5:07 Let's sing our first song. Oh Savior, precious Savior, whom yet unseen we love. For name of might and favor, all other names above. We worship thee, we bless thee. To thee alone we sing. We praise thee and confess thee, our holy 5:21 Lord and King. Feel [music] free to [music] clap and sing. Oh [singing] Savior, precious Savior 5:39 whom unseen we love. [singing] Oh name of might and favor [music] all [singing] other names above. We [music] worship thee. We bless thee. To thee [singing and music] 5:58 alone we sing. We praise [singing and music] thee and confess thee. Our holy [music] Lord and King. Oh [singing] bringer [music] of salvation, who wondrously 6:18 has brought [singing] thyself the [music] revelation of love beyond [singing] the thought. We worship [music] thee. We bless thee. To thee alone [music and singing] we sing. 6:36 We praise thee and confess [music and singing] thee. Our gracious Lord and King. [music] In thee [singing] all fullness dwell all grace and [singing] pardon [music] divine. 6:55 The glory that excelth. Oh son [music and singing] of God is thine. We worship thee. We [music and singing] bless thee. To thee alone we sing. [music] We praise thee and confess 7:15 [singing and music] thee, our glorious Lord and King. Oh grant [music and singing] the consulation of this our song above in [music and singing] endless adoration 7:35 and everlasting [music and singing] love. Then shall we praise and [music and singing] bless thee where perfect praises reign and ever more [music and singing] 7:50 confess thee our savior and our king. [music] Please be seated. >> [music] >> Jesus [singing] our Lord with what joy 8:07 we adore thee. Shanting our praise to thyself [singing and music] on the throne. Bless in thy presence we worship before thee. For thou art worthy [singing and music] and worthy alone. Sing Lord thou art worthy. Lord thou are 8:26 worthy. Lord, [singing] thou art worthy and worthy [music] alone. Bless [singing] in thy presence we worship before thee. Oh, thou art worthy [music and singing] and worthy alone. Sisters go first. Very good. 8:45 [music] All the angels to die is alone from the sea of the world. [music] [singing] >> Join together. Lord, thou art worthy. 9:05 [music] Lord, thou art worthy. Lord, [singing] thou art worthy and worthy alone. Blessed in [music and singing] thy presence we worship before thee. For thou art worthy [music and singing] and worthy alone. Holy brothers, how 9:23 [music] did thou [singing] humble thyself to be taken? Le by thy creatures and [music and singing] nailed to the cross, hated of men and of God to forsaken. [music and singing] Shining not darkness a curse and the Lord all 9:40 together. Lord, [singing and music] thou art worthy. Lord, thou art worthy. Lord, thou [music] art worthy and [singing] worthy alone. Bless in thy presence we worship before thee. [music and singing] Lord, thou art worthy and worthy alone. 9:59 [music] How has [singing] thou triumph [music] and triumph with glory? Battle that forces [singing and music] roll back every way. Can we [singing] refrain them from telling the story? 10:16 [music] Lord, thou art victor death and the grave. When your voice says, Lord, [singing] thou art worthy. Lord, thou art worthy. Lord, thou [singing] art worthy and worthy alone. [music] Blessed in thy presence we worship before thee. 10:35 For thou art worthy and worthy [music] alone. >> [singing] >> Oh, glory to God. He has lifted [music] me up. He has lifted me [singing] up. I know. He [music] reached out his hand and he lifted me up. [singing] And that's why I 10:55 love him so I [music] love him [singing] more and more. I love him more and more. And [music] when I stand [singing] upon the other shore, I'll praise him [music] 11:13 ever more. Oh, glory to God. Oh, glory [singing] to God. He has lifted me up. He has lifted [music and singing] me up. I know. He reached out his hand [music and singing] and he lifted me up. 11:29 And that's why I love him so I [music and singing] love him more and more. I [singing] love you more and [music] more. And when I stand [singing] up on the other shore, I'll praise him 11:48 [music] ever more. And [singing] when I stand [music] upon the other shore, I'll praise him ever [singing] more. I will enter his [music] gates with thanksgiving in [singing] my heart. I 12:04 will enter his courts with praise. I will say this is [music and singing] the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice for he has [music and singing] made me glad. He has made me glad. He [singing] has made me glad. [music] I will rejoice for 12:23 he has made me glad. [singing] [music] He has made me glad. He has made [singing] me glad. I will rejoice [music] for he has made me glad. We bring sacrifice of praise. We bring [singing and music] sacrifice of praise 12:38 into the house of the Lord. Join with us. We bring [music and singing] sacrifice of praise into the house of the Lord. And we offer up [singing and music] to 12:54 you the sacrificees of thanksgiving. [singing and music] And we offer up to you the sacrificees [music and singing] of joy. Oh Lord [singing] God, thou has made 13:13 [music] the heavens and the earth by thy [singing] great power. Oh Lord [music] God, thou has made the heavens [singing] and the earth by thy house rich son. [music] Nothing is too difficult for [singing] thee. 13:31 [music] Nothing is too difficult for thee. Great and [music and singing] mighty God. Great power and mighty [singing] indeed. Nothing nothing. [music] Absolutely [singing] nothing. Nothing is too difficult for thee. From the top 13:51 again. Oh Lord God. Oh Lord [music and singing] God, thou has made the heavens and the earth by thy great power. Oh Lord God, [music and singing] thou has made the heavens and the earth by thy aration. [music] [singing] 14:09 Nothing is too difficult for thee. Nothing is [music and singing] too difficult for thee. Great and mighty [singing] God, great in [music] power and mighty indeed. Nothing, [music and singing] nothing, 14:28 absolutely nothing, nothing is too difficult [singing] for thee. Nothing is too difficult for thee. [singing] [music] Nothing is too difficult for thee. >> [singing and music] 14:48 >> Great and mighty God, [music] great in power and mighty [singing] indeed. Nothing, [singing and music] nothing, absolutely nothing, nothing [music and singing] is too 15:06 difficult for thee. >> [music] [music] 15:30 [music] >> join with us. I come before you today [music] and there's just one thing that I want to [music and singing] say. Thank you, Lord. [music] Thank you, [singing] Lord, 15:55 for [music] all you've given to me. for all the blessings [music and singing] that I cannot see. Thank you, [music and singing] Lord. Thank you, [music and singing] 16:13 Lord. [music] With a grateful heart, [singing] with a song of praise, with an [music and singing] outstretched arm, I will bless your name. [music] Thank [singing] you, Lord. 16:31 I [music] just want to thank you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. [music] I just want to thank [singing] you, Lord. Thank you, [music and singing] Lord, [music] 16:55 for all you've done in my life. Sing for all [music and singing] you've done in my life. You [music] took my darkness [singing] and gave me your light. [music] Thank you, [singing] Lord. 17:14 [music] Thank you, [singing] Lord. You took my sin and my shame. [music] You took my sickness and [singing] healed all my pain. Thank you, [music] 17:33 Lord. Thank you, [music and singing] Lord. With a grateful [singing] heart, with a song [music] of praise, with an [singing] outstretched arm, 17:49 I will [music] bless your name. [music] I just want to thank you, Lord. >> I just [music] want to thank you, Lord. Thank [singing] you, Lord. I just want to thank [music and singing] 18:09 you, Lord. Thank you, Lord. [chant] [music] Shall we all stand? We declare your majesty. 18:29 We proclaim that your name is exalted. For you reign magnif magnificently, rule victoriously. Your power is shown throughout the earth. We [music] declare 18:46 your majesty. [singing] We proclaim that your [singing] name is [music] exalted. For you [singing] reign magnificently ruled [singing] 19:05 [music] victoriously and your Power is shown [music] throughout the earth and we [singing] exclaim [music] our God is mighty. [singing] Lift up your name 19:24 for you are [music and singing] holy. Sing it again. [singing] All honor and glory [music] in adoration [singing] we bow before your throne. [singing and music] 19:42 >> We declare your majesty. Sing it again. We [music] declare [singing] your majesty. >> [singing and music] >> We proclaim that your name is [music] exalted [singing] 20:01 for you reign [music] magnificently [singing] rule victoriously [music] and your power is shown [singing] throughout [music] the earth and we exclaim our God is mighty. 20:20 >> [singing and music] >> Lift up your name for you are holy. [singing and music] Sing it again. [singing] All honor [music] and glory in adoration [singing] 20:39 we [music] bow before your throne. Sing it again. All honor [singing] and [music] gloryy in adoration [singing] [music] 20:55 we bow before your throne. Brothers and sisters, shall we bow heads 21:28 in prayer? As we bow our heads in prayer, let's just think of what we've been singing. I will lend his gates with thanks in my heart and praise in my heart. And when I stand upon the other shore, I 21:47 will praise him ever more. But we begin that journey here. Like to read a few words from Psalm 34 says, I will bless the Lord at all times. David wrote this when he was running 22:07 away from Saul. But see his heart. He say his praise shall the Lord's praise shall continually be in my mouth. How much more in our hearts and mouth this morning the spirit of praise should rule us. 22:27 My soul will make it its boast in the Lord. The humble will hear it and rejoice. Oh magnify the Lord with me and let let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord and he answered me and 22:46 delivered me from all my fears. They looked at him and they were radiant and their faces will never be ashamed. And as we come together, brothers and sisters, just remember the Lord has the 23:05 power to change us. He has the power to transform us. says, "The valleys will be lifted, the mountains will be brought down, and then the glory of the Lord will be revealed. Let's draw near to him with faith, with 23:21 reverence, with joy, with gratitude." Even children, young people, if you never opened your mouth to thank him and praise him, use this opportunity. Dear heavenly father, we want to thank you and praise you. 23:41 We want to praise you for all that which you did for us. We want to thank you for saving us. Thank you for transforming us Lord. Thank you for changing our lives. Thank you for giving us eternal hope. Thank you for cleansing us Lord with 23:53 your precious blood. Thank you Lord Jesus for giving us your word, feeding us week after week, day after day and preserving us Lord. Thank you for the church, your family. Thank you for the shepherds. Thank you Lord for all that 24:07 which you did for us brothers and sisters. Lift up your voice. Lift up your hearts and praise him. Lord we praise you. Loving Lord we praise you and exalt you. King of kings, Lord of lord. We praise your holy name. You alone are worthy to be praised and to be 24:22 exalted Lord. You deserve the highest place in our midst, Lord. Lord Jesus, we want to thank you and praise you for all that which you did for us, Lord. Thank you for redeeming us. Thank you for dying for us on the cross. Thank you for 24:32 the precious blood which you shed for us, Lord. Thank you, Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you father for your great love for us. Thank you. Thank you for accepting us as your own children Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you and praise you 24:44 Lord. We bless your holy name. Let your name alone be exalted. Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done Lord Jesus. We praise you and bless you. And even this morning Lord we seek your presence Lord in our midst Lord. Lord bless us 24:56 with your presence Lord. Come come come with mighty power Lord Jesus. I pray that many of us will taste your love. Taste your presence. Taste your power in our lives Lord. We fix our face upon you Lord Jesus. Thank you. Thank you. Thank 25:08 you Lord. Thank you for hearing us father in Jesus precious and mighty name we pray. Amen. Please take your seat brothers and sisters. And we look at our memory verses. And 25:28 last week we had a command. Titus 2 11 and 12. The grace of God instructs us to live sensibly, 25:47 righteously, and godly. And for this week, we have a promise. 2 Peter chapter 2:9, "The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation." 26:11 And let's uh repeat again 2 Peter chapter 2:9. The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation. And this morning as we listen to God's word, let us fix our eyes upon the Lord. 26:30 He will speak to us and any needy heart this morning with a sense of need, poor in spirit, you will hear the Lord's voice and it will transform us. We are very happy brother Charles with us this morning sharing God's word. Brother 26:43 Charles, over to you. Would you turn your Bibles with me to John's 27:06 Gospel chapter 5? John's Gospel chapter 5. We read here about the healing at Bethesda. We know this miracle that Jesus 27:24 performed at the pool of Bethesda. There was a man lying there for 38 years. He was sick. And you know that once in a while the angel used to come and stir the water there in the pool and whoever jumped 27:44 into that pool was healed. But this man was um there were so many people there but Jesus went only for this one particular person. 27:58 and he went there and Jesus asked him in verse 6 when Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there for a long time in that condition he said to him do you wish to get well 28:17 it's very important to know some people they don't want to get well they would like to remain in the bed and be attended to by others is making fuss about them and they like to enjoy being sick on the sick bed for 28:36 years. And uh Jesus went there for this person but still he asked him do you want to get well? And uh similar question Jesus asked once 28:51 to blind man who came to him. Do you believe that I am able to do this? He said yes. And Jesus healed him. So also here Jesus asked him, "Do you wish to get well?" If 29:08 he had said, "No, Lord, I'm quite okay being here. People come to me and meet me and they give me food and they take care of me. I'm okay here." If he had said that, Jesus would have walked away from there. But when Jesus asked this question, the 29:28 sick man says, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool, when the water is stirred, while I am coming, another steps in before me and he gets healed." And Jesus says to him alone, mind you, 29:46 there were numerous people there waiting to be healed. But Jesus went to this one particular person who had been sick for 38 years. It says and Jesus 30:04 tells him, "Arise, [clears throat] take your pallet and walk." And immediately the man became well and took up his pallet and began to walk. And it happens to be 30:22 a Sabbath day. And you see many of the miracles that Jesus did, he did it on the Sabbath when according to the ten commandments. You were not to do any work on Sabbath day. 30:42 But Jesus seems to be going particularly on Sabbath day to the synagogues and other places and he goes and heals them, heals the people. And the Pharisees and the scribes, they're furious with Jesus. Doesn't he 31:00 have time during the week to heal these people? Why should he heal on the Sabbath? And they didn't know that he was the one who gave that ten commandments. He was the one who told thou shalt 31:18 uh keep the Sabbath. But here is the one who has come, the one who gave that command and he himself is breaking. So a king can give a command then 31:35 afterwards he can revoke it. So here is Jesus he gave that command but when he saw the need on Sabbath he broke the Sabbath and he healed. 31:52 And when these Pharisees were furious at him, he asked them, "Don't you take your ox to water on Sabbath day or if it has fallen into a pit, don't you um 32:11 pull it up and things like that." Jesus said this man or in another case another woman had been sick for so many years and uh she has been healed instead of rejoicing 32:30 with her and with others you are finding fault that uh law is broken and this man didn't know anything about who was this person who healed killed him and he went to the temple that day and 32:50 when people recognized that this was a man lying there and uh um got healed, the Pharisees asked him who who made you well and who told you 33:06 take up your pallet and walk and he said the man who healed me I didn't I don't know who he was. He told me to take up the pallet and walk. And then after a while, Jesus finds him in the temple 33:24 and tells him these very important words in verse 14 after Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "Behold, you have become well now. 33:42 Do not sin anymore so that nothing worse may befall you. Why didn't Jesus say now you have been made well go and enjoy yourself? Like many preachers say today your sins 34:01 have been he have been forgiven. God doesn't hold anything against you. you since I've been forgiven and go and enjoy yourself. Now you're a child of God. 34:19 I heard last week two preachers preaching on similar things. So one preacher was telling when you come to Christ and Christ forgives your sins, all your sins are taken care of on 34:36 the cross. When Jesus said, "It is finished. It is finished forever." This is what they said. Your past, present, and future sins are taken care. If that be so, then why did Jesus tell 34:55 this man, your you become well, go and sin no more, lest something worse befall you. Why is it so important that after you have been healed 35:13 or after you have been forgiven, Jesus tells a person, "Go and sin no more." There's something for us to think about. Jesus said similar words in chapter 8. 35:31 Three chapters later, Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery in the act. They brought her before Jesus and said, "We have caught her in the act of 35:48 adultery and the law says you should stone her. What do you say?" They asked Jesus. And Jesus didn't answer them quickly. He just 36:07 bent down and he was scribbling something on the ground. And they insisted that Jesus speak something in the situation. And Jesus, 36:24 he straightened up and he said one word which he heard from the father. Probably he was waiting for a word from the father before answering them. 36:43 That was right what they were demanding. According to scripture, she had to be stoned. But Jesus wanted to hear a word from the father. And the father gave him the right word, just one word that shut everybody's mouth. 37:01 Jesus straightened up and he said, "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." He didn't say, "Have mercy on her and leave her alone." Because the law had to be fulfilled. He 37:20 said, "Whoever has not committed sin among you, let him be the first one to throw. Then afterwards, others can follow." And then it says, "He again bent down writing on the ground. And when they heard it, they began to go out one by 37:39 one, beginning with the older ones. And he was left alone and the woman where she had been in the midst. And straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, 37:54 where are they? Did no one condemn you?" And she said, "No one, Lord." You see this is very important to see common people 38:11 even blind people, deaf, dumb, lame, sick people, ordinary people recognized Jesus as Lord. Even his disciples, they didn't call him 38:28 by the name Jesus. They called him teacher or lord. These people recognized Jesus to be lord and master and teacher. But the Pharisees and the scribes, 38:46 they didn't recognize Jesus that way. They thought he is mad. He's illegitimate. He is possessed by demons. And so many bad names they gave him and they called him by 39:04 and that didn't bother Jesus. But it is something interesting that common people recognized who Jesus was. Even demons recognized who Jesus was. And she said, "No one, Lord." 39:21 And Jesus said a very important word here. Neither do I condemn you. Go your way. He didn't stop there. If he had stopped there, then people would have taken advantage of that situation 39:39 and gone ahead and continued in their sin like many do today. After they say sinner's prayer, after they write a decision card, they the pro the preacher tells them that now you are born again, your sins are 39:56 forgiven. You see, even on some Christian television programs, you see at the end of the message, they say, you just say this prayer, Lord Jesus, come into my heart. I make you Lord of my life. And they say if you have prayed 40:13 that prayer sincerely, your sins have been forgiven, you're a child of God, join the family of God. And they give that false assurance to them. And it doesn't cost them anything. They just say that and they think they 40:31 are part of the family of God and they keep coming and participating being part of the fellowship there. And uh they live in a world of delusion thinking that 40:48 God has accepted them which is not true. The way to the kingdom of God is what Jesus came with. The first word that Jesus came with when he started his public ministry. I have 41:06 told this here many times. He said, "Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand." Repentance is the first word that Jesus spoke to the people. If a person has not come to a place of 41:25 conviction and has repented genuinely of his sins and put his faith in the finished work of Calvary, he is not saved. by just praying that Lord I accept you. 41:43 What are you doing a great favor in accepting Jesus or are you more concerned about whether Jesus has accepted you? Which is more important? Am I doing a favor? Lord Jesus, I accept you. Poor thing. You're standing at the 42:03 door and knocking in the rain. I let you in. and come and occupy a corner. Is that how I treat Jesus? Or I come to him with bended knees, broken heart, tears strolling down, and I come to him and say, "Lord, have mercy on me, the 42:22 sinner. Lord, forgive my sins. Be merciful to me. If I do that, then the Lord will have mercy. He will not turn away anyone who comes to him." He said, "He who comes to me, I will in no wise cast him out." 42:41 And in this we see Jesus concluding this. He says to her, "From now on, go and sin no more." Why did he have to say that? Many people 43:00 think that Christ's mercy takes care of the future sins. That's not true. The Bible says in Hebrews 4:15 and 16, it says, "Since Jesus was also tempted like us in every point, 43:18 like us." Exactly. But he didn't sin. Therefore, it says in verse 15, let us come boldly to the throne of grace that we may find mercy first of all for our past sins 43:38 and grace to find help in time of need. Grace is help. And in another place, it speaks about grace as power. My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in 43:55 your weakness. Jesus said that to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12. So grace is not just a license to sin as many people take it. And Jude warns Christians about that. They treat the 44:12 grace of God as lensious lensiousness or as license to sin. That is not the true grace of God. We heard in last week's memory verse, the true grace of 44:29 God instructs us to deny ourselves and to live a righteous and a godly life. The grace of God teaches us to deny our ungodliness 44:46 and to live a holy life that's pleasing to God. So the Lord says to this woman, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more." And he told that other fellow, "Lest something worse 45:05 befall you." What is worse that's going to happen after you have been forgiven and you take it for granted that your sins are forgiven and you keep on continuing the way you were. 45:25 What difference has it made in you? Do your friends or family members see any change in you? That's what I ask normally when people come for baptism. I ask them whether they have genuinely 45:43 repented and do they have forgiveness of sins that assurance in their heart and have the others around you noticed the change in you and have you noticed something that happened in you? If no, then we will we tell them to 46:02 wait. Any person who is being genuinely born again will be recognized by others. First of all, he will have an assurance in his heart that his sins have been forgiven and a great peace from God 46:19 floods his heart and a spirit within him cries out aba and father to God. He's no longer a distant almighty God, creator of heaven and earth. He becomes my dad. He becomes my father. 46:37 And then I go to him for every need of mine in future. And not only do I recognize the change in me, but the friends around me or the parents or the siblings at home will notice 46:56 something has happened to this fellow. This happened to me. And that is the mark, one of the marks that you I mean something has really touched you. something has really 47:12 happened to you and then Jesus told her go and sin no more. This is very important which is not emphasized in many churches. They are only happy that the 47:29 people have made that prayer, said that prayer if I can use that word said not prayed. Praying is something that you do it on your own voluntarily. 47:49 But saying is something that you repeat what others say. So that has got no effectiveness. So Jesus said here go and sin no more. In these two 48:05 incidents we see something there that is justification that the person's sin is forgiven. Neither do I condemn you. Means you are justified. I treat you as if you have never 48:25 committed any sin in your life up until now. Jesus said, "A new commandment I uh effect them in their uh in the last day. I will write my laws in their heart and in their mind that they will be 48:41 careful to observe my commandments." So when God writes his laws in our hearts, we become very careful to to keep them and we are led by the Holy Spirit and we 48:59 obey because we are not old creation. We are a new creation. Old things passed away. Behold, all things have become new. And we walk in the light as he is in the light. And God takes care of our past sins, 49:19 everything. And he says, "I will remember your sins and in your iniquities no more." And all our past is cleansed. And we stand before the Lord as if we have kept the law from birth. 49:37 And that is the efficacy of the blood of Christ that cleanses us from all sin. And then that is the justification. Then the word next word that Jesus said now go and sin no more 49:56 lest something worse befall you. What is that? That is the time that we start from then on till our till the end of our days. That is like 50:14 the track on which we run our Christian race. That is called sanctification. Sanctification is in three tenses. One is [snorts] past that's positional sanctification. 50:31 The other one is present. that is uh s process of sanctification that I run this race looking unto Jesus. I go on this track 50:48 and till the end of my days and then when I come to the finishing line from the starting line I finish my course like Paul said I have completed my course I kept the faith 51:05 and when we come to that then that is the final sanctification positional and progressive and final sanctification. Same is the case with our salvation also. Salvation 51:24 from our sins. We are saved from our sins in the past when we came to Christ. We are being saved when we are walking in the light on the track of sanctification. and then we will be saved completely from the very presence of 51:44 sin. So the Christian life is uh called uh race. So nobody comes to the starting line of the race and stand there and then boast that I have won the medal. No, 52:03 some fall off on the way. Some endure till the end only very few to start with. There were many like you see in the marathon 26 miles race. Many will be there and along the 52:20 way many will drop off and towards the end at the finishing line you will see only one or two or three enduring that two huffing and puffing and gasping for breath and so weak they become by the end 52:40 and they win because they have that determination to win. So this is sanctification which I would like to speak upon today. Sanctification is not a one-time experience. It's it's a lifelong 52:59 experience that I go through and I maintain it so that I will not be a cast away after having preached to others. Lest I be a cast away, I buffet my body and keep it under control, says the 53:18 Apostle Paul. So he knew that he could be a cast away. Just think about it. If the Apostle Paul thought that he could be a cast away after having established so many churches, preached so many sermons, 53:34 healed so many sick and made miracles, and he lived in fear that he may be a cast away one day if he doesn't keep faithful to the Lord and doesn't walk in a manner worthy of his calling. 53:53 And if he drops off along the way, he was in fear. He says, "Lest after having preached to others, I myself should be a cast away. Therefore, I discipline my body. I'll tell my body to do what to do and not what it wants to do." That is 54:13 the secret of the Christian life. Our flesh wants to do 101 things, but our spirit says, "No, don't you do that. You are going to incur the wrath of God. You'll make God angry. Don't do that. Deny yourself. 54:31 Die here to your own self and take up the cross and follow Jesus like he did. And when we do that, then we are okay. And then it says 54:49 in you see this is very important. What was the reason why Jesus was talking about these things that we should abstain from every form of sin and unrighteousness and wickedness? 55:08 You see, the reason is we read in Ephesians 1:18, turn with me to Ephesians 1:18. In the middle of the chapter, Paul says 55:26 Ephesians 1:18. This is the prayer that Paul prays for the church at Ephesus. He says, "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may 55:42 know what is the hope of his calling." He speaks about the hope of our calling. What is that hope of our calling? The hope of our calling, the Bible never says, is to go to 56:01 heaven. Jesus didn't say, "I have come down from heaven to die for your sins so that you can go to heaven." He never said that in the Bible. He said, "I will give my life as a ransom for the sins of many." True. But 56:20 what was his autobiography that we have heard many times in this church? John 6:38. Jesus said, "I have come down from heaven for this one purpose, not to do my own will, but the will of 56:37 him who sent me." That was the goal of Jesus Christ. And with that goal set before him, he endured the cross rejecting the shame and he went to the cross 56:56 because of you and me. And what he says here, the hope of his calling, what is the hope of his calling? The hope of his calling is in Galatians. In Galatians chapter 4:7, Galatians 57:40 Chapter 4 verse 19. Sorry. Here Paul is [snorts] ministering among the Galatians and he says, "My little children Galatians 57:57 with whom I am in labor." You know what is labor? Labor is the period of time that a mother goes through before giving birth to a baby. That is very painful experience that 58:16 women go through. But we men don't understand that. They say sometimes it's better that I die than go through this pain. That is the labor pain that women go through. The same thing Paul says here, I am in 58:36 labor like a mother until Christ is formed in you or until Christ is birthed in you. What is the meaning of that? 58:53 Turn with me to Romans chapter 8 verse 29. We all know, most of us know verse 28. God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him. But many do not know what the next 59:11 verse says. Why he works all things to work together for the good of those who love him. So that verse 29, whom he forneew, he also predestined. And those who predestined he predestined 59:29 them to become conformed to the image of his son Jesus Christ. You see this is this is the goal for which God works in us [snorts] and causes everything to happen to us in 59:46 life good or bad. And through all these things, God breaks us, makes us, molds us, and fills us to be what he wants us to be. 1:00:06 So that we may be conformed to the image of his son in character. Not that we become like Jesus in personality with a halo around his head around our head. Jesus never had a halo around his head when he walked on earth. I hope you know 1:00:23 that like you see in some calendars in some pictures they see Jesus with always a halo around his head. Jesus never walked on this earth with a halo around his head. If that was so, then Judas didn't have to give a sign as to who 1:00:42 Jesus [snorts] is going to be, whom you should capture. He was [snorts] just like any ordinary man. And when they came to capture Jesus, they didn't know who Jesus was. And Judas had told them that the person 1:01:01 whom I go and kiss, he's the one you have to apprehend. And he went to Jesus and kissed him. And that's how he betrayed him and he was taken to custody. 1:01:19 So we become like Jesus when we partake of his divine nature by denying ourselves, dying to our own will and doing his will instead. We become more and more partakers of the divine nature and 1:01:37 become conformed to the image of Christ in our spirit so that he may be the firstborn. It says that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. This is what the apostles strove 1:01:57 to bring the people of God. And you see this victory over sin is not something new in the New Testament. It was way back in the time of creation 1:02:17 that the Lord told in Genesis 4 verse 7 Jesus maybe we can turn there Genesis 4:7 after Adam and Eve sinned and in the 1:02:34 first family the first son became a murderer he killed his own brother because he was jealous because God accepted his sacrifice and his brother's sacrifice I mean his sacrifice was not accepted 1:02:57 and verse five it says for Cain and his offering God had no regard so Cain became very angry and his countenance fell his face became very dark and he had a long face. Why did God not 1:03:17 accept my sacrifice? And then the Lord asked him, "Why are you angry, Cain? Why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you 1:03:40 do not do well. Sin is crouching at the door. You see, whenever we are tempted to do evil, we must realize that sin is always crouching at the door. 1:03:58 When I was in primary school, we had a guest uh teacher, a drawing teacher who was, you know, making so many uh drawing so many 1:04:15 pictures out of number one, number two, number three and out of some words like that. And then he wrote sin, s i n sin. And he made something out of that. And he told you know what sin is? 1:04:32 In my primary school he told sin is nothing but Satan is near. Satan is near. So when Satan was near, Eve sinned. 1:04:51 But when Satan was near with Jesus for 40 days and 40 nights, Jesus overcame him. So Satan's intention always is to make us sin. But by the help of the Holy Spirit 1:05:09 with whom Jesus was was baptized and filled, he was able to overcome Satan and put him under his feet. So that is our calling dear brothers and sisters. So and even in 1 Corinthians 15:34 you 1:05:27 could turn with me there. 115 1 Corinthians 15:34. It says become soberminded 1:05:49 means be alert. Don't sleep like the disciples slept when Jesus told him to told them to keep watch and pray. It says wake up, be alert, be sober minded as you should. 1:06:08 Stop sinning. It says stop sinning. Why is Jesus so um serious about our sins even after we are born again? He doesn't just overlook our sins and say, "Oh, it's all right. 1:06:28 My blood covers it. Don't you worry." Doesn't say that. We can break our connection and fellowship with God even after we are born again by sinning. Continue to sin and not repent. 1:06:45 And John says in John's epistle chapter 1 um first first uh John chapter 2 this is the will of God. He says, 1:07:02 "My little children, 1 John 2:1, my little children, I'm writing these things things to you that you may not sin." See, this is the will of God. When in verse 9, John said, "If we confess our sins, God 1:07:22 is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all our iniquities." He says, but then he says in the next chapter, first verse, he says, my little children, I'm writing these things to you so that you may not 1:07:38 sin. That is God's first preference that we cease from sinning, that we take sin seriously, we sin not. 1:07:54 And then he says, "But in case you have fallen into sin or slipped up there, if anyone sins, he doesn't include himself." But in in uh um 1:08:17 verse 10, he includes himself. But in this first verse, he says, "If anyone sins, we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ, the righteous." So 1:08:37 don't take sin lightly thinking that I can sin and ask the Lord to forgive me and he will forgive. But read the next verse. I'm writing these things to you children that you may not sin. But in case 1:08:56 you slip and fall or stumble into it, don't get disheartened. The blood of Christ cleanses and we have an advocate with the father. Jesus Christ, 1:09:13 the righteous advocate. Most of the advocates are not righteous. But here it specifically says that Jesus is righteous and he forgives us. And the same thing Peter also says in 1 Peter 4:1. 1:09:31 1 Peter 4:1. It's important for us to see that you don't hear about these things in other churches because they are they they don't want to offend you. They don't want to tell you the truth. They want to tell you what you want to hear, not what 1:09:51 you need to hear. And it says in one Corinth one Peter 4:1, "Therefore, since Christ also suffered in the flesh, arm yourself also with the same purpose 1:10:07 that he who has suffered in the flesh has seized from sin." What is suffering in the flesh? Suffering in the flesh is [snorts] uh suffering I mean crucifying our self life 1:10:25 saying no to my self life and denying myself that is suffering in the flesh in unfortunately in some translations it is written that I'm yourself also so that 1:10:43 he who has suffered in the Body has seized from sin. Is finished with sin. It says that is a wrong translation. Body is not tempting you to sin. You are not tempted 1:11:02 by the body. If a person has suffered in the body, then all criminals and all prisoners should be free from sin. The very fact that when their term is 1:11:21 over and they released, they go back to the same thing and take vengeance on the person who put him in jail. So how do you re reconcile these two verses? Suffering in the flesh is something different. Suffering in the 1:11:38 body is something different. Suffering is the body. You are suffering because of your crime and you are punished for that. But suffering in the flesh is something that you decide 1:11:53 to suffer when you say no to your will. that very tempting. You know, all temptations come with glitter and with uh 1:12:11 you know, enticing uh makeup and also it's like you know very attractive and sugar coating and tasty to begin with. Once the sugar coating is vanished, you see the bitterness of the pill. 1:12:29 So temptation is like that. When I come to Christ and I see Satan tempting me with all goodies, very attractive goodies. It may be a pretty face or it may be 1:12:47 a large sum of money which with one signature of mine I can sweep it in my favor but I decide when my will crosses God's 1:13:05 will that is the cross that is where I meet the cross then I take up my cross saying no to myself will and s to the lord and to the holy spirit and then I suffer there there is always suffering 1:13:23 in the flesh but there is no suffering in the body before your punishment after that you will have but if you suffer before the punishment in the flesh then you will have no punishment after that 1:13:40 and uh it also says in Romans chapter 6 verse1 most of us know that chapter it says we will just go back to the previous 1:13:58 verse in chapter 521 many people misunderstand the word grace I would encourage you brothers and sisters if you want to truly understand the meaning of grace and what grace and 1:14:15 mercy is and what is your calling. I would strongly recommend that you go and listen to brother Zach's um verse by verse Bible study on this chapter in Romans chapter 5 6 and 7 and 1:14:34 8 then you will get a clear picture of what grace does. It is grace is not a license to sin. It says in verse 27, as sin reigned in earth in death, even so grace might reign through 1:14:52 righteousness. That means some people understand it like this. I understood like this before I came to CFC. The more I sin, the more grace covers and forgives my sins. That is how I understood. But come to the next verse. What shall 1:15:10 we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase so that I keep on sinning more so that God's grace can come more upon me and cleanse me and cover me? The blood of Jesus covers me and 1:15:27 gives me a clean chit. He says may it never be. How shall we whose sin who died to sin still live in it? You know when a person dies, 1:15:47 he will not have any more interest in the things of this world. the money that he had accumulated, the gold he had accumulated, the property he made and all the um good things that he 1:16:06 acquired for himself and for his family. Every one of them he leaves and he is disconnected once for all. Nothing will he take in 1:16:23 his hands. Just like he came with nothing, he will go with nothing. Absolutely nothing. And in verse um 15 again he says, "What then? Shall 1:16:42 we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be, not even once. He says so this is the work of the Holy Spirit. This is the 1:16:59 work of the true grace of God. Two great true grace of God is that which enables you from within by the indwelling Holy Spirit to deny your flesh to say no to temptations 1:17:18 and is to the Holy Spirit. And then it says in verse 14, because you are not under law but under grace, sin shall not master over you. 1:17:36 That means sin shall not have dominion over you. Sin shall not have any power over you because you are not under law but you are under grace. So when you come under grace, the Holy Spirit within you works in you 1:17:55 day and night to make you like Jesus. How he lived on this earth being tempted all through his life. Not only those 40 days after his baptism, but all through his life from childhood 1:18:12 till the time he was on the cross. People ridiculed him, mocked him, pulled his beard, called him illegitimate child, called him some demonp possessed and peel and 1:18:30 everything that they could call, they called him. But what was Jesus reaction? If you say anything against the son of man, it is forgiven. But if you speak anything against blasphem against the Holy Spirit, that 1:18:49 sin will not be forgiven in this world or in the world to come. So he said, "You can say anything to me. It's forgiven. I already forgiven them." Those things. So that's how we become when we follow Jesus. 1:19:05 We die to this world and the Holy Spirit within us works in us, produces in us Christly character, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, 1:19:24 goodness, faithfulness, self-control. These are the nine-fold fruit of the Holy Spirit. We partake of his divine nature and we become like him. And lastly 1:19:41 in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 13. 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 13. It says we should always give thanks to God for you brethren beloved by the Lord because God has 1:20:00 chosen you from the beginning for salvation. Number one, God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification. See the connection there. Salvation is not once for all experience that I experienced in 1:20:18 the past when I say the sinner's prayer. That is not salvation. Salvation is through sanctification. And we will be saved if we endure till the end. 1:20:37 So without which sanctification, without which no one will see the Lord. Sanctification is nothing but the spirit of God making us increasingly holy and we are being set apart for that. That is sanctification. 1:20:57 And now the same Paul says in um chapter 5 23, now may the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely. 1:21:14 May your spirit, soul, and body be preserved complete without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. See our spirit we are also trinity like the lord. We are spirit we have soul and 1:21:33 we live in a body. So the lord says may the lord sanctify you entirely your spirit soul and body and faithful is he who called you. He will do it. The work that God has begun 1:21:50 in you and me, he will complete it. So now may I ask brother Danish to share the word. I'd like you to turn to Luke chapter 1:22:29 Luke chapter Then Luke chapter 9 verse 54. 1:22:58 Maybe I'll read from 51. Luke chapter 9 verse uh 51. When the days were approaching of his ascension, he was determined to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead of him. And they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for 1:23:17 him. But they did not receive him because he was traveling toward Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to be do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?" 1:23:36 And he turned and rebuked them. You do not know what kind of spirit you are of for the son of man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. So this is Apostle John and James 1:23:53 and uh maybe in the beginning they were walking with the Lord. They committed their life. They trusted the Lord. They left their home and followed started following the Lord and uh see their spirit. somebody some 1:24:12 people they didn't receive them but they wanted to use the power to bring fire upon them and destroy them. This is uh John and James in their natural uh form. But we see the transformation 1:24:30 when we read John's epistle. He became the ep apostle of love. And uh this is the work which God can do. The gospel has power not just to forgive, not just to 1:24:50 set us right before the Lord, not just to make us stand one day before the Lord blameless, but while we are here on this earth every day sometimes we may not recognize the Lord is working in our heart. I remember when I was small, my sister 1:25:09 planted a a small um a small uh uh not a tree, a small plant, something she planted and I used to pluck it out and see whether the root is growing and then put it back. So some of us examine our life and 1:25:27 regret that we don't see the the life our life is not changing. We get discouraged. Now if you go to some construction site sometimes it take quite a long time to work on the foundation and everything is messed up. Things are 1:25:44 gathered here and there but more high the building more deeper the foundation is the work that you do in our God does in our life depends upon the plan which God has for our lives. 1:26:02 If you see that you don't see any fruit outside, don't get discouraged. The Lord has power to change. Sometimes you come to a place like Abraham, he had a promise but uh no fruit, no hope. I think he was trying till then 1:26:20 it came to a place where he see that his no he lost hope in himself and then even Sara her womb was dead. nothing else to try but to trust simply. And uh the Lord was working, the Lord 1:26:38 was changing. See, when God changed Apostle John, he became an apostle of love. But it was not a sentimental human love or mere human affection, but the love which 1:26:56 lead us to obedience. And if our love for the lord do not lead us to obedience and there is something wrong with it. And uh his spirit was not the same old spirit where he wanted to destroy the people but his stand was 1:27:14 same. His he was refined. It is something like uh the lord brought the disciples to bring the fish uh fish and he put it on the fire and then like that John was refined and his seal was there. Turn to 1 John chapter 2. He became the 1:27:31 apostle of love. Sorry, I'm sorry. 2 John 2 John 1:9. Maybe I'd like to first read verse five. 1:27:56 He reminds of love one. 2 John chapter 1 5. I ask your lady not as though I were writing to a new commandment but the one which we had from the beginning that we love one another. And this is love that we walk according 1:28:14 to his commandments and walk in love, walk in obedience. It reminds us of love. Reminds the church of love. And then nine it says if anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. 1:28:34 The one who abides in the teaching he has both father and the son. And if anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching do not receive him into your house and do not grieve him give him a greeting. 1:28:52 Do not receive him into your house and don't give him a greeting. It sounds like arrogance when we think in our human point of view. This is the apostle of love writing. And what a change, what a uh uh you know 1:29:11 the way God can refine us. And one more verse from 2 Corinthians chapter 7. I want to close with this verse. 2 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 1 church like this we hear about 1:29:40 true word of God and the way of the cross and and it's not like olden days where we are looked down upon and there is a respect there is a respect for brother Zach and even church. But here when we can do commit oursel to 1:29:56 sanctification for the wrong reason. We can you know pursue sanctification so that we can have a testimony. We can testify in our meetings. We can pursue sanctification to think what people think about us. I I remember I had to make a decision a 1:30:15 couple of years back after I started helping here in the church and I had to make a decision then I didn't do it because I thought um now you are in the church you have people you have a responsibility in the church what people think about you 1:30:35 that was the that was the question that ruled my spirit and uh I'm thankful that the Lord tried to the Lord helped me to pull out that veneer of wrong fear. It says in this word having these promises 1:30:54 all the promises what we heard think of all the promises new covenant promises that sin will not have dominion over you. Let us cleanse oursel from all defilement of flesh and spirit. Perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 1:31:13 In the fear of God. This is something which you deal with God where God see everything naked. Why we want to follow this path that I want to honor God. I want to prove with my life. Lord I love you. It's not just an empty word that I 1:31:29 want to uh say often sing without meaning. Lord, I want to prove my love by my obedience. And let's have this attitude, brothers and sisters. Let's perfect the holiness in the fear of God, not in the fear of man, not in the not even in the fear of 1:31:46 elders. Sometimes we see when brothers speak to us, they're very respectful. But we come to know how they deal with other brothers though, especially those who are younger, not so much of established in the church. There's a different spirit altogether. 1:32:05 No, let's let's perfect holiness in the fear of God, not in the fear of man, not even in the fear of elders. Let's uh pray and uh thank the Lord for what we heard. Brothers, do you have a song? If Yeah, let's sing the song and then we 1:32:21 can close in prayer. Let's sing the song Jesus I my cross 1:33:05 have taken. All to leave and follow thee. Destitute, despised, forsaken. Thou from hence my all shall be. Perish every found ambition. All I've sought, hoped, and known. But how rich 1:33:23 is my condition. God and heaven are still my own. Jesus I my [singing] 1:33:45 cross [music] have taken all [singing] to leave and follow thee. [music] Destitute [singing] despised for [music] thou from hence [singing] 1:34:05 my lord shall [music] be perish [singing] every font ambition. [music] All I [singing] sought and hoped and known. [music] 1:34:24 Yet [singing] how rich is my condition [music] [singing] and he not still my own. [music] Man may [singing and music] trble 1:34:45 and distress me, [music] thrill but drive [singing] me to thy breath. Life with [music and singing] tri may press me. 1:35:03 Heaven [singing] will me [music] sweeter rest. Lord is not [singing] in grief to [music] harm me while thy love [singing] 1:35:19 is [music] left to me. Lord [singing] not in joy to [music] charge [singing] joy and mee. [music] [music] 1:35:42 >> So then know [singing] thy [music] full salvation. Rise or sin [music] [singing] and pure and care. Joy to find [singing] in [music] every 1:36:00 station. Something [singing] still to [music] do or think what [singing] spirit [music] dwells within me. Think [music] what father's [singing] 1:36:19 smiles are done. Think [singing and music] of Jesus died to win thee. Child [singing and music] of him can thou river [singing and music] is [singing and music] the on from grace 1:36:45 to glory. Come by [singing] faith and win [music] by prayer. L's [singing] eternal days [music] still before thee. God's own hand [singing] 1:37:05 shall guide us there. Soon [singing and music] shall cease thy earthly mission. [music] Soon shall [singing] pass thy bels. Hope [music] shall change [singing] to 1:37:26 glad throughition. Faith to sight [singing and music] and prayer to praise. Amen. Shall we just bow our heads in prayer? 1:38:03 Oh gracious heavenly father, we thank you for speaking to us, showing us the path. We remember your promise of the Holy Spirit, the helper whom you have promised, Lord, to teach us, to guide us in this path. And we offer oursel Aresh this morning, 1:38:19 Lord, with those who are struggling. and all of us Lord we pray that Lord you give us a new beginning to endure till the end Lord in love and in obedience fill us with the Holy Spirit Lord fill us baptize us immerse us Lord with the 1:38:33 power of the Holy Spirit that we may endure in love and obedience till the end Lord Jesus thank you for speaking to us this morning powerfully thank you father for your presence thank you Lord for your word in Jesus precious and 1:38:45 mighty name we pray amen we'll have the book of the month and announcements. Presenting 1:39:21 the book of this month, one [music] body in Christ by brother Zach Pune. >> Called to manifest the [music] beauty of divine love to the world, many churches are instead hotbeds of internal politics and rivalry. 1:39:40 But Jesus said that the world would identify his disciples by their intense [music] love for one another. The church can fulfill her god orained function as the light of the world only when there is true Christian fellowship among her 1:39:58 members. Christ is limited on earth now because his spiritual body, the church, has limbs and organs that are [music] either paralyzed through sin or uncoordinated through disunityity. Satan ridicules the efforts of a 1:40:17 disunited church trying to oust him from his strongholds [music] by gimmicks, gadgets, conferences, theological knowledge, eloquence [music] and trained coers. The church needs to know again the 1:40:35 reality [music] of being one body united under the headship of Christ. A fellowship of [music] Christians properly related to each other, growing in love for one another, and living in [music] obedience to Christ and his word 1:40:53 is the greatest threat to the kingdom of the devil on earth. May this book help you to understand and to live by this truth. Then we shall assuredly see the church as an instrument [music] in God's hands to route the forces of 1:41:13 darkness and a channel of blessing [music] to a needy world. >> [music] >> You can read this book free online at cfcindia.com/books/onebody in Christ. [music]
