God With Us | Olivia Leong

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

will light up your d God's word for us today is Heaven Rules towards the

finishing line. God with us. Hey, tell your neighbor, God with

us, God with us. Okay, yeah, and we here. So

last week's message, doctor, you shard a powerful message about Emanuel with the

e on I. But we prefer an eve because it's better, right e

a right, So okay, So God with us? All right, So

today we're gonna really go deeper with this word God with us. Okay.

And how may may God even speak to us even true this time? Okay?

So God with us, Heaven rules, and please let's not forget we

are still on this twenty twenty three. Right, Heaven Rules is a theme

for this year. As we are going to close this year, it's still

Heaven rules towards the finishing line. We're coming to the end of the year,

yes, so, but this towards the finishing line is not just coming

to the end of the year, but also towards the finishing line for what

God has prepared for us. Okay, right, maybe continue to carry this

word even you can listen to this recording of this message again next year and

the coming years. But may you be encouraged that God with us Heaven rules

towards the finishing line. All right. Okay, So next like we'll be

studying this topic about Joshua. Okay, in the Book of Joshua chapter one,

right before we open to this, Before we open to this scripture,

we want to just have a background for those of us who are not familiar

with this story. Okay, So just a background before we read Joshua chapter

one. So God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, right you remember, Yeah,

the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt for many many years, all right.

And in Egypt, God hear the cries of his people. God,

please say me, I'm in bonds. I've been they have been slave.

The Israelites have been slaved for many, many years. And God delivered the

Israelites out of Egypt into the Promised Land. Okay. And the promised land

is called Canaan. God called Moses. So there's a man that God raised

up, and God called Moses to lead his people out of Egypt right into

the promised land. Okay. And God let the Israelites true the wilderness with

the pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. And

there were many challenges even true the wilderness. Okay, So even through the

wilderness, yes, when challenges come or you know, yes, there's a

lot of things that happen. And also people are complaining, Yes, they've

forgotten all the miracles that God had did had done for them. Right,

and also because of the Israelites ungratefulness and complaints. They were wandering through the

wilderness for forty years, okay, but God, God is still faithful to

them. Now after forty years, the Israelites have finally arrived at the entrance

of this Promised Land. Okay. Separating the Israelites and the Promised Land is

a river called Jordan. Okay, So they're going to enter, right.

So this passage talks about that, okay. And God God did not allow

Moses. Remember Moses, the leader that brought them out from Egypt. Moses.

God did not allow Moses to enter the Promised Land due to his disobedience

as well. So Moses commissioned Joshua, a new leader, right, and

to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. So now Joshua is now the

leader okay, to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. You know,

some commentaries also did mention after much study, Joshua is also a type of

Jesus that brings us from one one place to another, from a from darkness

into his wonderful light. Right, so now let's read and study the word

of God in Joshua chapter one, verse one tonight. Oh yeah, and

about this picture I was looking for a picture. Joshua is a really amazing

leader. He even though he started off not very like like really great,

but as in like before he was commissioned as a leader, he wasn't like

very well known, but yes he was known by his faith together with Caleb.

But then now that Moses has died, this Moses is such a great

leader. He led the whole nation of Israelite Israel out of Egypt, and

now he's taking on this leadership role which seems so big. He feels like,

well, I cannot fit my feet into Moses' shoes. But you know

this is this scripture will talk about a lot of how God will encourage Joshua

to move forward. Okay, And also this picture I was talking about,

Joshua is really a fighter. I mean I was studying this book of Joshua

this season of my quiet time, and I realized that Joshua, he is

amazing and he's a fighter. Even before he knew it, right, God

has really encouraged him, you know. And before he became such a great

man of God, he was, of course, he started off really small.

So this Joshua chapter one is the beginning, the beginning of many more

things to come. So this is how it all started with Joshua. Okay,

so let's read Joshua chapter one, verse one tonight, right, verse

one. Let me read from my Bible also, and you can. You

can also open up your Bible and read. I'm reading it from the New

King James version, the one that is on the screen. It's New King

James. But you can also if you have your Bibles, you can turn

it to Joshua chapter one, verse one to night. It's always good to

read from the Bible, right yy, Yes, good to bring your bibles

to Okay, all right, let's read Joshua chapter one, verse one to

nine. So after the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord,

it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua, the son of None

Moses's assistant, saying, Moses, my servant is dead. Now therefore,

arise, go over this Jordan, you and all these people, to the

land which I am giving to them the children of its verse three. Every

place that the soul of your foot will tread upon. I have given you,

as I said to Moses, from the wilderness and this Lebanon, as

far as the Great River, the river you frets, all the land of

the Heatites, and to the great sea towards the going down of the sun

shall be your territory. While that's probably a very big land. Right Verse

five, No man shall be able to stand before you. This is God

saying to Joshua, no man shall be able to stand before you all the

days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be

with you. I will not leave you, nor forsake you. Verse six.

Be strong and of good courage to this people. You shall divide as

an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only

be strong and very courageous that you may observe to do according to all the

law which Moses my servant commanded. You do not turn from it to the

right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.

The Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall

meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to

all that is written in it. For you will make your way prosperous,

and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you be strong

and of good courage. Do not be afraid nor be dismayed. For the

Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Amen, God bless the

reading of His word. Amen. Right, and here are some tree thoughts

for us today about God's presence with us as we close, as we come

to a close of this year and entering a new year. Okay, God's

presence with us. So when God is with us, next light, When

God is with us, there is a mission next life. There is a

mission that we need to accomplish. Amen. When God calls us, When

God has called us, when we say yes, God, I want to

follow you, He has something prepared for you individually and as a church.

Right that there is a mission. How do I know that? There litter,

I'll show you so the first point children, if you're writing points right

or adults, Yes, adults, or yes if you're writing for its first

point is purpose. When God is with us, there is a mission that

we need to accomplish. Yeah, whether is it this year? Yeah,

we still have the remaining remaining days of twenty twenty tree, right or is

it next year? Right? When God is with us, there is a

mission that we need to accomplish. Okay, do go back and ask God

in your quiet time? What is this mission that I need to accomplish before

twenty twenty three or when we come to twenty twenty four? God, what

is the mission that you want to want me to accomplish in twenty twenty four?

Me individually and as a church as a whole. How can I contribute

to that? If it's for the church? What what is my part?

God? Speak to God? Okay, I want to encourage us to bring

this word back into your quiet time as well. Right, So next like

so, first example is Joshua. Right, as we've read just now from

Joshua chapter one, right, and you see Joshua he led the nation of

Israel to possess the land, the land, the Kanaan land. He defeated

you guess how many kings he defeated? Any any one, thirty over,

yeah, yeah, close close? Any other guesses? How many things do

you think Joshua defeated Yeah, okay, yeah, anyway, yes, okay,

so yes, thirty over. He defeated thirty one kings. You can

read that in Joshua chapter seven. Okay, it's recorded that he defeated thirty

one kings. For me, the defeat one king is like, wow,

one king. I don't know how likes it's big. For me, it's

big. Thirty one is not five kings, not ten kings, not fifteen

kings, not twenty kings. Thirty one kings like thirty one buskin robins.

I scream, okay, thirty one, thirty one, that's all I remember.

Thirty one okay, thirty one kings? Ai yo, so many,

so many? I mean, he definitely. I really believe what we have

read just now. Really, I really believe Joshua needed that encouragement, that

assurance that God is with him. He has a mission to possess the land,

to yeah, to possess the land and to obey God's command to you

know, Okay, let's read the word of God next life. Yeah,

and here in verse one, after the death of Moses, so no more

Moses, the servant of the Lord. It came to pass that the Lord

spoke to Joshua, the son of Nane Moses assist, saying, Moses,

my servant is there. Now therefore arrived, Go over this Jordan. Remember,

I said, the Canaan land, the promised land between the Israelites and

the promised land is this river Jordan. Okay, he has to cross the

river Jordan. That's not that's that's the probably the first challenge, not for

himself to cross, but also to bring the entire nation over also right to

conquer the land, to possess the land. Now therefore a rise, Go

over this Jordan, you and all these people to the land which I am

giving to them, the children of Israel. You realize something, Then God

give us a mission. Or rather, when God wants to bless us,

he doesn't just give us and drop it on your lap. There probably must

be a work to be done, right, for example, process, what

same thing the land? Are you? You don't just sit down and then

just no, you must go across the Jordan. You must conquer case you

must okay. In those days are they have to clear out the land.

You know, you know what it means to clear out the land. You

have to the God instructed them very clearly to destroy everything in the land because

all of the land are evil. They should not have any single one,

any man, woman, children, anything. Everything has to be destroyed right

for them to possess the land. Okay, it's a very interesting book,

Joshua, so you can read it. Okay, So there is a mission

next like yes, verse five, no man shall be able to stand before

you all the days of your life. Wow, this is better than avengers.

He no man, No, Joshua is like better than all the iron

men than Okay, no man should be able to stand before you all the

days of your life. As I was with Moses. I really believe Joshua

has seen all the miracles that had happened, the parting of the rad sea,

the pan plex you know, are striking, the rock and water came

out. Men are from heaven. Joshua probably was just at the sight of

Moses, and also that Moses up to the mountains, and I believe Joshua

was also assisting him going up to the mountains with him, and God gave

the commandment God wrote on the tablets, right, I believe Joshua saw all

this, and you know this word of God coming over Joshua saying, as

I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not

leave you nor forsake you. This is such an assurance even right now,

you know, I feel like that this encouragement need to come upon some of

us today, that God is with us and he will never leave us nor

for sake us, as he has been faithful in twenty twenty three. I

just want to declare that God will be with you and he will not forsake

you. Okay, be strong and of very good courage. Be as strong

and of good courage, for to these people you shall divide as an inheritance

the land which I swore to their fathers to give them right. So not

just possessing the land. He's still need to divide the land. Okay,

this land for this tribe. It's a lot of work. It's administrative work

also need to be done. Right. There is a mission and there is

work to be done. Not just blessing come, but we need to work

on it all. Right. Similarly when the church, when the church grows,

you know there is work to be done, and that's why there's always

a call to all of us here right now to come, come, be

apart, to grow the Kingdom of God together, to invite friends, and

let's work this land, and let's possess this land. Let's bring the Kingdom

of God together here in Cyberjaya and beyond right, many more people has yet

to know him. Amen. All right? Okay, so yeah, so

next light, there is some maps that on the show us. Yes it's

a bit small, but you can see some arrows that is on the screen.

So just very quickly here if you can see. Sorry, it's a

bit blurb, but there is actually a blue line that crosses here. This

is the Sea of Galilee going to the sea, the Dead Sea. So

the river here is the River Jordan that separates the people of Israel and Canaan.

Land is all around here. Okay, so they have to possess all

this land. I mean on on bird's eye view you can see. Okay,

it's quite big, but it's actually very big. Okay. Can you

imagine the olden times? Right? They have to conquer thirty one kings.

Can you imagine every place is okay, So yeah, let's continue to read

the word of God. Next light. Also not just conquering the land or

possessing the land. But they also need to divide the land. Okay.

So this is just a very summarized version of how the land was divided to

the twelve tribes. Okay. So yeah, okay, next light, So

yes, So when God is with us, there is a mission that we

need to accomplish. That was the example of another example in the Bible that

talks about when God is with us there is a mission to accomplish. It

is with King Solomon. Next, like, right, King Solomon, let's

read from let's read from the First Chronicles twenty eight, verse twenty. Yeah,

and David said to his son Solomon, be strong and of good courage

and do it. Okay. So maybe you are asking do what, right?

Do what? Okay? So David, he is king of Israel.

Right, he's a great king of Israel. But God has not called King

David to build him the temple. But God has called Solomon, his son,

King David's son, to build God a great temple. That time right

before the King Solomon's temple. How do you say the people meet God intents

tents that can can travel from one place to another. It's not a permanent

place. But here, you know, somebody has to build the temple.

So the temple is built by Solomon, and there is this mission that is

given to Solomon that time. Similarly here you can see in First Chronicles,

chapter twenty eight, verse twenty David said to Solomon, be strong and of

good courage, and do it. Do not fear nor be dismayed. For

the Lord God, my God, will be with you. He will not

leave you nor forsake you until you have finished all the work for the service

of the house of the Lord. Now you may think, King, you

make thing the temple. Maybe not much work. I'm not sure how many

architects here or yeah, how many architects here? No, no, no

architects already humb no no, soon to be architects, soon to be architects,

no gus. Okay, I'm talking about building architects are not so development

architects anyway. Yes, I mean somewhere development architects are also very Yeah.

It's a lot of work. Yes, yes, I know, and you

know the work that has to be done. I mean those days when you

don't have technology, you don't have like, you know, emails, you

know, and things like that. Communication methods. Right, it's quite a

lot of work, like how to gather materials and all. Right, so

you know King David, sorry, King Solomon, even as he he needs

to embark on this task to build God a temple, God needs to be

with him, right, God wants to be with him to accomplish this work.

Okay, next night, So just a really brief picture next ight.

Yes, this is a picture of how you say, a cross section of

the temple or on what is inside? Outside? Of course you can google

also and see the temple. But inside it is laid of gold. You

know, all the carvings and all the everything. Everything is really one of

the great How do you say? The King Solomon is really really great?

And for King Solomon to build God this temple. Really, God has blessed

us King Solomon with wisdom as you know King Solomon asked for but more importantly

the task that needs to be done, God was with him. Amen.

Okay, next like right, so yes, so that's King Soomon. Another

example I want to show us, right, is this another example of God

with us that we need to have this There is a mission to be accomplished,

is Jesus disciples? You know when Jesus. Here I read from Matthew

chapter twenty eight, verse nineteen to twenty. So this is the example of

when God is with us, there is a mission to be accomplished. Verse

nineteen to twenty of chapter twenty eight says, go therefore and make disciples of

all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have

commanded you. And lo, I am with you even to the end of

the age. Every time when God promises that he will be with us,

there is always a mission that needs to be accomplished. In this sense,

God has called his disciples to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them,

teaching them to observe all that He has commanded. Right. So similarly,

when we say yes, God, please be with us, always remember there

is a mission that God wants us to do. When we pray that prayer,

yes, so yes, God with us to do something for His kingdom

for his glory. Amen. Very good. Okay, next light, Okay,

So that's point number one. Point number one. When God is with

us, there is a mission that we need to accomplish. With the examples

I've showed us number one purpose Okay, next light, when God is with

us point number two. Right, When God is with us, his provision

is available to accomplish the given mission. Amen. He doesn't leave us alone,

of course, just now we have read his presences with us. But

he will also provide for us. Right. His promises are yes an amen.

Right, and he provides for us as well when God calls us.

You know, there's a tag line in extra says, when God calls us

do something, he will also pay the bill. Right, Yeah, so

God will provide for us. Okay. Here we have studied just now from

Joshua, chapter on one, verse seven to eight. It says, here,

only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according

to all the law which Moses, my servant commanded. You do not turn

to the to it to the right or hand, or to the left,

that you may prosper wherever you go. This book of the law shall not

depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night,

that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.

For then you will make your way prosperous. And then you will have good

success. Provision number one. And this this is not limited to what I

will share today, but I really feel that you know, even moving on

to twenty twenty four, God's provision for us very vital. Is his word,

a man, his word, his word. Tell please say after me

his word, his word. Yes, his word is our vital provision.

It's like our essential providence, provision right for us to move forward his word.

That's why a lot of promises that God has given us, not just

when he says his presence is with us. He provides his word with us

so that we can have good success, so that we can accomplish the mission

that God has given us. Amen. Okay, next life right. Another

provision that is very very important is his Holy Spirit. Right here. God

shows us in his word in xt. Chapter one versus it, but you

shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall

be my witnesses to me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to

the ends of the earth. To do such a great task. Right,

we need the Holy Spirit. When God calls us, hey, come,

come and contribute towards the growth of His kingdom. Here in Cyberjia. I

really believe all of us here in Cyberjaya is not by any chance. And

I really believe that God has even brought you here very specifically for a purpose

to see His kingdom extended right here in Cyberjaya and beyond right, and we

need the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit here. The Word of God says,

when we receive the Holy Spirit, we will receive his power. Right,

His power is upon us, and we shall be his witnesses. Right.

Sometimes when we don't have the Holy Spirit, we feel like we cannot

move forward. We can't, we don't have the words to say. But

when Holy Spirit is with us, we will be able to be His witnesses.

Here in X chapter one, was it right? Every time you feel

that you can't, you can't ask Holy Spirit. He is there at your

at your at your he is your helper. Right, he is your helper,

and he's there, he has the power. Right, we will have

the power to be his witnesses. Holy Spirit is with us, okay,

right next light right and rod and staff okay, very very Another essential uh

provision that we need to have when God is with us. Of course there's

this these examples is not. Uh, it's not limited to these examples.

Right, of course, there are other providence provisions also, But just want

to highlight to us he's rot and stuff. In some chapter twenty three,

verse four, it says, here, year, though I walk through the

value of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you

are with me, your rod and staff. They comfort me. Right.

So, just a very nice comic is a very good example of what is

this rod and staff. This rod hits or you can see he hits an

wild animal from the sheep, and the staff brings the sheep back to where

it should be. Okay, So the rod and stuff. This is very

important even in our journey, in our walk with the Lord, right when

his presence with us, we are a shred of his protection from the enemy.

And the enemy. Remember, the enemy is not our our brothers and

sisters at home or whether he isn't in the church. Our enemy is not

our siblings. Our enemy is not our husbands or wives or our children.

Our enemy is the evil one. I always tell this to my children and

my family also, right, the enemy is not us, so don't fight

among ourselves is no point, right, the enemy is the evil one,

and God with his rod he protects us from the evil one, right,

and his staff he guides us back to Him again. Right. And you

know, I also really feel that the church here where we are, it's

like God's wrought and stuff. I'm not sure if you realize it or not.

There is discipleship that is happening. There is correction, sometimes a rebuke,

a loving rebuke, right, or a constant reminder that it becomes feels

like sometimes such an irritation, but it is for our good. Our loving

God constantly uses the church his leaders to guide us, to protect us from

the evil one. True. Many remind us maybe like reading the word of

God, sharing your testimony is to someone write, pray, listen and obey,

right, and you know, just reach out to somebody, you know.

Sometimes this reminds us like so many times, but it is a reminder

for us to action, and it is also a good guide for us to

continue to come back, come back again into the direction which God has called

us to go. Right like that stuff, right, Okay, be encouraged.

I know it's very quiet here, but yes, He's rod and his

staff is very essential even as God is with us, right, okay,

And desire for it, even though sometimes it may feel like it's not comfortable,

especially when you see the stuff. I'm sure it's not very comfortable being

on that stuff. I mean, imagine yourself in being like that sheep,

right being carried or not so nice. I want to go my way,

you know. But it's a good thing. It's for the sheep's safety,

for us, for our safety. All right. So this is point number

two. Next night, so then God is with us, his provision is

available to accompany the given mission. Okay, that's point number two. Point

number three. Doing good so far everyone, Okay, all right, So

when next night, Okay, when God is with us point number three,

his presence is evident to all true us for his glory. Next life.

Ah, Yes, when God is with us, his presence is evident to

all, to all around us, true us, for his glory. Amen.

Okay, that is point number three. Proclaim. Okay, so you

can take that down proclaim. Okay, let's see some examples. Okay,

let's hear of Rehab's witness. You see after Joshua chapter one, Joshua chapter

two is the time where Joshua sends out spies to the nearest city across Jericho

across across the river Jordan. Right there is the city of Jericho. So

he sends out spies right to spy out the land to see where it's the

weak point, you know, and want to see, just to observe the

city, so that he can strategize to attack the land. Right. And

so the spies went in and they met Rehab. Okay, right, and

Rehab she is a prostitute, and she is a pre believer. She doesn't

believe in the Lord God. But here is her witness when she she invited,

not she invited, but you know she was protecting the spies from the

authorities of the Jericho when they were looking out for the spies. Right,

Okay. So Joshua chapter two, verse eight to eleven says, here this

is Rahab's witness. Okay, this is what rahabs said to the spices now

before they lay down. Day here refers to the spies, the two spies.

Right now, before the two spies lay down, she came up to

them on the roof and said to them, I know that the Lord God,

the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has

fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land we're talking about

the land of Canaan are faint hearted because of you. For we have heard

how the Lord dried out the water of the rad Sea for you, and

you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of

the Emirds who were on the other side of the Jordan Seahorn and Og,

whom you utterly destroyed. Who And as soon as we heard these things,

our hearts smelted. Neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of

you. For the Lord, your God, he is God of Heaven above

and on the earth beneath. This is what rehabs it. She have seen

that God, the Lord, God of Heaven, is with these people called

the Israelites. Because anything that the Israelites pass us through, no one can

exist anymore. I don't know, like a trailblazer, Like I don't know

that, like you know the sound effect you know movies thing me, okay,

yeah, it's like any the Israelizes, these people. I mean,

now we watch movies, we see like what you know. I mean,

can you imagine those days when you have no movies and all these people from

Egypt coming out and everything, you know, the big, big, great

sea partner for them, you know people, you know, is amazing.

Okay. So so Rehab saw all this and he said, this is must

be supernatural, this must be God of heaven and on earth. So it's

very evident. And not only her, but the people around, the people

of Jericho and the entire land of Canaan heard about this growlth of Israelites coming

over. So we're like, they are so so scared, they have no

more courage at all. And they and you know, Rehab have witnessed and

just spoke that admitted that the Lord God, he is God of heaven and

on earth, that is with the Israelites. Amazing, right, okay,

next next example, next life. Another example I'd like to bring to our

attention. Here is Daniel, right, amazing, this guy, Daniel,

Daniel here in chapter four, verse eighteen. You know Daniel, he has

this gift of interpreting dreams and his gift he's able to interpret dreams for a

few kings. Yeah, and he has been very religion in doing his work

as as what he has been given. But here is very clear of when

God is with us. You know, his presence is evident even in Daniel's

life. Verse eighteen reads this dream okay, this dream okay, okay.

There's a context of this verse is when King Nebukenes is speaking about this dream

to Daniel, right, and Daniel is supposed to interpret the dream. Right.

So this the king is telling telling his dream ready, and it's telling

Daniel, please interpret this dream. Okay. So verse eighteen says, this

dream I King Nebunes have seen. Now you be belza. Okay, that's

Daniel's what do you say Babylonian name? Okay, yeah, okay, but

he's referring to Daniel. Now you Belteshaza, declare its interpretation. Since all

the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the

interpretation. But you are able, for the Spirit of the Holy God is

with you. Wow. For King Nebucenza to say this with so much confidence.

He also says that it is because the Holy Spirit, the spirit of

the Holy God is with you. Wow. Even a King Nebucena, he

is a he is a pre believer, yeah, and he doesn't believe in

the Lord, the Lord God, but he knows that the Spirit of God

is with Daniel. Right to do this supernatural thing. Right, So it's

evident, very evident. Okay, next life right, So this is Daniel

right, very evident. When God is with us, he when his presence

is with us, right, his presence is evident to everyone that's around us.

So just just an encouragement. Sometimes you say, I want to have

my quiet time. I know God is with us, but I don't to

let anyone know I'm a Christian. It's not biblical. Here we have seeing

a few examples that when the God's presence is with us, there is there

is, his presence is evident. It should be evident to the people around

us, okay. Right. And also another example is also Jesus' disciples.

You can go back and read write, and a lot of us also know

that. You know, whenever the disciples go out, you know, after

the great commission, right, Jesus says, go and make disciples right,

and then Holy Spirit came upon them in Jerusalem and then they went out right.

So we read of people the disciples like Peter, right, he Peter

and John, they they raise a lame man on the gate, beautiful remember,

and different ones. Paul was also raising the date also trying to uh

even praying for the people that is sick. Right, people sick was healed.

Uh, those who are deaf were we're hearing again? Right? All

these all these things Jesus disciples, really their lives is how to say,

is an evidence of this point. When God is with us, his presence

is evident to all. Right, true us, true us. We are

carriers of His presence, and it is for his glory. Okay, so

far, so good. Okay, so allow me to share my story as

well. Right, And this past few or rather three four months ago,

for the past three months, I've been experiencing very bad period crimes. Okay,

only women will understand. Okay, all maybe it's some woman not fully

understand also, but yes, because some of you may not even experience any

pain throughout your period. But yeah, for myself, I previously have never

experienced any form of period pain. Yay, thank you God. That time

I don't have to even take any medication. But past reason, I had

really really excruciating period pain for the past three months, and every time it's

on the first few days of my period. I have never experienced it before,

and it's really painful. I am so pain that I can't even sit

or stand, I would be on bait right, and the battle, the

battle for me was between the pain and my faith. Sometimes I'm like,

God, I just give up in so painful. I was just like,

but yet I just want to trust. I continue to trust God that all

this is all part and of his plan, because I also remember praying,

God, use me, I don' not know how, but use me to

bring you glory. I don't know. He's answering, answering this prayer of

mine. True, this all very painful, yeah, okay, And after

after getting myself checked out, of course, I went to the hospital.

After having myself checked up in the hospital, it was found that I had

two seats in my ovarreas so my husband and I Andrew is my husband,

and I prayed and we had the peace to proceed with the keyhole surgery to

remove the ceys. And really, thank you Church for praying with me.

Yeah, I know there was a prayer link sent. Oh, thank you

for praying for me. When I had that surgery done, and praise God,

the seast was removed and the surgery was successful. Praise God. And

since then I have not experienced any period pain. Then, Yay, yay,

overcomer. Yeah, overcome, yay, overcome. Thank you God,

Thank you Church for praying with me. Right, really, thank you so

much, and really thank God for leading the guynercrologies. Okay, so I

just want to just give thanks to God. Even through this testimony, I

am so thank God for leading us to the Guyner colleges. I tell you,

we wanted to meet this doctor that my my mother in law was checking

out or was having with because previous months also I think last year, right

last year, my mother in law so had a big fibroid in her womb,

as big as a basketball. I don't know how, but she was.

She was actually fifty something over just al already and she had this big

dummy and people thought that she was pregnant. She's already fifty something, fifty

seven, fifty six, fifty so, and and you know, walking around,

people say, hey, are you break at fifty so? After after

checkout the doctors, uh fine, and this doctor successfully had a surgery on

her as well to remove her entire womb. And yes, so this doctor,

we thought that was a really good doctor. We wanted to meet back

this doctor again for my case. But somehow it didn't happen because the doctor

was busy that time. When we went to the hospital. We have yeah,

we don't have any house preferred doctor. You don't have prefer for me.

I'm fine, okay, whoever can do the job, let's do it,

and let's get it done right for me. I'm fine, right,

I'm not very sensitive, but it's okay, let's just get the job done.

Yeah. But yeah, so but God, but that yes, yes,

And God led us to this doctor who is a gynecologist and also a

fertility especialist. Actually I didn't know until later, like, oh, okay,

God, you you really give your best for your people. Yeah,

So be encouraged by that church. You know, whenever you feel that sometimes

it's not your preferred choice, God has a better plan. His ways are

higher, and his thoughts are higher for us. Are right. He loves

us very much, Okay. And when I was admitted to the hospital,

Andrew wanted to me to be in a single room, as I am also

entitled to one. Thank God for that, But I really wanted to be

on a four bed beaded room. Okay, if if you are wandered in

a single room, of course, it's more expensive than to be in a

four baded room. Okay, so four bedded room means we need to share

with other patients as well in the same room, okay, right, Yes,

So for me, I prefer four bidded rooms because it's good for my

mental health. I get to see people, I get to talk to people.

Also, so I'm I'm a really social butterfly, but sometimes I get

scaredtle so to talk to people. But yeah, but I prefer people around

me, right, So yes, and thank God, Uh that time when

we were admitting, there weren't any single room left available. So in a

way, I feel like God is answering the desires of my heart, like

yeah, right, so for for Bedden, so that and and the bait

that was only available was in a four baded room. Sorry, really thank

God for that, even though it seems small. But I mean, God,

here's the desires of our hearts, right and he grants us so and

really thank God for the opportunity that I managed to talk to the different patients

in the room. Yeah. I had also to battle out my fear of

speaking, like what what am I going to talk to these strangers? Right?

Like you? Yeah? So, so I I you know, got

some strength and courage from the Lord just to you know, go to their

bed. Sometimes feel like really intruding. But and it was true the breakfast

time, you know, when people are eating, so I thought I could

eat together with them. So yeah, so that time when I was stronger,

definitely after my surgery, right, so really, thank God for his

leading in the conversations that I had with the patients as well. So thank

God for his peace. Yes, his peace. As I was waiting for

my surgery, I remember waiting in the bed, right, I was probably

the second one in the morning. They usually arranged in a way like I

will be the patients will be earlier and hour before their surgery starts. So

yeah, so while waiting for the surgery, I mean his peace, thank

you Church really for praying for me. His peace was so evident. I

wasn't worried at all. I was like, we're really chill. I don't

know why, just you know, worshiping God and just singing songs or his

peace was just over me and I knew that everything will be all right,

even though I know surgeries can be actually very high risk and and uh yeah,

and you know some people usually don't come out alive after surgery. Right,

But God's peace was evident for me. Yeah, and yes, you

know this piece, it's like the piece, uh you know, it's such

a great piece, you know, like for example, I still remember this

piece is very familiar to me because like when I've gone through my exam life,

you know, as a student, you know when we go to exam,

that kind of anxiousness. Yeah, it's a sea kind of anxiousness.

Right, And that peace is so evident during my campus days as well,

my campus my student days, right and even now even to the surgery is

uh yeah, scary, but his peace is evident. I knew that it

is God himself, right, and God really thank God also for his providence.

He has really praised God that he has covered my surgery financially as well

for all the medical expenses. Really praise God. And even during the post

surgery or recovery period. Now, this is the most challenging, but it

is another round of battle for me. It's a battle between my physical limitation

and my faith. Right, It's always the battle between something and my faith.

Am I gonna give up you know doing what I'm called to do?

Or yeah, what what is that thing? So is that physical limitation and

faith. Now you must thinking, oh, Olivia, you're recovering. That's

the best part, right, everybody power or recover period because it's a time

to rest, right. So I had to be resting for the entire week

without working, and resting from ministry for the entire month. Some people it

was like, yay holiday, I get a rest. For me, it's

a battle. It's a physical battle, like yeah, a mental battles actually,

yes, yeah, between physical limitation and faith. Right, because for

me, I'm a duer, right, I'm a duer. I love to

do things. Yes, you can ask my husband. My husband was says

stop stop stop, stock always remind me to press the breaks. Battle,

Yeah, because I do too much. I can go overboard and you know,

exert my physical being. But yes, so I'm the kind of person.

I love to do a lot of things. So not doing anything or

resting for me really took a lot of courage and humility. Really, I

just want to say this, really, it's it's it's really something that I

need to learn to to to hold back. Right. Thank God for my

family and my husband, my mother in law who had really helped me with

my kids and everything. Else in the house while I was recovering, And

also want to thank all our pastors, doctor Jill here, and all our

leaders, all the volunteers here right for all your kind heartedness and understanding who

have made arrangement to allow me to rest. Really thank you, Thank you

so much, and thank God that I am strong enough today to share this

testimony with us. To God be the glory. I am also believing that

Heaven rules, Heaven rules over my physical body, declaring that I am completely

healed in the Lord Jesus Christ name, and no more seas anymore. Okay,

because I hope to share another testimony, because there's a part two to

this story. I really want to give God glory and even right now just

declaring by faith over my physical body that is normal seas anymore? Right?

So yes, So closing and a call to action for this message today here

in Matthew chapter one, verse twenty two to TENNY three, maybe I can

invite the Extreme team to come up already. Matthew Chapter one, verse twenty

two to twenty three reads, so all this was done that it might be

fulfilled, which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet saying, behold the

Virgin shall be with child and bear a son, and day shall call his

name Emanuel, which translated God with us even this Christmas. Church just want

to encourage us today, this Christmas and in preparation in entering the new year,

be encouraged that when God is with you with us, know that next

night, know that there is a mission that we need to accomplish. When

God is with us, his provision is available to accomplish the given mission.

And when God is with us, his presence is evident to all true us

for his glory. Amen. We hope you've been blessed by this message.

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

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be a good week. I hit for you. God bless