Arthur and The Finisher of Faith | Balaji Sivapiragasam

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

will light up your day. Genesis chapter three. Anyone, remember what is

Genesis chapter three? The fall of the Okay, I have to disagree fall

of the woman, But because today is a mother's day, I forgive all

right. Can you just turn around yourself turned to the Bible. It's not

there. So let's go old fashion, turn with bible to Genesis chapter three.

Genesis chapter three. What are the things that man lost in the garden?

Something he lost? He lost the ring? Oh? He lost something?

What are a few things that the man and the woman lost in the

garden. The more you delay, the more the service will continue. So

if you know something he lost? Man lost? What man lost? What?

Read Genesis chapter three and there are a few things he lost? What

did he lose? You are lost? Thank you, brother? You are

lost? No, you got? So what are the things that the man

lost? Literally, I'm looking at you. He lost? Oh? Wow,

he lost the garden of Eden, great brother? Anything else he lost?

He lost? He lost the innocence, He lost the innocence. Past

Jack looked at doctor Jill. Canic say not, okay? He lost the

innocence. That's okay, Pastor, Today's Mother's day. Yes, sir,

he lost his life. Okay, he lost innocence. He lost the garden

of Eden. What else did he lose? That he lost the relationship with

God so very important? Anything else? He lost command? Talk to me,

guys? He lost peace? How fast? Right? So? He

lost the innocence, He got the guilt and the shame. Anything else he

lost? He lost the he's right for? Oh wow? He lost the

right to rule. Anything he lost? He lost the free food. Remember

fridge. I was wondering why doctor Jill says opened the fridge Today. I

want Nazi kanda chicken. I am randang. Okay, those you didn't attend

last time. You are missing on something, please go to MTG here last

week's message. Anything else he lost? He lost. He lost affection of

who. He lost the perfect He lost the perfection. Anything else he lost?

He lost? He lost, man lost, He lost the freedom for

what Come and talk to me? He lost? He lost the heaven on

the earth. Wow, he lost the heaven on the earth. Anything else?

Anything else? Victor? He lost what he didn't work? Come on,

brother, he didn't have to work. Now he has to work and

work, and work and work. He has to work before that, no

work? Right, he is with a wife, brother, How can he

be without a jobless? So anything else he lost? Anything else he lost?

Sorry, okay, there are few things new came up after he lost.

New thing. Pain for the women came after man lost? Is that

right? Only after that? There was pain in the delivery? Agree?

Anything else came after? New things after this is not good? After man

sinned, there was what is the curse on the man? He has to

toil? I think hard work, No, that will become wrong teaching,

so we have to do so. The thorns and the thistles are the curse.

Before that, I think we can close our eyes and walk anywhere.

There is no thorns, no thistles, no harmful animal. We can walk

anywhere. Agree or not? Do you like a garden where there is no

thorns, there is no thistles, no need to even cut and dream because

it is all perfect? When when Adam and Eve was is in the will

of God? Agree and a confession has to be made. I have to

I didn't eye in the shirt, but I covered with the jacket. That's

okay. So the clothes stitching, the clothes. I think last time there

was a glory of God that covered and you don't need to eye in the

clothes. Cloth fitting clothes tailoring came one day after after Adam sinned. Before

that, you don't need to have different jackets different no need because there is

all the glory of God. Is that Is it okay with you? Yeah?

Hey? So when when Adam sinned? Okay? So today's today's topic

that I'm going to stay on is I'm building on what doctor Jill had start

used last week. Man lost that innocence, Man lost this four proof villages

that he was given in the garden of Eden. Correct, keep this in

mind. And why why did Jesus come on the hearth? Doctor Jill thought

us. He came to restore those things for you and me. Amid right,

doctor Jill. See, I'm a good student. I listened to doctor

Jill's preaching. Correct. So, hey, my my, I was I

was just contemplating, can you can you think a few things that has come

Like just now we say, what did something that has never happened? God

did not curse Adam. He didn't curse He cursed the sand out of which

Adam came. God didn't curse Adam. You know why God didn't curse Adam.

Don't tell me this love story. That is a part of it.

But you know why God could not curse Adam directly because God made Adam in

his likeness and in his image, and he could not love. He could

not curse the one that he loves. He couldn't because I am the part

of him. And I can't curse you, men, because I can curse

the origin from which you came, but I can never curse you. Right,

I can't curse you because I love you so much. But what is

it you made of? What do you think you are made of? You

think you are made of intelligence. That's where the problem lies. And God

will come back to the origin of where you think your strength is, and

he rules men. You think that your knowledge is your strength and your source.

God, God has to hold the tone so that you will come back

to him and say, God, it's not the knowledge that I have,

it's you I have. And knowledge becomes a blessing. If you are in

a place where you think my wife is more important than my ministry, if

God is not so much important, God has to withhold that women, man

from your life, so that you will know that you're not made of them,

but you are a part of God. The midge. You know that

you're a part of God, he will rule and you will run towards the

finishing line. I am I preaching to somebody, What are you made of?

Who are you? I am so and so. My name is so

and So. I am an associate professor. I am doing this job.

I am married to this person. But is the challenge that you and I

have to face today is that if you are made of it, and if

you're not under the will of God, when he cannot rule, he withhold

the blessing that he wants to be the ruler because he loves you so much.

He can't curse you because he loves you so much. Have you ever

wondered how come I'm knowledgeable but I couldn't express my knowledge. I have so

much of passion to do this, but I'm not getting a blessing. Why

is it I'm not able to be blessed. I see somebody getting promoted,

I see somebody having the marriage blessed. I see my best friend getting married.

God has to tell you, my child, allow me to rule over

you. That will become a blessing because God rules, Heaven rules, and

he loves you. He loved to rule over you because he can do the

best for you. There is thistles and thoughts that has to come out of

the out of the garden. And there are thistles and towns all around you

and me. Oh, that manager is a thistle and the thorn. Oh,

that lady is the thorn in the flesh. My neighbor is the thorn

in the thistles. I just don't like to go to this particular place.

I don't want to meet that person. I hate that person, but I

have to meet that person. The thorns and the thistles that has been torturing

you are your gentle reminder to bring back to your remembrance that God loves you

and he wants to rule over you. And the stones and thistles are the

curses that we have brought not obeying the will of God. God rules,

Heaven rules, and when he rules, he knows how to give the best

for you and for me, and he do that by bringing the best that

is his rule on the earth. Do you remember the prayer that God has

taught his disciples, Oh Father in Heaven, no, no, no,

no no, that's not the first word. The first word that he wanted

us to remember when we start praying is our father. Oh not my father.

You know, I can't hate you and go to the heaven. My

sister, I can't. How can I say our father when I don't like

my brother or sister who is going next to me. The Lord wants to

restore that relationship with your neighbor as well as to the heaven. And one

day then I can together in the heaven. I can't see that boss who

has been a thorn in the flesh, and he is a Christian, i'd

say our father in heaven, God will say whose father? Your father?

No, our father, but you don't like him. You don't like him.

The thorn an thistles from the ground is to make us to remind ourselves.

But I came from here, but I belong to him. Let me

repeat, I came from here, but I belong to him, and I

belong to him so I can go back to him. Church. Heaven rules

and he is waiting to rule over your life and knife. He's not a

tyrant. Let me tell you, he is not a tyrant with a whip

and said Kabba had Olivia, I whip you. So if you don't know,

you know what hurts him the most, What hurts him the boss is

when you see hurting, kicking against him, kicking against his plan, kicking

against his will. I like the way Pastor has said, what is success.

Success is being who you are, what God created you to be.

God wanted you to have dominion. God wanted you to have authority. God

wanted you to multiply and replenish. And if you are in a place where

you're not multiplying in your spiritual growth, in your physical growth, in your

financial growth, my people, I would recommend to take back a seat and

say, where is it. I have not submitted God, you rule over

my life. You're supposed to what to rule, to multiply, to replenish

and take the whole world around us. I am am I talking to somebody.

I'm a preaching to someone. Hey, you know what when? When

when when? As long as I am with God, I don't need to

I don't need it to really sweat and sweat is a curse from God.

Before that, I don't think he needed to use a deoderant and a spray?

Am I right or not? Deodrant and spray came after the man's sind

against God. Because he doesn't need to sweat more, he doesn't need throw,

he doesn't need to temo. All he needed to do is listen to

the voice of God. I think I think all he could have done is

to enjoy the walking with the woman. So, men, if we don't

walk with them a woman, there will be a date with some other serpent.

Pastor didn't here. I think I have to tell it again. No,

no, no, no, no, no, just kidding. So

God, God he to those who am not married. Men, sleep well,

sleep well. He will remove the rib from you to create the woman.

Don't struggle, don't thrive, don't run, and God go after lichend.

Why are you trying? Okay, right, that's so men, you

wanted to a better wife. Rest in the Lord. He gives sleep to

his beloved so that he can remove the rib because from him, through him,

to him is the blessing. And rather you can go to a back

go home and sleep. Brother, sleep to your eyes. Something so interesting

that that that that that why am I? Why am I coming here?

Hey? The clothing? How many of you really really find for me?

It is? How many of you really find it troublesome to iron every day?

To choose mixed match pasta is boring. I have to heat them,

I have to iron, I have to like suddenly my daughter will say this

and this not matching? Like he and you have to wear a shoeman.

This is boring. And this man, oh man, sin a woman's in

pasta okay, that we will discuss later today is women's there So this man

was groped in the glory of God, and there was such an attraction for

the man and the woman that even the animals have to obey him. At

the minute he sinned against the will and the plan of God, that glory

was stripped away, and we have to cover ourselves with the clothes you have

you ever felt, I feel like every time I have to iron, I

wish I don't need to iron. Why are we talking about this that Jesus

Christ came and and why is it that? Why have you ever wondered?

Have you ever wondered? The Hebrew way of punishing a person is not across.

The Hebrew way of punishing a person is not a cross. If you

read through the Old Testament, the Hebrew way of punishing a person is throwing

the stones and killing him. That Hebrew way of killing a person to throw

and then push them on the cliff. It's not hanging on the cross.

So why would Jesus want it to be hung on the cross of Calvary rather

than being taken out and stoned and to kill, because that's how the Hebrews

killed. But there is something that God has to fulfill. And the man

on that day when he listened to his women, and the man and the

woman had taken away the fruit from the knowledge, they lost the tree of

eternal life. And that tree of eternal life is the one that took Jesus

Christ. And Jesus Christ is here to say, I am the eternal life,

I am the Way, I am the Truth, and I am the

life. Have you ever wondered every curse in this earth has been from the

wood, tobacco, drink, the drugs. Have you ever noticed all these

things? The root is from this kind of trees. And Jesus Christ,

in his eternal glory and his advice, has taken up that cross, so

that that crosses that life, your life and my life. The tobacco,

the chewing, the drags, all those things, who are taken on the

eternal life. The minute I see the cross, there is no curse.

You can choose either the curse or the cross. The cross is not a

sad story. The cross is the power of salvation to those who preach.

I once was a sinner, I once was an addict. I once was

concerned consuming something. But he came to give life and life in abundance.

He ruled rules, and he wanted to rule over your life and my life.

Are we willing to surrender? And he took, he took, He

said, he said, man, you cannot be here with me. I

wanted you to stay away so that you will come in a relationship with me.

Do you know God has to chase away this man from the garden of

Eden, like what Paul said. He chased away the garden of Eden to

them to some other place. And my Jesus, who came from the eternal

glory, has not been crucified inside the city. He came out of the

city because he came in search for those who are lost. He came in

search for those who are lost. And some of us are so lost in

our work, some of us are so lost in our relationship. Some of

us are so lost in our self pity. Some of us are so lost

in our children. Some of us are lost. He says, I am

coming out of the town to meet you, so that I'm taking you back

to the place of victory. He's in search of you. If you are

outside someplace and you feel that there is no one around you, poor me,

I am alone, my and my child and my normalther family members.

Know that he came in search for you. You are not alone. He

came, and He is with you. He will never leave you nor forsake

you. He is the eternal Father, where you can proudly say I may

have left my father, my mother back in the country. I may have

left my other siblings somewhere, but I'm not alone because God is in the

place of storing and restoring his people in the kingdom he called. You are

a kingdom of priests, not alone. You are a kingdom of priest.

You are a royal priest. Today is no one poor. Have you ever

wondered? Have you ever wondered when Jesus Christ you and I may I mean

something that I don't agree When you put the cross unto Jesus Christ without anybody

except a shot small shots but there is a cloth that Jesus Christ to us

wary, and the four Roman soldiers were casting their dies because it's so costly.

My God is not poor. The four Roman soldiers cast their dies so

that they wanted that cloth not to be torn because it's so precious. And

he said, you are royal priesthood because he clothes you with the purple cloth

of royalty and an annointing that wherever I go, I am a sweet or

roma to those believers, but I am an order of death to those who

are cursed. And he took, and he took. Have you we passed

this so lightly and gently? You know? Oh? He took the thorn

in his on his head. Have you ever wondered why would he have to

take the thorn in his head? Why not thorn in his snake? Why

not thorne in his hand? Why not thorn in his said? Do you

know why? Because he lost this thorn and thistles were born out of disobedience,

You and I were inherently able to obey the God. The thorns and

thistles that Jesus Christ took has been a power to break that bondage in your

life that you don't need to struggle. You don't need to discourage, You

don't need to turmoil. You don't need to do a thing to goad o

God ally in him, high in him, you in me. He will

come to the God's glory. And he has taken the whip so that you

will be a blessing. I like preaching. I like I like as if

I'm preaching to somebody who has been struggling, if there is a constant thought

of feeling loneliness, if there is a constant feeling of depression, if you

are fighting in your office and in your envin man, you have been known

that you have all the intelligence and the knowledge that you have, but you

are not getting that proper opportunity to shine and to try. May I request

to you that you are a child of God like Paul. Paul had everything

that we will see later, and he was waiting that you will come.

You know, you know, like Jesus Christy, I am a believable Why

are you preaching to me? I am in the church. Why should you

preach to me? Right, I'm a writer, I'm a tither. I

say God, I bring my family. Do you know something like It's it's

like opening the window. There is heaven, and I wanted to allow you

into my dining room. I want to alloy you in my kitchen. But

God, this is my personal life. I don't want to give it to

you. Oh, he can't rule, He can't rule. He can't rule

because he is the father who gave you the dominion. You say, God,

anything is okay, but I don't want to give my free time.

Anything is okay, but I don't want to give you my this time.

You know what. He can't rule. The heaven rules, but it rules

through his people who are excuse proof, but who are full of exploits.

He has to rule. There are few areas in your life and in my

life. God wants to rule in spite of you being a Christian giving the

eternal I mean God the authority, but he is waiting. Hey, will

you please give open the door of room that has your richest God, anything

is okay, but not my finances. I go, I give ti t

but not my riches. Ha ha. Then he can't rule that area of

life. God, I'm okay to come on Sunday, I'm okay to serve

this and that. But my family time, my children, that's not so

comfortable to come to this place, to this ministry, I can't go.

You know what. He's not ruling it there, but he wants to rule

there. He want to rule there, do you know, like God,

I serve. I'm happy, But that particular friend, my neighbor, with

whom I spend a lot of time with. No, you know, it's

my time, but I'm going on Sunday, I'm going, Father, but

I don't want it to go or this particular meeting, because it's my time.

I play with my friend, I jog with my friend. You know

what. He's waiting to rule that area too. He's waiting to rule that

area too. So the title of the message is author and the finisher of

faith, all right Hebrews twelfth one. Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed

about about with so great a cloud of witnesses, will our life be a

witness? Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily

beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before

us. And verse two, looking unto Jesus, the Author and finisher of

our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, and ended

the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of

the throne of God. When a first thread is fair forcing also a compassed

with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weey.

You know what I thought. I thought like this that I am running a

race and Moses, Hebrews Leavin will talk about Abraham, Moses, Elijah,

so many people, and I thought they are all clapping for us, so

that we are completing the race. That's my first thought. But I read

it again. It is other way round. It is other way round because

they are not clapping. They are the witness that I see. You.

Remember like when I say God bless me, I am witnessing God Abraham as

witness that he can consider his wife's womb even though it is dead, to

be a blessing. I mean taking this opportunity. If you're doing a business

and your business is dead, Abraham believed God and the discounted Righteous, May

your business be a blessing and you will consider it as a God. And

second, Able offered a better sacrifice. See Bruce Levin talks about this Able

offered a better sacrifice than his brother, and it was accepted. May you're

blessing that you have been present here. May you're blessing that you're tight and

offering. May you're blessing that you are doing some small ministry, even one

song you are doing this, May that be a blessing. Let the heaven

rejoice, open up and pour the blessing on you and for me. You

know, like those are the witnesses, and they are the encourages. I

see Pastor Jack and doctor Jill coming with the three children every day, all

the way from whatever place that is and taking forty five minutes. I cannot

take an excuse because there is a cloud of witnesses that is coming. Hey,

don't tell me. Oh, they are different and I am different.

They are full time and I am time. You are a full time Christian.

There is nothing called us. A part time Christian in desert? Is

never never a full time Christian? Is it? You're a good brother after

your wife came? Yeah? Good? All right? So laying therefore,

we are compassed with so great a cloud of witness. Let us lay aside

every weight and the sin. What is it that is weighing you? What

is it that weighing you that we cannot run with God? What is it

you know what is a weight? Something that is more than what is needed

is called as a weight. And there is something that you carry in your

life and in my life. Maybe that's a friendship. Maybe that's a part

time job. Maybe that is a wrong, wrong kind of habits that you

and I have. Maybe it maybe a Netflix and Amazon and whatever view it.

Maybe maybe it is your Facebook. Maybe it is the hurt that you

carry that you don't need to carry in that because a burden for you and

for me. Am I speaking to somebody, Turn to somebody and said,

he's speaking to you, not to me. Because we are all perfect.

We are perfect, So laying aside every weight. Hey, can Jesus come

and lay aside your weight? No, he can't. There are a few

things God cannot There are a few things he cannot hate. He cannot curse

you because you are in the image of God. Do you know he cannot

bring obedience into your life. Submit yourself before the hand of God. I

cannot make you to submit, and God cannot make you to submit. You

have to submit. Jesus learned the obedience. One day, Olivia, you

will become obedient to the word of God. Cannot happen that is not going

to happen. That obedience has to be taught, because Bible says Jesus learned

the obedience of God by surendering to the God. He cannot give you obedience

overnight. He can give you a revelation overnight. Submission, obedience, surrender

comes as you walk with God, and He takes that pleasure as a sweet

aroma. That is more important. Don't ask God, God, humble me,

humble me. He will give you incidences to humble you. He will

bring you into surrounding where he can humble you. That lecturer maybe a thorn

in the flesh. That I am a lecturers, so I can say that

that student can be a thorn in the flesh. That I can't say a

wife. So I have to go back and no, no, I'm going

back home. I'm going back home. Mother. Say that brother maybe a

thorn. That owner may be a thorn. The neighbor can be a thorn.

Please do remember that God has allowed the thorn of flesh so that his

grace is enough for you. And His strength is made perfect in your weakness.

His strength is made perfect in your weakness. The more you see your

weakness, there is more chance for you to be a subject of God and

he rules. Am I making sense? The more you see the weakness,

the more there is a chance for you to surrender to God, and he

rules, and he smiles with the peace in your heart. So why am

I saying this looking unto Jesus, the author and the finishing of her faith.

Another thing that God spoke to my heart is I who was under the

imagination that I am starting to run from the earth from the time I came

to the knowledge of Christ, that I am going towards, running towards the

heaven so that I will meet the Christ and meet the God in the heaven.

But I don't think that is what is mentioned, because Bible says He

is the author and the finisher of the faith. So I am not going

from year to be, but I'm going to circle around like a running race.

The author is Jesus, the finisher is Jesus, and the starting point

is the finished work of Christ. I don't need to please God, you

know, I don't need to please God because He's pleased the minute Jesus Christ

is come into my heart. I in him, You in me the hope

of glory because the starting point of the day is when I accepted Jesus Christ

as a Lord and savior. He smelled, this is my beloved son in

whom I am well pleased. I'm well pleased. So he doesn't want you

to take the thorn. He has taken the thorn. That you are.

I said, you are blessed. You are starting to run the race from

the place of victory. You are not supposed. You don't need to bring

the tithe and offering. You are not giving the titan offering. May I

take the May I take the privilege? Can I say? I think even

Pastor Kenneth will not say, the Church do not need your money. He's

his kingdom. His will be done, and he will build his kingdom.

Whether we give or not. You are being a part of the kingdom so

that the kingdom authority comes into your life. You are blessed by the Church

because the gates of Hades cannot come by gainst the Kingdom of God. That

every tithe and offering is the hedge of protection that you give around yourself.

Every time Sunday morning you're sitting here. The Church don't know you, but

you are a part of church, so that the gates of hades. Hell

cannot prevail against you. The minute if you are being here, the head

is and the hell are shaking because they cannot prevail against you. The author

and the finisher of the faith is the Christ. So I cannot please Christ

while I am running alone. Do you know, like the pace set is

while they are jogging and running, they will be having somebody who is pacing,

who is running beside me. The Holy Spirit is running beside me.

He is setting the pace and he is telling lay aside that hurt from the

past. Forgive that person from the past. When you say, God,

I cannot forgive that person, he is still waiting. But you are walking

alone. There is no pace, and there is a pain. He rules,

He rules in power, but he's waiting in love. Will you surrender?

Will you surrender? I tell this from the time I left India the

last twelve years, I have never ever ever felt that I am alone.

The reason is I have so great a cloud of witnesses. Every time somebody

sees and they say, this is what Jesus has done. I have a

brother in Christ. I have somebody alone. The minute you feel alone,

tell God where I have left that person who is running beside, because if

he is running beside, I'm going to have communion. I cannot feel alone.

I will not feel alone. I shouldn't feel alone. My boyfriend may

leave me, my job may leave me, my money may not leave me.

But when I am having these paraclitos, who is running beside me?

There are no loneliness. Hello, Heaven rules, and he is ruling in

your heart. As long as you open he rules, it is finished.

It is from that place we have to start. You know, you know,

just because it's just because you don't read Bible that one day you have

to read Bible because you want to hear God. Just because you don't read

Bible, there is not a rod comes from the heaven and the tom you

didn't read the Bible today, you will meet with an accent. That's nonsense.

That's the curse of the enemy. Or you don't pray today because you

didn't pray, shoe there is a wish coming up and say somebody will hurt.

You know that's not But you and I are supposed. My daughters are

looking. Why are you making me to read every day? That is to

change still? Wellies, because you needed to hear God that you will want

to walk in the same pace with him. Sometimes he will tell you slow

down. That anger, the word that you want to tell that person is

not right. When you slow down, the heaven rules, and he will

fight against them. Church, it's heighter that we wake up. We are

not running alone the minute I am running alone, the minute I left my

wife and my children, and I am running alone for a ministry. I

am afar. You see sad. You see sad to see I'm a fantasy,

and sata see the minute I am leaving, the minute I am going

to do something. And when I am alone, I don't want to show

my wife how much I am earning. I don't want it to show to

somebody far. You see sad, you see raising your hand and singing Hallelujah.

You are alone, my brother, you are alone, my sister.

Galactians two twenty says I I like the word I have been crucified. Wait,

Christ, some of them are not living sacrifice. They don't. We

don't want it to God. I'm not ready to be crucified. I'm not

ready to crucify my wife. I'm not ready to crucify my girlfriend. You

know that is holding me. I'm not being a living sacrifice. I am

not God. Everything is okay, my player time, don't touch everything is

okay. That money that you ask me to send a mission trip, no

no, no, no, that's for my family. Oh who gave you

the family? Man? Who gave you the family? So heaven't rules as

far as you alone, God, I am. I'm ready to be crucified

with you. But my work time from Monday to Friday, no cannot pastor

as cannot, cannot cannot. You are yet to be crucified, Brother,

to be crucified. I am crucified with Christ. It is no longer I

who live, but who is living? But Christ lives in me. When

Christ lives in me, walking the walk of God is easy, Witnessing is

easy. I don't know how he will feel if I talk about Jesus,

if he is getting offended, the life of Christ is not living in me

because he offended. He preached to Pharisees, sad disease. He preached to

the Romans, he preached to everyone he sees. But if I am saying

I wanted to respect your faith and I am not sharing, Christ is not

living. Christ is not living. Christ didn't call the group of believers and

preach for them. He's poke to everyone who met. And are you speaking

the word of God? Are you witnessing? Are you testifying? Because He

is living in you and he can testify what God has done in you.

God, Why is it that I am laying hands but there is no power

of God, There is no healing and working of miracles because Christ is not

living in me. I am not walking with Christ in few areas, and

that is not being reflected in the areas of my life, in my prayers

and in healing. If Christ has been walking and testifying to the Jews and

to the Greek, he went to the Samaritan woman. When is the last

time that you have spoken your faith to some Samaritan woman who is wearing something.

It's easy to say, praise the Lord, Paster Jack, I love

you, I prayed for you. It is not so easy to go and

say to somebody who is from a different faith. And if you and I

are not walking to those Samaritan women and preaching the good news to them,

pointing out to Christ, Christ is not living in me. When is the

last time, brother, When is the last time, sister, that you

actually spoke the word of God? To somebody, to some Summaritan woman taken

time out to meet those people. I know you're from a different faith,

but this is what my God has done. When is the last time?

Don't let us not. I'm so sorry to use this word. Let us

not be a hypocrite coming here and say, celest I love you. God,

bless you, sister, God bless you. But when I see somebody,

I smile and walk away, knowing their life is going into the eternal

hell and I am not doing anything there. But Christ lives in me and

the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith.

What did He do? He gave himself for me. You know something that

God has challenged me while I was sharing, while I prepared this message,

while I was contemplating my life, I think it should speak to you.

Is your life across where Christ is seen by people around us? I repeat?

Is your life like that cross where Jesus was hanging. Is your life

across where Christ can be seen by others? Is your life across? Are

you the replica of Christ? He don't tell me that you can't preach the

gospel in your school. Don't tell me that you can't preach the Gospel in

your office. Don't tell me, don't tell me, Thus says the Lord

God. I'm not saying that, but you can share your testimony what God

has done for your life and in my life, and His life is revealed

through you, because that small prayer will start to heal that person minute.

You're willing to make your life as a cross. The donkey was being spoken

today. Will your life be the donkey upon which Christ comes to your school

and to the church. Will your life be the donkey that comes to your

office and to your surrounding. Will your life be the donkey that carries the

Christ to the hospital, to the friend you obviousity, Christ list in me.

It is no longer I who live, but Christ in him. So

there are a few things that cross set free by ay something I was challenged.

I was challenged by few things in my life. I was challenged by

a few things in my life. You are set God has delivered you from

Sinna'm right? Yeah, How many of us are delivered from the evil from

the sin? How many of us life is free from sin? Come and

let's is your hand? Five six seven? Some of them are not redeemed.

It laying of the leg is needed. Is your life free from your

God delivered you from something something? Yeah, so God delivered you forwards,

forwards. I can't say this string has to be taken away. Whose o

a guitar it is? I cannot say that removing this string. Is free

from sin and the string is hanging, will it make glory? Will it

make a music? So you cannot be redeemed by sin alone, But you

have to be redeemed to witness. You cannot be redeemed. You cannot be

redeemed onely from the sin and from the sickness and the pain, so that

you are hanging loose like a string that has not been tied, making not

making melody. But it has to be for the witness and the glow of

God that brings the memory melody, and that is what will bring glory to

God. You are free from sin, but free for God to do his

work. You're free for God to do his work. Brother. Next,

I think I have discussed this. Can you go to that video? We

will wrap it up. Children, help me out with the video. Guys,

there is a video for the children. Last minute you say it is

an escape. Acts nine one through thirty. After the Jews stone Stephen,

a pharisee named say it is a quest for Christians children. There is a

quiz. There are few people in this story. I wanted to know who

are all the people in the story? Is it okay? How many people?

Not the cartoon, I'm not talking about the cartoon. How many names?

How many any names? Are there coming in this cartoon? All the

children? Are you guys ready? You will have a chocolate from pasta Jack

Saul's Conversion and Escape Acts nine one through thirty. After the Jews stoned Stephen,

a pharisee named Saul became very active in persecuting Christians. He went to

the believers homes and had them arrested, imprisoned, beaten, or even killed.

Saul terrorized the church. When Christians moved away to other places, Saul

was determined to find them and bring them back to Jerusalem for punishment. Saul

went to the High Priest and asked for letters to show the Jews and the

synagogues and Damascus. If he found any Christians there, he would have permission

to bring them back. As Saul and his guards traveled the road to Damascus,

a bright light suddenly shone on him. It was so bright that Saul

could not see and fell down on the ground with his eyes closed. Then

he heard a voice call his name, Saul, Saul, why are you

persecuting me? Who are you? Saul called out, I am Jesus,

the one you are persecuting. It is hard for you to fight against me,

isn't it, Saul, the Lord said. Saul was afraid. What

do you want me to do? He asked, Get up and go into

the city. Someone will tell you what to do, said Jesus. The

men traveling with Saul were shocked. They could hear the voice, but they

could not see anyone. When Saul stood up and opened his eyes, he

was blind. His men had to lead him by the hand to Damascus.

Saul could not see for three days. During that time, he did not

eat or drink anything. Meanwhile, the Lord spoke to a faithful disciple in

the city, Annanias, called Jesus. I am here, Lord said Anna

Anias, go to a street called straight. Jesus instructed at the house of

a man named Judas, asked for Saul of Tarsus. He is praying.

He has seen a vision of you putting your hand on him and restoring his

side. The names were mentioned in this How many what are the names?

Come on children? Ah ah? And then I asked Saul, and I

asked, no, any o the any of the name, any of the

name Jesus, very good, any of the name, any of the people

Judas, Wow, give me a fire. You are perfectly correy. So

my daughter is going to kill me. I told you, that's okay,

that's okay. We need to give while while while I was preparing this,

there are a few Pauls in this house. Not this PAULA this is a

good Paul. You know, we like Paul was religiously correct. Paul is

not somebody who is ordinary. He circcumcised on the eighth day. He is

a Jew, He's a Pharisee. He learned in the best school in that

time, in the room as well as so he is high on the top

order. He was religiously attending the synagogue. He was there when Stephen was

killed. He was there as a witness, and he got the authority from

the rulers that they can he can go and arrest anyone. But yet he

is not in the right. It's standing with God. Some of us are

like that. We are in the church. We are then all the prayer

meeting and the services and da da da name anything and everything that we are

there, but there is no peace, and we are there to hurt and

to kill and to storm and bring bruis in other person's life. Because I

think I am better than you. You have to comfort. The prayer meeting

orders you are a sinner. The Lord says, I do not want a

Saul who is hurting himself. But there is something good in Saul. That's

why God spoke to you. And God is talking to you and to me

today, Saul, if there is something to have you realized, Like he's

walking with a group of people, probably he is arresting them and he's going

to hurt them. He is dragging them, and now he's become blind because

he is spiritually blind. If you are that person who has all the gifts

and the talents that you can find a job, you have every gifts and

talents that you can show off, but there is a possibility that you are

constrained and that blessing is not come to you because God is telling you are

like Paul, you are hurting other person in the church. The hurt that

I carry with my senior pastor, with the old old leaders and the mentors,

the hurt that I am still talking about with those people in the church

who did not appreciate me. Paul, Saul, Saul, why are you

kicking? I wanted to call this group of people those who feel I'm constrained.

I'm kicking. I'm working, but I'm not able to see the full

blessing. May I ask you, while we are praying, raise your hand.

You will be converted from to saulve today there is another interesting person in

this part called us Ananas. Our friend is getting a call from God.

Pastor, Oh go and pray for Oh this man, this man is arresting,

this man is killing. Pastor. If God is calling you to go

to that person and pray for him, may God give you the grace to

go and preach because God has called you and me to move away from the

church goer to be a discipler. He took the responsibility. Anany has took

the responsibility. Anana has took the chance. Anani has heared God. And

he walked up to Paul and said, you are a sinner wretch. No,

do you know what is the word? He said, Brother, Saul.

Brother, Saul, may I ask you, my brothers and sister,

if you are not listen to this carefulia, listen to this carefulia. If

I am without a discipler, I am without a discipline. If I am

not, I am not submitting to somebody, I am not submitting to seller.

I'm not submitting because in the ministry I needed to submit to somebody to

be mentored. If I am not you are coming here on Sunday, you're

going back on Sunday. Don't lie to yourself. You're not a disciple at

pastor. Is that right to say that you're coming on Sunday going away from

Sunday. You are not ready to submit. You're not ready to meet other

people on other day, maybe on a Sunday, maybe on homes. I

can come, but I don't want you to preach to me. I don't

want to spend time with you. A person without a disciple is not a

disciple. He is a believer. Jesus said, go and make disciples,

not believe us. If you are that person, Balaji, I come to

church, I pray, I do all that, but I am not ready

yet to submit. And now is the time for you to move away from

Paul, to be an ananias God wants ananias. He wants you to be

blessed. Find somebody who can be discipleed by you and be a disciple.

And last, but not the least, you know what, as soon as

can you finish it off, we will finish. This is the last part.

Ann Anius was afraid. He had heard about Saul. Saul has done

evil to the believers in Jerusalem. Lord, he has letters from the High

Priest to arrest the Christians here and take them back. Go to Saul.

I have chosen him to be my witness to the Gentiles, Kings and Jews.

He will suffer many things for testifying in my name, Jesus said.

Annaius obeyed. He found Saul and put his hands on him. Something like

scales fell from Saul's eyes, and through the power of the Holy Spirit,

he was able to see again. He was then baptized, to show that

he had trusted in Jesus as his savior. Saul spent many days talking with

the disciples at Damascus and learning about Jesus from them. In the synagogues,

Saul boldly preached to the Jews that Jesus is the Son of God. Everyone

was amazed at the change in Saul. They had trouble believing that this same

man who was killing Christians in Jerusalem was now preaching about Christ in Damascus.

The Jewish leaders there decided that Saul was a traitor and should be killed.

They watched the gates of the city day and night, planning to grab Saul

if he tried to leave the city. Saul found out about the plan and

didn't go through the city gate. Instead, the believers put Saul in a

large grain basket. Carefully and quietly, they him over the city walls to

safety. Saul escaped back to Jerusalem, but because of Saul's reputation for killing

Christians, things did not go well there either. When he tried to join

the disciples, they were afraid of him and would not believe he was a

Christian. God helped a Jewish believer named Barnabas to realize that Saul was a

Christian. Barnabas took Saul to the Apostles, the church leaders at the time.

Barnabas told the apostles how Saul had seen and talked with Jesus on the

road to Damascus. And how Paul had preached boldly in the synagogues and Damascus,

and how he had to escape by night because the Jews wanted to kill

him. Finally, the believers in Jerusalem accepted Saul as a true Christian.

Saul spent much time with them, preaching and teaching about the Lord. In

fact, Saul was so bold in his preaching that he put his life in

danger again. He had to leave Jerusalem. The believers took him to Cesarea

and sent him by ship to his hometown of Tarsus. If God can save

a terrible person like Saul, then he can save anyone. God loves all

people and wants all of them to trust in Him as their savior. That

is why he gave us the job of telling others about him. Let's be

faithful in sharing God's message of salvation. Paul, as soon as he was

with the disciples, he went to the synagogue to preach. And this synagogue

needs you to serve the Lord. This synagogue needs you because the disciple is

blessed by the synagogue, not a the weir. If you are not serving

in any ministry in this church, take a heart, pray a moment.

It's high time that Paul is to serve the synagogue. There is a discipline

that comes from God. There is a discipleship, and then there is a

ministry. May I invite you that you will not kick against God and carry

the burden and the pain, that you will be disciples by somebody ready to

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

on our church, please visit as Church to RG. We are also active

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good week. I hate for you. God bless