0:07 As we begin this morning, I wanted to I I was reminded of something that it was a part of our Bible reading. If you turn with me to Exodus chapter 6, Exodus chapter 6, verse 9. 0:30 Exodus 6:9. So Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses on account to their discouragement or dispondency and cruel bondage. And as I read that verse, I was thinking 0:49 there was a word that God wanted to speak to them that day, but they couldn't hear it for two reasons. What are those two reasons? One, they were discouraged and secondly, they were bound by sin. Those two things prevented them. God 1:08 wanted to speak to them and encourage them, saying, "I'm going to take you into the promised land. I'm going to set you free from bondage, but they couldn't hear it because they were discouraged and they were in bondage." And so as we 1:25 begin this morning, it's good to remember that God's on the throne. Every circumstance, situation is under his control. Anything that he permits in a child of God's life is only because he permitted it. And there's a very good 1:45 reason for which he permitted it. Secondly, the devil has been defeated. Jesus when he died on the cross not only paid for our sins but also defeated the devil. And thirdly, 2:04 Jesus loves us as the father loves us as much as he loved Jesus. And so as we come into the meeting this morning, if we remember that we put away all discouragement because God's on the throne, the devil has been defeated. God 2:22 is for us and not against us. He loves us as much as he loves Jesus. It says it's blessed the one who God does not count his sins against him or her. And today we also not because we deserve it but we can say 2:40 Lord thank you Lord because I repented of my sins and asked you to forgive me. you don't count my sins against me and because of that I can be of joy. But I wanted to share this morning 2:59 God teaches the humble his way. If you turn with me to Psalm 25, not everyone gets to know God's ways. And if you turn with me to Psalm 3:21 25 verse 9, he leads the humble in justice and he 3:41 teaches the humble his way. And here you could see uh the shepherds they were able to find Jesus when others couldn't the way to Jesus 3:59 the shepherds were able to find but many others weren't able to find that way and if you turn with me to Luke Luke chapter why why did they find the way to Jesus and others It says verse 15 uh Luke 2:15 when the 4:29 angels had gone away from them Luke 2:15 into heaven the shepherds began saying to one another let us go straight to Bethlehem then we will see the thing that has happened which the 4:45 Lord has made known to us. Let us go straight to Bethlehem. I want you to remember they went straight to Bethlehem. And there's another group of people. 5:04 They also wanted to see Jesus. They left from the far east to come to see Jesus to worship him. I believe they had very very good intentions. And if you turn with me to Matthew 2, Matthew chapter 2, just like 5:21 the shepherds wanted to see Jesus, these magi or wise men wanted to also see Jesus. And it says in Matthew chapter 2:1, "Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of Herod the king, the wise men from the east 5:37 arrived from Jerusalem, saying, Where is he who is born king of the Jews? For we have seen a star in the east, and we have come to worship him." Did they have good intentions? Yes, 5:56 they wanted to worship the Lord. They sought the star and they sought to follow that star to find the king of the Jews so that they may worship them, worship him. But as they were going, every night they would look up in the sky and look for 6:13 that star and they say, "Okay, this is the way we have to go." The next day again, they would look at the star. every day depending on that star and wherever that star went they would follow it day after day. 6:31 But there came one day when they said, "Okay, we're not going to look at the star. We're going to go to the palace and ask for directions." This star that was faithful to lead them all the way here. Now they said, "You 6:50 know what? I'm going to to take another look and find out how to get to the king of the Jews." And so it says that verse three, "When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled in all Jerusalem 7:08 with him. And then they found out where he would be born. And then they then Herod tells them wise men, you go and find him and tell me where he is so that I too may come and 7:25 worship him. And so it says here that they saw the star again. Verse 9, after hearing the king, they went on their way and the star which they had seen in the east went on before them until they came and stood over the place where the child 7:40 was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And so I'm thankful even though they missed the star, God gave them a second opportunity to be led by the star again. 7:59 But one time they chose instead of reaching out and looking for the star, they chose their own understanding. What's best in this situation? Okay, let's go to the pallets and find out. One time they 8:18 leaned on their own understanding. What does it say in Proverbs 3 5 and 6? Trust. You can say it out loud if you know it. Proverbs 3:5 and 6. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your 8:37 own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your path straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from evil. So the magi, they trusted the star. They looked at the star all this time. But 8:56 one time they decided, okay, let's not look at the star. Let's lean on our own understanding. Just one time. And if you turn back to Matthew 2 verse 12, after they had worshiped Jesus, verse 12, it says that being warned by 9:16 God in a dream, they returned to Herod, who returned did not return back to Herod, but left for their own country in another way. And then it says here in verse 16 and when I read this then I saw 9:36 how dangerous it is to lean on my own understanding. It says in verse 16, "When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he became very enraged and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its 9:55 vicinity from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from who?" From the wise men. Even though they had trusted in God's 10:12 ways all that time, day after day, one time they decided to lean on their own understanding. And this is what happened. All those children, male children two and under, died because 10:30 the wise men leaned on their understanding one time. And when I read that, I said, "Lord, I now see the seriousness of leaning on my own understanding." In the past, I thought, "Okay, leaning on the understanding, on my own 10:47 understanding, it's not so bad. It's not such a serious sin as other sins." But when I read this, I said, "Lord, these wise men, even though they wanted to worship you, even though they leaned upon the star all those times, 11:02 one time They chose to lean on their own understanding and this was the consequences of that one disobedience. It started very in the very beginning in the garden of Eden as well. If you turn 11:19 with me to Genesis chapter 3 verse one. Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field. And the Lord had made that the Lord had made and he and he had said to the woman indeed has God said shall you 11:38 not eat from any tree of the garden and this is how the devil will come. God had said something but putting a question do you want to trust in God's word or lean on your own understanding. The woman said to the serpent, "From the 11:57 fruit of the trees of the garden, we may eat, but from the fruit of the tree, from the midst of the garden, God said, you shall not eat from it or touch it or you will die." And you might remember that God never said that you can't touch 12:12 it. You can't eat of it. And so, she was not careful to hear God's word as it was spoken. Verse four, the serpent said to the woman, "You shall surely not die." What was the verse we heard from our children? If you live after the flesh, 12:31 you will die. What does the devil say? You can live after the flesh, but you won't die. That started not not in Romans. It started here in Genesis. Verse 5. For the God knows that in the day you eat from it, your eyes will be 12:48 open, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. Verse six, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from it the fruit, and ate it, and gave 13:06 to her husband also with her, and he ate. And you see that As she discussed with the devil, she was convinced. It says in the uh New Living Translation, she was convinced after the 13:24 conversation with the devil, she was convinced. She was convinced that if she ate of that tree, of the knowledge of good and evil, she would not die. She was convinced of it, but she convinced of something that was true or 13:41 convinced of something that was false. She believed in a lie and she was completely convinced in her mind that what she was doing was right even though she was 100% wrong. And I believe that's what the devil wants to do today as well. 14:01 deceive us into thinking if we do our own will and lean on our own understanding that everything will be fine instead of trusting in the Lord. And God had given Eve a protection, her husband, 14:21 and she could have easily asked him, "I know that this devil is saying all of these things, and in my mind, I'm convinced to do this, but what do you think? Should we do this? Should we eat this one protection that God had placed over 14:40 her?" And if she blindly listened to the authority that God had placed over her, how different it would have been. If the wise men just listened to follow the star, how well it would have gone with them. But because 14:59 Eve was convinced, yeah, don't worry about the authority. They they'll say that, but you know best. you do this one act of disobedience took them away from the garden of Ed Eden. And so I see that Lord, you've placed 15:18 authorities over my life and I can either trust my own lean on my own understanding or see Lord what do you say and what do the godly people that you've placed in my life say 15:36 about this matter? It would have saved Eve and it will save us. I know as a young person many many different situations and at the time I know that based on all 15:53 that I understood I was convinced on certain decisions but I was fortunate that I had godly men in my life who I could ask brother this is what I'm thinking. What do you think? And there are so many things that I was 16:13 protected from because of that one thing. I see the situation. I can take the left or right. I don't know what to do. This is what I think. What do you think, brother? We know that for young children, right? When they they want to do something and 16:33 we say, you know what, son, daughter, don't do that. that's going to harm you. What about us us adults? It's good. And if we're humble, we'll say, "Lord, I don't know. I'm like that child in Psalm 131. I don't know. These 16:53 matters are too high for me. Lord, help me. Guide me." And if we're humble, God will show us his way. Just like he did for the shepherds. They didn't go and consult with anybody. They went straight to Bethlehem. 17:10 Today also the humble will find the way to the Lord. And if we do think that we know something, we can turn to Isaiah. If we really want to know God's ways in a matter, and many of us might go through situations where we need to know 17:28 God's will in different ways. One of the best things that we can do Isaiah 55 verse 7. If we want to know God's ways and God's thoughts, Isaiah 55:7, let the wicked 17:47 forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Before we go to find out what God's ways are and God's thoughts are, we must forsake our own ways and our own thoughts. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let him 18:05 return to the Lord and he will have compassion on him and to our God and he will abundantly pardon. Verse eight, for my thoughts are your not your thoughts nor my ways your ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the 18:21 earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. If I'm humble, I'll say, "Lord, your ways and your thoughts are much, much higher than mine. I want to humble myself and hear from you." 18:39 It says, "I'm not sure if you've taken tests. I I think a lot of you young people have taken tests and adults as well. And sometimes when I go for an examination and the first question I get wrong, I just feel really bad. And then once 18:58 the second question also I get wrong then I know that this exam is not really going in the right direction. But it humbles me. It says you know what even though I prepared and everything all these questions I don't know the 19:11 answers to and that's okay with earthly test. It gives an opportunity for us to have a sober estimate of our ourselves. And when God speaks to us as well and we think that we have we know this and we know that. 19:31 One of the first things that God spoke to Job when he spoke to him was a question. If you turn with me to Job 38 verse two. Who is this that darkens 19:52 counsel by words without knowledge? Now gird up your loins like a man and I'll ask you and you instruct me. Verse four, whenever we have thoughts about ourselves and how we can accomplish this and how I know this and 20:11 this is the question that we need to answer. God asked, "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?" Where were you, Job, when I laid the foundation of the earth? 20:29 AJ, where were you AJ? That you think that you know so much about all these different things. Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? The first question itself, Lord, I can't answer. Lord, I wasn't there. I want to humble myself. You made 20:47 heaven and earth. Your ways and your thoughts are much higher than mine. I don't understand why things are happening the way they are. But I also want to humble myself. I wasn't there when the earth was created. I wasn't there when you said waves stop 21:03 here and come no further. I wasn't there when you called out the stars by name and you didn't lose even one of them. I wasn't there. I want to humble myself. But when we think about a life that was 21:21 perfectly planned, one who relied on the father completely every single day of his life, we see Jesus who never did his own will. Unlike the wise men who leaned on their own understanding, Jesus never did his will. He always 21:39 said, "I never do anything out of my own initiative." Even though he had lived a perfectly sinless life, he never once did one thing on his own initiative. Every single day of his life, 21:56 the father had planned his day and Jesus walked in that plan. And if you turn with me to John chapter 4, the the teams are studying the book living as 22:15 Jesus lived. And these are areas where we can see how Jesus lived in his life and how we can follow. It says in verse one, John 4:1, "Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was 22:33 making and baptizing more disciples than John, although Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples were, he left Judea and went again into Galilee." Jesus was baptizing or his disciples 22:54 were baptizing more than John and he heard that the Pharisees heard about it and Jesus even though he was God walked as a man he said okay John has a ministry there in Judea and there's a a sense of competition 23:11 between his disciples and my disciples I'm going to depart from here and I'm going to go to Galilee Just like Abraham did many years earlier when Lot said, "You take the part. I'm going to go elsewhere." And you see that 23:29 Jesus, even though he was God, he never fought even in the area of ministry. He said, "Okay, John the Baptist, you have that ministry over there. I'm going to go here." And when Jesus did that as a man, God led him 23:48 to the next step. And I see this for us too. We also can determine, Lord, I don't want to be in competition to another brother, sister or young person. I don't want to be jealous of another person. Lord, you placed me in your body for a 24:04 specific purpose and I want to fulfill that purpose. And if there's a another brother or sister fulfilling a ministry here, okay, let me do this part and fulfill my calling here. Let me not be in competition. And because Jesus gave me 24:19 that example, I can follow that. He left for Judea and went again to Galilee. Verse four, and he had to pass through Samaria. The father put it in his heart saying, Jesus, you need to go to Samaria. That was not the way the Jews will 24:37 always go. they would bypass Samaria. But he had to go because the father was prompting him, the Holy Spirit was prompting him. Verse five, so he came to the city of Samaria and Saikar near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to the 24:51 son of Joseph and Jacob's well was there. So Jesus being wearied from his journey was sitting by the well and it was about noon. And you see that even when Jesus was wearied from the journey as a man and he had to stop at that particular 25:10 well, no other well, he got tired exactly at that point. It was because God planned it because the woman that woman would come and meet with him at that well at that exact time. Who planned it? The father planned it. And Jesus just relied, "Father, I 25:29 don't know why everything is here set up the way it is, but you have a plan for it." And if God plans like that for Jesus, our older brother, what is your faith? Do you think God plans every circumstance in your life and my life as a child of his? 25:49 Everything. Even if we're tired and we stop at a place, we meet somebody that we weren't planning to meet. I believe God can orchestrate situations like that in our lives. We may not understand, but you see that Jesus came and met with 26:07 this woman at the well and it would change her life forever. She was in a low point in her life and only the father in heaven knew that that she was ready. probably years later earlier she might have not been ready 26:26 but that point in time she was at that place where God was ready to meet with her and she was receptive to hear the words at 12 noon at that well on that day and Jesus was led because he was sensitive 26:45 and changed her life and brought a revival in that village. What Jesus did for that woman, I believe he can do through us as well. Making our lives intersect with others 27:04 to help them at a pointed need. God has not sent us for us to live self-centered lives. But as that song said that we we read we we sang this morning, unnumbered souls are dying and pass into 27:21 the night. We go all the world with the kingdom hope unfurled. And so again, people passing into the in the night. God is sending us into that world. Also, when he was traveling, God sent him to Jericho and and you might 27:40 remember he met who did he meet in Jericho? Luke 19, he entered Jericho and he was passing through there. And verse two, and a man called by the name Zakius was there. And so everywhere this man 27:58 was living in sin, cheating people. But God used Jesus to meet Zakius at a time, intersect their lives and make bring about salvation in this man's life. If not for Jesus going 28:17 there, Zakius would have continued being in that state of cheating people. But because of Jesus, his life was changed forever. It says salvation has come to this. It says there here today verse 9, today 28:36 salvation has come to this house because he too the son of Abraham. Verse 10, for the son of man has come to seek and save that which was lost. And so as people that we meet, we don't know when our last day is here. We don't know when others last days are 28:55 here. But while we are on this earth, may the Lord be able to use our lives also to intersect with the lives of others that we may be able to bring this note, the hope of the gospel to their lives and save. 29:13 And Jesus again, not only that, in even in death, I see how the father planned out Jesus's life and that thief on the cross who was heading a couple of hours more. And he was he was heading straight to hell. 29:33 That's where he was headed in a couple of hours from now. He was headed to hell. And Jesus walked by him and intersected with his life just before he died and saved him 29:52 just because of Jesus his life intersecting with that man's life. His eternity was changed. The father knew in a few more hours this thief on the cross is going to die and perish for eternity. And there on the cross, if you turn with 30:07 me to Luke chapter 23, Luke chapter 23 verse 40, the other answered and rebuking him. Luke 23:40, 30:25 do you not even fear God since you are under the same condemnation, sentence of comdemnation? Verse 41, we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving the what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong. Verse 42, and he was 30:43 saying, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Verse 43, and he said to him, truly I say to you, today you shall be with me in paradise. A few more hours and he would have perished. 31:01 But Jesus came there and it says in Jude 1, there's only one chapter actually in Jude verse 23, save others, snatching them out of the fire. 31:19 Snatching them out of the fire. They're about to go into the fire and they get snatched out. And I see that what the Lord did with Jesus with that thief on the cross who had no hope. Everybody probably wrote wrote him off as no hope for him. But the father 31:38 from heaven said, "You know what? There is still hope." And sent Jesus in that final hours in the nick of time to snatch him from the fire. And I said, "Lord, you did that for Jesus. Do that for each 31:56 one of us. Do that for me Lord. The people you put in my life that cross my path. I pray Lord just like you send Jesus in their path so that they may be saved. So that if they could be snatched from the fire just before they fall into the fire they 32:13 could be snatched. Send me Lord in their path. Bring them along the my path Lord. Bring them along our church's path Lord. Every single one of us, children in your school, maybe there's another person in 32:29 your class that they can cross your path that you may be the one who can help snatch their soul. And as we close, I just wanted to share this is not just for Jesus. 32:47 God wants it for every single one. Jesus's life was perfectly planned by the father. But for every one of us, his children also, our lives are perfectly planned by the father as well. And there's a beautiful promise if you 33:05 turn with me to John chapter 4. In the world, you get paid when you do work. In the world, you get paid when you do work. But here it says verse 35, John 33:24 4:35, "Do you not say there are yet four months, then comes the harvest? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields that they are white for harvest. There is a time where the harvest is 33:43 ripe. people in their lives they go through the woman at the well it was noon on that day for Zakius it was that day when he climbed up that sycamore for the thief on the cross the time was harvest was when he was on the cross 34:01 I don't know when the harvest time is but the Lord does he knows when is the right time for that harvest and he's the one who can lead us to the fruit when the harvest is ripe Behold, I say to you, lift up your highs. Verse 36. Already he who receives 34:20 reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life. So that he who sws and he who reaps may rejoice together. Verse 37, for this case is that saying is true. One sws and 34:39 another reaps. Verse 38. I say I sent you to reap for which you have not labored. Others have labored and you who have entered into their labor. These disciples when they went to 34:55 Samaria, Jesus had already labored there and they went and entered into that labor. And for each one of us as well, let the Lord go ahead of us, prepare the harvest and we can enter into that labor. Lord, I don't know where the 35:11 harvest is. I don't know what people are going through. I don't know where the fruit is ripe, but you do, Lord. Let me be available to you so that you can direct my paths, Lord, as I acknowledge you in all my ways. I trust 35:25 you completely, Lord. I don't lean on my own understanding, Lord. Lead me like you led Jesus to the woman at the well, to Zakius, to the thief on the cross. And as I think about when they went to catch the fish, 35:44 they tried so hard. Jesus said, "Follow me. Follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Follow me and I'll make you fishers of men. If I want to be a fisher of men, if you want to be a fisher of men, we must 36:02 follow Jesus. And if Jesus says throw the net on the right, you throw the net on the right. They worked so hard and they couldn't catch a single fish. But when they leaned on the Lord and the Lord said, "Put the net here." 36:18 Effortlessly, the fish from all of a sudden start jumping into the net. All of these fish. And I believe the Lord wants to do that as well in each of our lives individually as families and as a church that in 36:36 these last days that we also may be sent to snatch out of the fire that God would send us to reap where we never sowed. God will do the work and 36:54 he'll just ask us to cast the net. And it says that they caught, do you know how many fish they caught that day? 153 fish. Large fish. Not out of their own effort. And it says the net never broke. 37:12 Wherever God sends us, he'll give us enough grace for that catch. And as I close, I want to share as well on from Acts chapter 26. Acts chapter 26 37:38 verse 17. Rescuing you, rescuing you from both the Jewish people and the Gentiles. to whom I am sending you. God will send us to specific people that are in need if we are available to 37:57 the Lord. Verse 18, to open their eyes. To open their eyes. That means to the people that God sends us. God will open their eyes. We don't know who those people are, but 38:14 God does. And God will send us to those who are in need who they recognize that they need the Lord. Their eyes are blind to open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light from the dominion of Satan to God that they may receive 38:33 the forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in me. And if you turn to chapter 27, Paul's in the boat in the ship along with many others, 276 people in all, and they're sailing 38:51 there. And they're in that boat, 276 people on that boat, and they're going to all crash into and be shipwrecked. And this is the promise that God gave to 39:08 Paul. There was one godly man in that ship and this was the promise that God gave to him and this is the promise that I want to take for myself and for each one of us. So if you te turn with me to Acts chapter 27 39:26 verse 21. When they had gone a long time without food then Paul stood up in their midst and said men you ought to have listen followed my advice and not have set sail from greed and incurred this damage and 39:43 loss. Verse 22. Yet now I urge you, keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. Verse 23, for this very night an 39:58 angel of the Lord to whom I belong to whom I belong, brother, sister, young person, you must know that God purchased you and you belong to him. You must know that 40:14 you possess you're possessed of God. It says,"I set apart the godly for myself." And so there's a group of people that God sets apart. And I say, "Lord, I want to be among them. I believe, Lord, you've forgiven me. You purchased me. I'm yours. I 40:33 belong to you. I'm not like anybody else. I'm yours. The God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, saying,"Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you 40:52 all those who are sailing with you. Therefore, keep your courage, men, for I believe God that it will turn out exactly as I have been told." And I say, 'Lord, I want this promise for myself in this in the ship that I'm sailing in, 41:11 the people in my circle of people just because I'm on that ship. Lord, I pray that you save everyone in that ship. There were prisoners there, people who had probably done much harm. There was the captain who said, "Don't 41:27 listen to Paul." All of these people were on that ship, but every single one of them was blessed because there was one godly man on that ship, Paul. Whether they deserved it or not, they were so thankful because there there was 41:43 one godly man on it. And why can't that be one you and me in that in our circles of that the Lord would save all of those not only physically from that shipwreck but also spiritually. 42:01 And so I pray that would be for myself and for each one of us that in the circles in the ships that God has called us and placed us that God will help save those in our midst because he can find us. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, 42:20 you orchestrated that shipwreck not for harm for Paul, but so that those 275 people on that ship may be saved. I pray Lord the circumstances and situations you orchestrate sovereignly in our lives, the places where we rest, 42:38 the places where we go, every single person. And I pray Lord for those you know who are ripe. For those who you want to open their eyes, Lord, just like Jesus, you save that man at the at the last hours of his life. Lord, from 42:54 darkness to light. I pray that you would do that through us. I pray Lord that you would find in us people that belong to you that you can use as well. that we would intersect our lives with those who are perishing. Lord, that we 43:09 may be also those who can save, snatch out of the fire. Lord, I pray, Lord, you'd do this not for our sake, Lord, but for your name's sake, Lord, that many would come to know you in these last days. I pray that for your glory, 43:23 may you do this in Jesus name. Amen.
