2:50 Let's sing the first song. Worship the king. Praise him and sing. Worship 3:21 the King. [music] Praise [singing] him and sing Jesus [singing and music] the lamb upon the throne. [singing and music] Glorious 3:40 his name. [music] Never [singing] the same. No one is [music and singing] Lord and King but Jesus alone. [singing] [music] 3:57 Bright morninging star. [singing] [music] [singing] Worthy [music] of gloryy. Worship [singing] [music] and praise. 4:16 Worship [singing] the King. Praise him [music] and sing. Jesus [singing] the lamb [music] upon the throne. [music] Glorious 4:36 [singing] his name. [music] Ever the same. No [music and singing] one is God and King but Jesus [music] [singing] alone. No one is No [music] 4:54 one is God and King but [singing] Jesus alone. [music] Please be seated dear brothers and sisters. >> [music] 5:20 [music] >> Lord, I bow [singing] in all before your throne and I worship [singing] the lamb seated [music] on the [singing] throne. Lord, I stand and behold 5:38 [music and singing] God's perfect son and the glory of the Lord. I see. >> Listen that again from the top. >> Lord, [singing] I bow [music] in all before your throne and I worship [singing] 5:57 the lamb seated [music] on the throne. Lord [singing] I stand [music] and behold God's perfect son and the [music and singing] glory of the Lord I see you are the [singing and music] king of 6:19 glory. You are seated on the throne [singing] high and lifted [music] up and God alone. [singing] Your [music] city is majestic with endless streets of [singing] gold. 6:37 And the city [music] is luring by the glory [singing] of the Lord. [music] Lord, [singing] I bow in all before your throne [music] and I worship the lamb seated 6:57 [music and singing] on the throne. Lord, I stand and behold God's [music and singing] perfect son and the glory of the Lord. I [music] see you are [singing] the king of glory. You 7:18 are robed in [music] mesty. The elders [singing] fall before you on their [music] knees. the nations pure and [singing] tremble before [music] your holy face. You're 7:35 the alpha [singing] and omega who makes [music] all things new. Lord, [singing] I bow [music] in all before your throne and I worship [singing] the lamb seated [music] 7:55 on the throne. Lord, I [music] stand and behold God's [singing] perfect son and the glory of the [music] Lord. I see. Yes. The [singing and music] glory of 8:14 the Lord I see [music] [music] [music] the wonderful [music] grace of Jesus 8:38 greater than all my sin. How [music] shall my tongue describe [singing] it? Where shall his grace begin? [music] Taking away my burden, [singing] setting [music] my spirit free. 8:57 For the wonderful grace of [singing and music] Jesus reaches me. [music] Wonderful and matchless race of Jesus. [singing] Deeper than [music] the mighty rolling sea. Higher [singing] than the mountain, 9:14 sparking like a fountain. All sufficient grace for even [music and singing] me. Gorder than the scope of my transgression. [singing and music] Bring the father all my sin and shame. Oh magnify the precious [music and singing] 9:30 name of Jesus. Praise his name. [music] Brother sing this next verse. Wonderful [singing] grace of Jesus. [music] Reaching to all the Lord. By it [music and singing] I have been pardoned, 9:50 saved to the uttermost. [music] things have [singing] been torn a giving [music] me liberty for the [singing] wonderful grace of Jesus reaches [music] [singing] 10:07 me all together wonderful the master's grace [music] of Jesus deeper than the [singing] mighty rolling sea higher than the [music] mountain sparkling like a fountain or sufficient grace for even me 10:26 this [music] rope of might father [singing] all my sin and shame. Oh magnify the precious [music] name of Jesus [singing] praise his name and sisters alone sing [music] the next verse. Wonderful [singing] 10:44 grace of Jesus reaching the most divine [singing and music] by his transforming power. Making him go your child, [music] purchasing peace in heaven 11:03 for all [singing] eternity. And the [music] wonderful grace of Jesus reaches all together. >> Wonderful the masterless grace of Jesus. [music] But then the [singing] mighty rolling 11:21 sea higher than the mountain [music and singing] sparkling like a fountain. All sufficient grace for even me. [music] Broader than the scope of my precious. Praise the [music and singing] Father in all my sin and shame. Oh, magnify the 11:40 precious name of Jesus. Praise [music] his name. [music] Sing the next song. Salvation belongs to our God. Salvation [music] 11:59 [singing] belongs to our God. >> [music] >> who reigns [singing] upon the [music] throne and unto [singing and music] 12:16 the Lamb. Praise [singing] [music] and glory, wisdom and [singing] thanks, honor and power [singing] and strength. [music] Be to our God [music] forever [singing] 12:40 and ever. Be to our [singing] God forever [music] and ever. Be [music] to our [singing] God forever and ever. Amen. [music] And we [music and singing] the redeemed 13:07 shall be strong [music] in purpose [singing] and unity. [music and singing] declaring our love. Praise [singing and music] 13:27 and glory, wisdom and thanks, honor [singing] and [music] power and strength. Be to our [singing and music] God forever 13:46 and ever. [singing] Be to our God [music] forever and ever. [singing] Be to our God forever [music] and ever. Amen. Let's do that again. Holy voices. 14:05 Be [music and singing] to our God forever and ever. [singing] Be to our God forever [singing] and ever. [music] Be to our [singing] God forever 14:25 and ever. Amen. [music] [music] Jesus [music] savior. Wonderful Savior, [music] 14:44 [singing] thou art more than life to be. Once again, Jesus [music] savior. Jesus, [singing] Savior, wonderful [music] Savior. Thou art more [singing and music] than life to me. 15:03 I will [music and singing] thou thee, Lord, forever. Thou was crucified [music] for me. Thou [music] hast redeemed [singing] 15:22 me. Now [music] I'm thine eternally. Jesus, [music] Savior, wonderful [singing] Savior. Thou [music] art what more than life to be. 15:42 Who am [music and singing] I on earth beside [music] thee? Who am I [singing] in [music] heaven with thee? Oh my savior, Lord [singing and music] 16:00 and Master, thou are all [music and singing] in it all to me. Jesus, Savior, [music] wonderful Savior, thou [singing] art more [music] than 16:17 life to me. I [singing] am waiting [music] for that morning [singing] when thy glorious face [music] I see. Till the death [music] 16:37 this [singing] world despise me. Savior [music] I [singing] will walk with thee. Jesus, Savior, [music] wonderful [singing] Savior, 16:54 thou [music] art more than life to me. [music] 17:16 Heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the works of his hand. Let [music] everything on earth keep silent [singing] 17:34 before you, oh God. [music] The heavens declare the [singing] glory of God. The skies proclaim 17:51 the [music] works of his hands. Let everything on earth keep silent [music and singing] before you, oh God. Holy [music and singing] are you Lord. Worthy [music and singing] are you Lord. 18:20 We worship [music and singing] you and adore you. Holy [singing] God. Holy [singing] are you Lord. [music] 18:38 Worthy [singing] are you Lord. [music] We worship [singing] and adore you holy [music and singing] God. To you [music] oh Lord. [singing] 19:01 All honor and praise for you deserve the highest praise. [music] All majesty, [singing] dominion, power [music] to you, oh God. [singing] Holy [singing and music] are you, Lord. 19:28 Worthy [singing] are you Lord. [music] We worship [singing and music] and adore you. Holy [singing and music] God. [singing] 19:47 Holy [music] are you Lord. Worthy [singing and music] are you Lord. We [singing] worship 20:03 and adore you. Holy [singing] God. [music] Let's all stand up and sing the last song. Majesty. Worship his majesty. Majesty. 20:25 [music] Worship his majesty. [music] Unto [music and singing] Jesus be all gloryy, [music] 20:41 power, and praise. Majesty, [singing] [music] kingom [singing and music] authority flow [singing and music] from his throne 21:03 unto his own [music] his praise. Oh exalt, lift [music and singing] up on high the name of Jesus. 21:22 [music] Magnify, [singing] come glorify Christ [music and singing] Jesus the king. [music] Majesty. Worship his [singing and music] majesty. 21:49 Jesus [music and singing] who died now glorified. King [music and singing] of all kings. Jesus who died. Jesus [music and singing] who died now glorified. [music] 22:08 King [singing] of all kings. Let's bow our heads in prayer. 22:43 Let's quieten our spirits and minds for the Lord. He deserves all our attention and praise and worship. He has showed showed to us tremendous 23:08 mercy. We all stand because of his sacrifice, love and mercy. It's not we have come on our own initiative. 23:26 The Lord has gathered us because he has given faith and repentance, given us senses to see our own need. He has brought us to repentance 23:50 because of his kindness. It's immense mercy from him. Let's come before his throne in confidence and also with deep repent 24:09 uh deep gratitude to all that he has done. Let's keep our mind from all distractions. Scripture says in Romans 10 verse 9 24:43 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. What a privilege. For with the heart a person believes 25:05 resulting in righteousness and with the mouth he confesses resulting in his salvation. For the scripture says whoever believes in him will not be disappointed. But there is no distinction between Jew or Greek. For the same Lord is the Lord of all, 25:26 abounding in riches for all who call upon him. Let's call upon him. Give him all praise due unto his name. Brothers and sisters, let's take time to give thanks to the Lord. Lord, we thank you. Lord, thank 25:43 you for your mercy and love. Lord, your sacrifice indeed. Lord, thank you. Praise you all. Praise and glory Lord. Lord Jesus, thank you. Father, thank you. Praise you. All praise and glory and honor to you, Father. Lord, you have 26:00 loved us with an everlasting love. Lord, thank you. Thank you very much, Lord. Our heart is filled with gratitude to you. Lord, thank you that you are on the throne. You have authority in heaven, on earth, Lord. You You have complete 26:18 strength and power, sovereignty. Lord, thank you. We thank you. All praise and glory and worship belongs to you, oh Lord Jesus. Thank you for giving yourself to redeem us from this dark and perversed world. Lord, thank you very 26:35 much. Thank you, Jesus. Thank you for sending us the Holy Spirit. Thank you, Holy Spirit. Dear Father, we thank you, Father, for your goodness and mercy. And uh amazingly, you gathered us today. You've given us another day to live for 26:51 you and glorify you and be a witness for you. Thank you for this wonderful day, Lord. We expect from you, Lord. We pray, Father, that through your spirit move in our midst and touch our hearts. Lord, you be glorified and magnified. 27:10 Lord, we want to see you lifted up, glorified. Lord remove the scales of our eyes. Eyes of our heart be open. Pierce our ears that we hear your voice. 27:26 Man shall only live by the word which proceeds from your mouth. Thank you very much. You're willing to speak to us because you love us. You care for us. Thank you. Thank you for this wonderful day. Lord, we commit ourselves. We trust 27:42 you, Father, in Jesus name. Amen. Please be seated brothers and sisters. We look into our memory verse. Just say it loud and 27:58 clear so that we'll remember. Uh we just uh repeat last Sunday's [snorts] memory verse. That was a command. Um just uh say it after me. 1 Thessalonians 4:1. Make it your ambition 28:22 to attend to your own business and work with your hands. And this week we have a promise. Please repeat after me. 2 Thessalonians 28:38 chapter 3 verse 16. May the Lord of peace continually grant you peace in every circumstances. Many times Paul writes saying, "Peace 28:58 and grace be with you." Peace is a real gift of God. Most of the people in the world don't have peace in their hearts because something is not settled. Peace is a gift from God. Let's say it again with faith that the Lord 29:16 grants peace in our heart so that we our heart will be right before him. Uh 2 Thessalonians 3:16, "May the Lord of peace continually grant you in peace 29:35 in every circumstances." We're happy to hear words shared by brother Charles. Brother Charles, over to you. In scripture 30:11 we read often the Lord saying remember the word remember. He says in Hebrews, if you you have your Bibles, you could turn with me to 30:30 Hebrews 10:17. Here the Lord is speaking about the new covenant that he's going to establish. This is the new covenant in verse 17 30:46 verse 16. This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws upon their heart and upon their mind. I will write them. And then says, "And their 31:03 sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." So this is God's promise in the new covenant. He said, "I will write my laws and my commandments 31:21 on their heart and in their mind, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." And uh the Lord created 31:42 us in order that we may be thankful to him and grateful to him and remember him every day of our life for all that we receive. Some may wonder and say what is it that God has given me? Why I should be 31:59 thankful to God for some people have that question. But the very fact that you're sitting here is a miracle. You came walking on your two legs is a miracle. People have no legs. Maybe they 32:17 have one and they hobble and come or they come on wheelchair. The fact that your breathing is a miracle. Many people's breath has stopped and they're 6 ft under and the fact that you able to see things 32:34 and enjoy them that God has been merciful to you in giving eyes and sight. The fact that you go to washroom to relieve yourself. There are people using diapers and there are people attending to them 32:52 and so many things we take for granted. We don't remember what God has done for us and does for us. The psalist says in Psalm 103, "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me, bless his 33:10 holy name. Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget none of his benefits. And we have been loaded with benefits. Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone. Life is more important than food and 33:28 clothing and shelter." And we have all that. And the Lord says, "Remember those things." And he also says certain things not to remember. He says, "Don't remember or bring to your mind 33:48 things of the past. Behold, I'm doing something new and it's going to happen now." So, the Lord is in the business of renovation and recreation and regeneration. The Lord said, "I will 34:07 make everything new, a new heaven and new earth." And that this present heaven and earth that we see will be gone one day, will be burnt up with intense heat, Peter says. And the Lord says he will 34:24 make a new earth and new heaven where righteousness dwells and where we will dwell with him. Behold, the dwelling of God is among men. It says in revelation. So the Lord wants to come 34:44 and dwell with us and the Lord wants us to remember all the good things that he has promised and kept for us. When the thief on the cross 35:02 asked Jesus, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus immediately said, "You shall be with me in paradise today." And Jesus the father 35:19 is so compassionate and loving towards us that he doesn't turn away anybody who comes to him in repentance. Jesus said that clearly. He who comes to me, I will never cast him out. So there is no one who can say I came to 35:38 Jesus but he cast me out. He sent me out. Jesus never does that. But at the same time the Lord wants us to do one more thing that's he wants us to remember something. 35:57 Remember that you can turn with me to Hebrews 13 verse1 17. I will read that in the living Bible. It says, "Remember 36:19 your leaders who have taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives and try to trust the Lord as they do. The Lord does not want us to forget. You 36:37 know, many people have a tendency to receive, receive, receive, receive all the time and then forget it. But you do something bad to them, they will never forget that. I hope you know that 36:54 the bad that people have done to us, we remember them more than the good that we have received from them. That is our natural human tendency. And in the message Bible, the same thing it says, remember or appreciate your 37:10 pastoral leaders who have who gave you the word of God. Take a good look at the way they live and let their faithfulness instruct you as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency 37:33 that should drum in all of us when it comes to scripture like this. We should remember our elders who have slogged all these years in bringing us to 37:51 a level that what we are today. Why I'm speaking these things to to you today is last Wednesday was our dear brother Zach's 86th birthday. Since it was Wednesday, we couldn't 38:07 u do anything because we don't have Wednesday physical meeting but online virtual meeting we have Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday depending upon the location where we live. But 38:24 you remember this church started 50 years ago, half a century is over. And it started in a house because God began this work not by might, not by power, not by any man's 38:43 bright idea, but by the spirit of God. When brother Zach and brother Ian were in a Baptist church where they don't believe that Baptists believe only in water baptism and when 39:01 they started speaking about the spirit baptism they didn't like it and then they asked them to leave and they left and the Lord started this CFC church here and in other places of India and 39:19 abroad nearly 117 churches with nearly 300 elders whom we don't call pastors but elders none of them in the last 50 years have taken one rupee as a salary and have 39:38 passed offering bags to collect your offering. nor have they preached on tithing because we don't believe in that. That is a old covenant law. Tithing was a old covenant law and we don't force anybody to give. 39:58 Also, we don't take an offering. There are five conditions of offering. Last week we were talking with two Muslim friends and they were telling hey in their church they don't 40:14 take any money from people and you know they kept offering box and even on the offering box there are few conditions to give only if you fulfill those conditions you can put you can cheerfully give your offering. Muslims 40:33 they were telling about CFC. I was glad to hear that. And you know these brothers are elder brothers here and other places. They work and carry the church, 40:51 the people of the church in their heart day and night 247. They're always available and they do it joyfully and voluntarily. And how much more we need to reverence 41:09 them and respect them and bring joy and delight to their heart by living an upright life by living in obedience to God's word and to their teaching. That's why the word of God says remember 41:26 those who led you. We have seen and observed these two brothers, brother Zach and brother Ian how they for 50 years. Yesterday I was talking to one brother. He was telling how so many churches disintegrated. 41:43 So many elders split and started their own churches. And you know because two people cannot agree because each one of them thinks that he is somebody and the other person has to 42:01 listen to him. That's the problem everywhere because we all have the same flesh and I think I am right and others wrong and they think they are right and I am wrong. That's the problem with this. But the cross is the answer to this. When I 42:20 deny my will that is taking up the cross. When I give into the other person for the sake of peace I yield to him then there will be fellowship. One person humbling 42:39 brings peace and both of them humbling brings fellowship. real genuine fellowship not artificial fellowship not plastic smile genuiness. So these brothers 42:58 despite being illspoken of and um so much of reproach from christryendom they held on to the calling that God 43:14 gave them. They stuck to their calling. They preached without wavering. They shared the word of God without soft peddling 43:32 and they were mistreated. They were spoken ill of and the whole christendom turned against them. You do not remember that because most of you have come newly. 43:49 I'm talking about 40, 45, 50 year old story. Brother Zach was considered to be a false teacher, false teaching, heretic and so many names they called them by. 44:07 But that didn't deter them. They continued. It is easy to find fault but it is difficult to appreciate and it's easy to criticize. Before you criticize anybody, ask yourself what you 44:26 have done. Have you at least established one small fellowship or built a small gathering, a church? And these brothers over the over 50 44:44 years have established so many churches all over. And it is easy to criticize my brothers and sisters because that's how we are made. That is our fleshly trait. 45:02 And remember these brothers worked hard ignoring threats, ridicule, persecution, but persevered, not retaliating, not justifying 45:20 themselves. People wrote articles against them. They could have written back to justify with scripture, but they didn't do that. Jesus said, "A good shepherd lays down his life for a sheep." And these people, 45:39 these brothers, founders, literally laid down their lives for our sake. They were available any time. With their wise godly counsel, they led us, guided us and taught us and if I can use the word 46:05 educated spiritually they educated us and today we have come to a certain level is because of them and our individual lives have been changed. changed. Our family lives have been changed. Our interpersonal relationship with one 46:24 another is changed. Our church life is changed. And there are so many changed lives here. All because of the preaching of the word of the cross. And you know, as I said, a good shepherd 46:43 lays down his life for a sheep. Think of David when he was tending his sheep. A lion came, snatched a lamb, he went after that. A bear came, 46:59 snatched a lamb, he went after that and got it by the lion's beard and hammered it and killed and brought back the lamb. That is the good shepherd. 47:19 The hierling the moment he sees the wolf or whatever predator is coming, he runs away to save his skin. But whereas David didn't do that, that's why the Lord was so delighted in all that David 47:35 did. Not only from tending his flock as a teenager till his death, the Lord was with him and he testified about him that this is a man after my own heart. Even his attitude towards his enemies 47:54 Saul, Abnner, Abselum, they all wanted to finish him off and so many other kings also. But because the Lord was with him, he was in a majority. One man with God is always a majority. 48:13 And God helped him in everything. Lifted his head up. He says, "Thou shalt anoint my my head in the presence of my enemies." He says the Lord did it for him because 48:31 he was true to God. And brothers and sisters, it's all the more important for us to remember our leaders. It says in 1 uh Timothy 5:17, 1 Timothy 5:17, 48:49 it says, "The elders who rule well over you are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching." 49:06 last uh Sunday I think they celebrated brother Zach's birthday in NCCF church and there um brother Jeremy was telling about this words he was telling it is not just double honor it 49:24 is triple honor or quadruple honor or I would say pentuple honor give The leaders who selflessly work for you without taking a salary, without taking 49:42 an offering, without being paid, but they do it voluntarily. Consider them as worthy of double honor and especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching. The Amplified 50:00 Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 1 Thessalonians 5:12, it says, "Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you. Recognize them for what they are, and acknowledge and appreciate and respect 50:18 them all. your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you. And you know they lived a life in such a way 50:36 that they were not hesitant to say like Jesus said follow me and like the apostles said the apostle Paul said number of times not only once more than once he said in 50:54 one Corinthians he says in Philippians in some other gospels even in one Corinthians He says, "Follow my example." And even in Philippians 3:17, he says, 51:10 "Brethren, together follow my example and observe those who live after the pattern we have set for you." Paul speaks about this many times, not only about himself, but about other apostles also, that you 51:28 follow their example. And it's easy to say and it is very humble thing to say don't look at me but look at Jesus. But Paul didn't say that. Paul said look at me and follow my example. 51:46 How many preachers do you hear these days saying such words? Because there are one thing on the pulpit and they're quite it's a different story at home and outside. But these people are not like that. 52:03 They are god-fearing. And the psalmist says in Psalm 16:3, he says, "I want the company of the godly men and 52:24 women in the land. They are the true nobility. That means in another words it is something like this. The godly ones are my heroes 52:41 today. Who are your heroes? Ang people especially. Who are your heroes? Some model, some sports star, some film star. Where are they today? The olden these 52:59 so-called stars, where are they today? They have a expiry date and they all expire. But he who does the will of God, it says, will live forever. 53:18 And think about eternal things, my dear people. Think about eternity. This is not this world is not everything. This world is not my home. Like we sing in the song, I'm just a passing through. We are here but for a 53:37 moment. We are on probation. And we finish our probation. One of these days we will have our last breath and we will all go down underground unless the Lord comes before that. 53:52 So make godly ones your heroes and I want to close with this so that other brothers can share. It says in third John 3r John is a very 54:11 short um letter that John the apostle wrote. Third John, it has only one chapter verse 3 and 4. John says here, for I was very glad when 54:29 brethren came and testified to your faith. That is how you are walking in truth. And I have no greater joy than this to hear of my children walking in the truth. 54:49 You know, you can't give greater joy than this that you walk in humility, in truthfulness, in obedience, and in the fear of God, living not before men, but before the 55:07 face of God. If you do that, it'll be worth it for the service that our elders have put in. So let us be imitators of those who through patience 55:27 and faith obtain the promises of God. No, John. Thank you, brother Charles. 55:53 [clears throat] when Israelites had to be um reconciled to God live in God's presence. You know it was one man Moses 56:13 who stood before God and he brought brought God's presence not just praying he lived a life which was 56:28 [clears throat] pleasing unto God. He was so broken, so humble, kept his conscience clear. It was a battle he fought before God. 56:46 And also he said, "Lord, if your presence doesn't go with us, lead us not from here." And many many commands God gave especially with regard to building the tabernacle. 57:06 Many minute details but if you read Exodus [clears throat] chapter 25 to 40 he did exactly as the Lord commanded. He took the responsibility of doing 57:25 exactly as the Lord commanded. And there were grumblers. There was reproach. He was ridiculed. But those few men stood with him. 57:40 See what was his gain? He wanted to live before God. When I think about brother Zach, let me read this verse in amplified version which brother Charles read. Hebrews 13:7. 57:58 Remember your leader in authority for it was they who brought to you the word of God. You know there was a time John the Baptist was there. It says about so many people in authority, 58:16 spiritual authority. authority in the temple in the country and word of God passes all of them and comes to John the Baptist because he was pleased by the Lord. the word of God came 58:35 that that's the thing brothers and sisters I remember long back one brother said brother thank you very much he was referring to elders thank you every time you stand before the gate of heaven and bang and stand there and to bring 58:52 the word of god when I think about brother Zach or brother Ian and many many godly ones I can think of many elders over the time the lord has brought taught them in Tamil Nadu and many parts of the world. I tremble with fear. [clears throat] 59:09 Lord give me grace to be in submission. There are people over the time they have left and gone uh with dispute or disagreements. I feel sorry for such people they couldn't recognize. But here it says observe attentively and 59:29 consider their manner of living. Have you done that? See, there are two dangers which I keep seeing that oh it's um disagreeing as I said disagreeing and dis um with godly ones 59:47 you know that's from the evil one. See first we need to recognize that's what it says observe attentively. It's not that my convenience. Oh, whether that brother or elder is speaking according to my convenience. No, it is getting right with God. They 1:00:05 have spoken words without compromise. That's why he was in reproach as we heard from brother Charles. Why there was a reproach? Why there was they were ridiculed taken to court? Why there was opposition? 1:00:23 That is only because they stood true to God's word. Otherwise, no. Why Jesus was killed? Not that he did healed, he loved and he did so many good things. He went about doing good. But not because of those things. When he spoke the truth to 1:00:42 get right with God, he was opposed and finally killed. Observe attentively and consider. The second danger what I see is that ah that is for brother Zach. Oh brother Zach, brother Ian 1:00:59 and not me. I can sit here like a baby for years. Last week I was talking to brothers in Hubli. I said this attitude is from Satan. What was brother Zach? Brother Zach was a person like us. 1:01:19 He was exactly like us. And what did he do like we heard Jesus said follow me. He didn't say appreciate me and all that. Yes, appreciate me whatever but follow me. That's what Jesus was saying. Paul was saying follow me as I follow 1:01:36 Christ. You know many times brother Zach has said don't give me any gift. You don't have to thank me also but follow Christ as I followed him as I am following him. That's the greatest gift you can give me. See it's not the 1:01:54 leaders who fear God need some gift or appreciation. No. And if you can follow their example that's what grips my heart. Lord uh help me not to be empty appreciator. It's not empty words here. 1:02:13 It says observe attentively and consider their manner of living and outcome of their well spent lives. We have to see the outcome because they secretly followed God's state statutes which is hidden. See we may know brother 1:02:33 Zag as a preacher. I was hearing that 86th birthday where I think um Jeremy and Sunil they were saying that do you know him as a preacher that's all do you know him as a brother who follows the 1:02:50 lord or personally do you know him see that should attract us let [clears throat] me quickly close and imitate their faith their conviction that God exists and is creator and ruler 1:03:07 of all things. The provider of and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ and their leaning of their entire human personal personality on God in absolute trust and confidence in power in his power wisdom 1:03:27 and goodness. See that is is that what we have seen? It's not messages. The messages came from the life which they lived in secret. Keeping their conscience clear and doing exactly like God said, dying to self, 1:03:46 denying self and seeking after God. That is a witness which we need to follow. We can be like them. We should be like them. We should follow Christ as they followed Christ and I can be effective member. I can be helping hundreds, thousands, 1:04:06 whatever it is. I should be wholehearted be following and giving myself to the Lord and to his church. That's what they did. They gave themselves totally to God and totally to church. And that's why church remained and especially God's 1:04:21 presence remained in the church. And I would just would like to close with this verse. Um, [clears throat] one John 1 John chapter 1 verse one. 1:04:41 Yeah. What was from the beginning? What we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes. This is John the Apostle talking about Jesus. What we have looked at and touched with our hands concerning the word of life is that what we are 1:04:59 doing. Are we experiencing life here through our elders? Do we take time to spend time? I sometimes I ask some brothers with whom you are close. They take some random name, some visitors name and all that. Not really the godly ones who are really 1:05:17 following the Lord, the grace of God upon them. No. And what's the result? After 4 years, 5 years, 10 years, they're not growing. I want to take this to my heart. I want to spend time with those who walk with the Lord. And uh uh 1:05:35 yeah. So verse two, and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testified and proclaimed to you the eternal life. See, it was not the message, it was not the doctrine. We are proclaiming life. That's what John is saying here. Which was with the father 1:05:52 and manifested to us. What we have seen and heard, we proclaimed to you also so that you too may have fellowship with us. And indeed our fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ. Verse four, these things we 1:06:09 write so that our joy may be made complete. That that's the thing. How brother Zach's joy is complete. Then when I follow the lord as he followed him this verse in John chapter 1:06:39 4:38 it often comes to my heart when I think of church and bach and bian's ministry. is I sent you to reap for which you have not labored but others have labored and you have 1:06:58 entered into their labor. So I believe we are so blessed to have enjoy the result of Brazac and brother Ian's labor and almost all of us are here because of 1:07:16 Brazac and brother Ian's ministry. I think only my wife is here because of my ministry but all of us from here the Lord led us to the church. I'm so thankful and but it says uh as brother Charles is mentioning remember your 1:07:34 leaders there are many sermons I uh there is a definite impact in my life what I heard from brother Zach but I had an opportunity a little bit here and there to personally interact with them and some of those uh aroma of Christ which I saw in his 1:07:53 life that had that has more impact just wanted to mention one incident this is u maybe six or seven years back uh when they were here and they had agreed to come to a house I was staying in we were staying in Lingrajpam and and 1:08:11 this is after immediately after the tutotorin conference we all came from I also attended that conference that year so he had agreed to come to a house so I went to visit uh I went to pick him up by Zach and sister Annie 1:08:26 so but when I saw them They both were looked little uh dull. I never seen them like that. They were much their face was little uh concerned about something. So I was wondering should I trouble Bazak uh to come to my house or till I or 1:08:42 should I ask him to come some other time. So I said I asked Braz um if you're not well we can plan some other time. Now he said we are okay but uh do you know this brother? He mentioned a brother's name. He said, "Yeah, I know his this brother." He 1:08:58 said, "Uh, he's sick." Yes, I know he's sick. I know a brother who was with us. He was sick and it looked like he was much concerned about this brother's sickness. And even sister Annie, he was telling sister Annie to take some medicine and 1:09:14 all. So that really touched my heart. Why should he get concerned? One of us is sick. So I knew it is I recognize this is not a theory. It says in Bible one member suffers the whole body suffers to it. And I know that I have seen that the 1:09:34 least of us are valued by God. And it's the God's heart that I see. And I really want to uh follow Brazak's example in love, loving the least. And I remember when uh last previous 1:09:51 time uh Brazak was leaving um and we went to see him in the airport and one thing towards end he mentioned he said there are many who tried to harm him in his ministry and life but he says I don't have anything except in my heart 1:10:09 except love for them. And that verse, if you could turn to Song of Solomon, chapter 8, he was quoting this word. Song of Solomon 8:7. It says, 1:10:36 "Many waters cannot quench love, nor will the rivers overflow it. This was the word brother Zach reminded us. So I am so grateful and I know a brother who is full of love for the Lord and love for God's people. I want to follow in his example. 1:11:09 Yeah. Brothers and sisters, I'm challenged when I think about brother Zach. This is something that he has shared. One man with God is is a majority. And brother Zach was willing to stand as one person 1:11:28 take a stand for the Lord. And I think about u people like that. Daniel was one such person. He made up his mind. He would not defile himself. He took a stand. And then God provided others. Shadrach, Mishak, Abednego to 1:11:46 stand with him. Job was one such man. He took a stand. Paul was one such man. He took a stand. And uh there was a brother Barnabas who recognized that this was you know God was backing this man and encouraged him 1:12:05 and stood with him and then God gave him other co-workers. But Paul was willing to stand for the Lord though nobody went with him and that made such a difference. He saw that Peter and you know others who were thought highly of in the church were 1:12:21 going another way and he said no I must stand for the Lord and uh brothers we must seek in our own small sphere of influence to be such men and definitely to recognize such men and honor them and follow them and join 1:12:40 hands with them. Um, and and you know, while I think of and speak of brother Zach as being one man who stood for the Lord, it was never, you know, a personal influence or drawing people to himself as a person that that 1:12:58 he ever did. And I was I'm so challenged by that. Um, I was listening to brother Jeremy share and he was talking about, you know, NCCF now being brother Zach's home church. And I was reminded of this episode in uh 2 Samuel 19. You you don't have to look 1:13:17 it up. You can look it up later where the people of Israel and Judah were both saying, "Hey, we have more claim on David." And they had, you know, an argument between them. Um but ultimately you know Judah stood with him and 1:13:34 recognized that this man is from the lord and stood with him and uh you know irrespective of what we say the question that so many brothers brother raised is are we going to follow the lord as as brothers act followed the lord that's 1:13:48 the question that's how that's how we show we have understood what god is doing and I think of this verse in John chapter 1 uh John chapter 1 it gives us you know a picture of John the Baptist 1:14:06 in verse 34 he says I have borne witness that this is the son of God that is our calling for each of us that we bear witness that we stand as witnesses that Jesus is the son of God and he took a stand next day he was standing with two of his disciples 1:14:23 and this is what challenged me he looked upon Jesus as He walked. How did brother Zach walk? He walked looking unto Jesus. And because he walked like that and he said, "Behold the lamb of God." He said it not through just his words, but 1:14:38 through his life, through the way he walked. He said, "Behold the lamb of God." And the disciples heard him speak and they followed Jesus. Oh, let this be the longing of our hearts. And I'm sure this is the longing of brother Zach's 1:14:52 heart that we hear him speak and we look at the way he walked and we follow Jesus. May God give us grace. Uh and sisters, the choir would like to sing a special song. Um so this is based on something that brother Zach uh you know 1:15:09 shared with us as a church not not long ago. I believe therefore I confess. Um yeah. Choir, can you please come up? >> [clears throat] 1:15:49 >> Yeah. Few of you here and there have heard this song before. You can join in or you can clap as we sing. [music] 1:16:16 I believe [music] therefore I confess God the Father loves me as he [singing] loved Jesus. So [music] I will always rejoice. [singing] Will [music] always rejoice. 1:16:34 I believe. [singing] Therefore, I confess God has [music] forgiven me all of my sins. So I will never live with him. Will never live [singing and music] with guilt. 1:16:52 I believe. Therefore, I confess [music] God will fill me with [singing] his Holy Spirit so I will be strong [music] enough for every [singing] dust. Be strong for every dust. [music] 1:17:10 All [singing] God's promises are yes and amen in him. So [singing] I confess all God's promises [music] are yes and amen in him. [singing] So I confess. I believe. [music] 1:17:30 Therefore I confess. God [singing] has determined all my boundaries. So I will always be content. [singing] Will always [music] be content. I believe, [singing] 1:17:48 therefore, I confess. God's commandments [music] are all for my best. So, I want to [music and singing] obey all God's commands. Obey all God's commands. [singing] I believe, [music] 1:18:06 therefore, I confess. God controls all people and [music and singing] all events that affect me so I will always give thanks. I will always [music and singing] give thanks. >> Try to join and sing. All God's promises 1:18:24 are yes [singing] and amen in him. So [music] I [singing] confess. All God's promises are yes and amen in him. So [music and singing] I confess. I believe. 1:18:42 Therefore I confess. Satan [music] was defeated on the cross by [singing] Jesus. Jesus freed me from his [music] power. So I will [singing] never never be afraid. I believe. [singing and music] 1:19:00 Therefore I confess God wants to [music and singing] make me a blessing to others. So I will be [singing] a blessing [music] by his grace. A blessing by his grace. [music] All God's promises are yes and 1:19:19 amen. In him, so I confess. [music] All God's [singing] promises are yes and amen. In him, [music] so I confess. Amen. Okay, brothers and sisters, you can't 1:19:42 just sit. You have to sing. Let's sing this last verse together. It says, "We believe, therefore, we give thanks. God so loved us that he gave us brother Zach. So, we will follow the Lord. We will follow the Lord." And uh yeah, the the chorus after that 1:19:58 says, "Happy birthday to you, brother Zach. Thank you for blessing us. Thank you." Okay, brothers and sisters, please try. We believe, [music] therefore, we give thanks. God so loved [music and singing] us that 1:20:16 he gave us brothers and so we will follow the Lord. We [music and singing] will follow the Lord. Happy birthday to you, [music and singing] brother Zach. Thank you 1:20:34 for blessing [music and singing] us. Happy birthday to you, brother Zach. Thank you [music] for blessing [singing] us. Thank you. [applause and music] 1:20:57 Amen. We thank the Lord and we're thankful to brother Zach. So brothers and sisters, we want to listen to a word that brother Zach shared. U words of advice. This is what he shared on the 50th anniversary celebration. many things 1:21:13 that we need to hear about having a personal assurance um and knowing God's love and an example as parents uh money matters being faithful forgiveness of sins and brother Zach shares from his own life an example so 1:21:30 we we can hear uh from this video now You know the Apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4, 1:21:49 he said it's when you read the Bible slowly like I've always taught people to read. He said we, one Thessalonians 4 and verse 15, we who are alive will when the Lord will descend, we who 1:22:14 are alive, verse 17, will be caught up. And I say, Paul, are you expecting to be alive when the Lord comes? He says, yes. That's why he said we. Otherwise, he should have said those who are alive. That's correct English. Those who are 1:22:34 alive. But he said we inspired by the Holy Spirit who knew all about the future. Inspired Paul to write we who are alive. So I've learned something from that. 1:22:50 I don't care how old I am. I'm going to say we who are alive at the coming of the Lord will meet him in the air. But some years later when the Lord told Paul, "You're not going to be 1:23:09 alive." He wrote in one second Timothy 4 and verse 6, "The time of my departure has come." Sometimes the Lord tells, not always, sometimes he tells some of his children, okay, your time on earth is 1:23:26 over. He doesn't say that to everyone. And when that came, then he never said we who are alive. Then he said, I finished my course. I'm going to I shall now meet the Lord and he will give me a crown of righteousness. So one of the great blessings in my life 1:23:46 through I've been a believer now for more than 60 years I came to the assurance of my salvation in July 1959 60 years and 3 months ago and I'll tell you something for before that for many 1:24:03 years I struggled to know whether I was saved but in the last 60 years and 3 months not Not even for a single day did I doubt that I was born again. So people ask me, "Brother Zach, are you 1:24:22 a Calvinist who believes that once you're saved, you're always saved?" No, I I'm not. I believe what it says in Hebrews 3:14 that if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence until the end, we shall be made partakers of Christ. And I believe 1:24:42 what it says in Revelation 3:5, he who overcomes, I will not remove his name from the book of life. So I believe people's names can be removed from the book of life. I believe that he who endures to the end will be saved, not 1:24:55 others. And I also believe that if we hold fast, then we are made partakers of Christ. Then you say, "How can you be so sure that you'll meet the Lord?" I said, "That's because I have such a personal relationship with the Lord." Now, what 1:25:10 about the other believers? I don't know about them. They may be lost. I don't know about all the others. I don't know you know about all of you here. You may go to hell. I don't know. I know I will not. How can you say that, brother Zach? 1:25:23 It's like asking me, "Will you ever divorce your wife?" You say, "I'm not sure." You think I'll say that? Never. I'm absolutely sure. And I'm absolutely sure the Lord will 1:25:40 not divorce me. And then you ask, will your wife divorce you? I'm absolutely sure she'll never divorce me. I'm absolutely sure I will not divorce the Lord. Our relationship is the same. But if you ask me, see that couple that just got married the other 1:25:57 day, do you think they will divorce each other? I don't know. I can speak for myself, but I can't speak for that couple or that couple or the other couple. Same way with salvation. I can speak for myself. I am absolutely 1:26:12 certain I shall spend eternity with Christ, but I'm not sure of many, many believers around me. You can have that assurance if you have a deep personal relationship with Christ, more intimate than any earthly relationship. That's what's given me a 1:26:31 security in my life that's enabled me to speak God's word. The other thing the Lord has taught me particularly in the last 45 years. I love you. The God has said I'm your father. I love you just like I loved my son 1:26:50 Jesus when he was on earth. I say thank you father. And the Lord says, I love everyone who has forsaken everything to be devoted to me. Forsaken everything 1:27:07 doesn't mean give up your job. No, you don't have to give up your job. But forsaken attachments to earthly things. Not attached to relatives. Not attached to property. Not attached to your own life. Willing to die. To all such willing to 1:27:27 die every day. To all such of my children. God says I tell them I love you as I love Jesus. Not to everybody. maybe only 10% of God's children that he says that because the others are hanging on to so many earthly things. And I 1:27:43 said, "Lord, I want to be in that 10% who you love just like you love Jesus." I used to think that God could say that to all his children. No. It He says that in John 17:23, that the world may know that, Father, that you love them as you 1:28:01 love me. But he said that not to everybody. He didn't turn to the crowd and say that. He said that to 11 disciples who had totally made Jesus Lord of their life. And he says that today to everyone here who has totally made Jesus Lord of your life. It's for 1:28:16 you. It became truth for me 45 years ago. And it has held me. It has made my life secure. It has freed me from anxiety and fear because I 1:28:35 I am loved. It's a wonderful thing to be loved. You know what little babies need to be loved? You know what we need to know that we are loved by our father in heaven. Why do we cling on to so many earthly things? Because we are not sure 1:28:51 whether our father will forsake us. Why why do we tell lies or cheat or find false statements to make a little more money in the office? Because we think otherwise I won't have enough money for my needs. I have never cheated any human being or 1:29:09 never cheated on my taxes in all my life. I've never been in debt in my whole life. God has provided all my need and my children's need. If you're willing to live simply and don't want to waste money, I know people 1:29:27 who get married and immediately get into debt. First of all, they get into debt for their wedding itself. No, we had a very simple wedding, my wife and I. Very simple. Because we could not afford anything more. Yeah. It was not in some big reception 1:29:44 hall or it was just in the compound of the church. We ate on banana leaves and whatever. It was a very simple type of meal and we said we can't afford more and in our home also we live simply and 1:30:02 I want to say to you don't cheat or tell lies to make more money there'll be a curse on it. Gazi the servant of non the servant of Elisha went after non and got money in a wrong way. I'll never forget that. Neon said, "Gazi, 1:30:22 you grabbed Neon's money, you got his leprosy also, and the leprosy will be on you and your children." When you get money wrongfully by telling lies or cheating into your bank account, there's a curse on it because it is unrighteous 1:30:37 money. And when you finally die and that ch that money goes to your children, that'll go to your children also. That curse, please get rid of all unrighteous money. Repay it now. It's one of the things the Lord taught me when I got 1:30:50 converted. Before I was converted, I had cheated the government and all. I paid it immediately. Emptied my bank account. I took me four or five months to save that money. Emptied it and I've never regretted it. Just telling you a few lessons I've 1:31:05 learned. And the other thing is whenever you do something wrong, immediately confess it to God. Immediately confess it to the person whom you hurt, your wife or anybody. I'm sorry, that was my fault. Never be hesitant to say that was 1:31:22 my fault. Don't say that was my fault, but you also did something wrong. No, don't say it like that. That was my fault. If your fault was 10%, the other person is 90%. Forget the 90%. I was at fault 10%. I said, "Lord, I want to be quick to 1:31:41 confess my sin to you and to man and to ask forgiveness. I've asked forgiveness from unbelievers. I've asked forgiveness from people who are younger than my youngest son. I have no hesitation because the only person who hesitates is 1:31:56 one who thinks he's perfect and I'm not perfect." No. So, if I do something wrong, I settle it immediately. There's a little principles you can learn in life. [snorts] When I go to bed at night, I know I have nothing in my heart against anybody in 1:32:13 the whole world. I love them all. When I wake up in the morning, I say, "Thank you, Jesus." My first thought is, "Lord Jesus, I want to talk to you." Begin your day like that. Even if you have only few minutes, even only one or two 1:32:27 minutes, begin your day like that. One or two minutes with God is a wonderful day way to begin your day. And that's what I've done. And my life has been, I'll tell you honestly, I'm not exaggerating. My life has been extremely 1:32:40 happy, restful, free from anxiety, free from fear, free from discouragement to which I was a slave. And don't make demands on other people. Don't make demands on your wife. No, she's a human being. Whatever she can 1:33:00 do, she does. Some wives are very capable. Some wives are not. Never compare your wife with anybody else. Don't make a demand on other believers. Sometimes when I go away for a trip, I may ask the brothers in the CFC office 1:33:15 to do something. Can you do this by the time I come back after 3 days? And I tell them before I go itself, if for some reason you are not able to do it or something went wrong or something broke or you didn't get time or you had some 1:33:29 emergency at home so you couldn't do this, forget it. It's not serious. And then I conclude with this sentence. The only thing serious in life is sin. That's what I tell. So don't think I'll be disturbed if you if I come back and 1:33:45 you find you did not do it. No, not important. Don't sin. The only thing serious in life is sin. It's been a great help to me. So when I think of somebody messed up something, was it sinful? Oh, then it's serious. Was it 1:34:00 not sinful because of human inefficiency or because they tried and they didn't bundled up or they broke something and they tried their best? Perfectly okay. It's not a sin. It's the motive that God sees. 1:34:19 Never tell your children, I told you so. Won't do it. Supposing your small children are trying to fix some toy house or something which is broken and you say, "No, I'll I'll fix it for you." "No, no, no, Dad. I can do it." And they try to do it and they 1:34:37 don't they're not able to do it and they come to you and say, "Daddy, can you help me?" And never say, "I told you so." Never let the words I told you so come out of your mouth to your children or to your younger brothers or to 1:34:52 anybody. That is the voice of the expert who never makes a mistake. I told you so. I'll never say it. You know what I say? Never mind. Let's fix it. Never mind. Let's fix it. And when it's done, I say there. Let's learn some lessons for the future. 1:35:12 Always say, let's fix it. You'll get a bond with your children then that'll remain forever. and it'll they'll grow to admire you and love you and they will duplicate it with their children. These are little 1:35:30 principles. The only thing serious is sin. Sin is very serious. It's worse than cancer. That's why any sin mentioned in the Bible, anger, sexually dirty thoughts, murmuring, eliminate completely. I decided I used to murmur 1:35:50 and get angry and bangle. I said it's completely I don't want cancer in my life. I never want to murmur or grumble about a single thing in my home or in the CFC office or in any church or anywhere. Let's fix it. When God saw Adam and Eve sinned, he 1:36:09 asked them. They Adam tried to put the blame on others and all that but God said let's fix it right there in Garden of Eden. He said the seed of this woman will crush the head of that snake of the devil. I see I learned from him. Let's fix it. 1:36:28 Of course, there'll be a little punishment, but let's fix it. He gave him a promise. This problem is going to be solved. Don't worry. It's like that when Peter was sinking in the sea. Pet the Lord did not say, "Why didn't 1:36:43 you trust me? That's how we react." No, no, no, no, no. Give me your hand, Peter. Let me hold your hand. Let's fix it. Afterwards, I'll ask you, why didn't you trust me? So, we do correct, but after fixing it, not before fixing it. Never start with, 1:37:02 why didn't you trust me? You wouldn't have sunk if you had trusted me. This is the language of evil people who think they are experts. We ruin our children by like that. You think I've never done it. I've done it, but I've repented. 1:37:17 I never had a spiritual father to teach me like I'm teaching you. I wish I had. I would have made less mistakes with my family. You guys are lucky that you have somebody to teach you. So, I'm teaching you not from a man who's never made 1:37:30 mistakes, but who learned from my mistakes. I put my hand in the fire and discovered it burnt. And so I can tell you don't put your hand in the fire. That's how I'm speaking. And I wish for all of you that you'll have godly 1:37:43 children, that you'll have a wonderful relationship with uh your children. Um it's very important to play with our children and uh they must see that we are at their level and friends. I used to say about my own children that I say 1:38:01 Lord they are my children today. I want them to become my brothers one day and they are my brothers today but I used to pray for that Lord I want them to be my brothers one day not my children but my brothers so our view on these things is so 1:38:16 different and the other thing which somebody called my trademark what is brother Zach's trademark that's what somebody called it the other day humility humility humility the three secrets of the Christian life it's from 1:38:30 Philippians 2 verse 5 to8 God became man number one when he became man he became a slave number two humility slave is the lowest no hang on the Romans never crucified slaves they crucified those who were worse than 1:38:49 slaves the criminals Jesus was not a criminal but he took the place of a criminal on a cross that's what we read in Philippians 2 became man. Number one, humility. As a man, he became a slave. Humility. And he was treated like a criminal and accepted it 1:39:08 and said, "Father, forgive them." Humility. Those are the three secrets of the Christian life. And therefore, God exalted him above everything in the universe. Who will sit at the right hand and left hand of Jesus? I'll tell you. I don't 1:39:21 know the names. But those who have humbled themselves the most, not those who have accomplished the most or traveled the most or preached the most. No, no, no. Those who humbled them because God exalted Jesus. It says in 1:39:33 Philippians 2:9, because he humbled himself, not because he's the son of God. And so God will exalt to the right hand and left hand of Jesus those who humbled themselves the most. I don't know who they are. It may not be Paul. 1:39:47 It may be some poor widow from Africa who was faithful in her life. She may be sitting on the right hand of Jesus. Anybody, I don't know who they are. Maybe one of you. Whoever it is who has humbled themselves the most in their life, they are going 1:40:02 to have the highest positions in heaven. So please remember all this my brothers and sisters. And you know I've also said about the Apostle Paul when he was 55 years old he wrote in 1 Corinthians 15 I am 1:40:21 the least of all the apostles. I never get tired of saying this. I will say it a 100 times till it is drilled into everybody's head. 1 Corinthians 15, I am the least 1:40:38 of all the apostles. Not fit [snorts] to be called an apostle. 1 Corinthians 15:9, he was 55 years old. And he was not acting humble. You know, all of us sometimes say, "Oh, I'm nobody." You don't really believe that. You're just 1:40:53 acting humble when you say you're a nobody. But Paul is inspired by the Holy Spirit and he speaks the truth. I am. I really feel deep down in my heart, I feel I'm not like Paul, like John or Peter or Andrew or any of these other 1:41:10 people. I'm down at the bottom. He really felt like that about himself. 5 years later, he's 60 years old. Then he writes in Ephesians in chapter 3 and verse 8, he's grown now spiritually. He's come closer to God. And now he 1:41:29 writes, "I'm the least of all the believers." He's gone further down. He was the least of the apostles. Now he's become the lowest of all the believers. Again, he's not acting humble. Inspired by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit 1:41:43 says, "This is what I see you are, Paul. In your own heart, what you think about yourself, I'm the least of all the believers." Now, he's 60. Another five years later he writes in when he's 65 least of the apostles least of all the 1:41:59 believers and say how much lower can you go than that Paul no Christ Jesus came in 1 Timothy 1:15 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners and I am the worst of all the sinners now Paul you say don't act humble I'm 1:42:17 not acting humble the Holy Spirit inspired him to say at the age of 65 when he was perhaps the greatest saint on earth. I am the least of all this. I'm the greatest sinner of all. So what is growth in holiness? What is growth in getting close to God? 1:42:34 It's not becoming more and more famous. Remember Jesus came down, down, down. In the last day of his life, he was washing the feet of his disciples including Judas's chariot. And that's another thing I prayed. Lord, please help me 1:42:48 whichever is my last day of life on earth to be at the feet of the lowest believers even at the feet of somebody who's betrayed me to bless him at their feet to wash their feet and I want to grow like this. So what 1:43:06 does it mean to be a sinner saved by grace? We are not sinners. No, we are sinners saved by grace. There's a lot of difference between a sinner. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the chief. So that 1:43:23 means Christ has saved me. But I recognize who I am that there are areas in my life that are not like Jesus Christ yet. That means there's some sin in me still which I don't know. Paul said I'm not aware of anything. My 1:43:40 conscious life I'm clear. I have victory over all conscious sin, but there's unconscious areas in my life. I'm not like Christ. Therefore, as God shows me, as I come closer and closer to God, I say, "Oh, what a sinner I am." 1:43:55 Have you had experiences like that? I have had experiences like that. Not regularly, but once in a while, I suddenly feel like a revelation from heaven that I am the worst sinner of all. I'm telling you the honest truth. It's not 1:44:10 something I read and say. Read and says can be artificial and imitation. It's because of revelation of God's holiness that makes you feel that. Even if it was not written in scripture, I would have said, "Lord, I'm the chief greatest 1:44:24 sinner of all." If you get close to God, you'll feel that. Dear brothers, you won't feel very holy if you're living close to God. I'll tell you that. is the people who are far away from God who feel they're very holy and who look down on others. 1:44:43 So we are sinners saved and saved by grace. That means not because we deserve it. So it's nothing wrong in saying till the end of our life we're not great preachers or teachers or apostles or this that and the other whatever people 1:45:00 may call us. I'm a sinner saved by grace. So [clears throat] I want to sing a song and I'm going to ask my children to come up and sing it with me. But let me read it to you first. 1:45:18 It's based on another song which is sung by the Bill Gaither group which is not exactly the same but I got some ideas from there. It's not original but the words are slightly different and the tune is completely different because 1:45:33 that's more like a cowboy song and I'm not a cowboy so I can't sing like that. But this is a tune I'm familiar with and I titled it what I was once and what I am now. If you could see the wretched sinner I 1:45:52 was once, if you could see where I had started from, you'll know it was a miracle that Jesus did when he reached out and saved a wretch like me. Today I stand a miracle of God's great grace. A grace that 1:46:10 chased me down and holds me firm. And every day I'll say this till I see his face that I am just a sinner saved by grace. How can I boast of anything that I have done? How can I glory in what God has 1:46:30 done? Where would I be if God had not forgiven me? Each breath I have is what he gives to me. And now my life is his alone forever. I'll never live to do my own will again, but all my life I'll sing as I run this 1:46:49 race that I'm just a sinner saved by grace. This is my testimony and it's my honest testimony. I can say every word of it >> [music] 1:47:13 >> That's right. See [singing] the wretched s I was [music] if [singing] you could see where I had started from. [music] You know, [singing] it was a miracle 1:47:32 that Jesus [music] did when he [singing] reached out and saved a rich like me. [music] Today [singing] I send the miracle of God's great [music] 1:47:49 grace. A grace [singing] that chase me down and holds me firm. [music] And every day I'll say this till I see his [singing and music] face. And I am just 1:48:08 a sinner saved by [music] grace. >> How can I boast [singing] of anything that I have done? How can I glory in [singing] what God has done? 1:48:28 [music] Where would I be if [singing] God had not forgiven me? [music] Each breath I have [singing] is what he gives to me. And now my life [singing] 1:48:46 is his alone forever. I'll [singing and music] never live to do my will again. >> But [singing] all my life I'll sing this as I run this [singing] race 1:49:06 that I am just [music] a sinner [singing] by gra. I want you to join with me in the second verse. Let's sing that second verse again. >> How can I boast of anything that I have done? [music] 1:49:25 How can [singing] I glory in what God has done? How [singing] could I be [music] if God had not forgiven me? Each breath I have [singing] 1:49:42 is what [music] he gives to me. And now my life [singing and music] is his alone forever. I'll [singing and music] never live to do my will again. But all my life [singing] 1:50:06 is as I run this [music] race that I am just [singing] a sinner. Save my grace. [music] That I am just [singing] 1:50:21 a sinner. Save [music] my gra. Amen. Amen. Shall we just bow our heads in prayer? 1:50:49 Oh gracious heavenly father, we thank you for placing us in this church. We don't deserve to be here, but your mercy and kindness, you led us here, Lord. Thank you for immense love for us. Thank you Lord for the examples, godly example 1:51:03 especially. We thank you for the example of brother Zach. Pray that Lord you anoint him, keep him safe, give him health and strength and he may fulfill your plan and all of us Lord we commit aresh into your hand. Help us to complete your plan and 1:51:20 purpose for our own lives. Lord we trust you that you will do it in Jesus precious and mighty name we pray. Amen. We'll have the book of the month and then announcements. Presenting 1:52:03 the book of this month, one body in Christ by brother Zach Pune. [music] called to manifest the beauty of divine love to the world. Many [music] churches are instead hot beds of internal politics and rivalry. [music] 1:52:22 But Jesus said that the world would identify his disciples by their intense love for one another. The [music] church can fulfill her god orained function as the light of the world only when there is true Christian fellowship among her 1:52:39 members. [music] Christ is limited on earth now because his spiritual body, the church has limbs and organs [music] that are either paralyzed through sin or uncoordinated through disunityity. Satan ridicules the efforts of a 1:52:58 disunited church trying to oust him from his strongholds [music] by gimmicks, gadgets, conferences, theological knowledge, eloquence [music] and trained choirs. The church needs to know again the 1:53:17 reality of being one body united under the headship of Christ. >> [music] >> A fellowship of Christians properly related to each other, growing in love for one another and living [music] in obedience to Christ and his word is the 1:53:36 greatest threat to the kingdom of the devil on earth. May this book [music] help you to understand and to live by this truth. Then we shall assuredly see the [music] church as an instrument in God's hands to route the forces of 1:53:55 darkness and a channel of blessing [music] to a needy world. You can read this book free online at cfcindia.com/books/onebody [music] 1:54:12 in Christ.
