1:59 Mhm. >> Mhm. 5:49 >> Mhm. >> [music] 6:19 [music] >> When [singing] I saw the cleansing fountain >> [music] >> open wide for all my sins [singing] I [music] obeyed the Spirit's [singing] wooing when He said, "Wilt thou [singing] be 6:40 clean?" I will praise Him >> [music] >> I [singing] will praise Him, praise the Lamb for sinners slain. Give [music and singing] Him glory, all ye people for His blood can wash away [music] 6:59 [singing] his stain. Brothers, sing. Though the way seems [music and singing] straight and narrow all I claimed was swept away >> [music] >> my [singing] ambitions, plans, and wishes 7:18 at my feet [music] in ashes lay. [singing] All together. I will praise Him I [music and singing] will praise Him, praise the Lamb for sinners [music and singing] slain. Give Him glory, all ye people 7:37 for His blood can wash away [music and singing] his stain. Sisters, sing. Then I saw the cleansing fell upon the altar. >> [music and singing] >> All my heart was set aflame. I [music] shall never cease to praise 7:56 Him. >> [music] >> Glory, glory to His name. I will praise [music] Him. I will praise Him. Praise the Lord [music] for sinners slain. Give Him [music] glory, all ye people, 8:18 for His blood can wash away >> [music] >> each stain. >> [singing] >> Then >> [music] >> He's [singing] forgiven my transgressions. >> [music] >> He has cleansed [singing] my heart from sin. I [music] will praise Him. 8:39 I will praise Him. Praise [singing] the Lord >> [music] >> for sinners slain. Give Him glory, [music and singing] all ye people, for His blood can wash away >> [singing] >> each stain. Let the congregation >> [music] 8:57 >> Glory, glory to the Father. Glory, glory to the Son. Glory, glory to the Spirit. >> [music] >> Glory to the Lamb. >> [music] >> I [singing] will praise Him. 9:20 I [music] will praise Him. Praise [singing] the Lord for sinners slain. >> [music] >> Give Him glory, all [singing] ye people, for His blood [music] can wash away each stain. Please be seated, brothers and sisters. 9:44 >> [music] >> He [music and singing] is exalted, the 10:01 king is exalted on high. I will praise >> [singing] >> His name. He is exalted, forever [music] exalted on high. I will praise >> [singing] >> His name. 10:20 >> [music] >> He >> [singing] >> is the Lord, >> [music] >> forever His truth shall [singing] reign. Heaven >> [music and singing] >> and earth rejoice in His 10:39 holy name. >> [music and singing] >> He is exalted, the king is exalted on high. For thou For thou, [singing and music] oh Lord our God, above all the earth, >> [music] 10:58 >> thou art exalted [singing] far above >> [music] >> all gods. >> [singing] >> For thou, >> [music] >> oh Lord >> [singing] >> our God, above all [music] the earth, >> [singing] 11:17 >> thou art exalted >> [music] >> far above >> [singing] >> all gods. I [music and singing] exalt thee. I exalt [music and singing] thee. I 11:36 exalt thee. >> [singing and music] >> Oh, Lord. I exalt thee. >> [music and singing] >> I exalt thee. >> [music] >> I exalt thee. 11:55 >> [singing] >> Oh, Lord. >> [music] >> He is the Lord. He >> [singing] >> is the Lord. >> [music] >> Forever his truth shall reign. >> [music] >> Heaven >> [singing] 12:15 >> and earth rejoice [music] in his holy name. He >> [music and singing] >> is exalted. The king is exalted on high. >> [singing] [music] >> I exalt thee. I 12:35 exalt [singing] thee. >> [music] >> I >> [singing] >> exalt thee. >> [music] >> Oh, >> [singing] >> Lord. I exalt thee. >> [singing] [music] >> I 12:54 exalt thee. I >> [music and singing] >> exalt thee. Oh, Lord. >> [singing] [music] >> It's a wonderful, merciful savior. 13:14 You are the one that we praise. The one we adore. Wonderful, [music] merciful [singing] savior. Precious, [music] redeemer, and and friend. Who [singing] would have 13:34 thought [music] that a lamb could rescue the [music] souls of men? Oh, you rescue [music and singing] the souls of men. Counselor, [music and singing] 13:54 comforter, keeper, spirit [singing and music] we long to embrace. You [music] offer hope and >> [singing] >> our highest praises, [music] honor and glory 14:13 be [music] unto [singing] your name. Be [music] unto your name. Holy, [singing and music] holy, our God almighty. Worthy [singing and music] is the 14:33 lamb who was slain. Highest [singing] praises, [music] honor and glory be unto >> [singing] >> your name. >> [music] >> Be unto your name. >> [music] 15:01 [music] [music] >> Who else commands all the hosts of heaven? Who else [music and singing] can make 15:20 every king bow down. Who else can [music and singing] whisper and darkness tremble? Only [music] a holy God. What [music] other beauty demands 15:41 such praises? What other [singing and music] splendor outshines the sun? What [singing] other majesty [music] rules with justice? Only [music and singing] a 16:00 holy God. Come and >> [music and singing] >> behold him. The one and the only >> [music] >> righteous, >> [singing] 16:20 >> holy, forever [music and singing] a holy God. Come and [music and singing] worship the holy God. >> [music] [music] 16:44 >> What [singing] other glory consumes [music] like fire? What other [singing] power can raise the dead? What other [music and singing] name remains undefeated? Only a 17:06 holy God. >> [music] >> Who else could rescue me from my failings? Who else would his only >> [music and singing] >> son? Who else invites [music and singing] 17:24 me to call him father? Only a holy [music] God. Only [singing] my holy God. >> [music] >> Come 17:43 >> [singing] >> and behold him, the >> [music] >> one and >> [singing] >> the only. Cry out, sing [singing] holy, >> [music] >> forever a holy God. >> [singing and music] 18:03 >> Come and worship the holy God. >> [music] >> Come >> [music] >> and behold >> [singing] >> him, the one and >> [music] >> the only. >> [singing] 18:22 >> Cry out, sing [music] holy, forever >> [singing] >> a holy God. Come [singing] and worship the [music] holy God. Let's all stand up and sing blessed be 18:44 the name of the Lord. >> [music] >> He's worthy to be praised and adored. Lift up holy hands in one accord. >> [music] >> Blessed [music and singing] be the name 19:06 of the Lord. He is worthy [singing and music] to be praised and adored. So, we [music and singing] lift up holy hands in one accord, >> [music] >> singing, [singing] 19:26 "Blessed be the name. Blessed [singing and music] be the name. Blessed be the name of the [singing] Lord." >> [music] >> Blessed be [singing] the name 19:45 of the Lord. He is [singing and music] worthy to be praised and adored. So, we lift up [music and singing] holy hands in one accord, singing, [music and singing] "Blessed be 20:06 the name. Blessed be the name. [music and singing] Blessed be the name of the Lord." >> [music] >> So, we [singing] lift up holy hands in one accord, [music] singing, [singing] "Blessed be the name. [music] 20:31 Blessed be the name. [singing] Blessed be [music] the name of the Lord." >> Dear brothers and sisters, let's uh 21:12 bow down our heads in prayer and continue in the same spirit of gratitude and praise and thanks. I'd like to read the lines of that song which we are singing. We are a moment, you are forever. 21:29 Lord of the ages, God before time. We are just a vapor on the surface of the earth, you are eternal. Love everlasting reigning on high. Holy, holy Lord God almighty. Worthy is the lamb who was slain. Highest praises, honor, and glory 21:48 be unto the name of the Lord. It's a miracle that we sinful creatures come before a holy God and call him our dad. So, let's uh draw near with such a faith in our heart, believing that the Lord is able to 22:07 change, the Lord is able to transform us. And no matter what we go through, the Lord is able to put praise in our heart and in lips. And the Lord is merciful, his mercy is new every morning. So, let's turn to him with faith. Let's 22:25 not uh keep quiet this morning. I'd like to read a few verses from Isaiah, believing that the Lord will fulfill his promises. Isaiah chapter 55. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, not nor are your ways my ways, declares 22:44 the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways. And my thoughts are thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there without 23:02 watering the earth and making it bear and sprout and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater. So will my word be which goes forth from my mouth. It will not return to me empty 23:20 without accomplishing what I desire and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. For you will go forth with joy and be led with peace. The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you. 23:38 All the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of thorn bush the cypress will come up and instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up and it will be a memorial to the Lord for a never lasting sign which will not 23:53 be cut off. Our gracious heavenly Father, we really want to thank you for being merciful to us, helping us to come before you. We believe it is you who gathered us this morning and you're on the throne. We believe our Lord Jesus is 24:09 interceding for us and you have given us the Holy Spirit in our hearts to help us to guide us. So with all our hearts we want to come before you and acknowledge you are the Lord of Lord, you are the King of kings. So we want to praise you. 24:22 Brothers and sisters lift up your hearts, lift up your voices. Do not be silent this morning. Loving Father, we praise you. Lord Jesus, we praise you and exalt you. You're the King of kings, you're the Lord of Lord. You rule heaven and earth, 24:34 Lord. Nothing is impossible for you, Lord Jesus. I believe you have a word for us this morning, a word for the church. Lord, we pray that Lord you will anoint your servant and give us that word this morning, Lord Jesus. When we come forth, 24:46 Lord, for your strength, your encouragement, Lord. Lord, fill us with the Holy Spirit, Lord. Anoint us with the oil of gladness, Lord Jesus, that we may walk with a song in our hearts, Lord Jesus. Especially I pray for those who 24:57 are encouraged for some reason. I pray, Father, that you encourage and lift our hearts and guide us. Thank you, Lord. Thank you for going to do this, Lord. We have come with a great expectation. Thank you, Father, for hearing. In 25:12 Jesus' precious and mighty name we pray. Amen. Please take your seat, brothers and sisters. Let's take a look at the memory verses. We had a command last week. Let's say together. Proverbs chapter 8, verse 34. Blessed is the one who listen to me, 25:34 listens to me. Watching daily at my gates. And for this week we have a promise. Isaiah chapter 46, verse 4. Even to your old age, I will be the 25:53 same. And even to your graying years, I will carry you. Let's say it one more time with faith. I was reminded of that song that we sing, he's just the same today. Just repeat after me. Isaiah chapter 46, 26:11 verse 4. Even to your old age, I will be the same. And even to your graying years, I will carry you. Amen. And this morning we are very happy and privileged to hear God's word from 26:29 Brother John Pereira. Brother John, over to you. It's a privilege to come together 26:51 and to look through God's word. >> [clears throat] >> Praise God. God has given his word to us. Would like to turn to Ephesians chapter 5. Verse 25. 25 says husband husbands 27:20 I would like to read from >> [clears throat] >> uh second half Christ also loved the church and gave himself up for her. That's shows that the intensity of um love 27:39 which Christ Jesus has for us, each one of us, every one of us. And he gave himself so that he might sanctify each one of us. Means make us separate 27:58 from self and sin and the world. Jesus is working to separate us from self, sin, and the world. Having cleansed her having cleansed her by the washing of water 28:17 with the word. And he might present to himself the church in all her glory having no spot or no wrinkle or any such thing. But that she should be holy and blameless. 28:36 See I am burdened to see the Lord's hunger or our Lord's uh love. When we think about Jesus loves me, what does that mean? That means Jesus wants to work in each one of us 28:53 so that he will separate us from all the sin, unholy things of this world and self, and slowly draw us close to himself, and refine us, refine us, refine us. And one day he'll come and take us, 29:11 present us to himself as a holy bride. That's the goal. See, even when we come together like this, there's a purpose behind coming together. What's the purpose? 29:30 This is what Jesus is saying. I want to work with you, work in you, work through you, so that you'll be sanctified, separated people, only unto me. That's the work Jesus is doing in our midst. Jesus said, 29:48 "The church I build, the gates of Hades will not prevail." So, is it prevailing in our personal life or not? That's the question. I think about what Brother Zac often says, that specially in our church, 30:07 we are different in one area. That is, most of the churches, them the important day is Sunday. Yes, Sunday is important. That we come together to encourage one another. Maybe I need encouragement, I need 30:26 guidance, I need clarity about my purpose of life. I'll take help. And same time, I also have a privilege to share with others what the Lord is doing in me, how the Lord is accomplishing his purpose. That's the reason we come. It's 30:44 important. The more importantly, if nothing is happening in my life Monday to Saturday, which is very serious, then I don't have anything to um [snorts] no purpose in coming to Sunday meeting. So, that's why the what is more 31:03 important is Monday to Saturday is my relationship with God is improving. And is it getting proved in my home relationships? My relationship with God is proved with my home relationship and also how I 31:21 handle many things and how I handle crisis. We'll look into all that in the Yeah, maybe I'll read another verse. Before Yeah, I would like to play a clip. A 10-minute clip. Before that, I would like to read another verse in James 31:38 chapter 3 verse 17. Wisdom It talks about wisdom from above. It's first pure and peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy, good things, unwavering, without hypocrisy. The seed and the seed whose fruit is 31:57 righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. See, these are all heavenly qualities. These are all heavenly qualities, characters of heavenly person, rather characters of Jesus. But are we getting molded into those characters? 32:17 Is Holy Spirit able to work and teach us those characters, rather those languages, those attitudes, which will be in heaven? One day we are planning to be in heaven. And are we getting prepared? Are we learning those characters, those lan- 32:35 languages? >> [snorts] >> And that is by the wisdom from above. The wisdom of this earth teaches many things where we can live a kind of a good life, impressive life for this age. But for 32:53 the age to come, we need wisdom from above where our inner life gets changed, transformed into the person of Jesus, and then we'll be qualified to live with Jesus forever. Let's hear that short clip. After that, I'll continue. 33:12 Brothers, please. Eve was deceived by Satan. And we fall a prey to that if 33:31 we don't see where we may be deceiving ourselves. So, let me show you these eight the eight ways in which we can deceive ourselves. The first reference, I'll go sequentially through the New Testament. The first reference is 1 Corinthians 33:48 chapter 3 and verse 18. 1 Corinthians 3:18, it says, >> [clears throat] >> "Let no man deceive himself." Is he talking about unbelievers or believers? Perhaps both. 34:07 But then he talks to the Corinthian Christians. And he says in the next sentence, "If any among you if any among you believers thinks that he is clever 34:23 according to the cleverness of this age, if he really wants to become spiritually wise, he must, let me paraphrase it, he must acknowledge however clever he is, 34:41 that in spiritual things, he is foolish. That's the first step to avoid these deceitful spirits from making a fool of you and me. Now, we have spoken often about that in 35:00 the church, but in a lot of places, they haven't spoken about this. What does this mean? >> [clears throat] >> See, cleverness is a matter of the mind. Divine wisdom is a matter of the heart 35:17 and the spirit. And you know, um just like physically, a man's brain may be functioning okay, perfectly, and his heart may be weak, he can get a heart attack even though his brain is functioning okay. And vice versa, a man's heart may be strong and his 35:37 brain may have a problem. Spiritually also, it's like that. A man's mind may be very clever, and he may be a fool in his spirit. There's no contradiction there. I mean, it's like saying man's got good hearing but bad eyesight. Can you understand 35:54 that? Sure. Or a man may have good eyesight and bad hearing. Why not? It's exactly the same way. A man may be very clever in his mind and absolute fool spiritually. Now, I have discovered 36:12 that in all the years I've traveled around Christendom, and that's 47 years now, most people haven't understood this. Most people think, if you're clever in your mind, of course you'll understand the Bible. Wrong. That's as foolish as saying, "If your 36:31 eyesight is good, your hearing must be good." And you got to be crazy to think like that. But it's as stupid as that to say that if your mind is clever, you must be having divine wisdom when 36:48 you come to the scriptures. No. Jesus said in Matthew 11:25, "I thank you, Father, that you have hidden all these things from the clever and the intelligent people in the world 37:05 and reveal these truths to babes." See, the only thing that babes have, which clever people don't have, is a humble heart, a pure heart. A humble, pure heart is the essential requirement 37:25 for knowing the truth about God, not cleverness. I'll tell you why. If cleverness, intelligence was necessary to understand the truth of God, then we would have to say to God, "Lord, 37:43 you're terribly partial because you made so many people intelligent in the world and others who are not so intelligent just don't have a chance." But it's not true. See, intelligence is something God has 38:03 distributed in a different way, just like income. You know that all the people in the world don't get the same income. All the people in the world are not equally wealthy. All the people in the world are not got the same height or 38:14 the same weight or the same color or the same intelligence. It's all different. And these things make no difference. Your height or your weight doesn't make a difference to spirituality. Your wealth or lack of it doesn't make 38:30 any difference to spirituality, and your intelligence or lack of it does not make a difference to spirituality, but some people think it does. That's why, you know, when we in our Sunday school right from the beginning, we decided 38:46 that in Sunday school, we will not give a prize to the children who give all the answers. Who can give all the answers? The clever one. Because we are not asking them We're not testing their character in Sunday school. We're 39:01 testing their soul drill, Bible knowledge. Who can turn to Lamentations first or something else in the Bible? And it's the clever people, the people with the good memory. I said, "Those guys, those little children are already getting 39:11 prizes in school for that." For cleverness. Why should we give them more prizes in Sunday school for that? No. So, we decided in Sunday school right from the beginning, uh we won't give any prizes for those who come first. We'll give a prize to those who 39:24 come regularly. Cuz that's faithfulness. It's got nothing to do with cleverness. We do things a lot differently in our church from many others. Because we want to give value to spiritual values. It's not cleverness. 39:43 It's recognizing. So, here it says, "If you want to understand divine wisdom, just humble yourself and say, 'Lord, I get 100% in math, and I get 100% in chemistry, I get 100% in physics, but when it comes to the Bible, I get zero.' 39:57 Say that. Then you'll understand the Bible." So, does it mean that if we are unfortunate enough to be intelligent, we can't understand the Bible? No. It It says here about intelligent people. If some of you think you're 40:16 intelligent, but I don't believe I'm so dumb. I think I've got a little bit of intelligence. Maybe not as much as some of you, but I still have some. But when I come to the scriptures, I say, "Lord, I can't understand this unless you teach 40:34 me." So I put myself at the same level as the other fellow whose intelligence is very low. Exactly at the same level. I may be able to beat beat him in maths and English, but I can't beat him in the scriptures. I'm the same level as him. 40:50 I put myself there. And I say, "Lord, I don't understand this unless you reveal it to me. I will get the wrong understanding from the scriptures. I'll study it, study it, study it like the people do in Bible schools, and they go astray. 41:07 And I'll go astray, too. So I have to humble myself and say, "I just don't understand this. You got to teach me." And that's how I've studied the scriptures for more than 40 years. I come to this book and I say, "Lord, I'm dumb." 41:26 And I if I try to use my mind and think I can understand it, I'll be wrong. So like it says here, I make myself a fool when it comes to this book because it's true. I am foolish 41:44 concerning spiritual things. Then it says, I wonderful promise, I can become wise. I can become wise, and I want to say to all of you young people, you need wisdom. 42:03 And you can only get it from God's book, the Bible. And you can get it only if you come to this book with the humility that acknowledges that all your earthly cleverness is of no use when it comes to understanding God's word. 42:19 And we've seen that also in our own churches. Some people who who can't speak English and who have studied very little in the villages, what a revelation they have on scripture sometimes. More than a lot of PhDs. 42:38 We've seen the reality of it. So, that's number one. Humility to acknowledge that when it comes to God's book, my intelligence is not much use. Then I will protect myself from self- deception. Yeah. 43:04 >> [clears throat] >> It's well explained. See, I just quoted this verse, James 3:17. [clears throat] It says, "Wisdom from above." And Jesus mentioned what brother Zac quoted, Matthew 11:25. "I praise you, my father. You have 43:22 revealed these things to babes." See, uh this book, James, is one of the fantastic book where it much talks about practical life. Like I mentioned, why Monday to Saturday is very 43:41 important. That is where we are tried and tested. If my Christian life, or rather my whatever I profess by my mouth doesn't work through the week, then I should go before God. Lord, despite of having 44:00 heard so many messages, I I'm growing in knowledge, but I'm not able to handle small crisis between me and my wife. I can't maintain peace and it says here. See the the fruit is righteousness is 44:19 sown in peace by those who make peace. This is wisdom. Peace of God, peace in our heart is wisdom. And love is wisdom. That's why Jesus said pray for those who persecute your way. 44:37 Be careful that you defile your own heart if you don't have wisdom and get into argument with the person who hates you. That is wisdom from above. Brother Zach rightly said many may be PhD holders, they know to 44:54 handle crisis on this earth. That is In fact, I will let me read that. Verse 14 or rather 13. Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior 45:11 his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. See the He's saying that if you think you're so capable, but show yourself in your behavior and character. And do you have that wisdom? Wisdom given by God. 45:29 Rather, if you read 1 Peter, 2 Peter, there it talks about grace. It's almost same. Here James talks about much about faith. Oh, faith is not that Oh, I believe I believe. No, it is the gift from heaven. Gift from God. 45:48 That is wisdom from above. Faith is not just intellectual belief. Like in fact, somewhere James also says that even demons believe and tremble. But that's not wisdom. The true faith 46:06 gives me the fear of God. That I don't want to defile my heart. I want to be careful. If I don't guard my heart, I am doomed. My my relationship with God will be 46:23 destabilized or rather it's broken. So for that, that's why I think he he begins James begins by this. James chapter 1 right away. He gets into the topic right away. In the beginning itself, chapter 1 verse 2. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when 46:42 you encounter various trials. Why? He is coming to the point straight away. You say that you have faith. Okay. Now the first test is will you be able to consider it all a joy when you face a trial crisis? 47:01 Just go home and have a crisis. I go to office, you have a crisis. Go into the road, you have a crisis. And go into yourself, you have a crisis. I get irritated, frustrated. All things are not okay. The surroundings are not okay. 47:16 Circumstances are not okay. That is the crisis. That's a trial. And he puts it like this, that consider it all joy. We have problem with children. I cannot withstand my partner, husband or wife. I I cannot handle situation in the 47:35 office, the relationship problem, on finance. Oh, I have less earning, more spending. These are all crisis, but James says, if you if you have a wisdom from above, if you have that wisdom from above, you will rejoice. You consider it a joy that 47:54 it's another test to prove your character. knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. See, that's how Jesus see the I was talking about learning the language. See, if you have to go to Germany, 48:12 I think we need to learn German. If you have to go to China or Japan, we need to learn that language. But are we committed to learn the language of heaven? The endurance, joy, which was in Christ Jesus. 48:32 When Jesus says, "I want to present you as a um uh without blemish or wrinkles." That means you're you're the people who have learned. You didn't defile your heart. You guarded your heart in the time of crisis. That's the language. That's what uh 48:51 James is saying. He says, "Don't profess by your own words." Like yeah, let me read further down. Uh knowing that the testing Yeah, verse four, "And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." 49:09 That is wisdom. I face a crisis at home. I I I lack I don't lack wisdom. I don't lack wisdom. I have wisdom to handle so that I protect my own heart. I bring peace in that situation. I bring God in that situation. 49:28 I bring solution. Like wherever Jesus went, like I remember hearing Brother Zach saying Jesus solved every problem. Wherever Jesus went, any problem, Jesus solved. Do we have that relationship with Jesus? Jesus come. 49:45 I am in crisis. I I want you to solve this problem. Why I'm saying this? See, the the world can collapse. I I remember 6 years back um exactly same month, March 2020, all of a sudden with COVID, lockdown, everything changed. And today 50:05 we have a crisis of gas, something like that. It's it's beginning of the end. And that time also, all of a sudden everything stopped. The God was telling us, "Be ready. Be ready. Will you be able to handle the crisis? Be ready anytime." 50:24 Don't forget about the crisis outside. I may be gone today. I should know how to handle my crisis. Then verse 5 it says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without 50:42 reproach." Without reproach, Living Bible says, "Without scolding." And uh it will be given to him. That's the beauty of relationship with God. See, we can have knowledge, we can grow in knowledge, but despite of growing in 50:59 so much Bible knowledge, oh I am hearing Brother Zach for such a long time. I heard this and that. So much resources, so much knowledge, but is it producing a life to solve crisis within our own hearts? Uh I am getting irritated, triggered, 51:18 tempted. Am I able to handle that? If I don't know how to handle, I'm fooling myself means I have to go to God. 1 Peter chapter 1. That's what Paul is also. Paul is putting it as a grace. If you don't have 51:36 a true grace, he talks about true grace. Verse 6. Uh in this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials. He's again he's talking about trials that the proof of your 51:55 faith being more precious than gold, which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found in result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And if we grow in faith and grace 52:13 and we receive wisdom from above, the revelation of Jesus, when Jesus comes, and we will get that reward or honor. That is what we should be focusing on each day. Lord, teach me how to handle this. Maybe health crisis. Many things. 52:32 Praise God. The Lord has left us in this imperfect world, imperfect people around us. See, the thing is we we are too much obsessed with how to handle this world. Good. We have to handle this world. Yeah, we need to have earthly wisdom, 52:51 earthly intelligence, cleverness. We need to have that. We need to be careful. We need to study. We need to earn money. We need to be careful with money. We may improve in all those things. I can think of a brother who is very good in 53:08 financial management. But I don't know where he stands today. I don't know. He's not in the church. So, I'm afraid that he has lost faith despite of being so intelligent in the things of handling the things of the world. 53:25 That can be our story. So, that's why we need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Then, think about Joseph. Joseph was pampered by parents and oh, father was so um, to him Joseph in the Bible 53:45 and then then all of a sudden crisis came into his life that his own brothers uh, wanted to kill him, hated him, and he had to run away. He had to face so many things. What is the outcome? The outcome was, I 54:02 think, Genesis 50, he says, he himself says that he says, uh, that uh, you intended I intended harm me, intended to harm me, but God intended it for good. See? That is wisdom. He grew in wisdom with all the crisis. 54:22 And he learned to handle first of all to protect his own heart. There are many I I talked to husband and wife, even yesterday some sister called me from some other place. The crisis is, I'm not able to handle my relationship with my partner. What do I 54:39 do? I I have to tell many cases like that. Sister, we are all struggling to guard our own heart. I I don't care what is your situation, what is your partner. But first of all, you guard your heart. 54:58 Ask God to give you wisdom. Don't open your mouth when you don't have peace. Don't open your mouth. In fact, Ephesians 4 says, speak the truth in love. If you don't have love in your heart, don't open your mouth. You are 55:12 not eligible to speak anything. Oh, that's the truth I have to tell. No, don't tell the truth. That's what Paul is saying. If you don't have love in your heart, don't even tell the truth. Because you are not eligible, you will 55:27 defile your own heart. You'll spoil your heart. But, praise God for these examples. Excellent example of Jesus and this example of Joseph in the Old Testament, he grew in wisdom from above. He knew, I want to protect my heart, 55:44 even though my brothers have done harm to me, I want to see it as God's dealing with me. And the another thing James talks about one chapter one verse 22. Verse 22, where he says, "But true 56:05 yourself doers of the word. True yourself to be doers of the word, and not merely hears hearers who delude themselves. And verse 23, "And if if anyone anyone is a 56:24 hearer of the word and not a doer, he's like a man who looks at his natural face in the mirror. After once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 56:42 But one who looks intently at the perfect law and the law of liberty and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer, but an effectual doer, this means this this man shall be blessed in what he does. 57:01 You see, he's talking about outcome of life. Not only hearing. Hearing is good. Good we hear good words words of truth. It's good. But I I read a kind of a phrase the it's called window shopping. Window shopping means uh 57:21 keep watching. I I also didn't know yesterday I kind of try to understand what it what exactly it is. Like it's just uh going through product, maybe go to the the shop and stand outside and see oh this this is how much it is how much 57:38 it is everything and then I don't buy. Why I don't buy? I I don't have money for that. I don't have enough money but if I don't have money why I'm checking? But spiritually speaking Matthew chapter 19 57:58 is something Jesus said here. Matthew chapter 19 verse 16 See this is easy here is a person who was attracted by something. But he came to do window shopping. 58:16 He thought that he may he likes it but he doesn't know the price. He is trying to check teacher what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life? Eternal life means the wisdom of wisdom from above. 58:33 Eternal life, life of God. So then Jesus said why are you asking me about what is good? There's only one who is good but if you wish to enter into life keep the commandments. And then 58:52 the which ones? Then he Jesus said that and then all this I have kept verse 20. And if you wish to be complete go and sell all your possession and give to the poor. You shall have treasures in heaven and come and follow me. This could be our 59:10 situation. Then he says verse 22 says that young man heard the statement he went away grieved. He was one who owned much property. See the thing is okay I want this. But what's the price? Oh price is too high. We cannot do this window shopping with 59:29 God's word. God's priorities. God says, "Yes, if you want to learn this language, you want to come to heaven, you you have to learn this language. How to handle crisis in your home, within yourself, and in the church. Do you Are you learning? Are you 59:47 interested? Uh then what's the price? Oh, you have to pay The price is you have to die to yourself. Oh, that's too expensive. This is called a window shopping where James talks about. You hear here, but uh when it comes to applying it, we are 1:00:06 selective. What is nice to me, okay to me. See, even here people can come and with whom I should talk, I'm selective. Uh who are nice to me, uh who will tell me what I would like to hear, who are um of my category. I only 1:00:24 selectively with them. And maybe I we don't do that when we go to hospital. When we go to hospital, we want to get rid of sickness. So, we meet people and we pay the price and we get the treatment and it's painful and it's expensive and we get it done and we 1:00:41 are out of it. But when it comes to church, we become we can become selective. That's not wisdom from above. But what is the price we pay? When we go home, we don't know how to handle crisis. We don't know how to handle sin in our 1:00:59 personal [clears throat] life. We don't know how to protect my our own heart. We are struggling to keep peace in our heart with God, with man. We are struggling. That is where we need help from God. That's why Jesus has 1:01:13 promised the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit can give us that strength what we need, but we have to pay the price. We cannot be doing window shopping here. And that is where he struggled even Jesus spoke about um parable of sower where he said there are 1:01:30 some seeds so suddenly it comes up. The seed falls and it sprouts. It looks oh, nice. It's on Sunday. But when the the pressures of life come, when they go home and it all dries up. Cuz this not taken root. 1:01:48 See, that's why we need to work on that. Even myself, see the in fact James chapter 3 verse 1 he says, "Let many of you become teachers, my brethren. Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that the as such we shall incur a stricter 1:02:07 judgment." That means what he's saying is be careful. Don't don't collect knowledge and start distributing to people. No, if you have life distribute life. If you have wisdom from above, distribute that. But if you just you're 1:02:24 a person who was who was expert in dishing out the informations and knowledge which which which is not which is just a knowledge from earth. I can have Bible knowledge. See, that that's the problem with that was the problem with the Pharisees. Pharisees 1:02:43 had so much Bible knowledge and what is the result? They didn't have life and they misjudged Jesus. That that's how it is. It's very serious that we should work work out our own salvation with fear and trembling and we 1:03:02 come under greater judgment. But if we serve life >> [snorts] >> which will help in our life. So then one more verse I would like to read. Chapter 3 3 to 5 This is about 1:03:21 um uh important organ in our body part of our body. Verse 3 Um if we put chapter 3 verse 3. If you put the bits into the horses' mouth so that they may obey us and direct their entire body as well. Behold the 1:03:41 ships also though they are so great and are driven by strong winds are still directed by a very small rudder. So also the tongue is a small part of the 1:03:58 body and yet it boasts of great things. Behold how great uh a forest set a flame by such a small fire. He talks about tongue. He's talking about tongue. See, this is just before he said, "You seek for wisdom from above." 1:04:16 The wisdom of this world doesn't help. That's what he said. Before that he talked so much about tongue. So, are we able to handle tongue? He says here he's a man he's a perfect man it says if he someone can handle tongue he's a perfect person. 1:04:35 If he can control his mouth. But that is where verse 14 comes. If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down 1:04:54 from above but is earthly, natural, and demonic. See, earthly, natural, and demonic. That is I don't know to control my tongue. I just speak as an expert. I don't have fear of God. I speak and defile my heart and go on 1:05:12 speaking and then see partners can be like this. Oh, no brother, my wife is the problem. My husband is the problem. What to do? Means They're They're not seeing their own struggle their own need. Instead, brother, I have a problem. What 1:05:30 is the problem? Problem is not me, somebody else. This is where This is the wisdom from below. That means a a husband can talk about wife wife's problems at length. And when it comes to his own problem, he 1:05:48 doesn't have anything to say. A wife can say at length, I can say 10 minutes, 20 minutes I or 1 hour I can speak about my husband's problems. But when it comes to my own problem, I am not realizing. So, that is earthly, natural, and 1:06:08 demonic. That is not a wisdom from above. Then he says, "The wisdom from above is pure." Pure maybe I would like to read it in amplified version. Yeah. 1:06:32 Verse >> [clears throat] >> Verse 17, it says, "Wisdom from above are first pure." That means undefiled. First, I have guarded my own heart. Then it is peace peace loving. You know, it loves peace. Any day anywhere there is no peace, it distance 1:06:51 itself. Don't want to put his tongue or hand or anything. And courteous, considerate, and gentle. And it is willing to yield to reason. See, I I'm not speaking like an expert. 1:07:08 So, I'm also struggling with this. I I don't want to stay where I am. See, we all need to fight the battle. That's what James is saying. James also struggled and he's seeing his own condition. That's where he cries out 1:07:26 and he says, "It is willing to yield to reason, full of compassion." See, James saw Jesus very closely. Jesus saw him at home. Sorry, James saw Jesus at home and he saw he saw the wisdom from above. How he was 1:07:44 undefiled, pure, and always loving peace, not getting going to get into conflict with brothers or sisters or any anybody around. And he's saying that he he he was somebody who was yielding to reason. He was willing to yield. 1:08:02 Even though he was right, he yields. And even uh the others the soldier struck him, he asked, "Why why do you strike me?" But he strikes again, he yields. Okay, I don't have anything more to say. And then, full of compassion and good 1:08:19 fruits. James is trying to learn the language of Jesus and he saw Jesus in his own own home and he was full of fruit and he says, "This is the fruit we should have." That is it is whole wholehearted and 1:08:38 straightforward. And impartial. See, that's why later he talks about partiality. Um James talks about partiality. It's impartial. There's no partiality in the wisdom what we get from heaven, 1:08:55 unfeigned, free from doubts wearing uh wavering and in- insincerity. And the harvest of righteousness and conformity to God's will in thought and deed is full of fruit of the seed sown in peace by those who work for the for 1:09:15 for and make peace in themselves and in others. That peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals with um with undis- disturbed disturbness 1:09:31 in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts. This This is the life. It is the wisdom from above. We need to fight for it. We need that from Monday to Saturday. 1:09:50 And then we can encourage one another. There are brothers and sisters who are fighting this battle, learning from their trials, and they're overcoming. Then they they will produce fruit. Then one more verse I would like to 1:10:08 read. >> [clears throat] >> Chapter 2. Verse 1. My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord just uh Jesus Christ with an attitude of 1:10:25 uh personal favoritism. It's It's there in our flesh which can come when we are not careful. And for If a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a 1:10:43 poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes and say, "You sit here in a good place." And you say to the poor man, "You stand over there." See, we heard brother Zach was saying 1:10:58 that even in Sunday school we need to be careful how we treat, what we value. See, we need to be careful what we value. See, it's not that uh oh, somebody rich. Why he's rich? Maybe God has given that boundary for him to test. 1:11:17 Another brother is earning 20,000 rupees, it's God's given boundary. One person is more intellectual intellectual, he's got got a better job, he may be doctor, somebody may be made, somebody may be daily wages worker. It's 1:11:30 all God drawn boundary. Like I was thinking much about Jesus being a carpenter. Jesus had a sound mind, he could have become a lawyer or uh uh doctor or engineer. No, because of his uh home circumstances, he was not able 1:11:49 to educate himself and become big. But God decided that he should be a carpenter. And his earning was less, eight people at home he had to take care. Very poor circumstances he had to grow up. And somebody comes and says, "Oh, you're not 1:12:05 a rich man, we don't value." Then what they're not valuing? They're not valuing God. They're not valuing the godliest person on this earth on this earth. See, that's what happens, brothers and sisters. See, we need to grow in wisdom. I want to 1:12:21 grow in wisdom, the wisdom from above. That that is a true faith, true grace. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that we learn to handle crisis. The what what I'm burdened is I when I talk to many, even myself, uh 1:12:39 we have knowledge, but we don't know to handle crisis. In the time of crisis our heart is defiled, very quickly defiled. Disturbed. Our heart is tampered. Then God "No, I want you to protect your heart." 1:12:56 What's the outcome of Job's dealings? It talks in chapter 5. Job's What What happened to Job? Everything God allowed. Many things God allowed, but at the end he protected his own heart. His integrity and his faith. That is 1:13:14 wisdom from above. It's not education or even for our children, we can be too obsessed about education and all that. Yes, but good good that they should have education so that they can support themselves, but they also should grow in these kind of 1:13:30 wisdom where they know how to handle crisis. May the Lord help us. We'll a song and then we'll hear brother Paul. >> [music] 1:14:24 >> Brothers and sisters, sing the song "O Jesus Christ, Grow Thou in Me". >> [music] [music] >> O Jesus [singing] 1:14:40 Christ, grow [music] thou in me, and all >> [singing] >> things else receive. My heart [music] be daily purity, [singing] from sin >> [music] 1:14:58 >> be daily free. Each day [music and singing] let thy supporting might, [music] my weakness >> [singing] >> still embrace. >> [music] >> My darkness vanish [singing] 1:15:20 in thy >> [music] >> light, thy light my death doth face. In thy bright beams [music] which [singing] only fall, may >> [music] >> every >> [singing] >> evil thought. That [music] I am nothing 1:15:44 >> [singing] >> thou art all, I would be daily >> [music] >> taught. Each day [singing] let thy supporting [music] might, my weakness >> [singing] >> still embrace. >> [music] >> My darkness [singing] 1:16:06 vanish in thy light, [music] thy light my death >> [singing] >> doth face. More of thy glory [singing] [music] let me see, 1:16:22 thou holy, wise, and true. I would [music and singing] thy living image be, in joy >> [singing] >> and sorrow >> [music] >> too. Each [singing] day 1:16:42 thy supporting light my weakness >> [music] >> still >> [singing] >> embrace. My darkness [music] vanishes in thy light, thy light >> [music and singing] >> my death 1:17:01 defies. Fill me [music and singing] with gladness from above. Hold [singing] me by strength >> [music] >> divine. Lord, [singing] let the glory >> [music] >> of thy 1:17:21 great love through all >> [singing] >> my being shine. Each day >> [singing and music] >> let thy supporting light my weakness >> [music] >> still >> [singing] >> embrace. My darkness [music] vanishes 1:17:44 in thy light, thy light my death [singing] defies. [music] Make this [singing] poor self grow less and less. [music] Be thou my life and day. Oh, make [music and singing] me daily 1:18:07 through thy grace more meet to >> [singing] >> bear thy day. Each day [music] let thy supporting light my weakness [music and singing] still embrace. My darkness [music and singing] 1:18:29 vanishes in thy light, thy light my death defies. >> [music and singing] >> than they So, we were looking at this verse that 1:19:09 brother John just quoted, James chapter 3. Verse 14 and 15. So, it says, "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against 1:19:28 the truth. And this wisdom that is whatever is mentioned in the previous verse is also referred to as wisdom. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. So, 1:19:49 this is the wisdom of the world. That is jealousy, selfish ambition, arrogance, and lying. And we see one instance of this earthly wisdom in Exodus chapter 1. In Exodus chapter 1 and 1:20:09 verse 7 onwards, uh in verse 6 we read that Joseph died. Uh in verse 7 it says that the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly and multiplied and became exceedingly mighty, so the land was filled with them. 1:20:27 A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. And he said to the people, "Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we." And this is the This is the earthly and natural demonic wisdom. He says, "Come, 1:20:44 let us deal wisely. Let us deal wisely with them. Or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us." And in verse 11, it says, "They appointed taskmasters over them to 1:21:00 afflict them with hard labor." So, that is one instance of earthly, natural, and demonic wisdom. And that is the wisdom of the world and this that is the wisdom of Egypt. And Pharaoh was facing a crisis here in his own imagination. 1:21:20 And what did he do to address that crisis? He used wisdom, but that wisdom was earthly, natural, and demonic. But if you read this chapter, there was nothing about the people of Israel to suggest that they were people who would betray 1:21:37 Pharaoh and fight against him. But that is what Pharaoh thought and his servants, they thought, "These people are multiplying. They're increasing in number. And uh we will lose our power. We will lose our position as rulers of this country." 1:21:56 And that is what motivated him. So, he enslaved this entire nation of Israel because he thought he would lose his position. That is the wisdom of the world. And 1,500 years later, the religious authorities in Jesus' time 1:22:15 also used the same wisdom. See in John chapter uh 11, John's Gospel chapter 11, and in verse 47 11:47, therefore the chief priests and 1:22:33 the Pharisees convened a council and were saying, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs." So, they also faced a crisis. And they said, "If we let him go on like this, all men will believe in him 1:22:53 and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." They were afraid that they would lose their place, their power and position if they let Jesus continue. And in verse 49 and 50, one of them, Caiaphas, who was high 1:23:10 priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all. Nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people and that the whole nation not perish." So, they decided that it is better if 1:23:26 Jesus died so that we can retain our place and our uh power and position. So, they decided to kill him. And they were displaying the wisdom from below, that is, earthly, natural, demonic. And because of jealousy, as we read 1:23:44 before, jealousy and selfish ambition. And even Pilate could understand that they handed him over because of their jealousy, because of their envy. But in contrast to this, God displayed a very different kind of wisdom. 1:24:00 And when God looked at this world, he saw the earth was in a crisis. And man was in the grip of sin. He was under the rule of Satan. And what was the wisdom that God displayed? It was not the wisdom of clinging onto his position, 1:24:19 but the wisdom of giving up his position. So, we read So, what Jesus did? He gave up his throne, his position in heaven, and he came down to earth. So, that was also wisdom, but it was the wisdom from above. 1:24:36 And he came not to be a king, but to be a servant. He came to serve, not to be served. Now, how does this apply to us? Many of us don't have a position or a throne to give up, or to let go. But, there may be other things in our 1:24:54 life that we are not willing to let go. Especially when it comes to our relationship with other people. When we find that people have hurt us in some way, and they have mistreated us, or they have insulted us, we may not be willing to let go. 1:25:12 We want to hold on to that grudge, to that bitterness. And that is what the wisdom of the world says. The wisdom of the world says, "Don't let go. Don't forgive that person. Make him suffer, or let them experience what you have experienced." 1:25:31 But, what does the wisdom of God say? In Proverbs 29 and verse 24 and verse 29, Proverbs 24 and verse 29, it says here, "Do not say, 'Thus I shall do to him as 1:25:48 he has done to me. I will render to the man according to his work.'" So, we are not supposed to say that. That is a negative attitude that we have to avoid. Don't say, "I will do to him. I will 1:26:05 make him suffer as I have suffered." But, then there is also a positive attitude that we have to adopt. And what does the wisdom from above say? Matthew chapter 7, verse 12. We know that Jesus is called the wisdom of God. And what did he say in Matthew 1:26:22 7:12? He said, "Treat people the same way you want them to treat you." Not the same way they have treated you, but how you want them to treat you. That means don't say, "I will do to him as he has done to me." 1:26:41 But say, "I will do to him as I want him to do to me." So, that is the wisdom of God. So, we need this wisdom to be forgiving, to be merciful, and to let go. And as we read in James 3:17, the wisdom from above is 1:26:59 first pure, and then peaceable. So, the wisdom seeks to maintain peace, to make peace. And that is why Jesus came down from heaven, to make peace between God and man, and between man and man. It says in Ephesians, he himself became 1:27:17 our peace. And to become our peace, he had to be an example first. That means he had to let go, not just of his throne in heaven, but also when people ill-treated him, and the sinners were hostile toward him, he had to let go. 1:27:35 And he said once, "Whenever whatever you say against the Son of Man, it is forgiven." So, he let go. He released people. And that is what he demonstrated on the cross also. So, we know that the greatest sin man committed is the crucifixion of the Son 1:27:52 of God. And how did God how did the Son of God respond? He said, "Father, forgive them." And if Jesus had said, "Father, do to them as they have done to me." What would have happened? I think there would have been no 1:28:10 salvation for man. But he didn't say that. He said, "Father, forgive them." And this is what uh the wisdom of the world cannot understand. The world cannot understand the wisdom of God. In 1 Corinthians chapter 2, we read 1:28:26 this. 1 Corinthians 2:7. It says, 1:28:45 "But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory. The wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood. But if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of 1:29:00 glory." So, God's wisdom, none of the rulers of this age understood. The rulers of this age refers to not just earthly rulers, but also the spirits behind them, Satan and his demons. They have not understood it. And if they had understood it, they 1:29:16 would not have crucified him. So, during his ministry, Jesus went about delivering people from the grip of Satan. And Satan and his demons saw that their kingdom was in danger. Jesus was such a threat to them. And so that they decided to get rid of 1:29:33 him. But what God did, he used his wisdom, wisdom from above, to use the same event, the crucifixion of Jesus, to redeem mankind and to also disarm Satan and his demons, to remove their power. And we know that Satan is the cleverest 1:29:54 of all God's creation. And with all his cleverness, Satan could not understand the wisdom of God. And we too cannot understand the wisdom of God with our own cleverness. And that is why it is important to read God's word because the wisdom of God is 1:30:12 revealed in his word. But we cannot use our own cleverness. See what it says in 2 Timothy. One final verse, 2 Timothy 3:15. 2 Timothy 3:15, it says that uh Paul is writing to Timothy. It says, "From childhood you have known the 1:30:31 sacred writings which are able to give you wisdom that leads to salvation." So the Bible, the word of God, is not just for facts and information. It is to give us wisdom that will lead to salvation. And to understand that wisdom, the 1:30:48 wisdom that is from above, we need the revelation of the Holy Spirit. We can't do it with our own cleverness. So let us seek the Lord for wisdom from above and also the revelation that will help us to understand his word 1:31:05 and gain wisdom from his word that will lead to our salvation. May the Lord help us. Let's respond to what the Lord has spoken to 1:31:24 our hearts. Surely the Lord has spoken to each one of us. We are all human and the Lord in his mercy have given us Jesus, given us word, 1:31:42 given us the help of the Holy Spirit so that we get convicted, we get light on our own hearts, our own life, so that we can come back to our savior and ask him 1:32:00 to help us. He's there to help us. He's always for us against the enemy. None of us should feel that oh, I'm beyond his compassion. 1:32:18 No, God's compassion is more vast and deep. He's ready to help any of us and there is no pit which is too deep for the Lord or any sin which is so um dark. 1:32:36 Jesus, the scripture says that, "Come to me. Let's reason together." Let's come to him and ask him. Lord, yes. You're there to help us. We face crisis, but we don't have to uh be without your wisdom. You can give us wisdom. You can give us 1:32:55 the power. You can give us the word right word at the right time. Lord Jesus, you are our [snorts] example and you gave many examples after that. Lord, thank you. Thank you for your help. Father, thank you for your love and care 1:33:13 and concern for us. As we face difficult days uh in the future, no matter what the situation is, but we count it as joy because we are going to learn wisdom from above. So that we will be able to handle any kind of situation which comes, which you 1:33:33 allow with your great wisdom and there is nothing beyond your power and capacity. All authority in heaven and earth is given to you, Father. Lord Jesus, thank you. Lord, with that boldness we live. We are so happy that you're there to 1:33:50 help us. Whatever you allow, you will also give us the capacity to overcome. You will give us grace, Lord. Thank you for the promises you have made for us. Thank you for your commitment to help us, Lord. Thank you for speaking to our 1:34:05 hearts. Encourage us, strengthen us. Give us that faith to pursue after wisdom from heaven. We trust you, Father. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen. I have announcements. Presenting 1:34:31 the book of this month, A Godly Family Life [music] by Brother Zac Poonen. The Christian life can be compared to a three-story building. The foundation of the building is Christ himself, in whom we see God's perfect, eternal, and 1:34:49 unchangeable love for us. The first story of the building is our inner life. [music] The second story of the building is our family life. The third story of the building is the church and our fellowship and service [music] in it. We need the power of the 1:35:04 Holy Spirit if we are to build these three stories as an unshakable [music] structure. The big mistake many are making today is that they engage in the Lord's ministry >> [music] >> in building the third story without having built a solid inner life, which 1:35:21 is the first story, and a godly family life, which is the second story. >> [music] >> And it is in the second story of the family life where most have fallen short. The word of God contains the manufacturer's instructions for the 1:35:36 family life. Follow his instructions and you cannot go wrong. Even if you have destroyed your family life in the past by foolish mistakes, [music] you can still set things right. As we approach the end of time, we find that Satan's attacks are concentrated 1:35:56 [music] more and more on the family lives of Christians. Therefore, it is essential [music] that we preserve our families within the boundaries of the teaching of God's word if we are to glorify his name, fulfill his purposes, and preserve our children 1:36:14 for his kingdom in these days. May the Lord use this book to help you and challenge you to live for his glory alone as a family. [music] >> [music]
