1:59 Mhm. >> Let's sing of a song Almighty Most Holy 3:06 God. >> [music] >> Almighty Most [singing] Holy [music] God faithful through the ages [singing] 3:27 Almighty >> [music] >> Most Holy Lord glorious Almighty [singing] God. Let's sing that again from the top. >> [music] >> Almighty [singing] Most Holy [music] God faithful through the ages 3:47 >> [singing] >> Almighty Most Holy Lord, glorious almighty [singing and music] God. Let's all clap and sing. The beasts of [singing and music] the field, the birds of the air are silent to call out your name. 4:06 >> [music] >> The earth has [singing] no voice, so I have no choice but to magnify God [music] and [singing] not ashamed. Let the rocks be in silent for one more day. Let the whole [music and singing] world sing out. Let the people say, 4:27 Almighty, [singing and music] most holy God, faithful through the ages. [music and singing] Almighty, most holy Lord, glorious almighty [singing] God. [music] When time marches [singing] on, when 4:49 innocence is gone, and the darkness [music] has covered the earth, but his spirit still [singing] dwells. He speaks, "It is well." And the hopeless he'll offer new [music] birth. He will break the leash of death. [singing] It will have no sting. Let the 5:06 prisoner [music] go free. Join the dance and say, Almighty, most [music and singing] holy God, faithful through the ages. Almighty, >> [music] 5:24 >> most holy [singing] Lord, glorious [music] almighty God. Please be seated, brothers and sisters. >> [music] 5:51 >> Let's all clap and sing. >> [music] >> Sing out, the Lord [singing] is near. Build him [music] a temple [singing] here. A palace of praise, a throne of thanksgiving, [singing] 6:11 made for the [music] king of kings. Sing out a joyful song. [singing] His love goes on and [music] on. When praises [singing] abound, his glory surrounds us, filling his [music] temple 6:29 here. Sing out, the [singing] Lord is near. The Lord [music and singing] inhabits the song of his saints, and lives in [music and singing] their 6:47 praises. The Lord [singing] inhabits the song [music] of his saints, and lives [singing] in their praises. >> [music] >> Sing out, the Lord is near. [singing] Build him a temple here. 7:08 >> [music and singing] >> A palace of praise, a throne of thanksgiving, [singing] made for the king of kings. >> [music] >> Sing [singing] out a joyful song. His love [music] goes on and on. >> [singing] 7:26 >> When praises abound, his glory surrounds us, filling his [music and singing] temple here. Sing out, the Lord is near. Sing [music] out, the Lord is near. [singing] Sing out the Lord is near. 7:45 >> [music and singing] [music] >> Sing the next song. Strength will arise >> [music] >> as we wait upon the Lord. >> [music] 8:11 [music] >> Strength arises we wait [music and singing] upon the Lord. We will wait upon the Lord. We will wait upon the Lord. Strength [music] arises we wait [singing] upon the Lord. We will wait upon the Lord. We will wait upon 8:30 [music and singing] the Lord. Our God, you reign forever. >> [singing] >> Our hope, >> [music] >> our strong deliverer. >> [singing and music] >> You are the everlasting 8:51 [music] God, the everlasting [singing] God. You do not [singing] faint. You >> [music] >> grow weary. >> [music] >> Strength Strength will arise. 9:13 Strength arises we wait [music and singing] upon the Lord. We will wait upon the Lord. We will wait upon the Lord. Strength arises [music and singing] we wait upon the Lord. We will wait upon the Lord. We will [singing and music] 9:27 wait upon the Lord. Our God, you reign forever. [singing and music] Our hope, our strong [music and singing] deliverer. >> [singing and music] 9:44 >> You are the everlasting God, >> [singing] >> the everlasting [music] God. You do not faint, you >> [singing and music] >> grow weary. You're the defender [singing and music] 10:03 of the weak. You comfort those in [music and singing] need. You lift us up on wings [singing and music] like eagles. >> [singing] >> I have found [singing] 10:42 a [music] fortress in the living >> [singing] >> God. I have made the sovereign Lord my refuge, and my voice [singing] [music] will tell of all his saving >> [singing] >> grace. 11:00 Though the depths of which no man [music] can measure, in the [singing] days of plenty, in the days of [singing and music] want, I will put my trust in you alone. For there's no [singing] 11:21 [music] heart greater than the Father's love, and there's no [music and singing] love sweeter than sun. >> [music] >> That this love pursued [singing and music] 11:39 us is a mystery for [music and singing] the heart is base and you are holy. [music and singing] Yet the streams of mercy that flows over me will afford [music and singing] 11:57 me grace to stand in glory. Wherewith [music and singing] men and angels, wherewith slaves and kings, I will sing my [singing and music] praise to you alone. For there's no [singing] heart greater 12:18 than the Father's [music] love, and there's [singing] no love sweeter than the sun. Hallelujah. [singing and music] Hallelujah. >> [music] >> Hallelujah to [singing] 12:37 my king. >> [music] >> Hallelujah. [singing] Hallelujah. Jesus [music and singing] Christ, my everything. Let's sing that hallelujah again with your voices. Hallelujah. [singing] 12:56 Hallelujah. Hallelujah [singing] to my king. [music] Hallelujah. [singing] Hallelujah. Jesus [singing] Christ, my 13:16 everything. [music] >> [music] >> Sing [music and singing] Hallelujah 13:39 to the Lord. Sing [music and singing] Hallelujah to the Lord. >> [singing] >> Sing [music] Hallelujah. [singing] Sing Hallelujah. 13:58 Sing [singing] Hallelujah [music] to the Lord. >> [singing] >> Jesus has conquered sin and death. >> [music and singing] >> Jesus has conquered sin and death. >> [singing] >> Jesus has conquered. 14:22 Jesus [music] has [singing] conquered. Jesus has conquered sin [singing] and death. Jesus [music and singing] has risen from the dead. Jesus [music and singing] 14:40 has risen from the dead. Jesus [music] has [singing] risen. Jesus has risen. Jesus [music and singing] has risen from the dead. Jesus [music and singing] 14:59 is seated on the throne. Jesus [singing] is seated on the throne. [music] >> [singing] >> Jesus is seated. [music] Jesus [singing] is seated. 15:18 Jesus [music] is seated on the throne. Jesus is seated on the Jesus [music and singing] is Lord of heaven and earth. Jesus is Lord of Jesus [music and singing] is Lord of heaven and earth. Jesus is Lord of Jesus is Lord. [singing] 15:40 Jesus is Lord. [music] Jesus [singing] is Lord of heaven and [music] earth. Jesus is Lord of heaven Jesus [singing] is coming back again. [music] Jesus is coming back again. Jesus [singing] 15:58 is coming back again. [music] Jesus is coming Jesus [singing] is coming. Jesus [music] is coming. Jesus [singing] is coming back again. Jesus is coming back again. 16:16 >> [music] [music] [music] 16:41 >> The sun cannot [singing] compare to the glory of your love. There is [music and singing] no shadow in your presence. No mortal >> [music and singing] >> man would dare to stand before your 17:00 throne. [music] Before the holy [singing] one [music] of heaven. It's only [singing] by your blood and it's only [music] through your mercy. Lord, [singing] I come. I bring an offering [music] 17:23 of worship to my king. No one [singing] on earth deserves [music] the praises that I sing. >> [singing] >> Jesus, may you receive [music] the honor that you're due. Oh Lord, [singing] I bring an offering 17:45 [music] to you. Let's sing that again from the top. >> [music] >> The sun cannot compare [music and singing] 18:02 to the glory of your love. >> [music] >> There is no [singing] shadow in your presence. >> [music] >> No mortal [singing] man would dare [music] to stand before your throne. 18:20 Before the holy one [singing and music] of heaven. It's only by your blood, [singing and music] and it's only through your mercy. [music] Lord, I come. I bring [singing] an offering of worship 18:41 to [music] my king. No one on earth deserves [singing] the praises [music] that I sing. Jesus, may you [singing] receive [music] the honor that you're due. Oh Lord, [singing] I bring an offering 19:01 to [music] you. Let's all stand up and sing [music] the last song. You laid aside [singing] your majesty, 19:23 gave up [music] everything for me. Suffered at the hands of those [music and singing] you had created. You took all [singing and music] my guilt and shame when you died and rose 19:42 again. [music] Now today [singing] you reign in heaven and [music] earth exalted. I really [singing] want to worship you, my Lord. You have won my heart [singing and music] and I am yours 20:00 forever and ever. [singing] I will love you. [music] You are the [singing] only one who died for me, gave your life [singing] to set [music] me free. So I lift my 20:18 voice to you in adoration. >> [music and singing] >> Let's sing that again from the top. You laid [music and singing] aside your majesty, gave up everything for me. >> [music] >> Suffered [singing] 20:37 at the hands of those you had created. >> [music] >> You took [singing] all my guilt and shame when you died and rose [music] again. Now today [singing] you reign in heaven [music] and earth 20:56 exalted. I really [singing] want to worship [music] you, my Lord. You have won my heart and I am yours [music and singing] forever and ever. I will love you. >> [music] 21:15 >> You [singing] are the only one who died for me. [music] Gave your [singing] life to set me free. So, I lift my voice to you [music] in >> [singing] >> adoration. >> [music] >> As we remain standing, 22:14 shall we bow our heads in prayer. Jesus laid aside his majesty, 22:35 gave up everything for us, suffered at the hands of those he had created. He took all our guilt and shame when he died and rose again. Now, today, 22:54 he reigns in heaven and earth exalted. >> The time in which we are living 23:13 I believe the word of God is our refuge and strength. And He has given us at every situation and circumstance 23:32 the right words that we need to strengthen us to uphold us to encourage us so that we will not be discouraged like the worldly people. 23:51 I find this Psalm is very relevant in the time in which we are living. You can just listen to me. I'm reading from Psalm 46. In this 24:12 particular time where the world is torn apart by war and Jesus said men's hearts 24:30 will fail them for fear. And that's what we see all around us. And this word this Psalm gives us strength and refuge in the Lord. 24:49 It says God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the 25:07 heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places 25:29 of the Most High. God is in the midst of her. She will not be moved. God will help her when morning dawns. The nations made an uproar. 25:47 The kingdoms tottered. He raised his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. 26:06 Come, behold the works of the Lord, who has wrought desolations in the earth. He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth. He breaks the bow 26:25 and cuts the spear into two. He burns the chariots with fire. Cease striving and know that I am God. 26:41 I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our stronghold. He makes wars to cease 27:02 to the end of the earth. And he says, "Cease striving." Meaning, let go and relax. Step out of the traffic and know 27:22 that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations and I will be exalted in the earth. Let these words sink into our hearts 27:41 and give us new hope and courage knowing fully well who is in control. It's not any superpower. It's not any strategy, military strategy, that's going to win the war and bring 27:58 world peace. Peace comes from the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the one who said just before his crucifixion, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Not as the 28:18 world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled. Neither let it be afraid. Believe in God and believe also in me. I have spoken these things to you so that my joy may be in you and that my 28:37 joy may be made complete in you." This is spoken by the one who knew he was going to be executed next morning. And he wants to give us that peace 28:55 that passeth all understanding. That joy which can never be shaken. Joy full of glory. We want to thank him 29:17 for what he is and what he's doing in our midst. Our heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you this morning because you are worthy worthy of all the praise, honor, glory, and adoration. We thank you, Lord, that nothing escapes 29:37 your notice and that you're in sovereign control of every situation, every person, every nation. Lord Jesus, we thank you that you are King of kings and Lord of lords 29:55 and you will achieve your purpose and your plans, what you have for us. And all these are indications of your soon coming. Lord Jesus, we look forward to you, to your coming. 30:14 Thy kingdom come, Lord Jesus. Thy will be done on this earth as it is being done in heaven. Hallowed be thy name because thine is the power and the kingdom and the glory forever and ever. Brothers and sisters, 30:32 take this opportunity to express your thankfulness and gratitude for all that he has done and is doing and he's going to do. But he's on the throne and nothing will happen to us without his 30:51 permission. The very hair upon our head are all numbered. We are much more valuable than many sparrows. Not one of them falls to the ground without our heavenly father knowing it. 31:11 Yes, Father, we thank you for your absolute power and control over this world. Lord Jesus, thank you that you have a special care and concern for your children. And we rejoice in the fact that you 31:29 keep us under the under your wings safe from all harm and from all alarms. Lord Jesus, our trust is in you. We believe, Lord Jesus, that you will do beyond our asking or thinking. 31:48 We commit ourselves to you. Even this morning, as we come, we look up to you for a word from your mouths. We pray that you'll anoint those who speak your word. We pray that you'll fill them with the Holy Spirit. That you'll encourage them, strengthen 32:07 them, and you'll do the same to us who listen to your word. That none of us go from here without being blessed and challenged. We pray, Father, that you'll take your rightful place in our midst. 32:27 And we pray that you'll be glorified. Thank you once again for this time. Be thou honored, glorified, and exalted in our midst, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Please take your seats. We look at our memory verse. 32:50 Last week we had a promise. And that was from Isaiah 43:25. Can you repeat with me? Isaiah 43:25. I alone am the one 33:08 who wipes out your wrongdoings. For my own sake. And this week we have a command. That's from Proverbs 8:34. Proverbs 8:34. Blessed is the one 33:31 who listens to me watching daily at my gates. Let's say this once again. Proverbs 8:34. Blessed is the one 33:50 who listens to me watching daily at my gates. Today we will listen to God's word from Brother Danish. Brother Danish, over to you. Good morning, brothers and sisters. 34:33 So uh I have a question in my heart to all of us. So, I hope all of us have enjoyed the time of singing. We were blessed and edified at the time of singing. So, the question I have is 34:50 whether you had a song in your heart during the week. So, I'm not asking whether you read the Bible every day. Whether you fasted last week. But, uh was there a song in your heart 35:09 during the week? Turn to this verse in Ephesians chapter 5. Ephesians 5 chapter 35:34 Ephesians chapter 5 verse 18. Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation. But, be filled with the Spirit. Filled with the Holy Spirit. Or continually filled with the Holy Spirit. 35:53 Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord. Always giving thanks for all things 36:13 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father. And be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. A beautiful verse which we can take to our heart. Be filled with the Holy Spirit and let 36:30 it overflow. Let it come out as uh psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord. You know, some of us may say, "Brother, 36:49 you have no idea what I'm going through." There is a another picture in Lamentation. You can turn to that. Lamentation chapter 5 verse 15. Says, "The joy of our hearts have ceased 37:10 and our dancing has been turned in the morning." The joy of our hearts has ceased. Our dancing has been turned into mourning. So, there is uh we have this two picture. 37:28 A heart which makes melody to the Lord in his heart. And there is another heart which the joy has ceased and our dancing has been has been turned into mourning. Now, I'm not asking you to take it by the 37:47 letter. The letter kills, but the spirit gives lives. I remember once uh many years back, maybe seven or eight years back, uh a sister was uh talking to my wife and then they had small children and they 38:06 went to see Lalbagh. And she was asking, "Did you enjoy?" She said, "See, brother was excited. He was going around and taking pictures and the flowers and the gardens, but I was carrying the children and I was struggling. 38:25 I mean we can be like that without understanding when our wives are struggling in the kitchen, we can go and sing a song. No. And I believe in the new covenant doesn't matter the circumstances which we go through. It is God's will 38:44 that we no matter what we go through there is a song in our heart. I heard of uh that man uh Reinhard, sorry, uh Richard Wurmbrand. He was in prison. And uh 39:03 their hands uh his hands were in chain, but he used to uh uh clap and sing in that prison. So, I believe that's the life which God has called us. And often time 39:22 our songs in our heart has ceased because of a sin which doesn't looks like a sin. That sin is so subtle that uh we think we are okay. 39:39 That's the sin of unbelief. Uh one of the book which really blessed me in the Bible is the book of uh Hebrews. I remember having a burden few years back to study that book and 39:57 and it uh showed me the the the Lord Jesus Christ in a different angle. I I grew up in a nominal Christian home. I had no doubt Jesus is a true God. But there are other aspects of Christ's life, the path which he walked 40:16 the way he conducted his earthly life >> [snorts] >> and uh he's a high priest who can sympathize with us. Some of those those truths I've been blessed from that book. So, I want to first we've been hearing 40:33 about faith, repentance and faith during the past couple of weeks. And uh the true faith, the faith as it is pointed out in the Bible as it says a narrow gate and a a narrow 40:51 path. And the true faith will lead us to that path. And it's a joyful path. And the true joy, the true peace is found in that path alone. And it is deep in our heart. 41:10 So, I want you to look at couple of verses first in Hebrews chapter 2. Hebrews chapter 2 verse 14 and 18. Here we read about how Jesus broke the power of the devil, the death. 41:30 And then he wanted us to free from all fears. Hebrews chapter 2 verse 15, 14 onwards. Therefore, since the children share in the flesh and blood he himself likewise also partook of the 41:48 same. So, that through death he might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil. And might free those who through the fear of death 42:05 were subject to slavery all their lives. We heard from brother Charles these are the days where people can turn to fear. And the greatest fear anyone can face is 42:22 the fear of death. And it says Jesus saved us from that power. That power of death. And it says uh verse 17, he made like his brethren in all things. 42:41 That means I can relate to the Lord in my daily struggles. I can think my Lord understands. I don't know, brothers and sisters, many different things we all go through. But uh I don't have any doubt that the 43:00 Lord who understands every details of our lives as we heard even the hair, the numbers of hair, the Lord knows. And because of that in verse 18 he's able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. 43:20 The Lord is able to come and help me in my temptations. And second, another verse from Hebrews chapter 4 verse 15. We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses. 43:39 But one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace so that we may find mercy and find grace to help in the time of need. 43:57 We don't feel ashamed for a sense of need in our life. We can draw to the throne of grace with great confidence in our heart. Not with a fear whether he will judge me, not with a fear 44:15 that he will misunderstand me. Not with a fear that whether he will understand my problem. The Lord understands the The Lord knows the unspoken cry of your heart, so you can go to him with great confidence in your heart. 44:34 And then In verse seven it says, Hebrews chapter 5 verse 7, a picture how Jesus of his earthly life In the days of his flesh he offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears 44:53 to the one able to save him from death. And he was heard because of his godly fear. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from the things which he suffered. So 45:11 don't get into a wrong understanding that morning to evening he was sitting and weeping and crying. He lived an ordinary life. He worked as a carpenter. But the spirit was always leaning upon the Father. Like a branch 45:31 is abiding in the tree, and that is what I want to learn to be like the Lord and in a a particular thing which I wanted to share in my heart is a as I mentioned about unbelief. 45:46 I I look back over my life, especially the beginning of this year I was seeking the Lord for a direction and reflecting my own life. And uh I could see every failure in my life 46:06 was because I didn't trust the Lord. I didn't trust the Lord sufficiently that he's able to take care that I don't have to help God in different circumstances. And uh I believe the Lord gave me two words in my heart. 46:26 And one is about the destination that uh the the life which we are look up to or the destination is not a place. It's a person. It's not that we want to go to heaven, but we want to be like our Lord in in our character, in our nature. 46:44 And second, I was reminded I was tested thoroughly in the last few years and and I realized I'll be tested this year, but never beyond my strength. So, I was greatly challenged as few months passed away. I can see the way the Lord is leading is 47:03 right according to his word and guidance. So, I don't want to have unbelief in my heart this year. And I want to learn to trust the Lord, no matter what I go through. Believing that the Lord is able to take me through and carry me through and 47:19 fulfill the plan which he has for my life. So, there is a warning about unbelief in Hebrews chapter 3. Hebrews chapter 3 verse 12 to 14. Take care, brothers. Take care, brothers and sisters, 47:38 that not be let that there not be in any one of you an evil unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But, encourage one another day after day as long as it is still called today so that none of you will be hardened by 47:57 the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end. I see two heart in these verses. A heart 48:16 that is hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Believing the lies of the devil that the Lord has rejected you. That your life has ended. And that would lead us to Lamentations 5:15. It takes away the song from our heart. 48:34 The joy from our heart. And And there is another heart in verse 14. It says a heart which hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end. And what is that which takes us from one heart to another? The words of encouragement. 48:52 The words of encouragement, brothers and sisters. So, let's not lose heart in encouraging others. Sometimes uh small things which looks very big when the devil 49:10 deceive us. We are afraid to move. Like when they went to survey the promised land. They They saw the giants. Most of them. But uh they didn't see the Lord. But there were two who saw things 49:28 differently. So, brothers and sisters, I hope you will continue encouraging. Galatians 6:9 it says, "Let us not lose heart in doing good. Let us not lose heart in encouraging others. For in due time we will reap if we do 49:46 not grow weary." Encourage your wife. Encourage your children. Encourage your husbands. Encourage brothers. So that none of us will be loose you know, lose heart in doing good. And I see many times we cannot see 50:05 unbelief as a sin because if you look at our heart, we don't see unbelief. But I believe there is a different picture we can see unrest. If you see unrest in your heart concerning your past, your future, any circumstances in your life 50:24 that you don't find rest, that there is a continuous unrest, I believe that is a mark of unbelief. Unbelief. >> [snorts] >> And there is fear, fear of the future, fear of failure, any fear, brothers and sisters, 50:43 the root cause is unbelief. And that is unbelief always connected to pride. So let's not harden our heart. And Hebrews chapter 4 verse 1. Hebrews chapter 4 verse 1. 51:10 Therefore, let us fear. Fear in a good way. If while a promise remains of entering his rest, anyone of you seems to have come short of it. For indeed, we have had good news preached to us 51:27 just as they also, that is Israelites. But the word they heard did not profit them because it was not united by faith into those who have heard. And verse 3 it says, "For we who have believed enter that rest 51:46 as as he has said. So, the faith will lead us to rest in our heart. So, if there is unrest in your heart, it's an indication there is unbelief. And there are matters which are not settled. 52:04 So, and then one of the reasons for unbelief is I said can be pride and I found in my heart is a reasoning of the mind. I don't know if you struggle with anytime. 52:22 Brother Charles is mentioning the peace that surpasses all our understanding. Understanding is of the mind. You know that verse in Proverbs chapter 3:5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart 52:38 and lean not on your own understanding. There is a limit my mind can reason and understand. And to a certain extent it was right. John the Baptist the example we know him 52:58 he has seen Jesus, he has seen the the Holy Spirit coming down and resting on the Lord. And he heard the voice from heaven. But yet he was put into prison. The doubts came into his mind. He started doubting. 53:15 And because he used his mind. And I don't want to go into the details even the temptation of Jesus. He heard the voice of heaven, voice from heaven at the time of baptism. But you read immediately he was taken into the wilderness to be tested by the 53:33 devil. And the question the what comes into his heart is if you have son of God. And this is exactly what he heard, you are my beloved son. And he didn't look back to his experience. He said he didn't say that, yeah, I had that experience. 53:53 Because of that I am son of God. [snorts] Or he didn't try to prove that he is a son of God. We don't have to prove. We just need to rest. We just need to rest in the fact that I am accepted in the Lord. And if I start battling with my mind, 54:12 I'll not be able to come to a rest many times. I've seen, you know, sometimes the way it is uh the way our mind thinks. Uh in Acts 18, sorry, Acts chapter 28, 54:28 there is an example you can read here. It says about uh Paul when he was uh brought to the brought to this place called Island of Malta. Verse 28. Sorry, chapter 28 verse 1. 54:47 Acts chapter 28 verse 1. It says when he reached there, the natives showed us extraordinary kindness. And uh 55:05 verse 3, what when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and uh let them on with fire, let them on the fire, a viper came out and uh it fastened itself on hand. When the natives saw that, 55:23 the creature is hanging from his hand, they began to say to one another, this man is a murderer. And little later, he shook off that creature into the fire. But they were expecting that he would die. But then 55:43 they saw that he didn't die. It says they changed their mind. They said that he was a god. Now I thought if again one more snake comes, they would think he's a snake murderer. And if he shook that if shake that snake 56:05 again, they think he's a god. Now this can happen if I reason my life. And the devil can fool us, brothers and sisters. It's not that to assume and to believe that everything is right with us. 56:24 In fact, not if if ever you find yourself in a cloud wondering, "What is wrong with me? What is wrong with me?" Don't argue. Just agree. Not something, everything is wrong with me. Because Bible says there is nothing good 56:40 dwells in this in the flesh. And I've seen the Holy Spirit when he convicts, it's like a postmortem. Everything is very clear. You read that in Revelation how he speak to the church. Everything is very clear. It this this 56:58 things you lost your first love, you repent. And I believe the Holy Spirit will not torture us. And if I ask the Lord, "Lord, show me my heart." I believe the Lord will show us. And there is a verse in 2 Corinthians 57:18 chapter 10 verse 5. 2 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 5. We are destroying speculations 57:44 and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God. And we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. The speculations which devil try to throw into our mind we will not be moved by that, even if he 58:04 uses the scripture. Because the letter kills and the spirit gives life. That means I look at the Lord. Uh how this word applied to my Lord. Think of a word in Proverbs chapter 58:22 16:7. It says, "When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him." How was this word applied to Jesus? Yes, I believe Jesus found favor many occasions. 58:41 In different places he found favor. And he found peace. But it was not always through always through. God allowed enemies and physically harass him, trouble him, but not touch his spirit. So we may have earthly enemies. God may 59:00 allow difficulties. So we should not get discouraged and condemn ourselves. And uh as I was mentioning the true faith will lead us to a path and a narrow way and narrow path. I believe that is hidden 59:20 from many churches, many Christians which I believe by God in his mercy has so uh revealed to the brothers who led us the way of the cross. And uh I want to look at a couple of verses that faith which we've been 59:39 hearing in the last couple of weeks. Hebrews 11:6 it says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God." Like let us look at that word. Hebrews chapter 11 verse 6. Without faith it is impossible to please him. And he who comes 59:57 to God must believe that he is, that means God exist, and uh he's the rewarder of those who seek him. And second, one step ahead, and we have that great chapter of faith, Hebrews chapter 11. 1:00:16 And Hebrews 12:1, from believing, from trusting God, this verse are asking us to fix our eyes on the Lord, to look to him clearly. Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every encumbrances of 1:00:36 sin. Encumbrances encumbrances and the sin which easily entangles us. That means according to our light, what you know of sin in your heart, lay aside. Not just uh weep over it, not just uh 1:00:54 cry over it, and then and uh but lay aside. You know, sometimes I believe we need to repent of the way we repent. We believe sometimes tears is a mark of repentance. Not really true. 1:01:12 Until we lay aside that sin, we can't say we truly repented. And it says, "Uh let us run this race with endurance and fixing our eye on the Lord Jesus Christ who is the author and perfecter of our faith who for the joy set before him endured 1:01:31 the cross doesn't say that enjoyed the cross he says he endured the cross despising the shame and he sat down so to see the Lord believe in the Lord fix our eyes on the Lord and in verse three say if I consider him if I consider Christ 1:01:51 who has endured such a hostility by sinners against himself we will not grow weary and lose heart there is an always a always a tendency to lose heart to get discouraged but if I say if I see the path which the Lord went through 1:02:07 if I see him if I see his footsteps I don't need to get discouraged I can walk even things doesn't looks good in our eyes and this is a was in my heart in Hebrews 13 so as I mentioned this 1:02:25 I felt the way this book is directing us it's like a climax of this book where the you know Hebrews chapter 13 is where we read about practical uh life to respect the leaders and submit and many other truths 1:02:44 and uh Hebrews chapter 13 verse 11 for the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp therefore 1:03:01 Jesus also he might sanctify the people through his own blood suffered outside the gate so let us go out to him outside the camp bearing his reproach 1:03:18 for here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. So, it's a picture of the sin offering in verse 11 in what we read about that in Leviticus. The animal which was killed, 1:03:37 the blood was taken to the high place, and that body was burned outside the camp. Because that burning would make the camp unclean. A little away from this place, there's a place the the complete garbage of a part of the 1:03:53 city, they bring here and burn it in this nearby place. Because uh nobody is living around that area. And that would make the place unclean. And in the same way, it is a 1:04:12 the same way Jesus was taken outside the camp to sanctify us, to save us from our sin. And he suffered outside the gate. Let us go out to him outside the camp bearing his reproach. Um brothers and sisters, I don't know 1:04:35 how many of you are really ever felt that this is the way we should walk. Or do you feel this is heavy? Do you feel when you hear the word about suffering and reproach, perhaps you have not seen the true 1:04:57 Jesus. It says the way of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but for us is the power of God. And the true peace, the true joy which what you heard from brother Charles this morning it can be only found in this 1:05:14 way. And I was thinking this word the reproach of Christ. And if you ask me what does that marked Jesus' life from birth to death? He did lot of miracles. 1:05:33 It says he was anointed by the Holy Spirit. He went about doing good. And we've been asked to do good. It says do good to all men especially to the household of God. So we called to be filled with the Holy Spirit and do good. 1:05:51 And as we heard sing songs, make melody in our heart. And that is one aspect of that life and other aspect of that life is there is a reproach. You know, Jesus let's turn to Luke chapter 2. Luke chapter 2 verse 40. 1:06:27 It says the child continued to grow and become strong increasing in wisdom. Previous verse it says when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee. It is uh and their own city of Nazareth. 1:06:44 And then 41 again when 42 when he became 12 he went up to the went up to Jerusalem again. 51 he came down he went down with them and came back to Nazareth. He came to Nazareth again. He continued in subjection to 1:07:03 his parents incomplete sorry they were imperfect parents, but he continued in subjection. So, this place, Nazareth, is a It's It is mentioned it's a city, but it's not a city uh you know, when you think about It's 1:07:22 not a city like Bangalore where, you know, some of these apartment complex, you don't know who is living next door. What is going on in their life? It's not like that in a village. And this place, Nazareth, was more like a village, not 1:07:39 like highly populated. So, he grew up in that place. And there was a reputation for that place. It was a infamous. That's why Nathanael told, "Can anything good 1:07:57 come from Nazareth?" And we sing now, "I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene." But if you would go back 2,000 years back and call somebody Nazarene, I don't think it would have been a a good good place. Now, recently, 1:08:16 we got a biodata of a brother to consider for our sister. He's a from some other church, and we shared with a brother who is a local. So, he went through and he He told us, "Brother, that place where he come from, 1:08:33 it's not a good place. We cannot send our dear sister to that place." Yeah, there are places like that. If you are from that place, you won't get a boy or a girl. And there are families like that. I know a family. 1:08:51 There was a a reproach on that family. And uh two years uh sorry, two generations back, they changed the name. So, uh it is that place where Jesus grew up. And and in that place where there was a reproach, 1:09:10 there was a family who was looked down upon. The family of the carpenter, Joseph. Because there was a lady in that house who got pregnant before she was married. And uh Jesus grew up in that place. 1:09:28 And he would visit Jerusalem as the custom, but his time, the way the place which he grew up was Nazareth. And uh it's interesting to see that two times in Luke's chapter 2, it is mentioned he grew strong in wisdom. 1:09:48 Where? Not in Jerusalem, but in Nazareth. So, I think this way though what he taught in Matthew chapter 5:3 onwards, the Sermon on the Mount, it was a reflection of his life. He said, "You're blessed when people 1:10:06 insult you and persecute you." What he went through, what he suffered. I believe, brothers and sisters, I I really want to see the Lord. When I see that, when I see what he went through, what he suffered, then I don't feel I don't need 1:10:22 to feel ashamed of anything in my life. Maybe you are concerned, you're worried what people think about you. We have a Lord who walked through the dark path, darkest, darker path than we walked. 1:10:41 And uh something which I want to, you know, and share in closing is a song. Because I believe the lines of that song goes in the similar path, the the which I was talking about. So, most of us I think all of us know 1:11:00 that song. So, I want to go through the lines of that song. It says it starts with Begone Unbelief. It's written by John Newton. He was a he was a slave trader and a sailor and 1:11:19 he was pastoring a a church in village in England and he wrote it if I what the information what I found is correct, he wrote it for the poor church members in his church. Most of them were poor and they published a uh songbook and this is one of those 1:11:37 songs. So, let's go through the lines of that song. So, sometimes brothers and sisters the confession in our heart we should not confess unbelief with our tongue. We should 1:11:54 we should confess faith. So, let me just go through that lines. It says Begone Unbelief my savior is near and for my relief will surely appear. 1:12:12 By prayer let me wrestle and wrestle and he will perform for with Christ in the vessel I smile at the storm. Just hold on brothers. I just wanted to Now, now you look at some of those lines. With Christ in the vessel I smile at the 1:12:31 storm. It's not fully true in my life. Sometimes the storm hits. I found it takes some time to recover, but things are much better. But it says my relief will surely appear. Now, who need the relief? 1:12:50 It's not a sailor when the sea is calm and there are no storms. You look for relief then there is a struggle. And that is the time to exercise the faith. Not to give up. We are hearing about that uh woman who was uh knocking at the door 1:13:08 of uh the judge. So, begone unbelief. My savior is near and for my relief will surely appear. So, just want to look at couple of verses from a psalm. Please bear with me. Yeah, Psalm 34. 1:13:58 So, we just read the Lord is near. And there is a There are certain group of people we can ensure with all our heart the Lord is near. Psalm 34 verse 18 it says the the Lord is near to the broken-hearted. And saves those who are crushed in 1:14:16 spirit. The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and uh Charles was reading other verse this morning. God is a refuge and strength. Psalm 46 verse one, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear. But, if we have pride in our heart, 1:14:35 the Lord is not near to us. It says in Psalm 138, the Lord The Lord is great, but he cares the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud. Any pride that we see in our heart, let's not allow it to grow in our heart. Let's repent. 1:14:55 And next few lines. Though dark be my way, since he is my guide, it is mine to obey, it is his to provide. Though cisterns be broken and cre- 1:15:13 creatures all fail, the word he has spoken shall surely prevail. The confession of our mouth, God's will, God's promises. So, in the middle of trouble, I'm not 1:15:30 interested in looking when the Lord is going to take me out of it, but I want to obey what the Lord is speaking to me in that storm. Often I found the Lord is asking to trust. Lord is asking us to trust in that middle of the storm. 1:15:49 You know, I was in thinking that Sometimes we I don't I forgot the reference. The disciples went and asked him, "What we should do to do the work of God? What we must do to do the work of God?" Jesus said it is belief. That's That is the work of God. If you 1:16:07 believe it is the work of God, it is not It is a miracle. God gives faith in our circumstances. So, Psalm 138, Psalm 138 verse uh 7 and 8, I guess this is. 1:16:27 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me. You will reach out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand will save me. The Lord will accomplish what concerns me. The Lord will fulfill his plan for your 1:16:44 life. I look at the psalmist's heart's desire. It says, "I walk in the midst of the trouble." It says, "You will revive me." It doesn't say that, "Take me out of this trouble." First, Lord, you revive me. What does What is it you want to speak to me? 1:17:02 Is there something which you want me to cleanse from? I believe the Lord will show us. He will not torture us, but he will show something in our heart. And then it says, "You will reach out your hand against the wrath of my 1:17:15 enemies. And your right hand will save me. The Lord will accomplish what concerns me." So, brothers and sisters, that's how faith that the Lord didn't bring us out of that land to leave us halfway as they thought. 1:17:35 And then another lines, "His love in time past forbids me to think he will leave me at last in trouble to sink. Each sweet Ebenezer I have in review confirms his good pleasure to help me quite through." So, looking back to our life 1:17:54 to recognize the path which the Lord has taken me, the troubles which God has saved me from the past. There is a bad way of looking back. Uh there's a bad way of remembering things from the past. In the Numbers 15, 1:18:12 Numbers 15, we read uh Israelites were thinking, "We remember the fish which we used to eat free in Egypt, the cucumbers and the melons and the leeks and the onions and the garlics." So, that was their looking back. They forgot the plagues, 10 plagues of 1:18:31 Egypt. They forgot the Passover. They forgot the pillar of cloud. They forgot the splitting of Red Sea, all that the Lord has done for them. They forgot. And they just was remembering the onions and the fish. Brothers, what when we see something 1:18:48 like this, this is our flesh what we see. It's not that we can make a message from their failure. It is our flesh. And if only person who could look back, it was Moses. Because he was not a slave, he was a 1:19:07 He was a the son of Pharaoh's daughter. But he had a completely different attitude. He was not looking back. Oh, I lost that if I had Children, do you don't you feel sometimes if my parents were not in CFC, I could have had little more freedom. 1:19:25 Now, the only person who could look back with a sense of loss is Moses. Hebrews chapter 11, it says he had a different attitude. Hebrews chapter 11 verse 24, by faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of 1:19:44 Pharaoh's daughter. He chose rather to endure ill treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. Considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. 1:20:02 He saw the reproach of Christ that is greater than all the treasures, all the gold and silver and the riches of Egypt. His eyes were open. And it says another line, why should I complain or want of want of or distress, 1:20:20 temptation or pain? The heirs of salvation I know from his word through much tribulation must follow their Lord. Through much tribulation we must follow the Lord. That is from Acts chapter 19. That is when the Paul 1:20:38 the Jews almost killed him. And the next day he got up and he says in Acts 14:29, "Strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in faith, saying, 'Through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom of 1:20:55 God.'" What a spirit he had. He was not looking back someone would comfort him and encourage him, but he got up and encouraged the others. I want to follow these footsteps of these men. And then another line, I don't see we don't sing that 1:21:12 line in the church here, but I see this line as a part of that original hymn. It says, "How bitter that cup no heart can conceive." "When he drank quite up that sinners might live." His "way was much rougher and darker than 1:21:27 mine. Did Christ my Lord suffer? And shall I repine?" In simple English it says, "No one imagine how much suffering Jesus went through." He accepted all that suffering so sinners could live. His path was far harder and darker than 1:21:44 mine. If the Lord Jesus suffered like that, should I complain? So that is what pointing to that verse in Hebrews chapter 13. The path which the winds that hit on Jesus. We read another song hymn by Amy Carmichael. "Save me 1:22:04 from that prayer which always you know, from fearing when I should despair." It says, "From prayer that asked that I may be sheltered from wind that beat on thee." "To save me from all that wind that hit on thee. Lord, save me from that that." 1:22:20 So Amy Carmichael wrote that poem and we sing. So brothers and sisters, So, it's not that we get up early morning and start fighting with devil and suffer and have breakfast and go back to suffering again. That's not the picture I want to leave 1:22:37 with you. No, Jesus when it says there are times couple of times we can see when they wanted to kill Jesus, he moved his place. He didn't go and stood in front of them all the time. We can read that in I think John 7 and 1:22:52 John 11. When he knew that the disciple they wanted to kill Jesus, he just moved away from that place. In Acts 25, we can read when Paul was in a trial and they wanted to deliver him to the Jewish court, but he said I appeal 1:23:09 to Caesar. So, it's not that we go around searching for reproach. We are around searching for suffering. No. The joy of the Lord is our strength and we want to leave setting the Lord before our eyes. But as we go in this path to strengthen 1:23:29 us, I mean, I could look back and see the number of times the Lord allowed difficulties in in in my life. And if God wanted, God could have allowed me to pass through a very smooth path, but I'm so thankful that the Lord allowed 1:23:43 the testings in my life and I believe the the Lord will not test us any of us beyond our strength. So, I'd like to we'd like to hear brother Shankar now. Brothers, we don't need to play the message because the time is short. 1:23:58 Brother Suresh, is there a song? Song, yeah. Yeah, there is a song after that we'll hear brother Shankar. >> [music] 1:24:35 [music] [music] [music] >> Brothers and sisters, praise God for 1:24:58 what we heard. Let's sing the song. It's good for for us to meditate on the words, take them to heart. Be gone [music and singing] unbelief, 1:25:20 my savior is near, >> [singing and music] >> and for my relief will surely appear. By prayer [music and singing] let me wrestle, and He will perform. With Christ in [music and singing] the 1:25:40 vessel, I smile at the storm. >> [music] >> Though dark be [singing] my way, since He is my guide, [singing] 'tis mine to obey, >> [music] 1:25:58 >> 'tis His [singing] to provide. Though stocks Though [music] cisterns be [singing] broken and creatures all fail, no word He [music] has spoken shall surely [singing] 1:26:17 prevail. >> [music] >> His love [singing] in time past forbids [music] me to think He'll leave [singing] me at last 1:26:35 in trouble to sink. [singing and music] Each sweet Ebenezer I have [music] in review confirms His good pleasure [music] [singing] to help me quite through. Why should [music and singing] I 1:26:59 complain of want or distress, temptation [music] or pain? He told [singing] me no less. The heirs of salvation [singing and music] I know from His word, 1:27:19 through much tribulation must follow [singing and music] their Lord. We can skip this verse. Let's just sing the first verse once more. >> [music] >> Brothers and sisters, I encourage you to join in and sing. 1:27:38 Begone, [singing] unbelief. [music] Just the voices. My Savior is near. And for [singing and music] my relief will surely appear. >> [music] >> By prayer let [singing] me wrestle, and 1:27:56 He will perform. With Christ in [singing and music] the vessel, I smile at the storm. Amen. We'll hear brother Shankar. I thank God for his word and words of 1:28:34 challenging and words of encouragement. And uh uh As we heard and we have been encouraged from last few weeks looking on to Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith. He's our forerunner to walk in his in this narrow path. 1:28:53 You know, we've been heard about uh Jesus and his life, the struggles that he went through, the rejections that he went through, the tremendous reproach that he'd been through. You know, with all these things, um you know, sometimes his own family 1:29:12 members misunderstood him and uh it's mentioned in Mark 30 Mark 3 uh verse 20 to 21, it says, he came home and the crowd gathered again to such an extent that they could not even eat a meal. And when his own people heard about this, 1:29:30 they came out to took custody of him for they were saying he has lost his senses. You know what they're essentially saying, he lost his mind. He's mad. So, that's the uh kind of uh uh comments that they did. Uh his own family members. 1:29:50 And through it all these circumstances, you know, we heard that Jesus cried out with a loud voice. And another verse that I've been challenged with is from 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2 1:30:11 verse 23. While being reviled, he did not revile in return. While suffering, he uttered no threats, but kept entrusting himself 1:30:27 to him who judges righteously. And another verse verse 20 also on the second part I'm reading. This is also true of him. But if when you what is right and suffer for it, you patiently endure it, this 1:30:46 finds favor with God. You know, so Jesus going through all these things in the midst of all that, he entrusted his case to the father who judges him righteously. You know, we ought to follow the same path. 1:31:05 Sometimes brothers and sisters, we you know, the way the decisions that we take as a disciple, uh sometimes, you know, from brothers, from the non-Christian background, uh people may not understand. Uh Our parents may mis- misunderstand. 1:31:25 And uh sometimes even the Christians may mis- misunderstand the decisions that we take, you know, but we don't have to be feel condemned or uh feeling pity on ourselves, but uh God's word is encouraging us to look 1:31:44 up to the Lord Jesus Christ and who suffered that that suffering. And and at times, you know, the decisions that I've taken, uh there are no more phone calls from the family members like that. But through it all, you know, we can 1:32:01 look onto the Lord Jesus Christ. And he also encourages us in Matthew chapter 5 verse 3. I'm reading from the message translation. You are blessed when you are at the end of your rope. With less of you, there is more of God and his rule. 1:32:21 With less of me and it's God's rule. You know, let people may misunderstand or take it in a different sense, but we are looking onto the Lord Jesus Christ who went through in this narrow path. And uh you know, the man who suffered in the 1:32:38 Bible we read about Job. You know, if at all Satan knew that uh the end result of all that suffering, Satan could have planned something else. But in James chapter 5 in James chapter 5 1:32:59 uh verse 11 we see we read, "We count those blessed who endured." You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings. The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. 1:33:17 In another translation it says, "That's because God cares, cares right down to the last detail." You know, uh Job initially accepted, but in between there was a complaint and all that, but you know, but end of all that Job had 1:33:36 had a personal intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus God and the Lord Jesus Christ. You know, with all the circumstances God allows us to go through, there is a purpose that the Lord is, you know, Lord wants to have it. 1:33:52 Uh Lord wants to experience us to have a personal intimate relationship in all the matters that we go through. And in the same little before that was in verse 5 verse 9 of that verse chapter chapter 5, do not complain. 1:34:11 You know, when we go through these things, brothers and sisters, we tend to complain. You know, but there is there is one more incident I can see. You know, sometimes we lose jobs and sometimes suddenly the employer will ask us to leave the job and you 1:34:29 know, in the Bible also there is one person who's been laid off with just one day as a notice period. You can turn with me to Genesis chapter 21. Genesis chapter 21 verse 14. So, Abraham 1:34:47 rose early in the morning and took bread and a skin of water and gave them to Hagar, putting them on her shoulder and gave her the body gave her the boy and sent her away. And she departed and wandered about the wilderness of Beersheba. So, she's the 1:35:05 maid, but there is something happened and then Abraham Abraham has to send her off. So, of course, if you look at Abraham, he's just a postman. The decision was taken by his wife and the God approved of it. And you know, it 1:35:21 can be same with us. Maybe my manager is telling me to go off from here, sign off from here, but the decision he is just a postman, but the we have to see who's been behind. You know, who's allowing all these situations in my life is the Lord Jesus 1:35:38 Christ. You know, my life fully belong when I commit my life fully belongs to him and it's I don't have to look at the people. I don't have to look at all these things, circumstances. And sometimes when we look at these 1:35:52 circumstances, we may tend to develop the unforgiving attitude or unthankful things. You know, it says in 2 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 11. But something that challenged me is uh 1:36:11 you know, when [snorts] we go through these situations, we may tend to develop an unforgiving attitude. So, here it says, "So that no advantage would be taken of us by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his schemes." Uh it talks about uh 1:36:31 forgive, forgiving somebody in the church. You know, sometimes it It so happens in our families that something happened, but we tend to forgive the we tend to develop this unforgiving attitude. And instead of experiencing God's intimate relationship 1:36:49 in that suffering or path of testing, we go in the other side and then give room to Satan. Satan will take advantage of it. You know, we may think, "Okay, I'm standing for my rights." Husband says and the wife says, "I'm standing for my 1:37:04 rights." In between these two people fighting for each other and thinking that they have won the race, but Satan is laughing, "Hey, I've taken advantage of you." So, brothers and sisters, let's consider all these things 1:37:17 and let's not have anything uh you know, let's not complain, let's not have this unforgiving attitude, but give thanks to the Lord in every circumstances because the Lord has promised us uh our Lord is the comforter of all. You 1:37:33 know, that's the comfort he wants to give us. May the Lord help each one of us. Uh Uh let's uh pray, brothers and sisters. Dear heavenly Father Lord Jesus, we pray 1:37:55 that you give us grace, fill us continuously with the Holy Spirit, that we may never take our eyes off from you, and help us to set you always before our eyes, and find our strength and courage in you. You are our refuge. 1:38:11 You're our refuge and strength, Lord. We want to experience your power, and grace, and humility, and your character more and more in the days to come. Help us in Jesus' precious and most precious name we pray. Thank you, 1:38:24 Father. Amen. We have the book of the month and then the announcements. >> [music] >> Presenting 1:38:41 the book of this month, A Godly Family Life, by Brother Zac Poonen. The Christian [music] life can be compared to a three-story building. The foundation of the building is Christ himself, in whom we see God's perfect, eternal, and unchangeable [music] 1:39:00 love for us. The first story of the building is our inner life. The second story of the building is our family life. The third story of the building is the church and our fellowship and service in it. We need the power of the Holy Spirit 1:39:15 if we are to build these three stories as an unshakeable structure. The big mistake many are making today is that they engage in the Lord's ministry in building the third story without having built a solid inner life, which 1:39:31 is the first story, and a godly family life, >> [music] >> which is the second story. And it is in the second story of the family life where most have fallen short. The word of God contains the manufacturer's instructions for the 1:39:46 family life. Follow his instructions and you cannot go wrong. Even if you have destroyed your family life in the past by foolish [music] mistakes, you can still set things right. As we approach the end of time, we find 1:40:04 that Satan's attacks are concentrated more and more on the family lives of Christians. Therefore, it is essential that we preserve our families within the boundaries of the teaching of God's word if we are to glorify his name, fulfill 1:40:21 his purposes, and preserve our children for his kingdom in these days. May the Lord use this book to help you and challenge you to live for his glory alone as a family. >> [music]
