1:59 Mhm. >> Praise him, [music and singing] you heavens, and all that's above. 2:19 Praise him, you angels and heavenly hosts. Let the whole >> [music] >> earth praise [singing] him. Praise him, [music and singing] the sun, moon, and bright shining stars. Praise 2:36 him, you heavens and waters and [singing] skies. Let the whole >> [singing and music] >> earth praise him. Great [music and singing] in power, great >> [music] >> in glory, 2:55 >> [singing] >> great in mercy, king >> [music] >> of heaven, great >> [singing and music] >> in battle, great in [singing] wonders, 3:14 great >> [music] >> in heaven, king over all >> [singing] >> the earth. >> [music] >> Let's make some noise for the Praise him, [singing] you heavens, and all that's above. Praise him, you [singing and music] 3:31 angels and heavenly hosts. Let the whole >> [music] [singing] >> earth praise him. Praise him, the [music and singing] sun, moon, and bright shining stars. Praise him, you heavens [music and singing] 3:49 and waters and skies. Let the whole earth praises. >> [music] >> Great in power, >> [music and singing] >> great in glory, great in 4:08 >> [music] >> mercy, >> [music] >> king of heaven, [singing] great in >> [music] >> battle, >> [singing] >> great in wonders, >> [music and singing] >> great in >> [music and singing] 4:28 >> heaven, king over all the earth. >> [music] >> Please be seated. Jesus [music] 5:04 savior, wonderful [singing] savior, >> [music] >> thou art more than life to me. Jesus savior. Jesus [music] savior, wonderful savior, >> [music] >> thou >> [singing] >> art more 5:24 than life to me. I [singing and music] will love thee, Lord, forever. Thou >> [singing and music] >> was crucified for me. With [singing and music] thy blood 5:44 thou has redeemed me. >> [singing and music] >> Thou art thy desire. Jesus savior >> Jesus savior, >> [music and singing] >> wonderful savior, thou art [singing and music] more 6:01 than life to me. Whom have I >> [singing and music] >> on earth beside thee? >> [music] >> Whom have I >> [singing] >> in heaven but thee? Oh my [music] savior, >> [singing] 6:21 >> Lord and master, thou >> [singing] >> art all in all to me. [music] >> I am waiting. >> I [singing] am waiting [music] for that morning when thy [singing and music] glorious face I see. 6:42 Till >> [music] >> then let the world >> [singing] >> despise me. >> [music] >> Savior, I will walk with thee. Jesus savior, wonderful savior, thou >> [singing and music] 7:01 >> art more than life to me. Oh Lord [music and singing] alone, how 7:24 majestic is your name in all the earth. >> [music] >> Oh Lord alone, [singing] how majestic is your name in all the earth. Oh Lord, >> [singing and music] >> we praise 7:42 your name. >> [music] >> Oh Lord, >> [singing] >> We magnify your name, Prince of Peace, >> [singing] >> mighty God, oh Lord God >> [music and singing] >> almighty. Let's Oh Lord, [singing and music] oh Lord, 8:04 how majestic is your name in all the [singing and music] earth. Oh Lord, oh Lord, how majestic is your name in all the >> [singing and music] >> earth. Oh Lord, we praise your [music and singing] name, 8:24 oh Lord. We magnify [music and singing] your name, Prince of Peace, mighty [singing] God. >> [music] >> Oh Lord God almighty. Let's take the next song. That's why we 8:46 praise him. That's why we sing. >> [music] >> Let's all clap and sing. He came to live, 9:10 live a perfect [music and singing] life. He came to be the living word [singing and music] of life. He came to die so we'd be [singing and music] reconciled. He came to rise to show his power and might. That's why [singing and music] we praise 9:30 him. That's why we sing. That's why we [singing] offer him our everything. That's why we bow >> [music and singing] >> down and worship this king cuz he gave his [music] everything. Cuz he >> [music and singing] 9:49 >> gave his everything. >> [music] >> He came to live, live again >> [music] >> and save us. He came to be our conquering king 10:08 and friend. He [music] came to heal [singing] and show the lost ones his love. He came to go prepare a place for [music and singing] us. That's why we praise him. That's why we sing. [singing] That's why [music] we offer him our 10:28 everything. That's why [singing] we bow down and worship this king cuz he gave his everything. Cuz he gave his >> [music] [singing] >> everything. Halle, 10:47 >> [music] >> hallelujah. Halle, hallelujah. >> [singing] >> Halle, hallelujah. >> [singing and music] >> Halle, hallelujah. 11:06 That's why we [singing] praise him. That's why we sing. [music] That's why we offer [singing] him our everything. That's [music] why we bow down and worship this king cuz he gave his everything. >> [music] >> Cuz he gave his 11:27 everything. >> [music] 11:46 >> Shout [singing] for joy and sing your [music] praises to the king. Lift your [singing] voice and let your hallelujahs [music] ring. Come before >> [singing] >> his throne >> [music] >> to worship and adore. Enter [singing] 12:05 joyfully now the presence of [music] the Lord. You are my creator. >> [singing and music] >> You are my deliverer. You are my redeemer. [singing] You are Lord and you are my healer. >> [music] [singing] 12:23 >> You are my provider. You are now my shepherd [singing] and my guide. >> [music] >> Jesus, Lord and king, I worship [singing] you. >> Shout for joy. >> Shout for joy and sing your praises [singing] 12:40 [music] to the king. Lift your voice and let your [singing and music] hallelujahs ring. Come before his throne to worship [singing and music] and adore. Enter joyfully now the presence of the Lord. 12:58 >> [singing and music] >> You are my creator. You are my deliverer. [singing] You are my [music] redeemer. You are Lord and you are my healer. [singing] You are [music] my provider. You are now my shepherd and 13:17 [singing and music] my guide. Jesus, Lord and king, I worship you. >> Jesus, Lord and king. >> Jesus, [singing and music] Lord and King, I worship you. >> Great is thy [singing and music] 13:55 faithfulness, oh God my Father. [music] There [singing] is no shadow of turning [music] with thee. Thou changest not, thy compassions >> [music and singing] 14:14 >> they fail not. As thou hast been, thou forever >> [singing and music] >> wilt be. Great [singing and music] is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness. 14:32 Morning by [singing and music] morning, new mercies I see. >> [music] >> All >> [singing] >> I have needed, thy hand has [music] provided. Great [singing] is thy faithfulness, >> [music] 14:51 >> Lord, unto me. Summer [singing and music] and winter and springtime and harvest, >> [singing] >> sun, >> [music] >> moon, and stars in their courses >> [singing and music] 15:09 >> above, join with all nature >> [music] >> in manifold witness >> [music and singing] >> to thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love. Great is [singing and music] thy 15:28 faithfulness. Great is thy faithfulness. Morning by [singing and music] morning, new mercies I see. >> [music] >> All [singing] I have needed thy hand has provided. [singing] >> [music] 15:47 >> Great is thy faithfulness, >> [singing] >> Lord, unto me. Pardon [music and singing] for sin and peace that endureth, thine own [singing and music] dear presence 16:07 to cheer and to guide, strength for [music and singing] today and bright hope for tomorrow. [music and singing] Blessings all mine, with >> [singing and music] >> ten thousand beside. 16:25 Great is [music] thy faithfulness. Great [singing] is thy faithfulness. Morning [music] by morning, new [singing] mercies I see. All [music] I have needed thy [singing] hand 16:44 has provided. [music] Great is [singing] thy faithfulness. >> [music] >> Great is thy faithfulness. Great is thy faithfulness, >> [music] >> Lord, unto me. >> We'll sing the last song. And we all 17:05 Let's all stand up [music] and sing. >> He is [music and singing] Lord. 17:35 He >> [singing] >> is Lord. He [singing] is risen [music] from the dead and [singing] he is Lord. >> [music] >> Every [singing] 17:57 knee >> [music] >> shall bow. Every [music] [singing] tongue confess >> [music] >> that [singing] Jesus Christ is >> [music] 18:16 >> Lord. You're my Lord. You're my [singing and music] Lord. >> [music] >> You're [singing] my Lord. You are risen 18:36 from >> [music and singing] >> the dead and you're my Lord. And my >> [music and singing] >> knee shall bow and my tongue confess 18:55 >> [music] >> that Jesus >> [singing] >> Christ >> [music] >> is Lord. >> [music] >> Dear brothers and sisters, let's bow our 19:34 heads in prayer. I'd like to read a few words from Psalm 103. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his loving kindness toward those who fear him. 19:53 As far as the west As far as the east is from the west, so far he has removed our transgressions from us. Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. For he himself knows our frame, he's 20:13 mindful that we are but dust. As for man, his days are like grass, as the flower of the field, so he flourishes. When the wind passes passed over it, it is no more. On those who fear him, 20:41 and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant, and remember his precepts to them. The Lord is mighty, the Lord is great to deliver, to save. He's full of mercy and loving kindness, 21:00 his mercy is new every morning. And as we come together, as we just sang, let's continue in the same spirit. He's risen from the dead that gives each one of us hope to face 21:18 the unknown future because he is our hope. He's able to change. He's able to guide us, lead us, take us forward no matter what we go through. And he's on the throne. He's the blessed controller of all things. 21:36 And he's reigning over us. Let's acknowledge his lordship. Let's acknowledge his presence in our midst, in our heart. Our gracious, loving heavenly Father, we want to thank you and praise you. 21:55 We want to give you all glory and honor. You're the King of kings. You're the Lord of lords. Thank you for redeeming us. Thank you for the great price by which you purchased us. Thank you for the precious blood which you 22:09 poured out to receive us, to cleanse us from all our filthiness. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Thank you. Father, we thank you for your great love and mercy preserving us, gathering us even this morning. Brothers and sisters, let's not be 22:23 silent this morning. Open your heart, open your mouth, and praise him and thank him. Loving Father, we we want to praise you and thank you. We bless your holy name, oh King of kings, Lord of lords. We praise you, bless you. We give you all 22:39 glory and honor to you, Lord. You alone are worthy to be praised and to be exalted, Lord. Let your name alone be glorified, Lord. We want to thank you and praise you. Thank you for saving us, Lord. Thank you for cleansing our heart, 22:50 Lord. Thank you for giving us hope. Thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for giving us your mighty promises, Lord. Thank you, Lord Jesus. Thank you. Thank you for the fellowship. Thank you for your shepherds. Thank you, Lord 23:02 Jesus. Thank you. Even this morning, Lord, we come together to receive a word from your heart, your mouth, Lord. We look unto your face with great expectation, Lord. Speak to each one of us. Anoint your servants as they bring forth 23:16 your word. Thank you, Father, for hearing. In Jesus' precious and mighty name we pray. Amen. Please take your seat, brothers and sisters. So, we had a command last week. Let's say our memory verses together. Luke 23:34 chapter 6 verse 38. Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap with a good measure. And this week we have a a beautiful promise. 23:53 Malachi chapter 4 verse 6. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. May this promise be true to every father 24:13 and every child in this church. Malachi chapter 4 verse 6. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children the children to their fathers. Amen. 24:31 So, we will hear God's word first from Brother Charles. Brother Charles, over to you. >> We all would like to 25:03 think that God is God of unity and not division. But God cannot unite people against his justice or against his nature. He has to be just 25:23 and he has to be true to his nature. So, he cannot mix both light and darkness. Jesus spoke when he was on on earth, he made clear 25:42 distinction between people. He spoke about light and darkness. He spoke about sheep and goat. And he spoke about devoted and 26:00 distracted. And he spoke about people who seek gifts rather than the giver. And he spoke about godly against ungodly. 26:17 Those who fear God and those who treat him as their buddies. And he spoke about wheat and tares. He spoke about righteousness and unrighteousness. He spoke about good ground, the good 26:36 soil and bad soil. And he spoke about religious people and spiritual people. So, he made obvious distinction when he was on earth between Mhm, people. 26:55 He didn't say everybody is the same. He said, "Come on to me, 27:11 all ye that labor and are heavy laden. Learn from me, for I am meek and gentle at heart." He called people to learn from him because 27:29 he was the light of the world. And he wanted people to live like him and he said, "As long as I am on this earth, I am the light of the world." And then he said, "You 27:46 are the light of the world." Because he couldn't be here with us all the time. He went away. And before he went away, he said, "Now you are the light of the world." And today if anybody asks us 28:05 now who is the light of the world, we can't say Jesus because he's not in the world. But he has given us that privilege to be the light of the world. There are two types of people I would like to speak about this 28:23 morning, share with you. One is about religious people. The other one is spiritual people. Or 28:38 to put it in other words, those who are devoted or those who are distracted or those who are engaged in activity 28:57 activity activity all the time without real relationship with the Lord and we will see the difference between these two types of people this morning. As we open the Bible 29:19 the first page of the Bible in the first chapter of the first book of the Bible in Genesis chapter 1 verse 3 and 4 we read God said, "Let there be light." And there was light. 29:38 And then we read in verse 4 in the first chapter mind you it says God separated light from darkness. The very first thing that the Lord did on the very first day 29:56 is that he separated light from darkness. Why didn't he sort of make it little cloudy or make it little dim in the night the sunlight? He made clear distinction between light 30:15 during the day and pitch darkness in the night. And you read that all through even in the last page of the Bible in the book of Revelation chapter 22 30:33 it speaks about people of the light and people of the darkness. So, keeping this in view let us look into some of the passages from scripture. 30:52 We read in Psalm 1. We read in Genesis 1. Now we'll go to Psalm 1 and see how the psalmist begins the Psalms. It says in 31:14 verse 4 about the wicked and the righteous. The wicked are not so. They're like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment nor sinners in the assembly of the 31:35 righteous. Sinners and righteous cannot coexist, cannot live together according to this verse. They will not stand in the judgment, the wicked, and sinners in the assembly of the 31:53 righteous. For the Lord knows or as it says in the margin, the Lord approves or has regard to the way of the righteous, but 32:10 the way of the wicked will perish. It's very clear. The Lord makes distinction between the righteous and the wicked, the sinners and the saints. The Lord is always 32:29 for his children who walk in the light and not those who just make mere profession of it rather than being possessors. There's a lot of difference being a professor. 32:49 I'm not talking about the professor in a university. I'm talking about those who profess about what they believe, what they follow. They are professors. And those who possess the real thing that is the real 33:07 nature of God, the character of God, the power of God, are the possessors. So, God wants us to be people of power, not merely 33:25 professors of the faith. And it says in um Luke chapter 10, we read about Jesus going to the house of 33:42 Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. Maybe we'll turn there for a moment and see what Jesus says to those who are busy with activities. Luke 10:41. Luke 34:01 10:41. Jesus was in their home, Lazarus' home. And there were a number of people apart from the 12 disciples and Jesus, probably there were few more people. 34:20 And there were only two ladies there at home, Martha and Mary. And Martha was the kind, very hospitable kind. She was busy in the kitchen cooking for all these people but her sister rather than helping her in the kitchen 34:38 she was sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to his words along with others. And this one is struggling and slogging here in the kitchen, Martha. And she's getting all agitated. How come this 34:56 sister of mine, she cannot come and help me, left me all alone and sitting like one queen there listening being totally unmindful of what I am doing here in the kitchen. 35:14 I'm sweating here. I'm doing this. I have to do bake bread or bake curry you know, whatever they ate those days. She's busy doing all that and 35:32 she comes out and in a little huff comes to the Lord and says verse 40, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do it all the serving alone. Then tell her to help me. 35:53 To come and help me in the kitchen. Jesus would have appreciated that. Definitely he knew what she was doing. And he could have said to Mary, Mary, please go and help her. She's all alone in the kitchen. 36:12 But who got the rebuke? The one who was engaged in activities or the one who was devoted to the Lord sitting at his feet listening to his words. And listen to what Jesus says. 36:32 The Lord says to her, "Martha, Martha, you're worried and bothered about so many things." So many things. Probably three course dinner or lunch or whatever. The starters and the main course and the 36:52 dessert and things like that. But Jesus said, "But only one thing is Only a few things are necessary, really only one." He says. "Mary has chosen the good part which 37:10 shall not be taken away from her." One would think that and then I mean Martha gets the maximum marks. And Mary should get a rebuke. But in the Lord's eyes it is quite different. The Lord looks at the heart 37:29 not at your activity and the external form. Like he said when Samuel went to anoint the next king of Israel, all the seven sons of Jesse came. 37:49 They were all quite strong, hefty, good-looking, well-built, qualified and look looked like they're qualified to be the next king in their stature and all that. But 38:06 God said, "God doesn't look at man like I mean like man looks. The Lord looks at the heart." And all the seven sons are rejected and the Lord I mean Samuel is confounded. He didn't 38:25 know. Then he asked Jesse, is that all you have or Then he said, "No, there's one fellow there in out in the field. He is a short, I mean small fellow, all the time playing the guitar and he is busy with his uh sheep. 38:45 And uh Samuel says, "Please call him. We'll not uh uh stop it until he comes." And then they called. I mean, he was not even considered as part of the family, mind you. But the Lord looked at his heart. 39:05 And he was devoted to the Lord. And thank God for him, we have almost half the Psalms written by him. David, man after God's own heart, rejected by his father 39:25 and brothers. And even when he was anointed, his brothers, I don't think they really believed that this guy will be uh the next king. I mean, you know the story. I don't need 39:47 to go into all the details. And then we read about another place where there were two types of people again. One type of people working for wages. Another type of people, they were happy 40:07 to work without even expecting any reward from the Lord. That we read in Matthew again. Uh Matthew chapter 20 verse 8. Matthew chapter 20. You know this laborers in the vineyard 40:35 working in the vineyard. This owner of this land, he goes early in the morning and gets people to come and work in his field and he tells them that I will give you a denarius for the day. 40:55 And then he sends them to the vineyard and then at about 9:00, then again at 2:00 3:00 uh, 12:00, 3:00, and 5:00 he goes and calls people. The last moment at about 5:00 41:12 he still goes out and finds some people standing there and he says, "What are you doing here?" And they say, "Nobody hired us." He says, "Go to my field. I will give you what is um, appropriate." And 41:30 they go and when the evening came and the work was done he tells the manager "Pay them all starting with those who came later." And he starts giving them 41:48 their wages. We read about that in verse 8 of chapter 20 of Matthew. "When evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman call the laborers and pay them their wages beginning with the last group 42:06 to the first." And when those hired about the 11th hour came each one received a denarius. And when the others saw that these guys got one denarius, and 42:28 they thought that they would receive more than these people. And they also received one denarius. It says, "And they grumbled against the land landlord. 42:46 You made us equal to these guys who just worked for 1 hour, and we slogged here from morning till evening almost um 12 hours. But he said, "Friend, I'm doing no wrong to you. Did you not agree with me for a 43:04 denarius? Take what is yours, and go. I want to give to those even those who worked only for 1 hour the same wage that you get. So, are you 43:22 jealous because of that of my generosity? Is your eye envious or evil? See, these people worked for wait for wages for a reward. Whereas these people who came at 5:00, 43:41 even if the landlord had given them some a cup of coffee and sent them home, they'd be too happy to take that drink that cup of coffee and gone home rejoicing, "At last we got something to drink." But look at the heart of this man 44:00 who was not partial. He said, "I'll give you one denarius." In the morning he told. Evening also he told, I will give you what is right. You go and work. And he treats all of them equally. To us it looks like 44:19 unjust. But God is not unjust. He said, the first will be last and the last will be first. And 44:36 again we read in Matthew 23. That is the chapter I want all of you when you go home to read the latter part of it. Jesus speaks very strongly to the Pharisees. He speaks to them pronouncing seven woes or 45:00 curses upon Pharisees and scribes. Because they were doing everything externally. They were doing before the face of men to please men. 45:19 Not to please God, but to get honor for themselves. Look here. In I mean, I don't want to go through all that. In verse 23 it says Woe to you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. 45:38 You tithe mint and dill and cumin and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law, justice and mercy. And in verse 15 he says, Woe to you scribes and Pharisees 45:56 hypocrites because you travel about land and sea to make one convert proselyte and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much the son a son of hell as yourselves. What a strong word that Jesus uses. You 46:15 go you travel land and sea and go abroad and make converts and bring them. And they finally end up being double the sons of hell just like you are. This was the opinion that Jesus had 46:33 about these Pharisees and scribes. Why? Because they were only interested in activities. Doing this, that, and the other for the Lord. And they are the ones who got the rebuke. 46:53 They should have been devoted to the Lord rather than getting involved in all these external activities. You know, it it's very sad to see in today's Christendom also 47:11 people are more bothered about what you're doing for the Lord, brother. What are you doing for the Lord? This is the question they ask. That means what activity are you involved in serving the Lord? 47:30 The Lord is not interested in your activities as much as he's interested in you as a person. Jesus said, "Come unto me and learn from me." He said. He didn't straight away commission them to go and preach the gospel. Today's evangelists 47:54 the problem with today's evangelism is they go evangelize make converts leave them there and go to some other place itinerary preachers Jesus didn't do that. 48:15 He wants these converts to be taught and be made disciples. It's something like this you know that we often read in newspaper. some mother in government hospital delivered and ran away 48:34 leaving the baby there like that you know the evangelistic work these days are being done and about 40 years back um after I was converted I read a book called and I mean it was 48:54 entitled um I told the title of that book was something like born to reproduce. Yeah, we are born again or you are saved 49:13 in order to reproduce. So what's the use of reproducing reproducing? I mean I would rather have one child and I take good care of the child and bring the child up in a good way rather than 49:30 go on producing umpteen children and leave them on the roadside. Which one would you prefer? I would rather have one disciple on one convert and make him a disciple a 49:48 whole hearted disciple of Jesus than 100 converts and leave them alone. And I don't know what the end of their life, how many will really be true to the Lord. This is today's evangelism. Jesus never 50:08 wanted his disciples to do this kind of job. He commissioned them and he told clearly, "Go and preach to all the nations and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and the 50:26 Holy Spirit. And then he said, 'Teach them to observe or obey all that I have commanded you.'" This is the great commission. It's not just go and preach the gospel to everybody. 50:44 Somebody a man of God, I mean, a great preacher, he was I heard it long back. He said, "A person who has heard the gospel has no business to hear again. Or rather to the preachers he's telling, 'If you have preached 51:04 gospel in one place, there is no need to preach again. Once is enough.'" But Jesus didn't do that kind of evangelism. Jesus sat with his disciples for three and a half years, trained them. And then, 51:23 even after training them, even after giving them the commission, great commission, in Matthew 28, he said, "Wait here in Jerusalem till you are clothed with power from on high. 51:42 You will receive the promise of the Father not many days hence," he said. Wait here in Jerusalem. Don't leave Jerusalem until you are endued with power. And 10 days after that, after the ascension, 52:01 the Holy Spirit descended and filled them, baptized them in the Holy Spirit and power and fire. And then they were told to go. Until then, Jesus told them not to go. He told them, "Go and preach." 52:20 But he said, "Wait." You know, God has his timings. God had his has his ways how to do evangelism and how to follow it up. If we do only evangelism and no follow-up, 52:40 then we produce a bunch of roadside children. The Lord doesn't want that kind of thing. And Paul says in 2 Timothy chapter 3, 2 Timothy 52:58 chapter 3, verse 5, he speaks about certain people who hold a form of godliness. No, the people who hold a form of godliness are those people who 53:16 are very religious externally. They they feel bad if they miss a Sunday meeting. Every Sunday they should come to the meeting. That's a good habit, no doubt. And then warm the chair and go back and live the rest of the week as they 53:36 like. That is not what God wants us to live like. It says they hold a form of godliness or religion in the margin. Although they have denied its power and avoid such men as these. Paul tells 53:54 Timothy very clearly to avoid certain kind of people. Don't associate with them. I mean, is it not good, Paul, that we mix with them and give them the gospel? One day or the other, they will come to the Lord. He says, be very 54:09 careful. He says numerous times, especially those who are argumentative, who are chatterboxes, who are um gossipers, slanderers, who speak ill of others, who engage themselves in arguments, 54:29 avoid such people, he says, very clearly. Do not associate with them lest you be infected by their infection. And their conduct will spread like gangrene, he 54:46 says, like cancer. And it will pull you to the level that they are. Such people will not inherit God's kingdom. Avoid such people as these who only have a form of godliness but no power. And compared to this kind of 55:09 people, there is another kind of people with whom the Lord is delighted. And that we will look at in Mark chapter 3, verse 14. This verse came very clearly to me the other day. 55:28 I, for the first time, read it in the new in new light. Mark 3:14. I had read it many times, but I had not understood it properly. 55:46 It says, "Jesus appointed the 12 disciples or the apostles that they may be with him." He didn't appoint these 12 disciples to 56:03 go and preach the gospel and do evangelism. First of all, it says, "He called them, he appointed them so that they might be with him." That is the number one thing. And after having been with him, 56:26 then it says, "that he might send them out to preach." First is to be with him, like Mary. Be with the Lord. Listen to what he has to say to you. Open your eyes. 56:45 Open your ears. Listen carefully. And then, do what he says. And when he tells you to go, you go. When he tells you not to go, don't go. There are places where 57:02 the Holy Spirit um stopped Paul the apostle not to go to certain places. They wanted to go, but it says clearly in the book of Acts that the Holy Spirit forbade them not to go to that place. 57:21 And this place, and that other place. So, they were led by the Holy Spirit, and they went where the Lord wanted them to go. Even Paul says, "I wanted to come to you, but Satan he um 57:41 prevented me from going." So, this is the secret of the disciples, the effectiveness of the early disciples is that that they might be with him first 58:00 and then go and preach. And then we read in Many people wonder, "What is the secret place of the Most High?" As we read in Psalm 91, 58:18 it says about the security of the man who takes refuge under the wings of God. He says in verse one Psalm 91, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the 58:37 Almighty." Uh in other translation, it says, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High." And people wonder, "What is the secret place of the Most High?" And many people interpret 58:53 it in many ways, but scripture interprets scripture. We read about the same thing in in the same uh book of 59:10 Psalms, chapter 31, verse 20, chapter 31, verse 20. It says, "You hide them in the secret place of thy presence 59:29 from the conspiracies of man. You keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues. Now we understand what is the secret place of the most high. That is 59:48 the presence of God itself. That is the nearness of God or to be under His wings, under the shadow of His wings. That is the secret place of the most high. You hide them in the secret place of 1:00:07 your presence from the conspiracies of man and keep them secretly in a shelter that is His wings from the strife of tongues. This is the secret place where you can be sheltered from the enemy. 1:00:26 And we have this security when we come to the Lord and make Him our refuge. And the Lord said, "Whatever you do for 1:00:43 the Lord, do it in such a way that the one who sees you in secret will reward you publicly." You read about that in Matthew chapter 6. The Lord speaks about prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Let's look 1:01:01 at that verse. In Matthew chapter 6 verse 4. Or rather verse 3, but when you give 1:01:22 arms do it secretly. Don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your arms may be in secret or your giving may be in secret so that your father who sees in secret will 1:01:40 repay you publicly. You see in some denominational churches when I used to attend decades ago, I used to see some fan going round and round and round. This fan was donated by so-and-so. Their name used to be there. 1:02:00 And some benches in the church this was donated by so-and-so family. And a speaker or some sound system again name is written, this was donated by so-and-so family. 1:02:19 It goes round and round announcing this was given by so-and-so, so-and-so family. Brother or sister, you have received your reward here only. That's what this this verse says. The Lord who sees you in secret, if you do that in secret, will reward you in in 1:02:38 public on the day of judgment. But if you want honor here right on this earth, okay. Let them keep on saying go round and round announcing and that is the reward that you get here. That's all. Don't expect anything 1:02:58 more there. And it says in verse five, when you pray you're not to be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the secret corners in order to be seen by men. And 1:03:17 truly I say to you that they have the reward in full right here on this earth. They already got the rewards because they wanted man's honor. And they stood and prayed long public prayers even in public square like Jesus 1:03:32 said to the um Pharisees in the same chapter verse 20 I mean chapter 23 of Matthew. And about fasting also Jesus says about fasting. When you fast 1:03:52 it says you anoint your head with oil. Let nobody know that you're fasting. Sometimes we read all night prayer. And fasting and prayer meetings. 1:04:09 And the Lord it's completely opposite of scripture what Jesus said. Let it be something that nobody knows. Your arms giving, your fasting all night prayer all these things should be in secret 1:04:27 between you and me. Says the Lord. But these people advertise in the magazine and in billboards and all that so and so church is conducting all night prayer, fasting and prayer so on and so forth. And they have 1:04:46 received the reward in full here. And whatever we do dear brothers and sisters we do with the Lord and for the Lord 1:05:05 and not bothered about what anybody thinks, what anybody says about us because we are led by the spirit and not by the opinion of men. A spiritual man a spiritual church is led by the spirit 1:05:23 and not by the opinion and great ideas of men. We read in the book of John John's Gospel chapter 15. Here Jesus says, "Abide in me." 1:05:48 Verse 4, "Abide in me and I in you. As a branch cannot bear fruit in itself as um unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in me." He says, "Abide in me 1:06:06 and I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me and I in him is the one who bears much fruit and apart from me you can do nothing." Remember that, dear brothers and sisters. When Jesus says you can do nothing apart from me, he's not talking 1:06:24 about worldly things we can do apart from Jesus. So many um non-Christians do so many great things apart from Jesus. That is about this world in this world and the world and its fashions, everything will pass 1:06:43 away one day. 1 John 2:15 onwards. But he who does the will of God shall abide forever and he who does according to the will of God by abiding in him will 1:07:01 live forever and whatever he does also will live for eternity. And people ask, "How can I abide in the Lord? What is the meaning of abide in me, the vine and you are the branches? How can I abide in Jesus?" 1:07:19 Yeah, the answer is there only in verse 10. Jesus says, "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in me, in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandment 1:07:38 and abide in his love." So, this is the secret of the Christian living, my dear brothers and sisters. Abide in the Lord as the branch cannot produce anything unless it abides in the Lord, in the vine. 1:07:58 Neither can we produce anything if we don't abide in the Lord. Abiding in the Lord is not just believing. It is repentance and believing and then obeying. Read scripture in its context and in its 1:08:17 uh fullness. Don't take one scripture here, one scripture there and see see the Bible says like this, you are saved only by faith, by grace through faith, not by works, full stop. 1:08:35 But brother, go back to James. What James says, "Faith without works is dead." And the same people who quote Ephesians 2:8 and 9, "You are saved by grace alone, not by 1:08:52 works, but by faith alone." And they forget to read the 10th verse which says, "We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. So, good works come out 1:09:11 because now you are a new creation. All things passed away and everything has become new. And you were bearing old fruit, now you are cut off from that and you are grafted in the new wine and you will bear new fruit. 1:09:29 That is the Christian life. When people came for baptism, John the Baptist said, "Bring forth fruit in keeping with your repentance." He said that to Pharisees. And the others, the soldiers and other ordinary people, 1:09:48 when they came to um be baptized by John the Baptist, John knew their heart. They were broken, they were contrite, they were had repented. He baptized them and he gave them some instruction what to do. But when these Pharisees came and stood 1:10:05 in the line, he blasted them, said, "Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come, you brood of vipers, sons of snakes? Bring forth fruit in keeping with your repentance." They got offended and 1:10:24 did not get baptized. You read that in Luke chapter 7. John didn't baptize them. So, don't you get offended, dear brothers and sisters, when God's word pierces through your heart. Submit to it. 1:10:43 Be broken before the Lord and repent of your arrogance, haughtiness, pride, and self-will. And humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, the Bible says, then the 1:11:03 Lord will lift you up. The Lord resist the proud, but gives grace to the humble. And then one last word in 2 Timothy 2:19, again Paul says about avoiding certain things. 1:11:23 2 Timothy 2:19, Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands having this seal. See, God has already 1:11:42 sealed us. In Ephesians 1:13, we read when we put our faith in the Lord, the Lord has sealed us with his Holy Spirit and has given us his Holy Spirit as down payment for the day of redemption. 1:12:01 So, we're already sealed by the Holy Spirit, those of us who have repented and believed and are walking in the light in obedience to God's word. And it says, the Lord knows that the foundation of God stands having 1:12:19 this seal, that the Lord knows those who are his. The Lord knows those who are his. We may think that you may be known by the Lord or you may be a child of God, you etc., but here it says the Lord knows who are his. 1:12:37 And let everyone who names the name of the Lord abstain from wickedness. Are you abstaining from wickedness after having come to know the Lord or you're still continuing in your old ways. 1:12:56 Just like the way you were before you came to Christ. Has there been a change? Has there been a new creation in you? Have all things been passed away? And all things have become new or they 1:13:15 become new only on Sundays? And then you are the same rest of the days. That is not how God wants us to live, dear brothers and sisters. God wants us to live before his face. And seek only his approval. 1:13:36 You know, that's what Elijah said. The God before whom I stand. He said. Elijah was a man who knew how to commune with God and how to stand 1:13:54 before the Lord and how to hear what God had to say. God told him, "Go and tell Ahab, the king, that there won't be rain on the land for 3 and 1/2 years." Unafraidly, 1:14:13 he went and told the king, confronted him, and said, "Because of the wickedness of Israel, there will not be rain on this land for 3 and 1/2 years until I tell you." How did he get that power? 1:14:32 He got that power because he knew how to stand before the Lord in attention, listening to his voice, just like how the angels and the and the cherubim 1:14:50 in heaven stand at attention before the Lord always waiting upon him to hear what he has to say and to do what he wants them to do. If we live like that, our life will be 1:15:08 worth living. Shall we just bow our heads in prayer? Our Father in heaven, we >> [snorts] >> thank you and praise you that you are 1:15:27 the God of love, God of justice, holy God, true to your nature, true to your word. Lord Jesus, we thank you that you loved us 1:15:45 even when we didn't deserve it. Father, you demonstrated your love in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Now that you have made us your children, how much more you long to help us live this 1:16:03 Christian life as we ought to. We pray, Father, that you will fill us with your Holy Spirit, anoint us, and make us what you want us to be. Help us not to waste our life here on this earth. 1:16:22 Dear Father, we pray that you will help every one of us sitting here. Speak to our hearts, convict us, draw us closer to you in brokenness and contrition and repentance. Lord Jesus, your name may be hallowed, 1:16:41 magnified, and glorified. For we ask in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. We'll sing a song now then afterwards we'll hear brother Ranjit. We'll sing the song sitting at the feet 1:17:28 of Jesus. >> Sitting [music and singing] 1:17:49 at the feet of Jesus, >> [music] >> oh >> [singing] >> what words I hear him say. >> [music] >> Happy [singing] place so dear, so precious, >> [singing] 1:18:08 [music] >> may find me [singing] there each day. >> [music] >> Sitting [singing] at the feet of Jesus, >> [music] [singing] 1:18:26 >> I would look upon the path. For [singing] his love has been so [music] gracious. >> [music] >> it has [singing] won my heart and love. Sitting 1:18:49 at the feet [singing and music] of Jesus, where can mortals [singing and music] be more blessed? There [music] I lay [singing] my sins and sorrows, >> [music] 1:19:09 >> and [singing] when purified sweet rest. >> [music] >> Sitting [singing] at the feet of Jesus, >> [music] >> there >> [singing] 1:19:26 >> I love to weep and pray. While I from [singing] His fullness gather, [music] grace [singing and music] and comfort every day. Bless [singing] 1:19:48 me, [music] oh my Savior, bless me, >> [music and singing] >> as I sit low at Thy feet. Oh, [singing] look down [music] in love upon 1:20:07 me, let me [music and singing] see Thy face so sweet. Give [singing] me, Lord, [music] the mind of Jesus, >> [music] >> keep me holy [singing] 1:20:26 as He is. May I prove [singing] I've been with [music] Jesus. Who [music] is [singing] all my righteousness? >> [music] 1:21:24 >> Thank God for what we heard this morning. God spoke to us that we have to be spiritual. We should not be religious. God is a god of division. He separates the religious and the spiritual. That's what we heard this morning. 1:21:42 We heard many things. One thing which really spoke to my heart, which I thought I'd just share, about being a true disciple of Jesus, having that right relationship with God. Christianity is not a religion, but it's a way of living. 1:22:01 Living as Jesus lived. And it is a relationship with God as a father. And having a relationship with Jesus as as a elder brother. He's our He's our chief shepherd, and we are his sheep. And above all, he is our master, and we 1:22:21 are his disciples. And >> [clears throat] >> when Jesus was on this earth, there were a lot of more than thousands of people who were always following Jesus. There was multitude of people they were following Jesus. Out of that multitude, Jesus selected 70 1:22:40 people. And he sent them two by two. And out of the 70, he selected 12 disciples. We read in Mark 3 where he wanted them to be with him always. And out of those 12 disciples, he's had 1:22:56 very close group of three, Peter, James, and John. He used to always take them to be with them and prayed along with him. And out of those three, John was very close to him. So, the question today morning is, are we in 1:23:14 the crowd or are we following the Lord very closely where we have that intimate relationship like he's my master and I'm his disciple. So, what is true discipleship? Is following the master wherever he goes, following his 1:23:28 footsteps. There are many things which we can follow the life of Jesus. I want just wanted to share two things this morning where we can prove ourselves that we are not religious, but we are having a spirit of spiritualness 1:23:45 and we are a spiritual. We read in John chapter 8 verse 29. These are the words of Jesus. And he And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone for I always do the things that are pleasing to him. So, here Jesus is telling that we never 1:24:03 see Jesus anytime being gloomy or discouraged, never thinking that oh, all have left me, nobody is there for me. All my disciples left me. Jesus was never discouraged. He was never felt lonely because the reason he says, 1:24:21 I have always I always do the things that are pleasing to my father. So that's his he's always with me and he doesn't stop there. He says he has not left me alone. Many times we feel that we are I'm lonely. Nobody understands me. I'm left 1:24:38 alone. Maybe we might be sitting in a crowd like this but we might be feeling lonely that nobody hears me. Nobody understands me. I'm left like an orphan. Brothers and sisters, I have we have to ask ourselves am I doing everything to please the 1:24:52 father? If that's my primary focus and my primary goal in my life to please the father always then we can also say the father has never left me alone. He will never leave us alone brothers and sisters. He will never cast away if our primary goal is 1:25:09 to follow our master Jesus in the footsteps of pleasing the father always. He was never worried about what people would say about him. He will never think that what if I react like this. He never thought what people's opinion doesn't matter to 1:25:26 him. One example is >> [clears throat] >> I just picture like this the incident of Lazarus. Lazarus was a very dear friend to Jesus and he was a family friend to them. He used to visit their family. Maybe Jesus was in a 1:25:42 meeting like this. In in today's scenario maybe there was a WhatsApp message was sent to brother Peter saying that Lazarus is sick. So maybe Jesus is sharing the word they say Lord Lazarus is sick. So immediately Jesus did not react. He just looked 1:26:01 upward. Father, what should I do? Because he wanted to please the father. All people who are spiritual will always try to please the father always. So father said continue the meeting. Maybe after some time there was another 1:26:15 WhatsApp message to brother Peter saying that he's been shifted to ICU. So, message is passed to Jesus. Jesus says, "Father, what do I do?" Continue the meeting. After some time they said, "Okay, he's on ventilator. Please inform the 1:26:29 relatives." Message is reached Jesus. Father, continue the meeting. People around him would have told him, "What a inhuman Jesus is. He went to their family of uh uh house, always had good meal there, but he doesn't have a 1:26:46 third courtesy or consideration just to at least pray for him in the meeting or just visit him. He was not bothered because his primary goal was to please the Father." So, immediately there's another message that he's passed away. Now he's asking, 1:26:59 "Father, what do I do?" He says, "Go now." We know the rest of the story. Jesus was glorified through raising Lazarus from the dead. Brothers and sisters, if you're really worried about what people will think around me, what if I'm worried about 1:27:16 people's opinion, and I'm not willing to please the Father, I'm a religious person. I cannot be a spiritual person. And we read in Romans 8:29, this is what we have been called for. Romans 8:29. Everybody knows Romans 8:28, but there 1:27:32 is a wonderful verse in Romans 8:29. It says, >> [clears throat] >> "For those whom he foreknew," means he has known us, "and >> [clears throat] >> he also predestined to become conformed to the image of his son, so that he 1:27:47 would be the firstborn among many brethren." So, he wants us to be conformed to the image of his son. In what way? In pleasing the Father in all circumstances. So, that's that's when we can be spiritual, not just religious. 1:28:01 So, that's one area where we can follow our master Jesus in following his footsteps to please the Father always without being worried about any opinion about people. So, that's the area where we can be spiritual. The another area is Jesus himself told 1:28:18 in John chapter 16 verse 33. You all can just see that. [snorts] John chapter 16 verse 33. These things I have spoken to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage. I have overcome the world. 1:28:34 >> [clears throat] >> This is another area we can follow Jesus. Religious people will say that if you come to Jesus, all your problems will be solved. Everything will be going well. You will have a comfortable easy life. That is 1:28:49 religious Christianity. What is the true spiritual Christianity is what Jesus said, in the world you will have tribulation. He didn't say that in the world there is tribulation. He says, you have tribulation. Means Jesus says you and I 1:29:04 we will have tribulation, but take courage. I have overcome the world. Yes, brothers and sisters. We have to follow this Jesus who have overcome the world, the flesh, the sin, and even Satan he has defeated on the cross. So, that's 1:29:17 the Jesus we have been called to follow. If you are really thinking that I want to have a comfortable life, I want to really uh have an ease so that I can live a good good spiritual life. That is not possible, brothers and sisters. 1:29:33 Bible doesn't promise that when you come to Jesus, all your problems will be solved, all your uh issues will be sorted out. No, it doesn't say that. It says we also read in Timothy 3:12. Second Timothy 3:12. The Paul says 1:29:49 >> [clears throat] >> Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. When we read this word persecuted, not that they will put us in jail or not like it is we'll have difficult times. We'll have 1:30:01 trials, sufferings for the sake of Christ. And it says, those who desire, it doesn't say those who live, but those who have the desire, they will also go through these sufferings and trials. And Jesus has already gone through that way, and he 1:30:14 has overcome all the difficulties, all the sufferings through the power of the Holy Spirit. And we also read in chapter 14 of Acts, apostles when they met the brethren, they went to encourage these brethren. You see what they say in Acts chapter 14 1:30:30 verse 22, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in faith. And saying, they're telling, "Brother, please continue in faith." They are saying these words. And what they are telling, "Through many 1:30:41 tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." This is true spirituality, brothers and sisters. Through many tribulations, through many trials, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we have to enter the kingdom of God. Today when we 1:30:52 hear messages that all things will be good, you will have prosperity, God will bless you, but here apostles told the brothers and sisters in the church that through many tribulations and trials and sufferings, we have to enter the kingdom of God. We 1:31:09 have been called to be spiritual, not just religious. And we read Apostle Paul saying that we have been called to fight the good fight of faith. If you are looking for a comfortable life, if you are looking for ease, everything should be smooth. Today many 1:31:24 of the young people they want everything instant and everything they want to be all their met me needs to be met. So, that's the reason they come to the church, they come to the meetings that oh, they get a job, they get a life 1:31:37 partner, or they get various other reasons they come to the church that oh, if I come to Jesus, everything will be all right. But, that's not what the Lord is telling. Through many tribulations, through many difficulties and trials, 1:31:49 when we go through that, he will give us the power to overcome. And he will give us and he will help us to sustain a live life which will lead us to becoming in the to his image, as we read in Romans 8:29. There was a soldier who was in a battlefield. 1:32:06 He had a very chronic disease. He had a severe pain in his body. Uh and he was so sick. But when the other soldiers, when they saw him, they were so amazed that this soldier with much pain in his body, with disease, he was so fervent in fighting against 1:32:23 the enemy. He was killing the enemies more than the others and he was so determined to defeat the enemy. But in his body he had this sickness, this pain, which was so tormenting him. And he said that see, any which ways in 1:32:39 few days I'm going to die. Why should I die in vain? I will fight against the enemy. I will kill as much as possible. I will fight for my country. So the king of that country, he thought, if this man, this soldier with this disease and 1:32:52 illness and pain, is so determined to fight against the enemy, and he so has the zeal to fight for the country, what if he is healed with his disease? If he is well, he is if he is if he has more strength, he'll be more eager to 1:33:08 fight against the enemy. And so what the king did was he arranged for the best doctor in that country with the best medicine. He allowed him to get treated. He took all the expense of his medical. And this soldier is now he's all right. 1:33:22 He he's well and he's with fit enough. Now the king was [snorts] expecting that this soldier will come and fight more powerfully than he was. But what did the for his surprise, the soldier said, "I'm all right now. I'm having a comfortable 1:33:36 life. My health is okay. Why should I go and die? I want to live for myself." Many a times, brothers and sisters, we think that if the suffering goes away, if this trial goes away, I can live a good life for the Lord. I can 1:33:49 really live a faithful life. I can be more spiritual. Brothers and sisters, when we don't have these difficulties or trials or sufferings, we might maybe we might go away from the Lord. That's what psalmist says in Psalm 119 verse 71, "It 1:34:03 is good for me that I was afflicted." That I have the suffering or trial, whatever I go through, that I may learn your statutes. And verse 67, 119:67 says, "Before I was afflicted, I went astray." Before I got this sufferings or trials, I went astray. But 1:34:21 now, after I got this sufferings and trial, he says, "But now I keep your word." Brothers and sisters, this is this is the way the Lord wants us to walk. And this is the true spiritual Christianity. The religious Christianity 1:34:35 is just always expecting things from God, but always having an ease and comfort, as we heard today. Let's ask the Lord to give us strength and ask the Lord to fill us with His Holy Spirit and power, so that we can have the right relationship with the Father, 1:34:50 and we can have the right relationship with Jesus, following in His footsteps. And if you are not willing to please the Father always, that means all my activities, what I do, it's just religious. And if I don't have a desire 1:35:03 to live a godly life through tribulation and sufferings, maybe I'll be just remain as a religious Christian. May the Lord help us to live a spiritual Christian each and every day of our life by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 1:35:47 >> Welcome to the CFC India website. Explore the wealth [music] of free resources available to help you grow in your walk with God. >> The content here in the website is broadly classified under two sections, >> [music] 1:36:00 >> "Who Am I?" and "Our Message." The categories under "Who Am I?" represent the kind of audience that [music] we hope to cater to. 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