Devotion | Pr Alvin Keng

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

will light up your day even as I'm laboring in prayer and also asking Lord,

Hey, Lord, what do you want us in the church in PJ

to know? Uh, you know, what do you want us to prepare?

A heart swat? And I think last week I had a privilege to

share the last uh, you know, at the last avice of the year,

you know, and we talked a little bit about what are the things

we need to stay the court. You'll remember that the five things we need

to stay the cost. And it was very interesting because after that I realized

the only thing people remember was tahana. But that's good enough. There's good

enough. That's the one word that we need to remember. But I hope

you remember the rest. And I'm on these mode right now, you know,

as I have the privilege and the honor of leading this church, I

think in the recent years, I've taken a little bit more confidence in my

position, you know, because I believe that this is something that is not

man made or man gave by something that God has given me. And I

want to be a good steward to all of you, you know, Please

don't test leadings to your ear about when you cut my my my end blood

come out your name. Please don't test that because if you don't see it

and you get set and I start bleeding, it's not gonna be pretty.

Okay. Yeah, Ith gets you. You're doing different things now, So

as I'm praying and asking God, God, what is it we need?

You know? Because I don't know really remember the last week I share with

you about how you know when we go through something new, or we start

a new project, or we do something. You know, the older you

get, the more you realize you need to prepare correct. You don't say,

hey, you know, I want to go for a three day tonight

camera and then there's no preparation and then you just like, heck it,

okay. Some of us are like that. Us me, I'm like that.

I'm the type that will just do whatever and then figure it out along

the way. But it's not so good also sometimes you know, and then

when you face trouble you get upset disappointed, But you know, if you

prepair enough again, you won't be able to prepare for everything. But if

we're prepared enough, you know that it won't be as bad. As you

think it would go. Correct. So as we move into twenty twenty four,

whatever I declared just now, I really believe that it's going to be

a good year for each and every one of you, and I want to

encourage you. Even as I am praying, I really sense God dropped this

from my heart, even for myself, even for my own life. Right

that. You know, sometimes we live life and we accept situations and circumstances

and we say, oh, that says the Lord, Therefore it's going to

be like that. I'm going to suffer forever. Do you know that you

don't have to accept it? Do you know that some things in our lives

and I'm not going to point figures here because i will be pointing for more

fingers better me, some things in our lives, which I realize myself is

self inflicted. One right we gotta be, you know, I just want

to challenge his top process. We say that God is all control, God

has all control over everything. But do you realize that God gave you choice

and you can decide. You can decide what you want to do, you

can decide how you want to act, you can decide. You can't come

to someone and say I cannot decide. Maybe if you're under eighteen, ye

be no choice because you're with your parents. So then that's your responsibility,

not yours. Right, So parents, you hold double standard, not double

standard, but you hold two standard of responsibilities, you know, So you

can't blame the church if we don't do enough projects to entice your kids to

come. Sorry. Yeah, I'm going to be very direct. I hope

you guys are okay with that, right, So I want to be real

with you because because I feel like, you know, we need to be

real. You know. Let let's let's take greate the fluff, right,

Let's take away the fluff, because fluff doesn't help us one. You'll catch

that. It's only the real stuff that helps us move forward, you know.

So one of the things that I feel we need to do as a

church, you know, if you're with me, is prepare ourselves. Prepare

ourselves. So I just want you to expect it all the way until as

much as I'm given an opportunity to share here all the way until February,

we will declare our team for the year. I'm gonna prepare us, are

you guys? Okay, I'm gonna prepare us as a church. And when

I say that, I'm not just talking about Okay, let's do more program.

No, I'm preparing in terms of, like, Lord, what do

we need? What do we need as Christians? Because guys, can I

be honest, I'm not gonna be there with you when you are when your

boss is shouting, you're on a Tuesday, you know, sending pasta Elwen's

face there, or there's a video saying it's okay, brother forgive. I'm

not gonna be there if you do, you know that you'd be quite freaky,

like if you actually have that, Please don't do that. Okay,

I'm not gonna be there, but who's gonna be the Holy Spirit? It's

gonna be there. Who's gonna be that? You're gonna be there, and

you will have to decide how you want to respond. You will have to

decide whether or not you want to get angry back at your boss or forgive.

You have to decide whether you want to quit your job or continue,

you know, and how do you decide? Ask the Lord in cliche la,

Yeah, ask the lot? La? What does the Lord say?

That's the question we always ask. And are you sure it's the lot?

Because I also nowadays realize a lot of people you know, Sorry, I

use God's name in vain, you know. Uh, you know, first

day of the year, one January twenty four can I sheare I haven't gone

to my message? Okay, let's just allow me to do this. I'll

try to go to it. I want to let you know they only do

this here. I don't do it at a church plant because you guys are

close to me. Right, this is where I would there say my baby,

Lah. I know it's God's baby, but it's my I don't know.

Eleven years of my life poured into this, you know, because God

asked me to, not because anyone asked me to. God asked do better,

dola. Right, So, so I hope that you will forgive me

if I'm a little bit more casual with your a bit more blunt, or

be more honest with you. I hope you guys are okay. At a

chich fran, I'm a bit more careful. Okay, God, you don't

know me, don't see me. So what is the role of a church?

Have ever thought about it before? I know all of you have different

definitions and the role of the church at the end of the day is whatever

got in tendela? Okay, the short form. But what is the role

of a church in your life? Right? I don't know that you've thought

about that before. Right. The role of a church in our lives is

to encourage. Use the word encourage, so we all don't like that word

encourage means false, right, Encourage us to follow Jesus more and more,

Encourage us to be closer to God more and more. Why do we do

this every week? Why so that we can learn the word together, so

that we encourage one and akay share, so that we all can go one

more step closer to Christ. We all can go one more step closer to

God. And we are also here to reach out to other people who don't

know Christ yet so that we can. But is it perfect? No?

Is it not perfect? Is it? He's so messy? Church is so

messy? Right? Church is so messy? Right, But the role of

church doesn't change. No, just because it's messy. Do you know that

the role of church doesn't change? So in the first off January, the

leadership, I hope you guys don't know leadership. So now, now,

leadership is a bad word for some our's day because the leaders challenge so much

right that we cannot take it. Guys, there's the reason why God plays

certain things in order. I'm not gonna go too deep into it. If

you've been hurt, I apologize. If you have been discouraged, I apologize.

I honestly apologize. Let's start there. You're fresh. Please forgive me,

Please forgive us, Please forgive the leadership. If you are hurt,

I ask for forgiveness. Okay, let's move on. Don't need to reform.

It's gonna be a great year, you know, because God intended.

Not because I'm perfect. I'm not gonna be a perfect I'm gonna say the

wrong things on stage. You guys are gonna be offended. Right, But

because Jesus is here, we can forgive. Right. Because Jesus is here

and Jesus the King, we can we can, we can count out to

him. That's the goal of it. So a church is here to encourage

us to get deeper in God and our church. We decided, hey,

you know what, we're going to type tithe tithings were important? Tithe right.

Ten percent of twenty four our don't even the whole year, you know,

ten percent twenty four hours of the first day of the year to prayer.

And if you were there, guys, which I know a lot of

you were, And I was very surprised because we didn't really push. We

wanted to do a promo tadjaddi, you know. But we're all there because

we want to seek the Lord, not sick men, not seek a brand,

not because our leaders told us. No, we want to seek the

Lord, and the Lord move right. And we tithe, we type,

We say, hey, ten percent, ten percent, we type to you,

and somehow the ten percent went to three hours. And you want to

know the thing that I knew was powerful because the hearts of the people.

Although he went to three hours, a lot of people still stay. Of

course some had to leave because they already had prior engagement. But at least

ninety percent of people were still there. And we were not rushing. We're

not upset, we're not shifting. We saw God move. So what is

the church role to encourage all of us here to be better believers, to

be better followus of Christ, to be resilient, Not oh, I offended

by leader, I want to leave church. No, to be resilient offender

by leader, going approtirely say hey, your offended me. I'm sure the

leaders say, I'm so sorry. Can you please give me patch it up?

Right? Right? Patch it up? You know? And and then

we move on. Why because we need to work together. We need to

work together as the people of God to reach out to our friends out there

who are who are dying with a christless eternity. My heart goes out for

them. That is what we are called to do, friends, and that

is what we should focus on. Don't focus on other things. Don't focus

on the fluff, don't focus on you know. I thank God that we

have a full band today. But Extreme knows that if we only have one

get Theist and the first Sunday of the year, we will do it.

We want Getitariest they know if they're if suddenly are out of the blow.

Not to say they don't want to surf. I know Extreme thing is awesome.

Suddenly none of them are around. Now you know what's gonna happen.

But helping be here playing guitar. Please don't test me here because at the

end of the day, it's not about the fluff it is. I'm not

saying it's flap flies. Unto the Lord, we're giving our best. Yes,

but you get one, you know my heart or not. I got

a sticker. I know I got a sickert right. It is not about

that. It is about our commitment to the Lord. It's our devotion to

him. And yes, all of us are different. We have different styles,

we do different things different ways. Sometimes my style don't feel your styles.

Okay, l let's talk and work it out and be united. Let's

not divide the church. Your catch that? Your catch that? Right now?

I go to my message. Oh yeah, I'm losing my voice.

I hope you will be okay, Okay, So what do we need?

I wrote here healthy habits that would determine the rest of our year. Your

catch that? Healthy habits that will determine the rest of the year. I

need to ask for I not apologize. I need to tell the Christians that

are very senior here in seniority are huh? Is it gonna be the basic?

Yes, you're gonna hear it again and again. The message is not

gonna change the message of Jesus Lord. It's not gonna change the message that

Jesus King is not gonna change. Oh, let me give you another point.

What will make X PJ And extra special. Have you thought about that

before? I know that sometimes you know, when you talk about the church,

that could be a lot of talk about like, oh no, this

just got this. Do you know what will make us special? Jesus just

that, nothing else. That is my firm foundation and conviction. There's nothing

else that we can do to add to Christ. So the only thing we

need to declare is Christ and be readier this year. That's the only thing

we're gonna declare here. I'm not gonna declare anything else. I'm not gonna

declare all guys. You know it's gonna be exciting. We're gonna have a

No, We're gonna just declare Christ. Everything we do is we're just going

to declare Christ extreme. I need your help. Everything we do. We

got to declare that Christ is King, and because he is King and He's

the answer, we will be safe. That is what we want to declare

from the church, because that's what the church is class nothing else. If

you want to declare positivity, you want to declare feel good outside that a

lot of people declaring that. We will declared Jesus, will declare his power,

will declare his healing power. That's what we will declared. Nothing else

will declare that. Amen. Okay, So healthy habits that will determine the

rest of the year. So what's the first healthy habit? Devotion to the

Lord? Can I ask you a personal question? How is your quiet time

today? Think about yourself. I'm not here to judge anyone, because I

would tell you honestly, I don't have the best quiet time. Okay,

honest again, talk with my wife. You want to verify that I don't

have the best, But I try. And one of the convictions I have

this year that the law has given me is that if my quiet time is

not good, I think, hear me. If passa Elvin's quiet time,

it's not good. If passe Elvin doesn't have a consistent quiet time, you

know what's gonna happen to this church? No wonder la but your problem.

So I have to discipline myself to say, God, I need to seek

you first, because you placed me here, right, I am still a

man under submissioner. Guys, you placed me here, So I need to

make sure I am aligned to you first. I have to be aligned before

I expect that for anyone, before I encourage anyone. No, I have

to be aligned but let's ask an honest question. How is our quiet time?

How is our devotional with God? How is our daily devotion? Right?

Do we even have one another deeper question with what or who are we

devoted to today? What or who are we devoted to today? I know

my son really likes this game called Pigment four on Nintendo Switch, So I

know he's devoted to what la you know, not so strongly? Okay,

he's here a young kid. You know he loves his parents. Yeah,

he's devoted to us as well, my prayer, he's deverted to the Lord,

you know, in due time when he understands it. But what we

devoted today, you know it is a progression. No, what we're devoted

to will determine what we spend our time, what we spend our time,

or determine how close we are with that thing? Right, And the encouragement

always is, how is your quiet time? Do you know that we can

mask it? We can hide it by serving? You know, just because

I'm here standing on stage preaching to you, are doesn't determine whether I got

a good quiet time? Now, can I be honest with you? I'd

be very very transparent you right now, right. It doesn't determine I can

give you a powerful sermon and testimonia that yo, But that doesn't mean that

I had a good quiet time last Yes, today it could be rightway busy

or so right. Okay, But can I also confess to you I really

pray it hard for today's message, you know. And one of the convictions

I have this year is that you know, I have the conviction to wake

up early. I just confess to some of my some of the young people

you know they're working away, and say, hey, guys, I'm gonna

wake up at five am every day, right, so that I can do

at least half an hour of prayer, half an hour of exercise, and

then I'll start getting things ready for the day because by it, I need

to leave the house and I need at least two hours to prepare. Can

I confess to you I managed to do it two times on me in the

last week, but I've not given up. I will continuously confess to you

so that you can keep me uncomfortable. But say, I mean house your

quiet time on this morning, that I'll be pressured and do it right,

Please ask me. Okay, don't be scared. I won't I won't fight

beat you, I said, Oh I didn't do it. I better do

it now? Please please do that. Okay, Well, keep each otheruncomfortable.

Right, Let's turn to Mark chapter one, verse thirty five to today

nine. What does he say here? Now? In the morning, having

risen a long while before daylight, he went out and departed to a solitary

place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him

search for him. When they found him, they say to him, everyone

is looking for you. But he said to them, let us go into

the next towns that I may preach there also because of for this purpose I've

come forth. And he was preaching in their synagogue, draw or galilee and

casting out demons. If you study Jesus, you will realize according to scripture,

if you study the scripture, you realize before any pivotal decision. Now,

Jesus did his quiet time before he did any ministry. He had his

devotion quite time. Sorry, guys, if you don't know what devotion or

quiet time is. Even new As a believer, we believe that we will

spend time with the Lord, praising him, worshiping, reading his word,

and praying. Okay, and listening and of course some journaling. See is

there a format? No format. Basically, the idea is just spending time

with God in prayer, you know, and in worship and in reading the

Word. That is quiet time. Okay, it's a whole package, right,

and it will take time, Okay, an investment, that is what

we mean by quiet time. Right. But if you study the Bible,

you will realize that, yes, every time Jesus had a pivotal decision or

he had to cast out demons, he will depart to a solitary place alone.

Of course it's not alone. The Holy sprays with him. God is

with him, and he prays and he connects, you know. And you

look at this scripture and you see the difference in focus. The disciples will

focus on ministry. Jesus, were you everybody looking for you? You're doing

so great things, everybody looking for you. And Jesus immediately when there say

guys, we've got to go next next town, he didn't even border.

No, he didn't even care know about like, oh you mean there are

tree more people? Sic. No, No, why Jesus had a purpose.

Why did he do? Quite time? He probably was praying, Lord,

do I still stay here or do move on? Where do I go?

And he received confirmation go, then he go up and then they'll just

follow out to them. They're probably like, huh, but Jesus did They

were with him was hey, but Jesus, we really promise that we're gonna

stay. Jesus just followed the Holy Spirit. He just went with what the

Lord spoke to him. His perspective and his sight was on other things.

It was not on the external. No, it was not what people will

say how people be offender. It's not on dead. It is what is

my job now? And he needed three years, not a lot of time.

I think if we have a short time in our life, we will

be a bit more careful with what we decide and how we talk and how

we I think we will be. You know, one of the things that

taught me last year having a near death. I literally had a near death

experience. I share you here before I had this experience I never had before.

He wasn't falling asleep. It was your entire strength leaving your body slowly.

So I understood, Lord, this is how you die. This is

how you die. Thank God, I didn't see any lightler. They always

say, if you see a lighter, go to the light. Right then,

God, I didn't say any light. If I weren't ready that I

will have a weres at wife. Right. I want to encourage all of

us here to start if you have not started, and maintain the hand,

maintain acquiet, a consistent quiet time early in the morning. Okay, is

it the gospel truth? Is it? No? No, no, guys,

don't get me wrong. But my encouragement is try early in the morning.

Try why just because Jesus did it, no other reason he did early.

We do it early so that we can set the year. I have

no other reason to prove to you that early morning is good. I don't

know some of us here, we're not money. Fine, okay, I'm

not here to argue with you, but I'm yes here. I encourage you

so it can start early because it will determine the rest of your day.

Right. So my encouragement is start and maintain a consistent quiet time early in

the morning unless you have another time better for you. If you know yourself

and it has to work on it cannot be oh early, money cannot there.

I go afternoon actually there and the work also, you know, I

you know what we deal with a lot of young people. I remember encouraging

them and say, you know it's okay because you're not money, but soon

have to do early morning. And then you say, oh, I do

it at night. But then I fall asleep, you know, in God's

presence after reading one one chapter of the Bible. You know, it's like

you know, you're talking with your your love phone on the phona and then

stunning, you'll fall asleep. But hello, hello, I haven't done yet.

No you fell asleep? Or mere how angry your love? Thank God,

God's not all like that. You won't get angry at you. But

that's my encouragement. Okay, so start and maintain a consume quite time.

Why it will determine the rest of your year. Whether or not you have

a good devotional will determine the rest of your year. Not because of the

people around you, not because of the math people of fanue, No,

none of that. Can I share you something personal. Yesterday my dad organized

this dinner. Okay, I won't go to much details. Staff it was

very stressful for me. My wife knew it was very stressful for me,

right because h and let's just say, and I have to pick up quite

a lot like okay and uh. And I was actually driving to the dinner

angry, very angry, and I'm like, cannot, I cannot be doing

this. Lord, you asked me to honor my father. I'm doing this

as honor to him, but I'm doing a lot of things I didn't ask

for. Cannot, cannot, cannot again, working style. Sorry, Yeah,

if you're from Klang, I apologize. Clang style are working. I

was very frustrated. I owned music. I prayed, I said, Lord,

help me, help me. By the time I reached there, and

I'm non worship music. Hey, i't wish music help me. By the

time you reached that, I was calm, outside peace, I could smile

at people. The anger was gone. Very simple testimony. Is it my

my first fault? Is it this person's person? No? Is no one's

fault. I forgive all that money. Thank you a lot for being with

me. We ran the dinner. It was fun, Some my homies were

there. I was smiling. Everybody had a good time. Can I fully

explain everything that you were experience having a good devotion? Now? No,

I can't, But I know it works. I have evidence in my life

that tells you it works. Decided to just do it. You'll work for

you. But if you don't do it and things happen, don't blame God.

Please please don't right because God will speak to you. Maybe there's something

that you need to learn or people don't like hear that me. Do you

know that I've learned a lot. I've learned so much. I've learned how

to handle people who are angry. I've learned how to, you know,

ask God to take my anger away. I've learned how to deal with my

anger because of my devotional with him. I didn't go to anyone else.

I didn't go to my wife and got my kids my wrien. Lord help

me. I feel like turning the car back and going ready help me,

Lord, And he did. God help me. Not the explanation. So

why is it so important for us to develop one as we live this life?

Why is it important? Well, I'll give us five reasons. I

don't have a lot of time, and I want to share a testimony.

Okay, I don't want to leave without sharing a testimony. You guys,

Okay, first reason, because we're followers of Christ, that's the first reason.

And our Savior had a consistent prayer life in devotion. His prayer life

in the way is so consistent. I give you a scripture. Okay,

right, mark one tree. Now in the morning, having raised a long

time before daylight, he went out and departed to a solitary place, and

that he prayed Luke five eighteen. So he himself often we drew into the

wilderness and prayed, not praying in corporate. Praying corporate is good. Praying

here is good. Praying in solitude because in solitude go speak to you,

not to say here cannot lane. But you guys get what I mean.

Lie right? Okay, metthew fourteen twenty three. Do you know that before

he worked on water, he did his quiet time. Everybody focused on the

walking water. We didn't focus on the preparation, right. And when he

had sent the multitude away, he went up to the mountain by himself to

pray. Now, when evening came, he was alone. He sent them

away, Okay, go away, go away. After he fed five ers

and two fish, he asked him go away. He told the disciples to

go take the boat to the other place. They didn't ask him, Jesus,

how about you? They didn't bother ask him, how about you?

Coll grip with it. He's alone there, you know, how how's he

gonna go over? Right? They didn't question him, They just load right,

and then he went to his devotion. Then after that he goes on

water. My goodness, this Jesus are Why did he send people away?

He knew what they wanted to do, but he had a plan. Therefore,

when just perceived that they were about to come and take him by foals

to make him king, he departed again to the mountains by himself alone.

He was not distracted by people. He was very focused on his father in

heaven. Are we distracted by people today? I remember as a story I've

read one on to the same story where someone came up to the pasta and

say, Pastor, I want to leave the church. Then the pass asked

why, say, well, this church got people gossiping, people talking about

the leaders doing this, people doing that. And then the passer said,

okay, before you did it leave the church, can you do one thing?

Can you take this cup of water and walk around the church three times?

And he did. He went once, This person went once, twice,

third time, and then came back to the word pasta, and he

didn't feel a drip and then he pass asked him again. He said,

so, brother, do you see the person be gossiping? No? Do

you see the people you know talking bad? You see the leaders doing this?

No? No, no, no? Oh no. Why you said,

well, if you're so focused on what you didn't see anything. I

guess if you're so focused on Jesus, you wouldn't be seeing all these things.

Oh ouch oh, I feel it for a person. I'm not knocking

any of you here, Please, guys, I'm just showing you a story

I read on the internet. So if you tarasa tarasah, okay, please

don't terrassa. Okay, you know I love you. Luke six cholp.

Sixteen Okay, I'm not gonna read it. Go back and read it.

He prayed before he chose his Chop disciples. Before he chose his Chop disciples,

he went and prayed. I think how we need to learn now before

we truly didn't go and pray. Can I tell you that I fall I'm

guilty of this that sometimes I see the faithfulness of the person and didn't pray

first. Nowadays, I think I better pray first because I don't know where

people are at. And then when people are at a certain place and then

you pick them because they're faithful, and thenuddenly all hell breaks loose and it

becomes messy. Who has to big up business? The leader? The other

leader has to pick up pieces. And then you're like, oh Lord,

why do you happen? Then you know something like God say, you ask

me? You know, you put this person as leader, then have to

deal with two problems. Deal with the leader problem and then do with the

people under the leader problem. That's not angry leadership because of this person or

tough man. You know, I think we need to pray more whatever reason.

I'm talking about church star, but putting in your own context, okay,

you know, putting your own context, okay, men. Twenty six

thirty six to forty six. Jesus even prayed before he had to face betrayal

and his crucifaion the Garden of Get semony. The Garden of Get semony.

He actually asked the disciples pray along with me, and you need to treat

pray along. And he was laboring prayer for an hour. How do you

know an hour? Because when he went out and see the disciples, you're

sleeping. And he went there and said guys, couldn't you even labor one

hour with me? Of course they probably don't know what's happen. But he's

like, hey, I'm gonna be betrayed. You know they're gonna crucify me.

You cannot even pray here. It's a kitler right painful. But he

prayed. And what was the prayer? Lord? This car take it away

from me. There was the prayer. No, that's a prayer. Lord,

I know I'm gonna suffer. I don't wanna suffer. That was Jesus

prayer. But he ended up with it. It is your will, It

is your will. He died on a cross word. Us, guys,

even though it's hot. This position is not easier. Pass Kenner's position is

not easy, but we're still faithful. We're still doing it. People who

are leading you, it's not easy. They're not just taking care of one,

they're taking of many. But they're still faithful. Please work with them,

don't work against them. Work with us. We're also in Christ because

Jesus did it. That's why we do it. Please examine your life.

I'm not here to judge anyone. I don't go around asking people house your

quiet time. Although maybe I should do it more now. I don't know,

you see, but please it is out of the necessity that we do

it, you know. And if you don't have slowly build one bill one,

you will find the benefit. It's not the easiest exercises, not easy.

I want to exercise more. Last week I went and did jim.

I wanted to do gym, you know, two times. I'm not seriously,

I was quite serious on it, so I was like, okay.

The first time I go offic third of third of January. I went to

the gym for one hour. Okay, as I was there. She know,

she didn't go to gym with me, but she was there because I

brought my stuff and I went and I suffered. I died. I still

feel in here. But I'm gonna gonna get it. I tell you,

I'm gonna go again tomorrow. I declared first again, so I accountable.

Ready, I have to come aga guys and there, No, I'm gonna

go again tomorrow. I'm gonna suffer again, but hey, I need to

exercise. Is it easy? No? But I have a goal. My

goal is every day. But now I can survive maybe once a week because

it's your hurts, right, And I got people supporting me. Edison.

You know one of my colleagues, he is gym, not man. Everyday

gym, Friday lunch gym. And he's like, pastor, don't worry,

I'll be there if you are like you remind me. But you know I

tell him because I know I need it, So I'm there. I'm there.

Second reason, because we would experience experience at spring that never runs.

Right. The story of the Samaritan woman. John fought the team fourteen Jesus

and said and said to her, whoever drinks of this water and toursts again,

whoever drinks this water at the whill well well toast again. But whoever

drinks of the water that will give him will never tost. But the water

I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water, springing until

everlasting life. Right, we need our devotions so that our thursts can be

quenched. Are you thirsty today? Are you yearning for something? Do you

want your thirst to be quenched? Do your devotion? Ask God to speak

to him. Let him deal with your challenges. Right, Let the Holy

spring minister to you. We can receive something that helps us be healthy.

I would like to think I'm healthy spiritually. I would like to think one

of the ways where I can gage whether I'm healthy or not is by the

people around me, by the people I interact with most of the time.

Right. I encourage you to talk to anyone who work with me, Ask

them how is pasting an officer good or bad? That will determine whether I'm

healthy or not? Right? How do I deal with problems? How do

I deal with people? Good or bad? Are there downtime scot last week

one or two? Drama? Right? But that doesn't mean I'm a shy

people. That doesn't mean I must score backward. Just carry all my life

out next day. Okay? Oh you know is that healthy? I think

that's healthy. Okay. It is our sustenance, our spirit. Man,

it is it right? Doctors, you're here, you know what we need

right for our body. But a lot of us we malnourish our spiritual men

or we feel it out with other things. We don't feel it out with

spiritual things. We feel it out with media, We feel it up with

articles on internet, we feel it up with things that make us feel good.

But are you feeling it out with the Word of God? Are you

feeling it out with the Holy Spirit, fill it up with the right things.

Right. Then, when we face challenges, we wonder why why is

it so frustrating? Why? Well, are you feeling up yourself with the

right things. We will never tust, We'll get life. John seven thirty

seven twenty nine speaks Jesus himself says, he who receives me will receive a

rivers of water of reverse. Sorry, he says here, rivers of living

water, right that will never run dry. Do you know the significance of

rivers of living water that will never run dry? He's not just talking about

about for arsenal inside, No, he's talking about earth going outside. So

the uppouring of the spirit comes and it outpolls to the people around us.

So the evidence of a Christian, whether the Christian has a rivers of living

water, is always the people around them, because the people around them will

flourish. You'll catch that because you're not just watering yourself, you're watering other

people as well. But once they receive Christ and they experience Christ, then

they can be a river of living water. You'll catch that. So it

is always around What is your fruit? What are you pouring out? You

know how other people, other people growing in the Lord, other people experiencing

God. What are they experiencing? That is one way to determine it.

Okay, you guys, Okay, the third one because the Lord direct self

steps. These are very important and it's very important. Okay, how God's

work directs our steps? Do you realize as I was preparing this, I

realize this. Do you realize that God directing our steps is a supernatural occurrence?

It is sometimes we take that for granted. No, do you know

that God directing your steps is supernatural? Why no human being spoke to you.

You didn't get any instructions from anyone. You suddenly pray and then receive

some direction and then you and then it happened. Isn't it supernatural? SuperNature?

Right? How do you get this idea up? Assy? Irvin?

I don't know. I praynant, but you're not an engineer. I don't

know. I pray and then God gave me the solution. I just do

it. Wow. Yeah, I'm sure some of you have experienced that it's

supernatural. It is supernatural because you are talking to supernatural God. You'll catch

that it is supernatural. But God directs your steps. Proverbs twenty twenty four

says a man steps off of the God. How then, can a man

understand his own way? Oh? This is very powerful. How can you

understand your own way when God is the one directing your steps? It's kind

of like an oxymoron, right right? Oh, I don't know why.

Well, God is directing your steps, especially if you're close to him.

Let me give you another thing. If you're not close to God, then

who directs your steps? You? Other people? God forbid the devil.

Don't be deceived problems Treats five six. Trust a lot in all your heart,

and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways. Acknowledge him

and he shall direct your paths Problem sixty nine. A man's hearts, a

man's heart plan his way, but a lot directs a step. So we

we we have we have desires and and and and we want to do things

a certain way, and our heart is their way. But at the end

of the day we summon to the Lord. Lord, you take over because

you have a better plan, because my heart is receiving right Palms one one

nine, one O five. Your word is a lemon to my feet and

a light onto my path. Use God's word. As you're guiding, then

you will never go wrong. Amen Number four. Because God is our helpline

and support I need, Rush is ready. He is our refuge and comfort.

How God is our protector, vindicator, and savior when we seek him.

Psalms forty six says God is our refuge and strength, a very present

help in trouble. Psalms ninety one to two. I will say to the

Lord, he is my refuge and fortress, my God. In him,

I will trust. Second Conrintance to nine ten talks about how when we are

weak, we are strong because God makes us strong. When we are weak,

we are strong. A bit funny, right, how the Bible tells

us no when we are weak. You know, when you are strong,

you don't rely on anyone else by yourself. But when you are weak,

you have to rely on the Lord, and he will make you strong.

So are you weak today? Do you feel weak? Do you feel defeated?

Trusting the Lord, he will make you strong. Problems eighteen ten says

the name of the Lord is a strong tower who is dropping the writers run

and are safe? Okay? Probably eighteen ten? Ight I just leave it,

lie fine, I'm gonna go anyway. Okay, friends, that's four

points. Okay, yeah, I've done my four points. Before I leave,

let me share you this testimony. I've not really shared this with much

people before, but there's one moment in my life when I was in campus

that I would call the darkest Wednesday of my life. Is the darkest Wednesday

of my life. What happened was that three things happened to me that day

in succession. Three things. Three things happened really broke me. And I

was a young person then, you know, I was not pastor Alvin,

Okay, I was. I was working, I think, yeah, I

was working. No, sorry, I was. It was my final year

of college, my final year of college, and that time, I haven't

even come to extra chet Okay. I was still attending another in our church,

and I was betting crank he was a holiday, right. And then

what happened was that three things happened. Let's just say that life was not

perfectly okay, but I tell you the three things happened. Okay, so

it was really a lot of things happening, ready, but that three things

that happened was kind of like the trigger point now, right. So the

first thing that happened was I fought with my brother, my second brother.

Okay, I thought with him, fight until shit, Dian. When I

was growing up, my mom told me before, you never touch your brother.

So I've never hit my brothers. I've never fought my brothers. Okay,

I've never done that. I've never done that never, Okay in my

life. And and that day, I don't know why he just triggered me.

We fought right shirts tall. I got so upset. I caught my

mom. My mom was on the phone crying. Before I caught her,

she picked up the phone crying, and I'm like, what's happening? And

when she was graying, I'm like, what the heck happened? Second thing?

So when that happened, what do you do you comfort? Right?

You see, like I need to talk to someone right during that time in

my life right that I'm not extra share So I didn't have leaders. I

didn't have This is why I believe in her the relationship because I had a

very unhealthy relationship with a girl. Can we honest with you not just just

not the girl. So I had a very close friend who I was emotionally

dependent on. We were not together, but it was as good as dobill

together, okay, And I called her to say comfort, and you know

what, a guy picked up her phone, and so happened. It was

this guy. I'd give you a bit of drama story. It was this

guy that she liked, right, And it was this guy that she said

she she but I knew she liked him, and they were pranking me while

I was seeking comfort. I got upset. I shouted and then the phone

went down and I realized and I tried to call back, no respond.

I was really broken. I was down. It was during my semester break.

So what happened. I picked up my bags, I went to my

car, I drove to my college. I ran away, Thank god I

had a place to run away. But on the way to run away,

I thought myself, if I see a tree, I will hit the tree

because life is not worth living. I drove all the way from Klang Jalan

Tamarine all the way until Sabagaya. I didn't see any tree. I was

very domine, but I didn't see any tree. Maybe because I was crying

and I couldn't see. I don't know, okay, but I didn't see

any tree. Okay, But if I saw a tree, I would hit

it. Really, I didn't see a tree. Somehow I didn't see a

tree. I almost killed myself that day. I hit in my room.

For one month. I didn't come out. I didn't come out. I

didn't talk to anybody. I had housemates, right, they were good,

right, they knew not to ask me anything. But I stayed there for

a month. I didn't do anything. I didn't talk to anyone. Do

you know that when you have a consistent quiet time with the Lord, he

will seek you out. He will seek you out. You don't have to

seek him, well not, don't have to lie if it's good, if

you can. My one lifeline in that one month in my room. A

lot of things have happened now, But my one lifeline, in the one

thing in my room was God. He consoled me, he comforted me.

The only thing I knew what to do was my quiet time. And I

had a lot of time. I had a lot of time. So I

blame God, score him everything. But he was dead. He was the

person that I talked to. And after that one month I came out of

it. Did things change? No, things were still the same. Did

my mother suddenly did my brother know? Of course? I think I've shared

this testimony before here that God restored my family. There was probably three four

years later, but that down part of my life. I can clearly tell

you that maybe the devil wanted to offer me, but God restored me.

And look at what I'm doing today. Again. I don't say this with

pride on myself. I say this with pride of like Lord helps restorped me

because if I were have died so long ago, a lot of things would

not have happened for me. A lot of things will not if I've given

up, then a lot of things will not have happened for me that I

can be thankful for, like a family. God restort my family. God

gave me a family. God give me a church. I have the opportunity

to interact with a low wonderful people here. Yes things may not be good

at times, but that doesn't mean that we can believe together. So,

friends, what is your lifeline? My lifeline? Literal lifeline was devotion.

When I was in the hospital in the Ico, there was no TV.

You know what did I do? Devotion? Now? Listen to message,

listen to worship song, pray and ask God speak to him. Now joke

with Hima. So God, you stay on me, you do stuff right,

I guess because I'm staying here. There is my lifeline. I've experienced

so much breakthrough and growth. See again, Now I don't have proof.

I just have evidence, and the only evidence I have my own life.

But I'm sure different ones here you have evidence on how God had moved in

your life. Please share me one another. Hey God, this is for

me. Hey, God did it for me. Hey, this thing happened

because you know and I can. I can equate it to me being devoted

to him. Friends, what is your lifeline today? What would help you

in Tony for Is it your bank account? Is it your family? Is

he your friends? Or my friends are all gone ready? But God is

he here? My family is gone ready because I stay here. My job

is gone ready, but Gay is still here. God is still here.

God is still here. He's there for you. Yes, things are not

perfect, but God is still here. So align with him. Because we

also believe, friends, that God would restore that. I'm a believer in

that God restore. Things can be taken away by God restored. I grew

up the early part of my life as a child teen campers student with a

very not so nice family lifeline. Do you know that God is restoring that

in my life? Right now I'm having the time of my life and my

wife and my parents, well, my dad well, not perfect, but

better than last time. God restores, he restores, he will always restore.

Bi seeking. That's my encouragement to you. Amen, Let twenty twenty

four be a year that you believe God. Let twenty twenty four be a

year that you will start having a devotion. And if God leads you,

then he leads you. Amen. As long as you follow him, that's

the goal. Okay. We hope you've been blessed by this message. For

more information on our church, please visit as church Org. We are also

active on Facebook and Instagram. We're believing that this week is going to be

a good week. I hit for you. God bless