got answering my prayer.

Please please please correct that theology. Okay, please correct that theology.

Just because Eve walked there and then there is a

snake telling you to eat from the truth doesn't mean

that that God is God's will for you. You know

what I'm saying, You know makes clear or not, doesn't

mean that it's right. It's God's will. You have to

really pray and think about it. As I close here

and all my time is up, I have to leave

my solution, you know, and you talk about all this

right or when I was praying to God? What is

that one word? I don't want to give a lease.

Of course, I list out a lot of problems. I

don't want to give you a list of all the

things you should do as well. Just one thing, one thing,

one thing, one thing that God requires for us to

fall back in love with him again. One thing that

you can even apply to save your marriage. One thing,

one thing that you can do right now tomorrow morning.

What is that one thing? Listen? If you have a

marriage problem right now, maybe for once you spend a

good time just listen, really listen, and suspend all your thing,

your problem, your upsetness with your spouse, and you truly listen.

It's not about you doing anything. You being right raw

earn do you heard it before your thousand times? For

once in your life, can you listen? Ephesians, they have

a love of God because they listen to Paul preaching

from eleven to four. Member, I told you the hour

there's that people didn't want to do from eleven to four.

And because they listen for years, you know, and because

of the listening, their love exploded, you know. But when

they stopped listening it down. Listen for once, listen really,

I know, I don't have to spend too much with it.

You know what it takes to really listen and a

tomorrow morning tonight, move yourself away from the things, your

commitments and stuff. Put yourself in a place like Jesus

is going to a quiet place and begin to listen.

Stop talking, stop assuming, stop trying to earn and bargain

and negotiate, and begin to listen.

Amen, we hope you've been blessed by this message for

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I hit for you. God bless